Wings of the Morning

Forgive me, Dear Friends!

2010-11-14T20:17:00.002-05:00

If you click on the Facebook widget, you'll see why I haven't been around. Since August we have been doing the work to get the shop put together, opened and doing business. What an undertaking!

Our artist blog is at http://www.fairwindstudio.wordpress.com

Customer website is at http://www.fairwindstudio.yolasite.com

I'm just getting ready to update both of them!

Our soft opening was October 15, with the publicized Grand Opening two weeks later. Now we are building our clientele and doing loads of advertising of the new mall in which we are located.

Artists: email me to talk about consigning and consider the information given on the artist blog.

Ohioans: if you make it to Columbus on any weekend, stop in and see me.

I'll be back to producing art of my own before long, but this has been an all-consuming project.

Thank you for visiting and checking on me from time to time. I appreciate you so much.

Nancy

It's July already!

2010-07-10T11:31:00.007-04:00

The Independence Day celebrations are over and here we are in mid-July! I don't know where the time went. Tomatoes are doing well and the flowers are gorgeous, so I'm going to have more time for other pursuits.
I have done a few things I'll share here, and if you want more,

there's always my Flickr Photostream.

This is "Hubert and Maude"

an atc

''His Master's Voice"

a steampunky digital postcard

Here is a sneak peek at a project I am doing with my very best friend, to celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

A combination of both Anne's and my painting, with digital work.

Thanks for coming by. Best wishes to all my cyber friends. (You know who you are)

Nancy

Latest Collages

2010-06-10T17:11:00.004-04:00

The challenge at Artful Ideas ATC group was to create a particular type of collage by cutting things up and putting them back together. Do stop by and see what everyone has done. Artful Ideas is open to new members. Just click on the "join" link to participate in the fun.

ATC challenges are what I cut my "mixed-media-teeth" on. (I know that was very poor sentence structure, but oh well...) It's a great way to learn and try out new techniques and media and we share our trials and errors, learning something every time!

Here is what I did. I really got into these and made a 'few' .

Paschkis Scrambled

Love Life

over Stated

Yes, I have been doing a lot of creative work, but it's been more directed toward real life and not what I'd share on line. However, still participating in a few swap challenges, so you can visit my Flickr spot if you like.

I appreciate your stopping by my bloggy place. Thanks for looking.
Nancy

Zetti Collage sheet swap.

2010-05-22T11:07:00.004-04:00

No, I'm not doing much artwork or writing, been outside doing the Spring yardwork, moving furniture, Spring cleaning, etc. But here is something I completed recently for a fun Flickr group.

Perhaps you will find a use for some of the images?

See MORE ZETTI FUN at Zettiology.

Nancy

Collage play - Digital

2010-04-09T19:45:00.003-04:00

"When Music Was Swing"

I did something different with Collage Play with Crowabout, this week. While I usually try to use as many of the images as I can, I used only the minimum (3) this week, added a couple of my own and put it all on a background from my friend, John.

It's All Digital. I loved the image of the woman and the building -- and the era they represented. Found the record labels and included the flowers
just to be legal for the prize drawing.

Thanks for coming 'round to look at my stuff!
Nancy

A Very Joyous Easter to All.

2010-04-04T20:44:00.007-04:00

I am trying ... to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing

that people often say about Him:

"I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God."
That is the one thing we must not say.

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said

would not be a great moral teacher.

He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg --

or else he would be the Devil of Hell.

You must make your choice.

Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.

You can shut Him up for a fool,

you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon;

or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.

But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher.

He has not left that open to us.

He did not intend to.

---C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

"Sorry..."

2010-04-02T15:23:00.007-04:00

I have entered another project for Arthouse Co-op.
The subject of this one is "Sorry", in which each artist produces a flock of (no larger than) 3 x 3" works that depict things we are sorry about. A cleansing process, we hope.

See more about the project HERE.
Each entrant may produce as many as 15 pieces. (Don't know if I'm THAT sorry). And each is promised at least one piece in the book that will be published.
Entrance fee is only $5.00 for this one. Here's an opportunity you might not want to miss!

I have two "possible entries" done, as of today.

