Corner of First and Main

Corner of First and Main

This one is not my favorite of the series.  There are aspects of it that I like and yet the total composition just does not meet my personal standards.  Continuing my philosophy of sharing "warts" and "accomplishments", I add it the blog.  To me it is choppy....perhaps it is the top part that seems to be added to fill in paper space.  It looks stripey with a top added.  I do like the colors and the trees and, of course, the vintage photo.


--------
I mentioned that I had a new toy, the Amazon Echo Dot, and that I am loving playing music using it and my new Bose Bluetooth speaker.  I asked Alexa to play Carole King and Alexa took it upon herself to play Elle King instead.  I had never heard of Elle and was sooooooooo pleasantly surprised by Elle's voice.  Now I am playing Elle every morning to jumpstart the day.  Here are two links to two of her songs on YouTube.  Enjoy!

Ex's and Oh's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uLI6BnVh6w&list=PL_7dBQTuoZB3T8QMb3rdQ5jpj6tZ6FRNI&index=2


America's Sweetheart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGXaLdVMwRU&index=7&list=PL_7dBQTuoZB3T8QMb3rdQ5jpj6tZ6FRNI

A Study in Red and Blue

A Study in Red and Blue

There are many things about this piece that I think turned out quite well.  First I like the contrast between the blue and the orange.  Both are really strong but do not fight each other.  I like the "erector set" feel that the second "panel" provides.  Maybe that is why I like the Eiffel Tower so much.  The addition of the third panel with the numbers gives interest.  Anytime I see writing, whether it is the script or numbers, I find it interesting.  I gravitate to it.

---------------------------------

Here are photos of the stages of the building the Eiffel Tower in 1887 -1889.

The Arm

The Arm

Don't you just know that something interesting goes on behind that window with the arm?  Does someone live there that once had a career with a carnival?  Does this person watch the street continually because she does not have anything better to do?  Is she widowed or is she just waiting for her significant to return home?  Perhaps she is a mother wondering where her late child is?

If she is like me she loves to people watch.  I can go practically anywhere and sit for a long time just watching people.  I usually make up little stories to go along with whomever I am at the moment fascinated with.   I just love a good story and that is why I try and create a narrative in my work.  I love that there can be more than one story developed by you the viewer.

Everyone has a history and so does the couple in the photo as does the woman with the arm.  It is a woman, right? Maybe not!  Make up your own story.



I can't watch this for long but it is really cool.
--------

One-Two-Three

One-Two-Three

I love when happy accidents occur.   In this case, as in most of my cases, I just create what comes without much planning.  After this piece was completed I was sharing it with Tim and he noticed right away during titling that the two girls were right between the numbers 1 and 3.  Hence, the title became One-Two-Three.  Sometimes it takes another person's eyes or time to discover something that is there that just is.

-------------------

For Christmas I got a new toy.  It is the Amazon Echo Dot.  I know there is controversy surrounding the Echo now as it has been in the news recently where law enforcement officers are looking into the Echo providing evidence in an investigation.  However, I am thrilled with my gift.  I just ask Alexa to play a particular artist and she usually does.  I am not sure why this was a problem the other day though.  I asked for music by Carole King and I got Elle King instead.  I found a new artist that I really liked this way.  I guess that is another happy accident.

Most of what I heard by Elle King I like with the exception of a risque song that came up.

If you know nothing about the Amazon Echo Dot I recommend this commercial on YouTube as an introduction.  It is quite creative in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejcfX2017Ik

The Expat

The Expat

In 1983 I moved to Tokyo where I lived for two years.  At first arrival at Narita Airport I thought I had made a mistake and almost decided to board the next plane back to Seattle. I stuck it out and I am glad I did.  Living overseas had its challenges.  It was a good thing that I was adventurous as those two years were filled with many amazing experiences that I will always remember.

Putting this collage together has brought back many of those memories.  One of which is the "excuse me" story.  Many of you might already know it but here it goes.....I was shopping for clothes at the Takashimaya store in the Ginza section of Tokyo.  I was just about to try on a pair of shorts as sizes were a bit different in Japan.  The "dressing rooms" were, at that time, platforms on the sales floor with a curtain that circled the platform.  I was just about to step up on one of them when the sales clerk got very excited.  I knew I had done something wrong but was not sure what that was.

She started pointing at my feet.  I started the excuse me's.  Not know which "excuse me" was appropriate at that instant I gave all three in rapid succession....sumimasen, gomenasai, and gomen kudasai.  Sumimasen is "excuse me" if you wish someone's attention.  Gomenasai is "excuse me" if you bump into someone or need to apologize.  Gomen kudasai is "excuse me" if you want to say "excuse me, is anyone home." The sales clerk broke up laughing in the very Japanese way with a hand over the mouth.

It seems that I should have taken my shoes off before stepping up on the platform.  I bought the shorts by the way! :-)

The Conductor

The Conductor

Trains have always fascinated me.  Although I rarely take the time to ride on them anymore I did frequently as a kid.  An interest in trains is something that my father and I had in common.  In this country we don't ride them much unless we live in a large metropolitan area.  When Tim and I  lived in Europe we took them all the time.  It was the thing to do there.  I think it would have been amazing to cross the wide expanse of North America on a train right after the first trans-continental railroad was built.  If I were to travel cross-country now I would want to do it in style with my own compartment for sleeping.  We are always in such a hurry to get to our destination that it seems taking a train is a luxury now.


Some books that I have read recently that I can recommend.....

The Whistler
The Underground Railroad
Precious and Grace
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
A Man Called Ove *If I had to choose one of these to read it would be this one.  It is just a fun read.

The Lifeguard

The Lifeguard

No. 1 new series

I do not know if I will be able to complete as many posts this year as I did in 2016 but here is the first one for 2017.  The Lifeguard is the first of 13 in a new series of industrial or architectural pieces.  All 13 are headed to the southern hemisphere in February.  One of which will be in a show in New Zealand.  The other 12 will be sent throughout the world during October 2017.  I will receive 12 original collages in return.  Sounds fun!

A new year gives me a new idea for this blog.  I am sent links for viewing a variety of wonderful experiences from time to time.  Other times I find things myself on the internet.   Sometimes I send them onto art friends.  This year, 2017, I am going to post them here on my blog.  I do not know if there will be daily "finds" but frequently I am sure.

My first was sent to me by Nan.  Thanks Nan!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qew7PHcKIN0

Happy New Year1. :-)