mind

From reference. Also a reminder of how satisfying it is to draw something that fills the entire page.

Inspired by my recent trip to Korea, which I intentionally went this season to catch the cherry/plum/peach blossoms. As I observed the zigzagness of the tree branches, I see in it the number of roads/mis-roads I had to take, as someone unfamiliar with the land, to get to a good bloom spot. Which kinda reminds me of life. I felt I just had to do this piece.

Approximately 8 x10" marker drawing on found paper. I love this tone of paper, as it reminds me of being a kid and drawing on paper grocery bags.

my original illustration (zoom in): "development"

‭‭In our little potted gardens, sometimes our plants thrive, and sometimes they don't. But what remains constant are the pots still being a pot. This reminds me of the Bible verse, which served as the inspiration for this week's post: -Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬- The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. //There are 6 Sundays leading up to Good Friday. In observation of Lent, I will be posting 6 works inspired by the theme. This is for the 5th Sunday of Lent.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:22‭-‬24‬ ‭NIV‬‬ You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. //There are 6 Sundays leading up to Good Friday. In observation of Lent, I will be posting 6 works inspired by the theme. This is for the 4th Sunday of Lent.

The Moon Mason Bees spread life throughout the galaxy in the world of Under a Hostile Sun! Astronauts love them. Hate them. Hate to love them and love to hate them. The Moon Masons are larger than cars, have the curiosity of squirrels, the hive mind of insects and endless mutagenic powers. https://muckraker.itch.io/under-a-hostile-sun

language is limiting. the problem with communicating is that individual words can have very different meanings in different contexts and to different people.

Luminary Festival - Auren Farkis (Digital Portrait I did as a colour study) Crisp reverberating strings danced through the evening. Notes twisted and echoed up through the emerald, velvet tiers of Ridgedow Gardens. Dusk’s veil had long since darkened to a diamond-encrusted black, and Clarglow was alive with activity. Footpaths were choked with revellers that formed a river of light that coursed and pulsed through the park. Will-o-whisp spots of light also glowed among the neatly trimmed hedgerows and statues. Their magic-addled voices rose up, joining in with the music of the Luminary Festival. A young man, no more than a quarter of a century old, glowed brightest of all. A soft orange radiated from his eyes, and his veins pulsed a brilliant red. He was dripping in gold and gems. Over an outfit that somehow managed to be heavily layered and revealing at the same time, he wore a sheer cape, which was heavily embroidered with blood-red crystals that refracted his own light around him in dazzling, concentrated rays. It was such a dangerous colour of magic, but his expression was soft and dreamy. Excited laughter rose up as a clustered group shot metallic confetti skyward. Gold flake drifted down and settled into his silver hair, cheeks, and shoulders. No doubt he would discover the remnants of this festival in his home weeks from now. He increased his pace, stepping off the cobbled path to overtake the group, when one of their number split from the group. The coils of her dark hair were so saturated with gold that she looked like she belonged on a pedestal next to the other statues. She intercepted him, matching his pace. She snaked a long, slender arm around his waist and pulled him closer. She pressed her lips against his neck, leaving a wake of golden kisses up to his earlobe, where she leaned closer to whisper. — “Aurie, Luv, I know that look. Don’t tell me you’re headed home. The eve has only just begun. “ Her glowing eyes Locked with Auren’s, her grip tightening, slowing the both of them to a stop, causing a temporary blockage in the flow of people. “Overdid myself Mel.. you’ll have to –” –” Come with us to the reflecting pool.” She cooed, meeting his lips in an off-center kiss, smearing his inky wine lipstick. Momentarily, he allowed himself to relax. He considered saying yes. His heart pounding, he dipped his friend backwards gracefully, resenting that he had to leave. An itch in his left arm reminded his fuzzy brain that he was in danger. Gasping softly, he gently lifted Mella upright and spun her out towards her friends, who were growing impatient. He couldn’t make out their faces in the fuzz of the evening. “I can’t, I’m sorry Mel! We’ll talk later.” Before she could protest, he danced, spinning forward in a brilliant display of speed that ended in a stumble as he met a set of steep steps that coiled sharply upwards out of the park and onto the pink brick streets overlooking Ridgedow Gardens. The glazed windows facing the street were empty and blank… their occupants elsewhere, enjoying the festival. The empty buildings were like faces, judging him for his lack of zeal. Auren wound his way through streets and side streets, his pace increasing as he grew more and more alone. Finally, he was climbing a set of steps to his own front door. Smirking at the sight of it he reached down into the front of the bodice that held together the layers of his outfit pulling free a loop of keys that were on a long chain looped around his neck. Aligning it to the keyhole he struggled with the lock, cursing softly under his breath as it initially failed to cooperate with him. In the quiet black of his foyer, he latched the door behind him and stumbled forward, tearing at the ribbon that held the gleaming cape that draped from his bare shoulders. He let it drop on a black lacquered table. He reached up to unclasp an elaborate choker and tore his single, crimson glove down from his elbow. He pressed a gilded fingernail against a band of red ink encroached upon by a spreading corruption. Marginally extending beyond the band were sinews of mismatched muscle and skin; even his hair had begun to glow red. Pulse rising, he wrenched his rings from his fingers, casting them into the ever-darkening room. Precious jewellery piled under him until only the dimmest glow from his own veins remained.. Slumping onto the steps, he tightened his grip on his arm and twisted it ninety degrees. A sharp click of crystal against porcelain met his ears. The room was enveloped in black as his final stone slid away from his arm, rendering the prosthesis inert. He slid to his side, the sounds of the party below overtaken by his own gasping breaths, panic refusing to subside alongside his magic.

