Thanks For Letting 2008 Be Over

Monday, January 5th, 2009 by Alyice

You know that saying, “when it rains, it pours”? Well that has been 2008. There was only one other time in my life when I was this happy to finally see the year end and a new year begin—and that was far worse an experience/trial than this past year.

All I can really say about 2008 is, “THANK GOD IT’S OVER!”

With that said, I cannot say there weren’t things to be grateful for in 2008 because that would be a lie—just read my past “gratitude” posts.

Still, I so look forward to 2009 and am very optimistic about the possibilities it holds. Not only do I get to say goodbye to a career that I was getting burnt out on, but I get to take a break from working full time so that I can concentrate on creating art and improving my skills as an artist. And, thanks to a supportive husband, I get to try my hand at “selling art”, too. Just look at this beautiful note card I created tonight and it’s for sale!

Give thanks…

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Embrace Your Children

Friday, January 2nd, 2009 by Alyice

When my children were little, I created most of the art in their rooms by painting directly on their walls or using wall paper. During different periods in their lives, they had Disney® character wall paper and cut outs, stenciled race cars, angelic beings, and complete dinosaur scenes. Now that they’re older and more “mature”, I’m lucky to be able to use sponge painting techniques on their walls—in which they then decorate with teen paraphernalia.

I’ll never forget, however, how proud my son was to show all of his friends the dinosaur scene I had created “just for him” or how tickled both my kids were to show off the wall they painted—all by themselves.

In remembrance of those earlier years, I created this collaged painting. For me, I see an alien and a giraffe—a visual expression of how quickly our children grow up.

May this painting remind you to celebrate your children—no matter what age they are.

Keep Creating

Posted in Artful Wednesday | 2 Comments »

Pablo Solomon’s Studio

Thursday, January 1st, 2009 by Alyice

I first met Pablo Solomon when he commented about my art jars—on another blog I had been interviewed on. His comment was so touching and inspirational that I just had to know more about him and his art. Turns out those kind, encouraging words were from a very talented and successful artist.

Pablo grew up in a poor neighborhood, in Houston, Texas. His mother was a sharecropper and his father, a railroad worker. Money was tight but his father believed that his son had talent and should have the opportunity to follow his dreams. So when the railroad commissioned a group of artists to paint murals, he convinced the man in charge to give all the left over paint to his son. And since the neighboring museums were free and air conditioned, he’d let his son spend hours within their walls, sketching and drawing anything from scenes of the Civil War to dinosaurs.

Pablo says art is his energy source and his wife is his muse. That, combined with the lessons he learned from his parents, and teachings from Aristotle have helped him live a pretty balanced life. And is probably the reason he gets the greatest lesson of all: “Know who you are and what you believe. Let your art be a light; both to yourself and to others.”

“Aristotle said that happiness is a result of a balance of health, wealth, friendship, virtue, and knowledge” says Pablo. “I believe that beauty in life and in art is the result of that balance. Therefore, I use my art as a way of portraying the joy and beauty of a balanced life.”

Well, I think you’ll agree that Pablo’s work truly does reflect the beauty of the human body and it does cause us to stop and contemplate the lives we live and how well we care for our own bodies.

Below are five photographs, taken by Pablo, in his studio. Along with those photos are five explanations on why the images in those photos are an important part of his studio.

“I draw everyday. It is like a dancer stretching every day. It helps me stretch my creativity. Every time I sketch, I use these scented pencils. They are cinnamon scented. Okay, call me a sissy but I love the great scent while I am drawing. I love these pencils. A friend sends them to me from France—and I’m grateful.”

“I cannot complete my work without these tools. They are for my stone sculptures. I use the same tools people have used for thousands of years: a hammer, a pointing tool, a chisel and a smoothing chisel. I also need rock to sculpt. This beautiful pink stone is quarried a couple of miles down the road from me on a friend’s ranch.”

“I love to work outdoors. Of course, living in Texas, that means in the shade most of the year. This little patio looks over a cliff toward our spring fed creek.”

“I use this old log shed—which was built in 1856—for working on stone sculptures when the weather is bad. Everyone loves it. It has such a great feel.”

“These are 3 of 50 sculptures I did for the Houston Contemporary Dance Theatre. Beverly who did ballet and still does yoga was the model. These sculptures are in my main studio which is part of our 1856 stone house. The house was built by famous Texas Ranger, Moses Hughes, near Lampasas, Texas. Our ranch is a state historic site and an official Texas Wildscape and was nominated for the highest award in Texas for environmental restoration and preservation.”

To learn more about Pablo or to purchase his art, visit Pablo Solomon

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