old time laughs

along the el camino real...

So here is part deux of my trip up north to Monterey. We enjoyed visiting the beautiful rugged coastline of California. Even though it was brisk and windy...it seemed to sweep the cobwebs away...
We also visited three California Missions...Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission San Juan Bautista and Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soladad.

I have this fascination with the California Missions. It's not the religious affiliation but more the history that intrigues me. This is California's history...be it good or bad...history helps us learn from our mistakes...


The planning of the missions had spaced them roughly a day's horse ride or a three-day walk from one mission to the next along the highway known as the El Camino Real, which means the kings' "royal way."The missions are among California's oldest structures and are evidence of a time when the Western world was changing. The Church and government expected the missions to support themselves from farming and growing crops.
Some missions were built in more ideal situations while others experienced devastating earthquakes, winds and floods. While only a few of these historical buildings are supported by the state, others have created groups to sustain the missions. It has taken time but through the generosity of visitors many have been able to rebuild.

Some are worn down and tired, others are modest, a few are elegant...but they all make for fascinating study.

For me it is a step through time, as I meander their pathways and enjoy the peace and serenity within the mission walls.

I'm almost halfway through visiting all 21 missions.

hit the road jack...

Well my bags were packed last Sunday and I was ready to go...

Among my clothes were my art supplies for the classes I would be teaching at Asilomar on the 15th and 16th. Monday was a day off so me and my hubby were able to take a drive and enjoy the beauty of the coast...but more about that in a later post...

I want to share some of the artwork that my amazing students made. In the first class I taught we worked non stop and made a variety of backgrounds with paint, plastic wrap, implements, gesso, and other techniques that are in my book Mixed Emulsions.
Then we made small 1 inch x 1 inch pieces out of those backgrounds and created some small pieces in a big way...We were so busy and involved that before I knew it class was over and I had not shot everyones amazing art...but here are a few pieces I was able to snap at the end of the class...
The next day was my class Simpatico - the marriage of black and white photography and color. I showed everyone how to paint photographs with oils and a variety of other materials...like acrylics, markers, and oil sticks. We experimented with a variety of prints...ones professionally printed and ones run through computer printers, and discovered that even though the emulsions may vary widely any picture can be painted on successfully. We had tons of fun stamping into and onto the images and the creativity was flowing. I loved the variety of photos and the individual interpretations the artists gave their art.
Don't these pieces rock?
I had such a great time with my wonderful, eager to learn, inventive, creative, first time and experienced students in both classes. Art is inspiring when you can learn techniques and then interpret them in your own way...everyone embraced that freedom to express themselves which made it a great experience for all...thanks for inspiring ME!...
If any of you are reading this post and you see your art here, write a comment and tell us which piece is yours...
Asilomar was a relaxed and beautiful place to visit. All in all...it was terrific time.

mumma mia

Happy Birthday to my amazing Mum...

It was actually yesterday but I was on the road returning from
the Monterey coast and the Asilomar art retreat.
Will be posting about that really soon...

looking ahead...

I have been very busy...Did I hint that I am writing another book with Sarah Fishburn? There is research to do and deadlines to meet. I'm feeling on top of it now and directing my attention to Asilomar and the classes I am teaching there this coming week. Leaving on Sunday...and looking forward to the break, taking some pictures, making and teaching some art. Just getting away and breathing some coastline fresh air.
One class is about making small art and art mosaic pieces...
The other class is called 'Simpatico'...the marriage of black and white photography and color. I'm teaching how to hand paint photographs with oils and other things...
I'll share the results when I return...
....and now to pack

amazing feets or not tonight i have a headache...

I just had to share this with you...pull up your chair, pause my music on the sidebar, take a few minutes and prepare to be amazed...
How is this possible...?
It gives new meaning to the word...balance...

art is for everyone...

How amazing is this...

a harbinger to spring...

I've been wearing some new jewels on my ears...Earrings that were made especially for me by the talented jeweler Deryn Mentock. I just cannot get enough of them....I dig these jewels big time...

I bought this other pair also with the bead...for dressier occasions. Love the details and how they look like little wings on my ears.

And then to top it all off...I had to get this beautiful nest necklace...how special is this?
A harbinger to Spring... and all that is new.

I am restless. I am athirst for faraway things.
My soul goes out in a longing to touch the skirt of the dim distance.

O Great Beyond, O the keen call of thy flute! I forget, I ever forget,
that I have no wings to fly, that I am bound in this spot evermore.

