Category Archives: Commons

Making Changes!

Image
Orchid in Abstract

Orchid in Abstract

Good morning everyone. Since I wrote this a couple of days ago, I haven’t any idea if it’s raining at the moment, or if the sun is playing with us. It’s been chilly here in Southern California, and since I live ten miles off the Pacific Ocean, it’s a bit damp.     Just so we’re clear, in no way am I complaining!  I’m only in Southern California….not Main or New York, or even Michigan. The people who live there have reason to complain about cold and dampness.                                                                        No, I’m not complaining.

Its been a long time since I’ve been able to actually gather enough thoughts to sit down and blog. . Today, Tuesday, I sat down with a big, warm, coconut infused Yerba Mate tea and decided I needed to pick myself up, and make some changes!

Changes come in all kinds of ways, sizes, shapes and forms. Of course the first thing I need to do is make time for you, and my blog.  The next thing is letting all of you know that KarenSamenow with StoneSoup will now be known as Karen’s Stone Soup…

Since some of the changes are to my  blog, and Yes they will be positive changes, and some changes are to my home!  As much as I love the colorful background of my blog, I’m going to replace it as soon as I can learn how to do that.   LOL   Some changes have already taken place.  Like me even thinking about changes!

Admittedly, I have lost touch with the workings of blogging, and I’m working at getting back to a place where I’m fluid at posting new items of interest within my blog.   Blogging is a full-time job, and  I also have interests in  creating my art, my family, and exploring and/or traveling. I belong to an  art group where we critique one another, explore new ideas, or sometimes just stop and relax with a cup of something good!  We support each other through great times, and sad times. Sometimes that means just setting aside creating, and being supportive.  So twice a week is going to be a standard for me, or I won’t have anything to blog about!

It is my hope you will like the changes as much as I do, and find it easier to negociate  your way around Stone Soup.  Thank you for being here, you are the people  keeping me going and giving me inspiration.  🌞👩🏻‍🎨☔️🕗

Time Out for Art

Image
Collage by Sage Emery

Collage by Sage Emery

Last year my granddaughter Sage, who was seven at the time, created this Halloween collage.  I love the way she tore papers, glued them onto a canvas, and stenciled over the papers.  All this time without even realizing it, she was checking for balance, and she put a great deal of thought into her design.   I think it turned out pretty good for a seven-year old.

Today,  I asked her what her plans were for a free day, and she replied since it was cold out, she thought she’d do some sketching!   That’s my girl!!!

My inspiration in part comes from Zebra Designs & Destinations, I’m going to show her this blog in hope she will find some kind of inspiration also, check them out, it’s a pretty interesting blog!

A Retrospect of an Artist

Image
October 18,2014

October 18,2014

 What happened on Saturday night, October 18th?

The middle of  October, Art Beat on Main Street in Vista, Ca. had a reception for our dear friend  Maxine Custer.   The entire show has been in the making for months, and was spearheaded by another dear friend, LaRetta Small Zamora.  It became clear recently that LaRetta needed the help of three of the Fabulous Five Divas to pull it together.  That meant that with the exception of Maxine providing her paintings for the show, the remaining four of us needed to share in the pulling it together!

Only part of the food!

Only part of the food!

And…..

After dividing up the catering responsibilities between Karin deBaay, Susan Kopp, LaRetta, and myself it made it much easier on LaRetta, and was actually fun.  One person would have gone crazy…ier than they already were, so it worked out perfectly.

Maxine Custer, LaRetta Small Zamora

Maxine Custer, LaRetta Small Zamora

After placing announcements on Facebook, and group emails, not one of us even had a clue as to how many people might show up. So many invitations went out, that we lost count.   But we were ready for a fabulous party!

For those of you who couldn’t make it, you missed a great party, but you still will be able to see the show!

Time Out for Art

Image
Mixed Media

Mixed Media

I’ve been experimenting with some new ideas lately, and this is one of them.  I particularly like the pencil showing in my sketch, and the stencil work in the corners with molding paste.

Time out for Art has been inspired by Zebra Designs & Destinations.  

Holding it Together……

Image
"Holding it Together"

“Holding it Together”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I look through the Daily Post for Writing 201….

I have come across the following quote..   Somehow it hit home with me, maybe because  growing up in our household,  art was not an option, or maybe because I’m such a rebel.  I don’t even remember bringing art up, it was so not an option!  I never had the nerve or inclination to be gay, but as a child,  I was a pretty good artist, and quite creative.  Somehow that creativity was  watered down, and pretty soon I found myself  involved with a family,  kids, and didn’t even have the time, or energy to look back.

Sadly it took me years to find myself, only to get lost in the teenage revolution.  Amazingly, I survived three kids going through their teenage years without  many headaches, or meltdowns!

Eventually,  freeing myself after the kids left home to find my heart was in my art once again.  I’m still finding art, and still looking for myself in the way I paint, and express myself. I think that’s  called growing? They say it’s the  journey,  not the destination, and it’s an  interesting journey at that!

“If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don’t have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

            A Man Without a Country

This  quote was taken from the Daily Post, and written by Kurt Vonnegut

 

In taking this two-week class I have discovered new ideas, some I have implemented, some  were already in place.  I’m still learning, and making an effort to create a blog that is interesting, and full of great content.    I love to write, but I love painting and creating as well.  I’m getting my mojo back, and starting to create more often. It is on my mind constantly now, and each thing I do during the day, or experience I have, my mind goes to how can I relate that to a painting!   This is what creating is about, weather we are a writer, a musician, a painter, or wherever our creating process is……

Have a beautiful day full of ideas, and lots of creating!