Last Round 5 work in Preston's Mole

Brave Benny and the Owl

watercolor and Faber-Castell and Micron artists pens

click this and all images to view larger

Dragon tears collab for Steve Spetseris

watercolor and sakura gel pen

Camouflage Rabbit

 white-line print, watercolor

pocket item for Preston

These are my last two pieces in Preston's Moleskine.  The first is for the Brave Benny Book I am doing for my grandkids (and Also for Andrea, even though it's in Preston;s Mole), the second is a collaboration for Steve Spetseris--Steve feel free to manipulate or paint over any part you'd like.  The third is a white-line print.  My first ever.  It is for Preston's pocket.  I am concerned because there is absolutely NOTHING in Preston's pocket--I thought we were each supposed to leave some small gift for the owner of the Mole in the pocket.  

A little history of the white line print.  I took a workshop.  The workshop was three hours long, during which time I made the design and then carved the woodblock and began the printing process.  It took 2 more 3-hour sessions to complete the print. It's a slow process.

The White-line print, also called the Provincetown Print, is described here and also in many other online posts, if you are interested in learning more about it.

Hypnogogics: The Puppet man, blood on the cinch and other images of insomnia

Puppet man, Scary evil man with sharp teeth
hypnogogic image from last night
watercolor

Blood on the cinch
Hypnogogic image from last night
watercolor

Avocado, watch, toll money, jelly jar
oil pastels on textured paper in handmade sketchbook

Insomnia painting/sketch for me
by Heidi Chester
watercolor, oil pastels, colored pencils.
Click any image to view larger.
(Click the back button to return to story)

Heidi's bouquet
watercolor, by me

Last night, I suffered from insomnia.  This is, unfortunately, fairly common for me, though I've discovered that if I avoid certain foods, I sleep much better.  Last night, I did not sleep well at all, and as often happens, I had weird and scary hypnogogic images so bright as to be almost hallucinatory.  Those are the first two images.  The third I drew ("painted") with oil pastels at the motel when I was awake at night.  The fourth image my friend Heidi drew for me in my handmade sketchbook when I was visiting her, and the lsat I painted of her bouquet right before bed.  A delayed bedtime, due to doing art.

In the blood on the cinch painting, I was rubbing blood on a beautiful highly decorative cinch on my horse.

Kissed Frankie Goodnight . . .

Kissed Frankie Goodnight

watercolor by Mary Stebbins Taitt

for my book

click to view larger.

They partied for days, weeks, months and years;

the sound of their laughter filled everyone’s ears.

They partied ‘til the moon came up in the sky

and then all creatures kissed Frankie goodbye.


*

I painted this with watercolors, finishing it (after many days of work), on 8/21/14 and today, I added the moon in Photoshop.   It is for the book I am working on for my grandson hopefully for his birthday, otherwise for Christmas.  He will be four years old on his birthday, and has just started school.

I posted it before, but I think this is the finished version (I hope).

Preparing to mail another traveling sketchbook

Pelicans, front of envelope
Markers
click this or any image to see the images larger

Georges Braque
Back of envelope
Markers

For the pocket, I decided to make small note cards.

Fantasy in red
watercolor

I did the Fantasy in red first.

Fantasy in Blue
Mary Stebbins Taitt
Markers and pigment pens

I picked up on some of the shapes and composition of fantasy in red for my fantasy in in blue, and added an eye and a nose.  I "organized" the random lines in the wide band in fantasy in red into an eye.

Fantasy in Yellow
Mary Stebbins Taitt
Markers and pigment pens

For fantasy in yellow, I added a second eye and a mouth.  On the wide band, I made two eyes.

An Organization of Mind
Mary Stebbins Taitt
Markers and pigment pens

Because the two eyes on the wide band in Fantasy in  yellow resembled a mask, I decided I need one more (I had only planned to do three, in primary colors.)

The completed series

After I "completed" the series (or thought I had), I made one more card for my mother-in-law, who was having dinner with us, and although I hadn't intended it, it ended up to be the 5th in series.  However, it is not in the pocket because I gave it to her.

An organization of Mind II
Mary Stebbins Taitt
pigment pen and colored pencil
(NOT in pocket)

"I dream someone is drawing cards that will determine not only my dreams, but also my future"

"I dream someone is drawing cards that will determine not only my dreams, but also my future"
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
water color, pen and ink

I really had this dream!  And as part of a dream yesterday morning, two small children were turning back and forth from kids to a snail and a slug and ricing through hot soapy water.  It was nerve-wracking to watch/dream!