Elias Rosenshaw 1/13/2024 Gouache on paper.

Title: Heart and Soul Medium: illustration pens on sketch book paper Style: surreal Category: illustration Created: Dec-Jan 2024-2024 Artist: Stephen J. Vattimo Heart and Soul This is preliminary drawing for a painting I am about to begin. The concept for this illustration started as a design for a pumpkin carving contest. I feel the message of the design is so important for people to hear, I decided to make it into a painting. The original design, done in pen and ink. The design only shows the two doors of the entrance to a fortress. It was designed for a live pumpkin carving event in mind. At this type of event, the carver must create their piece of art live on site with spectators watching and asking questions, and there is a time limit. The evolution of the design? I added a wall on each side of the entrance, with matching pillars. Explaining the design of the pillars The triangle top: the triune God. Representing three persons of God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The cross shape opening in the pillars: The cross is the only path to God, to have the debt of sin satisfied. To reconcile humankind back to himself. To be released from being a slave to the Devil. To be a new creation empowered by God Spirit. Explaining the design of the entrance way(gate) The top of the entrance is in the shape of a heart, represents the seat of human passion, ambition, and allegiance. The cultic three petal flower is used to represent God in three persons united. The symbol inside the flower: God’s ministry toward humankind. Crown: Highest authority Cross: God’s loving salvation and restoration plan. The dove: Spiritualty made alive, fellowship with God, empowerment to weather the storm of life, and equip for service to God. Change in the design of the door. In the original design, one door had roses carved on it. The pattern took up the whole door. The other door had a grape vine carved on it. The pattern took up the whole door. I modified the emblem on the doors by making them smaller and simplified, so I could place them inside heart shapes, so the new images would more clearly communicate what they are meant to represent. I also added color to the emblems(color pencil) to make them clear of what they are, because of their size and the ink medium ,they were hard to interpret. Understanding the symbol of the two doors. The door with the rose inside the heart emblem represents a heart whose passions, ambitiousness, allegiance are focused on the cares, worries, and abstaining riches of the world. Only giving God lip service. I chose the rose to represent the heart of spiritual allegiance to the world, because roses are pretty, but you can’t eat them to nourish your body. They also have thorns that can cause injury to the body. So, the parallel point is, just as flower fade and turn to dust, so will the person who chases the thing of the world and has no time for God. For life is very short, we know not which will be our last breath on this side of eternity. But if a person leaves this earth without excepting the gift God offered them which is salvation from penalty of sin and given enteral life through the work that was done on the cross by God’s son. Then that soul will appear before Jesus, and just as they did not know him in their life on earth, He will tell them he knows them not. Into the lake of fire, they will spend eternity. The door with the grape vine in the heart emblem represents a heart whose passions, ambitiousness, allegiance are for God. To know Him intimately, to obey His teachings, to serve his will. I chose the grapevine to represent the heart of spiritual allegiance to God, because grapes are nourishing to the body. Jesus also used a grape vine in one of his parables. He paralleled the spiritual relationship he had with his disciples and the grapevine. He told them just as branches of a vine must depend on the base of the vine to live and bare fruit, so they must abide him to have abundant life. Abiding in Christ is not a religious act. It is outside of religion. It is an intimate relationship. Example: you can belong to a fan club of Paul McCartney and know a lot of things you have heard about him, but he doesn’t even know you exist. Where, if Paul is your father, and you have a good parent to child relationship, then you know him intimately. So, abiding in God, we commune with him through read his word and living by its teachings. It is spending time in prayer. Sharing our hearts with God and spending time listing to him. Trusting in him as our provider and giving thanks for his provision. Living our lives, with the purpose of pleasing him with the work of our hand and loving our neighbors in the workplace as well as in the community. Just as a healthy grapevine continues to grow and produce much fruit. Having an imitate relationship with God should be more and more evident in the way we live our lives. So, when the angel of death pays you an unexpected visit, he escorts you to Jesus’s throne, you know for certain he going to welcome you with loving arms and said welcome home my faithful servant. Now to which door I chose for my life? It’s the one that is open. This bible verse one of a couple that inspired me to design this illustration. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 King James Version 12 Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. This verse is not referring to the rebellious people who have rejected God, this is referring to people who are children of God, who failed to serve God faithful. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo. 3 Jan 2024 .

