ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN  

BY CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE 

JULY 31, 2015

It's time again for my monthly book review for Art and Sole's ARTFUL READERS CLUB. For July, I'm reviewing "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adihie. 

The book gets its title from the flag of the short-lived, independent nation of Biafra. After 2 1/2 years of civil war to gain independence from Nigeria, millions of civilians died from fighting and from famine. Biafra existed from May 30, 1967 to January 15, 1970. It has since been reintegrated into the Nigerian nation.

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN is a story about the birth and life of Biafra. Before reading this book, I didn't know much about the small country... what I knew came from photojournalism- LIFE MAGAZINE pictures, primarily. Biafra was a synonym for starvation, hunger and misery. 

But the book isn't only about war... war with its horror is scenery for a story of love, loyalty, friendship, betrayal, forgiveness and fight for survival. It's a universal story placed in a particular historical context! It's a HUMAN story, bringing to life the different layers of Nigerian society, giving them back their African identity and heritage while telling how it was snatched away. War cuts across class, gender and race...the privileged Igbo woman (the second largest ethnic group, living in southeastern Nigeria,) the Igbo houseboy from the village, the white Englishman in love with Igbo art. Three primary voices for this story, three hearts broken by the grief of a war from which they were somewhat protected: Olanna by her family's wealth, Ugwu by the status and resources of his employers and Richard, by being a white foreigner. Yet, their hearts were all exposed and vulnerable...HUMAN!

I was totally unprepared for the force of this story about the birth of little-known Biafra...how the impact of the awful reality of these years would affect me, loving Africa as I do. The realization that this struggle has been repeated over and over throughout the "dark continent"...throughout the world... and continues to happen. It was searing, raw and unforgettable...a highly recommended read!

Thanks for stopping by. Please join me for my next regular posting.

Big Hugs,

abbyj

WOMEN and the BEACH 

July 25, 2015 

Welcome, fellow artists, family and friends! This is a short posting on some interesting challenges. I always like when a challenge involves some research as it did this time for one of the women coming up.

The first challenge came by way of the group from Flicker's DIGITALMANIA. We were tasked with presenting the face of one of the old Renaissance Masters' paintings in a modern day setting...I used the face of Botticelli's BIRTH OF VENUS. Do you recognize her? I put her on the runway for New York's FASHION WEEK!!

 Here's what she looked like originally...

I also used Renaissance Master Peter Paul Ruben's CHAPEAU de PAILLE for an all-American cowgirl...

and, here's how she looked originally...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART's theme...strong women. Here's where my research came in. I wanted to feature Rosa Parks...both brave and strong! TIME MAGAZINE included December 1, 1955 in its list of days that changed the world...because of Rosa Parks. It seems that she was on her way to a meeting at her local NAACP about protesting segregation laws when it happened: "she found a seat in the first row of the "colored" section in the back of the bus. But after a few stops, the driver ordered her to get up so a white passenger could sit down. Parks refused, so the police were called to take her to jail." Her ordeal would soon inspire a citywide boycott and a ruling that such segregation was illegal! BRAVE and STRONG!! 

Finally, TAKE A WORD challenged artists to create a piece that was mostly black and white. I used an old photo... 

 

That's all, folks...enjoy your weekend!

Big Hugs,

abbyj 

WILD, HOT AFRICA 

JULY 22, 2015 

TRY IT ON TUESDAY just opened a challenge that I absolutely couldn't resist... "hot and wild" is the theme- for me, AFRICA is the place!

I caught this fabulous leopard in Botswana one late afternoon when Michael and I were enjoying our 50th anniversary trip to Africa. She was watching some warthogs below the tree...planning dinner for her babies. A woman's work is never done!!

This guy is a resident of Tanzania. He emerged from the rocks at dusk (when the lighting was perfect) on a search for food...always food!

Meet my friend, Icaru. She lives on Ngamba Island in Uganda. We met when she and I went for a walk, along with her keeper, several years ago. She was 11 when we met. She's an orphaned chimp as are all the rescued chimps on this island.  Chimps have a very good memory...she has remembered me on subsequent visits through the years. We play, groom one another, and you should hear her giggle when I tickle her... she is a gift in my life!

 

 

 This was a quick post...hope you enjoyed it. See you next posting...

