Impalla, Wart Hog and Topi is a strange painting of a young doll like female puppet head with large intimidating eyes. The scary doll head puppet looks like a frozen predator. Her expression almost ferrel but still oddly innocent at the same time. I chose the vintage storybook background based on the mottled rich tones of the paper itself and the fact that the title refers to prey and predators in Africa. It is an excerpt from an old African adventure story. I love the arresting expression and bright colours of this painting. She has great stopping power and evokes all kinds of emotions.
Beginning.
The bird had a pair of sunglasses she used exclusively to daydream. Today she dreamed about blueberries. It seemed strange - maybe - to daydream about them while sitting under a blueberry bush, but the bird thought it made them sweeter. Besides, they were better conversationalists in her imagination.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP_rDGEh_80/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Many beginnings.
Beginning 8.
Lola stared in astonishment as the water spout grew and grew and grew.
* Starting is easy, it's the middle that is often a muddle. And I won't even mention the endings. Here are some beginnings for children stories that flitter through my head.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO2nszuBn2Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCtS009hqco/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link A beautiful moth came for a visit. Silky smooth (I petted her of course) and magnificent.
Dream of the Yellow Chrysanthemum from Dialogues in Paradise by Can Xue.
I was hiding behind the window aiming my air gun at a squirrel on a roof in the distance. I had been taking aim for two hours. But when I finally shot, full of confidence, the steel pellet zinged right into Old Jiang's arm. God knows why I lost my mind at the crucial moment, I was born with the impulsive personality. Immediately he jumped up and dashed into the room, shouting, "Murder! Murder!" I was totally embarrassed.
A portrait painting of a vintage dislocated puppet head. Created with mixed media including vintage storybook pages, old photographs and stamps. Pen and ink, gouache, and watercolours.
Beginning
This may be hard to believe, but giraffes are very particular about their boots.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtkGO3B328/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Many beginnings.
Beginning 3.
The mouse was going on an adventure. But he just couldn't decide what to take with him. He wanted his favorite shoes and second favorite shoes. His tennis racket and the cactus he was given for his birthday. And so he put his house on the wheels and went on an adventure in his rolly polly house.
* Starting is easy, it's the middle that is often a muddle. And I won't even mention the endings. Here are some beginnings for children stories that flitter through my head.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COktNgnhex4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Mary Oliver
It's crazy to think that 6 years have already flown by since I first moved onto the Xcel gymnastics team, let alone the fact that I've spent 15 years of my life as a gymnast. Tomorrow, August 6th, 2021, marks my last day as a gymnast on the team since I'm officially a college student. I've genuinely been dreading this day, but it's not the ending I expected...in an oddly good way. I know no one expected to spend the past year in a pandemic, and I definitely didn't think gym would shift so much in the following months, but here we are. Gymnastics has taught me more than I ever imagined it could, and my coaches (especially one of them) have become two of the people I'm closest with, words can't describe how grateful I am for everything. This 'ending' doesn't feel like an end, more so a closing to this chapter. Honestly, my love for the sport has only grown, and it feels like I'm finally figuring it all out. So, although my final practice as a team member is tomorrow, my journey is not over yet. "Goodbyes are the hardest part, and this ending has been something I’ve been dreading, although I know it’s time to let go. I’d like to say this isn’t a permanent goodbye to you or the sport, it’s more of a natural conclusion. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve done for me and managed to teach me in this short amount of time, I couldn’t have asked for anyone, or anything, better. Thank you most of all for helping me achieve my dreams and for helping me get to a point in which I can say I’m proud of my journey.
All that’s left to say is I care about you, I love you, and take care."
My painted interpretation of a large quilt my grandma made and stitched by hand decades ago using upcycled shirts. It’s gotten a lot of use and is showing the wear and tear that a well loved quilt will show on a long enough timeline. Still, I can’t bring myself to put it away for long. While a piece of me thinks I should keep it safe and preserved, my grandma is a practical woman that likes knowing something she made is getting good use. A sentiment I can appreciate. And so, maybe I can extend it’s life through watercolor.
