A HUGE BENCHMARK, STUPENDOUS, MIRACULOUS, AWESOME, LIFE CHANGING BENCHMARK!

98,231 IS TODAYS TOTAL SO FAR!

Wow! Wow! Wow! We are about to reach the biggest benchmark of Rabbit's Moon Studio's two year History! With in a few days we will reach 100,000 and then my loyal readers and accidental readers we will CELEBRATE! 

The Rabbit's Moon Studio story for those who joined us along the way and not at the beginning.  In August 2007 I was vacationing in San Miguel Allende, Mexico with friends.  The wonderful old villa we rented for five with outside living room and open windows with no mosquito nets.  Unbeknown to us, the beautiful fountain in the middle of the complex had sat stagnate until the night before we arrived. 

Mosquito's  had bred for months and months in the compound.  The evenings we sat out and the nights as we slept we were bit repeatedly by mosquito's.  We all became ill, but two of us with immune deficiencies were very ill and hospitalized.  We had dengue fever.  
For the next year we were in and out of hospitals and confined to be with bone breaking fever and debilitating fatigue.  

So on the days and days I lay in bed I began to think what could I do with my time.  I retired fully  from teaching in 2008 never returning to the classroom, but missing art a great deal. 
 Then I found out I had Hepatitis C due to the dengue fever.  My immune system was so compromised that a virus I had carried since 1985 when I was exposed to the virus during an operation before blood was tested.  Now I was in a fight for my life and more bed ridden that ever.  

Me on the left,  My friend Peruvian Monica and her husband Brian

My young friend Monica, from Peru, had an idea about doing a blog, and I thought why can't I do that as well.  It will be about my art, supporting other artists, and being an art advocate, and helping others see through the eyes of an artist the process of creating art.  

So Rabbit's Moon Studio was born.  Now two years later, I am still writing and still sharing rarely missing more than a day or two.  I had no idea I would be so committed to doing this with such attentiveness.  But now a little more that two years later here we are facing a new benchmark of 100,000 visits from people worldwide...from Nepal to the Philippines to Bali to Australia, to England to Russia to China to Bangladesh, to Africa and around the world we go for the love of art and the good it can bring in this world, for you and in your community.  

I thank you loyal readers!!!  You have made this successful by your committed readership.  I honor you, for two years ago I sat ill in my bedroom in my bed ill and started typing to the world.  Now I am healthy, doing art, traveling and meeting other artists who I have made friends with through this blog.  I thank you all for the bottom of my heart.  I am trying to think of a way to honor you back and share something special with you. 

Mary May( my niece, really cousin, but I claim her as my niece, my closest cousin friend's daughter), Olivia Murray(adopted niece) Sally Murray(best buddy who contracted Dengue also and was hospitalized) and June Berkey(long time friend who I depend on for sage advice)

 ps.  an addendum...you may ask why Rabbit's Moon as a name.  That to is more than it appears.  I do not own rabbits nor did I chose the name because it sounds Indian or from a Japanese tale.  It too began as an accident during a difficult time. It is an act of positive affirmation when I was working for a horrible principal who was abusive to her staff, and put on an open stage in a cafeteria with no curtains or wall to three lunches of severely emotionally disturbed teenagers who jumped on stage to fight with my class, taunted them and me, threw food on stage and more.  One 19 year old disturbed young man who had a history of hitting teachers threatened me and I stared at his cocked fist for thirty minutes while I talked him down and talked the class into getting him to calm down.  The principal wanted to punish me and not the disturbed young man, that is how disturbed she was.  So what did I do, I counted Rabbits in the middle of an interstate where their seemed to be no sustainable living situation...little brown marsh rabbits.  One day I saw one, and then two ....I finally got up to five.  I decided in my mind they brought me good luck and not matter how bad my day might be, I could consciously trick my mind...like on a Friday and I knew the weekend was coming, no amount of bad stuff was going to bother me.  Counting Rabbits got me through a horrible horrible year.  So I learned the basis of positive thinking 

The Blog that built Dreams Come True
Martin Stynes, British Abstract Landscape Artist that read my blog, became
friends with Kathie O'leary(red head in the back and fellow art teacher)..and then we
all started to talk and share weekly.  So now here is Martin, blog friend, and his wife
Barbara(printed dress) here in Florida like a miracle realized due to Rabbit's Moon
studio blog!  Amazing!

that year.  So that is the whole story readers.  Now I continue to place my trust in you to love art, share art, build art in your community and to use art to educate and elevate!  Art saves lives, I know I taught 37 years and saw the magic in action.  I have been an artist all my life, all 66 years save the first two...but at two I started drawing and never stopped nor lost the passion or the urge to do art.  Art is my life, art is me, and I am art.  

Looking at Light with a Playful Spirit and a Spanish Accent

Both of these sets of photo's were taken at the Columbia Restaurant on the same afternoon.  It is the oldest Spanish restaurant in the United States and the Largest.  The Columbia seats over 1,700 people with many different dinning rooms.  Much of the decor was shipped to Ybor City in Tampa in 1905 when the Columbia was built.  I have been going there since I was 7 years old.  It is one of my favorite places in the world with many birthdays, graduations and life events in my life that took place there.  This wonderful place has always been like walking into another country, it transported me like a time machine into another era and culture.  It seeded a love of travel and the love of other cultures in me that would last a lifetime.  When I am away from home I do not miss hamburgers or pizza, no I miss cafe con leche, flan, Spanish bean soup(click for recipe), cuban bread, and caldo gallego. When I walk through the doors of the Columbia now, I am home...I breathe deeply and relax, I listen to the staccato of Spanish swirling about the room, sip my cafe con leche, butter a hot piece of cuban bread and melt as surely as the butter does on the warm fresh baked bread!

I thought you would enjoy seeing my experimenting with my camera and light.  I am not a photographer, I am an artist who uses a camera for a journal, for studies, for future art, for play.  The front hallway natural light appeals to me most...it is richer, a bit ghostly speaking of times gone by.  You might prefer the flash.  The bottom two photo's are in the day room.  That is where my Mother took my brother and me to eat Cuban Sandwiches and Spanish bean soup when she was material shopping for Spanish cloth.  I am not completely happy with either photo, though neither is bad.  I think I would like a little more contrast of dark and light.  What do you think, what would you choose. Take out your camera and whether it is a point and shoot or a fancy camera try to approach it with a new view...to play, just to see what you can get...what effects you might see.  Don't think serious photographer and be intimidated just play have a good time and see what happens.  Enjoy!

 Flash                                                                                              Natural light

Flash

Natural Light

A STUDY IN CLOUDS AT SUNSET, IN FLORIDA, IN SEPTEMBER, ON THE GULF OF MEXICO

I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH CLOUDS ALL MY LIFE SINCE MY MOTHER SAID, " WHAT CAN YOU SEE BETSY?" THAT WAS THE ARTIST MOTHER, AND THE SCIENTIST MOTHER SAID," LETS LEARN THEIR NAMES BETSY AND WHAT KIND OF CLOUDS THEY ARE."  AND THEN IT HAPPENED THE ARTIST SCIENTIST WAS BORN AND FOREVER WAS IN LOVE WITH CLOUDS!

DO YOU REMEMBER THE JONI MITCHELL SONG, 

BOTH SIDES NOW

I'VE LOOKED AT CLOUDS FROM BOTH SIDES NOW, FROM UP AND DOWN, AND STILL SOMEHOW IT'S CLOUDS ILLUSIONS I RECALL.  I REALLY DON'T KNOW CLOUDS AT ALL. IT SEEMS TO FIT SO WELL HERE.  

RIGHT SIDE UP 

UPSIDE DOWN

SIDEWAYS AND DOWN

This Day 9/11 through the eyes of children

from google image for educational purposes

On this day 12 years ago I stood in my art room with a classroom of 30 fifth graders and their teacher when a call came across the intercom " Teachers go immediately to your computers and read you messages!"  The classroom teacher, Janell, was expecting twins and showing a good bit.  We read the words on my computer...a plane has hit the trade towers in NYC and Washington D.C. is under attack.  The information came in bits and dribbles, but we were immediately to secure our classrooms and keep the children calm.  Parents begin to call by the hundreds and to storm the school demanding their children.  

