I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you again soon.
Melinda
Category: Art
Daily Writing Prompt
Daily writing prompt
Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.
I was traveling to the airport to fly to Russia the day of 9/11, the airspace was closed for two weeks and as soon as it was lifted off I went to St. Petersburg, Russia. Traveling alone wasn’t anything new to me but it’s unusual in many countries, I stood out as American but everyone was so gracious to me. I didn’t know the language or anyone who lived there, and I liked it that way.
Walking everywhere, visiting the Hermitage twice, two other museum’s, street artists, went to the ballet, visiting a couple of restaurants outside of the hotel. When I was lost communication was difficult but often a point in the right direction was all that was needed.
I observed the Costra Nostra, mafia, up close since most nights there were enjoying life in a separate lounge area by the bar. One day I stopped into a small restaurant for lunch, a man and women were the only two there. While I was eating my soup and the man walked past when leaving, he looked at me and said American. I guess you had to be there to get the vibe. It was such a joy for me because I’m fascinated by the Mafia.
I remember going into a fur shop, it was freezing cold and I had not packed for the weather. We had no verbal way of communicating but by showing her the type of furs I liked, I left with a beautil silver fox coat. I’m not a fur wearer but as I struggled with the cold, I wanted the warmest coat I could buy.
I could talk for hours about my trip especially the Astoria hotel, one of two five star hotels in the city. From the moment the Mercedes picked up at the airport, the entire staff welcoming me when I arrived to how they helped and protected me. I’ve never experienced a city like St.Petersburg and look for the day I can return.
My trip of a lifetime to date.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Picasso
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Picasso, Washington, D.C. 2015
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Bridgette Tales #2
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week, we highlight Bridgette Tales. Bridgette was one of the first people I wrote about in the Blogger Highlight series on 11/14/2022, you can read the post here. Her photography blows my mind, she can capture every feeling of every subject.
Bridgette Tales
Everybody has a story. Here’s a little of mine.
I started this blog in 2013 with the words: “Once upon a time there was a mother who wanted to do something other than dishes and laundry.”
This version of myself feels sort of familiar.
It ended with the words: “She took a deep breath and just went for it.”
This I recognize.
I’ve spent the last nearly decade breathing in and plunging forward.
I’ve been as transparent as I can, exploring motherhood, depression, and body image. There are things I withhold to protect my friends and family, and I’m attempting to explore new territory with my fiction writing. The blog, like me, is a work in progress.
If you are new here, you may want to read my top blog posts:
- Exposed by my children for what I really look like
- Top 10 reasons I hate Costco OR sometimes people suck
- This mom wants her kids to keep fighting
- The hardest dance of my life
- Top 5 ways to make your minivan stand out
- Love lessons from my girl
- What to do when your tires hit the dirt
- Home, broken, home
Questions I Asked
M. Who drew the picture on your blog’s banner and what is the story behind it?
B. The header banner on the blog was drawn by my son when he was 8-years-old. He’s 20 now. It’s me as “Super Mom.”
M. Tell me more about the word show Listen to Your Mother. and how it sparked your creativity.
B. Listen to Your Mother is a spoken-word show on Mother’s Day which features women telling their stories. The audition process itself was a big leap forward for me and made me consider myself a writer/performer more seriously.
All of Brigette’s content and photography are copyrighted and not available for use unless you’ve been given permission.
One of my favorite posts is Photography: Mountain Retreat Like many of her posts, there is a collection of photographs and you’ll find beauties like these in this post.
As always, all photos were taken by me with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW. Let me know if you have a favorite and have a wonderful week.
Be sure to say hello and while you’re there check out her archives.
Melinda
Meditative Painting to Heal Your Life Course
With all the discord in the world today, maintaining a positive and hopeful outlook can be challenging. So, how do you rise above it, maintain your positivity, and hold space for a world with more peace, love, and abundance? You have a choice, and it will require that you go within yourself, to your inner artist, and create what you desire, then radiate that inspiring energy, taking action that is in harmony with your dreams and deepest intentions. Painting has the power to bring you into the present and become a transformative and healing experience. For many, this is also one of the easiest ways to meditate, because you are allowing the “doing” of painting to guide you into the meditative state, rather than sitting still and trying to stop the mind.
