I’m in the studio finishing up Autumn projects and basking in the glow of Fall’s fabulous, beautiful and rich colors.

Enjoy everyday of this season!!  Peace to you all.

Tango is a very specific word, so for me, that didn’t translate into a lot of different meanings…humph…that was my thinking! Tango, I thought, well, I’ll do a couple, dancing a classic tango move.

Well, I can’t begin to tell you how this simple thought turned into an illustration, that wore me out!

First, I drew a profile  of a woman. I then cut it out using black paper.   Next, I drew a rose on a piece of scrap watercolor paper, painted it with ink and water color. Then I drew and outline of a couple doing a tango move and then collaged it, using this week’s newspaper coupons. All that was so much fun!

Then, the frustration hit the fan! First, I could not scan it, since it was too big for my scanner and I don’t know how to piece two scans together (yeah, I should, but I don’t!).

Next, I tried to photograph it and the gloss from the collaging, caused too many glare spots on the digital shot. This went on for a couple of hours, me repositioning the illustration, realizing my lighting inside was awful; and then going outside to photograph my creation.

That didn’t work either!

I came back inside, determined to tear the creation up and forget about the prompt for this week!

Oh, did I mention, I went outside, without showering, a T-shirt over my nightgown and flipflops on with my hair sticking up all over my head, looking like I’d stuck my hand in an  electrical socket! I stood in the middle of our parking lot complex, to take this digital photo, and folks, I don’t care who saw me! (there goes making a first good impression, I just moved here!)

I re-cut the silhouette and painted it with black gouache, (used a blow dryer to dry it quickly). Then I cut all the figures out again and put them on a white background. I started the digital photo process again!   Finally, after many words, that I can’t print here!

Voila…TANGO!

I finally had a photo I could use!

So here you have it, a simple illustration with a lot of hours putting it all together!  So my vibe for the week is patience!

Persevere, my friends, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Peace.

From the time I was born to now, there have always been wars; but there were also people who were trying to end discrimination, and trying to be good stewards of the earth.

There were so many causes, “voices” trying to be heard.

I remember going to various churches, and back then it was the only time I felt calm during those tumultuous times in the USA.

As soon as I heard those voices singing, whether it was gospel songs, hymns, chanting or folk songs, it was those voices that gave me peace.

So, when I dream of peace, there are always voices involve. My most common dream is a wonderful saxophone playing on its own and voices of people from all over the world singing, in their own languages and these harmonious voices sends chills through me and brings me to tears. Maybe it’s naive and idealistic, but…

Yes, I have a dream…too…to live to peace in a diverse world community. It’s a prayer that I hold close to my heart.  It’s time…to lift every voice and sing…Peace to everyone, everyday in every way.

There’s an expression that says, “a picture is worth a thousand words.“

That’s what my image is trying to convey.

Enough, already!

May you have the peace and strength to do all that you want to do. Happy week!