Each is 3"x3".

It's a good opportunity for me to practice with watercolor. I REALLY need it!

This is about wasted years of partially-formed dreams.

This is about anger.

Thanks for coming by to see what I'm up to. Hope to visit you soon.

Nancy

2010-03-25T20:28:00.005-04:00

The ART HOUSE Co-op is a wonderful venture. Steve and Shane are amazing - just the two of them running this whole shebang. There are projects all the time which are the subject of books, exhibits and library items. You must go there and look around, fellow artists. It is so much fun.

The piece I've currently entered is the "Mail Me Something" Project. Artwork is presented as a postcard (one of my favorites) and simply stamped and mailed to the Art House. All entries will be on display in the gallery.

See my postcard entry above, done with acrylic paint, Prismacolor pencils and pen and ink.

Nancy

Chagall-ish

2010-03-18T16:58:00.003-04:00

Over at Artful Ideas we are having a challenge swap called "Artistic Style". AI is a Flickr group administered by myself and my dear bowling_belle. We have a lot of fun with a bi-weekly (or 'fortnightly' as the belle might say) challenge theme, ending in a random swap, strictly for ATC's.

Our members are all across the globe and we do have a great time.

For this one, we are choosing an artist or artistic style and using it to influence our submission for this time around. I chose Marc Chagall and my entry appears above.

We are a second generation group which spun off from the Mamma Swap when it had to be closed. You might just want to pop over to the AI pool to see some of the fantastic atc's being created by our members.

No IF's AND's or...................................................Elephant Butts?

2010-03-15T14:48:00.008-04:00

Don't mind me. I fall in love with the strangest images sometimes. Our challenge on the Art 'n' Soul Flickr Group is to alter a jigsaw puzzle piece. Lots of people use the large, children's floor puzzle pieces, but I didn't have any so I made my own according to the template provided. It is roughly 3 1/2 inches square.

The alteration requirement was only that it be monochromatic. So I chose a dark, black-green color and used it in various densities and shades and a black silk cord for a hanger.

Having fallen in love with these elephants, I found a way to color and use them, along with some ornamental grass and a sprig of Eucalyptus, also colored to match.

To me, the mamma and baby elephant going off to see their world is a lovely metaphor for mammas and babies everywhere. And I love the shapes they make as they trudge off into the unknown in search of their destiny.

"Behold I and the children that the Lord hath given me, we are for signs and wonders."

Isaiah 8:18

Here is the back side, which shows

a fragment of the dense jungle ahead.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'll be over to see you, too!

Nancy

Old Friends - Young Faces

2010-03-12T13:27:00.002-05:00

I have recently reconnected with a girlhood friend who has always been precious to me. We were so close, as girls, that the time and distance never seem to matter at all 0 even when we lose touch for a long while. When she sent me the photo of herself as a child (left) I just had to combine it with the one of myself of the same vintage. So I did this little digital collage as a postcard and sent it to her. I guess it made her howl!

Looking forward to her visit next week where I'll take some photos to compare. These you may or may not see, depending on just how bad we look! Lots of water has gone under the bridge since we were so young and intent on "Going Places".

Back to Blogging...Again

2010-03-10T17:46:00.007-05:00

I used to be such a faithful (read 'constant') blogger until my life took a new shape and I became very busy. I miss it. I miss hearing from my friends and sharing my thoughts and my projects. So here are a few things I've been doing since I was last here.

First -- I got a part time job and really threw myself into it. Thought it would be the dream job of all time for someone like me, a bibliophile. A book store job, no less. I joined with a crew to bring the store into existence, working my you-know-what off and doing things I didn't even know I could do. We put together the entire store - 6000 sq. ft. of shelves filled with books and opened in early December. I was ecstatic.

Imagine my disappointment when, working in close quarters with her, I found out that the manager was an awful bully who took personal delight in invalidating those around her. She took a particular dislike to 'moi', going quite out of her way to pick apart every thing I did.

I bit my tongue and hoped for the best for a very long 2 months until I finally had the bad manners to respond to one of her humiliating tirades with a very tiny one of my own. She fired me. And I am still really mad about it!

