Do you like cherries?

The way my life goes, I can't tell if there are pits in my cherries
or cherries among my pits, philosophically speaking.
~Rhann Morgan

I painted this ATC for a friend that is always first in line to help others. Reading her very honest blog made me think that she could use some of that love too. It is so hard to read something, feel the pain and realize that you can't help. She loves cherries... so I'm wishing her to see more cherries than pits... and I hope it will brighten a moment of her day.

Live and learn...

Learn from my mistake. I painted (drew?) the colorful lady (with the very green forehead) using Rembrandt Soft Pastels. As she is pretty dark and had a lot of pigment I wanted to protect it and sprayed it with Fixative. I read that it can change the color, but I didn't expect the results... It killed the colors completely!!!!! I'm so happy I scanned her before spraying. I know that it's not a master piece and I'm not upset, but look at the difference:

Well, now that I look at them together... maybe she's better toned down. Next time I'll know what to expect...

Everybody Needs a Friend

9" x 12", pastels

The story of my life...

I know well what I'm fleeing from
but not what I am in search of.
~Michel de Montaigne

Illustration Friday - Poem

Paradise -
I see flowers
from the cottage where I lie.
~Yaitsu's death poem, 1807

I was listening to the voice of Eva Cassidy while drawing this. I never heard of her before yesterday. My husband stumbled upon her video while searching for something on YouTube. He was immediately captured by her voice and couldn't wait to share it with me. I prefer male voices to female... so I wasn't expecting a lot. I was up for a surprise. Her voice is strong, warm, pure... It brings emotions and tears to your (my) eyes. I can't stop listening to her. Eva sings with the angels now, as she left this planet way too early (33 y. old).

Creative in a different way...

I am not creating a lot these days and it started to worry me. Then I figured out what is the reason... my experimental raw (live) food way of eating! It is very new to me and exciting and I'm spending a lot of time reading about it and trying new recipes daily. Only a year ago I thought that you can make only a certain amount of salads and get bored after. I had no idea that you can not cook and make gourmet meals that even big meat eaters and kids will eat. I guess I am being creative... in a different way.
P.S. Please notice the funny plate on the top... the one that looks chipped and has the ridicules figures around. It was my first and last try at pottery. I was so sad that it didn't turn out right... Now I love it for the exact same reason - it's not perfect, but it is definitely unique :-)

A page in my journal

To bring anything into your life,
Imagine that it's already there.