Shaky = tending to shake or tremble; liable to break down or give way.

Two weeks in a row, the IF prompt has hit home! Ahhh…the irony, of it all.

Right now, with limited time and very blocked artistic ability, I thought of the epitome of shakiness… blocks. The precariousness of them, much like life! The joy of playing with blocks and the scariness of them falling over. Child’s play is often a metaphor for life.

This week, let’s play, because life is shaky enough. Peace.

“As life unfolds, there will be times you will get played.”

So many images unfolded in my mind, when I saw this week’s Illustration Friday prompt, but with so little time and simple materials at hand, I decided that sometimes simplicity says it best.

As always, I leave you with the seeds, you provide the interpretation.

Peace to you in this life of chaotic music!

Subtraction is an odd word to illustrate, especially while living in a culture where “more” is considered better and I see daily how that’s  taken over the top! Maybe taking away is an answer, not a punishment.

My thoughts on Illustration Friday’s word, “subtract” led me to the image of a Geisha, where I subtracted the background, to make you more conscious of the individual. The simplicity of beauty is evident, but a paradox, in the way I’m using it, since Geishas, wear many  added layers of clothing.

So in this image, you can think about the addition of many garments or the subtraction of environment. There’s a lot to ponder in a paradox…or not!

Whether you subtract from life or add to life, it is the living that must be done.   Happy Week…Peace.

I cannot wait for Spring, because Winter does not always bring pleasant thoughts!

This was originally going to be a drawing of a Mama Polar Bear and her Baby Cub, just a little animal instinct, and lo and behold, I fell asleep with the local news on after watching a nature documentary so…

(figure study for Bear Series (there will be no guns in the series!)

I awakened, with a question, so if you leave comments, I will read them to listen for some answers.  Here goes…

Human instinct is supposedly more colorful in its width and depth than any other being. Many humans are taught to believe that this instinct is a combination of curiosity, the need to interact, analysis, our insistence on freedom, creativity, interest, synthesis, innovation and sexual curiosity.   This is what makes us seemingly more intelligent.

Humans have also been taught that animal instinct is only limited to self preservation, movement, interaction and procreation.

With all of these amazing gifts, human are endowed with …would someone, please tell me why…there is the urge among humans to prey upon trusting, smaller, vulnerable, passive,  unsuspecting, innocent, beautiful, fortunate, unfortunate, four-legged, two-legged, furry, bald, fascinating, boring, sweet, physically challenged, hearing-impaired, old, young, blind, healthy, ugly, peaceful, happy, unhappy, cherished, loved, unloved……?

Peaceful dreams!

This little rambunctious darling, decided, that her cat was in need of “bootifying” (beautifying). The precious part to me was how she went on and on about how her baby (the cat) “just gets into everything.”

All children should be “rambunctious” it’s the only time in life when we’re “allowed.” Now who do you think is the really rambunctious one?

This has been a stressful and very busy week for me, so I had to go to an image that was already completed some time ago.

Actually, right now I’m finding the adults in my life rather rambunctious and I really don’t mean that in a positive light! It’s so much more wonderful when it’s a rambunctious child!

I hope during the frenzy of what is a holiday season for some, that you take a moment and enjoy your little ones, they really know how to live their lives, if you let them.  Peaceful blessing to you all!

I started this piece on August 1st and I just completed it today. Bear with me, I’m coming to the part where the IF prompt, “Sail” fits in.

August is always a month of reflection for me. It’s probably because one of the biggest losses of my life happened in this month many years ago. I start off the month trying not be to sad, grasping at every happy moment and holding on to it for dear life!

August for me is the beginning and ending of many things. It is the beginning of the end of summer. It is the beginning of some of the hottest, humid days in Pennsylvania. It is the ending of a precious life and memory of a sad time. It is the beginning of constant healing and the joyous memories that will never leave me. Sharon, my dearest sister, there isn’t a day that I don’t remember how your bubbly life “sailed” out of mine and I hold on to the joyous sweet time that was ours.

Life is and always will be a magical endeavor, we are created briefly like an effervescent bubble. With many stops and starts we blow into a wonderful beautiful bubble that floats in the air and flits into the distant. Sometimes we see it pop immediately and other times it is carried on the wind, much like a “Sail“.

So this is my image for this week. A sage creating bubbles of life that “Sail” on their own journey becoming the various aspects of life, people, places, things. It is a beginning and an ending.

Continue to “Sail” because all endings mark the beginning of some infinite state of being.

Peace,
Indigene