August 7, 2005

"Quiet Day"
9:05pm

We have not played music all day. Sometimes we like it quiet, though I admit this is rare. Yesterday, we had less quiet entertainment. First, we went to see March of the Penguins. The penguins are so cute! All so harsh in that environment, yet the will to survive, to seek partnership, to have progeny goes on. They are so tender with each other. When a mother lost her baby, she wailed in mourning. That they are experiencing love for each other, I have no doubt. It is a wonderful film.

In the evening, I pulled out a DVD I bought months ago and never watched. Cirque de Soliel's Dralion is amazing. It's simply awesome what those people can do, the jugglers, leapers, fliers, balancers, they push the limits of what the human body is capable of to the max. And they also make it beautiful, even mythic in their art. I'm glad I own it, for I'll want to see that again.

The rest of the weekend, I turned my attention to the Book of Life project. I did it last year, but now I'm doing it again, taking the framework from last year and fleshing it out. Last year, it was all about getting the general evolution. So now I can go for specific memories as they spontaneously spring up.

One thing I learned this year when doing my 'Lord of the Rings' series is to really create an effective drawing, I need to enter the emotional state of the subject. So I'm applying that to BOL. I've created so far, four drawings of me as a young child, using the photos from then. And, yes, the feelings of 'me at that time' do come up and are vivid.

Also, I'm letting memories come to the surface as I draw, and writing them down, and including them in the BOL pages. One thing that was strange is the dreams I had when taking a nap today. I dreamt of neighborhood bullies throwing dirt on me, and mothers who just laughed, and me going back in the house, cowed, (however, this was an adult me experiencing this). So once awake, I remembered my childhood experiences with bullies.

As I add new drawings and memories, the previous sections are getting unwieldy, so I'll likely split them up for easier load time.

Here's one of the self portraits:

Me at nine years old...

August 8, 2005

"Happy Accomplishments"
10:45pm

©JAL 8-8-05
Click for larger view

I remember my bangs are pulled back over head because that's how a friend, Debbie, did hers. (Yes, this year I had friends who weren't cousins.) For the cat's eye glass frames, I picked mostly clear frames hoping the glasses would be less distracting from my appearance. I think the erupting of all those hormones is giving me a dreamy look. That, and the awareness of filling a bra.

Anyway, I'm pleased with my visit to me at year eleven. Not only did I get this portrait done, I got it into the art gallery and revamped the gallery a bit. Or could I say I 'devamped' the gallery? I took two vampire drawings and placed their thumbnails and links on the large vampire family portrait, in case viewers want to see more vampires.

It's been a satisfying evening, and now I shall go to bed content.

August 10, 2005

"New Life"
5:29pm

Back around Walspurgsnacht (April 30th), I made note in my private journal of, "sounds of a female cat in heat on our porch. She wants it, and she wants it bad!" She got what she was craving, and today we found the results of that craving nestled on our porch, near the wall:

Comparing them to the size of the ordinary garden hose, you can get an idea of just how tiny they are. Soft hearted Julia put some tuna out for the momma, even though they're not 'our cats', and I noted the empty can!

7:56pm

We just came back from a visit with a friend. She and her new baby are doing well. He's got a good grip. The tips of Sam's tiny fingers turned white as he gripped Julia's finger. After she fed him, she gave him to Julia to burp so she could eat her sandwich. Little Sam was so comfy and relaxed, he curled up into almost a ball while on Julia's chest. I wished I had my sketch book with me, but perhaps another sketching opportunity will come.

August 14, 2005

"A Rich Weekend"
2:37pm

We have had a lovely anniversary weekend. Friday evening we went to River City Grill and Julia wisely remembered our decision to split entreés. I had all the halibut I wanted, plus the tasty tidbits that go with it, also a delicious appetizer of stuffed figs. I never had fresh figs before, and they were tasty.

Saturday morning, I didn't feel much like concentrating, so I did other tasks, such as washing the clothes. When the noggin is boggin', I figure that is the most efficient use of time. Then we went to see the movie Sky High, about a 'Hogwarts' for super heroes and a group of kids who aren't considered 'hero' quality. It was great fun. After that, we had a big feast at India House. Julia has learned about me and buffets. Her first plate is very sparse. I arrive hungry, my plate is piled high. I eat about half of it and am stuffed. Then she finishes up what I don't eat. This way, we each get nicely full.

In the evening, we visited with our friends Horst and Margo and had a great time. We now have a copy of their autobiographical book, titled Rising Up Again and Again, about not giving into defeat. At the end of the visit, Horst said how we make our own reality, and I wanted to reply "Xeper", and I knew that if he knew the meaning, he would understand.

I didn't go to bed after that. The good conversation energized me. The earlier afternoon nap helped, as well. So I was surfing around, looking at what other people had done to illustrate the Friday Illo theme of Wisdom. I followed a link to an artist who does women and Goddess inspired images. I kept wishing her little pics were bigger, so that I could see more details. But I enjoyed what I was able to see. And I was inspired. Her picture of Sekhmet's Temple in the Nevada desert inspired me to a spontaneous drawing:

A Woman At Peace With Herself

It started out as an automatic drawing, then I realized it could be a FRESH illo for 'Wisdom', so I added it to that gallery, as well.

I stayed up late last night doing that. In the morning, I got up long enough to watch the CBS Sunday Morning Show with Julia. They were doing themes of 'The Good Life'. I didn't have much envy for the exorbitant wealth displayed. Wealth to me is measured in richness of experience. However, I do admit, with a little more money, perhaps a richer experience can be had. (Plane fare, etc., is not cheap.) Still, it is the desire to have fun and to enjoy the adventurous spirit that is most necessary.

After a long nap, I woke refreshed and ready to return to my Book of Life project. Remembering the rough years in college had not been easy, yet it was those times which brought about in me a greater strength. Today's remembrance involved my first sewing job, and the challenges of slowly learning those tasks. I will admit to a bit of 'slowness'. I remember the first pair of tailored coat sleeves I did. My boss was not easily patient, but I did eventually master the tasks.

About three years ago, a man came to the sewing shop, and took everyone's pictures for an article he was writing. I found the large original and used that as the model for this drawing:

© JAL, 8-14-05, (Click to see larger version)

And thus I have spent most of my working days since 1982!

It has been a lovely weekend, and it is not over yet! I wish for you my readers, blessings both bright and dark and joy from unexpected places.

August 16, 2005

"'Blind' Contour"
12:52am

That is my attempt at 'Blind Contour', drawing my face without looking at the paper. The artist who has inspired me and many others does it so much better. I had fun, none the less.