Sunday, December 30, 2007

Sunday Afternoon Images

















It was suggested that I take some pictures on my walk or hike today, or where ever I went. So, I did. The one picture with all of the blue is a coven of crow or raven. There were about 20 or so that were flying in a pattern over the neighborhood today. The other birds are local doves. Then of course there is Nikita, and a little bit of back yard grass and rock.



The Simplicity of Zen................

Here are pictures of the corner of our patio. The three white rocks have been gathered from our backyard. I love how bright and beautiful they are. The extremely complex, yet seemingly simple - Julia Campbell would call them "found objects." This picture does not do them justice as they actually glisten. I have found many agates, pieces of obsidian and quartz in the backyard.
Treasures from the Creator. Slow cooling, solid, even semi-precious - volcanic in nature. The more lustre they exhibit, the more slowly they cooled from the original pyroclastic blast.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas from our hearth to yours........

Merry Christmas everybody!
Have a wonderful, joyfilled day.
We're joining our friends Andrea &
Don for a festive meal this afternoon!
Thank you Creator for this time of
plenty, friendship and love.
Also, We've determined that
"Ms. Hawk," is actually
"Ms. Prairie Falcon!"
Peace.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Full Moon Rising

It's the end of the day and the Christmas lights are on both in the front and backyards, and the moon is lighting up the sky, the fields and dirt roads of New Mexico. It's just past the winter solstice, but tonight and the tomorrow night are a Druid & Finnish Shaman's dream. Absolutely beautiful.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Today's Mountain View...............

While walking late this afternoon, this was our view. It was beautiful, cold and clear. About 30 degrees, except when you add in the wind chill factor, then it's a little cooler. Brrrrrrr.
On our earlier walk today we saw, as Linda J. calls him, "Mr. Coyote." He was crossing the road from one field to another, no doubt looking for lunch. Afterall, it was just about 12:00 noon.
Just after that, while I was sitting on the computer in the studio, Ms. Hawk came flying overhead and it looked just like she was looking in my window! She's awesome.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Winter Witches of Years Passed


We are to have snow by nightfall, so goes our forecast. We hope we do. In light of the prediction, I thought it appropriate to uncover & unveil a couple of "Winter Witches" from times past. I hope that these little creatures inspire your curiosity and add a pinch of mysticism and magic into your day.


These two are painted with ink, watercolor and metallics onto rice paper - which acts very much like fabric. It soaks up the medium and feels like cloth.


Dan is in bed with the flu - the first of the season - and has been running a temp pretty consistently since Monday. We're hoping that this passes soon. Nikita seems to have a cold as well. We were expecting company from out of state for the holiday weekend, but had to reschedule due to his illness. So, stay well, drink lots of fluids, exercise to release tension and think plenty of positive and kind thoughts! My hope for you is to enjoy the holiday magic, quietly, peacefully and with deep gratitude. Peace, Love & Miracles.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Last of Totem Animal Painting Phases........ painting complete


It's the 18th of December and it has been really warm today. Almost 60 degrees!
It will be cool this evening, but wow, what a difference. Even the little lizards were out sunbathing this afternoon. I had my first day back in the classroom in sometime yesterday. I'm used to teaching high school and spent 1/2 of a day with 5th graders - holy cow!

Friday, December 14, 2007

It's snowing!!!!

It's snowing this morning and it's beautiful. Going out in the snow with Nikita and Dan for a nice bundled up walk!

Updated Totem Animal Painting.........

Here is the owl and the horse. One day at a time, one critter at a time. I hope to finish this painting today. Oh yeah, this painting is 26" x 40". Most of my pieces are about this size.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Leave Me Note Under any of the Comment Fields.....I Love Hearing From You!

Well, I'm painting again tonight and I'll have an update on tomorrow's post as to the process of the Totem Animals. The hawk came by our place again today, she does everyday now. We both love it. Check out one of my favorite old radio stations. It's a rock station in Portland, Oregon called KGON. The address is www.KGON.com . There's a great interview that Iris Harrison had with Lydia Pense of Cold Blood. Cold Blood one of the rippenist bands out of San Francisco in the 70's. They shared the same horn sections with Tower of Power & Sons of Champlin. They all came out of the Bay area at about the same time. I remember an absolutely incredible show in Portland, way back, when I was in the 8th grade. Our neighbor Tommy Snodgrass drove myself (I was too young to drive), my older sister Linda and his date - (one of the Suniga sisters), to see Cold Blood and Tower of Power. Tower of Power had just come out with "You're Still a Young Man," and Cold Blood had released "You Got Me Hummin' " & "Down to the Bone." Oh man, I loved these songs, (still do!) and I was hooked on both bands and the San Franciso sound for life. Bill Champlin of the Sons of Champlin (another Bay area band - and I believe pretty closely knit with T of P & Cold Blood), eventually ended up joining the band Chicago, and he's still with them today. After becoming a musician myself, I eventually met of few members of the various bands and got to jam with one of them. Heaven, I was in absolute heaven. I loved great players back then, and I still love 'em today.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Totem Animals Painting Progressing.............