Tap into Your Creative Spirit and Transform Your Life
In this empowering, 8-week course by creativity coach and mentor Whitney Freya, you’ll be guided into a new kind of meditation practice, meditative painting, which will help you become present to the part of you that is tapped into the frequency of love, possibility, and infinite abundance. You will activate your inner creativity, and empower yourself to be the change you want to see in the world through the act of painting your own sacred mandala. Mandalas have guided generations of healers, philosophers, shamans, and visionaries to their own sacred wisdom. With interactive lessons and video tutorials filmed in majestic natural locations, you will be transported to a peaceful place to process your feelings and experiences. By the end of this course, you will have a clearer vision of the life you want and move forward with more serenity.
What is included in this course:
- Eight transformative lessons with videos that will teach you a powerful form of meditation to express your inner artist.
- Step-by-step instruction on how to paint sacred mandalas through a process that is fun and playful.
- Guided meditations and practices that will connect you to Mother Earth’s wisdom and nourishing energy.
- Mindfulness techniques for getting centered and ways for setting your intentions to manifest what you desire.
- Insights on how to raise your vibration in order to be a part of the collective that will help heal our world.
- Artistic practices to help you release judgment and boost your creative confidence.
Who should take this course:
- Individuals who want to experience deeper healing and balance in their lives.
- People seeking a spiritual practice that is imaginative and playful.
- Meditators looking for a different way to meditate that will deepen their connection with their inner vision and dreams.
- Those that might have insecurities about their creativity and want a non-judgmental, safe environment to tap into and release their creativity.
- Artists that would like to expand their skills.
- Everyone that wants to work with their intuition and spiritual, creative energy.
In this course, be prepared to have fun, tap into your imagination, and let your creativity run free!
$55.00 USD Value • Pay What You Want
$19.00, $35.00, $55.00
This is the total amount for all lessons.
Pay extra to give more to our instructors and to help create new courses. No matter how much you pay, you’ll get the same course as everybody else.
What a great opportunity to invest in your life and learn new skills.
Melinda
Reference:
More Awesome Art From The Mayo
One of the greatest things about The Mayo Clinic’s awesome artwork collection is that it’s all donated by families or artists. Every possible type of art you can imagine is on display, and unfortunately, I could only capture a few. My husband took a few photos and I hope to provide them as well. The architecture in Rochester is very diverse so walking is a great way to capture great photos. There are many skyscrapers in the downtown area so catching a glimpse of them from an adjacent building with windows you can access is the perfect way to get a great shoot.
Even the lighting looks like art.
Melinda
Huge Glass Art Installation At The Mayo Clinic
Melinda
Beautiful Art From The Mayo
Mind-blowing! I can’t even fathom the hours spent making the installation and the hours and people if took to install it. It’s breathtaking.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Dragon Flies
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
This is a beautiful piece of handmade leaded glass of Dragon Flies. The first photo is hard to see becaue it mosted coved by a tree outside my office window but as you look to the sides of the galls the colors shine through. Seeing Dragon Flies always make me smile.
Melinda
The Treasures On My Bookcase
The bookcase in my office holds many treasures including travel finds, books, photos, candles, and an antique camera. The items bring me joy, and memories of travels and adventures. Here are a few photos.
A Cherished Peice Of Art By Wyland
I bought this piece in Hawaii while vacationing with some friends. It was gallery night and many had their doors open, serving drinks and welcoming people in to see the art on display. I was already familiar with Wyland and the thought of owning a piece of his art had my blood racing. Most of the pieces on display were way out of my price range but I fell in love with his signature whale tail tucked in the back. I could not wait to get home and hang the amazing piece. It’s one of my most treasured even though it’s not the most expensive.
“The value of art is not in the price, it’s what the piece means to you” Me
About World Renowned Artist Wyland
Over 40 years ago, marine life artist Wyland exploded on the scene with his rich, majestic murals of marine life. The timing couldn’t have been better – the environmental movement was in full swing and ocean-themed art was in high demand. Today, the art is as vibrant as ever and the message of showcasing the beauty of nature is even stronger. But Wyland’s mission has expanded in entirely new ways. With new art, a new emphasis on families and education, and a broader view of our relationship to the beauty of our entire blue planet – from our oceans, lakes, and rivers, to our streams and wetlands.
Wyland has inspired millions of people worldwide about marine life conservation thanks to his life-sized paintings and images ranging from the sides of sports arenas and cruise ships to installations at the U.S. National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Wyland’s mission of engaging people through nature-themed art and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle has touched hearts and minds, and led to strategic alliances with the United States Olympic Team, United Nation Environment Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, Toyota, and Walt Disney Studios, to name a few.
