Gail Slaughter

This is our bestest friend, Gail, sitting there beaming and enjoying herself...........Gail is now sitting there, beaming, and enjoying herself in California..........the weather not being the only reason for her pleasure: she has twin granddaugthers to love and cherish, and of course, her two cats Hybrow and Elphie (aka Elphaba, after the witch), and, a brand-new digital camera! You'll be seeing more about her later. Gail loves wordplay. She is a journalist and writer and a very good performer, too.........her parody "The Engineer Elves" is a take on A Night Before Christmas, when she explains what happens when Daddy can't get the kid's toys erected without a little "special" help!

We really don't know what we'd do without Gail's creativity and practicality. Or her deep and warm friendship. Plus plus plus..........she can draw well, too!

Mary Stebbins Tait

Mary, as you may already know, is a very kind and gentle person. I met her when I was standing on a bridge in a park, Cascades Falls, in Jackson, MI, where I live. Gail Slaughter was a friend to both of us, and brought Mary and Keith, her hubby (a photographer) around to bug me a bit while I was fishing for bluegills.

(I still have some of those fish in the freezer!)

Smudgebunnies

Smudgebunnies, by Mary Stebbins Taitt.

A new digital painting (or, a revised one, actually). I did a much different version of this, about a year ago, and I probably am still not finished with it.

(Click image to view larger.)

I am exploring using Photoshop as an artistic tool. I am exploring the meaning of art. That is, what is art and why do we do it? Who am I talking to when I do art? First, I am talking to myself, exploring the interplay between the medium and the subject and its resonance for me. Then, I often want to share my experience with another person.

Doing art--and poetry--involves awareness and small epiphanies. During the process, I move closer to the essence of things, or at least I feel as if I do. I have to look closely and experience deeply, and that changes the nature of my heart and mind. Sharing a taste of this experience feels like a form of love.

I saw two bunnies near each other. They seemed to be carrying on a conversation, if one were anthropomorphic about it. What were they saying to each other and why should I care?

I've always wanted to be like St. Francis and talk to the animals--and understand what they say in return. Or eavesdrop on a conversation.

Meanwhile, I am using earthtones and "duller colors" because my normal preference is for bright saturated colors. I need to widen my horizons!

Think about it

Ecclesiastes 3:8 NAS
A time to love and a time to hate---A time for war and a time for peace.....We are human, in other words, and are always torn between alternatives. Personally I happen to believe that love has strength and resilience, while hate is shallow and brittle. Love is the stone that shatters the sword. Hate is the fire that forges it...............MS

Another thought

Love is the absence of hate...and vice-versa: but either one is an empty glass until you fill it up with SOMEONE, or someTHING".........................MS

Duane Keiser

Duane Keiser: a "painting a day" from December 2004 to April 2006, and "not as many" since! Visit his main site at duanekeiser.com to link to his blogs.

"F" is for...Fotoshop?...Fouled Up?.

This is a great toon for those of us who remember changing dirty ribbons on our typewriters and still haven't got Photoshop!

Oh, well!

In Our Memories..Shirley Chisholm

:

A lifetime spent in service, struggle, hope, and justice

A New Sketch from Mary

{Mary Taitt sent me this today............................MS}



This is a really quick small sketch on a tiny piece of scrap paper:
...........pencil, charcoal and pen. (Click image to view larger.)

{If you want to know a little more about Mary, click her name under
"Contributors to this Issue" (head of the blog) and find out!.....MS}

Faithful and True

Photo: Gail Slaughter...... Enhancement: MST and MAS