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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Grape Thief

While going through some old artwork today I came across "The Grape Thief", a very old collage I did years ago featuring many of my paste papers.  I was disappointed with it for various reasons.  The colors got away from me for one thing and the cottage doesn't look right.  But still, it has charm, and I couldn't bring myself to pitch it.  Maybe I will mat it up and offer it in my Etsy shop at a bargain price.  Some little girl might like to hang it in her room.  I do like the depth it has - how the stepping stones lead off into a wonderland of pink and green mountains.  And the dragon is quite handsome.

It's a day to stay inside and dream of far-away places while drinking licorice-mint tea.  Soon spring weather will return and I'll be busy as a bee outside, but today I'm happy to stay in, except for a brisk walk to keep my blood moving and a few trips to the chicken coop.

Easter is coming!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Springing into Spring

This is the reason I haven't had much time to blog this week - 78 baby chicks.  At On The Wind Farm we raise hens for eggs to sell at the farmers' market.  And of course I do everything the hard way.  No GMO feed for these babys.  I mix all my own feed with grains, seeds, sprouts, hard boiled eggs, dried nettles and other greens as they make their appearance in the garden, chopped earthworms, yum yum, and some scraps of venison frozen for just this purpose.  Chicks need lots of good nutrition and protein to develop properly.  So my days are taken up with mixing and measuring and chopping and grinding and digging and changing waterers, and just hanging out watching the show.  Chicks are so curious, and just like people, they all have their own personalities.  Some are very bold, some are shy, some are cuddly, some are stand-offish.  Some seem very smart (for a chicken, that is), and some haven't a clue.

So my artwork has taken a back seat for a time, though I still manage to do a bit on "The Forgotten Garden" each day, and will post my progress soon.  No color yet, just penciling in some shading.  Meanwhile, lots of fun things are always going on at the Fantasy Artists of Etsy blog, so blog hop your way over there and view the lovely items on display! http://faeteam.blogspot.com/

Till soon,
Heidi

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Fairy Tales

I have been reading a little book called "The Poetry and Meaning of Fairy Tales" which is actually two lectures given by the philosopher and seer, Rudolph Steiner, in 1908 and 1913, and I want to share a little of this here.

"Because fairy tales belong to our innermost feeling and emotional life and to everything connected with it, they are of all forms of literature the most appropriate for children's hearts and minds.  It is evident that they are able to combine the richest spiritual wisdom with the simplest manner of expression.  One has the feeling that in the magnificent world of art there is no greater art than this one, which traces the path from the unknown, unknowable depths of the soul to the charming and often playful fairy tale pictures.

When what is most difficult to understand can be put in the most clearly perceptible form, the result will be great art, intrinsic art, art that belongs as a fundamental level to the human being.  Human nature in the child is linked to the life of the whole world in such a primary way that children must have fairy tales as soul-nourishment.  The expression of spiritual force can move much more freely when it comes towards a child.  It should not be entangled in abstract, theoretical ideas if the child's soul is not to become dry and disturded, instead of remaining linked to the deep roots of human life.

Therefore there is nothing of greater blessing for a child than to nourish it with everythig that brings the roots of human life together with those of cosmic life.  A child is still having to work creatively, forming itself, bringing about the growth of its body, unfolding its inner tendencies; it needs the wonderful soul-nourishment it finds in fairy tale pictures, for in them the child's roots are united with the life of the world.  Even we adults, given to reason and intelligence, can never be torn away from these roots of existence; we are most connected with them just when we have to be fully involved with the life of the time.  Therefore at various parts of our life, if we have a healthy, openhearted mind, we will happily turn back to fairy tales.  Certainly there is not a single age or stage of human life that can take us away from what flows out of a fairy tale, for otherwise we would be giving up the deepest and most important part of our nature; we would be giving up what is incomprehensible for the intellect: a sensing within ourselves, a sense for what is pictured in a simple fairy tale and in the simple, artless, primordial fairy tale mood.

The fairy tale is like a good angel, given us at birth to go with us from our home to our earthly path through life, to be our trusted comrade throughout the journey and to give us angelic companionship, so that our life itself can become a truly heart- and soul-enlivened fairy tale!"

Happy Valentine's Day!  And may you all be touched by fairy dust.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

The Forgotten Garden III


It's almost time to trace this and transfer to watercolor paper.  This is a laborious process, but necessary.  Once it's on the final paper I'll ink over all the lines with watered down sepia ink so I don't lose them, then begin painting.  I can't wait!  My watercolor paper has been stretched and is ready.  Now to make final decisions about color. 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Work in Progress II


I have been adding more detail as you can see.  I have decided to call it "The Forgotten Garden".  Overgrown and neglected, it still has a wild beauty and is full of elementals, strange creatures and, of course, fairies.  It looks very rough and sketchy at this point, and flat because there is no shading.  But once I get it traced onto watercolor paper the fun will begin.  It's scary and exciting starting a new piece.  How will it turn out?  Always there are stages where it looks awful when the painting starts, because tones have to be built up in layers of washes to get the depth and highlights needed.  But lots of work to do before that stage.  Color choice is very important, and I'm trying to decide on a palette.  Pink and green, perhaps, with some blue and grey.  I like the mullein stalks and can't wait to see them in color.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Work in Progress - And Happy Candlemas!

First things first.  I must include this secret code: MTYQKBTKV6HW so the Technorati wizards will know I am a real person.  Hopefully now I'm a somebody!

And now on to the art world.  A new fairy is emerging from the mist.  Thought I would show a rough sketch, then keep updating as I work out the details.  She will be in a garden surrounded by foliage and flowers.  I'm thinking foxgloves, though they will be a challenge!  Or maybe spikes of mullein.  Something spikey and some twining things, maybe ivy.  I've been wanting to try a green man, so as you can see, he is appearing on the garden pedastal.  And I will of course add in some mosses hear and there.  Hopefully my moss skills will advance another degree.

Happy Candlemas Day, which most folks call Groundhog Day.  Candlemas celebrates the return of the light after the long darkest days of winter.  Spring is coming.