Art in Progress

I love doing art! It's so satisfying and a great way t spend a snowy evening. This piece is for a book I am working on for my grandson. it's not done yet.

Stay safe and warm!

March 17th at Ted's Firehouse Pub

The Orangeman's Lament

I'd like to be part of St. Paddy's Day action

But my own Irish blood makes a very small fraction.
And that bit of blood may be viewed as a blotch,
For my great-great grandpa was an Orangeman (Scotch).
And did I say Scotch? Well, I never drink,
Which wipes out all claims to be Irish, I think.
Still, I'll wear my green jeans with my green sweater over,
Play my cassettes of the Chieftains and Rovers,
Eat some corned beef on a slice of green bread,
Stop saying "Wow," say "Begorra" instead.
There are folks who may say that me shamrock's a sham
But for one day a year, it 'tis Irish I am.

ERIN GO BRAUGH
Erin go braugh!
Never go braless
Unless you're an Erin whose figure is flawless!

(Material composed by Gail Slaughter)

(Illustration work by Michael Serafin)
(Special thanks to Mary Stebbins Taitt)

How to have a good day...

This is a sentiment that deserves sharing with all of you. Be good today. Do a good turn for a friend, a neighbor, the postman, the plumber, whomever you meet. Smile and say thank you. Ask about their day. Tell them about yours. Show you care. Anyone can do it, it costs nothing, and it pays you back in contentment and satisfaction.

That's how you have a good day. EVERY day.

(Illustration by Mary Stebbins Taitt: colored pencils, pastels, pen and ink. Small sketch.)

"World War Final"

The Grosse Pointe Light, Digital Smudge Painting

The top picture is the finished (or nearly finished) digital smudge painting.

The next four pictures are 4 photos I took to assemble the collage from which I made the painting.

The last picture is a detail of my working. It takes me a long, long time to do these. Rarely can I do one in a week--it often takes a month to six weeks. I literally paint over every stroke (often more than once with many shades and hues). Some people are much faster at it. I am very slow.

(I also worked on the sky picture BEFORE you see it here. It was just grey.) The lighthouse picture I used as a starter was from wall paper. (Top one for monthly challenge).

I have exhibited my work in shows for digital artwork on several occasions, but there are people who say that this is not art! I get confused, myself.

But a photograph can be art and a collage can be art, so why not a digitally painted collage? What is art? American Heritage defines "art" as:

"The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty; specifically, the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium."

I envisioned this , arranged it, and created it, from images I made for the purpose, and I declare it to be Art! (Click images to view larger.)

ABC Wednesdays, C is for Caterpillar

ABC Wednesdays, C is for Caterpillar, art by Mary Stebbins Taitt.

For a little midwinter fun break.

This is one of my cartoons which I did using an overlapping technique
I'd like to play with some more, sometime, if I ever have time.

Warmth and Comfort

Photo: MST-------------Enhanced: MAS




Winter in Michigan is a time for warm fires and warm hearts. And frozen door locks, dead batteries, ice on the windshield, and two feet of snow. The two feet of snow comes when the snowplow passes your (just shoveled) driveway and dumps a new batch right where you left off. It's a frozen form of perpetual motion, and they should give out a patent for it.

Here Come da Sun King

Here's a cool one hot off the presses called Sunset Pic #2

Photo:..................... Gail Slaughter

Enhancement:...............MS

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!