tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37554961035937554782024-03-21T13:32:41.848-04:00Patti Edmon ArtistAbstract PaintingPatti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.comBlogger315125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-23130450890362364442022-07-31T13:32:00.034-04:002022-08-01T12:50:29.380-04:00Patti Edmon Abstract Artist<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Patti Edmon Intuitive Abstract Artist</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></h4></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Welcome (website coming soon) and thanks for stopping by! </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I live and work with artist Jim Edmon, my husband and partner for 36 years, and my cat Picasso. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">My studio is in a renovated attic in a historic brick foursquare in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My work is inspired by memory, curiosity and a very vivid imagination, which I failed to understand in childhood. But that's another story. I'm fascinated by color and shape and creating movement on a still surface. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Each painting has a unique history and is made layer by layer with mark, texture and expressions of connection and deep, meaningful emotion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGui6GuBQJ_EazsR_aHERe99t2AuHc0VSIVo8ZKaNHVxj7pwkhKjVirF8GgAOQNd5dD_GIIwQoLDlPk_unUcQn1pwv8uyTZye_WLk7LZQrA6_A9ZXjZhSP7EafSIj_D8VhyNWndIgN_pIkwNHRslSZS3omB10wbx1TMRNaIHZI8DN9mwLu-T2lph8Ag/s2538/IMG_2774.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2538" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGui6GuBQJ_EazsR_aHERe99t2AuHc0VSIVo8ZKaNHVxj7pwkhKjVirF8GgAOQNd5dD_GIIwQoLDlPk_unUcQn1pwv8uyTZye_WLk7LZQrA6_A9ZXjZhSP7EafSIj_D8VhyNWndIgN_pIkwNHRslSZS3omB10wbx1TMRNaIHZI8DN9mwLu-T2lph8Ag/s320/IMG_2774.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">All paintings are for sale (unless otherwise noted) and I'd love to share details, closeup images and answer any questions you might have. Contact info below. I'll be adding more work and updating photos soon, and I'm currently accepting commissions. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Imaginary Landscapes </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've created new work for a solo show that opens Tuesday, August 2 at The Wills Gallery, in Lexington Kentucky.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Each painting is 18" x 24" on a wood panel with a 2" deep profile- </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">no framing necessary!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxvYRFyulYpXA5MJpNkLE9aZErX49uMEtZGHmwuZSWVc4VKps0zr7cA3C7jegUNZq06r3kXIeueJbZJIUSpe9__TMfdgIdq5FvXAL8caVX_rXS2sy-GfUCBl08piFlTesDUFd2iEo-rL35dqmFB9hIwcDioR6F6kjjip3TDJ4K92t2kjK6vGBkwzDZw/s2050/Cabinets%20of%20Dreams.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1533" data-original-width="2050" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxvYRFyulYpXA5MJpNkLE9aZErX49uMEtZGHmwuZSWVc4VKps0zr7cA3C7jegUNZq06r3kXIeueJbZJIUSpe9__TMfdgIdq5FvXAL8caVX_rXS2sy-GfUCBl08piFlTesDUFd2iEo-rL35dqmFB9hIwcDioR6F6kjjip3TDJ4K92t2kjK6vGBkwzDZw/w400-h299/Cabinets%20of%20Dreams.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cabinets of Dreams</span></div><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYGXz8AKK5_bHJPO4sH0HCQBK_rTowCJ3zdh5vD7H2FTwY732btWPpCrtDu4e_AQ8NI5sjB0AgYXRNVgV9XGCnxwyn7a548Yzi-G1SQirDR1d4G1bzyQ4fk7qgaWdW57C1a1o8y_NcactHqbYAV_HmPMcVmVRjIwXDe_HII836dR-3iMkakju97ThAA/s2054/City%20of%20Dreams.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="2054" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYGXz8AKK5_bHJPO4sH0HCQBK_rTowCJ3zdh5vD7H2FTwY732btWPpCrtDu4e_AQ8NI5sjB0AgYXRNVgV9XGCnxwyn7a548Yzi-G1SQirDR1d4G1bzyQ4fk7qgaWdW57C1a1o8y_NcactHqbYAV_HmPMcVmVRjIwXDe_HII836dR-3iMkakju97ThAA/w400-h297/City%20of%20Dreams.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">City of Color</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcWKmdVnmTeoqCUSFWKq0SzEozvCePrlSRHgfafClStds-wEgqFw7OkKJWQ-pmXZdXiSNKUYeBcKKXgIasDrzxMtOuJ-DiYPEjVv3ggmxJrWF_DZsyBXPwsocQ5CtW9JzgQx2aZzAWuwLIDJLZSQBX6VsRpjRts-DkYYzUafetglb3dLSNXYn-XIR5A/s2043/cup%20of%20flowers.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2043" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcWKmdVnmTeoqCUSFWKq0SzEozvCePrlSRHgfafClStds-wEgqFw7OkKJWQ-pmXZdXiSNKUYeBcKKXgIasDrzxMtOuJ-DiYPEjVv3ggmxJrWF_DZsyBXPwsocQ5CtW9JzgQx2aZzAWuwLIDJLZSQBX6VsRpjRts-DkYYzUafetglb3dLSNXYn-XIR5A/w400-h301/cup%20of%20flowers.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cup of Flowers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlC-FQ6Q8Q4r-wICr43Zqb-NCipPPWbaa4X8seFR5ameas3z3NYOhUiA7pyLtlg0IfriMybsTn0N1Hggvap07TABdqGzXL7dlBljOBhvdVFltznIjY94ZdNjg90K86CatqZnRUeMd_uIverDuraEAe1f--2pNequy0jqPzoYcsoQ6Pl7iWvjMRRzHyw/s2054/IMG_6753.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2054" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlC-FQ6Q8Q4r-wICr43Zqb-NCipPPWbaa4X8seFR5ameas3z3NYOhUiA7pyLtlg0IfriMybsTn0N1Hggvap07TABdqGzXL7dlBljOBhvdVFltznIjY94ZdNjg90K86CatqZnRUeMd_uIverDuraEAe1f--2pNequy0jqPzoYcsoQ6Pl7iWvjMRRzHyw/w400-h297/IMG_6753.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Imaginary Landscape</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54GIS5npa9i7_6SwhszrrWAsZk0ZguNt0JAC6zukDSXK8BKrjBpmHHTiUtl-Pwhg8ndfVo2eUJkxl3G9wYx8I1mfFrdNz2GEbme7W7Ypzdd4g0Dv1wiR1swYFKxzUtG0jRo8iZOb29hhDQySdYDm2U2tmKNecjbFGqsMwMqgLAW-TYOFbtfnl6mWnCQ/s2042/Kindergarten%20Valentine.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2042" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54GIS5npa9i7_6SwhszrrWAsZk0ZguNt0JAC6zukDSXK8BKrjBpmHHTiUtl-Pwhg8ndfVo2eUJkxl3G9wYx8I1mfFrdNz2GEbme7W7Ypzdd4g0Dv1wiR1swYFKxzUtG0jRo8iZOb29hhDQySdYDm2U2tmKNecjbFGqsMwMqgLAW-TYOFbtfnl6mWnCQ/w400-h301/Kindergarten%20Valentine.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kindergarten Valentine</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWi8GjtewYzRa3tJWn-qD_AsMeMbd3e7ajWkaAS7J-epyZbVeiVq1rqs3KW-u50MfTpQq_V3En8iiTj9_EfgOa-dZaG8A5nblBvYt4ysWnI0PL07z6s7Z3DkvgHRgQGLZhVtErBea47uzDb4F_xMOrnKL3xNxqErj1QF5vOpufVCcHloIGx9m3fcQLQ/s2062/My%20Mother's%20Garden.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="2062" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWi8GjtewYzRa3tJWn-qD_AsMeMbd3e7ajWkaAS7J-epyZbVeiVq1rqs3KW-u50MfTpQq_V3En8iiTj9_EfgOa-dZaG8A5nblBvYt4ysWnI0PL07z6s7Z3DkvgHRgQGLZhVtErBea47uzDb4F_xMOrnKL3xNxqErj1QF5vOpufVCcHloIGx9m3fcQLQ/w400-h296/My%20Mother's%20Garden.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My Mother's Garden</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbvkzjPvmNlCl9I2sYpuMzFY4VrKmVNB55IsapwmF-4l_gIpcIkgQWU-_XkeMLjvrrBIIzZJmtzyo2bIbo91Vq-v5hYmdqdBkf1f8k-SlVul5S3aSbKFPw0YPpF4AVkZOlx9USuMefV8x8WKR6loshT9_08kRJZ2Y81dMj_I6Ijroz1rBJjBRQJ3xbA/s2041/Birthday%20Party.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2041" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGbvkzjPvmNlCl9I2sYpuMzFY4VrKmVNB55IsapwmF-4l_gIpcIkgQWU-_XkeMLjvrrBIIzZJmtzyo2bIbo91Vq-v5hYmdqdBkf1f8k-SlVul5S3aSbKFPw0YPpF4AVkZOlx9USuMefV8x8WKR6loshT9_08kRJZ2Y81dMj_I6Ijroz1rBJjBRQJ3xbA/w400-h301/Birthday%20Party.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Birthday Party</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe225VSk3yjbC4N-voXCDZ11Jo3XqYPs3S4Gede7wysfWFXDvX1yK7ctL1m-0aeqZnDZL40vUHsMSEBcgvlmUlirj-aOc9f5-KmhYF5fGirkqM9sdiXWb2mZpXOg5jF_E3fglBrCrpoU3egmPgUuoX-SPLpbbh1b34VS59kvybEAs8IfpBLv-tkLbNQ/s2061/Lunch%20with%20Marlene.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1525" data-original-width="2061" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOe225VSk3yjbC4N-voXCDZ11Jo3XqYPs3S4Gede7wysfWFXDvX1yK7ctL1m-0aeqZnDZL40vUHsMSEBcgvlmUlirj-aOc9f5-KmhYF5fGirkqM9sdiXWb2mZpXOg5jF_E3fglBrCrpoU3egmPgUuoX-SPLpbbh1b34VS59kvybEAs8IfpBLv-tkLbNQ/w400-h296/Lunch%20with%20Marlene.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lunch with Marlene</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutngSxOva9nNfD1ns8HEvnoEEdSz3nHd6jWESc-a63SMUCizh0W5lBa1kNxlZ5X8SGfQkMTpQYLmcq8BSYQc2s6xlBFQ90EHifmYWPv1gzE1HzgfNBhaBSpuD4bvPhBq_NYvRIwL4HXvuIptx8-5OTbb22HFz6_-mmSFc9tZZRUnWwutgtJn3IzgfMQ/s2045/The%20History%20of%20Marks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2045" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutngSxOva9nNfD1ns8HEvnoEEdSz3nHd6jWESc-a63SMUCizh0W5lBa1kNxlZ5X8SGfQkMTpQYLmcq8BSYQc2s6xlBFQ90EHifmYWPv1gzE1HzgfNBhaBSpuD4bvPhBq_NYvRIwL4HXvuIptx8-5OTbb22HFz6_-mmSFc9tZZRUnWwutgtJn3IzgfMQ/w400-h300/The%20History%20of%20Marks.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The History of Marks<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_Bj14fOjv5ehxkEzXNpNSd3ogciDvMbqKw8iux9kBmG65-QFwUuvVWPiNieQnM6yPDOWZTeBKxrOly7MRmlQUvNWamuvnr2pUNUoe9CdqwJM_M9gz_Uzsv2M7suVQpaY1QEiv-0-1VqQrtb7iBlNap_e78MbnBPymk_ikK5UhCJLQ46cb9G_UFlafw/s2041/Nostalgia.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2041" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_Bj14fOjv5ehxkEzXNpNSd3ogciDvMbqKw8iux9kBmG65-QFwUuvVWPiNieQnM6yPDOWZTeBKxrOly7MRmlQUvNWamuvnr2pUNUoe9CdqwJM_M9gz_Uzsv2M7suVQpaY1QEiv-0-1VqQrtb7iBlNap_e78MbnBPymk_ikK5UhCJLQ46cb9G_UFlafw/w400-h301/Nostalgia.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nostalgia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">These paintings are also 18" x 24" on watercolor paper, framed in white. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Frame size is 22" x 30"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bkXthpB8T7Y-LFkO83ztyc9gtlJmP14DmtmWo-6ZVAHrgfkcbOJLhAOSWZVDgisAg8DcZBGpLUGEV1ZxBj_5Jw3ko4-5BUXeJIonx8cDxkZlMkXLcnoihZmaPMB3uai1gm8GCLnDoU8IPubVTPAd6PF-tYCcHsiPcvYCqv045HtIiGPssmvr9BdyxQ/s3329/Testing%20the%20Waters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2434" data-original-width="3329" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bkXthpB8T7Y-LFkO83ztyc9gtlJmP14DmtmWo-6ZVAHrgfkcbOJLhAOSWZVDgisAg8DcZBGpLUGEV1ZxBj_5Jw3ko4-5BUXeJIonx8cDxkZlMkXLcnoihZmaPMB3uai1gm8GCLnDoU8IPubVTPAd6PF-tYCcHsiPcvYCqv045HtIiGPssmvr9BdyxQ/w400-h293/Testing%20the%20Waters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Testing the Waters</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc2c7xt9Dffif4ifXxTSyH6EgBqwEeVugpkmXd7LtcCB2JSXdxFF5F_rUMKwWPxTdcC3UD55Z5qzAMsqvpE0-B4y9_vaCTTBML_mtFsD4q-dEGvk5m9oLs0RYAC3vnMbeqqkflc7P38It1vsHlDphiFd1aG_dO24M8s2uVtWfNcq4673K02RbWmSgaQ/s2090/IMG_6499.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="2090" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc2c7xt9Dffif4ifXxTSyH6EgBqwEeVugpkmXd7LtcCB2JSXdxFF5F_rUMKwWPxTdcC3UD55Z5qzAMsqvpE0-B4y9_vaCTTBML_mtFsD4q-dEGvk5m9oLs0RYAC3vnMbeqqkflc7P38It1vsHlDphiFd1aG_dO24M8s2uVtWfNcq4673K02RbWmSgaQ/w400-h288/IMG_6499.