The coolness of the early morning.............

I had a dentist appointment early this morning...and in the cool of the morning it seemed as if the cow family were there assuring me that all  would be fine...and it will.  I do need a new crown...yes for $1000 you can have a new crown but not on your sweet little head.  i think I will have to make myself a crown ...for courage to pull through this ordeal.  Yikes I better sell a lot of ART in the near future.  The cows were gathered under the bow of a down tree...and relaxing...waiting to just see if the rain was going to return today?  The babies ...the calves are growing up right before my eyes. 

After an hour in the chair...my pearly teeth are now smooth and clean.  I went to the studio and spent some time revisiting my journal from last summer for "Whispers in the Trees" at Dawes Arboretum.  I enjoy going back and reading my little scribbles and notes to the project.  The sketches and watercolors remind me to get started on the Phoenix journal and complete the travel kit for next week.  Leslie came in and we chatted about my dear Branson...I am hopefully planning to have a soiree for him on May 31...a Friday evening drop in to support his process and journey.  I shared a couple of works that are in  process...and shared how we will display them on the big table!  We still have so much to complete but this should a celebration for him.

Two tiny visitors came in for a quick run around....Collin and Landon are so energetic and never seem to slow down ...even when they are eating.  Collin is the oldest and just about as curious as a monkey can be.  So many questions and so many touches...what is this?   What is it used for?  Can I DO THIS?  YES WHEN I come back from Arizona we will all get together for some monkey business.

a morning gathering among friends....

 then this little one was taking a time out....look at that sweet curly face.........

 Collin and Landon are little angels with one ton of energy.....cuter than dirt!!!!

 some of my journal pages from last year...........

 look.......see........compare....contrast..........soft earth browns.......

 a quick sketch .......for my Lupus panel for Whispers in the Trees...........

inspirational photograph patterns and circles.........

 I am not sure where this will show up in the future but I keep returning........to this composition.............

 fern feathers and tree limbs...................

 an example of a different approach to some of my trees..........play time..........

 reminders that no one succeeds alone.........thank you Abby for your loving support.............

 tiny bits and pieces reassembled for my new journal...envelopes for tiny bits of evidence and inspirations............

 my Irises are about to announce their arrival..........hopefully the deer will not think of them as a salad bar while I am gone...........

 my sweet ferns are beginning to unfurl ...these are special to me...I love to see the fiddleheads opening their swirls...........

 the sunlight is fading...and a graceful flirting of the fleeting day's light leaving my hillside..........

lilies of the valley...sweet fragrance as bells tinkling in the evening mist.............simple tiny blossoms that bring grace to my small garden...........








I hope you have had a blessed day in your studio.  Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

time to prepare for my trip out west.............

I started putting together information and my traveling art kit together.  I have spent over an hour in research about the continuing education programs and exhibit hall presenters for the APGA May 2013 conference in Phoenix.  Dressing for this climate is a challenge ...Ken said it was a dry heat of 100 degrees this afternoon.  But the wide deep skies and brilliant colors of the desert will be observed early in the mornings and late at the sunsets.  I am planning on using this time as a retreat...standing still...listening ...becoming a changing agent... creating restorative healing spaces in nature for all ages to enjoy and protect.  The garden tours are spiced in the week's schedules so I hope to be able to soak up the information and visual clues to improve my understanding of these sustainable sites.  The Heard Museum is offering several tours and the Sonora Desert tours appear to offer a couple programs that any artist ...especially one from the mid west would relish.  Learning to look and design for beauty ...healing spaces that offer a place of solace in our very busy chaotic schedules we often set for ourselves.

Cole was working on his color assignments...before getting ready for a birthday party.

 My Mother's Day dinner over at Brios...the specila was my favorite...scallops.

 At Easton we stopped by The Shop OHIO store...and guess who was all out of caramels???  Erin is getting her new space up and ready to open for June first.

 This was a playful beginning of a watercolor for the inside of a sympathy card..........

 Averi brought in her friend and i tried to advise them on a collage project they are working on...

 Two small cards...hopefully tomorrow I will put them in the mail as a visual hug...life gets tough at times.

This week long journey offers something for everyone to see and process.   This means I will be away from my computer...a respite for me...to return to working with my pencils, watercolors, and paper ...a beautiful new sketchbook with numerous colorful envelopes to collect my "evidence".  I plan on taking many photos ...as if you could not have guessed. Have a great week in your studios.  Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Friday ...Saturday....Sunday....