My little Brother, Timmey, asked me to draw something scary with his red marker/pen thingy. I said okay and in 5 minutes made this monstrosity. While its not that "scary" it certainly is disturbing. Its funny how the same mind that can create such heartful and goofy images can also create at times depressing or unsettling things like this. I guess every artist can draw "Dark" stuff. They just have to try.

Poster of my first author's exhibition Drawing from imagination" Mindfulness"

After a year of drawing pretty much nothing due to artblock/burnout that came after a few years of battling my mind to be able to draw, this drawing marked me finally being able to return to art this November 2023 with a fresh mindset of less perfectionisim and more focus on my own enjoyment of the process. I had a limited timespan to work on this, a gift for my grandmother's 80th birthday, as I only began the process the day before I needed to email it across. Compared to the months it has typically taken me to finish anything in more recent years, this presented an extra motivation to abandon "perfect" in favour of "good enough". It's not as detailed as some of my prior works, but given the limited timespan and that I'm out of practice I am nonetheless happy with the result. As usual, I combined a graphite and ink drawing with digital colour+shading.

I highly recommend the book, Gender and Competition: How Men and Women Approach Work and Play Differently, by Kathleen J. DeBoer. In it, among other things, she elucidates that those with a conceptually masculine perspective (regardless of sex) are drawn to thinking of the world in hierarchies, which I have represented here with a triangle in the mind of the spotter on the left. She elaborates that those with a conceptually feminine perspective (again, regardless of sex) are draw to thinking of the world in webs, which I have represented here with a circle. Those that think more masculine-ly are more likely to expect beginners in a sport or field to prove themselves in the group. They will often not "hold their punches" (i.e. curb their ability) to make newcomers comfortable. All members of the group are expected to "earn their keep," in a sense. When a member of the group exceeds expectations, they move up in the hierarchy. Contrary to that, those that think more feminine-ly likely show acceptance and approval to beginners in order to foster an environment in which they will perform. They will often adjust their skills so that newcomers can more readily "keep up." When a member of the group exceeds expectations, they are expected to raise the status of the group as a whole. The playing field is "flattened" in that sense. I am not advocating for either perspective, but I will share that I have a more conceptually feminine perspective, and that I have previously left groups whose members have a more masculine perspective. Kathleen's book really helped me personally to understand the motivations of people that I genuinely did not understand prior to reading the book. It put a lot into perspective for me, and I hold fewer grudges these days. Cheers, fam~

17 OCT 2023

Suppose that 'meaning' is a faint word scribbled on a wall in a dark room. The words that we use are often barriers that separate, then, our 'comprehension' from 'meaning.' Let us suppose then that the light of the intention of a speaker is obscured by a 'word.' The angle and setup of that intention then, along with the angle and setup of the comprehension of the listener, can distort or disguise the true meaning of what the speaker is saying. Of course, the angle and setup of these things can vary greatly, just as easily as the shadows that cover 'meaning' can vary. It would seem best, then, with this in mind, to communicate as transparently as possible and to avoid and/or to detect deceit whenever possible. Dishonesty and misdirection, whether deliberate or otherwise, in the speaker or in the listener, always risk shrouding 'meaning.' When communicating earnestly, distraction can be dangerous. Shrewdness is recommended.