This is my last piece in Aya's Mole this round.  Yet to do is one or more pocket items and the envelope.  I was going to start the envelope NOW, but the top is stuck on gesso and I can't get it off.

We have NO power at home, and slept at the studio last night.  The internet here is unbearably slow, and we don't have a smart phone, so I won't be online much until we get our power back at home.  Wish you love, joy, blessings!

I dream I need help securing a prisoner

I dream I need help securing a prisoner
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
in Aya's Moleskine

I got new pens and failed to test them for water-resistance--they SAID they were water-resistant but were not!  DUH!!!  I messed up--should have tested them.  They drew really nicely but bad when water added.  I do that intentionally sometimes, but in this case, did not want the ink to run.  I would have painted over the lettering but it would have been a disaster.

Collab for Mike

So, I have one more to do and I will mailing this Moleskine off to Mike.

We have company coming next week--our daughter Sarah and her husband Steve. We'll be busy getting ready, busy with them, busy catching up afterwards.  But fun!  YAY!

free-ranging fish return to their tank

The runaway fish return to their tank
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
watercolor and pen and ink
5 x 8

I dream that the free-ranging fish must be back in their tank before dawn or they will die.

I Dream the fish swim out of their aquariums at night

I Dream the fish swim out of their aquariums at night
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
in Aya's book

I did this tonight, September 2nd, but accidentally put the wrong date on.  This is a real dream I have.  Or, used to have repeatedly.  Haven't had it recently (I no longer have an aquarium; that may be why.

A Fox for Judi Fox

Fox
digitally altered painting
original painting 5 x 7 in water color and sparkly pens
for Judi Fox
by me, Mary Stebbins Taitt

Noah helped Frankie write words on some paper

Noah helped Frankie write words on some paper
Invitations to come to their party and caper
Watercolor and gouache on wc Moleskine
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
Click image to view larger

This is my latest painting (illustration) and is for one of the children's books I am working on, Frankie and Noah have a Party.  It is done in Andrea's Moleskine, Round 4, Pass 2 in my Moleskine Exchange group.  It is all watercolor except the blue background, which is gouache, on Moleskine watercolor paper.

Here is the text for this page:

Frankie helped Noah write on some paper                    

Invitations to come to a party and caper 

They’d fill up balloons with helium vapor

If they filled up enough it would lift up a tapir   

The pigeons and crows and the owls and wrens

carried the invites to their animal friends. (by me, of course)

The picture is of my grandson Frankie, who is three years old, and the finished book will be for him.

Role Model(s)

The Teeth of Joy II
digitally altered watercolor painting
originally done for yesterday's challenge
for John Gibson
click image to view larger.

Today's goal setting assignment is to list 5 qualities you admire in a role model.

Describe your success role model by writing down 5 qualities you admire about this person.

How to do it

Write down the name of one person - you don't even have to know him or her personally - whose level of success you admire. Jot down at least five qualities that make this person successful. Is he known for getting to work early? Does she practice certain habits, such as meditation or exercise, daily? Did he take big risks when starting out in his career?

I think they mean one role model for all five of the qualities.  Since following instructions is not my strong suite, I want to list qualities from several people:

The Buddha:  Serenity

Jesus:  love and compassion

Mother Theresa:  Loving compassionate service

Margaret Atwood:

1. intelligence
2. perception
3. knowledge
4. humor
5. hard work (writing and publishing good novels)*

*I would like to be able to write and publish good novels.

Another quality I admire is responsibility, that is, being on time and doing the job one needs to do.  I have someone in mind but would prefer not to name that person.  I also have someone in mind who exhibits the opposite tendencies, and would also prefer not to name that person.  (I do not mean myself).  The contrast between the two is astounding, and I want to be on the continuum closest to the one who is good at being responsible!

I could go on and on with people I admire and the things I admire about them--many names are popping into my head.  I could list many other writers I admire (Barbara Kingsolver, for example and many others), and artists I admire, and kind people I admire.  However, the challenge only asked for one person and 5 qualities, so I shall practice at least a modicum of restraint and stop now.