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Filling in the Blanks</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xO7D4x4REfyzJrIWBoTavivD0KmRlIE08hKRanxmFlkQrp08czAj5AA_rta5WBTCoL-Bx-HFf_0u8ga7-up_-H5i01HIguB8LF9Z67BH4jumZ_h-81z_pO1Xy_PZe5205eVgOyp1oRw8bsxFbmxcQ8Cm7oBk8TeJsVcWjG8er1u-6nEntNsfQ9kTbw/s3769/Dancing%20In%20the%20Dark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2819" data-original-width="3769" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xO7D4x4REfyzJrIWBoTavivD0KmRlIE08hKRanxmFlkQrp08czAj5AA_rta5WBTCoL-Bx-HFf_0u8ga7-up_-H5i01HIguB8LF9Z67BH4jumZ_h-81z_pO1Xy_PZe5205eVgOyp1oRw8bsxFbmxcQ8Cm7oBk8TeJsVcWjG8er1u-6nEntNsfQ9kTbw/w400-h299/Dancing%20In%20the%20Dark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dancing in the Dark</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc06ApV1Fqw1jDz3LVoB6ojyd7weefH98Osr_Rx0PFQbV_PxhBW73yc4J6LXDo62D0vZBjwDyaQ-XoEO5ct83Mkq2wHY_1cn8yY6NIRhtdUd1HesdRpq6ge7nDiWBPLTz1-ukkwoib70j1z-EsjM6efQgJFVoMmTflXMKhtcHJ-kVKgsL_hgT5tRRvQ/s3573/Writing%20on%20the%20Wall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2648" data-original-width="3573" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixc06ApV1Fqw1jDz3LVoB6ojyd7weefH98Osr_Rx0PFQbV_PxhBW73yc4J6LXDo62D0vZBjwDyaQ-XoEO5ct83Mkq2wHY_1cn8yY6NIRhtdUd1HesdRpq6ge7nDiWBPLTz1-ukkwoib70j1z-EsjM6efQgJFVoMmTflXMKhtcHJ-kVKgsL_hgT5tRRvQ/w400-h296/Writing%20on%20the%20Wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Writing on the Wall</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Contact info:<br /><div>www.pattiedmon1@mac.com</div><div>859.229.5651</div><div><br /></div><div>All photos are the property of <div>Patti Edmon<p></p></div></div><div><br /></div>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-59038775230346132672017-11-03T12:08:00.000-04:002017-11-03T12:08:27.293-04:00Abstract Reality<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In times of frustration I feel that I've painted a million pieces and am still not where I want to be. So, I recently joined psychiatrist and abstract artist <a href="http://nancyhillis.com/" target="_blank">Nancy Hillis' Artist's Journey</a>. It costs more than I can afford but I reasoned that art is the blood flowing through my veins and short supply means certain annihilation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking back through my photos, I was surprised to see that I've only been 'abstract' for just over a year. As that realization settled, I started to feel justified, happy even, about my progress. And these pieces, done over the past few weeks (along with 30+ others), really are just the beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before starting this new, deeper journey with Dr. Hillis, I was focused on fewer, more layered paintings that might look good in an office or over a sofa. I don't know about you, but having a sofa in my creative vision blocks a whole lot of authenticity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still love these paintings but I'm surprised I didn't snap brushes by holding them so tight. I thought I was painting loosely until I 'attacked' the paper with a stressed-out vengeance. Subconscious marks and color hit the paper before I could stop and think. Yes, I said stop and think. Thinking has been the hallmark of my art career. I'd like to create works that people would love to have hanging in their homes. Or offices. But the paintings have to come from the origin - behind the sofa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The benefits of painting nearly every day are a million-fold. It yields an abundance of expression and experimentation - and a few trash can liners. Turn up the music and let the paint fly - the frustration is gone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm very interested to hear your experiences and ideas that are useful along the path toward letting go and letting it fly! And check out Nancy Hillis - she's a wise veteran for sure. </span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com0Lexington, KY, USA38.0405837 -84.5037164000000337.640337699999996 -85.149163400000035 38.4408297 -83.858269400000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-74237763943755833442017-08-08T13:36:00.000-04:002017-08-08T13:36:32.261-04:00Crowns - in Linus Gallery's Abstract Art Exhibit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Painting my heart out, painting out loud, painting outside the lines... so many ways to express intuitive painting. Over the past several months I've been totally into abstract. My love for color is deep and each layer of every painting tells a different part of the story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crowns 24x36 acrylic on gallery canvas, my favorite painting ever, was accepted for <a href="https://linusgallery.com/art-gallery/" target="_blank">Linus Gallery's Abstract Exhibit</a> and I couldn't be more thrilled. This (and most all other) was inspired by <a href="http://basquiat.com/" target="_blank">Jean Michel Basquiat</a>... not his work so much as his approach to painting. Let it fly! Dig down to that primal place where the real essence resides - otherwise known as 'flow'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not using Facebook, searching for galleries, sending my work out. I don't know, it has been a personal process, and OK, so I have hundreds of paintings!! Next step is to do the thing - you know, website, social media schedule, etc. etc. Have you done that yet? Wow, so daunting. And time consuming! And I really do want to send my work out into the world. There are so many successful artists as examples of what can happen. I find it very interesting that selling art online has become its own business - so many workshops, books, podcasts, webinars - all about getting followers, likes, sales, etc. - it's exhausting to think about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear about your progress, plan, success... please tell me! Also, I'd love for you to check out more recent work: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/patti_edmon/">https://www.instagram.com/patti_edmon/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love, blessings and hope. Always hope!</span>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-9014033741263039642016-09-07T16:51:00.001-04:002016-09-07T16:51:33.573-04:00When is a Painting Finished?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently figured out that if I don't like a painting maybe it's just not finished! Brilliant observation after several years, but it made me wonder if other artists have consciously come to know that or if it's embarrassingly obvious...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one constant in every piece of art I've created is layers. I love layers. I live to layer. So, it would seem that I would have already come to this conclusion. But I've spent considerable amounts of time working on a piece only to file it with the other shunned canvases. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about y'all (ok, I grew up in Upstate New York but I've lived in Kentucky for a hundred years), but does this ring a bell? I mentioned it while in workshop with the fabulous and talented <a href="http://www.wanmarshstudio.com/#home" target="_blank">Wan Marsh</a> (at <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Random Arts </a>in late August) and she looked at me like I'd just informed her that the world is round. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, whether or not it's a no-brainer that fact changes the entire process, makes each step less 'brain surgery' and way more rewarding. It also tells that monkey in the mind to shut the hell up and let the process happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was so grateful I decided to share the 'history' of one of my favorite paintings. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWYDcjwl9iowtSYK6A8R4C9LfXbNIHIw6TLiQsS9J77J89NtInksISCM719LAJGWEVvBZUmnBEs-wdc74WORABL5VKxTGWPW_pwhwG0YkBHizsznqQr5zgh94WR3R9qH5Is0FewxLUB-i/s1600/IMG_3850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWYDcjwl9iowtSYK6A8R4C9LfXbNIHIw6TLiQsS9J77J89NtInksISCM719LAJGWEVvBZUmnBEs-wdc74WORABL5VKxTGWPW_pwhwG0YkBHizsznqQr5zgh94WR3R9qH5Is0FewxLUB-i/s400/IMG_3850.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, not a bad start, I see potential...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oHwSeUN793DNdYw5IlRroSAE7GlLJI8p8nwhC6-3EAJN-tRjlKIbrPbEyNtKw2kIgMCwzSgOdpFwEQyWR3Vvzdpc_JkFpSJ6wUDG8xGQvp66zb9T5LL4ZC7qAuuzgu8DZsiiDR-QXdT0/s1600/IMG_3864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oHwSeUN793DNdYw5IlRroSAE7GlLJI8p8nwhC6-3EAJN-tRjlKIbrPbEyNtKw2kIgMCwzSgOdpFwEQyWR3Vvzdpc_JkFpSJ6wUDG8xGQvp66zb9T5LL4ZC7qAuuzgu8DZsiiDR-QXdT0/s400/IMG_3864.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Um... going anywhere? Like maybe to a better place?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWCoLCL-9yjlp7RMtG6PsQT_8wpfxbOoEypSjogNyusibIiOoUMYXZhuUEh_L33WX3IcSh1e5qTU77i4x23lJ3Mu5BnUW8wm2tXhkFd8hXFZ1GN3WhY4Hl5P84HvIRcF_bQjhpg6vmAis/s1600/IMG_3866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWCoLCL-9yjlp7RMtG6PsQT_8wpfxbOoEypSjogNyusibIiOoUMYXZhuUEh_L33WX3IcSh1e5qTU77i4x23lJ3Mu5BnUW8wm2tXhkFd8hXFZ1GN3WhY4Hl5P84HvIRcF_bQjhpg6vmAis/s400/IMG_3866.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh darn, this is looking busy and well, just crappy in general.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRwNcqLvQfSnAh02ao0WatLriwtad69WyVAZkNlrhFrrlv0VNDVZyJjoU_PjzFzOLTFIcaQNl0LwbBHlCISioXye7OR3aaBvCiaAixc6rVigmS5fuCKeto5Ey_fgB2RxHKvJHiBKhSsIQ/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRwNcqLvQfSnAh02ao0WatLriwtad69WyVAZkNlrhFrrlv0VNDVZyJjoU_PjzFzOLTFIcaQNl0LwbBHlCISioXye7OR3aaBvCiaAixc6rVigmS5fuCKeto5Ey_fgB2RxHKvJHiBKhSsIQ/s400/IMG_3867.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Started calming it down and looked for cohesion (any!) Knew it was time to paint over areas I liked but that just didn't work. And once I made peace (ok, let go of control!), I used my hand to cover elements and figure out which parts needed to go, and it wasn't long before the piece was finished. And I love it! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTRn2j0U-buBlIT2OVDIGYpBv1ZcbIGwPM1s48M0OTBPblZs6t-kJDBrXcO96n0GlJ5c0yS3CuHflPFXOu8NF-oXSwcJeS0FiPQO-AbS0cKOVoqHPYccFVGWvwhdYSg-U3lA31zMCeirH/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTRn2j0U-buBlIT2OVDIGYpBv1ZcbIGwPM1s48M0OTBPblZs6t-kJDBrXcO96n0GlJ5c0yS3CuHflPFXOu8NF-oXSwcJeS0FiPQO-AbS0cKOVoqHPYccFVGWvwhdYSg-U3lA31zMCeirH/s400/IMG_3885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I keep learning, processing, painting and living with thanks that so many lessons and insights present themselves - better late than never haha. Wan also had sage words about finishing "How do you know it's finished? When you start messing it up!" Brilliant!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject! </span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-28563515677292048862016-08-30T16:01:00.001-04:002016-08-30T16:08:15.731-04:00In the Paint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPPN48rUyCnQn7fYawqZr7Y68_e-7RPiBxhPzbbQNWf7iHVPd8BWDuy1Tte4_3x-o5a_E3qo5cwd9-Em6JjsbFMfacqg9oPzgELTbejjG63u6Zuqd3GQIQPRXCrIUsN8md_jKPrviIy50/s1600/IMG_3917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPPN48rUyCnQn7fYawqZr7Y68_e-7RPiBxhPzbbQNWf7iHVPd8BWDuy1Tte4_3x-o5a_E3qo5cwd9-Em6JjsbFMfacqg9oPzgELTbejjG63u6Zuqd3GQIQPRXCrIUsN8md_jKPrviIy50/s320/IMG_3917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My next post will be on a redesigned page that reflects an amazing journey since I last blogged - in early 2015! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I believe with all my heart that we are always 'in-process' and possess infinite creativity, but I haven't always felt that way. I recently uncovered the perplexing switch that allows monkey mind, fear and resistance to block the journey to becoming as complex, complete and evolved as possible. Can't quite put my finger on it (bad pun), when exactly I began painting without pause, without question, and thankfully without that nasty, clingy critic rambling in my head. OK, I still hear it occasionally but can shut it up and listen to my studio music instead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've come to realize that those whiny voices aren't real, that self-doubt can be overcome and that my insatiable love for the creative process has paid off. I am ready to send my work out into the world. If you know me you know that I'm not one to boast or call false attention to myself, preferring instead honesty, being real and vulnerable with total openness. It's simply time. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the coming weeks I'll share my work, materials, inspirations and reflections, while hoping madly that you will still be reading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Until then, I have one burning question: Do you ever stop creating briefly to dance in the studio? Please, please, please leave a comment with your answer (research) and any other words you are willing to share! Namaste and blessings to all.</span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-59814846404793436722015-04-19T12:37:00.000-04:002015-04-19T12:43:26.072-04:00The Amazing Creative Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsxdVe5lZaCG16XgnpNapR3eOjXAWRxWbbwO_6F5FKbeDtyZ6h1k6zG3OqiBBMffKWwrZaU4QvkcBID4z4XEppxDzNItL7u6vFJFe-bQ6dBfnnYNjrcdUT0I29JNgZVOht8TZXaGiHA6F/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsxdVe5lZaCG16XgnpNapR3eOjXAWRxWbbwO_6F5FKbeDtyZ6h1k6zG3OqiBBMffKWwrZaU4QvkcBID4z4XEppxDzNItL7u6vFJFe-bQ6dBfnnYNjrcdUT0I29JNgZVOht8TZXaGiHA6F/s1600/Image.jpg" height="397" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warrior? Egyptian Princess? Just plain bizarre? Whatever she appears to be she is close to my heart, one of my most favorite paintings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adding new techniques, taking workshops and painting every day is the way we grow as artists. My path certainly isn't linear, sometimes it feels like going off on a tangent, then making a sharp right, kind of like those molecular drawings without the science, or the lines connecting them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is great fun to let go and see what comes of the next, brief stop along the journey. While having a blast, I do feel like my work is all over the place. My BFF <a href="http://bluefinchjewelry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rachel</a>, and my artist-husband, Jim assure me there is a commonality among the diversity. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrou7_9j98BNK1pFyDSGVj1tUxAnF9miJSSL7_Pie5tQrqRBrXyTF8nhzMQsKwrnsnyQKzoPPWuadgAweCD0tKFn6DGeJbc24E5KnMC7nI2kme600Xti_gJhchiEPeN1wojcJyX2_R41F/s1600/IMG_2574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrou7_9j98BNK1pFyDSGVj1tUxAnF9miJSSL7_Pie5tQrqRBrXyTF8nhzMQsKwrnsnyQKzoPPWuadgAweCD0tKFn6DGeJbc24E5KnMC7nI2kme600Xti_gJhchiEPeN1wojcJyX2_R41F/s1600/IMG_2574.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That makes me happy, though I don't always recognize it. I wonder, how winding has your path been, is there a theme to your body of work, or several over time? So many artist I admire greatly produce fabulous works that aren't at all similar yet I can usually spot the signature, the one aspect that runs like a river through their pieces. It must be easier to see in others what we cannot see in ourselves.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3IwdNsRstZGyvSP-ZQbfboltS5Jdb0nRC8-6OKMqJhdQzbX8GVcxOl4_dM-L_JfJC6IM6IvaS7AxJqr-xgemLXbbXfRUDHqY_W3DBZIKnA6kcU7ybiPoL0NOkYzRu4gnSRoUWJ98kD8U/s1600/IMG_2539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3IwdNsRstZGyvSP-ZQbfboltS5Jdb0nRC8-6OKMqJhdQzbX8GVcxOl4_dM-L_JfJC6IM6IvaS7AxJqr-xgemLXbbXfRUDHqY_W3DBZIKnA6kcU7ybiPoL0NOkYzRu4gnSRoUWJ98kD8U/s1600/IMG_2539.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A friend recently commissioned me to paint an angel, similar to one I sold several months ago. I found out just how difficult it is to go back and recreate earlier work. The one above is an option I wanted to give him because it's more current, the one below is as similar as I could get to the one he liked. It's the one he wants and that's great but I can spot the changes in technique, so perhaps I've answered my own question. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH4xIBuobv_YseNqYxkDUNqwRzNOs8BA0J3ffimgyJZI74gDdqdYIGgDOOAylCrIO46ujlOu1lvXA7_cu6PIX12dezJET4kDlXoGoBMxSeK9nHmI5hH6sRA87t-uEB9fU33A62FxFcOsq/s1600/IMG_2542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH4xIBuobv_YseNqYxkDUNqwRzNOs8BA0J3ffimgyJZI74gDdqdYIGgDOOAylCrIO46ujlOu1lvXA7_cu6PIX12dezJET4kDlXoGoBMxSeK9nHmI5hH6sRA87t-uEB9fU33A62FxFcOsq/s1600/IMG_2542.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How would you describe your creative journey? I'd love to know...</span></div>
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-10969020828552227422014-12-04T11:06:00.001-05:002014-12-04T11:06:38.350-05:00Long Time No Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTMJsYO1mjRDjEZZtkUmjzOzRqm_4dX5ZTahgqX73THFRatKVkJ-byXU7h1LyMP9hHil-rFTeClZrURKOjWq2AZw7xjU0LcaiQeQA-SXe3OG0aw-h0Ct-dLlWQpdQc-UA2hfS6-Ws8P-e/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTMJsYO1mjRDjEZZtkUmjzOzRqm_4dX5ZTahgqX73THFRatKVkJ-byXU7h1LyMP9hHil-rFTeClZrURKOjWq2AZw7xjU0LcaiQeQA-SXe3OG0aw-h0Ct-dLlWQpdQc-UA2hfS6-Ws8P-e/s1600/Image.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am in awe of artists who manage to keep blogs updated while showing up on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and I'm sure there are others... It's really difficult for me to find the time to not only put my own art out there but also to look at the work done by my fabulous art friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I last posted, my work has evolved entirely and most every spare minute is spent in the studio. In September I made my biannual trip to Saluda for a workshop with <a href="http://wanmarshstudio.com/#home" target="_blank">Wan Marsh</a> at <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Random Arts</a>. Spending several days (yes, it was a two day workshop but required 5 days' stay) with Jane Powell, and in the company of wonderful artists is my manna, sanity, respite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a chance to spend some time with Wan and quickly found that we are kindred spirits. She's amazing and her teaching methods are extremely accessible. In the workshop I used her techniques but with entirely different results. That is the true goal of workshops - not to recreate the instructor's work but to branch out and open the wondrous door of discovery. So, thirty paintings later, I'm still wandering...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you are in good health, spirits and creating as often as possible, ie, instead of doing dishes or dusting. Those things will always be there, unlike the urge and ability to capture creativity, my life goal. Blessings to you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This piece is part of a series I did called 'Sistahs' based on the serendipitous, deeply gratifying relationships that deepen our lives if we remain open...</span></div>
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-87007381539737230162014-09-15T11:56:00.000-04:002014-09-15T11:56:21.900-04:00Painting in the moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After many months of painting (a few hundred) faces, she is my new favorite. Hours of practice have taught valuable lessons - like letting go while still holding a paint brush. An exhilarating freedom, a precise imprecision, which I've admired in many works of art. Finding the truth in my voice while residing in that place called 'flow.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is much to be said for living in the moment, no worry, anxiety, guilt or regret. I watch a squirrel hiding a walnut on our back porch. Hear the kids playing next door, showing off their first kindergarten drawings with their wild imaginations and plans for who they will become. Then passing through a vibrant downtown on a post-card perfect drive to the barn, such gratification as the foal is now filly, albeit still close to mom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So why don't we all adopt this way of being? Ask and most adults rattle off the exponential reasons why they are so exhausted, splintered from busy busy days, dealing with the hectic that is life. Forward motion, accomplishment, plans, crises, how will they manage... a 'normal' way of life. And there is always the hovering, impending doom streaming from the 24/7 media. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then there are (so many) people like me. Living with a chronic illness - no wheelchair, brace or special-needs apparatus - which means I have an invisible illness. It will progress, has left permanent damage and on days when I feel really really bad, for no outwardly apparent reason I lack the strength to hope, or sink into another cycle of grief. For more than ten years I have been redefining my self in a way that is just off stage, away from bright light. Making the transition from a doing to a being. And most days I succeed, having become compassionate and understanding with an awareness that often startles me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have a home, wonderful family and lots of art supplies... why would I grieve? An unexpected deja-vu seeing the ones wearing heels and put-together all the way up to the styled hair. Focused, decision-making, purposeful. A backward glance across a decade reveals a different me: optimistic, sharp, talented creative director, business owner, with avocations like showing horses, writing fiction. Leasing new cars every two years in a wardrobe that, while not trendy, was a true artistic rendering of who I was. No power-wielding corporate maniac, just a woman deriving immense satisfaction from doing what I loved. Do I miss that person? Wouldn't you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, aside from my tiny stash of going-out clothes I am repetitive. T-shirt splatted with paint, sweats and hair knotted in a bun for so long... I cannot remember my last trip to the stylist. Do I bother to shave my legs or paint my toenails? In that case, no need for make-up. This is what happens during the transition from daily (public) activities to maybe once a week. And there are those who innocently envy my lifestyle. But it is not and never will be a choice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before illness I did not paint, so this is my choice, one of my silver linings. Art. And closer connections with fewer people holds such meaning... rather than an active social life. Another choice: examining life rather than hearing it whoosh past in a roar of distractions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emily Dickinson wrote, "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all." What does all of this mean? That there is always hope along this journey, despite the lapses and deep pits that are not, in a way that is unrecognizable to those whose lives are not impacted by chronic illness. We are a community of believers, grit and survival, even managing to thrive. Like the magic that is making art. If my hope is dormant today, in the larger view, through the silence, pain, aloneness and inability to be understood, I suppose I really do not ever stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-1390566481641069892014-08-09T22:30:00.000-04:002014-08-09T22:30:03.594-04:00Thrills and Chills<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aside from making books, painting faces still occupies most of my studio time. I've expanded my repertoire to include even more layers of paints, sprays, ink, tons of paper; I've done 3-dimensional on cradled canvas, canvas boxes and experimented with a few new texturing techniques. Molding paste, fabric, found objects and other stuff, the possibilities are endless.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Early in June, I entered these two gals in More & More, a competition defining mixed media, juried by the Senior Curator at the Huntington Museum of Art. The 200 entries from across the country were narrowed to the 38 selected for the exhibit. I was blown away when I got the email saying that both faces (9x12) were among those chosen. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had an opportunity to chat with the judge during the artist's reception and I (bravely? naively?) asked her why she chose mine. She liked the pieces visually and was impressed by the lengthy materials list. And that's not the real kicker! When my husband went to </span><a href="http://www.msrezny.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Mary Rezny's Gallery</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to pick up my art Monday, he came home with one (below) because the other had been sold. To a guy who owns</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.crossgategallery.com/index.php" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Cross Gate Gallery</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here in Lexington. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">If you have a minute, check his place out and you'll see why I'm so surprised... (and thrilled, of course).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A cautionary note: When using re-inkers in the background of a painting we all know that some of the color will surface; the oregano really came through on this one and that's why she's adorned with so many leaves. What I didn't realize is that putting on a coat of varnish, weeks later, will cause more color to surface. If you look closely around her chin, that hint of purple/red came blazing to the foreground like she'd been in a pie-eating contest. I didn't see it until the night of the reception and I was mortified. Gotta love those 'happy' accidents.</span></div>
