My Pictures are Not Showing Because Photobucket Now Charges $399 a Year to Display Pictures

I am sorry that my pictures are not displaying. Photobucket (the site where I stored my pictures for free for years) decided to start charging $399 per year to display pictures. They did this without notice. I have all my photos stored on an old computer and must now upload again. I don't know when this will be done as I have other priorities.

Fever or Forgotten Wings

My poetry book has been published! Fever or Forgotten Wings is a book of poetry that traces my spiritual evolution. It takes its name from a line in Pablo Neruda'a influential masterpiece "Poetry". Through dissecting Neruda's verse, I explore philosophical, psychological and religious issues that engage the reader to reflect upon his or her life. 

Like the diversity in my paintings, my poems are crafted in a variety of styles. My poetic sensibility ranges from simple rhyme to epic verse, as each poem builds upon the theme. The book depicts a view of reality that is mystical in nature.

This is a self-publishing project that I produced entirely by myself. The cover painting is entitled "Reflecting" and is from my Base Relief series. I did all the graphic design from formatting the pages to book design. It was edited by Robin Kedzior.

The book is available on Amazon.com here. This is not my first book of poetry, though it is the first to have a ISBN bar code on the back cover.  In the 90s, I made my own poetry books. I printed them on a Xerox machine and stapled each book together by hand. Now that's what I call real self-publishing!

Talking to Jesus in a Coffee Shop

So I'm out and about in the morning and I'm about to get in my car to go home when I get this thought in my head to go to the local coffee shop/restaurant and have breakfast. The host leads me to a corner table and I notice the chair opposite me is pulled out. Someone is sitting there but no one can see him, including me. I acknowledge his presence through talking to him with my mind, with telepathic communication. The following is our discussion.

Me: Hi Jesus!

Jesus: Hey Essa*.

Me: Hey Jesus, Archangel Michael told me to come and have breakfast here in the coffee shop. He didn't tell me you would be here.

Jesus: Michael never gives the whole message. But I couldn't send Gabriel, I was playing one-on-one with him.

Me: Basketball?

Jesus: What? You think Ascended Masters and Archangels don't play basketball?

Me: Nope, not saying that. I just think that angels would have the advantage. You know, with the wings and all.

Jesus: You got a point there. We play no-fly b-ball. Strictly by the rules.

Me: What are the rules?

Jesus: Same as regular basketball, but no flying.

Me: Duh! Stupid question. Anyone ever cheat?

Jesus: What do you think?

Me: No comment.

Busboy comes and puts two waters on the table, then picks up one.

Busboy: One?

Jesus shakes his head, indicating he doesn't want any.

Me: One. Yeah, one.

Busboy leaves. Waitress comes over.

Waitress: Coffee?

Me: Yeah. And I'll have an English muffin.

Waitress pours coffee and leaves.

Jesus: The English didn't invent muffins.

Me: I didn't think so. I heard it was the Welsh.

Jesus: I heard it was the muffin man.

Me: Do you know the muffin man?

Jesus: You know I know everyone.

Me: Yeah, yeah. So how's Buddha doing?

Jesus: Good, he says "Hi".

Me: So why did you want me to meet you here?

Jesus: Heard you've been having problems differentiating between your own thoughts and thoughts from God.

Me: Yep. It's like the I feeling that I'm going crazy but I've been through that, so I know I'm not crazy. I mean I'm having a real telepathic conversation with someone that no one in this restaurant can see. Yeah, I'm sane, perfectly sane.

Jesus: You are. Your sense of reality is just different than most people.

Me: Well, I do live in my own little fantasy world.

Jesus: You are not the only one in that fantasy world. You're talking to me right now.

Me: So you're in a lot of people's fantasy worlds.

Jesus: Yes, the only difference is that they don't call it a fantasy world.

Me: Well, that's probably because when they talk to you it's usually in a church or at home, not in a restaurant.

A customer at another table spills his coffee.

Customer: Jesus!

Jesus: See? People talk to me in restaurants too.

