Tag / visuals

by Janet

A Visual Story

Today’s Word of the Day Challenge was Timeless. Besides the fact that I wanted to take a break from the story – I thought that the best way to sum up the word was with an image.

I’ve been super tempted to get my camera out lately, but there’s just no scenery here in my town. My son and I were talking about that the other day. He reads a LOT, and he was telling me he read something recently that talked about planning and architecture, and how larger cities these days are being constructed not only to pack people in like sardines, but to create the illusion of imprisonment – so that people are more inclined to ‘comply’.

I think the word he used to describe today’s architecture (in cities where they are simply trying to house more people) was ‘barbaric’.

I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know that he reads a heck of a lot more than me when it comes to ideas about what is happening to society these days. And I also know that my city gets me down sometimes because all you see is concrete.

I guess what I’m getting at is that when you look at nature – the ocean, the mountains, the desert, and so on – you get a view of something that’s timeless. Nature never really ages or gets old. It may disappear, like it has (somewhat) in my city, but without human interference – I think that nature would only improve. It never needs refurbishing, or a new coat of paint – it stays beautiful all on it’s own.

I don’t know. Just something I thought of when I saw the word timeless. That being said, I found a photograph that I loved on the internet- and this is my rendition. I think it looks pretty timeless. One of the definitions I found was “having no beginning or end : eternal,” and I think that nature is about as eternal as we’ll ever get here on earth.

Anyway, if I remember correctly, I believe the actual photograph was taken in Wales – so if anyone actually recognizes it let me know. I’d be curious if you did. I need to work on my highlighting and shadows – which is why the sand, the grass, and the rocks are so basic, but I think it does the trick. It was an all day effort – and I’ve had enough.

I guess my visual story turned out to be pretty wordy here, haha! But I think I’m done. So, that’s about all for now.

Thanks for stopping by… I hope you enjoyed the illustration!

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.”

Frank Gehry

by Janet

Circle of Life

Stories We Tell

A Fictional Series

Having a child is the ultimate game changer. No matter how crazy or mixed up life may be, it finally starts to make sense, and you’re able to grasp a hold of this concrete, unwavering sense of the reason you exist – to keep your child safe.

When I gave birth to my daughter, a wide array of feelings swirled around inside of me, both emotionally and physically. It was hard to believe that she was just one child, because it felt as though I’d swallowed an entire orchestra.

I experienced excitement, anticipation, worry… and pain. Sitting there on the hospital bed, finally understanding what labor really felt like, I was lost inside of my breathing, the whiteness of the room, and the smell of antiseptic.

Once she made her way out, however, the room transformed into a theater of brilliant spinning colors, and my baby was the star.

Harry was beside us, his eyes wet with tears, and he ran his fingers through her curly red hair.

“We shall call her Lavinia,” he declared.

While that was not the name that we had talked about months prior, I suddenly felt sad for Harry – that he hadn’t been able to feel her birth from the same mysterious and maternal perspective that I had – so I enthusiastically agreed.

Shortly after starting the second grade, Lavinia began to protest.

“I hate my name!” She would cry.

We tried explaining it to her – the story behind her name and what it meant to her father – but she would have no part of it.

Finally, when she was in the fourth grade, Lavinia came home from school and presented us with a card. The front consisted of a drawing she had made of herself, recognizable only by the red crayon hair, and on the inside she had handwritten a message:

“From this day forward, you shall call me Levi.”

We were impressed by her vocabulary more than anything else, but we were also acutely aware of her persistence – perhaps because she was our only child. So, Levi it was.

And now, some twenty years later, my baby is going to have a baby of her own, and I am over the moon excited for her.

The circle of life is a magnificent wonder, and like the brilliant colors that I imagined when she was born… around and around it goes.

A Note From Me

I can see that my images are becoming less cartoonish for this story – plus this one took far less time so I’m happy that I could hit ‘publish’ before midnight.

I’m also sensing that my story is being influenced by the show that I’m currently watching. I’m reminded of one of my favorite graphic design instructors who told us “Nothing is really original. We see things, we get inspired, and we borrow them – just be sure to make it your own.”

The show travels back and forth through time, which is the ‘borrowed’ idea. But the stories being told from different perspectives is my own.

Anyway, I started this segment out with the intention of Levi giving birth, but once I got started it seemed like it would be more interesting to go back to her own birth – before moving on to the modern era.

That’s about all I think.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the new addition – and the image!

Word of the Day Challenge: Orchestra

by Janet

Moonlit Dance

-Art & A Haiku-

When moonlight dances,
A gentle song ere day breaks,
Evening comes alive.

I’ve been thinking about this one for a few days now, after seeing Ronovan Write’s Haiku Challenge: Break & Dance. My main goal here was putting the image together – and it took me the better part of the day.

I needed a break from the story, and I love the energy of this woman. I need some of that!

The original that was used as the basis was so beautiful that it was hard to tell if it was a painting or a photograph – I think it may have been a book cover. I’m so happy with this one – it might even end up framed. I’ll have to see how it prints. Anyway…

The haiku has several meanings, and one of them is my tendency to be a ‘night owl’. All day long I yawn, and want to take it easy, and then… when the clock strikes midnight… it feels like morning again. So weird. Lately though, even my night time energy is low. I’m starting to worry that 60 is the new 80. Sheesh!

Anyway, that’s about all for now. I hope you enjoyed the art and haiku… and I hope that your evening, or your morning, is like a moonlit dance.

Until next time,
Peace & Love.

“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”

Oscar Wilde