On a Royalty kick? I guess I am.

The Last of the Tudors

Queen Elizabeth I.

She has long been an inspiration to me. I began reading everything I could lay my hands on, about her, when I was a teenage girl and was encouraged by her faith, her strength and her persistence.

Having lived an uncertain life of peril and intrigue, imprisoned and abused, and under constant threat of assasination or exile, she survived to accomplish wonderful things as Queen of England and Ireland.

She has her admirers and she has her detractors - even now - just as she did when she lived.

I shall remain a faithful fan.

~0~

This is a 3x5, collaged using some of my own hand-prepared papers and some 'ready-made'.

Entered into the 3 Muses' "Inspirational People" challenge.

So Artful

I've been unable to put a name to this 4x4. There are too many possibilities and I can't decide.

What do you think?

I won't tell you some of mine, but they are cracking me up!

The original image was given as a challenge for "So Artful".

I've entered this one.

Queen Eleanor and Fair Rosamund

"To Be A Queen"

The lives of King Henry II, his queen, Eleanor and his young mistress, Rosamund, are shot with legend and mystery. Did Eleanor murder Rosamund or did she, as some say, die quietly in the convent to which she finally fled?

And who was the culprit? The philandering king, the strong-willed, hard-hearted queen, or the young maiden, herself?

Many artists have taken up the brush to illustrate this story. The images I've chosen are from a painting by Evelyn de Morgan.

To learn more about the story go to The Woman in the Bower.

It's one of those wonderful "Olde Englishe Tales". :)

I've submitted it to

Think Monday - Think ATC

for the Kings and Queens challenge.

Background is done with gesso, inks, pen and ink and embossing.

I've used vintage gold glitter and glossy gold backing paper.

Fashion Postcard

Sunday Postcard Art ~ Digital 'Fashion' entry.

Artarazzi

Artarazzi presents a digital challenge, providing an image which must be digitally altered to create a piece of artwork.

Here is the original image for this week's challenge.

The one I've done is below.

"The Fugitive"

Blackbird Fly

Blackbird singin' in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly.
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to arrive.

from the Song by Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney wrote this about the civil rights struggle for blacks after reading about race riots in the US. He penned it in his kitchen in Scotland not long after Little Rock, when the federal courts forced the racial desegregation of the Arkansas capital's school system. McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008: "We were totally immersed in the whole saga which was unfolding. So I got the idea of using a blackbird as a symbol for a black person. It wasn't necessarily a black 'bird', but it works that way, as much as then you called girls 'birds'; the Everlys had had Bird Dog, so the word 'bird' was around. 'Take these broken wings' was very much in my mind, but it wasn't exactly an ornithological ditty; it was purposely symbolic."

Only 3 things were recorded: Paul's voice, his acoustic guitar, and a tapping. According to the video The Complete Beatles, the tap was not a foot or metronome - the Master was intentionally scratched. If you listen closely you will notice that is sounds like a scratch on a record. Birds were dubbed in later.


The illustration is a collaged, bleach-stamped,

inked and painted atc.

Available for trade.

When Time Stands Still

When time stands still
And nothing breaks the silence
But the echoes of what might have been,

No tears -
And no more words to say .
That precious moment passed away.

And as I walk this desert place
I will remember other songs
And, in the silence of my heart,

Sing one for you.

~0~

by Nancy Torsen

This atc was submitted to the Theme Thursday challenge.

A Postcard

Gladys and Hilda weren't so sure they should have signed up for this new knitting group.

So Artful challenge background.

One little geisha.

Background and challenge from Art Creations Friday

Digital Postcard

In my House

Dans Ma Maison... la mer.

Digital composition for this weeks 'sea' challenge.

A Surreal Circus - digital art.

"Surr-cus"

Digital art for the 3 Muses challenge, by ntorsen.

I love circus art - and clowns. So you may see more clowns around here than some people are comfortable with.

I'd like to get my hands on the guy that invented 'evil clowns'. As a semi-professional clown, I know that part of our training is focused heavily on being non-threatening. For example: A real clown never throws candy or toys in a parade. He or she walks to the sidelines and presents them to a child. Anything to avoid hurting anyone or presenting a frightening image. It's fine to grab the arm of an adult and do a "swing your partner" dance, but you don't do that to a child. It might scare them.

So, here's to the happy, loving, laugh-provoking clown. Long may he wave!!

I sincerely hope I did surreal without scary.

Nancy

Music?

An art challenge this week requires that I do art which would illustrate my love for music.

I just don't know if I can "do" art about music. Seems strange.

Music has been integral to my life for as long as I can remember. I was born into it, grew up in it and made a career of it. I've played in orchestras, bands, small instrumental ensembles and folk groups; sung in choirs, quartets, and on and on, even solo. It's so much a part of me that I almost can't be objective.

But, you know, I don't listen to music all the time like most people do. I listen to it "on purpose". At times when there is a radio on, when a really fine piece comes on, I have to stop what I'm doing and listen. Really no such thing as 'background music' for me. I have too strong a reaction to it. It's either bothering me because it's insipid (or actively awful) or it is moving me so much I must give it my full attention.

So, off I go to try to put all this in a visual graphic on a canvas the size of a playing card!

Nancy

Oh, heavy heart

Oh, heavy heart,

Now questioning again

the ticking of the clock,

The chiming, midnight hour.

Sweet Spirit, open up your wings of love.
Receive the homeward soul

And hold him close.

The pain is done for him.

He's vindicated as he looks,

Across the sapphire sill of Heaven,

Michael Jackson lives.

The Prodigal

Running away
Looking over your shoulder,
Dreading - or hoping for -
Pursuit.

Legs carry you along a familiar path
To take you out of
Harm's way.
Trouble.

You recognize the road home...
Don't you.

Slow down.
You're nearly there, but fear
Turns your feet heavy.
Been gone
So long.

Look ahead... up the road...
Someone's running.

Blinded by tears,
Calling your name ...
Running.

Arms stretched wide,
Eyes on fire...
Running.

"Father, I'm home."

ntorsen











Painting:

The Prodigal Son
by L.L. Swindle