Me: I always liked your sense of humor.

Jesus: You know I don't talk this way with everybody.

Me: I didn't think so.

Jesus: I talk to each person in the way best suited to them.

Me: So then, you're not always silly? Only with me?

Jesus: Not only with you. And just like you, I relate to people by their energy.

Me: Got ya J-Dude.

Jesus: I want you to get your writings out there. It's time, Essa.

Me: You know I've been stalling.

Jesus: I know you've been doubting yourself.

Me: Dude, most of it's too far-fetched.

Jesus: Most visionaries are a head of their time.

Me: Yeah, but...

Jesus: No buts. It's time. You saw the egrets** today, didn't you?

Me: Yes I did. Is it OK if I start with this conversation?

Jesus: Sure. But don't forget about the conversation you had with Michael in the Chinese buffet.

Me: OK, but I'll save that for another time. I'll have to check my journal for all the details.

Jesus: That's fine. Gotta go now. Santa is stuck in a snow bank.

Me: It's August! Besides, what about the elves?

Jesus: It's the North Pole and the elves are on vacation. See ya later.

Me: Ba-bye now.

Well, that's my conversation with Jesus today. It might be a bit edited because I don't have perfect memory recall but I do have a creative license. 

*Jesus and other spiritual beings often call me Essa.

**The egrets that he had referred to are four white egrets and a great blue heron that I had seen and photographed earlier that morning. I had to look up egrets and herons as totem animals. I found out that that heron people are unique and have to follow their own path. I can relate to that.

Take this for what you will. If you want to call it fiction, call it fiction. If you want to believe that Jesus can speak to us anywhere, then, that's OK as well. He told me to get it out there, so I am.

©2012 Ginny Gaura

My Day Out of Time

On Wednesday, July 25, it was the Mayan Day Out of Time according to the Dreamspell calendar. This calendar, that was proposed by José Arguelles, follows the Gregorian calendar of counting and not the actual Mayan calendar as I was later informed. A "Day out of Time/Peace through Culture Festival" is celebrated by groups and individuals in over 90 countries around the world. I spent the day by myself, meditating, walking, photographing, playing, singing, dancing, drawing and laughing. It was a wonderful day for me because I completely took the day off from life and did exactly what I felt I needed to do. It was a wonder-filled day.

Sunrise through the trees by my house on July 25, 2012

Today is the Mayan Day Out of Time!

Today, July 25th, is the Mayan Day Out of Time. Celebrate! Dance! Sing! Write! Paint! Draw! Whistle! Blow bubbles! Jump for joy! What ever you do, have fun!

I'm going to go and have fun now! More later or tomorrow about this day. Don't know which because I'm Out of Time...

For more info about today, check this out.

Laughing and Crying with Other People

"You may forget the one with whom you have laughed, but never the one with whom you have cried." Those are words of a poem by the Sufi master, Kahlil Gibran. I used this poem in my painting "Gibran's But Never". I chose to the rich colors of purple and gold express this deep spiritual content. The word "laughed" is intentionally faded to place the emphasis on sorrow.

I painted this during a depression and today I was feeling depressed again. Then a close friend called. You know how you can open up to certain people, cry your eyes out, and they can make you feel better? She helped me to laugh and realize I'm not alone in what I'm going through.

After I got off the phone, I went online and found out that a print of "Gibran's But Never" had just sold on Fine Art America. I'm hoping it helps whoever needs it. It has helped me.

The Yielding World Poem and Painting

"In my eyes, a world resides without form or substance, yielding always yielding." These are words of a short poem I wrote which appears on this painting "The Yielding World". In this piece from my Dreamscape series, luminous pastel blue clouds float by the sun, revealing similar shapes. On the foremost shape is the poem. This painting embodies the surrender of the soul to the light, going beyond one's ego to flow in a natural state of harmony with the universe.

The original 16"x20" painting can be bought here on my GooStudio Etsy shop. Prints are available here in sizes from 8x10 to 48x60 inches through Fine Art America.

