Recently read: Kelly Rae Roberts’ Taking Flight

The subtitle of this book is Inspiration & Techniques to give your Creative Spirit Wings, which sums of the content of the book nicely. I have encountered Roberts’ art in a number of books which include a variety of artists’ works. Her mixed media paintings are instantly identifiable with their pensive female faces and richly textured surfaces. She includes easy instructions on how she and the artists she interviews create the featured works. Her essays, self-exploration questions, and advice are helpful tools, whether you are considering expanding your artistic work or just want to discover more ways to free up your creativity.

Art Journals

One of my colleagues taking the Literary Living program with me (see http://www.literaryliving.com/ )
asked me for some suggestions on creating art journals. As writers, whether or not we also consider ourselves to be artists, an art journal is a good way to express your creativity. There are as many ways to create art journals as people making them. The examples above show some of my art journals in a variety of formats. All are mixed media mainly using ephemera (like tickets or vintage ads), photos, magic marker, acryllic paint, varieties of papers, and watercolor. From the top: a collaged journal page in process; a journal page where I have sketched and written using magic markers; mailing tags that I've collaged and tied together (great way to save space on your bookshelves), an altered book where the pages serve as my journal, and a single unbound collaged journal page. Click on each image to enlarge it.

March 23 is Democracy Day

The National Education Association, representing more than three million teachers, support professionals, and administrators aross the country, is sponsoring Rock the Vote, a celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the 26th Amendment. See http://www.democracyday.org for more information.

Recently read: T. Jefferson Parker’s L.A. Outlaws

I have read Parker’s books for years, and find them always well-written, with gripping plots. Of his many works, this one was not up to the masterful levels of his earlier works, but it is still worth reading. The people and the media of Los Angeles are fascinated by a woman outlaw, Allison Murrieta, whose outrageous robberies, charitable donations after each “job,” and her penchant for stealing fancy cars, have entertained everyone but the police for months now. Until one day ten gangsters are found dead and a fortune in jewels is missing. Suddenly Murrieta is in danger herself.

10 ways nationwide teacher cuts affect you

Here is an excellent article that sums up why cuts to education will hurt all Americans: http://current.com/1dkn14c It makes no sense to me (other than corporate and individual greed), why vital programs must be cut so that the wealthiest people in the country don't have to pay taxes.

Recently read: John Sandford’s Phantom Prey

Lucas Davenport isn’t involved at first in the case where a wealthy widow comes home to blood on her walls and a missing daughter. He is drawn in as a series of grisly murders of friends and acquaintances of the missing daughter—all young people involved in the Goth scene in Minneapolis—cause panic. Then the daughter’s body is found in a ditch, a mysterious Goth “fairy” hovers at the edge of each victim’s last hours, and even Davenport’s life is in danger. Excellent as usual.

Too much going on!

My latest Vision Board, created as part of a Literary Living assignment

I know, I've not been posting as often as is my goal. Bear with me as I complete a mountain of tasks. I hope to post at least three times a week soon. I will keep the contests up to date, and post at least two new jigsaw puzzles a week in the interium.