A Lion Surprise

Although I haven't been posting much on this blog because I concentrate on my art blog A Year Without Words, I just had to share what I saw yesterday. :o)

Currently, I am staying with a friend in New Jersey and we have been visiting New York City. Yesterday I waited at a café while she went to an appointment. The name of the café is Getting Hungry and when I walked in, this is who greeted me!


Here is a Haiku that I wrote about the experience...

found: getting hungry
looming lion fiercely still
path to daily grind

Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

Shoppe Grand Opening

I am pleased to announce the grand opening of the Blue Heron Visions/Two Chairs and A Window Greeting Card Shoppe. (Yay! Finally!) ;o)

I have already had my first sale, which felt pretty great.

Right now, I have 4 categories of cards: Angel and Fairy Doodle cards, Collage cards, Photo Mandala cards, and Mandala Doodle cards.

Take a few moments and check out the shoppe and my updated website.

--Vicky :o)

If you create it, they will come...

Today, as I was adding the current day's picture to my other blog (A Year Without Words), I noticed that I have 4 followers for this blog. I was amazed and then the questions started.

Where did they come from? Are they real? ;o) How did they find my blog?

Now, I feel some sort of responsibility (in a good way!) to actually post on this blog--if only to give the people following it an opportunity to read something from me.

So this is me writing to those of you who are following me (and anyone else who is reading as well). Thank you for taking the time to read and follow my blog!

In honor of those following my blog, I am posting a photo from our vacation last summer. I took it at the Parc national du Bic in Québec. Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

Photo © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Just a Reminder ;o)

I have not been posting much on this blog because I have been busy making art. The image posted here is a sample of what you can see if you visit my "wordless" blog, A Year Without Words, http://www.ayearwithoutwords.com/

Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

"Siren Song of Truth"
Mixed Media Collage/Zentangle-ish Art
Copyright © 2011 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Remembering Bob

Someone emailed me that a friend's husband Robert "Bob" Bauman left this Earth experience yesterday morning, March 28, 2011. I shed a few tears because I have loved Bob since I met him over 12 years ago.

Bob's life had not been easy. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury several years before I met him as well as having various health challenges throughout his life. But what I always felt when I was around him was an underlying cheerfulness, an acceptance of Life as it happened and living the best he could with the results.

Bob had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to see me roll my eyes. He also loved Jennifer Aniston. He and I had a running joke about when she was coming to visit him. When we spoke, he would always ask if I had heard from Jennifer yet. :o)

Last summer I felt impressed to create a Life Stamp for him to commemorate his 64th birthday, which was in August. This impression had an urgency about it, as if the Life Stamp had to be done immediately with no procrastination.

The poem that came to me used sailing, Bob's great love, as a metaphor of traveling through life, death, and beyond. Bob's wife Mary told me he had tears in his eyes as she read it to him. In remembrance of Bob's life here and in honor of his new adventure, I have posted the poem below.

Sail on, Bob! I will miss you.

--Vicky :o)

Setting Sail

The dawn arrives, crisp and clear,
The sea is calling to my Heart:
“Come and play! Do not fear!
Bring your Soul; no need for charts.”

The brilliant sun shines up above,
Looking skyward, I see the sails
Full with wind, God’s breath of Love;
I know I am guided; I cannot fail.

The sun begins its slow descent,
Night’s silence will soon prevail,
And still my boat glides and ascends;
Gentle breezes embrace my sails.

A new Life begins;
what do I see?
A Universe of stars
waiting for me.

Trimmed and ready, my Soul and I
Set my sails toward Source’s Light.

Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

With compassion and loving thoughts for the people of Japan

earth quakes, water swirls
in an instant, alters worlds
only, Now prevails

The Great Wave off Kanagawa
by Japanese artist Hokusai, c. 1829-1832
Haiku © 2011 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

--Vicky

P.S.An irony to note--My last post on this blog was on October 17, the anniversary of the 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake my family and I experienced in 1989. At that time, we lived in Santa Cruz, California, one of the places affected by the tsunami that resulted from the Japanese quake.

A New Blog

I haven't been posting much here, but I have started a new blog that's only pictures. So if you want to have one place where you don't have to read text, check out my new blog: http://www.ayearwithoutwords.com/.

Of course, I will post again here at some point. I have been busy but not necessarily creating art. I am looking forward to our short vacation in Québec City, one of my most favorite places. I am posting a photo just for fun. Enjoy...



--Vicky :o)

Québec City Photo © 2008 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

New Blog

If you are tired of all the words in your life, you may want to check out my new blog: A Year Without Words.

--Vicky :o)

Zendalas as a Mirror

I am posting two zendalas I made yesterday and one I made today. What I want to illustrate is how the zendalas reflect my own psyche while making them.