Once again, I worked on this a little tonight. The raven is coming to life.

I started a writing project with a very dear friend this evening as well. It is a very dark comedy. I think we're gonna have fun with it. In the meantime, I have many other things to complete: a script, 1 children's novel, several other short stories and getting myself out there again as a singer & songwriter. With all of this, as well as starting to teach again this month, I have absolutely no right to be bored. This is a good thing.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Progression of Painting.... after several days off....

I stepped away from this for a few days. We had company, our good friend & terrific singer/songwriter/producer & sound engineer - Gregg Burns - was in town for just a couple days. It was wonderful. Dan was so happy to see him, and it was so good to see Dan so grateful.
But, here it is again (the painting) - with a couple of additions.
Life is like this. It's all a process and rarely do I finish things when I think I shoulda, woulda, coulda - know what I mean?
But that's why I'm here on earth, in earth school. I wake up, I breath, I learn. I am grateful. Thank you.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Howling Coyote Inn...........


Here's our house, the
"Howling Blue Coyote Inn."
I am far from the only "Diva" here!
It's a good thing too. One needs a pack
to really get a good howlin'!

It's chilly & Overcast Today.............

It's chilly and overcast today, so I need a good warm cup of tea prior to my walk with Nikita!

I hadn't seen a roadrunner in a couple of months, but today, one jumped up on our front wall. I grabbed my camera, but wasn't quick enough to catch 'em. Rats! Oh well. I did see "our" eagle. She cruises the hood regularly now.

It's nice having a warm home with a gentle fire on cold days.

Happy Hanukkah Everybody!




Sunday, December 2, 2007

The Drawing and Painting Process.....

It was another incredibly beautiful and clear day today. Went to a good service, met another tremendous keyboard/guitarist/vocalist, had a great workout as well as a wonderful walk and play period outdoors with Nikita. I practiced guitar and worked on a painting that was perplexing me for a period.
This is a painting of my Native American "Totem Animals." They are animals that I need to pay attention to in order to learn from and expand my physical, psychic and spiritual awareness.
My animals are: hummingbird, prairie dog, bat, owl, swan, horse, raven, porcupine & spider. They are all forms of "medicine."
Paintings are funny. They teach me to really be in the moment and problem solve from the hip. One slip of the brush and there's something different and sometimes difficult to overcome.
Sometimes it's a "fix" situation, other times it's a lesson in learning to accept and incorporate the "problem" just as it is. Living life on life's terms with a simple change in/of perspective.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Beautiful Wolfish Weather Day.....

Last night we had a rather chaotic wind and rain storm. It
came across from California. As a result of the dramatic weather, we had absolutely beautiful skies out Albuquerque way today. As the sun was setting, it was incredible. I wish I'd had my camera while out walking with Nikita, but I didn't. The mountains were illuminated, shadows were thrown, everything that was already golden; like fields & homes, literally lit up. The clouds were amazing, fluffy on top, yet heavy and heaving - like bison on the prairie, moving together with forceful purpose, yet, highly unpredictable. I loved it. Payne's gray bottoms with illuminated upper regions of orange/gold and pink - exquisite.

By having our wolf-hybrid "Wolfie," we learned to call these times "Wolfish," as in wild and wolfish weather: whipping, whistling, strong, engaging. She used to hold her muzzle to wind for scents; eyes closed, then jump around, pouncing in celebration, doing her "wolf dance" with leaves and dust spinning. I miss her badly.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

"All I Know"


Thank you Universe, Creator, how do I begin to experience your mystery?
Where do my prayers go, how about my thoughts? Where does all of time go? Beneath the fabric of illusion, that separating veil, incubate me like a cocoon in the strongest of threads so frail. All of what I know is paradox, flailing back and forth - to and fro. From light to dark and light again, to void, and then to “full.” All that is empty is truly filled by what is largest and small, in the theory of relativity, it is specific in e=mc square, I don’t understand anti matter, but I care. I am nothing and know nothing - yet, I am the total sum of all I know - in a universe of “yes and no” how can this be so?

Susan Lowery copyright 6/2006

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

"Meditative Prayer"


Pastel, ink, watercolor, gouache.
This was the last piece I did prior to moving to New Mexico from Los Angeles. From the angels to the river ranch......
I think you'll get a better sense of my art by statrting with the piece called "Creation," which actually via blogging, is the last piece of work on my blog. Being new to blogging, the order is in reverse. Oops!

"Fly For Free"



Spirit soars.

Acrylic metallics, ink, watercolor, gouache.

"The Peace Keepers:" or "Planetary Guardians"


Same as below except "solarized."

"The Peace Keepers:" or "Planetary Guardians"


All planes of existence need protection.
Acrylic, watercolor, gouache.

"Winter Ushers in Spring"

When the dark of winter rests her case, she then, gently ushers in springtime, light, life & the rekindling of hope.

Metallic acrylic, watercolor, gouache.