My Mission Statement for Today and 2014

The Teeth of Joy
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
digitally manipulated watercolor painting
Dedicated to John Gibson

Each of these assignments from the goal setting track seems to me to require a great deal of thought.  Here is today's assignment:

Write your personal mission statement, something that explains who you are and what you believe.

How to do it

A personal mission statement can be in whatever form you wish - a list, a sentence, or a paragraph. If the thought of a mission is intimidating, consider this a personal statement or credo. What's most important is that you draft a statement to explain who you are, why you exist, your personal values, and what you hope to achieve. An example mission might read: "I make a difference in the lives of others by using my artistic abilities and social network to bring art experiences to people in my community," or "The work I do as a parent is important because I'm raising my children to be kind and productive."

I've done this before, created a Mission Statement, but I no longer know where it is.  It used to be posted in my office somewhere.

I believe in kindness, to others and to myself.
I believe in love, in loving myself and others.
I believe in joy.
I believe in balance, an appropriate dynamic balance.
I believe in energy, in the flow and exchange of energy.
I believe in creativity, in the life giving life-sharing benefits of creativity.
I believe in intelligence, in a variety of different kinds of intelligences.
I believe in life.

I do not think an off-the-cuff Mission Statement will serve me terribly well, but I will start with something simple and revisit it.

My Mission Statement for today:

I, Mary, intend to use love, energy, kindness, joy, intelligence and creativity to provide, in a balanced and dynamic way, enjoyable, growth-inducing and healing experiences for myself, my family, my friends and my community.

What does that mean, exactly?  That I am going continue doing what I am doing? Kind of, with some modifications, perhaps.

I think it means I want and intend to do writing, art and other activities that provide happiness, joy, healing and understanding to myself and others.  Does that mean I cannot write about or paint negative things?  No!  Because for healing to occur, sometimes we have to see, understand and confront the problem.

The thing that could be different is that I hope to pay more attention to whether my activities support this mission or not.

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So what about yesterday's goals for today?  Did I call the dermatologist? Did I do my exercises?  No, not yet, but I haven't forgotten.  It's too early to call the dermatologist.  They don't open until 10 AM.  It's 8:15 AM here, now.  And I will do the exercises as soon as I finish this.  (Okay, I just went and did the exercises. I need to do them again tomorrow and that should reestablish the habit.  And now it is 8:56 and I want to make an art piece to go with this post.)

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Quote for the day:  from Pat Barker's Life Class:  “It's the hardest thing in the world to go on being aware of someone else's pain.” 
― Pat Barker

 I just read that 2 minutes ago. How does that relate to my Mission Statement? It reminds me of the Bob Dylan Song, "Black Diamond Bay."

Because I am in physical pain much of the time, and because I am also in emotional pain, I seem if anything less able than before to contain other people's pain and react appropriately.  That is, people at a distance.  Especially masses of people. I can be empathetic and sympathetic of certain pain, especially specific individual pain, at least for a while.  So perhaps I could look at what small doable things I might do to help.  For example, would a card cheer someone up?  It won't help people dying of famine or cholera in the wake of a typhoon. But it might cheer someone who is lonely.

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I tried to make a cheery painting to go with this post, but the one that I liked is not cheery.  Hmmm.  It's not outwardly cheery, but I like it anyway.  (Hope you do, too.)  It took more time than I intended to paint.

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And, finally, I bit the bullet and called the dermatologist.  I'm not sure why I find this so difficult.

From the book I am working on for Frankie

On a bright red caboose
watercolor on watercolor moleskine
click image to view larger

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Goose                                      

and their friends Aloysius and Frangelica Moose     

And two herons who complained their stockings were loose

all rode together on a bright red caboose.

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that I can get this done in time for Christmas.

Tut, tut, Woman Scolding

"Tut, tut, Woman Scolding"
First half of a collaboration for Mike to finish
pen and ink with watercolor "wash"
click image to view larger.

Okay, here's my collaboration of the second pass of round four in my own Moleskine, for Mike to finish.

I still have one full page to do of my own work, plus I was going to do the back cover.  I may skip that until later, same with decorating the envelope,  If I'm running late.  I'm so OCD sometimes that the thought of skipping something Id wanted to do makes me nervous.

But here is one more sub-task of one of the tasks I wanted to accomplish this month.  And as far as two posts a week, hey, maybe for December, which will crazy busy in an escalating fashion, maybe I just have to average 2 a week and I''m getting head start on next week, LOL!!!

