I'm the one in the middle...

"Nobody cares if you can dance well...Just get up and dance."
~unknown
Dancing school at Mrs' Wilhelm's School of Dance...every Saturday...of course this was from a recital....my best friend is next to me with the skinned knee...probably from wiping out on our bikes...she is much taller than me now. I was an early bloomer, I guess. Always taller than the boys....then, everyone grew and I stopped in 6th grade. I was planning on maybe being a model since I was so hideously taller than all my friends for so long.....and I am only 5'3/4". But then I felt like the Jolly Green Giant. And forget about what else was growing....

Oh...the pain, the pain...

This is how I have been feeling since Thursday! This wonderful painting titled "The Scream", by Edvard Munch is what I have been doing and feeling...screaming every time I move...my neck, shoulders...I can't even put my hair into a pony tail with out a scream...the pets are used to it all by now. At first, they all scattered and so did the fur for cover, now they just look at me and shake their tails...hummmm.

Anyway if Edvard were here today and painted my portrait, this would be me...7 days with this living hell, the family size pack of frozen peas is now my best friend for all the hourly icing I am instructed to do. And for not so good pain relief...and I have tried them all...my pill of choice is plain old (stomach-lining-eating) aspirin. It has worked over the years. I found out I had arthritis in my neck when I was sculpting about 6 years ago and had to have physical therapy just to be able to work. Now, the new x-rays are hideous! It looks like some foreign object has taken over my neck bones and is growing as I type. Plus, it is appearing to fuse no. 5 and 6 vertebra together. Arthritis...I hate getting old, and this is from the type of work I have always done!

So, I am seeing a great chiropractor who is an Angel and has worked on me everyday...even saw me on Sunday!!! But now she is out of town and I have to wait until Monday....I could not stay for my painting class on Monday and today I have drawing class...and I have lots to do before finals next week....frozen peas, anyone?

An Angel For Becky...

I just found out today that a friend/artist/merchant has cancer of the lip and had surgery to remove it...I am devastated by this news and the town of Marietta, OH is holding a benefit in her honor, on May 14th...at the Lafayette Hotel. She is such an inspiration to me...she has a unique shop (which is closed due to her condition). She paints anything ...and I mean anything she can get her paint brushes on...love her to pieces...Please keep her in your prayers. Her name is Becky Johnson and she owns 'Black Sheep', one of the coolest shops on Front St.

Becky, I wish you a quick recovery and hope to see you soon back in your shop....inspiring others, you are so gifted.

love you,

Suz

Self Portrait/photo

Two Heads Are Better Than None...

No... these aren't any of mine...although they pull the same antics...but I had to share this...too cute!

Drawing Class assignment...self portrait

This was so much fun to create for Drawing Class...had to be a self-portrait. I have drawn and painted so many self-portraits and bottles this year that I decided to combine the two! I am Italian and like my wine...and save bottles for Gawd knows what...

So I took pics of myself "smoking" a paint brush, I do not smoke but liked the representation of my paint brushes smoke when I paint and in the moment. I added a crystal tear drop to represent paint dripping...and each work created is a little gem. I drew myself on black paper with colored pencil.

I titled it ArTsy phArTsy...a full bodied wine...not for the faint of heArT. Vintage 1959, the year I was created. The back label was fun to write, all silly ArTsy stuff. Class at critique last night loved it...now everyone wants me to make wine...

KaTee KaT

Katee, my oldest child, 13 yrs...we have been through a lot together. Love her to pieces.

OMG!!! 51 is coming in way too fast....

Yes, May 25th., I will be 51....My 50th. totally sucked. No party, hooplalala, just another day, really weird. It fell on Memorial Day and the only good thing was that I got to spend some time with the woman who brought me into this world...and that was all that really mattered. Then I had to head back for classes the next morning.

Usually some of my friends get together to celebrate all our b-days since 3-4 of us have them within a week of each other. But lives get busy and time flies as you age. I do not feel 50, let alone 51...then I think ...hmmmm...what do I have to show for all those years...hmmmm, give me a minute, I should be able to come up with something......

It is time to reevaluate my life and what I do and what I bring to the world and others. It is never too late to start over.

Great Quote...

"Every job is a self portrait

of those who did it."

~unknown

Title "Adam's Apple"

This one got started today...due Monday for class. A collaborative project, we pick a subject and each do our take on it. This is 12" x 12", acrylic on canvas board. I am going to Mom's for the weekend, my brother and nephew are coming in from NC. Then, back in the studio Monday to finish up by 4pm, class time!!!!

Title "I'm Mad As Hatter!"

I think I am finally finished! What a fun painting to create. Now if I can fit it into my VW Beetle...hummmm.

I used tissue paper, acrylic paints, tea bag papers, confetti, rubber stamps, cut out words, and two 5 and 9 of hearts playing cards...represents the year I was born. The tea bag hat is attached with Velcro, so I can remove it and make interchangeable hats for other seasons, Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July...simply mad, I know!

My Bottle Obsession

This is a series I did in painting class, not intending it to become a series at all. But I became obsessed with that bottle, it's shape, colors, and light. This last one, pen and ink, was created using washes of natural home made dyes from nature...flowers, fruits, spices, etc.

Something to ponder...

"You can't depend on your eyes

when your imagination is out of focus."

~MarkTwain

Quote...

"Have a Heart that Never Hardens,

a Temper that Never Tires,

a Touch that Never Hurts."

~Charles Dickens

WV Mining Tragedy...

MONTCOAL, W. Va. (April 10) -- Authorities say crews have found the bodies of four miners missing nearly a week since an explosion at a West Virginia coal mine, bringing the death toll to 29. Gov. Joe Manchin said, "The journey has ended."

Please pray for the miner's families and loved ones who will not have someone to bring home with them. It has been a long and painful week here in WV and my thoughts and prayers go out to miners everywhere...it is a sort of brotherhood, miners are very special and brave individuals. And God Bless the Mine Rescue Teams for all their hard and painful work.

More of MadHatter Me painting...still in progress

Some pics to show the progress of my latest class project in painting class...I was inspired by the movie, Alice in Wonderland. And I love my tea...notice the hat made from Lipton tea bag papers. The two cards coming out of the tea cup are the 5 and 9 of hearts...signifies the year I was born...

Me...as the Mad Hatter....

This is a final project for painting class...our own choice...and since I am a staunch tea drinker and loved Alice in Wonderland...here is myself as a Mad Hatter of sorts!

Mining Disaster in WV

Monday there was a tragic coal mining disaster at a mine in Southern WV. It was a horrendous explosion and so far 25 bodies have been recovered. Please, if you can take just a moment, say a prayer for these miners (and all miners), who risked (risk)their lives everyday and for the loved ones they left behind.

Happy Spring and Easter!

Love me some pastel kitties!!! Wishing everyone a grand Easter...may the big bunny treat you well. God Bless.