Large-scale, inspiring public artworks, beautiful art galleries, and award-winning community service projects. In a career spanning more than four decades, Wyland’s art and commitment to conservation has made him one of the most influential artists of the 21st Century, with artwork in museums, corporate collections, and private homes in more than one hundred countries.
Since 1993, the non-profit Wyland Foundation has set the standard for environmental outreach, using art, science, and community events to inspire children and families around the world to become caring, informed stewards of our ocean, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands. With traveling science exhibits, national art programs, and innovative outreach events, the foundation helps people everywhere to be more creative, positive, and solution-oriented. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has worked directly with more than one million children since its inception in 1993.
You can find his breathtaking art at https://www.wyland.com
You can still see my desk in the background of the photo, I could not get the right light and haven’t perfected my photo apps. This piece hangs in my office and is a treasured piece and a great memory of being in Hawaii with my friends and finding his gallery.
Melinda
A Favorite Piece Of Art By Andy Warhol
Even though I have paperwork on this piece I can’t say for certain that is a Lithograph because there is not a number on it and there should be. I purchased it in 2014 because the piece spoke volumes to me. My mother always told me I was stupid growing up even though I knew it wasn’t true. It was more of her mental torture. When I saw this piece I had to buy it. A young girl with good grades at school and getting a goodies bag for and being called So Sweet. It was a sweet revenge for me. It hangs in my office and I get great satisfaction looking at it daily. If it is real, that’s a bonus.
Do you have a favorite piece that calms your inner demons?
Melinda
Some Of The Books I Have Collected Over The Years
What type of books do you read and collect?
Melinda
I Love Art, Here’s One Of My Favorites From Jim Stallings
I had an appreciation of art long before I bought my first piece and later while traveling, I would buy a piece to remind me of the trip. I only have five expensive pieces and the rest from my travels are street art or maps. Maps are another thing I collect and love picking them up while traveling. I bought this Jim Stallings while in Maui at an outdoor showing. He thanked me and we talked for a while, he was so down to earth and I didn’t even know who he was, just that I loved this piece. I think it was $800 and I display it in my bedroom without a frame on a decorative easel. His father owned a restaurant chain that I ate at regularly, on the menu was the first plant-based patty I had. It was so good it was hard to believe it wasn’t beef.
Here’s More About Jim Stallings
Stallings is considered an artists’ artist. Fascinated with art and artists from a very early age, private painting classes at age eight started the course of Stallings’ destiny. He earned a degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and then spent as much time as possible in the museums of London and Paris while earning a diploma from City University, London. Stallings then embarked on a backpacking odyssey for over two years that included more than five hundred miles in the Grand Canyon and the surrounding states ending in Denali National Park, Alaska. After four months in Alaska Stallings flew to Maui with only a backpack and a duffle bag where he began his artistic career.
Stallings hung his first early paintings in Maui restaurants which sold quickly leading to a number of gallery shows. He then opened his own gallery in Lahaina, Maui enjoying the friendships he made with collectors from every state in the United States and all over the world.
Stallings has explored the relationship of music and pure color for his entire artistic career. Deciding early on to pursue canvases of whimsy and purity, questions about the relationship of music, vibrations and visual art led Stallings to paint live on stage with symphony orchestras including the Long Beach, San Diego, Honolulu and the Russian National. Painting music as visual art was a defining moment in Stallings’ career. He enjoys exploring the harmony of music and color and their positive effects on the human spirit. He has worked with world renowned scientist, physicist, conductors and musician regarding the physics and energy of music.
After creating and selling more than two thousand original works of art, Stallings still pursues his love of painting classical and jazz music. He has also painted jazz music live at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Napa and New York. Never complacent, Stallings continues to stretch his creative limits while sharing his passion for the arts.
Here are a few I like from his collection.
Floral on Blue
Floral Study
Bistro Five
Interestingly, he has signed his paintings on the left and right. I have not seen that before.
Melinda
Reference:
Sending A Special Thanks To Mali, Russia, Brazil, Spain And Greece For Visiting
I love to see what countries visit my blog, it actually hits my travel desire. Each week I look further into countries I’m not familiar with and this week I took a closer look at Mali. Mali, is a landlocked country of western Africa, mostly in the Saharan and Sahelian regions. Mali is largely flat and arid. The Niger River flows through its interior, functioning as the main trading and transport artery in the country. Sections of the river flood periodically, providing much-needed fertile agricultural soil along its banks as well as creating pasture for livestock. Although Mali is one of the largest countries in Africa, it has a relatively small population, which is largely centered along the Niger River. Agriculture is the dominant economic sector in the country, with cotton production, cattle and camel herding, and fishing among the major activities.