Another GooStudio! It's on Etsy!

So I opened up another online store in addition to my Zazzle store. I chose to name it GooStudio again because I think it's easier to remember and spell than my name. Also, I really enjoyed creating a new banner to fit Etsy's banner size. I love making logos and designing banners. If you like my style and are in need of graphic design work, drop me a line and I'll give you an estimate on cost for your project.

My Etsy shop has a widget on the right side of this blog. It always shows the last items listed and you can get to the shop from there. Here's another link to my Etsy GooStudio.

Pizza is a Vegetable!

The United States Congress is allowing public schools to make the small amount of tomato paste on pizzas count it as a vegetable. Pizza is a vegetable! Aha! This proves what many pizza lovers knew all along: Pizza is good for you! This also proves what many Americans have known all along: Congress is ignorant on certain matters! Why? Because the tomato is a fruit!

To celebrate the long overdue elated status of this food, I have created a design for the occasion. My Pizza is a Vegetable design is available on t-shirts and bumper stickers from my GooStudio Zazzle store. I have two designs: a lighter version for cheese lovers and a darker version for deep-dish or meat pizza lovers. As a t-shirt, you can choose the color and type of shirt.

Women's Cheese Pizza T-Shirt

Men's Deep-Dish Pizza T-Shirt

Now that pizza is officially a vegetable, let everyone know that you support this law with your very own bumper sticker! And remember:

So go out and celebrate with a pizza!

Deepak Chopra's Meditation at Occupy Wall Street

Deepak Chopra led a group meditation at Occupy Wall Street on October 3rd. Here is a video from YouTube of it:

 

Here is his meditation for you to do also:

Put your hand on your heart and ask yourself internally: What kind of world do I want to live in? And listen. Dot it now. And now ask yourself: How can I make that happen? How can I make that happen from a place of love, compassion, joy and equanimity? Simple anger will only perpetuate what already is out there. It was created by greed and fear. We have to go beyond that, and come from a place of compassion, centered equanimity and creativity. Once again, ask yourself: How can I be the change that I want to see in the world?

3 Common Traits of the Introverted Artist

Yesterday I was at my niece's bridal shower and my "crowd" personality took over. While I'm generally OK one-on-one or with small groups of people I know, I'm often uncomfortable at social functions, even with friends and family. I have a tendency to turn into the blob in the corner who seems intrigued by the wallpaper. I avoid people, not because I'm intentionally snubbing them, but rather because it is easier for me not to interact with people. When engaged in conversation, I sometimes supply short answers to questions and do not actively seek out people to converse with. It's weird because I never have had this problem at any job I've held. At work, I'm able to communicate effectively. You probably know someone just like me.

This is the result of what I find are common traits of introverted people, particularly extremely creative types of the artistic temperament. These three characteristics are:

1. Social Anxiety: Introverted people often function best doing things which don't involve others, so having to deal with things like parties can cause great anxiety.
2. Depression: With me, is an underlying feeling of meloncholy, even when laughing. This is an innate character trait, not just a fleeting emotion.
3. Inability to converse in small talk: Introverted creatives dwell on different ideas and it is difficult to focus on things that others may be interested in. When we do speak, we are often misunderstood by people who are not of like mind.

I guess I'm writing this because for years I've tried to overcome my "negative" personality traits with little success. So instead of continuing to struggle, I'm going to give in to myself. The next time I turn you down for a social event, it's not about you. I simply feel better when I'm alone creating.

Vibrant Concepts of the Billboard Art Project

My artwork is being featured as part of the Billboard Art Project. This is a public art event which is happening on digital billboards across the United States. The program explores and promotes the use of LED billboards as an artistic medium.

Following are images of my digital work for this event. I combine sections of my original artwork with positive messages. My objective is to inspire conscious thought in the viewer.

Note: These images are all copyrighted by me. Using them without my permission is in violation of copyright.