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-5642235325402148882014-06-28T19:16:00.002-04:002014-06-29T09:32:17.917-04:00The 'A' Word<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-word.html" target="_blank">'A' word</a> is the topic over on <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Altered Page</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seth addresses the difficulty too many of us have referring to ourselves as Artists. Like, "oh, what do you do?" Answer, "I stay at home, work in the studio most every day." Or, "I'm often creative." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was in an advanced fiction program ten years ago, I never introduced myself as a writer, because it's inevitably followed by, "oh, really, where are you published?" </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a writer, have written all my life: poetry, essays, and a collection of short stories, albeit unpublished. (Nobody really wants to hear about the book </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">forwards and prefaces or the ton of commercial writing)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I've been blogging for several years now. It is very fulfilling when I get blog comments as much about my writing as art. So, I write, I've done loads of photography/ darkroom work </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I paint almost every day and dabble in lots of mixed media </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but only recently did I acknowledge that "I am an artist."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not so coincidently, it was at Seth's <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Random Arts</a> workshop back in April where I had a blast with m</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">y best art bud, </span><a href="http://bluefinchjewelry.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Rachel Stewart</a>.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seth and I have corresponded regularly but it was the first time I met him (which I'd highly recommend if you have not done so). During the few days we had the 'what makes a creative an artist' discussion and I realized that, while I have no formal training and my resume is brief, I have had some exposure, sold pieces and recently juried into an exhibit defining mixed media art. So, what is the point? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I shudder when I hear "I don't have a creative bone in my body," and yes, it took me well into adulthood to claim the passion I've been nurturing all my life. The point is that it shouldn't be an issue but it is. A huge one. Even without my few public ventures I would still be an artist. Read <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-word.html" target="_blank">the post</a> and the responses from those brave enough to comment about their struggles. Mine is the one that says: Of course I'm an artist! A guy at a workshop embarrassed me into calling myself one... what a great guy!" And that, he is without a doubt. If the wealth he spreads in this art world was monetary he could buy a country. A fairly good-sized one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No post is complete without photos so below are a few shots of the book I made after Seth's workshop. Did I really put a magic wand on the cover?? Of course, I'm an artist :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another fairly permanent lesson I learned was that working outside the confines of the directions is not only very liberating, it's OK! Problem-solving and breaking all the rules is the greatest fun of all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't read/commented on Seth's page I'd suggest it! </span>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-14309874229993116792014-06-12T13:33:00.003-04:002014-06-12T18:12:43.510-04:00Buried Treasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LV1Kn7_ODS4a4nld0gFLMEuslZekId8_tRPUSmFooxmYuR4-kBOt8EXfv6Jkt2e0zN5Vpt1A-ycwGTpwUwbwAfrAcHGhHTB6gYIZsvPZ-YKjb_nXMkwbGbujj5qC4h4ofIOnww9R5zp8/s1600/Buried+Treasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LV1Kn7_ODS4a4nld0gFLMEuslZekId8_tRPUSmFooxmYuR4-kBOt8EXfv6Jkt2e0zN5Vpt1A-ycwGTpwUwbwAfrAcHGhHTB6gYIZsvPZ-YKjb_nXMkwbGbujj5qC4h4ofIOnww9R5zp8/s1600/Buried+Treasure.jpg" height="216" width="400" /></a></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I read that <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Seth Apter</a> was launching another Buried Treasure adventure it wasn't difficult to figure out what post I wanted to use. This post (published last year) is the essence of who I am and why I am an artist. </span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks, as always, to Seth, such an amazingly creative artist and even greater person. He shares so much of himself with this community and for that I give him thanks. Extra appreciation for the support he so easily provides, just because he's that's kind of guy! </span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.invisibleillnessweek.com/" target="_blank">Invisible Illness (Awareness) Week</a> has begun! In keeping with the theme, another of my choices is to be my best possible self. And that includes reaching out, sharing, caring, helping when I can... all qualities of being a good friend. There's an old saying, to make a friend you first have to be one. True, but. Sometimes those of us with chronic illness get overlooked, passed by as though not being able to</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> able make the party means we don't need to get an invitation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The text I used in this piece of art, called Thoughts on Friendship, is an excerpt from a friendship 'manifesto' I wrote several years ago, after experiencing what I call being tossed from the merry-go-round. When life as I knew it ended and, unlike those with visible injuries and acute illnesses (especially cancer - God forbid), the carousel kept right on turning without me. Don't get me wrong, my family has always been really supportive and I do have good friends. But there were a couple of years when, along with being really sick, I felt isolated, lost, alone. Walking away from my business, my horse, my fiction-writing venture, my social identity, my life, turned out to be far more painful than I'd bargained for; it was, in a word, grief.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We chronics endure repeated, sporadic grief cycles because we mourn the loss but there is no end. Just lots of beginnings, I can now say with gratitude. But before the warm fuzzies there was pain, feeling abandoned, let down, forgotten and it took time and effort to mend those wounds. The (almost) funny thing is, I was taking so much medication that for a few years I did look fairly sick. But in a vague, perpetual sense. Three years ago I scaled back on the prednisone and lost the moon face and extra 50 lbs. and that's when the invisibility factor really hit. Hard. People said things like, "oh, you're back" and "you seem like a completely different person" as I struggled through an evening. There wasn't an obvious reason in the world for the fatigue gnawing its way from the inside out, the cognitive disfunction (brain drain) that settled like London fog, the flu-like feeling that is my last-chance signal to get the hell out of wherever I am and go to bed! I've had lots of practice. I cried, grieved, learned the bits and pieces of acceptance, made lots of art and built a close, fabulous new community of online friends with whom I communicate regularly. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now, when I do venture out of my studio wearing my former-sized (healthy) clothes, jewelry and makeup I no longer even think about guilt or apologies. I am fierce. And I'm a better friend now than ever before. And my friends here, the ones who really know me get it, and that's enough, for now. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday - hope it's creative and filled with friendship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thoughts on Friendship<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> When you think of a ‘friend,’ who comes to mind? Someone with whom you can go to a movie or fishing? A neighbor who always has a cup of sugar, the person who sits next to you at church, school or work? Or, a person with whom you can entrust your life, your deepest fears, dreams you’re afraid are too big to come true?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Friendship can be defined, classified, measured in so many ways. Perhaps the most important element is simply the willingness to be there. To be tuned to the fine strings upon which our friends’ lives are balanced. To reach for part of the burden when there is immeasurable grief or sorrow. And to multiply the joy of triumph, celebration, good news.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Authentic friends speak the truth even when it isn’t universal because there is freedom to reveal oneself and an openness to another’s worldview. Friends don’t quit when the air grows heavy with misunderstanding or tension. They work harder to breathe instead. Connecting with a friend at the soul level is sharing the life force that keeps us trudging, skipping, lurching, running toward whatever our destination might be. They are the fuel that sustains our journey. The food that fills our longing, hunger, blindness so that we might walk closer to our true path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The world is full of magic. The way leaves swirl in random patterns through the air in fall. In spring when the first evidence of new life comes in the purple and white crocuses urging their way up through matted yellow grass. It is the triumph that comes with achieving a personal goal. A letter or phone call or hug given at the exact moment that it is needed. The fullness of spirit after sharing a meal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It is also sick and cold and dark. Bombs, terrorists, pornography, insecurity, accidents, extinction, natural disaster, illness, loneliness. People, material possessions, financial security, peace, health and happiness can come and go so quickly that our lives can be changed in a single moment. What do we do when confronted with the raw instability of life? When the unthinkable happens, our world is shaken, or compromised? Most of us turn to those whom we love, and who love us back, in spite of our flaws and failures. This is the reality: the only tangible worth of living in this world is the people with whom we fill our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Without these relationships all of the glory and accomplishment, health and happiness, is poised on a shell that could crack under the slightest pressure. Who are those nearest and dearest to your heart? Have you invested in them all that they are worth to you? Open your heart, reach out and whether or not you are needed, be there. Breathe each day the fragility and wildness and wonder of life and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Celebrate yourself and your friends. Know that I celebrate you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-68817226904080396162014-05-05T08:51:00.001-04:002014-05-05T08:57:02.414-04:00Judge this book by the cover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two-day workshop that <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Seth Apter</a> taught (For Your Eyes Only) last weekend at Random Arts was inspiring and challenging and a big step outside my comfort zone. The supply list was fairly extensive and specific but when it was time to pull supplies, like a variety of papers, ephemera and objects, I had a hard time deciding what to pack. So I pulled stuff without over-thinking it and ended up with ample, albeit completely unrelated-theme stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Fortunately, <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Jane's amazing shop</a> has a bit of everything, which alleviates the fear that all the 'right' stuff was left back in the studio. So no worries and I always return with lots more than I took.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seth's book is amazing and I love his gridded design approach; however, when we started to work I could not make the first one (though I understood the concept). But Seth is amazing. He shares brilliant techniques fully understanding that the same format might not work for everyone (like me), so once freed I got into the zone. Along with a few of my photographs I'd brought 2 pages of haiku that I'd written over the past couple of years; my theme presented itself. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having limited supplies turned out to be a blessing in this case. In the studio it would have taken weeks to figure out how to put pages together... I used a painting and a lot of the painted papers I took.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I had a bunch of vintage school paper used by "Lester" and his work appears throughout :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a bagful of batik and sari ribbon (supplemented by a trip to Jane's shop) and I found they made great binding covers, plus I love having things showing outside the piece.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvrQHNC6mls7qaedqPEc7S6Q7BfqP4oYiTjE7mrlE9OQUQrLnavnaNTSNg-BpDUDJueLLtjODSOvj7UQma3YsEtBRMHT2mBn38XxUuotM_oE7SOuy0pUIrwMBCMS-Yf975hJh9HlNdXTS/s1600/IMG_1070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvrQHNC6mls7qaedqPEc7S6Q7BfqP4oYiTjE7mrlE9OQUQrLnavnaNTSNg-BpDUDJueLLtjODSOvj7UQma3YsEtBRMHT2mBn38XxUuotM_oE7SOuy0pUIrwMBCMS-Yf975hJh9HlNdXTS/s1600/IMG_1070.jpg" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fortunately I had a lot of small scraps - burlap, screen, tissue paper, snaps, lace trim, mica, rick-rack, butterflies...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seth said our books were filled with 'happy accidents'... or were they?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_rio4rUhcZLgOll63QqH33MwWgSgtsB0PuUkj_uDM3Nuyq2NdfGdtaRuo33Qa00rV1UwHRz5_hLUeEE3tXSs2pdiz-mWTOMDuwsIUERrTEm4Jy2Yg0SpegvlO6OnYNwHcserztK4Lma-/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_rio4rUhcZLgOll63QqH33MwWgSgtsB0PuUkj_uDM3Nuyq2NdfGdtaRuo33Qa00rV1UwHRz5_hLUeEE3tXSs2pdiz-mWTOMDuwsIUERrTEm4Jy2Yg0SpegvlO6OnYNwHcserztK4Lma-/s1600/IMG_1078.jpg" height="350" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He gave a rather Freudian explanation for the dual face spread - half child and half emerging being....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And of course I had to use one of my faces.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and put an old library card in the back cover</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'd left the back cover blank but wrote a haiku when I got back to my studio.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all experienced the same thorough, detailed demonstration and explanation of the processes. But Sunday afternoon when we shared our work via 'show and tell' (which included Seth's thorough and amazing critique) I was blown away by the diversity, originality and creative interpretation. The only similarity was that they all had 2 covers. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I'll take a break from painting faces and make another.</span></div>
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-47730145884587580102014-05-02T19:44:00.001-04:002014-05-03T01:01:02.877-04:00Bingo was his name-o<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only thing harder than getting to <a href="http://www.saluda.com/" target="_blank">Saluda</a> is leaving it behind. <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Seth Apter</a> was an instant favorite last weekend; we enjoyed perfect weather, great food, fun and art thanks to the fabulous <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Jane of Random Arts</a>. If you haven't taken a class with Seth you should do yourself a favor and check his itinerary. Both workshops were crammed with technique, demos, lots of one-on-one help and finished projects. One of the best experiences ever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first <a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/p/workshops.html" target="_blank">workshop</a> was a one-day called Shredded Silhouettes and it wasn't long before our work tables were in complete disarray, hands covered with paint. Ahhh, yes. The 'Bingo Bird' at the top is my piece and I really am happy with it, which doesn't always happen. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending all five days with Rachel was the icing on the cake. We met in Knoxville and drove to Saluda together; we stayed in the <a href="http://www.thecarolinacottage.com/" target="_blank">Carolina Cottage</a> and it was entirely perfect. I already miss her!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second workshop - 'For Your Eyes Only' - was spread over two days, thankfully. Book making wasn't a familiar process to many of us so I'm fairly sure that it worked because Seth was at the helm. I've finished the piece but no photography so that comes next.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until then, wishing you blessings and inspiration in all your creative projects! </span></div>
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-24822651587599428482014-04-22T17:57:00.000-04:002014-04-22T17:57:16.469-04:00Countdown to Saluda!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5QXxDNc-CDmBWUdlz7uDOMnTMEcL_ErNn8umQpfsDwPacykJD2dYiXmDV5cZqeL2YaZmGjNPRTfDFRo2rCZAhmFUaISAPglaZYLi5eY4Z_-F1L1QI97S3YdONVgSZ3816NGmNKXl9vH_/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5QXxDNc-CDmBWUdlz7uDOMnTMEcL_ErNn8umQpfsDwPacykJD2dYiXmDV5cZqeL2YaZmGjNPRTfDFRo2rCZAhmFUaISAPglaZYLi5eY4Z_-F1L1QI97S3YdONVgSZ3816NGmNKXl9vH_/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Just two more days until I arrive in Saluda, a tiny town in the mountains of North Carolina. But those who really know me understand that Saluda, </span><a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Random Arts</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> in particular - is my escape, my sanctuary, my art haven. I cannot wait to see Jane in her freshly stocked store, with morning coffee, setting up in a warmly familiar room full of fellow creatives (no explanations needed about paint on clothing or body parts, weird hair, jewelry or humor or passion for our work). What community could be better than like-minded artists talking, laughing, messy hands and learning new techniques? The addition of our instructor and friend, </span><a href="http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank">Seth Apter</a><span style="color: #444444;"> - for this amazing </span><a href="http://randomartsnow.com/calendarofevents.html" style="color: #444444;" target="_blank">three-day workshop</a><span style="color: #444444;">; well, a one-day </span><i style="color: #444444;">and</i><span style="color: #444444;"> two-day (who could pass that up??).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This break could not come at a better time, which is probably what I always say. However, while many people enjoy traveling on a regular basis, I do not. Partly by choice but mostly due to the chronic illness that keeps me closer to home (in the studio as often as possible). In fact, the last time I was out of town was... last September when I took Misty Mawn's workshop in Saluda. I've painted hundreds of faces since then, which I might never have even tried if not for that experience.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I've often expressed, finding and evolving my style of painting faces is sanity-saving and deeply gratifying. And while realism in painting offers a truth much like photography, there is no structure, rules or absolutes in my crazy process, which means endless possibilities. Making books will be a refreshing shift and fun opportunity to play with art supplies that have been patiently waiting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu11jiMKUDpfAgQsLnKIGPU0ULhewd4QALC9TlQsosacfeOu_fwMrch3ZAlvUJIvEC3CqY3LmOJ4D7IVfnJu5LwOhyphenhyphenuDvMkf3tF6yh3LK7T52_ZlIgNiNCvvm6ZDZuXRMuJC6wWs8YmwFA/s1600/IMG_3597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu11jiMKUDpfAgQsLnKIGPU0ULhewd4QALC9TlQsosacfeOu_fwMrch3ZAlvUJIvEC3CqY3LmOJ4D7IVfnJu5LwOhyphenhyphenuDvMkf3tF6yh3LK7T52_ZlIgNiNCvvm6ZDZuXRMuJC6wWs8YmwFA/s1600/IMG_3597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu11jiMKUDpfAgQsLnKIGPU0ULhewd4QALC9TlQsosacfeOu_fwMrch3ZAlvUJIvEC3CqY3LmOJ4D7IVfnJu5LwOhyphenhyphenuDvMkf3tF6yh3LK7T52_ZlIgNiNCvvm6ZDZuXRMuJC6wWs8YmwFA/s1600/IMG_3597.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once or twice a year, I believe it's vital for us as women, artists, mothers, etc. etc., to disappear for several days (yes, I can turn a three-day workshop into a six-day event), to widen our range of projects while feeding the soul. This trip will be especially delightful since I'll be with Rachel, my art sponsor and close pal! Now off to pack...</span><br />
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-31587568225844967782014-04-13T22:15:00.000-04:002014-04-14T08:23:58.801-04:00Got Junk?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllmXzNXLPlLrTvEkrksvcbSn3lSCutEvm4tot_KtmIN3aBoDF_p-3riQpKWdQ1GYeKdomwyXlrB3N0sUScTKxiHxlmpP7KSBrmU8jS6qaJGLntOYwwU-NbkHcO5z1DmUkkQLcZx6-RY6a/s1600/printertray.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllmXzNXLPlLrTvEkrksvcbSn3lSCutEvm4tot_KtmIN3aBoDF_p-3riQpKWdQ1GYeKdomwyXlrB3N0sUScTKxiHxlmpP7KSBrmU8jS6qaJGLntOYwwU-NbkHcO5z1DmUkkQLcZx6-RY6a/s1600/printertray.jpg.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who has to worry about running out of junk, stuff, rusty parts and curious bits? Not me. This printer's tray was been parked against a wall in the studio for years and then became highly visible after brief stretches of organization. One day last week, I was particularly drained and decided it would be a brain friendly, albeit creative way to spend the afternoon. I've seen these trays for years with brilliant collections of oddities and I thought it would be time consuming; however, it was frighteningly easy. I didn't have to dig very deep at all to locate more than enough small odds and ends to fill the rectangular/horizontal spaces.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A quality photo would require a different lens, so, after much effort and delay I decided to publish this one anyway, because the point isn't about stunning photography. It has everything to do with an abiding passion for art, my saving grace. Creating daily (with rare exceptions) improves mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. My stress level has been been magnified recently, which has fueled many hours of anxiety and sadness, feeling overwhelmed and spiraling out into strange, deep space. Not close to my emotional center, my happy place. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A while back I established an early morning ritual of brewing coffee, putting on my headphones and tucked away in my studio, I begin by considering the endless possibilities for paint, canvas, paper, ink, stuff and more stuff. This habit defines me and helps block my vision of past and future by bringing me back to a known, safe place where I belong, in the present moment; the here and now.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The projects might vary widely but the one thing they have in common is the validation and satisfaction that comes with making something that did not exist before. Filling this tray was easy, fun and a reminder that no matter what the day brings, I can create a physical manifestation of my curiosity, fears, joy and sorrow, underlined by a comforting sense of my truest identity. Amazing. </span><br />