Big Hugs,

abbyj

  

ON THE ROAD AGAIN 

JULY 21, 2015 

 

Lots of back and forth over the next few weeks... spending quality time with our daughter and grandchildren and the added bonus of time spent in the car: hours to play with all the art apps on my iPad and answer some art blog challenges on the go. The iPad doesn't allow for some of the more intricate manipulations possible in Photoshop (on my desktop,) but if I practice, perhaps it will be possible on the iPad as well...practice, practice, practice!!! 

...AND, how are you? We've just been through several days of the most extreme heat yet this summer. And you? Wishing you comfortable, enjoyable days ahead, whatever your season!

On to my iPad challenges...what amazing tools are available for this device.

DIGITAL WHISPER's challenge blog tasked participants to create art around the theme of hiding and hide and seek. I obviously had so much fun with this one as you will see by my 4 pieces...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked for something "messy!" I had an immediate picture of my granddaughter, Lilly, when celebrating her first birthday. I know it's a pretty typical photo, but to me, it is the very definition of the word!!

TAKE A WORD's thoughts were nautical...sea life! I just got my toes wet, but can you see the fish under the bit of water in the foreground?

Finally, THE THREE MUSES challengers were thinking literally: their theme...books!

I DO appreciate your stopping by. Looking forward to seeing you for my next posting. Stay well!

 

Big Hug,

abbyj  

WINGS, GRAFFITI and NEW ARTIST 

July 15, 2015 

Hi dear family and friends. 

I hope this posting finds you well and that life is good for you at the moment!! Day by day...moment by moment, right?

Some fun challenges for this posting...

THE THREE MUSES challenge blog has declared its theme to be one of my most favorite things...street art or graffiti...good graffiti. I must say that wherever we travel, whenever I see some good street art, I am driven to stop and photograph it, no matter how inconvenient. Lesson: don't travel with me!! (Smile!) First I created my street art piece...

then I put it where a graffiti wall would be...too much fun!! Thanks, THREE MUSES!!

 TAKE A WORD asked for something with wings so I created a little cherub of a boy...who knows where his wings will take him as he journeys through life?

Finally, for Flicker's DIGITALMANIA, we were challenged to be inspired by a new artist...new to us. Her name is JANE MAXWELL and she's a mixed media artist from Boston, Mass. She was suggested to me by my dear friend, Susan, in a discussion about art and artists. She has an interesting style...one that must be well received as she exhibits her art all over the world. I don't LOVE her art, but it was certainly a fun challenge to create some pieces in her style. Here a a couple of her pieces...

and here are a couple of mine. They were certainly fun to create, but very definitely an exercise in stretching for me!

Thank you for coming by. Please DO visit again.

Wishing you days that make your heart smile...

Big Hugs,

abbyj 

FRAMED!!! 

July 7, 2015

What fun I've had creating "framed" art for the challenge blog, TRY IT ON TUESDAY...  I got a bit carried away and created several... first, the pictures within the frames, then the frames! Please take a look at these ...

 ...and that's all she wrote. 

See you for my next posting???

Hugs,

abbyj

TRIBUTE TO SUMMER 

July 5, 2015 

This is a tribute to summer for DIGITAL WHISPER.

What a spectacular July 4th weekend we shared with our daughter and grandkids. The weather and the company were both ideal! These kinds of days are the best part of our summer memories...always. What could be better than spending time with dear family and friends?

This posting has art that's all about summer. Another piece for DIGITAL WHISPER, (whose theme for the week is summer,) is this piece of memorabilia for me...born in the New York City area, I remember some very hot days when the local Fire Department would open the fire hydrants and let the water spray out so we kids could play in it! It certainly relieved the extreme heat of a NYC summer day...and was sooo much fun!

 TAKE A WORD declared its theme to be windows. The piece I created continued the summer theme...

Finally, THE THREE MUSES had their collective heads in the sky...checking out the stars. I created a summer starry night with fireflies as well...love those bright nights and planetarium-like starry skies...magical!

I hope you're enjoying your days and nights wherever you are. Thanks for stopping by. See you next time...
Sending big hugs and good wishes,
abbyj  

DIGITALMANIA and THE BEATLES 

June 30, 2015 

Hi Folks! Hope your week has been going well...we're drowning in all the rain we've been having, but the wild and plant life are loving it!! 
Andrea Matus deMeng is this week's artist to study in the Flicker's challenge group, DIGITALMANIA. A Canadian media artist, educator and author who specializes in unique combinations of painting, collage, assemblage and sculpture, she's quite an inspiration. Her work is intricate and colorful. Here's an example of Andrea's art...

and here are the two pieces of art that she inspired me to create...