But I'm relieved that I don't have to come home each day upset and bummed out. What appeared to be my dream job was a nightmare in disguise. I really learned a lot about retail and book selling in particular, though, and made two very good friends who worked with me.

I guess it's a colorful addition to my CV. I was never fired before! Hey, people, it's never to late to experience something new!

So the Captain and I got busy right away on a cottage industry project. We are making these.

Disciple's Cross

We order our supplies from the company who holds the patent and make them according to their strict standards. They buy them from us, but we are free to find other markets and sell them ourselves. I have one local store carrying them and have a lot more inquiries to make. And we are definitely having fun. There's a little link at the top of this page where you can find out more about these.

Thanks for visiting me today.

Nancy

I have been on Flickr too much...

2009-11-12T20:27:00.005-05:00

Most of my artwork is associated with some kind of Flickr group, lately, so I haven't been posting much of it here. Naughty me.

.....And I've become an admin on one of the groups, Artful Ideas, along with my friend, bowlingbelle, so I have to pay attention to that one and help take care of things.

.....And I have a new part-time job which will claim about 20 hours per week.

But here are a couple of pieces (postcards, both) that I've done for the Collage Play with Crowabout group recently. They are so much fun because we have to use the images we are given. Just copy and print them from the group site. As you can see, sometimes they turn out pretty crazy - but are a great, weekly challenge.

(Not A Mountain: Did you get that? Just scissors and glue, Baybay!)

Thanks for stopping in.
Nancy

Fowl Play

2009-10-29T18:44:00.005-04:00

That's the theme at The Three Muses. Aren't they funny?

Here is my postcard.

'Zeigfeld Fowlies'

(tee hee hee)

"Long Ago and Far Away"

2009-10-24T14:44:00.003-04:00

That's the theme at the 3 muses this week.

Here is my postcard.

Bill Shakespeare

Here's another challenge...

2009-10-20T13:34:00.003-04:00

From Three Muses.

This one is digital. The theme is "hair".

'The Haircut'

I wore my hair very long for most of my life. It was kind of a trademark of mine.

I remember how scary it was the first time I had it cut very short. I went straight from the lengthy tresses - to a "pixie-do". The scissors seemed HUGE. I can even recall the sound!

Needless to say, I survived, and am letting my long hair grow back. It feels more like me.

The beautiful image of the lady is from a painting by E. Delacroix circa 1825.

Found Something "Interesting"

2009-10-06T00:23:00.006-04:00

I've been working behind the scenes to improve my digital art skills. and have found something that really gives me a workout.

Make It Interesting is a Flickr pool.

Members post photos and the challenge is for others

to digitally "mess with it"

and make it more interesting.

What a great exercise in trying out techniques and styles.

My postcard entitled:

Angel on the Stair

The original.

My postcard entitled:
Home Invasion

The original.

Now, if that's not fun, I don't know what is.

What IS Zetti?

2009-10-02T15:43:00.006-04:00

I get asked this a lot, as do others who attempt to "do" Zetti.
And I say 'attempt' because so many of us struggle to "get it".
But...
No one seems to be able to put it into words, exactly, myself included.
It seems to be a state of mind. Sometimes I can get there and sometimes I can't.

What I do know (I think):

There are often pointy hats, stripey legs and strange faces with mismatched eys.
There are lots of black and white stripes in borders and other places.
Backgrounds are usually painted and textured.
It IS collage work, usually, along with hand drawn and stamped images and backgrounds ... sometimes.
Clown noses appear pretty frequently and bodies and heads are usually very mismatched.
Magazine cut outs are commonly used along with other kinds of materials.

So..... Does that help? No. I thought not.

Teesha Moore is the person who "invented" as an art form/style, and you can see some of her work Here. She's the queen.
There is a Flickr Group called Zettiology, and I've installed our hot-button in the sidebar to your right. It looks like this.

It was created by the group admin, Jade Adams, a true Zetti guru.

You can go there and see what others of us are doing with varying degrees of success.

Oh, and thanks for asking.

Zlightly Zetti

2009-09-30T19:06:00.002-04:00

That is the theme for the Three Muses challenge this week. Here is my entry.

