Magical Mornings

One of my favorite places is not far from home -- the river that runs through our town and downstream in the direction of another little town.  In that stretch between human sprawl are places that I have stitched in the middle of my heart -- images, smells, sounds, creatures and things all existing in or nestled somehow alongside the water.  In the early morning I love walking along the shore as the rising sun reveals nature's artwork etched in the sand and illuminates the deep, dark and serene spaces along the bluffs.  Ahhhhh.....

Authenticity

Artwork by Stephanie J Funke, CZT

Recently I've committed to simply putting pen to paper and seeing what develops rather than focus on the masterpiece I tell myself I must construct each time I set out to draw.  What a load off.  So, a lot of words aren't necessary with this post as the title seems to best summarize what this artwork is -- just a sampling of me.  And, unlike most times, with this tangle I was so enamored with the result that I didn't add any shading as I loved it just as it is.... yes, there's a powerful message in that.  Breathe.

"Authenticity requires 

vulnerability, transparency & integrity."

                                                                                                                 --Janet Louise Stephenson

His & Hers

June in Iowa usually means anything imaginable is growing, including the main row crops of corn and soy beans along all sorts of blooming plants, weeds, wildflowers, vines and great stuff to eat.  Notice the berries above and herbs below.  As the title of this post implies, my husband loves strawberries and I love herbs, including chives and basil -- I want to eat them with every meal.

Anyway, as you might imagine, in order to have the herbs, I acquired the plants and tended to them...although with chives, I have to strictly monitor their spread as they are extremely invasive.  However with the strawberries it was simply Mother Nature's magic as our plants are the result of composting.  Yep, in years past after removing the stems from berries, we buried them in this planter box on the patio...and voila...a miniature patch of berries.  My husband is delighted -- with the food -- and I'm thrilled NOT to have to buy the plants, pull the weeds and maintain a patch of berries that will mostly provide yummy treats for wildlife in the area.  This patio garden is an all-around winner. 

Stating the Obvious

Photo by Stephanie Funke

Maybe I should open with one question stated three ways:  

1 -- How are these images related?  

2 -- How are they similar?  

3 -- What do they have in common?

Clearly, the snail's pattern is visible in the above begonia leaf.  The circular movement spirals indefinitely and resembles other organisms found in our universe, including a nautilus shell, some spider webs, certain goat horns and the takeoff-line of various colonies of bats.  It's an example of a self-similar object that essentially repeats in the same way while getting smaller and smaller at all scales.

So, why this topic in today's post?  The easy answer is that this pattern is clearly something I am drawn to -- both in nature and in what I create.  As I started to pay more attention to the designs I have sketched recently, I noticed this everywhere in my art.  And, as I acknowledged this, almost instantly this type of begonia popped into my mind.  Sure enough -- as I scanned my photo files that are full of all sorts of plants, I found many of these begonias ( most are terrible photos because I'm not great at capturing the best angle ).  Interestingly,  I also started to get a warm feeling, an energy, when thinking about how excited I feel when I find these growing in a greenhouse, arboretum or wherever.  I always spend time photographing these plants.  .... guess I need to get one for my home collection.

The takeaway is simple -- spend a little time reflecting on what you are naturally drawn to that makes you feel at ease and yet full of light and / or an energy.  Within you the answer already exists.  Hope you will take the time to acknowledge it.

Artwork created by Stephanie Funke, CZT

Centered

If your mind operates like mine, about every millisecond it flies from one thought to the next, sprinting from one hot topic to another.  What's more is that in somewhat normal times this is exhausting but in times like these, with a virus lurking in our midst, it can be simply overwhelming.  Many "experts" suggest focusing on the breath to help center ourselves in the present and surrender to what is.   And yes, that truly helps.  

Anyway, this image resonates with me as it reflects a busy mind; however, if I focus on the center -- that which is clear and present -- the other details dissolve into the background and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Simple & True

      

The title reflects how I feel about creating images with tangles.  First, I always gravitate toward a pattern that I know I can easily replicate -- simplicity.  Second, I love black on white OR white on black.  For me, that's just the way it is.  Although I adore color and so many additional elements of art, my heart is always drawn to black and white -- the truth.  And, better yet, it feels like this art form, known as Zentangle, and I were always looking for each other and were best friends before we even met.  It's simple and true.  Ahhhhh.....