Flower Girl

Music Lover

At the THREE MUSES challenge blog, our task was to illustrate one of the many Beatles songs...can you tell which one I chose?

"The Long and Winding Road"

That's it for this posting...hope you enjoy my art as much as I enjoy creating it...it's my relaxation and challenging mental activity.
Enjoy your days ahead...

Big Hugs,
abbyj

ART and SOLE CALENDAR CHALLENGE 

July 1, 2015 

 

Happy July 1st...we're smack dab in the middle of our all-too-short summer in Central New York... enjoying it while we can.

Today marks the beginning of Art and Sole's Calendar Challenge for July. The requirements for altering our calendar picture this month are as follows:

1) Keep part of the original picture and incorporate that into the design of the finished piece

2) Use some "bumped up" stenciling for texture

3) Add our own face as a photo or drawing...or a face from a magazine

The original calendar art is a piece by Claude Monet (1840-1926) called CHILD in the ARTIST'S GARDEN.

This was a difficult task for me because I had never done "bumped up stencils" before. I added the texture sparingly...not too obviously...in the flowers, on the woman's skirt, and used a different stencil on the back of the bench. I'm looking forward to seeing how other participants in this calendar challenge handled the technique in their art pieces. I'm not sure it added anything to the art (in my case.) Here's my alteration...

Two more challenge blogs inspired me to play... DIGITAL WHISPER's theme of barefoot sounded like fun...

and TAKE A WORD was looking for the HOT colors of summer...red, orange and yellow.  I turned to my love of graffiti for this one.

That's it for this post. Hope you're enjoying your seasonal days, wherever you are.
Please join me for my next posting...
Big Hugs,
abbyj 

ARTFUL READERS CLUB 

"All the Light We Cannot See" 

by Anthony Doerr  

June 26, 2015

Hi Artful Readers and all those who enjoy good books! I hope this month has found you reading some wonderful books that have captured your hearts and imaginations. 

I'd like to review one of my most favorites in a long time...a breakout literary hit in 2014 that took the author a decade to research and write. ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE has some of the most hauntingly beautiful prose I've ever read:  strong, caring characters, loving relationships and people who touched each others lives during the trying times of WWII. 

It's a story of childhood, interrupted by war.

Parallel stories are told in alternating chapters, of Marie Laure, a bright, curious, blind French girl and Werner Pfennig, an orphaned German boy with a brilliant mind and a talent for working with radios. In fast moving, short chapters, it's a story of their lives: coming from vastly different family backgrounds, in different countries... childhood and adolescence, until one brief moment when their lives collide  during the bombing of a French city... and their stories weave together.

Yes, this is ANOTHER book about WWII,  but Doerr created an image of war that I've never before imagined fully. I really got a sense of what it must have been like for children who lived happy lives to suddenly find themselves restricted in so many ways and pushed into directions they would not have chosen... directions at odds with who they were. 

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE... I highly recommend this book not only for it's story value, but for the incredibly beautiful poetic depiction of a time that held so much ugliness.

"Now it seems there are only shadows

and silence. Silence is the fruit of the

occupation; it hangs in branches, seeps

from gutters...so many windows are dark.

It's as if the city has become a library

of books in an unknown language,

the houses, great shelves of illegible 

volumes... the lamps all extinguished."

"All the Light We Cannot See"

 REASON TO CELEBRATE 

June 19, 2015

This is a celebration weekend for Michael and me... In the blink of an eye...51 years of marriage, friendship, of togetherness, of sharing each other's joys and sorrows, a daughter who means the world to us, two grandchildren whom we adore ... We've been couple for 54 years, but June 21st is our 51st WEDDING anniversary. Michael, the co-author of my life is lively, smart, very funny and someone for whom I have more respect than anyone I know...my heart is his. He continues to be a wonderful, caring husband, father (must mention this because it is also Father's Day,) and Papa to Hunter and Lilly. I feel truly blessed to be sharing my life with this extraordinary man...I love you with all my heart, Sweetheart... here's to many more happy years together.
                    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Hope you enjoy your weekend...raise a glass for us!

Big Hugs,

abbyj