“Failure is not an option.”Who the hell said this?Who uttered these words only to have them etched into our psyches?I find myself ashamed when my project fails- or provides less than stellar results.Like a child who has broken something, I shove the evidence into some dark crevice and pray to the forces-that-be for no one to ever discover my ugly truth.Perhaps worse, sometimes I deny the failure- masking it in false optimism and a “laissez faire” attitude. But underneath the bravado my frail sense of self-confidence is shriveling- like the weak scrawny seedlings in my grow tent-the trigger for today’s rant.
The past 6 years or so I have successfully propagated my summer vegetable garden from seed grown indoors in a make-shift greenhouse.Each year I carefully measure out seeds, one at a time, into their allotted spot.Then I save the rest for the next planting.By peak season, a good 90% of my garden began as seeds.
This year it has failed.This year I will be buying a significant number of my garden plants.My frugality has finally become the tragic flaw in my homegrown garden.The basil sprung up within 18 hours!Seven days later one Squash surprised me.Soon to follow, one tomatillo and one Costoluto tomato.That leaves me with 55 empty cells.Cells whose soil is now covered in green moss because of the humid conditions under the plastic dome.If I had to guess- I would say that it was a lack of CONSTANT refrigeration of my seed this year.Usually all my leftover seeds live in a plastic shoebox in my refrigerator.But for one reason or another this year, I removed the shoebox for a few days at a time to make room in the fridge-multiple times.
And while I am angry at myself for the failure, I know that it is not the end of the world- or my garden.I simply have to swallow my pride this year and buy plants.So this year, “The Tomato Man’s Daughter” will get more of my money than usual.
Happy Belated Saint Patrick’s Day!
I had no intention of creating art for Saint Patrick’s Day.But while grocery shopping I spotted the purple shamrock and its geometry struck me.I happen to be taking an online class in vector illustration and this happy little pot of triangles seemed to beg to be the star.But is it?I really like the moth- which came about while studying the leaves of the shamrock and noticing how much they look like purple moths.And the whole experiment brought Charley Harper to mind.The rest they say is history- or in this case layers and layers in Adobe.
Next up…. a delightful underwater scene for a coloring book. The coloring book is part of a charity event to raise money and awareness for our ocean life. Be sure to check back soon, because I will be posting my entry here.
Desert Sun– A new digital image available in my Society6 store located under Home Decor & Gifts in my site Menu.
Persistence: Is it a Virtue or Merely a Mad Delusion?
Aesop insisted the tortoise’s dogged persistence would triumph over Jack Rabbit starts.Coincidentally, I have much in common with Mr. Tortoise:I am homebound (“Thanks, COVID.”), I have no fast-twitch muscles of which I am aware, and optimism (or perhaps faith in effort) lures us forward each step of the way.A pinch more self-confidence might help- indeed, there are those who get by with not much else!But I do believe that persistence pays a reasonable return.in other words, provided I maintain reasonable goals and expectations, nothing but myself stands in my way.
Wrapping both fists tightly around that guiding belief, I set about to re-create a new website for myself.I began around Christmas time and by February 1, I had a website I liked- at least on my desktop computer.A few issues remain on smaller devices and I am mentally steeling my resolve to correct those in the coming week.
While squeezing the living daylights out of my belief in persistence, I placed an order for some succulent seeds.I had become enamored with a strange succulent someone posted in social media and after searching for it on the WORLDwide (emphasis on the word “world”) web, I located seeds.Yes, SEEDS! I was suffering from the audacious belief that I could grow a rare succulent from the ground up- literally!The website appeared professional and gave me no reason to doubt that I had just purchased seeds from a vendor in New York.However, 2 weeks later I received an email informing me that my package had just left China.The packages’s arrival strengthened my suspicions.Apparently I ordered a fifth packet of seed- not a succulent, by the way.So, 1000 tiny “seeds” had arrived from China.I have about 8 seedlings to show for it-ALL from the fifth packet of seeds!
Nearly 6 weeks later, I swallowed my pride and purchased cuttings from a woman in Washington state.I hope to chronicle the growth of four cacti- green thumbs crossed!
In the Studio
Check out the “Pirate Boston terrier” in my watercolor gallery. My sister’s Boston Terrier, Maggie, lost her eye in late December in a freak accident. I painted her as a pirate and gifted it to my lil’ sis for her birthday.
I have returned to the realm of digital art. As I continue to gain mastery of Illustrator, I developed a customizable print using my Mimosa motif I created this summer. I saw customized nursery art while surfing the web one night and loved the idea! I am working on a rocket theme customizable print as well. What do you think of them? (Check them out in my shop and in my Salt & Soul market.) I am also excited about Desert Sun– a bold graphic art print available in my Society6 shop on a variety of products.