St Petersburg, Russia will always have a special place in my heart, I loved the city’s deep history, the Cathedrals, the architecture, and above all the kindness of the people. I knew three words in Russian and the people who didn’t speak English, many of them, tried so hard to help me, taking extra time when I was lost or not able to find a museum I really wanted to see. The history of St. Petersburg is fascinating and at one time it served as the capital of Russia. The Hermitage Palace and museum is something everyone needs to see, it is mind-blowing and houses not only fine art but the greatest collection of Faberge Eggs.
I visited Madrid, Spain in 1988 and it was my first international trip. I keep a photo of a couple performing with string puppets in the square on my bookcase. We made the trip to Toledo, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the Cathedral of Toledo and the Alcázar fortress. The Cathedral was reportedly built in the Middle Ages and is one of Spain’s most important Gothic structures. At the same time, the Alcázar fortress has played a significant role in Spanish history, serving as a royal palace, military fortification, and now a museum. The fort was a trip back in time, on the huge wooden doors you could see where it was hit with cannonballs. The architecture was undescribable and being on the river made it even more special. The locals were welcoming and tried to help me so hard when we were lost and I needed to go to the bathroom. Try to speak that in body language. The exquisite handmade Ladro porcelain pieces are made in Spain and I found a special one to bring my Granny. We also found a beautiful black plate with gold detailing, all made by hand.
Greece is high on my bucket list, with its deep history, magnificent blue water, cathedrals capped in blue, crazy uphill walking, and white-covered buildings and houses and the mob. I’ve read that mob still runs parts of the country although I bet they would prefer I not mention. Greece is also known for gold, when traveling you can pick up gold jewelry for a fraction of the price in America. There a plenty of shops to choose from and the designs are creative and playful. That’s just the tip of the iceberg that the Greek Islands are.
Brazil is on my travel bucket list, the country has so much to offer.
Statue of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg Square
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Melinda
References:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Mali
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Saint_Petersburg#1945–1970s
https://www.britannica.com/place/Madrid
I’ve Made A Few Updates To My Blog
Hello, so glad you stopped by today.
To allow more comments and my ability to communicate with others, I’ve changed the settings so that you don’t have to log in or be a WordPress member.
I’ve updated my About Me page slightly and continue to work on making Organizations That Can Help a drop-down menu. I’ve done it in the past but currently, it’s not correct.
One area I want to expand is Organization that Can Help, please provide any you know of so I can create a much better resource. Thanks. :)
Look for more changes as I work to improve my blog.
Thank you for reading and visiting my blog.
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Yolanda and Her Creative Scream
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their blog with you. This week we highlight the blog Yolanda and her creative mind.
Yolanda and her creative scream
My name is Yolanda. From the beginning, I wrote a lot here to teach people about mental illness. I do that sometimes in the present, but now I mostly share my creative perspective in photography, photoshop art, and poetry most of the time.
Yolanda picked up photography when she moved to Stockholm five years ago.
These are one image and one photo she likes and I wanted to share them with you.
Here is a recent favorite of mine.
Yolanda is also a published writer of the book Alternativt.
Baksidan lyder:
”Alternativt” är en bok som jag har skrivit när jag har varit frisk och när jag har varit sjuk. I grunden har jag Aspergers syndrom och lider av bipolär sjukdom. Som person är jag väldigt kreativ. Jag har tidigare givit ut en annan bok, som jag gav namnet ”I skuggan av en siluett skör som glas”. Både den och den här boken är mest baserade på dikter. Den förra boken innehåller även målningar och teckningar. ”Alternativt” bjuder på dikter och texter skrivna av en kreativ och alternativ kvinna, som är mycket mer än bara sina diagnoser.
Finns nu att köpa på Vulkan: https://www.vulkanmedia.se/butik/bocker/alternativt-av-yolanda-christoffersson/
”Alternativt” finns även att köpa i de flesta nätbokhandlarna!
Here’s a great review.
”Your talent bestowed within u by God endowed you to write and inspire others with the beauty and skills of your royal talent.”_-Van Prince
The interpretation of the photos she takes is amazing. She has Asperger Syndrome which I know very little about but I can feel the world around her and despite her challenges, she gets up and keeps living life. That is what we can all do. Live life.
Be sure to stop by and say hello, not only is she talented, she’s so sweet and grateful. I know you will enjoy her blog, pull up a set and stay awhile.
Melinda
lookingforthelight.blog 