"The Palette..."

...of a most colorful "Sweetest Day" 2008,

...the beautiful roses gifted me by my very own "Sweetie"!

Mmmm! XOXOXO :)

"In our life there is a single color,

as on an artist's palette,

which provides the meaning of life and art.

It is the color of love."
~Marc Chagall

"In the Distance..."

...are the Maroon Bells....

in Aspen, Colorado...definitely, "God's Country".

I have hiked here several times...

each time feeling like the day was spent in heaven.

I have buckets of photos recording their splendor.

This is my only painting of them...made in 2006

in one of my very first watercolor journals...

long before "Water Blossoms" was even a "twinkle in my eye."

My mind is indelibly seared with their awesome natural beauty...

even though great distance separates us.

"Somewhere we know

that without silence words lose their meaning,

that without listening speaking no longer heals,

that without distance closeness cannot cure."
~Henri Nouwen

Distance of the heart:

Missing those we love...their kiss, their smile, their touch...

Mental distance...

Trying to remember faces, and names, and everyday events...

Distance of times past:

Reminiscing about cozy family gatherings

or

the twinkling of a young child's eyes on Christmas morn...

Distance of Perception:

Wondering what is reality and what is fiction.

Distance...just all by itself...is it

the deal breaker of relationships

or

the thing that makes them grow fonder?

I often wonder.

"An Autumnal Array..."

...of natural beauty...bedazzled in jeweled tones.

"Where oils lumber...watercolours prance. "

~Doug Mays

"How I Felt...

...after the 3rd, and FINAL, Presidential debate tonight:

“I know that you believe you understand

what you think I said,

but

I'm not sure you realize

that what you heard

is

not what I meant.”
~Robert McCloskey

And on that note...I gift you with a bit of tranquility...

compliments of the state of Colorado

...my personal "nirvana".

I desperately feel the need to be in Colorado...

among the aspen

and on a road less travelled.

Photo Credits: Margaret Storer Roche

"And so Goldilocks..."

sat down in the Baby Bear's chair...and it was 'just right'..."

...and we all know what happened after that...LOL :)

"A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it is soulless."

~May Sarton

"An Official Play Date..."

...with my "inner child",

a few real bougainvillea leaves,

and

some luscious drippy watercolor paints! WooHoo!

“There is a garden in every childhood,

an enchanted place where colors are brighter,

the air softer,

and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”
~Elizabeth Lawrence

"I Am Just Stuck.."

...On Cacti! "

Day or Night...

Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring...

It just doesn't seem to matter.

"You know you're an Arizona native when you "hug" a cactus

only once in your lifetime."

~Nancy Dedera

Happy Cactus Monday All! :)

"Shimmy, Shimmy..."

...Aspen trees...you shake and quake, no doubt...

Shimmy, Shimmy, golden leaves...shake it all about!"

~Me...inspired by Little Anthony & the Imperials :)

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

“Today is life-the only life you are sure of.

Make the most of today. Get interested in something.

Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby.

Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you.

Live today with gusto.”
~Dale Carnegie

“You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”
~Indira Gandhi

"Well I said shake baby shake.

I said shake baby shake.

I said shake it baby shake it,

I said shake baby shake.

Come on over

Whole lot of shakin' goin' on ..."

~Jerry Lee Lewis

Happy Shakin' ...Every Day Counts!

"An Old Fashioned..."

...Midwest garden hideaway...

Blumen Gardens...in lovely Sycamore, Illinois.

Primitive, rustic, quirky, and artistic treasures

fill an old brick warehouse

and an enchanting garden shop to the brim.

Winding stone, brick, and gravel pathways

weave through luscious seasonal plant and flower displays

making the gardens a perfect neighborhood retreat.

Quaint and unique areas of the garden

make ideal spots for a wedding or an evening reception,

plein air painting or yoga classes,

and a rich variety of all sorts other special activities.

Architectural remnants and antique garden artifacts

have been lovingly revamped and recycled and renewed...

and used as display items

making the atmosphere feel nostalgic and even a bit zen like.