"Everything Passes, Marlena............"



Beauty passes, plants pass on and regenerate with their seed, we pass........
Ink & colored pencil.

"Baba Yaga"


Baba Yaga is done in a combination of watercolor, ink and soft pastels. It is a Russian folktale.

"Serendipitous Sacred Supper"



You never know where your good fortune may come from.
Watercolor, metallic acrylic, gouache & fun!

"Wolfie On Her Futon"



My Angel Wolfie 11/5/1991 - 11/15/2005. Blessed be my little shewolf forever.

"Sister Magic"


Watercolor, gouache, metallic acrylics, inks - that's what "Sister Magic" is made of!
Sisterly love, critters, water=peace & tranquility + consciousness. Floating trees, they exist in my world, do they exist in yours?

"No Little Coyote, No!"



Watercolor, ink, metallic acrylics and gouache make up this painting. I was inspired while in Yellowstone in the dead of winter on a "Wolf Adventure" to do this piece. A little coyote that was wandering about looking for food, had seemingly become dependent on humanity for his meals. Unfortunately, this type of dependence can easily become the demise of wild animals, especially in an envrionment as harsh as Yellowstone.

"Gest Patience"

All things take time and patience, as well as a period of gestation. This is done with metallic acrylics, watercolor, gouache & ink.

"Divine Jags"

"Divine Jags" as in jaguars, is the title of this piece.
It too is done in watercolor, gouache & ink.

Jaguars are an endangered species and they
actually used to roam the southwest. This work has 3 jags - a number of divinity. It also has the lotus - representing the points of 1000 lights or enlightenment, praying hands for guidance & for the jags continuation, a planet implying their place in the universe, and a flying fish - which to me, represents the perfection.

Almost all of my artwork is symbolic, representing many different things, but my main concern in creating art is representing balance. Balance of nature & spirit. I attempt to bring attention to how delicate, fragile and precarious everything is - and how interdependent we are upon one another.

"Creation"


I'm going to start adding pieces of art that I 've created. Some pieces are relatively new, some are not.
This one is called "Creation" and it is watercolor, gouache & ink.

Monday, November 26, 2007

The Sandia Mountain Range

Here is the beautiful Sandia range. They change color with the weather, time of day and time of year. Powerful, peaceful, awesome. This is our neighborhood and Nikita our Siberian is in the foreground.

Holiday Over, snow gone - for now.............



Here's a little friend that was cold and hungry that came to dine over the holiday due to snow. He's a "Flicker" woodpecker.

He/she, was gorgeous and quite a character! He climbed up and down the trunk of the tree, climbing all over the bell made of suet and bird seed - and all over the bird seed house that you can't see which is located to the left. The seasons really bring to mind that change truly is a constant, and that no matter what we do, or how much we'd like things to stay the same - or - leave our mark on the the earth somehow - it just may not be. Mother nature does what she wants!

The Sandia's, the mountain range right behind our home, are of granite and are spectacular. They are just under 11,000 feet and are planted or driven into the ground 6 miles deep! The granite is so heavy that it actually sinks the mountains. It is said that if they were all above ground, they'd rival Mt. Everest. On a fault block rift, they are one of 5 of its' kind in the world. This whole alluvial valley called Albuquerque, was once ocean. There are all kinds of ancient marine fossils that are lodged in the Sandia's. The ocean level has risen and fallen a great many times over millions of years here, leaving the topography extremely powerful and mystical.

Who knew? We're just blessed to have the beautiful mountain range in our backyard...........

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Thanksgiving upon us.


Thanksgiving is upon us and friends and relatives are here, with more coming our way. The dust is falling heavily upon all of the plant life here in the desert and what was previously rich and green, is drying and preparing for winter, and sowing her seeds. The night skies are luminous and clear, begging investigation. It's the time of year to give thanks and dig deeper into ours souls to exude the riches that we've gathered throughout the year.


I am learning about the cycles of the desert and appreciating what each one holds. It has a "come hither" temptuous call, yet, it takes tremendous fortitude to live here as it can be extremely inhospitable. Kind of like the " I love you, go away..." approach to life. I watch the lizards, birds and bugs and see that they take whatever, however they can. They burrow into anything and everything for shelter from both the heat and the chill - this includes my outdoor hacienda table, swinging bench and whatever trash has flown out of the garbage can during a strong wind.


I put a little bench out by my fire pit in the backyard a few days ago and within 24 hours, critters had claimed it as their own. Little blue lizards scattered & scampered as I lifted the the plank to check for spiders, as to not receive any "unexpected visitors" in my drawers while meditating the day, in front of my pit!


I am truly thankful for our home, the lessons and the incredible, open, open space.



Sunday, November 18, 2007

Susan's Wildish Whims: Sometimes.........

Susan's Wildish Whims: Sometimes.........

Sometimes.........



Sometimes, as my sister so delicately reminds me, "you have to just shut up and do it!"

In other words, just get out of the fear and procrastination, and let the art be art - whatever it is, let it come into being. Thanks Willer!