"Honest!" ~ A Postcard

One more song for You

2009-09-30T10:26:00.002-04:00

As long as there is time

And one breath left in me

There will always be

One more song for You.

lyrics by Michael and Stormie Omartian

Imitation

2009-09-22T20:22:00.006-04:00

There are forces at work on another level of reality-- forces for good or evil -- always at work 'backstage' on the theater of life.

Magic. What is it? Does it exist somewhere out there as a something to be grasped and harnessed by the fortunate seeker who finds it? Or is it more or less than what it appears to be?

Who or what is the power behind it

Is what we think of as "magic" only an imitation of the power behind Creation, pretending to be the Power of God, Himself?

Thank you, Sandy, at Thank God It's Friday, for a wonderful theme. Mine is a digital Postcard.

Texture from JoesSistah.

Sunday Postcard Art

2009-09-15T16:10:00.005-04:00

SPA challenges us to the theme of "Mr. Right."

'A Big... What?'

He really was a balloonist (See Below)
New York Times Article

"SANTOS-DUMONT'S ESCAPE; His Balloon Burst, but He Got Off Without a Scratch August 9, 1901, Wednesday
PARIS, Aug. 9. -- M. Santos-Dumont, the aeronaut, had a narrow escape from death yesterday morning. His balloon burst and fell with tremendous speed. Had it not been that the framework caught in the coping of a building, the plucky Franco-Brazilian would almost certainly have been killed. As it was he was unhurt."

Ribbon Faerie Dolls

2009-09-15T14:38:00.004-04:00

The MAD Mamma (Monthly Art Doll) challenge at MAMMA's House is up and it's a lot of fun. These are really quick to make and surprisingly beautiful. Click on the link to take part in the challenge and swap. You just post a photo of yours on the pool and wait for the announcement of partners - randomly selected - for the swap.

Here are some I have made.

Somebody really needs to intervene.

I've gotten terribly hooked.

Here is a Link to a tutorial at Ten Two Studios.

I think these would be great for angels as Christmas decorations.

Close up views available on my Flickr Photostream .

Moonlight

2009-09-13T16:47:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite piano pieces of all time is "Clair de lune" by Claude Debussy. The name means 'moonlight' in the French language and a part of Debussy's Suite Bergamesque. Anyone who cannot envision the moon and its light, just by listening to this piece, is rare.

The theme from the Three Muses for this week is "Moonstruck". That's how I feel everytime I play or hear this beautiful composition.

This postcard is hand-collaged with old papers and new, inked a bit.

In the upper left corner is Debussy.

"Clair de Lune"

Here is a lovely rendition of it for you - with moon photos!

SAWO is Fun!

2009-09-12T22:33:00.004-04:00

The instructions for the Saturday's Workout were to alter an original photo or postcard.

Here is the original.

It just needed some chickens, don't you think?

Now, that's more like it!

September 11th.

2009-09-11T16:12:00.002-04:00

Bus Travel - an altered matchbox

2009-09-09T15:27:00.005-04:00

Matchbox for GAS Mamma swap.
Measuring a tiny 1 and 3/8 by 2 inches,

covered with a British city map and embellished with an authentic

London bus ticket, coin and silk cord,

the slider opens to reveal some necessaries.

A 'Lucky Piece' several vintage bus passes and a key to the flat.

(authentic brass key)

And all the way on the inside, just pull the little handle for a bit of history.

A photograph of the installation of the first traffic light in London.

The bus drivers appear to be scoffing. Like that's going to stop them!

At one time a preferred mode of transport, buses may have lost some of their charm today.
In this little altered matchbox, I hope to hearken back to those other times.

dans ma maison...

2009-09-07T22:39:00.003-04:00

il y a ecolier. The Challenge this week: In my house is a school kid.

Here is my house.

"Back to Eton"

Nancy

Funny Animals for TGIF

2009-09-06T18:41:00.002-04:00

The Thank God It's Friday challenge is 'funny animals' this week.

Here's mine ~ a postcard.

"Helloooo Kitty"

Three Muses Challenge.