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-50066232503444317212014-03-15T19:39:00.000-04:002014-03-15T19:39:27.911-04:00Flowers Rock!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYoQco78DDooPa667AY4mdP_BQHMm-7SOM5EbT4OIukCFepAT3SC72Ab8qIk4vgRkN0mpRJ8pQvmQnbP0rxzm57EqC7dtAoszmMxOh6cQFM_n6jT-wE8eNoreVz6utkNuXr6PQJw-e7gI/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYoQco78DDooPa667AY4mdP_BQHMm-7SOM5EbT4OIukCFepAT3SC72Ab8qIk4vgRkN0mpRJ8pQvmQnbP0rxzm57EqC7dtAoszmMxOh6cQFM_n6jT-wE8eNoreVz6utkNuXr6PQJw-e7gI/s1600/IMG_3552.JPG" height="400" width="395" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sold!! To bidder #21, an artist I don't know but one to whom I'm eternally grateful. Selling a piece is fabulous enough, but, I wonder if I'm the only one who gets an extra thrill when the buyer is a complete stranger... The theme of the event was Floral Freeway (if you can't tell), and the object was to incorporate as many flowers from donated cuff bracelets as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The event was a charity (silent) auction and the invited guests were a who's who of the regional art scene. I won't pretend that I wasn't nervous, to have my work alongside widely collected artists. It was one of those galas where the hors d' oeuvres were delish, no matter that I had no idea what was in them, and the friendly, popular guy strolling through the crowd with bottles of wine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the flip side, I submitted a second piece to Lesley Riley, whose book of illustrated quotes is being expanded for republication by F&W/North Light Books later this year. There were only 30 slots available and she received an overwhelming 230+ pieces of art. No, one of the 30 slots was not filled with my piece. Knowing I had less than a 2% chance didn't ease the sting, but it also didn't slow me down. Not for a minute. In fact, I've painted nearly every day, probably 15-20 hours a week. Rejection is an inherent part of putting your self out there, yet I don't often read much about it in blogland. There was a time when it would have stopped me cold, shut down the muse. That just means I wasn't ready. I doubt anyone welcomes the 'no thanks' but it's inevitable if you think about it, and I believe I'm one submission closer to being accepted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The fabulous <a href="http://katherinejeannewood.com/" target="_blank">Miz Katie</a> left a comment on my previous post, recommending that I listen to a segment from <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artistshelpingartists/2014/01/16/finding-your-signature-style" target="_blank">Artists Helping Artists</a> on Blog Talk Radio. The focus is on finding your signature style, and is an extremely good discussion on a subject about which I've given quite a lot of thought. A statement the artist, Nancy Rhodes Harper, made has really stuck with me. She says you have to put in the hours, do the work, for hours, years even. It's one of those statements that may be patently obvious but heard at the right time, speaks volumes. And it explained my insatiable need to work in the studio (obviously instead of paying attention to my blog), with a relentless, determined, eager - and positive - attitude. I highly recommend you listen and thanks again Katie!</span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-61977415181904201122014-02-01T20:09:00.003-05:002014-02-12T13:17:53.205-05:00Can it be?? Really?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iaIAnGagFt5LqaojHjueMNQgSSWSogy5ddmTPvdLRzupzUxvwzknFlzMmG-XQVX1mvgYQSXtaVlSOTQrHjzoleUWqsB2szddvN4ziEEPRlLclXIw3nwFgt_0O3OddGdzOIE9E0BxBOM5/s1600/IMG_1178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iaIAnGagFt5LqaojHjueMNQgSSWSogy5ddmTPvdLRzupzUxvwzknFlzMmG-XQVX1mvgYQSXtaVlSOTQrHjzoleUWqsB2szddvN4ziEEPRlLclXIw3nwFgt_0O3OddGdzOIE9E0BxBOM5/s1600/IMG_1178.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
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Got an anonymous comment (four to be exact) on my last post about how vanilla my title was and that I really should add more content. Then anonymous went on to say I should visit Yahoo (not that yahoo, for sure!), and so on. I love reading those - the bad grammar, broken sentences, what a hoot!<br />
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As I've continued to paint faces on a daily basis, I believe I've (finally) turned a corner. After complaining to my husband that they all my faces looked like a variation on the same theme, I realized that's because I've been using the same approach. And, Jim told me I really needed to loosen up before another, truer voice would appear. How true! Instead of starting off with torn bits of pages I'd painted, I went with black gesso, such a stark difference. Then I added color(s) and then scribbled on the background to show some character and hopefully a bit of the black.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGDBsn41YdWn44Caj6fzuMrnauAL5xh6P1YUvU5kbGFKPkboFpulGS2C5TcjXP2wBfS53kApEOKXSImPl7NOQ-Jbx6PCUBGFL_2NlYDRu7Q-O5lJrkFOsQoXbpS7MdHJ6dFWoLAvmgJ43/s1600/IMG_1171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGDBsn41YdWn44Caj6fzuMrnauAL5xh6P1YUvU5kbGFKPkboFpulGS2C5TcjXP2wBfS53kApEOKXSImPl7NOQ-Jbx6PCUBGFL_2NlYDRu7Q-O5lJrkFOsQoXbpS7MdHJ6dFWoLAvmgJ43/s1600/IMG_1171.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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Below is the beginning of the painting I posted last week - fairly bizarre - at least to my prior thinking style. But the more scribbly I worked, the more fun I had, and with results that I'm actually pleased with. A month ago I would have looked at the above beginning with horror - you mean, it's OK not to make pretty art (as my good friend <a href="http://www.lesleyriley.com/weblog/" target="_blank">Lesley Riley</a> says)??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh856QCkQ_KcOd_6HAUTEhg3_ybMmKRt1wCWH-n41vHTtxCbb0dmF3A4YecR2ztrHUfU9pw6KvoCiBqErq8YN2DV5nmK-LdqETOsnetVvSSp-2HEkIFidWO4CQ9K9pK3rZ2SGhSiexLs8wj/s1600/IMG_1163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh856QCkQ_KcOd_6HAUTEhg3_ybMmKRt1wCWH-n41vHTtxCbb0dmF3A4YecR2ztrHUfU9pw6KvoCiBqErq8YN2DV5nmK-LdqETOsnetVvSSp-2HEkIFidWO4CQ9K9pK3rZ2SGhSiexLs8wj/s1600/IMG_1163.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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I'm a long way from where I want to be but so much closer than I was a week ago - if that makes sense. The word journey is defined as: traveling from one place to another. While I've kept the music blaring (headphones are my security blanket) and the coffee brewing, I came to see that this alteration in approach was the only way to get to the next place. And to me there is nothing more alive and exciting than being immersed in truly creative process, not over-thinking, just doing. After all, a bit of paint and an 8x10 canvas from Dick Blick aren't really that expensive. So, I hope you'll agree that I'm learning to loosen up a bit and play!<br />
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The anonymous poster also said I should add more content to my posts. Hmmm, I've always thought I had a decent blend of writing and art. Perhaps I'll visit Yahoo...<br />
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<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-44090981264961315852014-01-26T20:26:00.002-05:002014-01-26T20:26:34.225-05:0050 ways to save a face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3A8GzrieQAXvbuLFmXN_xbcFXoEes6LoFwb-CPYd6qWUyoOehvAodkJ5qltmOpbTZF15dZMZ07d0yJnt1bsVCfjVr7_3e7zLoJnsoFS1hzMKWMAVIr1ME-RhjPRB3pU4BvKbiV-nOWOw/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3A8GzrieQAXvbuLFmXN_xbcFXoEes6LoFwb-CPYd6qWUyoOehvAodkJ5qltmOpbTZF15dZMZ07d0yJnt1bsVCfjVr7_3e7zLoJnsoFS1hzMKWMAVIr1ME-RhjPRB3pU4BvKbiV-nOWOw/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" height="325" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though the frequency of my blog posts suggests otherwise, I've been working in the studio nearly every day for an hour, or three on a good day. I've been painting... faces. Still. I seem to have come up with a 'face' but I don't think I've really broken through the surface. It is truly difficult to really let go, be counterintuitive, dig beneath the rubble of what is and is not good and/or acceptable. But I'm not going to stop. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but every so often I see an artist's work and a voice screams up from the depths - I want to paint like that. Of course, copying, imitating never works but it does give me hope. Reason to keep going, to be relentless and never, ever give up. Maybe this process is like evolution... never really fast enough but silent wheels turning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My studio is adorned by at least 50 face paintings, started after the Misty Mawn workshop late last September, and many influenced by </span><a href="http://www.juliettecrane.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Juliette Crane's</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> fabulous technique classes. I haven't felt the need to show them, to anyone really. Painting is enormously good therapy, a mood stabilizer, a reason to get up extra early. A cup of coffee in hand, music/headphones and a quick washing of the brushes has become zen-like, a meditation on creativity - what at it's core and why it's so crucially critical for me to practice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been painting for the sake of creating, no goals or plans. There are literally stacks - sorted by canvas size, watercolor sheets and, well, the dud pile, which is thankfully small. Each one started with a blank canvas, paint palette and brushes. (A</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">side from the chalk self-portrait to reflect my awful case of pink eye - the suggestion of my good friend <a href="http://bluefinch.co/" target="_blank">Rachel</a> - thank you very much).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I decided to go against the grain, ditch the comfort zone and try for more than variations on a single theme. And, I did a couple of crappy paintings, but then I did the one at the top of this post. And I like her. Parts of the background, technique and the face itself is starting to look different. Not sure where I go from here, but I'll figure it out. </span><br />
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-10734729494412380882013-12-16T16:00:00.000-05:002013-12-15T21:34:27.891-05:00Serendipity & Leading an Altered Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQwK6iMWtCpPJU0VgYlfEDvgWupyrHk_D_I2AQQ1ndz1yDlSrAhkyi8TwFOdfq24ivDzPuQPMicbp7coBXB5JztSr6t7ouJIVvb086n2vkuHh0NG5eeojNsYYlUWByVraIYm2cv-JJ67N/s1600/IMG_0589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQwK6iMWtCpPJU0VgYlfEDvgWupyrHk_D_I2AQQ1ndz1yDlSrAhkyi8TwFOdfq24ivDzPuQPMicbp7coBXB5JztSr6t7ouJIVvb086n2vkuHh0NG5eeojNsYYlUWByVraIYm2cv-JJ67N/s400/IMG_0589.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The Art Every Day icon was on my blog for most of November, which is also when I last posted. It isn't that I did work on art every day, it's just that, well, I'm in workshop mode. Ever since I left </span><a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #741b47;">Random Arts</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> in September, I've been in a painting frenzy! A two-day workshop with </span><a href="http://mistymawn.typepad.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;">Misty Mawn</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> was a great start but I needed more, wanted to expand my brushes...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I'm currently taking a course called Serendipity, with the lovely and talented </span><a href="http://juliettecrane.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Juliette Crane</span></a><span style="color: #444444;">! It's a year-long class with different techniques, supplies and project each month! Highly, highly recommended! I am stuck on September though, wanting to secure a few things, like faces (still!). My daughter told me yesterday that the girls in my paintings aren't smiling and I said happy lips are harder to draw/paint. Last night I drew 30 mouths, thankfully noticing a bit of improvement. I'm going to try to make the deers in the headlights less grim.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope all my art pals (and everyone else) is in the Christmas (Hanukkah or Kwanza) spirit by now. I don't know about you but I spend the weeks leading up to the event so busy I don't see anybody! I did cut back on the decorating this year </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">since the arthritis has been kicking my butt for the past couple of months, </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">but I get to choose what I will and won't compromise on. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are so many of us living with illnesses, disability, both physical and mental - and spiritual. While it does limit the energy hours I have learned to spend them well. Most of the time! Making art became my therapy several years ago and when I woke up a bit sad this morning, I put my headphones on (loud music) and took a mug of coffee up to the studio at 7:00 am. In a matter of minutes I forgot about moods and irritations, annoyances and the chronic 'sick and tired of feeling sick and tired' and instead, my muse - who is thankfully so good to me - took over.