As I mentioned previously, after today’s Freaky Friday offering, Freaky Fridays will be taking the summer off but return in October just in time for Halloween. I intend on keeping Music Mondays and Studio Closeups in their regular rotation throughout the summer because the truth is, it keeps me focused and inspired.

This past week I came across these Art Trading Cards (ACEOs) I did in 2008 and 2009 and it was thrilling to see them again in person. Especially when a lot of my work no longer exists physically. It was like seeing dear old friends! And then I got a hankering for starting up art cards again to sell so I’ve been working on that lately. Eventually you will be able to purchase things (art, art cards, other weirdness) directly here on my site, but while that’s all being hashed out, and at a later date, I will be selling the art cards on eBay (they sell better over there) and offering various sizes of other watercolor pieces from my Etsy store. These are my huge summer plans. That, and taking my small parrot Toby for walks in his spiffy new “made for crazy-assed bird people” backpack. He loves going places and I need to move more so why not! It's pure joy to watch Toby's face light up while he makes his crazy frog sounds of approval when I take him outside. I’m not a huge fan of summer, but having a pet whose natural habitat is the Amazon jungle changes things. I have found myself remembering a lot of things I used to enjoy about summer but forgot, thanks to him.

Another work from the past for today’s Studio Closeup. Real life sometimes gets in the way of making (and finishing) art but that’s just how it goes. I'm finally making my peace with it. This piece was my commentary on how perfect women were expected to be in the 1940s. That large black shape is a tree and its roots. The lady at the bottom is an example of what happens when you're perfect. It is Acrylic and, Collage on Canvas and, unfortunately, a flood casualty. I am so thankful the slides of my art were upstairs and still exist. Seriously. No idea. It’s so interesting to revisit these paintings. Like time traveling.

A tiny announcement, Freaky Fridays here will be taking the summer off. But don’t panic! They’ll start again in October just in time for haunted ghost season. Music Mondays Carolaoke and Studio Closeup Wednesdays will remain in place with an occasional day off here and there as needed. Sometimes you just have to unplug from the matrix. Thank you for stopping by today!

The lyrics for today’s tune say tarot cards to me and you cannot convince me otherwise. You can do a tarot card reading using a regular deck of cards, you just won’t have the Major Arcana cards available to you. But that’s ok! You have the entire deck of the Minor Arcana within a regular deck of cards.

Hearts = Cups
Clubs = Wands
Spades = Swords
Diamonds = Coins, Pentacles

Suzanne Vega also has an awesome tune about tarot cards - “Fool’s Complaint” which is a nod to the first Major Arcana card, The Fool. And then the Queen of Pentacles. The lyrics in that piece are super clever as always when we’re speaking of the amazing Suzanne Vega. I highly recommend it. In the meantime, please enjoy Carolaoke Scratch Track #38, Sting’s “Shape of My Heart” and thank you so much for stopping by today.

New tarot cards for today’s Freaky Friday #16 presentation! In between gesso layering and waiting for drying intervals, I’ve been tinkering with more bird people tarot cards. Although I weirdly enjoy painting white paint, sometimes I need a break. And some color. And music with words. I’ve also been in a drawing mood lately which hasn’t happened for a really long time and took me by surprise. Drawing is a very meditative place for me, and I’ve really been enjoying its return. It’s kind of a feeling you get in your hand to want to draw verses paint. I have no other words to describe it really. I’m just happy it’s back. Thanks for stopping by today!

Upright Meanings:
Spiritual growth
Teacher
Wise counsel
A bridge
Inspiration
Reversed Meanings:
Stubbornness
Detachment
Withdraw
Separation
Unorthodox

Upright Meanings:
Optimism
New people
Adventure
Sense of humor
Movement
Reversed Meanings:
Impatience
Egotism
Bossiness
Disputes
Fickleness

Upright Meanings:
Sensitivity
Emotions
Counseling
The sixth sense
Empathy
Reversed Meanings:
Vanity
Indecision
Moodiness
Gossip
Hysteria

More painting white paint this week which, as I’ve mentioned before, is not Studio Closeup material. But those gesso layers aren’t going to build themselves! Seriously though, it’s been very therapeutic. I’m in a good place right now where I can start drilling diorama holes and deciding what pieces will be next. Today’s Studio Closeup is a slide of a piece I did in the early 2000’s but unfortunately a flood casualty. Rain is in the forecast this week more days in a row than I like seeing, so starting new pieces will be a good PTSD distraction. Along with a run to the storage unit, high on a mountain top four towns over, and bring some more things (finished art pieces) over there for safekeeping. You know, just because.