What child or adult doesn’t enjoy playing with bubbles?
A combination of dish soap or shampoo and water create the liquid that can provide an afternoon of fun. A thin layer of soap film forms hollow spheres when blown through an object. The bubbles don’t last very long before bursting but children always find it exciting to try and catch one. It’s always been a fun summer pastime.
Artwork is personal. Whether you view a painting by the great masters in a museum or a painting in a gallery or art show, you feel a personal connection to it as you look at it.
My husband and I decided a very long time ago to refrain from purchasing gifts for any occasion. Instead, we felt that a piece of Art would be much more enjoyable for both of us. Over the course of years, we have purchased a great deal of Art.
The photograph of the above painting called ‘Opportunity’ was a Christmas gift we have enjoyed viewing every day.
We admire it. It reminds us every day that life is a challenge. Our journeys won’t always be smooth or without stumbles.
However, it’s in our ability to rise above disappointments and setbacks that we can overcome the struggles. Sometimes, in the darkness, there is light, but we are blinded by our disappointments and fail to see what could be right in front of us.
The moment I saw the painting, I knew it would be added to my Bucket List. It has not disappointed us.
The artist Juan ‘One’ Sepulveda creates works of Art with inspirational Symbolism. His style is unique and speaks to the viewer of various moments in life’s journey,
In our journey through “LIFE,” we often encounter opportunities and disappointments. In this painting, a person appears defeated after a door closes in front of him. The disappointment of his recent loss has drained all his energy and prevented him from noticing the other opportunities available.
Juan ‘One’ Sepulveda values his relationship with God. In his work, he portrays the struggles we encounter with inspirational meanings.
Life is not a straight and easy road along which we travel free and unhampered, but a maze of passages through which we must seek our way, lost, confused, and now and again blindly.
Namaste I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of Love, and of Truth, of Light and of Peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me. We are One.
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To view more of these wonderfully moving painting
or to purchase Juan ‘One’ Sepulveda art click here
We sat around the fire pit drinking, watching the flames shoot toward the sky.
Carlton’s eyes had an evil glow as big as the flames. He looked sinister.
He started telling tales of folklore horrors. He always ended with burying the body under the shed floor. I bury them there because I want to return and unbury them one day.
“You’re sick, Carlton!” “All I can say is, why?”
“Why not, my Man? There’s something about the smell of blood.”
The police found Carlton dead inside the shed after an anonymous call.
I spent time building something that could not be created. You showed me I had counted on the illusion of my heart. Perhaps it’s time to say goodbye, my love, words you dare not want to hear.
Our lives together can’t be built on crumbly silt of sand. It would fall upon itself, persisting in the dream we believed it would succeed. It’s hard to distinguish whether our world is a reality or a delusion.
Yet, I didn’t know that shifting sands would lie beneath my feet.
I toiled with hungered determination and a fearless resolve. Faithful in my yearnings that you and I could be. I felt a loving future that I thought our lives could share. But, now it’s time to say goodbye. Instead, I’ll spend time constructing a newness to survive without your presence in my mind or throbbing in my heart.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The trees are changing from their summer clothes and donning various autumn-fall colors. Beautiful crimsons, golden yellows, mustards and cadmium, verdant grassy greens fading to blue and purple with each morning’s dew; a feast for our eyes to witness before the impending winter snows. It is a memory for me, as I don’t experience those changes here in my beloved Florida. Still, a walk near the shore at the beach on a balmy, windy day with peaceful ocean sounds has replaced those fall days left behind.
May our hearts garden bloom with hundreds of flowers …
This week the Lens Artist challenge is to select up10 photo’s and write ‘Why’ they are our favorites …
The photo of the three orchid buds waiting to open is a favorite because it’s one in a series of orchid photographs I wanted to archive.
Orchid growing is a hobby I pursued when a friend gave me one for a birthday gift. I knew nothing about growing them. Apprehensive that my skills would be limited, I began photographing them. This photo was a surprise when I uploaded it to my computer. On the tip of the center bud is an ant drinking from a droplet of water. I never saw the ant. Photography is more than taking a photo … isn’t it?