Collaboration with Hennie Mavis: Cardinal Dream

Hennie's lovely start
(First half)
(click this and all images to see larger)

Hennie's gorgeous painting is wonderfully balanced and has really nice composition and color.

my half of the collaboration
cardinals fly, by Mary Taitt

Unfortunately, when I started this painting, we company for dinner and I only had one of my small watercolor kits, it was the wrong one, and the colors didn't match.  Wrong reds and blues.  Of course, that wasn't the only flaw, I'm sorry to say.

full double-page spread
Cardinal Dream
collab Hennie Mavis and Mary Stebbins Taitt

The dream was Hennie's, a wonderful dream.

I have one solo piece and one first half collab for Mike left to do before I mail.  When I complete, I will be able to mark off one item in my ridiculous goals list in the previous post.

Nightmare: When you get him home, he's not what he seemed

Nightmare:  When you get him home,
he's not what he seemed
(Glass eye, wig, wooden leg and silver nose.
Click image to view larger
Faber-PITT pigment pens
+watercolor

I started working in pigment markers, because we have company and I didn't want to get out the watercolors, water, brushes, palette, etc.  They went out, and I switched water color--I have to say, I like water color so much better.

Goat Boat Stoat

Goat rowed his boat

With his friend Stoat watercolor, arches 140 lb cold-pressed paper 7 x 10

"Goat rowed his boat

With his friend Stoat" San Cassimally, painting by me, for Aya's pocket.

I painted the boat and the stoat (weasel) with a small koi waterbrush and koi paints from my field kit, because we have company coming and I didn't want to make a big mess, then I got everything out anyway and painted the rest with Windsor Newton paints and one BIG round brush.

I'm hoping to make a kids' book for my grandson.

Aardvark, Shark, Lark, Ark, Dark: Pocket item for Ballookey

Aardvark with Shark and Lark

Sailed in their ark (in the dark)

This is a pocket item for Ballookey.  It's watercolor on 140 lb cold-pressed Arches paper, 7 x 10.  It was entirely painted with the water brushes that you fill with water.  I got two new ones and wanted to try them out.  One is a fine point Koi that came with a field set, which I'd never used, so I used it last night and in the wee hours this morning when I couldn't sleep.  The other is a Niji flat.  I painted most of the painting with Niji and then added the detail with the Koi brush.

This is theoretically for the series I am doing of San Cassimally's book, Animal Carnival.  However, as you can plainly see, it is in a different medium and different style than the others, so I will probably redo it?  (Or redo the others?)  I really just wanted to play with watercolors.

When Confronted with our Worst Nightmares

"When Confronted with our Worst Nightmares
I like to fight back with Flowers"
Collaboration Andrea and Mary
mixed media
water color, acrylic, pigment pens, colored pencil
click image to view larger

I wanted to do the girl (standing in for my child-self) in water color, but ended up coloring the background with black Faber-Castell pigment marker (A gift from Hennie Mavis) and then painting over that with glazes of blue acrylic.  I drew the flowers on the girl's pajamas with colored pencil and then painted them in with watercolor.

I have a lot of dreams of being chased down dark alleys by men who intend me harm.  They are nightmares, because I wake up terrified.  Not sure if that's what Andrea meant.

Click on the image to see it much larger.

I am still sick and my work is going slowly.

Lakeshore Poppies, Approaching Storm

Lakeshore Poppies, Approaching Storm
Watercolor in watercolor moleskine A3
by Mary Stebbins Taitt
Click images to view larger

I painted this this morning in my round 4 Moleskine with watercolors. Last night, I did the one below, which is smaller and in a different oritnetation and with gouache instead of watercolor.

I am tempted to darken the Moley one a little (so it looks more like the Graham-cracker-box one), but haven't decided yet.  I guess Iw ill do more work first and come back to it if I have time.

This is my third page in the Round 4 Sketchbook.

If you are interested, you can read about my Graham cracker box sketchbook here. I also did a raisin-box sketchbook here.  Although some of the images don't show up in the small versions, they do show up if you click on them.

For some reason, the images look a little washed out on my screen--they look brighter if you click on them.

I am still sick and haven't been online much, sorry to say.

Lakeshore Poppies, Approaching Storm
5 x 7 gouache sketch
in Graham cracker sketchbook on Canson mi-teientes
by Mary Stebbins Taitt