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Autumn

I love Autumn! The tulip tree outside my window has been kissed, already, by the cool evening wind; and is now showing lovely lovely blushed reds in the higher branches. The cicadas and crickets are singing their farewell serenade and the squirrels are busy everywhere gathering the tree nuts in the back yard. I am craving so deeply to take a pilgrimage out to the old growth forest- the only one that remains in my part of the state. It has been over a year now and I have dearly missed it.
That will have to be planned out, but for today I am focusing on balance. Balance is not something you do once. Life is organic, as with all its facets, and changes constantly. Even walking the well worn path requires constant effort to balance as we stride forward. On the equinoxes I like to reflect on balance on the whole spectrum- mind body spirit.
First I like to look at what needs serious maintenance because I have procrastinated to the point of creating anxiety. I do this first because it is its own way of procrastinating what I really don’t like doing and that is the destroying aspect. It is always the part of balancing that requires a great deal of work and pain. However somethings must come to end for balance to be ensured, and for other things to make way for healthier new things that are to be created. The last is easiest and that is the creating new things to aid balance. That isn’t to say that maintaining a discipline to those things is as easy as starting them. LOL
It, to me, is perfectly illustrated in Shiva’s Dance of the Nataraja. These three laws keep the universe growing and balanced. I made a strong start on the day and have finished a lot on my to do list. There are only about six weeks left till the spiritual new year for me. So a lot of working to do to prepare for the exciting new year ahead, and the beloved season of introspection and stillness that is coming.
Fire, fire, fire, where is the fire I used to have? It is not age or health that has stolen this from me, but a strange and deep lingering shadow. It is this mysterious and unknown phenomenon I have been encoutering so stronly since this time last year. It calls me and I resist, and the fire dims. I seek it, it resists, and the fire dims. Stone will alone summons the steps forward. Dreams and the fold of waking hold glimpses into the mysteries sweet presence. The great WHY eludes me, and I have the audacity to try to rationalize this watery realm- why do I fight so hard to avoid the feelings that are here. Why do I demand a justifying rationalization of their existance to even acknowledge them?
Dearly, do I need this season of introspection, of death, of suspended potential. I plant my seeds, my dreams, my goals. The earth is warm, her womb embraces life, she knows the right season. Time to meditate in all things, time to return to inward stillness. Time for me to surrender- but can I give up the idealism? I suppose I will have to follow the example of the lovely tulip tree. Sooner or later she will have to drop her leaves, brace and bare her raw form in the face of winter winds. She will wake and dream and draw deep into her core, into her roots and wait in working silence in working stillness for the thrust of spring.

(note to self: Do not start entries while starting dinner- the smoke detector isn’t going to save the food.)

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Palaeography and Ancient Manuscripts

Above clipped image compliments of the work and resources of:
Trinity College, Cambridge, and to Scriptorium: Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts Online

Eccentric  probably only scrapes the surface of the areas I am researching now. Lost ancient arts that met their death with the birth of Gutneberg and later his printing press. However there are many of us in love with these arts, and few of us that have the patience and passion to pursue them. And even for those of us who want to pursue them- few to study under, fewer still the artisans and skillsman upon which our arts are dependant.
Almost ten years ago, eek gods am I already another decade old, yes about a decade ago I was researching and studying the medieval arts. I am especially fond of the fold of the medieval and renaissance periods.  At that time it was so daunting. The internet then offered far far less than what it does now in archives of manuscripts- illuminated or not. Further libraries were often limited in what they stored on these subjects. Mind you visiting Trinity College, or Cambridge would indeed have helped out greatly- that was not something that could be budgeted.
Today I found this wonderful website Scriptorium Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts online. It is full of wonderful wonderful archives and resources on Palaeography, which is one area I am currently researching.
The explosion in what I can find and access in archives online now is ASTOUNDING! I can download PDF documents of books that are never loaned out. I can resource amazingly high detailed images to study. This is a huge step up from the limits of a book and magnifying lense. To me it is also proof that passion will pave its way on your intent. Here we are a decade later and so much is readily at my fingertips. Due much in part to the internet- yes; but also in part to the passions of others and their arts.
I think I often fail to appreciate enough Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web. What an amazing revolution in information and communication. It has truly allowed so many of us to find information we would not otherwise have. Especially in bridging gaps of both distance and monetary resource in acquiring so many resources.
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Ciarólca (Evil Beetle)

