Peach Coglo

Thinking of Summer and Fall

It's 29 degrees outside and the ground is still covered with snow from the blizzard.  It looks like we might be in for some more snow this weekend.  Nonetheless, I am thinking of summer, fall and two shows I need to populate with some art-a summer show and Hartford Open Studio Weekend-trying to get some art ideas and plans together.  For the first time, I am actually planning and making way ahead of time.  Usually due to child care, Greg's work schedule and life, I don't get started until mid to late summer-not cool, so not cool. 

Having a space of my own and the youngest going to preschool for 2 hours, four days per week helps-tremendously.   The difference is unbelievable.  I get some time to recover from the barrage of words and movement from such a full family life.  Being an introvert, I could always use more time and thinking space, but for now I will be grateful for what I can get, etch out more time where I can, and meet myself where I am.

I read this recently and had to "pin" it.  It's so true and a very nice reminder for when I slide off track or when I am feeling overwhelmed and behind (whatever  or wherever behind is).

So in the spirit of preparation and putting art at the core of my life, I am presently working on some Harry Potter inspired concepts for Open Studio, along with some other ideas.  I am thinking a lot about symbols and myth lately.  We'll see how it turns out.

So what are you creating time for in your life?

Doran's Art Show

Please excuse me while I gush a bit about my boy.  A few weeks ago Doran received a letter from our town inviting him to an art reception where his work would be featured.  It turns out Doran's art teacher, Ms. H, entered his painting into a town-wide contest.  This contest is held only every two years.  Doran received a blue ribbon and his work will become part of our town's permanent collection.  I am truly amazed by Doran's talent, passion (he gets intense about his painting) and skill and so happy for him!  Doran has worked spectacularly hard and his teachers have worked along side him, pushing and encouraging him. 

We attended the reception at Town Hall.  We saw Doran's painting and the other beautiful works that will also be a part of the town's collection.  It was wonderful to watch all of the children get up and receive their certificates.  It was such an honor.  I could tell Doran was very proud!  Seeing that just made my year-to see his pride.  So often our kiddos who live with autism don't have the opportunity to feel competent about even the most basic of things.  I know I am biased, but I am over the moon that one of Doran's loves and strength lies in his art. 

He even went up to get his certificate by himself.  He responded with an adamant "No!" when I asked if he wanted me to help him to the podium.  It was such a joy to watch him race up to receive his certificate and then study it carefully on his way back to where we were standing.

I call this Doran's "Cool-B-Smooth James Dean" pose, but I think the poor kid was just exhausted.

I was also so touched by Doran's teachers.  They work so hard and are incredibly dedicated.  I don't think I could do it.  After being at school all day, Doran's principal Dr. D., his teachers Ms. G and Ms. T, and his art teacher Ms. H. came to the reception.  I will be forever grateful to them for the love and respect they have for my son.

Doran receiving his certificate.  The artwork in the room is from the ArtQuest program.

Thanks for your patience with my gushing!

Totally lopsided-sorry-it's the best I could do while dodging the crowd, but you get the idea.  I just love his background colors.  The town did a wonderful job framing it too.  Congratulations Doran!

Weekending~June 11, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

Oh the days and weeks speed by, I can't believe another weekend is over and we are heading for the middle of June.

We worked on several house projects, attacked the usual laundry towers and I attempted to be organized.  The organization is actually helping-I am finding more time to work, and actually feeling more relaxed even though my schedule has revved up monster-truck style.  I also felt a little sad that I can't get around the interwebs to visit everyone as often as I have in the past.  The reason for this shift is good-more work on the art front and children developing their own interests, but still . . . .

This weekend was filled with some exploring and gardening-Greg planting our Thumbelina sized tomatoes.  Poor things.  Next season plant the seeds in March Angie, March.  

On Saturday we went to the Mark Twain House in Hartford.  What a beautiful estate.  Twain was an incredible man; he lived quite the life.  We learned a lot about the Twain family's lifestyle, politics, more details about their attitudes towards race and justice, Twain's auburn colored hair, decorating preferences and how they existed and celebrated life-very interesting.  We took a carriage ride and listened to "Abe Lincoln" read several of his addresses and letters.  They chose an excellent actor for the part of Lincoln.  Later, Greg and I took turns to visit the Race, Rage and Redemption and A Sound Heart and Deformed Conscience exhibits.  It is too intense for little kids.  It was almost too intense for me.  If you are in the area, you should definitely see this exhibit.

We also took a tour of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.   She lived a few hundred yards from Twain. She was also an incredible person, not to mention that she was the mother of twins too.  The story behind her book Uncle Tom's Cabin was fascinating.  As with everything people have a hard time confronting, the powers that be misrepresented the story, turning it into a 'comedy' of sorts for stage and film while contorting the character of Tom, twisting him into a weak, lost, undignified simpleton.  Again, if you have the opportunity to visit the museum and learn more about Stowe and her book, take advantage of it.

Sunday we ventured out to our town's local arts and crafts fair.  Elijah and Helena explored the jewelry makers' tents and asked all kinds of questions about the artists' technique and materials.  They were also quite impressed with a wood artist's creations.  I must say I love these events and being around people who create and celebrate the handmade.

It's undisputed!

The most nerve-wracking time for me was watching Helena and Elijah take their first ferris wheel ride ever, and they did it alone.  Doran begged to go down one of those Super Slides which I think he kind of regretted as it took him a long time to let go.  We didn't stay after the three kids took their rides as Eden was miffed because she couldn't ride anything.  Also those ride tickets for were crazily expensive ($2 for 1 ticket and most good rides were 2 tickets per person).  Yipe.

How was your weekend?

 

 

 

Curious George Exhibit

The huge Curious George banner outside the exhibit.

Over the holiday break, we took a trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum to check out the Curious George exhibit.  We wanted a pretty laid back holiday and tried to not travel around too much, but this exhibit was too much to resist.  It was close and I wasn't sure the kids would ever get to see original art and manuscripts by the Reys.  I love looking at original artwork and seeing the original work, and sketches from the Curious George books was intriguing.

We learned so very much.  The kids were enthralled and really hung in there, actually studying the exhibit and looking closely at the details.  I tend to linger over museum pieces studying details too so I was happy to see this.  It's a bit easier to explore museums and their treasures when people aren't clamoring to go and are happy to observe the rich details.

I didn't know the Reys had to flee the Nazis, and I was unaware that they traveled so much.  It was intriguing but so interesting to see their passports, telegrams, art journal/diaries and New Year's cards.  There was also a pop-up book exhibit.  My favorite was The Pop-Up Book of Phobias.  Really people.  It is a bit subversive.  I mean all anyone needs is a clown or spiders popping up and out at them.  There was also a cool version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  The museum also hosted a few pieces by David Macaulay.  Book and art awesomeness . . . .

I can't show you any photos from inside the exhibit due to copyright laws, but I got a couple of shots outside the exhibit.  If you live nearby and get a chance, you should go.  The exhibit ends February 5th.

  Doran was the only one to brave meeting George.  I was happy to see this was the old-fashioned George  from the 70's.  You know the one.  I still have my stuffed George-tucked safely away from my children.  Sorry guys.  He was one of my absolute most favorite toys.

Blurry photo of the fam going in.  I am pretty sure this is legal.  To the Powers That Be: Please don't arrest me.  This was a fabulous exhibit and I wish I could show you more.  Seriously if you can, check it out!  There is a lot of inspiration and dreaminess to be found.

Happy Thursday friends!

Guesting over at Unplugged Sunday

Hello Friends.  Today I am over at Heather and Adam's amazing space, Unplugged Sunday!  As you know Heather has inspired our family to have a weekly Unplugged Sunday.   She was sweet to allow me to share our Unplugged Sunday experiences on her blog.  You probably know sweet Heather from her lovely and inspiring blog, Beauty That Moves.  If you have a moment, hop on over for a visit.

xo,

Angela

Drawing with Toddler

I have resigned myself to the fact I can't paint watercolor while Eden is in her present stage-too much risk of things going wrong.  I tried but no go.  It's hard to get an even wash when someone needs their 6th clementine peeled or they have a sudden need to go to the bathroom.  If she would nap, then it would be another story.  Alas, she has decided she needs no stinkin' nap.  So after some thought, I just adapted my attitude and medium.

I have discovered I can draw while she is up with not much risk of disaster.  Yay!  Hopefully this will encourage her to do more of her own drawing.  Double yay!  I draw in the day and paint at night before I get to bleary-eyed.  So it's been an adjustment, with some tweaking, but it's been cool planning drawings for eventual paintings and making them while hanging with Eden and listening to this.  I would even say it's rather meditative.

Light undersketch-hopefully for a Doran painting.

Detailed sketch for a detailed raspberry painting.  Don't scream Julie.  ;-)

Have a great Thursday!

Just Keep Swimming

As I try to start and finish several paintings, as I worry about the perspective and design of this piece and that, I remind myself to calm down and enjoy the process.

When it all seems too much (and there has been some of that lately), I remind myself of the words of the Wise One herself- "Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming."

Hope your Thursday is a good one!

Weekending ~ September 18, 2011

It's time for Weekending with Amanda at the habit of being.  If you like, join  in and share your weekend.

This was another one of those full weekends.  Alas, another opportunity to practice appreciation, mindfulness, and patience.

I was super excited to have two of my pieces accepted for a local Artwalk festival.  I met some different and generous artists.  I hung out with some friends who were sweet enough to spend part of their Saturday at the festival.  It's always fun looking at art with my friend Julie; there are always some interesting pieces to enjoy

My parents sent me a lovely flower arrangement-so sweet

Greg took all four kidlets (thanks for the delightful word Amanda) to Helena's dance class.  That is a brave man.  The children behave well, but I really have a difficult time with all of the energy and noise that gets bottled up in the teeny waiting area-from all of the adults mind you, not the children

After that, the whole family went back to Artwalk and made some tiles for a community art project.  The tiles will be the border for a quilt by Ed Johnetta Miller.  That will be sweet

Then we went on our separate ways, Greg and the kids to a birthday party and me to CT Pride to support a friend.  That was a fun time

Then because everyone was so darn tired, there was Chinese food for dinner.  Nobody was cooking anything.   The kiddos rewatched Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!  Greg and I kept nodding out

Even with all of the activity and running about it was still a good and exciting Saturday

Sunday we didn't go nearly as many places, but it was still a full day-such is Fall (notice the attempt to adjust my 'tude)

The morning was slow.  I went off on a search for more canning jars and lids.  I have learned the hard way that a body can never have too many.  I am trying to plan ahead for Christmas; those jars are great for Christmas bark and other goodies.  Somehow I can never find them after September

I achieved my goal and managed to can five more pints of whole tomatoes for a total of nine.  The smell of cooking tomatoes is just heavenly.  We have done quite well considering the ill-timed rain we had at the beginning and end of the season.  There are more tomatoes ripening around the house and a lot green ones on the vine still.  Yes we have done well given the late blight and recent hurricane

Now we are eyeing our store of apples and pears-hmmm

Then late in the afternoon it was time for Elijah's tennis and Doran's soccer.  I figure I can handle this schedule for a few more weeks; both sports end the week of Halloween.  I like for the children to have as much free time as possible.  However, they still want to participate in a few activities.  I figure one activity each for the older children is not too much or too little-for now

We enjoyed grilled hamburgers and a bonfire for dinner and then 'poof'' the weekend was over.

 

How was your weekend?

 

 

Take Joy!

It's Wednesday and time for Yarn Along with Ginny.  Feel free to join in and share what you are reading and making this week.

 

So there has not been too much knitting, but I have been thinking about knitting.  Still awash in ideas, I am starting to narrow down projects for my loves.  Actually I have been doing more reading than knitting.

I love Tasha Tudor's books and illustrations.  This week I read a short book about her life. We are all of us fascinated with her at the moment.  The children are quite enchanted with her renderings of Corgis and Boggarts, and "olden days".   Some of our favorite books are A Time to Keep and Corgiville Fair.  Her illustrations are full and magical.   The other day I picked up The Private World of Tasha Tudor from the library.  I was interested in her life, but I completely underestimated how fascinating she is.