These images will be on display in Chicago, Illinois, from October 8-16 and again on October 22-23. Each will be shown for 10 seconds interspersed between 5-6 frames of advertising,  along with the work of 82 other artists. I don't have an actual time when mine will appear. The Billboard Project has a Facebook page where people can upload their pictures of the billboards, so hopefully someone will be able to take a picture of one.

The digital billboard can be seen on the east bound 1-90 Expressway just after it crosses over Oakton Street. Here is a map of where the billboard is located. I drove past it on I-90 and I was only able to glimpse two ads in rotation. It is best viewed from a stationary position on Hamilton Street in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights.

Rock Star Rosie Benefit

Rock Star Rosie Colucci

Rosie Colucci is a remarkable 7-year-old girl battling brain cancer. She was given the name "Rock Star" by her nurses because of her positive attitude, incredible strength and charismatic personality. 

On Saturday, October 1st, her family and friend are hosting a benefit to help raise funds for Rosie's medical expenses. The event will be held at Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Illinois from 3:30 pm – 8:00 pm. This is a family occasion with plenty of music, food and fun. There will be many raffle and silent auction items such as a mini-day spa, zumba dance party, golf packages and doggy day care.

I am participating as a vendor, selling my handcrafted earrings, along with my friend, Katie Bolinger of Katemade Designs. Katie is selling her handmade greeting cards. 

More details about Rosie and the benefit can be found at www.research4Rosie.com

This Is Your Mind Under A Microscope

At least that is what I named it on the page I drew it in my latest sketchbook. When I look at it now I see a deli and veggie tray from the top. When I started drawing it, I had no idea of how it would turn out. I simply drew lines and circles and it evolved into this free form design.

This type of art is known as zendalas (when they are circular in shape like mandalas) and zentangles (when they form a square or rectangular shape).

More of these drawings and others can be found online on my sketchbook portfolio at Art House Co-op's The Sketchbook Project 2011.

10th Anniversary Thoughts on 9/11

I've always been fascinated by the monuments in our world which are shrouded in mystery. One of these ancient wonders is the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Back in college, I did a research paper for art history class about the significance of the Great Pyramid. One point of special interest inside the pyramid is the Grand Gallery. It is a stone staircase calendar which delineates important dates in Earth's history, such as the coming of Christ and our two World Wars. The gallery ends at the new moon of September 17, 2001. I've always known that something important would happen on this date. When I witnessed on TV the second plane crashing into the second tower of the World Trade building on 9/11, I knew that what was happening at that moment was changing the world.

I don't believe in accidents. I never did. I know that all that everything that happens has a meaning, that there is always something deeper that our limited minds cannot comprehend at the moment, but in time, we will all reach understanding.

I felt, as I still do, that those innocent people who died that day, sacrificed their lives. It may have been a subconscious decision or one that they all made prior to being born, but that's another matter. We all know that the events of September 11, 2001 did change the global perception of our world. The United States went from being a world power to seemingly powerless.

Ten years later and our world is not the same as it was in the pre-911 world. Now we are all gripped in uncertainty about the future. Everyone has their own personal story or knows someone who has been affected by war and economic downturn. And more people are on an antidepressants than ever before.

911 changed our collective consciousness. Let us not succumb to fear, anger, and depression; let us rise above. Our thoughts affect not only ourselves but the entire world. If we all watch our thoughts and emotions and replace the negative ones with love, peace and compassion, our outside world will change.

Inspiring Thoughts Greeting Card Collection

Lao Tzu quote on an Inspiring Thought card

As a poet and writer, I love collecting quotations and poetry by others. As an artist, I enjoy combining my artistic abilities with words to create pieces of art. I started a greeting card line that is currently available through Card Gnome. My Inspiring Thoughts collection features quotes that are meant to uplift and inspire.

Right now, I have eight cards with quotes by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, the author of the Tao Te Ching and the Father of Taoism. I started with him because I have always be drawn to his timeless wisdom. Finished designs are about contentment, change and other subjects. The background art features my watercolor and design. The inside of the card is blank.