Whenever I visit the gardens my heart becomes light

and my spirit seems to float.

Click here

to learn about the gardens or to take your own personal garden journey. :)

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses."

~Hanna Rion

"The Big Reveal..."

Of my COMPLETED Maruman sketchbook

"Journey"

I cannot wait until the rest of the Maruman sketchbooks
are completed and safely return home to their respective owners...
What joy and excitement they will bring!

Thank you Anita, and Nina, and Jennifer
for sharing your talent and your little corner of the world with me.
Personally...
this has just been the most wonderful,
liberating...
endearing and imaginative
artistic experience ever!

“Every production of an artist
should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.”
~William Somerset Maugham

PHOTO#1...ARTISTS' CREDITS:
Pages 1-6...Margaret Storer-Roche (Me)...Arizona U.S.A.
Pages 6-15...Nina Johansson...Sweden
Pages 16-20...Jennifer Lawson...Maine, U.S.A

PHOTO #2...ARTISTS' CREDITS:
Pages 21-22...Margaret Storer-Roche
Pages 22-26...Jennifer Lawson
Pages 27-35...Anita Davies...U.K.
Pages 36-37...Signature stamp "petals" of all 4 Artists
Pages 38-40...Margaret Storer Roche :)

"Anita's Artistic Gift..."

...in my book Journey!

What a delight to at last open my own book

and find all this beauty inside!

Thank You Anita!
(Click on images to enlarge)

"The greatest gift is a portion of thyself."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

P.S.

I was so secretly hoping that Anita would paint one of her famous

English roses in my book...and she did!

WooHoo!

She never disappoints!

"Berries and Leaves..."

...about to burst with splashes of autumnal glory.

These "gifts"

are brought to you courtesy of the one of the

"clump hawthorn" trees

in front of our house back in

Illinois. :)

"It's A Brand New Day..."

...and

I wanted each of you to know

my heart simply swells from the thoughts, hugs, comments, and prayers

you so kindly left on yesterday's post.

My Dad's cardiac procedure proved extremely informative

and

even though it was not able to provide

the"easy fix"

we were all hoping for...the future looks

to be positive and hopeful.

My sincerest thanks to each of you...from my whole family.

"Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.”

~Anonymous

Photo Credit: "Soaring Spirit" by Margaret Storer-Roche

Photographed in Clark, Colorado...Fall 2006

"Inside His Heart..."

...today...a team of cardiologists

using highly technical cardiac catheterization devices

will travel ...

working their way

along intricate cardiovascular pathways

to determine what is causing my Dad problems.

As they to their job

Mom, Jack, Susan, Scott and I will sit on the edge of our chairs

awaiting their findings...

while Mark, far away in Chicago, awaits a call.

We will all be looking

to the Divine

for

guidance.

"You Asked For It..."

...You've got it! :)

My Night Blooming Cereus in full nocturnal symphony,

with

a couple of early morning lingering solo notes

tossed in for good measure!

Enjoy!

Happy Cactus Monday All!
Total Bloom count this time around is 64!

"Go Directly To Jail..."

...Do not pass "Go"...Do not collect $200.00."

or

$700,000,000,000

for that matter either!

Where have the "good ol' days" gone...

when Monopoly was just a innocent and fun-filled family game...

and I could be the "banker"???

EDM# 191

"Draw some paper money"

"It's Almost Time Again..."

...For a bit of plein air painting!!!

A cold front is coming into the state this weekend...

Temps are to drop to the mid 80's and really cool off at night.

It will be most welcomed

by both me and my outdoor sketching friends...

the tall and stately palms

of the Hassayampa River Preserve. :)

I wonder if they have missed me

since my last visit?

"It's a Pygmy..."

...Pygmy Barberry, that is...

All dressed up in autumnal splendor!

And...For any of you curious readers out there...

to date...

there have been 53 blooms... and we're still counting...on the

Night Blooming Cereus! :)

A Girl's Gotta Do..."

