Wordless Wednesday

Drama in the skies over Rhode Island

Peaceful View

This is a view of the Providence River which leads to the bay, which leads to the the ocean. This is one lovely, peaceful stretch of landscape which I see during my daily walks by the water. There is a bench just about where I took this photo, so that people can sit and rest, read a book, meditate on the loveliness of the scenery. Right now, my Mom is in the hospital with pneumonia. She's in what they call a 'step down' unit. Not quite intensive care, but not a 'regular' room. She says that the service is pretty good...not so bad. So, her sense of humor is in tact. She is quite frail and she'll probably be there for about a week. I am 3 1/2 hours away and will most likely go be with her when she goes home. Mom has plenty of family and friends to visit her in the hospital. So, once the sun comes back out, and I'm on my daily walk by the water, I might just sit on that bench where this picture was taken and pray and meditate on the loveliness of this view, with loving thoughts of Mom.

Summers' End

I am always is deep denial when Summer starts to fade into Autumn. The sun is clearly lower in the sky, the nights are chilly, as are some of the mornings. Racing to the beach on the weekends is not a 'given'. BUT, as many flowers have come and gone, the heartiness of the sunflower, the last holdout, remains steady. Some have come and gone as well, some are just on their way out, while others are still getting ready to pop. They are big, they are beautiful, and I see why Georgia and VanGogh had such a field day painting them!

Wordless Wednesday

In Loving Memory of Asha Erickson
1958-2008

I Painted this When I Was 14....

I went to art school from the time I was in 7th to 9th grade. The school was called Pels School of Art and it was in the famous Ansonia Building on 72nd Street and Broadway in NYC. Mr. and Mrs. Pels lived in the building and the school was on the 2nd floor. I would get up every Saturday morning, catch a couple of buses and stay for a good 4 hours. When you walked in you were immediately hit with the combined smell of linseed oil and turpentine. It was a just a big studio where we received a loving suggestion here, a very good point there. (Although somehow, that ear never got painted... and if you look closely, you can see where I added about one inch of his neck to his left side...hmmmm, what can I say, I was 14 at the time!). I built up a great portfolio which helped me to get into Music and Art (now called Fiorella H. LaGuardia HS of the Performing Arts...whew!). This training, this teaching, was a big difference, another WORLD from the classes that Edward took at Rhode Island School of Design. I received a solid foundation of drawing with pencil, pastels, charcoal and painting with oils. It is no longer there, I think it's a law firm now.

Wordless Wednesday

Self-portrait
Edward Lilley
2007

September 15, Happy Birthday Edward!

Today my son, Edward is celebrating his 19th birthday! WOW, 19 years ago at 8 o'clock in the morning I pushed out of my 4'10 1/2" body a screaming 5 lb. 6 ounce little boy! Miracle of miracles. There is nothing that can prepare you, there is no book that you can read that will explain to you what happens to your heart in that moment. You are forever changed, your name is forever changed to 'Mommy', or 'Edward's Mom'. I could tell you how proud we are of him, with all of his struggles, being diagnosed at the age of 12 with Juvenile Diabetes, and how well he his handling his daily health care while at college. I could tell you how handsome he is, and funny, he's a really funny kid, great sense of humor. But, instead, I share with you his gift. He's a brilliant artist. I could show you all the masterful drawings he has done with the character he has created for his yet to be published comic book. I could show you his great aptitude with all that he has learned on Photoshop, while taking classes at Rhode Island School of Design when he was 13, 14 and 15. But instead, I share with you a drawing that we both did at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Just pencil. The top drawing is his and the piece underneath it, mine. We sat side by side, and drew. Happy Birthday Edward, we love you!

Wordless Wednesday

Gift in February

Swan With Attitude
Happy Dragonfly
Pretty in Purple

Cards, Cards, Cards!!!

I'm not sure why, but for years, the idea of making cards has just not been something that I wanted to do. The pieces just never seemed to come together, too much work, too tedious, HOW and WHAT could I possibly put on cards that someone would actually want to buy? Then it happened. A lovely lady named Marie, who has an Etsy Shop called ModFarmgirl, asked if I could make cards of, get ready, THE DAIRY COWS!!! Our 'Gal' cow had struck a cord. So I said, sure, if you want me to make cards of the cows, I'll do it. Well, I am so pleased with the results that I have bought quality Solar White card stock (of course, with envelops to match), and have decided that ANYTHING GOES in my Esty Shop, Lilleypics. Your pick of any 2 photos, or one photo, 6 cards in all for $15. I am going to play around with the artwork that you see posted on this blog and hopefully, put those in the Shop as well. For the first 3 people who buy cards, I'll give you 2 cards, of your choice, absolutely FREE! Check out my Shop for the details.

Wordless Wednesday

Mixed Media

Amy Lilley