Bamboo Princess

I watched the animated movie, The Tale of Princess Kaguya and was mesmerized by her character. The story is about a princess born inside of a bamboo shoot, the bamboo cutter discovers this gift from heaven and takes her home to his wife. Together, they raise the young child and all sorts of lovely events happen that make you fall in love with the character.

The movie itself was fabulous. Then the extra cd included, explaining how the director and producer struggled with making it perfect - made the movie even more intriguing. 

The process of making an animation that last a few minutes takes hours upon hours at the computer. Drawing the movement by hand is a laborious undertaking. I am in love with the entire process, the drawing of it, the creating the story boards, the editing of music…ALL of this movie truly demands much from each artist.

I want you to rent the movie, take the time to watch the process of the directors thoughts. Then get back to me on what you thought. It is pure magic to watch something so throughly thought out.

Oh, there is a great soaring scene…wooohoooooo!!

And dragons…oh my!

It is pure magic! Enjoy!

Ripping the head off the giant....

Photograph and graphic by Judith Parsons 2015

The photo is most appropriate…David slays the giant.

The big bad giant is negativity- depression and despair…

the big bad giant is learning I have been wasting my life away lost in a foggy layer 

the big bad giant is old age…I am on the down slope and rapidly picking up speed toward home plate…

the big bad giant is I would rather be alone than hurt any body ever again…

The big bad giant is fear.

I was talking with a friend about forging ourselves. The hammer strikes the metal leaving a scar, leaving a dented impression. We beat the metal up, leaving a texture of scars and blemishes upon the once smooth clean virgin surface. We create art with that hammer and fire. We harden ourselves with the beating. It is no easy process pounding out the art of you. 

It requires work. 

Somedays I have energy to conquer the world. Other days I want to snuggle cuddle into a ball and hide from the world. I usually disregard the second option and place my mask of confident secure woman on and head on out the door. 

Slaying giants and hammering to harden our hearts…it is what we do.

And we play music in the background…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55sY1WqGyMYsong: Woman by Joy Williams

Little Bear told the bird: “I know how to fly, but it is always down.”

“I enjoy the fall”

Soaring

Doodling ...Creating art that soars.
Original art by Judith Parsons 2015

Goodmorning Friends!

Today I got a call for a commissioned piece of art. Yayyyy me!

I got a call from a great old friend, who is really an amazing energy!

Soooo life is great…

Choosing to soar. 

Choosing to fly!!

Ladder Dragon

Illustration created by Judith Parsons

I started doodling a ladder—then added some arms. I was playing with the J and the letter P as mirror object along the ladder. This was my playing with the first elementary blocks. I did not want to complicate the design, I wanted to keep it as bare bones as possible.

It is not as finessed as I would like, however, at this stage one can warp the shape and have fun with it. The undulating curve of a wave is an interesting shape and can be played with in photoshop and illustrator for hours on end.

I started with a simple ladder with arms and ended with a simple dragon. Hmmmm. Art reflects life…life reflects art?

Perhaps.

I will let you know if I start sprouting dragon scales. 

What do you want?

Illustration by Judith Parsons 2015

I listened to day 2 of Deepak and Oprah's 21 Day meditation.

It was about labels. How we tend to associate ourselves by our general labels.

I grew up in a house hold with a mom who was ALWAYS on a diet. She never liked herself.

I was nurtured upon her negative labels. I have always felt I was a "tree truck" body. I was a lumbering massive wide shouldered woman.

Today, I understand how beautiful I am, mainly because I look back at photos and see a younger vibrant me.

No matter how one looks at it, right now you are better physically than you will be tomorrow. Because age will add another gray hair or another wrinkle. So in essence, I have come to this realization and am learning to deal and heal me.

I want to be an active older woman. I want to slide into that home base of a hundred years old running. I want to have a strong back and have my mental capacity intact. I would love my companions to be as fit, to be as strong. Hells bells, who knows what tomorrow will bring? A tragic accident might do me in. I'd like to think not, I'd like to think my friends will be right beside me, running along. They are happy in their skins, they are strong in their body, mind and spirit.

Every single thing takes maintenance. Our cars, computers, homes and bodies. You know if it needs work.

Let us all focus on becoming our best selves.

Art school.

Created by Judith Parsons

There is only one artist that really has the stylish artist look complete. I want to be her when I grow up. I keep trying to merge the alter-ego of this awesome wild woman with the reality of me, and I can not help but laugh.

Valerie, (waving) you have that look. You have a walk, a stance, a confidence that is stunning. I applaud you! With that, I believe in persisting, eventually I will merge the two people…

For now, I go to work upon my person— the geometric me. I am pleased that the ideas are flowing again, honestly, I was a little worried that the foggy cavern of drink was where all the ideas came from. However, I am thrilled I awakened with many new art ideas wanting to be born. My new philosophy of “sober being the new drunk” is working and the ideas are flowing again.

To you sweet friends upon Facebook, (waving) I am so sorry to leave you. In reality I was pulling away, my art muse wanted more of me. She is a determined artist who stands with hands upon her hips and whip in hand telling me to move it, and finish the MFA in style.

So with that, I must go. The art school awaits.

Just between you and me, if you want to become a stronger older person. give playing with mud a try. It really is amazing how it strengthens the lower back, and makes the biceps strong.

Let the Spirit move you

Illustration created by Judith Parsons 

Today was a great day for art! I created a piece of art that will serve as the form upon which to build more art. Like a tailor piecing together a suit and pinning it upon a form, I will be creating my piece in clay.

It is an interesting phenomena, the firing of the kiln. When I have a substantial piece of art being fired it acts like an omen or a sign of things to come. It came out in one piece. I am very thankful! Woooohooooooo!! It is going to be a fabulous week!

Enjoy the week! Let the spirit move you!

Make art… dance it, sing it, draw and paint it or study the history of it. Just “do-it”.