... What a Girl's gotta do...

and usually there is some form of shopping involved!

Herein lies the last of my full page views of art

completed in Jennifer Lawson's little Maruman sketchbook

"Transitions."
(Click on images to enlarge)

The top photo shows Jennifer Lawson's art

from the wild roses to the high heel to the clothing store...

"Spoil Me Rotten"...

then comes Anita Davies art...

two purchases made...an new outfit and some fun flowers...

...and the scent of a woman :)

then my art...

a art emporium sale and a day of plein air in a courtyard.

My portion above was inspired by a quaint and lovely artisan

shopping destination in Sedona, Arizona

known as Tlaquepaque.

(Check out this link...supremely well worth it.

The word "Tlaquepaque" means the "best of everything."

Tlaquepaque was once a lovely tree nursery sporting gorgeous specimens.

The trees are still there and form an enveloping canopy of coolness

and a softened foreground

to views of crimson red rock formations of the Sedona area.

As the years went by

A quaint Mexican style artisan village was then constructed on the property

amongst the towering trees.

It was

complete with romantic courtyards, colorfully tiled stairways,

balconies overflowing with luscious flowers,

bougainvillea climbing along stuccoed arches and tiled roofs,

bubbling fountains, wrought iron gates,

cozy peaceful courtyards,

high end galleries filled to the brim with treasures,

and intriguing brick passageways.

It is a shopper's delight and a photographer's heaven...

For years

I spent time and money browsing the shops

and

zillions of rolls of film photographing

any, and every, thing in sight...until seemingly out of nowhere

it occured!

Poof! Shazamm! Pazowie!

a wonderful magical transformation happened...

We had planned to be in Sedona

for bit of an extended getaway and a friend's wedding.

Prior to that, I had completed a workshop with Grace Haverty

all about keeeping a sketchbook travel journal.

The change to come was to be meteoric!

A backpack replaced my purse...and

my sketchbook and plein air goodies replaced my credit cards.

Roaming from shop to shop

was replaced by sitting in a cobblestone courtyard

breathing in the "Ahhhs" of the day.

Moments in time became vibrant memories

on my sketchbook journal pages.

My spirit became revitalized...my imagination invigorated.

And

I have been a "new woman" ever since!

I am

that girl above in Jen's book! :)

Now, that's what you call a Transition! :)

"Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life." ~Oscar Wilde
Hmmm...Don't quite know about that...:)

HAPPY 63rd ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

We love you! :)

"Inside My Mind..."

...and some more of my art
on pages 20-24
of Jennifer Lawson's little Maruman sketchbook entitled
"Transitions."

My art begins the first four pages
of the "backside " of the sketchbook...
and ends where the bougainvillea vines blend
with Jennifers wild roses.

I chose to include a postcard here because

it was through an international postcard exchange

with Anita Davies

where I started, with baby steps, on the path to "blogdom"...

...and now, just a short while later,

I am here exchanging Maruman sketchbooks with fellow artists!

That is a transition which still takes my breath away.

I chose the Monument Valley region to be on the postcard

not only because

of its "wild west" beauty and universal appeal,

but also because

of its unique location in both Utah and Arizona...

a space transition of monumental proportions to be sure! :)

If you look carefully you will see that

the cactus was painted in various stages of bloom...

The quote:

"Change is the only constant." ~Ghandi

is one of my most favorite...

and has especially helped me bear through many a bump in many a road.

The vines stemming from the bougainvillea branches

are from my imagination...actual "Bougies" don't have them...

Through bits of calligraphy I attempted to illustrate

how transition in its various forms

can be growth...a new beginning

for each of us.

This theme was an interesting challenge...

it went beyond visual pen marks,

and brush stokes,

and choices of color...

into a unique artistic space for me...

and a inspirational transition for sure!

The last full reveal of my work in "Transitions"

will be in tomorrow's post...

Hope you will stop back by for a visit! :)