And although I am spending more time in front of the screen, I still paint regularly. I am currently working on a watercolor image of an opossum surrounded by foliage and sweet flowers. I like to imagine this hanging in a nursery, boy’s or girl’s! I am giving you a sneak peak in this post.
And last- but certainly not least! I have embarked on #The100DaysProject. This project challenges creatives to hone in on one thing for 100 days. Some may take the extreme approach and only draw noses for 100 days. Others may adopt a looser approach and simply commit to sketching every day for 100 days. I have settled in the middle of this continuum and am getting to visually know flowers and plants better. My goal is to expand my mental library of plants so I don’t rely on references quite so much. I have included my sketch of Cosmos, with and without color.
“Best thing since sliced bread!”- or in my case, cold cuts! Why do I overlook the humble cold cut sandwich for dinner? No stove, no oven, no dishes, no worries! And that means more time to make art. And goodness knows I need as much time as I can get this month. The first week has been a whirlwind-
I have experienced so much in the first week of Inktober that I know October 31 will find me much improved. And the promise of growth motivates me to keep going! Many experienced artists advise new Inktober participants to be easy on themselves, plan projects that work within their time constraints, and don’t fret missing a day. Well- that’s not me. To play with Eliot’s immortal words, if I goof up this Inktober, I will “go out with a bang- not a whimper!”
To that end- each and every composition I have created this week relies on a calligraphy brush. Not a marker, or fineliner, or even a nib. I am familiarizing myself with a few calligraphy brushes. I have added color with watercolor and photoshop when I could do so within the 24 hour deadline. But pushing to finish a piece so quickly leaves me feeling as though I could have done better. So, I have decided this month I will accrue a number of inked pieces which I can color later.
Each prompt includes the potential for surprise- and sometimes I need to remind myself of this. In the final days of September I created thumbnail sketches for a few of my favorite prompts. but other prompts caught me unaware and unprepared. Potted plant was one of those- and I surprised myself by creating two inked line drawings! Bird nest was one of my quick idea sketches and I executed it late one evening. The end result was “cute”- not my usual style. I hastily filmed a reel and posted to Pinterest. SURPRISE! Eighteen hours later I had over 2,000 views and a “like” from Ohn Mar Win. OMG! I didn’t see that coming!
So, now a surprise for you. I plan to give away one print from one of my Inktober drawings when Inktober is complete. How to enter? First- subscribe to this blog. Be sure to confirm your subscription. Then, simply respond to this post with a comment about one of my Inktober drawings. I will enter your name in the drawing. The winner will receive an 8×10 print. (If the winner resides outside of the continental United States, I will send a small mini-print instead.)
Enjoy the show! I’m off to stock up on cold cuts and sliced bread!
Moth Trellis- An original pattern design in progress which nods to fall and Halloween.
A spot of black, a darkly shadowed fringe lurking at the edge, an irregular recess in the luminous folds, these are the unsung marks that take a visual image from good to stunning. The hint of the unknown amidst the plainly visible lures in the viewer and burns its image on the retina. Artists refer to this as tonality- and when it is missing, the image feels flat. But when the artist deftly adds the deepest of shadows in the most carefully considered manner, the image comes to life- no matter how fantastical.
One afternoon while dropping inky pools of black into the edges, I considered that life is not much different. Life without shadow would become bland, and dare I venture to assume, under-appreciated. Like pigment on the page, it comes to life through balance. Do not confuse balance with equality. Think back to younger years and the rhythmic exchange of the seesaw. The “teeter totter” did not require two equally weighted children. With a gentle push two mismatched participants could see-saw with abandon. But take one away and gravity wins.
Such heavy lessons to find in the quiet rumination of painterly endeavors. But heavy lessons are valuable even in the comfort of our happiness. How often have I lost my sense of wonderment and gratitude in the flat planes of comfort? Just recently I found myself complaining about the shifting seasons- the dark mornings, the cloud filled sky, the breezes touched with the hint of chill. I wondered what would propel me out of bed in the cold dark mornings of winter and what would inspire my brushstrokes. And as I sought to place the darkest shadows on my page, I realized that art was teaching me to appreciate everything in balance. I need the change of seasons to appreciate the beauty in each one. And I need the failures as much as I need the small victories.
The larger-than-life hookah-smoking caterpillar interrogated the bewildered Alice who had stumbled into the most curious of gardens. Often, in my own wild garden, Iam the inquisitor, peering more deeply into the green foliage curtain to scrutinize an unfamiliar visitor. New faces prompt me to ask, “Who are you?” And even more significantly, “Who will you become?” Recently while picking through the greens in my garden, I was startled by a great hairy presence- the likes of which I had never seen. I ran inside to retrieve a ruler; I wanted to thoroughly document my latest discovery! Fully 3 inches long and as thick as one of my fingers, the little beast was making quick work of a sorrel leaf. A hasty Google search provided a possible identity- but I wasn’t entirely convinced. The best step forward seemed to be detaining the creature- so I placed him (or her?) in a plastic tub with some leaves and a piece of netting. I wanted my family to see this marvelous creature.
