Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Rainbow Ripples






This is my color therapy for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) 

caused by lots and lots and lots of RAIN. 

 

 



I'm glad we have rain . . . 

but the gray, cold, dampness does tend to make me gloomy. 


I wanted to see the bright yellow rays of sunshine again!






Here are some paintings and color studies of what I call "rainbow ripples." 


I also call them 8, because they look like the number 8, 

and 8 turned sideways is infinity. 




Everyone who knows me, knows about my rainbow obsession. 


Bright colors make me happy!



 




I love the sense of expanding, opening, radiating. 


Ripples, rainbows, light, color and sound waves . . . 


all represent energy moving out into space.




 




These are the first 2 rainbow ripples paintings that I did in 2008. 


In the first paintings there were swimmers, swimming into infinity. 


Now I prefer just the abstract rainbow ripples by themselves.




 




 









I love making these paintings!








Also . . . 


My sweetie brought me a wonderful gift to cheer me up!





A book on colors and pigments, and their meanings and uses.


 



A set of watercolor pencils! 

Plus, more drawing pencils . . .



As soon as this rain ends, 

I'm going to go out and try out my new pencils to do some watercolor on location!


Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Sketchbook: Stow Lake


felt tip pen drawing by Rosa Phoenix


Stow Lake is in Golden Gate Park. In the middle of the man-made lake is an island with a waterfall and Chinese Pavilion. 






This pavilion was a gift from China to San Francisco. 





detail of carved stone dragon



On the day I went to sketch at Stow Lake,

I was delighted to see a mama duck swimming with her little ducklings!



Friday, January 15, 2010

The Open Heart Is Full of Love


crayon and color pencil drawing by Rosa Phoenix


Fifteen years ago today, a pit bull puppy was rescued from a dump truck by a winged angel--actually, by a man flying a paraglider, who spotted her from high above in the sky. He took her home after the Humane Society said they'd euthanize her, because that was their policy about pit bulls, at that time.

He couldn't bear to have her be killed, after saving her from certain death.

Diva is her name, and she's lived a long, adventurous life. 

Several times, injury or illness has threatened her life, yet here she is still, against all odds, still our dear companion.

*****

Where the heart is open, LOVE grows.

This is the true power we cultivate in our lives.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Swimming


acrylic painting by Rosa Phoenix




we go with the flow

to destinations unknown