Friday was National Lupus Awareness day...and even when we do not feel good...our hearts will lead us on.  Ken and I spent the day with our grandson Cole at his school...Columbus Academy for Special Visitors Day.   Yes it was a long day filled with youthful adventures  and as you can watch in this short video...we had a glorious  day.  Everyone in school should have exciting days like these...curious...focused...adventuresome..filled with anticipation for JOY!!!!!!  The wonderful staff...great teachers Mr. Connick and team teacher Mrs. Henry you were all given guardianship for our most precious jewels...our grandchild Marshall Cole!Thank you for all you have given and modeled and shared with this little man who is going to change the world!

On Saturday I worked with Branson and we began planning for his Art exhibit ...maybe on May 31,2013!!!  We mounted his assemblage from last week and measured the background for his 16 by 20 work he is considering.  We made plans to add his large Mastiff design onto a collage background ...I met his bid dogs Brutus and the young female...I cannot remember her name at this moment but she is a beauty.  I would not enter their backyard without permission.  Branson and I worked on Miro's approach to fantasy working with watercolors and drops of gold ink...that he created Funny Bugs to share.   I then went to make a few selections for my trip out West for the upcoming conference at the end of May.  I picked up a few items at the grocery and then came home for chicken and noodles.  I watcher Turner Classic movies in bed..."How Green Was My Valley" which was one of my mother's favorites when she was alive.  Just seeing this movie of courage about a poor community of coal miners in Wales ...well I had my mother right beside me all the while the movie was on.  Happy Mother's Day Mom...I love you dearly forever.

On Sunday Ken made me breakfast in bed...as I watch CBS Sunday morning...my Sunday morning ritual.  Then we got a few Mother's Day cards ready, a phone call from my baby brother in Philadelphia to wish me a happy day and then a road trip over to Columbus.  We stopped by Erin's to see her and deliver some DVDs for her and the teachers to thank them for their loving dedication.  Then we went to a favorite restaurant  Brios at Easton Town Center...yes we knew we would have a bit of the wait but it was well worth it .  We could not even remember when we last had dinner here so it was a real treat.  Now I am home relaxing...doing some laundry ...and watching the PBS series "Call the Midwife" .  Chapter 7 and there is so much to recognize as a special need for good prenatal care. 

I hope you enjoy the video....tomorrow I will be back on schedule with my posts.  Happy Mother's Day to you all....Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

  After our meatball subs ...Branson began his work inspired by Miro using watercolors, gold inks...and his wonderful imagination!

 We mounted his assemblage from puzzle pieces inspired by Marvel Heroes!

 I need to get a better photo because this is a great piece...............

 I am really enjoying this wonderful young man...........

 Here is his Miro's inspiration ...Fantasy Bugs created by his splash of colors........

 Here is Brutus and Mimi.........

 see what I mean.........

















Tiffany brought our her babies...............she has a great hand with them.

T

 The Columbus Museum of Art's Rothko exhibit.... until May 26TH...emotions through colors............

 We will have to come back for the puppet exhibit.........

 Cole was so impressed in this quite large painting.............

 Oprah never looked ....well so Oprah......

 a photograph of Mark Rothko in his youth..............

 the Dale Chilhuly installation caught Cole eye...........

 beautiful glass works............great questions...........

 Cole recognized this painting ...as the one on the book cover of Rothko's works...........











the Rothko exhibit was quite busy today.............I have so much to learn from just being here......





















 can you examine and identify any of these American art greats...somehow I lost this photo..............

downstairs in the children's area............

 a child of wonder.............

 Aminah Robinson's lady............

 now to build a mobile like Calder's

 WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 experiment with rubber bands and wooden rods.............

 the BIG head ...........

 color color color everywhere................

 a book to consider.............................

 the images of bits and pieces ...the magic of scraps of colors............

 forts to build and explore..........

 Inuit sculptures

 smooth stone walrus............

 imaginary sculpted animals..............

 spaces to crawl through and explore...........

 large metal magnetic sculptures to build............

 Cole tries his hands on art play.......................

 I think he has got the touch......................

Grandpa made this one!!!!!!!!!!!!

 more mobiles...........

 more spaces to explore............

 good words for us all...............

 he is listening intently...........

 life is a scavenger hunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 an 18 month old young artist..............

 patterned spinning tops to play with............

 duct tape masterpieces............

 this says it all...........

 imagine the possibilities..........

 fun with almost nothing.........

 a possible tree...........

 colored blocks........

 the same paper

 sculpture.........

 from three perspectives...............

 awesome jewelry..........

murals to tell a communities stories

 the theater.............

the markets.........

 some of the apartments.......

 the schools.......

 the one hotel............

 I love this mask from Cole ...

 and his designs are intriguing........where shall we go from here?  Cole let us talk!  Have a great week in your studios!  Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart