In that place where dreams come to life…
Where we visit our heart’s delight.
Like, at the circus of older times.
With brilliant colors flashing about, sparkles and bright lights.
There our dreams are catapulted, taking flight.
On those magical circus nights.
I work on a painting I’ve been adding to for one year.
Bits and bobs of paint.
Orbs of light.
Dances at midnight.
This place I have gone to night after night.
In a painting.
Alive.
I break to add dry flowers here and there.
I walk outside in the heat.
Ripe pomegranates beckon.
Begging to be a still life.
If only I could channel Vermeer I whisper to them.
Lamenting and joking, all at once.
I slowly bite into the succulence of those fleshy sweet seeds.
Hot from the sun.
Bursting.
I’d like to finish a bit of my work before I go off on my tiny sorta sabbatical in a couple weeks.
They beg me to finish them.
Layers and layers of paint in dance.
Pieces that had voyaged off a year ago are returning…
While we make a visit to the magical cypress grove, only to find that everything (as expected), continues to be hunky dory lovely in that neck of the woods.
I stroll through my garden.
I have taken out many annuals.
But many others still gift.
Just like that a butterfly circles out of the sky and lands at my feet.
In a garden where it was born, it goes to sleep.
Such beauty and peace and yes, a little sadness.
Always the reminder of fragility and beauty, tied together like the tattered pages of your favorite fairy tales. The pages you got from your gran’s gran.
I put the butterfly in a glass case.
Then I return to collect petals.
Brilliant petals.
Petals in colors you’d think could only exist in paint.
And yet, there they are.
Growing out of the ground, in spectacular shades.
Ready to take you back into your imagination, back to canvas and paintbrush.
Where you belong.
Faintly in the background, The Gravel Road plays.
And so, I am taken back to my paint.
(but first I have to scrub the floor)
Anything beckoning you these days?
Tugging on those heart string?
Calling your name?
Love, V
Vanessa:
“In a garden where it was born, it goes to sleep.”
These are the most beautiful, melancholy and hopeful words…
All My Love:
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Hello there, lovely one. It’s great to see so many beautiful flowers and I always appreciate the varieties you share. Sadly, the Dahlias won’t grow here in my zone. My garden has been flowering with orchids that exude such amazing fragrance. So exotic and nothing like roses. It’s a treat. You’d love it. 🙂
In my life – eh, loads of work. In my tiny bit of spare time I’m contemplating what color to paint my front door. LOL – oh what a thrill. Probably a pumpkin’ish color. You know what a Halloween freak I am. 365 days a year, too. 😉
http://dawaioser.livejournal.com/836570.html
Do you think butterflies have souls? How could such things of beauty not? I think they’re our modern day fairies and it makes me a so sad to see them “sleep”. Sigh.
For me, it is my books that have been calling me even more insistently than usual, of late. I’ve been shirking laundry and bill-paying and so forth, in order to read through books of old stories or poetry.
Sometimes, you just *have* to read that book that you’ve been longing for, just go right through it, and come back to this world, maybe with new eyes or new insights, you know?
And, I have to add – what a beautiful post, it made me smile and sigh…you bring us such color, such wonder!
Thank you, Vanessa!
beautiful flowers, beautiful words, beautiful art.
much love & blessings
~*~
Thank you for a lovely,lovely, post Miss V!So grateful when you share with us! a tip for you! Go get Martha Stewart’s new Halloween Mag.ASAP! She is back to her old high standards,it is great! Get yourself a copy quick!
I hope no one is ever hard on you, Miss V…you know what I mean…your loveliness shines in your artwork and in the love your have for your garden.
The butterfly photo gave me chills…as I love butterflies…poor dear butterfly with such a fantastical, freedom to fly its brief life with it silver flecked wings.
I haven’t had any ‘flying’ dreams lately, and I do so love to fly in my dreams. I feel invigorated when I awaken from dreams like that. I think we were meant to fly too!
To be at work on your paintings for over a year must be an adventure, with the layers taking shape, expressing day by day experiences, which must show up in your work as it progresses to completion. I love your paper doll girl paintings most of all.
I can’t hardly wait(or is it ‘can’ hardly wait?) to see the circus painting…the colors look so vibrant and glorious.
You inspire me at all times, and on all of your posts.
XO
Miss Teresa
Lovely post Miss Vanessa. You always shine with color and it spreads to others… Thank you for all your inspirations.
Oh yes yes Miss V, art and illustration constantly becon me from my digital corporate world. But I know that although so different the contrast of one spices the other. So I love that the creative fuels the corporate, and vise versa, makes the time I spend with my pencils and paint all the more sacred. You play a big part in balancing my world, I don’t know if you realise how much your art, photos and words bring such joy and wonderment, awakens the child and magic within every time! Thank you xxxL
The colors in your paint match the colors in the flowers. Beautiful. I love butterflies. Yesterday I was in JoAnns and found baskets of $1 stickers, etc. I put several with butterflies in my basket. Scrapbooking and journaling have been calling to me. I took some pictures of the newest grand the other day and just have to scrap them before she’s grown.
Reading and sewing have been calling to me, too. Today I’m putting snaps on a dress for the grand. She’s so wiggly and impatient I decided against buttons.
Recently I found a crystal ball paperweight with a butterfly caught in flight encased within. I felt so bad for the beauty and yet I brought it home to be appreciated and treasured.
We are beginning to have sweatshirt weather. Changes are coming and I long to spend more time in the woods.
I do not know if you get my comments on your blog.
I wanted to invite you to join a few bloggers who are celebrating Haunted Humpday each Wednesday now through Halloween.
(To get us in the mood for Miss V’s wonderful Halloween extravaganza.)
We link up on Marfi’s blog, Incipient Wings.
Everyone is welcome!
That pomegranate is just gorgeous. The flowers as well! Oh, and that sweet butterfly . . .
I am really looking forward to seeing your new painting in all its totality–whenever that may be. I know sometimes these things take time and are put aside for a while, as you said. The bits you have shown us here tell me that it will be worth waiting for. : )
Lovely, lovely paint! =D
And that pomegranate is just amazing. I would so love to be able to grow fruit trees… someday. ^-^
Lots of things are beckoning me… my jobs keep me pretty busy, but I’m trying my best to carve out a few minutes here & there to do the little things that mean so much.
You’re going on a trip? Have tons of fun! =D
XOXO
Oh my dear Vanessa, as always, your photo’s and blog posts are oh so Lovely!!! Thanks so much for the link to the music,What a Beautiful Classical Piece. I saw that movie and I really liked it..what a surprise at the end!!! Hope all is well…thinking of you and sending many blessings your way🖤
xoxo
Dena
Lovelovelove. All of it. Eternity is beckoning my Brawny Man. Only love remains.
**blows gentle kisses**
Deb
Such gorgeous colors! Very inspiring. I have a new kitten, I’d love it if you’d swing by my blog to see Orion – the cutest and funniest looking kitten ever. After my two older cats and my dog died I’ve been meaning to pick out a new one at the local shelter, but it was hard to do. I felt like it would officially be ‘moving on’ and I dreaded it even as I knew I needed a new munchkin in my life. I finally got the guts up to adopt a little furball and I love him very much. His favorite spot is on my shoulder or on my chest for a snooze. Something he’s going to outgrow as he grows. Or I guess I can only hope. LOL
Anyway, please come meet Orion:
http://58cherries.blogspot.com/
Nicki
58Cherries
Thank You! I can always count on You My friend to encourage My imagination to soar.If anyone in this world is down-Esp.us girls-all they need to do is visit You.You take Us to the place of imagination that The Lord God has given us.Hugs to You Country girl-Grandma Denise ; ) Please come and Say hello on My blog someday.
By the way,tomorrow is My 61 birthday.For My birthday I would love a visit from You to My Coffeeberry Cottage.I’ll serve You a tall cool drink on the porch and chat while the hot Sun sets.
I always love your little sneak peaks of paintings you are working on. Those close ups are works of art all by themselves.
When I read your question on what was beckoning me the first thing that popped into my head was sleep. It’s getting very grey here in the UK as Autumn approaches and I’ve been working very hard as I’ve only got a week and half left at my current job and i’m trying to get as much done as I can before I leave so that my replacement can settle in slowly.
Much love
Rachel xx