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm writing a piece that addresses illness and art and it's for those of us who lead altered lives, use art to replace all that we used to do, much of which has been given up. For me, it's running the business I started with my beloved, Jim, in 1990. He's had a new business partner since the beginning of 2012 and even after eight years, the loss is keen.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nearing the home stretch in an advanced fiction program in late 2004 (loved those trips to San Fran!), I had to drop it, too tired, cognitive dysfunction and all. And my horse, Sir Richard, (I loved him with all my heart) went too. Art does give me a sense of accomplishment (though I change my medium and style like seasonal wardrobes). And I know that living a true life means being rather than doing, but most people haven't gotten that memo.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So if you are living an altered life, I want to hear from YOU. Really. Please - I need your hard-earned badges of wisdom, frustrations, thoughts that you might not share with those who don't 'get' invisible illness, know what I mean? :)</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope. Grace. Gratitude. I am thankful for my friends and art pals, you know who you are, with your love and words of encouragement. Most of the time I realize how much there is to be thankful for, to celebrate. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“I know you can’t live on hope alone, but without hope life isn’t worth living." </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sean Penn</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always, blessings and satisfaction to you!</span>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-13626443330853592013-12-15T19:34:00.000-05:002013-12-15T19:41:53.450-05:00Yay, I'm published!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Good News: Quotes Illustrated, by the fabulous <a href="http://www.lesleyriley.com/" target="_blank">Lesley Riley</a>, has been published! I am very honored to be included in this incredible collection (thanks Lesley), so if you're interested it's on Amazon or you can email me for details.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The Art Every Day icon was on my blog for the second half of November, which is also when I last posted. It isn't that I did work on art every day, it's just that, well, I'm in workshop mode. Ever since I left </span><a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #741b47;">Random Arts</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> in September, I've been in a painting frenzy! A two-day workshop with </span><a href="http://mistymawn.typepad.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;">Misty Mawn</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> was a great start but I needed more, wanted to expand my brushes...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Stay tuned for more tomorrow!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-33223269356352772802013-11-06T14:40:00.000-05:002013-11-06T14:41:05.366-05:00Art Every Day Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">November is <a href="http://creativeeveryday.com/art-every-day-month" target="_blank">Art Every Day Month,</a> an event hosted by the fabulous Leah Piken Kolidas. AEDM is designed to encourage daily creativity, which I manage most of the time. I do NOT, however, always or even usually post it, so, here is my first attempt at a dog (hahahahaha, or should I say woof)! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out the<a href="http://creativeeveryday.com/art-every-day-month" target="_blank"> site</a> for a list of participants and consider signing up. Leah states that the rules are made to be broken, meaning there's no penalty (self-imposed or otherwise) for not posting daily. And, it's the 6th but that doesn't matter either, glad when an art pal reminded me that it's better late than never.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace and blessings!</span>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-56214464268949595422013-11-03T12:23:00.000-05:002013-11-03T12:23:54.193-05:00two heads are better than one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After living with the feeling that I'd gone as far as I could with faces, I discovered the next challenge - color. And texture. Incorporating some of my texturing techniques and creating layers - with varying degrees of visibility - opened a whole new channel in this process. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt a little bored, maybe frustrated when I finished the series of 45 faces (ha, for me that's a huge series), and it worried me. I fretted, during an illness-flare week I stewed, trying to reason my way through the Big R (resistance, thanks <a href="http://www.stevenpressfield.com/" target="_blank">Steven Pressfield</a>). I caught phrases running through my head like, "I'm not a real artist, I can only get to point X," and "why am I doing this anyway, there are so many more experienced, far more talented face makers out there..." Not quite fast enough to silence them - yet - but I'll bet anyone reading this knows just what I'm talking about - monkey mind!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I saw a post on a friend's Facebook page and read it. Three times. Words by Kurt Vonnegut, who says that creating art makes life more bearable. Hmm, hadn't quite thought of it that way, but by golly, he's right. (Who am I to question Vonnegut after all:).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I quickly decided that the next step would be to incorporate mixed media techniques I so love into this painting venture and, well, see what happens. The above watercolor sheet looks quite a lot like the faces I've been painting but if you look a bit closer, you'll notice mesh in girl #1's face and a bird in girl #2's forehead, along with old book pages and texture/patterned papers (<a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">wholey paper, of course, Jane</a>!), and bits from paper napkins for good measure. And I didn't bump the saturation or saturation before posting. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still have to deal with hair and variations on the expression/face but mixing it up a bit released the joy I've become accustomed to when working in the studio, and had been lacking (thankfully not for too long).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having a chronic illness is so wildly unpredictable - imagine my surprise at finding that I need to spend the better part of 8 days lying down. Surprise doesn't begin to describe the disappointment, resentment and frustration, the sense of being on hold. Again. But, the flip side is having long stretches of time to read, to feed my brain. The web is packed with fabulous articles about <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/10/01/breakthrough-alex-cornell/" target="_blank">creative energy</a> and its sources, the <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/17/ok-plateau/" target="_blank">creative process</a>, science, psychology studies, literary book reviews, <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Panhala/info" target="_blank">poetry</a> and there's always a cruise through my favorite social media sites and blogs. Then, when I do have a good day, it's off to the studio I go!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are Vonnegut's words, hope they generate positive energy, open creative channels and call to the muse. I am eternally grateful that I am a crazy creative!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcHwkCHSOjEBpgC4s5vcQRTvU2Q0tszfQb2MnuxNzuzM3tZIoyvd0V29FU3afJ9IjUOiVyPOwxvSScxRXftInvLSVwGJumLJFIWzDV_cTTW9COiteFhTychIWppkUrnRSNOquP-2kIR6L/s1600/vonnegut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcHwkCHSOjEBpgC4s5vcQRTvU2Q0tszfQb2MnuxNzuzM3tZIoyvd0V29FU3afJ9IjUOiVyPOwxvSScxRXftInvLSVwGJumLJFIWzDV_cTTW9COiteFhTychIWppkUrnRSNOquP-2kIR6L/s400/vonnegut.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-48537605540814836612013-10-28T13:13:00.000-04:002013-10-28T13:13:45.867-04:0030 days and 42 faces later<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9BAL-Buz0LtCtVMAYNDgx-MsNAj9klXIfkVZ-pTuJKJ_EnFyvg0KvKfHRa0OX_I9BDILlQLWzzIR-j-_RbMdwQhZVxO-vpLowl3PTeDxx6eMWyX7X_eOKwnF0W2eoHiIC324FG6Ix2Ah/s1600/IMG_3058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9BAL-Buz0LtCtVMAYNDgx-MsNAj9klXIfkVZ-pTuJKJ_EnFyvg0KvKfHRa0OX_I9BDILlQLWzzIR-j-_RbMdwQhZVxO-vpLowl3PTeDxx6eMWyX7X_eOKwnF0W2eoHiIC324FG6Ix2Ah/s320/IMG_3058.JPG" width="223" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had just found my groove... using my photography and writing to create mixed-media pages. Then I went to <a href="http://www.randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Random Arts</a> (the coolest place ever) for a painting workshop. Being familiar with paint and loving Saluda seemed like good enough reasons to go. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcy_vLZdvj6q2IDgW4cXDbqSJVr3VWoPeTQ7hKbbHZ5ouZc9SxnQd4o1HlthDKz3fM6Q-A43x21q6z1C0ojGjuRgFGqlggNzqj9DuZ3XHshgl29B2qfX7pCRALJrFHv-Ou3W7OcFGZ6J8d/s1600/IMG_3054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcy_vLZdvj6q2IDgW4cXDbqSJVr3VWoPeTQ7hKbbHZ5ouZc9SxnQd4o1HlthDKz3fM6Q-A43x21q6z1C0ojGjuRgFGqlggNzqj9DuZ3XHshgl29B2qfX7pCRALJrFHv-Ou3W7OcFGZ6J8d/s320/IMG_3054.JPG" width="250" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I said, I hadn't painted a single face before. Ever. I suppose it's logical, then, to return and do nothing in the studio except paint faces. Forty-two to be exact. And I'm still not completely sure why I'm doing it, just trusting that there doesn't have to be a solid reason other than the fact that I'm creating and learning. These are posted in order of occurrence.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpmtx9zaKOwBCBkemrQcM4XD2teH2iOLZaeNJU3FcWKoApbuusZ3jqjAtfjFMxyYCHT3k5yd9Rok5tBhL_4h8zxmOjeEApppw_SR-UPeq3PPwgUbZy6wPeIzw8_dIr2zhzreG2El5KFXH/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpmtx9zaKOwBCBkemrQcM4XD2teH2iOLZaeNJU3FcWKoApbuusZ3jqjAtfjFMxyYCHT3k5yd9Rok5tBhL_4h8zxmOjeEApppw_SR-UPeq3PPwgUbZy6wPeIzw8_dIr2zhzreG2El5KFXH/s320/IMG_3064.JPG" width="223" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've felt like a beginner since I started making art. Every time a finish a series using one voice, I switch languages (thanks to <a href="http://www.lesleyriley.com/weblog/" target="_blank">Lesley Riley</a> for that metaphor!). But this bender has been one of the biggest surprises of all considering that I've never ever been inspired to paint faces before the workshop. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLTQEiGn_PoIA2DF9foNcPnMjhyphenhyphenOdtrcYQhZM_77GQX8yM_qmf3k2xAdRUg5KuhdHkp5YBZD3jM6Lo4Cd2efGIAF3b61f3ADsfsK-15ySe-ty24wKI_7J4O6hJKHbEYEl2-KKKhFlqMjR/s1600/IMG_3067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLTQEiGn_PoIA2DF9foNcPnMjhyphenhyphenOdtrcYQhZM_77GQX8yM_qmf3k2xAdRUg5KuhdHkp5YBZD3jM6Lo4Cd2efGIAF3b61f3ADsfsK-15ySe-ty24wKI_7J4O6hJKHbEYEl2-KKKhFlqMjR/s320/IMG_3067.JPG" width="224" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also spent hours examining the compelling, unique and delightful faces being created by far more experienced artists. I suppose the only justification I need to continue is that I do enjoy it, though if I had one I won't quit my day job. So for now, I will just accept that this phase is another dimension of my creative identity and I'll see what's next when I get there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9sAkL8OmdUoQ1IxpUKAIgJmLH5-zdMWqDGQLTzv8A5AE1J0R6td-9pU4Z-Sb3L9VE8mZBi_ulzWmfdNFycoXK4mIuPFd3gl6iDb5kDmKCZRdo94zZLzre5iT1ULKc7NBTQgDBc4akuid/s1600/IMG_3068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9sAkL8OmdUoQ1IxpUKAIgJmLH5-zdMWqDGQLTzv8A5AE1J0R6td-9pU4Z-Sb3L9VE8mZBi_ulzWmfdNFycoXK4mIuPFd3gl6iDb5kDmKCZRdo94zZLzre5iT1ULKc7NBTQgDBc4akuid/s320/IMG_3068.jpg" width="231" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My faces are evolving and I've experimented with a variety of techniques - collage, black gesso, bright colors, Stabilo pencils... (sure is hard to keep those eyeballs white!). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs54y9yp2RN8JOuSCt39L89P48cGGCGddXh9FYCwhqSL3CsMMESjHPYSL0Zxg88rl2PNw4-UVOA-vllIFbAqNShjE6u4rCdjF7DxGiYvEN6x7a0YGPYqzPzPRuI4h9Ri1c3vSJUBQkZ2q/s1600/IMG_3061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibs54y9yp2RN8JOuSCt39L89P48cGGCGddXh9FYCwhqSL3CsMMESjHPYSL0Zxg88rl2PNw4-UVOA-vllIFbAqNShjE6u4rCdjF7DxGiYvEN6x7a0YGPYqzPzPRuI4h9Ri1c3vSJUBQkZ2q/s320/IMG_3061.