from google for education only

The school was reluctant to release the children because no one knew if it was safe to do so.  Finally the buses were called and the children were sent home.  We stayed until every child was picked up safely.  We now knew our country was under attack.  At that time no one knew how involved the attack was and who was responsible or if the attacks would continue.  In the following weeks thousands of young children sat in front of tv's watching images they did not understand.  Their parents leaving the tv's on in shock, but not understanding how these images would effect their children.  And effect young children it did.  There was no ignoring panicked frightened young children full of questions and fear. The best therapy I knew was to let them draw and to listen.  Here are some of the images children across the country recorded during those times.

from google for educational purposes only

OUR FEARS SHOULD NOT RULE OUR ART

Every Artist was first an amateur.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Self Doubt by Nathan Florence

This quote seems so obvious and simple, but it truly is not.  When one is contemplating showing ones work and taking the first steps to share ones inner most feeling and self expression with the world the doubts can be so great they can be crippling for some.  Being an arts teacher nurtured the seeds of creativity in young people.  It is like seeing a spark in a fire, fanning the spark and tending it until the fire lights.  But humans are not so simple, they are full of doubt, insecurity and indecision.  Our inner critic will sabotage our every effort.  The list of things we can say to our selves is endless and the methods we can enlist to rationalize why we cannot succeed is also non ending. We are even adept at allowing ourselves to succeed to a certain point and then find a way to fail so we can bow to our inner critic and say"you were right I was no good all along, I was found out!".  All artist think they are unique to themselves, that all of this doubt, criticism and self sabotage is our struggle alone, but unfortunately we are not that special, it is common across the board with all arts.  The singer Barbara Streisand is paralyzed with fear to the point she cannot perform and yet she is one of our most talented singers ever.  The writer who looks at a blank page and cannot write after many best sellers.  The actor who freezes and can't remember their lines.  Taking the next step and the next step that brings us success is like walking a tightrope with every move a balance.  Reading Juliette Cameron's "The Artist Way" or the War of Art are good choices that offer understanding in how to fight this inner critic and our self doubt.  I have to thank one of our favorite artists at Rabbit Moon Studio, Nathan Mark Phillips for his recommendation of the War of Art.  It is a gem of a book, a small diamond of truth facing and as Mark says "a kick in the butt".

from google image for education only

 It makes us face up to our rationalizations and self sabotage for what they are and ask us to quit indulging in such self pity and wallowing in our own self flagellation.  But to get to the business of work and getting the work done.  And the process is not easy, in a way, it is like inner therapy and coming to terms with oneself.  But each step taken and with hard work and courage, then the success is enormous.  I have watched Mark go through this and it is amazing and it works, for he has evolved like the small spark of fire, that has been nurtured and fanned to a full fire, but Mark was the nurturer, he faced his inner demons and slew them.  And now he is his own hero and we can be our own as well, but we must do the work-go into the studio everyday and do something until we do the work we have always wanted.  If you are guilty of self doubt, and I do not know any artist that is not, and if you sabotage yourself from succeeding then look up these two books, seek out a mentor, and start the process of facing your own fears and inner critic until the inner voices subside and the work becomes your voice.  I wish you good creating my friends, I truly do.  For I too face these doubts, self sabotage and inner critics.

Studies in Color and Sepia

I love the beach when the light is waining and the sun is setting.  I love it especially at its last glimpse before there is no light left, only a soft glow.  Often the wind picks up just before sunset, it is a real phenomena.  I thought you would enjoy looking at these studies of color 
and of sepia tones.  

One of the Most Famous Art Parties Ever!

FAMOUS ART PARTIES

The Dinner Party  by Judy Chicago                                           from google image for education only

Our Artist Party for Martin Stynes(Rabbit's Moon Studio with Nathan Mark Phillips, and Lyman Zobel) made me think about famous art parties.  Renoir's Boat Party certainly was one very famous party.  But one that was very historic in many ways was Judy Chicago's Dinner Party.  The Dinner Party was a defining installation for women's issues. 

 It is a huge project that is different place settings that form a triangle, all of which are symbolic.  I will give you a link for an exact description of the piece.  I had the pleasure of meeting Judy Chicago in person at a book signing in Tampa.  Due to being at the right place at the right time, it was just me and my partner Ann sitting and talking to Judy for quite awhile before the crowds came.