Yesterday I was out of sorts (otherwise translated as grouchy and grumpy). All the zendalas I created were out of balance. The Red Mandala is not centered on the card and feels slightly skewed to me. The second zendala is called "Off Center Mandala" for obvious reasons. (Although I don't like the red pen I was using, I don't think that had as much of an effect as the fact that emotionally I was feeling "off.")

Today's zendala is much more balanced and harmonious. And that is how I am feeling. I named today's: "Finding My Center (Again)."

Carl Jung believed that mandalas represent the Self and I agree.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am experimenting with having certain thoughts, people, or emotions in my head (and heart) as I create the zendalas. In my previous post, the third mandala was created for a friend's little girl who just celebrated her first birthday. I framed that mandala as a gift for her.

I am interested to see what kinds of mandalas will emerge as I continue this journey.

--Vicky :o)

Red Mandala
Off Center Mandala
Finding My Center (Again) Mandala
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Zendalas

What is a zendala? It is a blend of mandala and Zentangle-inspired art. Here are 3 of my latest zendalas.

I love the meditative quality of making this art and the feeling of flow as I go around the designs. Some of them have titles. For example, the one in the middle I call "Candelight Mandala." Some are made with a person, emotion, or other idea in my mind. Most are just emerge from the process of making them.

I am also playing with the idea of borders that go around the edge of the cardstock I use to give them more of a finished look. Though, there is something magical about them floating in the white space that remains. No boundaries--imagined or otherwise. ;o)

--Vicky :o)

3 Zendalas
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

More Zentangle-Inspired Art...

Two more zentangle-ish explorations. I am trying to get away from drawing "strings" (the shapes in which the "tangles" are made).

The mandala was created from the central flower and is very flower-like throughout.

I really love the second drawing because of the white space through the central part. And I like the black "pearls," too. ;o)

These are so much fun to do. You should give it a try.

--Vicky :o)

Zentangle-inpired mandala
Zentangle-inspired art
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Two New Zentangle-Inspired Mandalas

Here are two mandalas I have created using some Zentangle-inspired techniques but not the actual Zentangle process. What I am most happy about is that my mandalas are getting more balanced as I continue making them. I am particularly happy with the Star Mandala, especially since I drew everything freehand. I really love making mandalas like these and enjoy the simplicity of black on white.

--Vicky :o)

2 Zentangle-inspired mandalas
Ink on Zentangle cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com.

Mandala Maker

I continue to make Zentangle-inspired art almost daily. Here is one I did yesterday that I call the Mandala Maker. As you can see, I added a mandala in the space left by the "string" so that it looks like the mandala is emerging from the artwork. I also love the way the sun is angled and the stars in the moon. The whole piece illustrates how a mandala emerges from the Soul.

--Vicky :o)

"Mandala Maker"
Zentangle-inspired original art
Ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

www.zentangle.com

Mixed Media Chakra Series Finally Finished!

Even though I haven't been posting, I have been working (or playing) with my art. Above is the final mixed media canvas in my Chakra Series called "Inspiration for the Journey." The title for this one is "Source's Wordless Web."

Even though I had the canvas painted and ready to go--and, that was after doing it once and then painting over it again--I could not figure out what to put on the canvas. I had the quote, which was either sent in an email I received or something I stumbled upon while being on the Net. It is a Rumi quote: "There is a Voice that doesn't use words. Listen." But try as I might, I could not figure out what to put with the quote or on the now purple-y canvas.

And then I watched the latest Dr. Who episode called "Vincent and the Doctor." The Vincent in the title is Vincent Van Gogh (whose name is not pronounced the way I have always thought it was!) and there was one scene where the viewer gets to see how Vincent sees. And that's what gave me the idea for the canvas. Note to blog readers: I urge you to see this episode of Dr. Who even if you are not a Dr. Who fan. I found it inspiring, touching, and beautiful!

The dark circle is actually a mandala I created awhile ago from a photo of a web with droplets. (You can read more about this mandala and the photo I used here. And the other mandala is inspired from my zentangle art. To me that mandala looks like a compass rose, which flows right into the idea of listening to a voice that doesn't use words for guidance and to discover the secrets of the Universe.

You can see the other works in my series here, here, and here. ;o) Since I just discovered that I never posted the first work in the series. I have posted it below. Right now, I am calling it "Your True Self."

Enjoy!

--Vicky :o)

"Source's Wordless Web"
"Your True Self"
Mixed media collage series, #5 and #1
Acrylic paint, paper cutouts, zentangle-inspired mandala, photos on canvas
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

www.zentangle.com

Almost a month...

I have not posted for almost a month but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing Zentangles. I have been doing one almost every day and sometimes more than one! I have posted a few of my favorites.

Many thanks to those of you who have posted comments. I appreciate your stopping by!