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But in spite of longing for other art supplies - the rusty metal, lace and cajillion doodads that call from drawers, bins and shelves, I continue to paint pages...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A renewed commitment to posting regularly was also derailed by this endeavor, since I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over and what fun is that in a blog post? But as I photographed a handful of favorites I realized that the geography of the face has been the only constant and there are endless variations on the theme.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b4p5PYJTJqduRuNPfcPxHVbYEybaA942nZoTqquytaiGKuvpXpHpSV0vHwXpTJKue8bFA1hj2WSZhTEk6uKW9sWKxja5jmQv4MWIo1ufRxlCQPnrVx2AG0GEaRqZaWhdYd7AXJJY2Y1q/s1600/IMG_3059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_b4p5PYJTJqduRuNPfcPxHVbYEybaA942nZoTqquytaiGKuvpXpHpSV0vHwXpTJKue8bFA1hj2WSZhTEk6uKW9sWKxja5jmQv4MWIo1ufRxlCQPnrVx2AG0GEaRqZaWhdYd7AXJJY2Y1q/s320/IMG_3059.JPG" width="320" /></a>Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-18092549721547960412013-09-16T15:49:00.000-04:002013-09-16T15:49:13.136-04:00About Face<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Artists, however, continue learning and growing </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">until the cows come home. If your ducks are always in row, well, life gets a bit stale. Goofy metaphors aside, I do believe in ditching my creative comfort zone often enough to keep things exciting. And I certainly did just that last weekend! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ever-fabulous Jane Powell hosted the Drawn to Paint workshop at <a href="http://randomartsnow.com/" target="_blank">Random Arts</a>. You may not think Misty Mawn was the instructor based on my favorite piece (one of the exercises was collage painting - my fave - and I did get a bit carried away), but I do like this guy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is there any experience more fulfilling than being in the company of talented, funny women who, being fellow creatives, just get it - very few explanations needed?! Not for me. I do wish I could travel more often but given the chronic illness that wipes me out, and my family, it's just not a reality. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't been in the company of Misty Mawn, I'd highly recommend it! (even if, like me, you don't draw, or didn't before the workshop!) She does make it look annoyingly easy, which she more than makes up for with her insight, encouragement and all-round fabulous personality!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I try to do a workshop once a year (one that involves traveling:), and though I haven't been to many I find that they're life changing in many ways. Renewal of the spirit, truly. Especially in this case, when a turned a 2-day workshop into a six-day adventure! I stayed at the lovely <a href="http://www.thecarolinacottage.com/" target="_blank">Carolina Cottage</a>, a gorgeous retreat tucked away in the woods, far from traffic, noise and reliable cell phone service.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/AzaleaArtPress" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Karen</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> joined me on Saturday, making the trip even more fabulous! We have been best friends for more than forty years, most of those spent living in different states. But, since she now lives in the eastern part of North Carolina, Saluda was conveniently halfway for us both!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, why am I sharing the work I did? You know how you say, "oh, I can't do that!" Really, stop and think - you know you say that. How often do we give ourselves credit for the vast stores of wisdom and experience we have? So, along with always telling that we got it for such a great price when complimented, the bashful, timid golly gosh is one of those things we just do.</span></div>
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Thing is, when I said that (more than once), I was really serious. I have drawn no more than a dozen doodle faces in my life. Can you say intimidated? So, when she started mushing paint around on the page, highlighting, accenting, saying "just follow the lines, the curves" and producing an angel, I did this gal!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; text-align: left;">OK, so she's a little wonky. Point is, I stretched in previously unimaginably ways. Along with being able to reproduce what resembles an actual human, I really enjoyed mixing colors, dabbing, blotting, working fast and with no abandon! </span><span style="color: #444444;">Bizarre thing is, when I got home and rested for a day, I found myself in the studio... painting faces, which I really did not think would happen!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And if I had a day job I wouldn't quit, but I really am having too much fun!! </span>And I'm sharing because, well, I have gotten such inconceivably positive feedback and I am proud of myself. Really. For taking a risk and being blessed by the incredible atmosphere and energy I brought away from Saluda. Sigh... my home away from home!</div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">I already know that realism isn't going to be my thing, but that's OK. And I'll never be a Misty Mawn, and that's OK too, but I'm having a darned good time being me right now!</span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3755496103593755478.post-44353992001107319682013-09-10T07:00:00.000-04:002013-09-10T08:54:46.572-04:00Thoughts on Friendship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.invisibleillnessweek.com/" target="_blank">Invisible Illness (Awareness) Week</a> has begun! In keeping with the theme, another of my choices is to be my best possible self. And that includes reaching out, sharing, caring, helping when I can... all qualities of being a good friend. There's an old saying, to make a friend you first have to be one. True, but. Sometimes those of us with chronic illness get overlooked, passed by as though not being able to</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> able make the party means we don't need to get an invitation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The text I used in this piece of art, called Thoughts on Friendship, is an excerpt from a friendship 'manifesto' I wrote several years ago, after experiencing what I call being tossed from the merry-go-round. When life as I knew it ended and, unlike those with visible injuries and acute illnesses (especially cancer - God forbid), the carousel kept right on turning without me. Don't get me wrong, my family has always been really supportive and I do have good friends. But there were a couple of years when, along with being really sick, I felt isolated, lost, alone. Walking away from my business, my horse, my fiction-writing venture, my social identity, my life, turned out to be far more painful than I'd bargained for; it was, in a word, grief.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We chronics endure repeated, sporadic grief cycles because we mourn the loss but there is no end. Just lots of beginnings, I can now say with gratitude. But before the warm fuzzies there was pain, feeling abandoned, let down, forgotten and it took time and effort to mend those wounds. The (almost) funny thing is, I was taking so much medication that for a few years I did look fairly sick. But in a vague, perpetual sense. Three years ago I scaled back on the prednisone and lost the moon face and extra 50 lbs. and that's when the invisibility factor really hit. Hard. People said things like, "oh, you're back" and "you seem like a completely different person" as I struggled through an evening. There wasn't an obvious reason in the world for the fatigue gnawing its way from the inside out, the cognitive disfunction (brain drain) that settled like London fog, the flu-like feeling that is my last-chance signal to get the hell out of wherever I am and go to bed! I've had lots of practice. I cried, grieved, learned the bits and pieces of acceptance, made lots of art and built a close, fabulous new community of online friends with whom I communicate regularly. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now, when I do venture out of my studio wearing my former-sized (healthy) clothes, jewelry and makeup I no longer even think about guilt or apologies. I am fierce. And I'm a better friend now than ever before. And my friends here, the ones who really know me get it, and that's enough, for now. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following is the entire piece - I welcome thoughts and comments about attributes I've overlooked, points I may have missed, i.e., YOUR opinion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Tuesday - hope it's creative and filled with friendship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thoughts on Friendship<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> When you think of a ‘friend,’ who comes to
mind? Someone with whom you can go to a movie or fishing? A neighbor who always
has a cup of sugar, the person who sits next to you at church, school or work?
Or, a person with whom you can entrust your life, your deepest fears, dreams
you’re afraid are too big to come true? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Friendship can be defined, classified,
measured in so many ways. Perhaps the most important element is simply the
willingness to be there. To be tuned to the fine strings upon which our
friends’ lives are balanced. To reach for part of the burden when there is
immeasurable grief or sorrow. And to
multiply the joy of triumph, celebration, good news.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Authentic friends speak the truth even
when it isn’t universal because there is freedom to reveal oneself and an
openness to another’s worldview. Friends don’t quit when the air grows heavy
with misunderstanding or tension. They work harder to breathe instead.
Connecting with a friend at the soul level is sharing the life force that keeps
us trudging, skipping, lurching, running toward whatever our destination might
be. They are the fuel that sustains our journey. The food that fills our
longing, hunger, blindness so that we might walk closer to our true path. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The world is full of magic. The way leaves
swirl in random patterns through the air in fall. In spring when the first
evidence of new life comes in the purple and white crocuses urging their way up
through matted yellow grass. It is the triumph that comes with achieving a
personal goal. A letter or phone call or hug given at the exact moment that it
is needed. The fullness of spirit after sharing a meal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It is also sick and cold and dark. Bombs,
terrorists, pornography, insecurity, accidents, extinction, natural disaster,
illness, loneliness. People, material possessions, financial security, peace,
health and happiness can come and go so quickly that our lives can be changed
in a single moment. What do we do when confronted with the raw instability of
life? When the unthinkable happens, our
world is shaken, or compromised? Most of us turn to those whom we love, and who
love us back, in spite of our flaws and failures. This is the reality: the only
tangible worth of living in this world is the people with whom we fill our
lives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Without these relationships all of the
glory and accomplishment, health and happiness, is poised on a shell that could
crack under the slightest pressure. Who are those nearest and dearest to your
heart? Have you invested in them all
that they are worth to you? Open your heart, reach out and whether or not you
are needed, be there. Breathe each day the fragility and wildness and wonder of
life and love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Celebrate yourself and your friends. Know
that I celebrate you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Patti Edmon Artisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00471255562289824047noreply@blogger.com15