Rabindranath Tagore, The Gardener 1915

happy day...

HAPPY EASTER!

HAPPY SPRING!

Becca & Jesse a while back....
Have a great day...

earth laughing in flowers...

It's Easter tomorrow. Spring has arrived here in LA. It was so hot today...I miss bundling up and breathing in the crisp air. But spring has it's advantages...like this beautiful vision I saw yesterday on a walk through Descanso Gardens. Upon entering the Japanese Gardens the cherry blossoms were in bloom and they looked like butterflies shifting in the breeze. It took my breathe away it was so beautiful. They were the whitest white...and the palest pink. It was magical...
When we wandered through the gardens the daffidils and tulips were in all their glory...

Earth Laughs In Flowers!
Ralph Waldo Emerson

And she truly does...

I found this picture of Veronica and me in our bonnets one Easter morning...It's been a long time since bonnets were worn. But we will celebrate spring tomorrow just the same...without hats.

Nothing is more the child of art than a garden.
Sir Walter Scott

oh yeah...that's right

Issue 3 of Pasticcio Quartz is available! Sarah and I are mad about this issue and we had a blast creating it... it's colorful, entertaining, inspiring and informative and there is a plethora of divine art by some divine artists. This issue explores 'fonts' and the color 'blue'...but we don't think you will be after you've perused its pages...click here to purchase: http://stores.lulu.com/cartwrightandfishburn

howaya this fine day...

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig!!

May those who love us,
Love us.
And those who do not love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.

Go bhfana í ngrá linn,
Iad siúd atá í ngrá linn.
Iad siúd nach bhfuil,
Go gcasa Dia a gcroíthe.
Agus muna gcasann Sé a gcroíthe
Go gcasa Sé caol na coise acu
Go n-aithneoimid iad as a mbacadaíl.

This is one of my very favorite photographs...it was shoot with the self timer on my camera that I balanced on my camera bag on the rocky beach in Doolin, Ireland. I wanted a family picture of us to use as a holiday card...I think this picture rocks...It's the cover of our next CD...just kidding!
Happy St. Patricks Day...

The cliffs of Dooneen

You may travel far far from your own native home,
Far away o’er the mountains, far away o’er the foam,
But of all the fine places that I’ve ever been
Sure there’s none can compare with the cliffs off Dooneen.
Take a view o’er the mountains, fine sights you’ll see there,
You’ll see the high rocky mountains o’er the west coast of Clare;
Oh the towns of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen
From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Dooneen.
traditional irish song

***********

Go raibh tú daibhir i mí-áidh
Agus saibhir i mbeannachtaí
Go mall ag déanamh namhaid, go luath a déanamh carad,
Ach saibhir nó daibhir, go mall nó go luath,
Nach raibh ach áthas agat
Ón lá seo amach.

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
quick to make friends,
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

ode to green...

Tis almost St. Patrick's Day...now I know I am not Irish...but I can't help but celebrate a people that love to celebrate. And I did have some fabulous times in Ireland. My friend Judy (from the West side)...sent me the most hilarious book called "The feckin' book of everything Irish"...and I got a good many laughs from it. If you are not Irish, it is at least a good thing to have an Irish friend.

I broke my beloved teapot lid...I love this teapot...I bought it in England over 10 years ago and it makes a really fine cuppa char (as my mum used to say)...but...with a broken lid there was only one thing left to do with it...make it a planter for miniature daffodils...

So when my friend Judy (from the East side) was in town we went and did some walking...and I bought myself a new teapot...by the same English company, Emma Bridgewater. I just love it...It says Tea In The Garden on the lid and is adorned with cherries.

Here it is sitting next to Jiminy Cricket on my window sill...all ready for some water on the boil to make it's its very first brew. I do love my tea.
So this March 17th don't forget to wear green...just because...it's a cool color...

Beanneacht!

May the most you wish for
be the least you get.
May the best times you've ever had
be the worst you will ever see.
celtic blessing

rules of engagement...

Stop!...in the name of love...
Julia, the daughter of our dear old family friends Jim and Judy, is getting married to Jordan later this year...and we just went to their Engagement Party.
It was wonderful...but it was also sentimental...
Here's a portrait I took of the bride to be what... some 23 years ago...

Julia age 2

My rules of engagement...
remember the past....

Julia, Jesse, Jake, Becca upstate New York

but embrace the future....

Becca and Jesse

It's the only way to keep your sanity...