Castles in the Sky

Most castles started as a fortress in top of a hill. The earliest ones were made out of wood so all that remains today are the holes or post markings where they once stood.
The stone castles still remain even though many are in ruins.
A castle wasn't designed to be pretty, instead it's features protected the many people living inside. Some of these castles were so overcrowded that germs were everywhere.
The castle could be an icon for the type of government established within and around them. Feudalism was a crude way of grouping people together to protect each other. The lord of the castle was a term that came much earlier than a king or queen title. It was all about land ownership - the primary source of survival.
I do love the romantic, fantasy version of the castle. These stories make history seem so clean, so glamorous. We can look at the castle now and think romance and heroism instead of seeing them as icons of protection against war.

This print can be purchased on ebay. Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254096795422

Inspirations

"inspiration"

I love the zentangle style of drawing and I believe most artists travel to a zen mind when creating spontaneous art so I wanted to show that feeling you get when a great idea comes to mind for the first time.
I posted this drawing:

on a zentangle site and someone replied that it wasn't a true "zentangle" I responded with a laugh emoji and this:
"Just to clear things up, (I went to sleep so I didn't see this post till now) Zen means "mind" and Zen Buddhism is based on cultivating the mind through meditation and mindfulness. I'm glad the originators of the Zentangle movement could see that most artists go to a meditative state when they draw but I'd argue that anytime you create spontaneously, without copying someone else's designs (that requires beta action and meditation is alpha waves) So I love the arguments going on here because Everyone is right. NO - I didn't copy someone's design - YES, I was in a Zen state of mind when I wanted to portray a Zen state of mind in a work of art. Thanks for all the comments and sorry I didn't see them till now."

Later on, I thought about the response which still clouded my joy over creating the image.

I find it peculiar that part of human nature (for some) is to take a great idea and "institutionalize" it by creating a set of rules that artists must follow to fit into the new style or movement.

This print is available on ebay. Here is the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264742212555

Imagination

"imagination"

Don't you just love how books inspire your imagination? The mental picture in your head is always so much nicer than any movie can bring to us. This is why people say, "I like the book better." Their own imagination sets the scene described in the book so much better for them than any one outside their own mind can do. 

Our imagination speaks to us in the language we know and accept.

 Our own imagination knows us so well that we must put forth the effort to train it for pleasant, loving thoughts and not fearful ones.

 Because the imagination can venture both ways.

This painting shows the gifts our imagination brings to us when we are in the right mind. This painting represents the beautiful realms a book can bring to our imagination by allowing us to interact with its scenery and characters.


Happy reading everyone!

This print is available on ebay in multiple sizes"
Here is the link to the ebay listing:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264733947854

Jules Verne Inspired My Imagination

I remember as a child watching "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and the giant octopus attacking their submarine. It was scary and fascinating all at once! Journey to the Center of the Earth was even better. 

Jules Verne was a writer that grabbed your imagination and kept you interested all the way to the end of the story. The pictures were sailing by in your mind as you imagined the next creature his characters encountered. 

This painting was painted while thinking of the incredible worlds of Verne.

This print from my original painting is on sale and listed on ebay.

Here is the link that will take you there.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/263262788152