Inspiring Thoughts can also be given as gifts by framing card in a 5”x7” frame.

It is my intention to continue posting more of these greeting cards as they are finished so please bookmark my Inspiring Thoughts Card Gnome page. In time, I will be featuring them on other sites as well. As I would like to expand in retail stores, so if you know anyone who is connected with the stationary industry, please forward this blog posting to them.

Together we can help one another as we work toward peace and healing.

Practice Patience with Other People

I have extreme hearing loss in both ears so I wear hearing aids. One of my aids broke last week so I'm having difficulty hearing lately. My present predicament reminded me of a time when I didn't wear hearing aids at all because I couldn't afford them.

I was in the grocery store waiting in the checkout line. It was a busy time of day and all the lines were long. I was minding my own business when someone behind me tapped me with a cart. I turned and saw an irate woman who yelled at me, "Are you deaf? I'm trying to get through!"

I used to feel embarrassed about being hearing impaired so I didn't say anything and just moved out of her way. She glared at me like I was being rude when I simply couldn't hear.

I'm posting this because there are many people out there with disabilities, both visible and invisible and some people are quick to vent their anger and frustration when dealing with them.

I cared for my mom when she had Parkinson's Disease and her mobility had slowed to a tortoise pace. When we were walking across store parking lots, occasionally drivers would increase their speed to beat us to the crosswalk, just so they wouldn't have to wait another minute for us to cross.

And yet, we all have to stop for the red light.

Interview About "Garden Song" Birdbath

Here is my interview with Bonnie Jean Adams of the Chicago Cultural & Events Examiner. The entire article can be viewed at examiner.com here.

"Garden Song" Birdbath

How did you get the idea for this piece? 

I chose a garden theme primarily because the theme of the exhibit was “In Bloom”. Also, I thought it would be appropriate subject matter given that birdbaths are often found in garden settings.

What would you like the viewer to think about or see here? Message?

I want to make the viewer smile and feel happy and cheerful. I painted an allover design on the birdbath to be seen from every perspective so that even if you were a baby in a stroller or an extremely tall adult, you didn’t miss out on the experience.

I first painted the green leaf shapes and then surrounded them with blues to convey both sky and water. Because the sculpture itself was a flower, I didn't feel the need to repeat it in the design. I decided to suggest flowers by using their own vivid colors to represent them. The message is contained in the flowing forms. The harmony of the spirals that begin at the end of each plant stem and the interacting waves show how everything is connected and influences everything else.

The whole time I was painting it, I kept envisioning the birdbath outside a snowy courtyard on a gloomy winter's day, promising the return of spring. It is my hope that it ends up being auctioned to an establishment where people could directly benefit from it, like a hospital or nursing home. I feel that this piece has the capacity to lift spirits and help in the healing process.

Tell me something about how you became an artist.

Pablo Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” I never grew up, I still maintain a sense of wonder and interact animatedly with the world around me.

As far as the technical part of things, I’ve been doing some form of artistic expression my entire life, including drawing, crafting, writing and photography. I received my BFA in Illustration from Northern Illinois University and studied painting in grad school. After college, I went to work as a graphic designer, and later I went into photography. The last few years I’ve been painting and doing a lot digital work with my own photos and artwork.

Why do you choose to work in this particular medium?

I chose to use acrylics on this project because of their speed in drying. When I painted the birdbath, I would work on more than one area at a time. Because of the 3D form, on occasion I rubbed up against an edge of fresh paint and smeared it. So then naturally I had to let it dry and repaint the area.

My sponsor for the project was Sharpie. Ideally, the people at Sharpie would have liked it done with Sharpie markers but ink is not lightfast and the colors would eventually fade over time with prolonged exposure in the sun. They had four specific things that they wanted incorporated in the design: it had to be colorful, bold, free flowing and original. I outlined the base design with Sharpie markers and painted with colors from their product palette.

What advice would you have for someone who wants to be an artist?

