THE BLACK AND WHITE OF LIFE...AND ART

DRAMA in Black and White
September 24, 2011   

"Pain will destroy; Hope will heal!"

Thanks to DIGITAL WHISPER for their inspiration in the field of black and white! It offered me (and other artists) the opportunity...the challenge... to explore the drama of converting a color photo to black and white... and IT IS DRAMATIC!! As in life, though, there are no real black-and-white situations... there's always at least a bit of gray. It's all part of life...highs, lows and middles! 

Some black and white for your viewing pleasure...

 I fell so in love with black and white (again) that I  even responded to two challenges in kind... 

INSPIRATION AVENUE asked to see art using the theme, KEYS..

and THINK MONDAY-THINK ATC  requested art with the theme of buildings...that I ALSO did in black and white!!

 "Shades of grey wherever I go

The more I find out, the less I know:

Black and white is how it shouldbe,

But shades of grey are the colors I see." 

Billy Joel (American pianist, singer, songwriter)

Thanks so much for stopping to say hello...hope you enjoyed my journey into black and white...I think it's dramatic and very captivating.

Hope to see you again... 

xox,

abbyj 

TIME PASSAGES

The Subject is TIME... 
September 18, 2011 

 "TIME RACES

WE GLIMPSE ITS PASSING" 

We visited with my 94 year old Aunt Barbara this weekend...she's still sharp of mind and tongue and still fun to be with! She lost the love of her life several months ago...the ravages of time passing. This is my Aunt and her beloved some years ago.

Now, on to some blog art challenges...

TAKE A WORD: Music

Music is such a universal pleasure, crossing over all lines that divide us as human beings. It's certainly food for my soul...my life is better because music is so much a part of my life.! 

COLLAGE OBSESSION: Peace

Two interpretations for PEACE...Peace as the absence of  fear of terrorism and war- the motto for the 60's was "make love, not war." It was a time when people believed in tolerance and all the freedoms! Then, there's personal peace... peace in your heart- something we wish and pray for! Perhaps in the lifetime of our grandchildren we'll see both...

INSPIRATION  AVE./ THREE MUSES: FALL/AUTUMN

I LOVE fall (or autumn) for it's extraordinary palette of colors; for the sounds of crunching leaves beneath my feet and of laughter of children bursting forth from the school yards; for the smells of pumpkin pie, roasted turkey and burning leaves...and I love fall because it leads right into my second favorite season...WINTER!

Thanks so much for stopping by THE VIVERE for  a snapshot of my life... hope you'll visit with me again...

xox,
abbyj 

BUSY TIME

STARTING SCHOOL,  9/11... and ART
September 7, 2011 

Fall is my favorite season and here in Central New York, it's THE MOST beautiful season. Against the deep blue sky, the leaves...the stars of Fall... announce themselves in shades of hot red, glowing orange, vibrant yellow and earthy brown. They linger on the trees for their last bit of life, before falling to the ground to crunch beneath our feet. The cooler temperatures sweep in over summer's waning heat and the growing season comes to full fruition before winding down for its long winter sleep...FALL! 

"FALL is:   colors...and school starting."

Challenge blogs Three Muses  (WORDS) and 4X4 Friday (FALL) can both be satisfied with the above piece

The excitement of a new school year, new friends... growing older... the same, through the ages!

Collage Obsession asked to see our artistic interpretation of the word SLOTH...

Inspiration Avenue was all about PATTERNS this week...and again, Three Muses wanted artists to create something with words added... The leopard was one I saw hunting while in Africa a few trips ago...powerful, menacing and oh so beautiful!

Think Monday-Think ATC declared their theme for the week to be NOSTALGIA. What's more nostalgic than a very early bicycle built-for-two?

 

 

 

Finally, on a very serious note, we're approaching the anniversary of the terrible tragedy of what's come to be known as simply "9/11."  At 8:45 AM on September 11, 2001, the first of two airlines struck the World Trade Center in New York City. It was the beginning  of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on our United States. At 9:03 AM, a second plane crashed into the other World Trade Center tower and exploded. With both buildings ablaze, hundreds of rescue personnel rushed to the scene. The twin towers collapsed from the top down, releasing a tremendous cloud of debris and smoke...a horrifying picture! At 9:43 AM, a third passenger plane crashed into the Pentagon and 10:48 AM marked the crash of a fourth passenger jet in western Pennsylvania.  It was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil...all passengers aboard the jets were killed as were more than 3,000 people on the ground. Although I didn't know anyone personally involved in these attacks, I feel connected to those who were lost and those who lost loved ones and friends...we're ALL connected! I mourn those who died as well as their friends and families on this 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

I'd like to also honor those who continue to risk their lives, fighting for our safety and our continuing freedom...this is the SOLITARY WARRIOR. My thoughts and prayers are with each and every solitary warrior...wishing a safe return home to every one!

 Thanks so much for stopping by...see you again?

Hugs,
abbyj

 

HAPPY LABOR DAY

CELEBRATE AMERICA'S WORKERS 
September 5, 2011  

HAPPY LABOR DAY

 ...and a very big THANK YOU...

to those who work hard each day, making our lives more comfortable and pleasurable... office workers, laborers, professionals... (and anyone I may have forgotten...) who work hard for a living. I appreciate ALL of you! You are the backbone of our country... you are the people who make AMERICA great!!

Thanks for stopping by...

'Til soon,

abbyj 

ENERGY and EXCITEMENT

The Thrill of American Carnival:

THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR

September 1st, 2011

"Fair fun marks the summer's end..." (my 6 word memoir and an answer to PAPER TRADER'S challenge...)

Energy, excitement and the pulse-pounding thrill of a good old American carnival...this IS the New York State Fair! My family and I spent a day soaking it all in...making new memories and perhaps, creating a new tradition! (I'm hoping, if that's the case, that our new tradition won't include my riding an electric scooter each year, but my back wouldn't permit walking for such distances and for such a long stretch of time THIS year.) It was a first visit in nearly a decade for our daughter and for us...a first visit EVER for our grandchildren.

There was something for everyone... heaps of junk food, 

 interesting, interactive exhibits,

wild life,

We were particularly taken by the owl...

entertainment...and the thrilling midway with its weird exhibits, games, rides, laughter and screams of pleasure!  

If you like controlled noise and craziness, crowds, hawkers pushing their wares, an air of excitement and happiness, the New York State Fair is the place to be. It's a show as old as humankind...and a must see, annual event that denotes the end of summer here in central New York!

The challenge blogs were busy as well this week as they continued throwing out challenges to their loyal readers/players/artists... 

CREAVIL CHALLENGES wanted to see art about Cowboys and Indians...here's one of each, CREAVIL...

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART's request was to see a representative from the ANIMAL KINGDOM...

THREE MUSES wanted to see what we'd do with newspaper somewhere in our art...

THINK MONDAY-THINK ATC challenged us to take a peek ...through a keyhole...

CRAZY AMIGO's challenge was to create a BACK TO SCHOOL themed art piece...

TAKE A WORD put forth their challenge in a "TIMEly" manner...

WHEW! Thanks for stopping by...one of these days I'll master the art of the SHORT blog posting...hope you'll stay with me 'til then! I guess I'm using all my unspent energy creating art! Next week I see the doctor and hopefully, he'll give me the OK to return to my normal, active life as my back will be healed! We'll see...
For those of you concerned with the camera sound as you look at this blog, it's from a slideshow that some can see...some can't. I'm told it depends on which server you use to open the blog. I'm NOT taking photos of you!!! 

xox 'til soon,
abbyj