Author: queentracey1

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend as much as I am! Today has been an absolutely gorgeous–albeit hot and humid–Austin day! Lately I’ve been getting the sneaking suspicion that spring has been skipped altogether, as we seem to be creeping closer and closer to the summer 100’s! However, today’s sunny, high 80’s/ low 90’s provided a nice beginning to April’s Nature Animation Challenge!

Apologies for not posting this yesterday— For today’s challenge, I focused on creating the MAIN CHARACTER for my animation. Since I had absolutely no story in mind for this animation, I decided to head outside for a little walk to gather inspiration (and supplies!). During my walk, I found a nice pile of sand, so decided to gather a few handfuls. As I was filling my little bag with sand, I noticed this poor fellow out of the corner of my eye:

Main character. Check.

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s challenge focused on creating a stage for the animation! So, I began this process by finding materials for my stage construction. I ended up using two white sheets of paper (which I then decorated with natural/organic shapes using glue and chalk). The floor was created using chalk rubbings on cardboard. I will probably add a few more movable shapes and/or objects to the background which will add a little more interest and life to the stage! Here is a shot of my resulting stage:

As I worked on the backdrop for my stage, I tried to keep in mind the storyline for my animation, as well as the characters and plots that would be used in my story.

For tomorrow’s challenge, work on building the props and/or additional characters for your animation. 

‘Til tomorrow…happy explorations!

Ever have a period in your life when you’re feeling just a bit out of your routine, or as my fellow likes to say, “discombobulated?”  Well, I’m certainly feeling that way at the moment.  Not sure if it is cosmic in origin (there’s a lot of cool astronomical stuff happening right now) or if it’s regular life stuff (lot of different projects coming due).  To give myself a break over past day or so, I’ve wandered with my camera outside and around the house.  I have found myself drawn to the concrete, like the above dark pansy growing in what has become a local restaurant’s outdoor ashtray, and to the more nebulous and ethereal like these shadowy branches of a dead tree dancing on a wall in my apartment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the kitchen mesmerized by herbs in silhouette like this dill against a clay saucer and rosemary…

This is the penultimate chapter in the story of how I came to be enamored with travel and imbued with wanderlust.

I would suggest reading the first 4 parts before reading this one if you want the back story; otherwise, just dive in and let me know your thoughts.

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4

She wore tight denim shorts. That is the memory that pervades the images in my mind as I consider our walk through the streets of Cozumel that day. I had completely forgotten where I was as I looked often at my new friend and could have cared less about the sea, the sun, or even investigating some new part of the island. Her body and how each component of it made me tingle in places and ways I never had before, was all the exploration I wanted. To this day the physical discovery of…

An ever swirling

breeze brushed the open window

while animals stared

Laissez les Bontemps Rouler.  In other words, let the good times roll.  That is the name of this painting by artist Carol A. Simmons.  Without hearing a single note, can’t you feel the music imbuing this canvas with life?  How about the bluesy notes eminating from this painting of Lady Blue?

I must say I was first drawn to those works of Ms. Simmons that highlighted the bright colorful culture of the Gullah people and others in the lowlands of South Carolina and Georgia.  But recently I have had the great pleasure to learn more about her work, its continuing evolution, and yes … how music is influencing her creative journey.  Just click on one of the pictures above (or here) to discover for yourself the vibrancy of her work.  Enjoy!

Inspiration comes in many forms, and in this case, it was stumbling upon the store Old Japan Inc. in Boston’s South End.  Walking through the shop was a dream but the best part was being able to walk out the door with a small cache of origami papers.

They are helping me to view “old” objects around the house in new ways …

… as well as add new elements to my “Paper Worlds.”

I love bathtub shots ❤

Just yellow roses in a bowl nestled amidst fresh herbs, sitting on a kitchen table.