  It was a magic moment.  She was not pretentious, but down to Earth, real and committed to her art and women's rights seen through a historical context. Another caveat is that as famous as this piece of art is, it is so large it takes special storage which Judy was trying to raise money to cover!   It will be forever one of my favorite moments in life, that interaction.  So below lets explore Judy Chicago's Dinner Party.

HANDS ACROSS THE OCEAN IN ART

ALONG CAME MARTIN

(STYNES THAT IS)

AND BARBARA NOT FAR BEHIND, LEAVING ENGLAND BEHIND THEY FLEW ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO SEARCH OUT NEW WORLDS AS THE BRITISH ARE FOND OF DOING.  

Artists have away of connecting quite unlike any other group.  The arts are a universal language, after all, that all can understand.  So art connected Martin with other artists as our common bond from one land to another.  Through Facebook and the internet we became friends and our circle grew through the years.  The love of art is a strong connector.  After sharing and talking about art for a couple of years and the awe we had in Martins paintings we planned an meeting.  Could he come to America?  What seemed like a dream came true when Martin and his wife Barbara arrived on the sunny shores of Tampa Bay.  And what a delight it has been.  The sweetest and kindest of people they have reached out to the art community with great interest and generosity. Last evening we had a wonderful art party!

Leslie Neuman, Michelle Tuegel, Betsy Gordon, David Bewley, Pete Sheppard, Bob Teugel, Martin Stynes, Barbara Stynes, Lyman Zobel, and Rose Marie Prins delight in sharing ideas about art.

Wild Girls of the Arts!!!

Nathan Mark Phillips and Lyman Zobel helped us host our British friends in their house with 15 other area artists.  It was a charmed evening where creativity flowed as generously as the wine, and art and conversation was woven like fine sparking thread into a beautiful weaving. Everyone was sharing what they had been up to and David told us he had sold one of his major pieces. Kathie O'Leary talked about taking Martin to the beach and visiting more galleries and museums.  Michelle told us how her new gallery in downtown St. Pete is going and art sales from the view of the gallery owner.  Martin talked about the difference of the British art scene to that of America. Joyce Ely Walker talked about artist residencies she had done.  Rose Marie Prins talked about her new Best of Show Award and one woman show.  Mark showed his new e-book of Southern Gothic digital collages, and everyone was in awe of his work.  Ann shared her Found Object Collage Arrows and Michelle thought they might be perfect for her gallery Christmas show.  Betsy Lester talked about her classes and teaching art and encouraged Betsy Gordon to join her classes at the Morean Art Center.  Lyman talked about yoga and his master class studies.  Leslie Neuman talked about her wonderful home and studio in Aripeka and her paintings.  Everyone brought pot luck Southern food to share with our British friends.  There was so much food that Mark and Lyman can eat for a long long time.  Pulled pork BBQ, grilled chicken, baked beans, black eyed peas, Corn bread, salads, fried okra, dips, pies galore(pumpkin, key lime, banana cream and more).  I think we will ask all the artists to share their recipes with you from this evening as well! 

Martin in deep conversation with Bob and David

Lyman and Rose Marie Prins show the delight sharing art can bring

Me and B'Easy the dog, David, Pete and Tom.

Kathie O'Leary sneaking away from Lyman and Rose Marie

AND THIS LITTLE FELLOW SAYS IT ALL, " WELL WHAT DID YOU EXPECT EXCEPT AN EVENING OF MIRACLES?!" 
AND THE LAST THING SAID BY ALL IS WHEN IS THE NEXT ART PARTY!?

THE ART PARTY

Do you remember the Boat Party by Renior?  It made me think of the art part we are having tomorrow with some wonderful area artist and one of Rabbit's Moon favorite British artists, Martin Stynes.   Martin is a wonderful abstract landscape artist from Manchester, England.  He and his wife Barbara are delightful people, who bring a love of art and nature with them. Tonight their will be Rocky Bridges, Leslie Neuman, Joyce Ely Walker, David Bewley, Elizabeth Suggs, James Michael, Michele Teugle, Mark Philips, Lyman Zobel Betsy Lester, Rose Marie Prins, Kathie O'leary and many more.  It will be a wonderful group of artists, art lovers, and friends talking about creativity and sharing their common love of the arts.  I can not think of any thing more exciting and special than that.  Can you think of a venue in your area to bring artists together, then do so.  There is so much strength and energy when creative people get together and so much can happen and be generated from that communing of ideas.  So invited people, put out the food and wine, have them bring a dish and share, then open the evening to sharing and talking about art!!!
What could be better??!!!  Nothing!!!
Pictures and posts will follow about the gathering for you to share.
                                                                              