I advocate going to art school and learning as much as you can. There are some really incredible self-taught artists out there but an education exposes you to different ways of creating. In my personal experience, I had one professor who was a purist about painting and forbid us students to draw anything, not even a single line, on the canvas. This forced me to grow as an artist and develop a painter’s mentality.

If you were describe your art, what you create in one sentence? 

I would describe my art as colorful, creative with an innovative vision.

Club Med for Ducks

Ducks enjoying the pond in my backyard.

I'll begin by telling you that I currently live in a suburban subdivision that has retention ponds. The last several years, the ponds have been home to mallard ducks. This is partly because we are located close to the river and partly because I, along with other people who live nearby, have begun feeding the ducks on a regular basis.

The duckies (as I affectionately call them) started visiting in the summers when the birdfeeders went up in the backyards, about 5 years ago. The subdivision was built in the late 90s and early 00s and by 2006, the planted trees had matured beyond what I call the "stick tree" phase, so song birds naturally moved into the neighborhood. As they built their nests in the trees, bird lovers like myself put feeders out for them. So the little sparrows, finches, and chickadees would sit at the feeders, picking at their favorite seeds. Rejected seeds were thrown out to be eaten by the ground feeders like doves and bunnies, and of course, duckies.

I don't know who first told the duckies about the abundance of food, maybe it was the local red wings who live down by the river or the squirrel who likes to hang upside down from atop my bird feeder and nibble as the feeder rocks as the majority of seeds fall to the ground. Or it could be that the duckies simply flew over the ponds one day and decided to visit on their next trip. Whatever the case, they came and established residence. Now they are here year-round, except when it gets bitter cold in winter that the entire ponds freeze up.

The duckies are so well-fed and appear to be enjoying living here that my boyfriend, Chris, has nicknamed the place Club Med for Ducks. When the lighting is right, I photograph them. My picture above does have the quality of a photo advertising a vacation resort, doesn't it?

When the Earth and Sky Meet

I just started selling prints of my paintings on Fine Art America. The first one I posted is from my Dreamscape series called "Earth and Sky Meet":

The reason why I chose to begin with this particular painting is because it is my most popular. It depicts the connection between the sun, sky and earth. The image represents the interdependence of life by combining elements. The blending of the sun into a greenish plant leaf and the forms around the sun show the continuity of change. I love how the blue flowing ribbons can be interpreted as clouds or water due to their movement.

The spiritual aspect is also represented by the spiraling Eye of God in the sun. The plant reaching for the sun is mankind's yearning for spiritual substance and also signifies renewal and and the rebirth of spring. 

Prints of "Earth and Sky Meet" are available on canvas and on paper as well as greeting cards. They can be purchased here from Fine Art America.

Jackson Pollock Revelation and My Own Dreamscape Oil Painting Technique

Believe it or not, my oil painting technique is not something that I came up with one day. I went through dozens of canvases until I finally discovered what worked. When I did, I had what I like to call my "Jackson Pollock Revelation". Jackson Pollock was a 20th century American painter noted for his use of fluid paint and often referred to as the "Father of Abstract Expressionism". In a scene from the 2000 movie "Pollock" directed and starring Ed Harris, Pollock's paint accidently drips on the canvas and this inspires him to move in a different direction, thus changing the art world forever.

Though my art looks nothing like Pollock's, he is a major influence upon me. Like Pollock, my style is unique and developed by experimentation. I am using  similar sized images to illustrate:

Jackson Pollock
No. 5, 1948

Ginny Gaura
Alizarinscape

Placing the works side-by-side, I see that although mine has a primary focal point, both have the energetic expression of movement. This allows the viewer's eyes to move across the painting like a free-form dance. Pollock's paintings have incredible depth when viewed in person whereas the depth of "Alizarinscape" is visible even on the computer screen. Pollock is noted for his use of black and white while I rely on intense colors. Both paintings shown have a strong linear aspect.