The family also performed a Google search and we concurred. This was a Salt Marsh moth caterpillar. Never mind that there are NO salt marshes anywhere near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The moth is attractive, but a little disappointing in the size department. I just assumed a caterpillar this large would produce a moth large enough to charter for trans-Atlantic flights. Nevertheless, I gave the caterpillar a pass.
This is not the first garden guest I have sought to keep and protect. Unlike other Oklahoma gardeners, I look forward to discovering a horn worm amongst my tomatoes. I am not always lucky enough to host one, but when I am, they have a special place in my garden. I have seen them decimate a plant, and so I am prepared to sacrifice a plant each year. These chartreuse anamorphic fellows with their chubby legs transform into hummingbird moths- a creature that has enchanted me since youth.
I love tending to the “humanity” of my garden. The plants bring happiness but I find utter joy in witnessing those plants provide for the creatures who live here. I watch the cardinals alight on the trellises then dive into the green masses in search of bugs. I spy on shy lizards in the undergrowth and the vulnerable tree frogs clinging to leaves. New insects frequently lead to new investigations- who are you? who will you become?
These are the same questions I ponder when I gaze at my children. “Who are you? Who will you become?” I ask myself nearly daily- “Who are you? Who will you become?” and in these turbulent days of pandemic and social awakening the significance of these questions becomes all the more apparent. These are the questions we should all be asking ourselves. The Salt Marsh Caterpillar and the adventurous young Alice have much to teach us.
Mint Watermelon Sorbet makes an attractive and tasty summertime treat. Photo by Renee Griffin
Plant mint once and you will have it forever! I give my mint an enthusiastic thinning several times each season, but it still spreads everywhere. It pops up in the daylilies, forces its way through the creeping juniper, and has even wended its way through the seams in our stacked block retaining wall. Its heavenly aroma makes trimming and pulling a pleasant task. And in the winter months, I miss the mint. Mint has so many uses! Today, I thought I would share my favorites with you, just in case you have a wild patch of your own!
Iced TeaWhy settle for bland iced tea when your taste buds tingle with the addition of mint? Next time you brew some iced tea, add mint sprigs to the hot water with the tea bags. Steep as usual then discard the mint and tea bags. If brewing sun tea, just throw the mint in the water with the tea bags. Add a garnish of young mint leaves to the top of your iced tea when serving for a special touch- Or an Instagram-worthy photo!
Mixed Drinks Summertime is my favorite time for cocktails. I like to sip them on the patio while watching the grass grow or the fireflies blinking. And when the cocktail begins in the garden, it really is a sip of summertime! Muddle your mint for mojitos or create a minted simple syrup by adding the mint leaves. Once your syrup has cooled, remove and strain.
Fruit Salad I like to add a mint frisee to my fruit salad in the summer. Toss fresh fruit with the mint threads and a drizzle of honey. Let it sit on the counter while you put the finishing touches on dinner, this will allow the honey, mint, and fruit to create a syrup.
WaterSurely I didn’t intentionally put “water” on my list? Yes! I did! Water becomes redundant some days. So tickle your taste buds with some tasty additions to your water routine. I like to add a thin slice of lemon, a slice of cucumber, and a few fresh mint leaves to my water. I drop them in before the ice. The addition of ice slightly bruises the fruit and herbs, releasing the yum. It looks very pretty in a glass, but just as often these go into my Nalgene water bottle. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Mint Pesto Everyone knows mint goes well with lamb, but we don’t eat much lamb in Oklahoma. We do eat chicken. Chicken skewers marinated in a mint pesto, cooked on the grill, and then drizzled with more mint pesto is a fantastic and healthy supper. Just thinking about it gets the juices running! For a recipe, try “Chicken Skewers with Mint Sauce” from the book The Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Action Plans by D. Calimeris and S. Bruner.This book is packed with goodness!
Sorbet Mint Watermelon Sorbet has become my husband’s favorite after dinner treat! Nothing says summer like watermelon. And nothing refreshes better than mint. It is only natural that these two should have a love child in frozen form. While looking for a lost recipe, I discovered a Martha Stewart recipe instead and adapted it. I reduced the amount of sugar from 1 1/3cups to 1 cup (we eat way too much of that stuff!). It is easiest to serve the day you make it. The longer it sits in the freezer, the more difficult it is to scoop out of the pan. Honestly, by the end of the batch, I use a large kitchen knife to cut off chunks. If you would like to try the recipe, you can find it here: https://www.marthastewart.com/1142596/watermelon-mint-sorbet.
So, if your mint is unruly, don’t get mad- get eating! Do you use mint from your garden? I would love to hear the ways you incorporate summer’s minty bounty in your life. Leave your tips in the comments.