Literary Sketch
She is known well, unforgiving and hungry, ever lusting to devour the joy of the soul. She lays traps for young children, and is especially fond of fairy children. She leaves her shiny possessions out in the wild. Parents warn their children to never take anything that does not belong to them, for if they do Ciarólca will come for them, take them and devour the joy from their soul till they are no more.
She knows the laws, for if she breaks them the knows the price. She can only exact her vile acts on those who have wronged her, by stealing from her. All that matters to her is that she can devour their souls joy and gain back the appearance of youth. Her appetite comes at a heavy price, for with each soul’s joy she devours she gains more mass upon her back. Eventually her desperate appetite will crush her.
I am so eager to take this and develop it further. She is a very challenging character, as the archetype is also challenging, layered, and multifaceted. I knew I wanted to develop a character of an old woman based off the case bearing beetle. I knew I wanted her to represent all the foul baggage that some people carry around…….. bitterness, resent, belief in separateness and so on.
There are good aspects to such a character like the hermit scholar, bio-harmonious living, defiant independence and so on. Two visual and archetype characters that came to mind as it so happens are Froud’s Aughra and . Baba Yaga, and the old woman witch form from snow white being the seed starters for the concept.
So first I researched case bearer beetles that carry a pack around on their back. Quite fittingly I discovered that case bearing beetles do literally carry their crap around on their back, the mother beetle starting the process.
Then I started sketching out ideas for a face that was strong and looked like it carried the wearing and holding of hardship on it.
Interestingly enough, the character sketch is one thing, but the literary sketch does not even stand a chance till the drawing starts coming alive. Her name comes from two Gaelic words ciaróg (beetle) and olc (evil).
Posted in Art Work In Progress, Mythical Creatures and Beings

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A Reaping Tide

A Reaping Tide

I did not curse the moments that lie twisted, misconstrued, and torn
I did not beat wearilessly all truth nor don lie upon lie and egos adorn
I did not scrape bare my soul to void the worth of every word
I did not in the face of ration spit wildly into wind the absurd
I did not buy with shallow deed to appease and to rape
I did not run into denials arms for some motherly escape
I did not cast treasure to soil beneath piling waste and rot
I did not turn coldly leaving love at deaths door caring not
I did not abandon to fantasies true warmth for empty lust
I did not let what was noble despair and fade to but dust
So let the wrenching of time come, come and cast aside
with the force of a reaping, with all the force of a reaping tide.
© Brenda D. Baker

My poetry is published only here.I ask that if you choose to share my poetry on the internet you always link back to this page, and only do so for personal use.

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Lion, Centaur, Eagle…….. what to name him?

I am still working on a conglomeration of character concepts. Some completed to full drawings, some painted, but mostly a large pool of concepts at various stages of development. First it is near impossible for me to stop and move on when I really want to keep developing an idea. Second it is intimidating to start the process of creating another new,never seen before creature, again.

This one was inspired by a guardian spirit concept. So I chose two creatures that have also symbolized and embodied a guardian spirit to me and merged them with human form.

I tried some early sketches where I made the front legs talons- but it did not convey the strength and ferocity I was looking for. In fact it gave the figure a kind of chicken look. So I decided to simply alter the lion paws to be morphed with talons, morphed the human face with a lions, and used eagle wings but on the back of the human part of the figure. The slight angel like connection there to help convey further the idea of protector.

When I get to develop it further I will really focus on the abdominal muscles, and some of the contrapposto that connects the figures as well as pondering over the scale of the forms more. In the mean time I am having a very very difficult time figuring out what to name some of these creatures. Suggestions of all sorts accepted. Just drop me a line or leave a comment, I would really really love the help!

Posted in Art Work In Progress, Mythical Creatures and Beings

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White Oak Study

This lovely little twig dropped out of the tree after a stormy night. It was perfect and I decided to paint it- when I had the time. I set it on the microwave to be painted where it sat a couple of days. Then it got thrown away, and I rescued it from the trash, it lost a leaf and only had three left. But no, I spent a tad bit of time trying to glue the leaf back on- while ignoring the minor damage to the coloring from the coffee grounds. Then the acorn fell out it’s hat. Sigh

So I glued it back in. Being such a busy week I wanted to photograph it and work from the photograph. But no, the camera battery was dead. Got a new battery to find out the camera is dead. So I used my cell phone- does not work well for close ups.

Gods, what choice did I have but to sketch it out right away by hand. I painted it yesterday, and polished it out with details today. The specimen is now about fully dry and brown, so I may paint it again all shriveled and darkened.

The moral of the story- Don’t procrastinate! LOL Ultimately though, it was demonstration of will.

As always I feel partially like it is still not finished. However, I know not to risk venturing over into overdone. The final painting is about 6 X 7 ” .

Posted in Art Work Completed, Nature

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