My process of developing a technique for my Dreamscape series  came about through experimentation with linseed oil and similar mediums. I diluted my paints with the oil to make the paints thinner. Eventually I figured out that laying the oil on the canvas before I started enabled me to come up with a technique similar to wet-into-wet in watercolor, where the artist either brushes or sprays the paper with water prior to painting.

When I changed my process and the paintings began to work almost effortlessly is my Jackson Pollock Revelation. I felt that I finally discovered something that worked for me. It was a feeling of absolute elation! I could really relate to Jackson Pollock and every artist whose soul was leading them to undiscovered country. It is then when the painting seems to create itself, with no resistance involved. The artist and the painting are one, the soul of the artist is infused in the work.

When I begin a Dreamscape painting, the first color is always yellow. I do this because it is the color we associate with the source of life on Earth, the sun. Also, because it is a happy color and makes me feel good. (Like Jackson Pollock, I struggle with manic depression.) I always paint my first stroke in a spiral and then continue in overlapping strokes so that all the blending is done on the canvas.

Jackson Pollock liked to drip and splatter his paint with a stick or pour it from a can. He used synthetic enamel paints which were new at the time and I choose traditional oil paints because of their inherent messiness and the often serendipitous likelihood of adding vibrant colors to my clothes and hair. Seriously, I love the rich smell of linseed oil and the way oil paint handles. I have experimented with this technique using acrylics, but the results are slightly different.

To all owners of original Jackson Pollock paintings: I am always open to trading your Pollock painting for one of my own. As of this writing, the above featured Pollock painting, "No 5, 1948" is listed as the highest price ever sold for a painting, at 140 million dollars in 2006.

To all other art collectors and lovers of art: "Alizarinscape" is a beautiful 24"x48" oil painting and is currently listed at $1600. Quite a value compared to the price of a Pollock painting.

When Life Gives You Pancakes...

You know that saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"? Well my life has been unbelievably topsy-turvy lately, like life is giving me pancakes!

Computer problems, financial troubles, housing concerns. One minute things are going good, then the next moment, everything is upside down. It's pouring pancakes in my little part of the world! So what do I do? I breathe, tell myself that it will all work out and handle whatever matter is right in front of me. That's really all I can do. I can really get bent out of shape but I'd rather save that for yoga.

So I just put some good ol' maple syrup on those pancakes and eat them while they're warm.

How May You Best Serve the World?

I was talking to a friend the other day and she was uncertain as to what she needed to do next. We all find ourselves in that place at least one time in our lives. It might be after graduation, divorce, losing a job or a loved one. Whatever took place, our life is in transition, it's on a kind of temporary time out. This is good, it allows us to recharge, take a look around and see what our driving desire is.

For some, that is easy, they have a passion like art or working with kids or cooking or talking to people. Then there are those individuals who don't have a primary passion, or who find out that what worked in the past, no longer serves them. Maybe these people are content with where they are and no change is needed at the present moment.

The conversation with my friend got me thinking, how do you decide what to do when you just don't know what to do next? One way is by going beyond the ego and asking yourself: How may I best serve the world? When I say the world, I am speaking of your own sphere of influence. It's as big or small as you make it.

So ask yourself: What talent, knowledge or ability do I have that makes me unique? We all have different personalities, abilities and interests. How can you use yours to make another person's life brighter?

GooStudio Zazzle Store is Open for Business

Last winter, I was showing the Zazzle website to my boyfriend, Chris. He's an artist and graphic designer like me and he wanted to try one of my designs on a product. I had just shown him some recent digital work I did and he was impressed. 

I often scan in my watercolor paintings at various stages and then play around with the images in Photoshop. I've been altering my art this way since I started using Photoshop when I was employed as a graphic designer for the Chicago Tribune. Back in the late 80's and early 90's, computers were so slow that when you did something that took a lot of memory, you had to go get a cup of coffee, come back and you still had to wait for the image to process. And today if something takes 10 seconds to load, it's way too long!