--Vicky :o)

Original Zentangles #1, #2, #3
Original Zentangle "Sedna"
Ink on card stock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione
www.zentangle.com

New Zentangle

This Zentangle was done differently than the others I have done. Usually I draw a string (which is basically several lines and curves that form the basis of the Zentangle). In the case of this Zentangle, I just started making tangles (that's what the repeated shapes and lines used to fill in are called) on the blank card.

I like the result and was interested to discover that my initials were formed in the Zentangle itself. Can you find my V - L - M? Because of my intials, I decided to call this Zentangle "VLM-tangle."

--Vicky :o)

"VLM-tangle"
Zentangle done with ink on cardstock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Zentangle ®
www.zentangle.com

Old and New Art--it's not called Doodling any more!

I discovered the other day that what I have been calling "doodling" is not always that. Sometimes I am using strings and tangles to create what are technically called Zentangles. I have such a challenge with being absolutely correct about copyright issues that I wanted to be sure to set the record straight!

Here are two of my newest Zentangles.

I don't really have a title for the one on the left (anyone have any ideas?), but the one on the right is called "Spring Morn."

If you purchase a kit, you will receive everything you need to make your own Zentangles, including the square tiles (cards) on which Zentangles are created. Currently, I am not using tiles but 3.3 x 5.2 cards that I bought a couple years ago at a craft store in Montréal.

The Zentangle® company was started by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and they have a specific method for creating a Zentangle. You can find out lots about them, their method, things you can buy, and Zentangle® on their website http://www.zentangle.com/.

And now, the record is straight ---->! ;o)

--Vicky :o)

Original Zentangles
Ink on card stock
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Zentangle ®
www.zentangle.com

Finding Treasure in 2010

An astrologer I know recommended making a Treasure Map for 2010 during the Aries new moon that occurred on April 14, 2010 at 8:29 a.m. She said to prepare for making the collage by getting magazines ready but not to do any cutting or gluing until after the new moon, then to use the next 24 hours to make your treasure map to your Soul's desire.

Because I am big on following rules (limits) exactly (something I really need to work on this year), I got everything ready the night before and got up at 5:07 a.m. on April 15 and started. Now, I didn't quite finish the map precisely at 8:29 a.m. (more like 9:29 a.m.) but I did finish the bulk of it by the deadline. I have posted it here for your perusal and enjoyment. :o)

An interesting thing happened on the way to making this collage. When I awoke on April 15, I was already thinking about the collage. It was during that brief reverie that I actually thought of putting my Treasure Map on a map. So the background is an very used street map of Montréal.

I hung my Treasure Map on the wall over my collage table. I love looking at it and considering what the elements and words might mean for each day and the year. It is the largest collage I have ever made (22 x 28 inches)! The astrologer who recommended this exercise told me later in the day that the reason my collage is so large stems from the fact that the new moon that inspired it is having and will have a "big" effect on my life.

Now isn't that encouraging?!

--Vicky :o)

"Inspired Difference, 2010"
New Moon Treasure Map Collage
Paper cutouts on posterboard
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Life is Blooming...

Under the Sea

A new mandala that makes me think of
the plants that exist, flow, and grow
in ever moving ocean waters.

And, isn't this the way we live
in The Universe, too?
The Universe is constantly moving,
rotating, and revolving
and we find Life in this
constant motion.

I am reminded of a verse found in the Bible:

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being;"
Acts 17:28

Happy Easter!
Happy Spring!

--Vicky Lynn =:o)

"Life is Blooming Under the Sea" Mandala
Ink (markers) on paper
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione

Who or What Is Too Small for You?

...anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

--David Whyte

This collage is one of a series I am calling "Inspiration for the Journey." Each collage is a blend of painting, collage elements, and a phrase or quote. I chose the background colors to represent a chakra center. While this one uses green to represent the heart chakra, it also is special in that all 7 of the chakras are represented by color. You can see two other members of the series on my blog here and here. Eventually I will be making cards of each of the 5 collages.

I discovered this quote while looking at a blog. An artist had included David Whyte's poem "Sweet Darkness" from his book House of Belonging. The quote on the collage is the final three lines of the poem. When I read those lines, they grabbed me and showed me my own power and greatness (and not in an egotistical way). When I read those lines, I thought of how often I allow others (even those I love) to determine and diminish who I am and what I offer because I am swayed by their opinions! I also thought about how my heart feels when I embrace opinions or situations that are "too small" for me; it feels tight and constricted!

When I think about the quote, I often substitute the word "grow" for the word "bring" in the second line. If someone or something is not growing me alive, why would I waste my time being upset or concerned about their opinions or thoughts about me or my work? Why would I continue to engage in behaviors or thoughts that stunt my growth?

As you finish reading this post, take a moment and consider the question posed as the title of this post: Who or what is too small for you?

--Vicky Lynn :o)

"A Heart Grows Alive"
Mixed media collage
Copyright © 2010 by Vicky Lynn Macchione