The Boat Party by Renior                             from google for Educational uses only

A QUOTE TO PONDER

EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE IS REAL.
PABLO PICASSO

ART IS A CALLING ONE MUST ANSWER

AN ARTIST MUST ANSWER THE INNER CALL!

Mask making in art class/the inner urge to create

From the youngest time I can remember I have wanted to draw to do art.  At two I was doing one hour scribbles my Mother said. She was amazed at my attentiveness so young, however she did not appreciate the drawing I did on her walls. It was my first unappreciated installation!! An inner call constantly urging to me, nagging me, whispering to my deep in the recesses of my mind and being...do art, do art, do art now.  Now at 66 the whispers are as a loud as ever.  I think all true artist have this, and it cannot be denied.  Why and what scientific principle lies behind this I think is yet to be understood.  I always think of it as a higher calling.  I know the longer I deny it, the more guilty I feel.  I think all artist have this, I saw it in the children I taught all of the 37 years of my career.  Often classroom teachers did not understand, and did not value art.  They punished children and berated them for drawing on their class papers or homework.  They didn't understand the children did not have a choice, it was an inner teacher urging them to practice to begin their life in art.
Einstein understood this as a creative being and scientist, in the following quote by Einstein we see clearly his view of the creative urge in artists.

"True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist."  Albert Einstein

THE BRITISH ARE COMING! GET YOUR BRUSHES OUT!

MARTIN STYNES

British Abstract Landscape artist Martin Stynes is on his way for a visit to the United States.  He will visit galleries and museums in Florida and North Carolina. Martin will be sharing his ideas with artists in the Tampa Bay area and Asheville, North Carolina. Martin is already a member of the Morean Art Center and participates in their exhibits.  He is looking forward to networking with a variety of artists in this area and well as to experience the 
rich culture of the South and Mountain Highlands.  Rabbits Moon Studio will host Martin and his wife for part of their American stay.  

Martin Stynes   British Abstract Landscape Artist

We will be sharing our experience with Martin on his USA journey and with you.  It should be an exciting and creative trip.  Get ready for frequent articles and updates regarding Martins visit.  One of our first joint artist events will be an art party in Martins honor hosted by Mark Philipps, Lyman Zobell, and the studio's of Rabbit Moon.  There will be a variety of well known Tampa Bay area artists attending, networking and sharing.   There will be an array of Southern Food to introduce Martin to the culinary experience of the American South.  Art across the Ocean, what an exciting time!

HONORING LABOR DAY THROUGH ART

ROSE THE RIVETER 

AN ICONIC IMAGE

                                                                                              from google image solely for educational purposes

Rosie the Riveter is an iconic image from World War II when women had to take over factory jobs that were traditionally filled by men, but with the guys off to war it was up to the women to fight the war effort at home.  And fill the jobs they did, they excelled and in the process women were liberated in a way they never had been before.  Women entered the labor force and never retreated again.  The image has been used a thousand ways for many reasons, because it is such a strong visual image!

Geraldine Hoff, 17 years old
the image that became Rosie

"Today is Labor Day in the United States, a day we honor the worker, the builder, the server, the fabric of our society.  So this image is a strong good image to honor this day.  But lets look at the history of this image and the artist. In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company's  War Production Coordinating Committee to cease a series of posters for the war effort.  One of the posters became the famous " We Can Do it?"-an image that in later years would be called Rosie the Riveter. , though it was never given this title during the war. Miller is thought to have based his art work from a photograph of Geraldine Hoff who was 17 and briefly working as a  metal stamping machine operator. The intent of the poster was to boost morale. " Wikipedia

Other iconic images of Labor.
Who took this photo?  I do not know.  If you do send it in on comment or to my e-mail Rabbits5@aol.com.  

                                                                                                              from google