So Chris, being the ever-cool skateboard dude, decided to try one of my designs on Zazzle's shoes because he thought that my art would appeal to skateboarders. He picked out a pair of women's Ked slip-ons because be wanted to put a spiral on the top of the shoe. We both played around with the Zazzle online creator and had a lot of fun.

This is the original digital file. I am deliberately posting it in low resolution to deter people from stealing my art. I was going to watermark the image here with my name but it was hard to see the design. It is watermarked on the Zazzle site. Also, my art is copyright protected so please don't use it for anything.

I named this design Fusion, for the shoe, I added the word fuchsia to indicate the main color.

Here are a few images of the Ked's women's Fuschia Fusion shoe from my GooStudio Zazzle store:

 

Here is the link to my GooStudio Zazzle Store. Right now I have this design on mugs, iPhone and iPad cases, a mousepad, bag, tie and small speakers. More products and designs to come! Even skateboards!

Goo's Music Video from the Gumby Show

OK, this may seem a little odd, but I wanted to post a YouTube video featuring the flying blue mermaid Goo from the eternally original Gumby Show. This episode first aired in 1957.

I can relate to Goo not only because I share her name as my nickname but her dreams are as wild as mine and our ideas even wilder! The last line of the original Gumby song was, "If you have a heart, then Gumby's a part of you." To which I add, "And Goo too!"

Dancing with Dad

In honor of Father's Day, I am sharing this poem that I wrote about my father. He passed away in 2002 and I miss him and my mom terribly.

I wrote this poem, printed it on parchment paper and framed it. I gave it to my dad as a present on his 75th birthday. He loved it.

The Sky from the Perspective of an Artist

Like a lot of people, crayons were my first media as an artist. Opening up a new box of crayons, seeing all the perfect points and smelling the rich scent of wax always reminds me of childhood. One of my favorite activities was coloring and this influence shows up in much of my art. Here is a poem I wrote about a cherished memory:

The Artist’s Sky

A crowded kindergarten room
filled with trucks and dolls.
It is Play Time,
the hour past Coloring Time
and right before Nap Time.


The crayons and papers
have long been put away.

The smiling people,
stick trees, puffy clouds and corner suns,
all finished and forgotten,
except by the girl with the blue crayon.


Her friend pleads her to come
play with Barbie,

but the young artist says,
“The sky’s not done.”


“Color just the clouds
like everyone else,”

her friend replies.


But the artist continues drawing,
moving the stubby crayon back and forth

across the expanse
until the entire background
is filled in.


©2011 Ginny Gaura

A Poem Called "Truth"

I'll be sharing some of my own poems in upcoming posts as I intend to publish them in book form. Back in the days before the internet explosion (the early 1990's), I had submitted my poetry to various literary magazines through snail mail, though it was called just plain mail at the time. I even got published in some small presses. For some odd reason or other, I stopped submitting, though I continued to write. I literally have hundreds, if not thousands of poems. Rhyming poems, structured poems, free-verse poems, short poems, long poems, nonsense poems, serious poems, concrete poems, mystical poems, prose poems, philosophical poems, visual poems. Like Emily Dickinson, I tend to shut myself away and write poetry. Also, I find that her bun hairdo is the perfect place to keep pens and pencils.

So here's a short poem to start:

Truth

Sometimes it’s so loud

you can’t hear it.
Sometimes it’s so soft
it makes the heavens stand still.

©2011 Ginny Gaura

"Poetry" by Pablo Neruda

Today I would like to share one of my favorite poems, "Poetry" by Pablo Neruda. It touched the core of my being the first time I read it. It describes the creative process, the moment of pure inspiration, when the ego is suppressed and the creator merges with the universal energy to create something new.


This poem always comforts me because it shows that I am not the only one who ever felt different from everyone else. Being a poet isn't something you decide to be when you grow up; it's something that you are.  Poetry is a calling of the soul and it comes it at unexpected times.

"Poetry" by Pablo Neruda


And it was at that age… Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don’t know how or when,
no, they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.


I did not know what to say, my mouth

had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.


And I, infinitesimal being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.