First of all, my dog is her old self again since she's started the medications! I'm so happy.

I didn't get any of my art finished today, because I was playing with my birthday present all day--the iPhone, which means I can download all kinds of aps and they all facinate me! I have got to get some of my work done! I was so in the "zone" and then I started messing around with all my other stuff. I do that.

Now every day I was going to post a picture of something I've done and talk about it. So let me see if I can find one and see if it inspires me.


This is one of my circles and lines works I did. I call it "wandering" after the word "planet" since I'm so into studying the planets at the moment. So I learned that the word "planet" comes from the word "wandering," and I loved that! So I finished this and it reminded me of this picture I saw of those amazing planets all lined up and just hanging in space. And then the lines and colors reminded me of the amazing nebulas, so I joined it all together. And I named it wandering, after the planets!

Yesterday my dog was diagnosed with diabetes. At first, needless to say I freaked out a bit, but the vet assured me that we caught it early and all her other tests were perfect! So we can manage this. So I have to say I'm overjoyed that it wasn't something that was fatal or that would require surgery. This can be managed. She also put her on some pills for her bit of arthritis that she has in her hips. She is 12, and she's a chow, but she's doing so great! And today, even after that one dose, she's so much more like herself! Her eyes are bright and she's smiling and barking and eating greenies. It makes me so happy!!

I had my first comments on my blog today and I was so excited. I had to laugh at myself. But still! That's a big deal!

I've been working on this new piece called magick hand (I think I'll call it that). And now that I know what's wrong with my dog and that we can fix it, well, maintain it, I can THINK again!

I've always done art like this. I have some large paintings with this same design. I don't know what it is. I just feel everything is connected and swirls together in life and energy and light and dark.

I see this same thing when I look at pictures from the Hubble Telescope--the amazing super novas with their bursting clouds of energy. Or the nebulas, the stellar nurseries, full of swirling energy. It just amazes me!

This is one of those swirling heart nebulas of mine.

I took Kyoko on a walk earlier. It was SO cold. But she was warm as toast in that Chow Chow coat she has. She perked up and walked right along, trotting and smiling and marking all the territories, sniffing messages, and generally just being herself. I have to say that made me feel better. But I won't feel perfect till after the vet.

And to perk up my dismal mood, I'm going to add something here to liven the place up!

COLOR and MOVEMENT!

Well, I was going to try and post each day but I missed the weekend. I'm going to blame it on my birthday. I had a great one, got the iPhone and a Build A Bear frog with shamrocks!

Plus I can't concentrate much today. My dog is drinking to much water, is listless and sleeps all the time. When she is walking around, she moves so slow. She's going to the vet this afternoon. I'm so worried about her I can't concentrate on my art or any thing. But this new vet will find out what's wrong, I just know. And maybe it's nothing. I sure hope so. I am worried to death.

I worked on the magick hand drawing...but at the moment I just can't care too much.

I feel sad.

I love New York. This time last year I was getting ready to go. I'd won an Art Grant to visit and photograph the Hotel Chelsea. I've been so enamored with that place for many, many years. I've done so much art and have hundreds of photos of the old hotel. Last year I got to go with a new camera and a tripod. It was fantastic and I love my new photos. I love trying to capture the light, shadows, windows, doors, and passages of that old building.

I also love going down to the lower East side. So many of the places I loved when I lived there ages ago are gone. I miss them. Plus St Marks looks so different than it did back then. There's still the essence and feel of the city which I hope is never stolen, but it's not the same without CBGB's, Max's, Moondance Diner, the old lofts, and this amazing coffee shop on St Marks, where I used to sit. I can't remember the name. But the last time I was there it was a horrid Pink Berry. I guess nothing stays the same...but at least the Life Cafe is still there.

I love the look of this photo. This is taken out of my window from my room at the Chelsea. I have so many photos of the rain reflecting the myriad of lights and colors on the wet pavement. I've tried to capture it as it is, but haven't quite gotten it to my liking. I'll keep trying.

I go to the doc today to see what's going on with my right eye. I had a migraine and now it's all blurry. I do hope that nothing is serious. I don't usually get so worried, but when it's my eyes, I take it very seriously.

Yesterday I spent hours tagging my artwork to publish on my webpage. Then I changed the front page until I can figure out which photo albums to use. Why don't I ever like any thing I put in there? I think I must be way to critical of my own work. That's not a good thing. I have noticed that when I do something, walk away, come back later, it looks so much better than it did at the time. The perspective of time and space does make a difference.


I did this crow drawing ages ago for an ATC swap. I want to just randomly post my art each day and talk about it. I did this with pencil and marker. I did three others. I like the grays and it seemed to fit the mood and the animal. I remember this was the swap I learned that a group of crows is referred to as a "murder of crows." I loved that.

I'm trying to keep my mind off of going to the doc, but I really don't like going to the doc!! I have no idea why. Maybe I should make an appointment and go to the doctor each week just for the hell of it so I'll get used to it and it won't matter. Haha. But what would I tell him when he asked me what the problem was. What would I say? "oh nothing, just wanted to see you". Then he'd get up and escort me to the front and give me the bill. I think after a few weeks of that, he might refer me to the psychologist upstairs!! Haha!!

I worked on the new color art last night. I wish I had scanned the ones I'd finished before painting on the black background. I'll have to remember that next time. Of course I can go into PS and take the black bg out! I keep forgetting I can do about anything in photoshop.

This one is Sky Snakes. I did it last month. Because I am so into snakes, and snake totems, and "my" adopted gaboon, Kenya, who lives (and is owned) by the Memphis zoo, I wanted to combine that snake energy with the stars. I am so interested in learning about the sky and our cosmos. So it facinates me that, no matter what happens here on earth, the stars are the same. The seasons stay the same, the sun rises and sets "on time," and the moon follows an ancient schedule. I can look in my witch's almanac and it will tell me what the moon will be doing for the entire year, as well as the sun, and what signs it will be in, what planets are retrograde, when the moon will be void of course, etc etc. And my astronomy books tell me where Orion will be according to the month(s).
And then there's the snake energy. The snake symbolizes eternal life, because it sheds its skin and then appears to be "new" again. I can form a circle, representing eternal life or infinite time. Also, the snake is a silent hunter and never blinks, yet can be at rest. It can sit completely still for hours and hours. It's cold blooded and has to take care of itself according to the seasons. There's symbolism in all of these attributes. So I love how the stars and the snake can represents "the eternal".

I'm also working on the heart motif. I don't know why, exactly, but I do know there is a heart nebula in Cassiopeia. And I was just reading something Joseph Campbell said about the heart, but at this moment can't think of it. I'll write it down later.

Just arrived..

~*~*~I'm trying to decide just which one of these to use. I have bits and pieces on other blogs, but I think this is the essence and the heart of all my places. I'm going to try it here. I want to post something on here each day. It doesn't matter if it's one thought or art or me just saying "I am here." I want to get some discipline. I want to post my work and the work in progress and write out what it all means. I want to stop saying "I want" and say I will" so here I go:

I will post something each day.
I will post my art and write about it.

~*~*~I believe that writing out reasons behind creations helps them to make sense. Sometimes when I create I am too close to the work and can't figure it out until time passes. I'll also make notes to myself about where I am, what I'm interested in, my worries and joys, and how I'm dealing with them.

Snow gave me binoculars so I can see Orion's nebula. I also see the Pleiadies so clearly.
I keep worrying about my dog, and her health. I think she's probably okay but is picking up my worrying more than anything!
And I have an appointment with the eye doctor on Friday of this week to see what's wrong with my right eye.
My birthday is this Sunday.

I'm working with colors and the movement of colors and simple shapes. I began doing that way back in college, then strayed from it, and now I'm back again. Like a blood relation, we all take with us something from the source. So many times we deny it, which is denying who we are. I think my art is the same way.

Reminding myself what my professor Scott Stevens told me so many years ago "well, what you do--that's your art!"

So whatever I do. That's my art. Yes, sitting still, petting my dog, walking in my neighborhood, cooking food for my loved ones, or creating visual works--all life is creation, all life is discovery, and each moment is precious.

I am where I should be.