This painting was done with the Tuscan style in mind. The Tuscan style favors a rustic look. To me this never goes out of style because it’s as if the new and the old have found a common medium and have agreed to blend so well. There’s plenty of green, beautiful grass. The windows are complimented by the various colors of flowers that are perfectly placed below them. I love how there’s a table set outside of the building with a string of lights (even more beautiful at night) for people to enjoy the scenery as they eat some tasty, authentic Italian cuisines. There’s a group of people walking past the wall of yellow flowers and vines on the way to the inside of the building. In this scene, the ladies are wearing some long, beautiful dresses with gentlemen by their side to accompany them. This gives the impression that this group is out to have a good time. The white birds tops it off in this painting by giving it an inviting feel...”a moment to remember” feeling.

Mind of galaxy

Nothing to Something

Ink on up - cycled menu paper

Embark on a journey through the mesmerizing world of our colorful rainbow artwork doodle drawing. This captivating creation is a vibrant symphony of hues that come together in harmonious chaos. Every stroke of the pen is a burst of energy, every line a dance of colors that evoke emotions and spark imagination. From the rich reds that symbolize passion to the serene blues that whisper tranquility, each shade tells a story. This artwork is a celebration of diversity, a reminder that beauty thrives in differences. It's a reminder of the positivity that radiates when we embrace the spectrum of life. The meticulous detailing and intricate patterns invite you to explore every nook and cranny, discovering hidden gems with each gaze. Hang this masterpiece in your space, infuse your surroundings with its dynamic spirit. Let the vivid colors breathe life into your world, a testament to the joyful, vibrant, and kaleidoscopic nature of existence.

Haven’t made a collage in awhile…#embracingnightmares

Troubled girl with a beautiful mind

Norways largest sailboat arrived in Bergen this summer, and the crew dressed in black posing on the masts reminded me of birds sitting on wires.

sometimes the mind goes where ever it wants>>

The boy calls his brother to view the Ship. It's cool cozy weather. He feels happy and excited to watch it sail. This one is my favorite painting. It's clean & minimal. Reminds me of a cool, cozy, clear sky and before a rain

DONE 2023 WITH LEAD PENCIL ON 11X17 STRATHMORE DRAWING PAPER. ORIGINAL FOR SALE $100+S/H. IF INTERESTED DM me or artgod1974@gmail.com i ALSO HAVE NEW COLOR ART BOOK OF MINE UP FOR SALE GO TO THE LINK TO PURCHASE https://www.artwanted.com/artist.cfm?ArtID=115637&Tab=Books&CPID=1133 Dignity blooms on the branches of morality., ethnics, and respect for humanity. It is reflected in courtesy, good manners, and love for all regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion. Our public conduct should reflect our private selves, our manners should spring from our hearts. To be courteous costs us nothing, but buys us everything. Morality is based on ethics. We should not devalue and undermine others. It is important to preserve and honor each other's dignity if we are to promote a harmonious society. We all wish to have dignity and respect, but often we do so little to obtain it. We can be natural and truthful, real and genuine. We must treat others as we wish to be treated. If we approach someone else's anger with calmness and courtesy, we can often help diffuse that anger and foster cooperation. With sweet words we can lead an elephant by a hair. Dignity also requires that we be truthful, humble, gracious and temperate. Those who lie, cheat, steal, and abuse alcohol and drugs lose all dignity; those who are honest, work hard, and respect themselves and others gain it. Such person can walk with their heads held high. Losing one's wealth is nothing nothing compared with losing one's dignity. The whole measure of excellence is moderation. We can maintain strong morals, high standards, and a great respect and honesty. Truth cannot be buried; truth can set us free. Truth elevates our spirit, softens our souls. Truth is the mother of virtue. Our pride and our shame turn us into liars. We must resist and work hard to maintain our dignity, or regain it once it's been lost. We owe it to ourselves to have happy life, enriched with dignity, respect and peace of mind. We should remember that it means nothing to live without wealth; it means everything to live with dignity. Nobility shows from a distance. It is not offensive to deprive ourselves of wealth; it is offensive to lose our dignity.