The photograph above is of the open buds …
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Each flower is a soul seeking out nature …
Taking photographs of flowers in Black and White started a new technique for me shortly afterwards. I like the details that show up when there is no color. The gardenia flower above is from a bush I had in the front garden of my former home. Oh, how I miss the scent wafting through my living room window. Alas, I haven’t been able to grow another gardenia bush in my current home. But I have the photographs to remind me how lovely the blooms were.
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A flower would never think of competing with another …
I enjoy taking photographs of flowers as they wilt. As the flower begins its decline, there are many phases to watch. The color darkens while petals shrivel towards their demise. Each flower creates its unique pattern and palette.
Here is another example of a photograph with a pink rose that is changing as it wilts.
As an artist, I adore art. When I see something artistic, I want to photograph the painting, sculpture, or pottery. Elegantly Graceful, the title of the painting above, was on display on the cruise ship Celebrity Silhouette. A few years later, we took another cruise on the same ship. The painting was no longer being displayed. I was thrilled I had photographed it.
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Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency.
The two photographs above are of a sculpture commissioned by my husband for my 50th birthday. The artist is Richard Stagemeyer. The title ‘Breaking Free’ alludes to the transition I felt I was experiencing as I turned that number. The sculptor worked from several photographs and a live model, not me. Many of his works have been on display at the Ringling Museum. We were neighbors at an art show and became friends. Years later, we commissioned him to create this sculpture. I treasure this sculpture, and its special meaning.
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Any peaceful step even calming our own feelings and emotions
Another photograph I’ve added is this bench in the midst of an oak tree festooned with spanish moss.. It’s a favorite because of the peaceful tranquility in the photo. I was fascinated by the tree because of the flow of the moss as the wind softly blew. This scene is on the grounds of the famous John and Mabel Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida.
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Sometimes sweet memories shine through the darkness …
My final selection for the challenge is a photograph I took when vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. We were taking a walk so I could capture some scenes around town. As I approached these arches, I stopped. I had gone to a high school that had a courtyard with arches. These reminded me of my school. Before I continued through the arches, I decided to snap a photo of them.
There was a dark brown door at the end of the long corridor. It was calling me. I did photograph the door, which had beautiful carvings. When I saw the photograph of the arches that night on my laptop I was struck by the fact that it showed depth perception.
Ironically, I almost deleted the photograph of the arches because I hadn’t noticed the ATM machine when I clicked. The black box to the right is the ATM machine.
Sadly, I have reached my ten selections. It was challenging. I have had a difficult time choosing. Yes, photographs are like kids. You can’t pick just one.
S – Starting today E – Everything is going to be all right P – Pausing to listen T – To nature all around E – Even when I’m feeling down M – My heart will be open B – Because life is incredible E – Each and everyday R – Regardless of what’s handed my way.
♥ VAN MORRISON– WHEN THE LEAVES COME FALLING DOWN.♥
Namaste I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of Love, and of Truth, of Light and of Peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me. We are One.
When we purchased our home in 1989, there was an oak sapling on the border of the adjoining empty lot. Now, there is a home on that lot.
Through the years, it grew larger and larger until we were the beneficiaries of shade from its broad branches.
Lightening struck the oak tree, splitting it in half. It was a shock to see the power of lightning during a hurricane. We have all of our trees and our bushes entirely gone. The tree companies were overwhelmed by the work they faced from the destroyed trees. We waited three months before our beautiful oak became a pile of logs on the road. There were loud thumps each time a branch fell to the ground. I could almost feel what the oak was feeling.
Sweet songs the birds sang are no more. It’s sad to think they were displaced. We plan to replace the trees and bushes, but unfortunately, the heat in Florida has been brutal. Our temperatures have been in the high 90’s. With the humidity factored in, we are seeing an increase of 105.
We will wait for Mother Nature to calm down to add new homes for those beautiful singing birds. Time, it all takes time.
Teachers saw the possibilities in Thomas. From the first day he entered the classroom, he was enthusiastic about learning everything there was to learn.
His mother had always taken pride in the way he looked. His father wore vests, and collared shirts, Thomas wanted to wear them too. When she heard the children would be reading from their primer on Friday, she was as excited as Thomas but nervous too.
Had he sufficiently learned to read after three months?
She thought he was bright, but she was his mother. After all, he was only 6.
She began to have thoughts of her own mother’s words:
Autumn Leaves ©goggle image
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Inside the Mind of Isadora 