2009-08-27T19:46:00.005-04:00

I've done a digital skinny for the challenge from Ann, Marie and Bev.

The theme was "Show us your Hands".

"Hand Fed"

I know. It's pretty crazy.

Journey of the Heart

2009-08-26T13:28:00.005-04:00

My sister and her husband have never had children. Nearly 5 years ago they applied to adopt a child from China. I don't know why the adoption process slowed so drastically in recent years, but the waiting has been excruciating, especially since they were approved right away. Add that to the years they spent hoping to conceive a child of their own, and it's been decades of waiting for them, as they are now into their 50's.

Finally, they received the final step - photos and information on the little girl who would be their daughter - and are scheduled to travel to China near the end of September to get her.

On our beloved GAS Mamma challenge for this month, we were to alter a matchbox themed "travel".

Needless to say, I'm not entering this in the challenge swap, but am giving it to my sister. It will hopefully go to China with her, as a little token of our love and our joy.

Included in it is the verse from I John 5:4 which says:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:

and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

They have chosen for her American name - Victory.

And here she is!

Thanks for sharing our joy.

Nancy

Handle With Care

2009-08-15T11:23:00.003-04:00

Orange Challenge at Theme Thursday

Desiderata

2009-08-13T21:39:00.002-04:00

ATC submitted to

Created By Hand challenge of a favorite background with words.

One Minute Writer ~ "Quote"

2009-08-11T21:22:00.003-04:00

Today's Prompt: In 100 years what one statement

would you like others to remember you as having said?

"It is better to pursue strength than happiness."

Happiness is transitory and situational.

It comes and goes with our circumstances

and cannot be relied upon to remain with us ~ and in us.

Strength allows us to navigate through

the un-happy times in our lives.

The One Minute Writer

provides a 60 second journalling prompt for each day of the week. Click on the link for an opportunity to participate.

Gothic Arch

2009-08-10T17:03:00.004-04:00

"Leave my Loneliness Unbroken!"

from The Raven

Inspired by the challenge at the Gothic Arches group this week ~ POE.

This is my entry.

My Fragile Heart

2009-08-09T14:09:00.002-04:00

dans ma maison il y a... something fragile.

My Fragile Heart

dans ma maison is a wonderful challenge. Click on the link above to visit the site.

Clown Party

2009-08-09T10:37:00.004-04:00

Clowns love to party. Making people laugh and joining in themselves - they absolutely LIVE for it. Here are a few of the clownish persuasion enjoying an evening together.

Clown Party

This piece was inspired by and entered into the Saturday Surprise "shapes" challenge.

Go there to see more!

Texture Paint Background Technique from Saturday's Workout.

2009-08-08T14:47:00.005-04:00

I love to try the new techniques I find and Sandy has provided a great one this week at Saturday's Workout. You can go there for a link to a tutorial and examples of this method.

I created an atc with this technique.

"Write the Vision...Make it Plain"

From the book of Habbakuk Chapter 2, verse 2.

"Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that reads it."

God's Vision for our lives and our world cannot be seen by those who are running unless we display it prominently through our lives ~ our actions ~ our words.

On a Royalty kick? I guess I am.

2009-07-30T18:19:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-30T15:28:00.002-04:00

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

2009-07-29T20:20:00.004-04:00

"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

2009-07-27T20:19:00.003-04:00

Sunday Postcard Art ~ Digital 'Fashion' entry.

Artarazzi

2009-07-25T20:06:00.004-04:00

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

2009-07-23T22:56:00.005-04:00

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

2009-07-23T14:35:00.009-04:00

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

2009-07-11T21:57:00.004-04:00

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

So Artful challenge background.

One little geisha.

2009-07-11T13:32:00.002-04:00

Background and challenge from Art Creations Friday

Digital Postcard

In my House

2009-07-11T11:42:00.002-04:00

Dans Ma Maison... la mer.

Digital composition for this weeks 'sea' challenge.

A Surreal Circus - digital art.

2009-07-09T18:10:00.005-04:00

"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?

2009-07-08T19:46:00.000-04:00

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

2009-07-07T17:36:00.000-04:00

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

2009-07-06T22:28:00.000-04:00

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