The woman is old-school and a trailblazing simultaneously-truly amazing.  Now, I don't think I want to haul water from a well, using a shoulder yoke (she did eventually get running water), nor do I want to live with forty birds, but her life and lifestyle are amazing and inspiring.  Her hands were never idle and she got the most out of life.  She crafted the most amazing miniature scenes in walnuts, made amazing marionnettes.

Tasha's family was old New England and well-connected.  They hung with the likes of Daniel Webster, Mrs. Gardener, Abigail Adams, Mark Twain and John Singer Sargent.   Tasha's mother was also a bit of a wandering artist.  It was fun to read about some of their free-spirited ways.

Tasha talks very briefly of her childhood and how insecure she was.  Of course she became quite bold.  Love it!  She just lived her creativity-in everything thing she did and was always up for a party.  I just love her approach and I try to bring at least a tenth of it to my life.  The book is a short, but inspiring read.  You can spend hours looking at all of the details of her life.  I will probably reread bits of it.  Even the children enjoyed looking at the photos of her home and animals.

Tasha recounts a lovely quote by Fra Giovanni: "The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach is joy.  Take joy."

Take joy indeed!  Wishing you a wonderful day.

~Angela

 

 

Weekending ~ September 11, 2011

It's Monday, so I am joining Amanda at the habit of being for her weekending series.

This weekend was bittersweet.  I suppose if you think about it a bit many weekends and days are, but the usual seemed exacerbated by 9/11 memories and pain.

There were many prayers and thoughts for those who suffered on that day and are still suffering

We were lucky to be able to go apple and pear picking.  The brilliant sky reminded me of the brilliant sky of that day.  I thought about the luck and absurdity of it all.  I am able to stand with my family and do things like pick apples while others have lost family members and friends to the events of that day and still others lose loved ones in wars.  Then I thought of many other ways we suffer as human beings through poverty, disease, hate and pure luck or bad luck of the draw.  I wondered why at least, if some folks can't be nice (in the simplest of terms) then why can't they just leave others alone.

Then I thought of my friends, family, you and all of the good and joy that remains in the world, even throughout and despite the suffering.  I think I will chose to take joy.

Our weekend was full

The birthday parties have started

Soccer for Doran has started, tennis, choir and ballet start later this week.  I am taking things a moment and breath at a time while I negotiate this busy season (most of which ends around Halloween).  I am attempting not to fight the busy but keep a watchful eye on the moment

Sunday remained unplugged but we are spent a little more time apart than I would like (there was a birthday party in the middle of the day as well as soccer).  So there are thoughts of keeping the calmness our day as intact as possible while trying to respect and allow room for the children to be a part of things.  I could go into a spiral of why do things have to be held on Sundays and weekends, but it won't help anything really, so I just think of how to be, adjust, yet stay true and do what's best for the family (which of course always seems to change ;-)

There are plans for applesauce, apple/pear sauce, apple jelly

The kiddos found all kinds of bird feathers in the orchard along with a hidden bird nest.  The air was thick with the scent of warm, fermenting apples -kind of like hard apple cider.  We wondered how many animals were stumbling around the orchard

There were thoughts of next year's garden and this fall's garden

We tried out our new bike rack.  After hours of searching, installation, guess what the kids wanted to take on their bike ride-scooters.  Um okay

I made more plans for canning tomatoes.  They keep coming-thankfully

I watched two extraordinary stories- Carmen and Geoffrey .  What an extraordinary couple, what extraordinary individuals.  I had the privilege of hearing Geoffrey Holder speak about his "primitive art collectiom"; he is also an artist  (in many different ways).  He was fascinating and carried himself with such dignity and grace.  I wish I had a tenth of it

I also watched Waste Land.  Again, another incredible artist, doing amazing things for other people.   Both movies reminded me why it is so important to keep trying and never lose sight of what is important to you 

I received some awesome news that had me squealing and running around in circle like a three year-old.  Two of my art pieces were juried into a local art exhibit so I am super stoked!  Yay!  Squeeee!!!

How was your weekend?