Pupil Pleasing

My pupils search for pleasure no matter where I am. I hate the road I must walk on to get to the next cute neighborhood. This morning on our way to brunch, I told my boyfriend, as I always do, that the road bored me. Save for the sleazy motel, it is devoid of things that take my mind wandering. That motel gets my imagination going each time we pass it, but all of the other stale buildings, the concrete, the narrow sidewalk, the cars running fast past us, do not. There are no trees, no flower gardens, no houses with wrap-around porches to dream about living in. Only the street, the boring buildings, and that one broken down motel. I suppose a story could start in that motel. 

When we got home, I feasted my eyes on things around the house. I took out my camera. Its funny how things can look so unique and beautiful once framed by a camera. I love the way that the textures came out in these three photos. 

Guardian Poetry Workshop

I just found the most amazing thing on the 32 poems blog - a free on-line workshop where once a month a poet gives a prompt, you submit your work, and if the poet likes your poem, they comment on it and may post it. Check out the 32 Poems post, as well as the Guardian site.  This is what I need! 

Calamity by Shawn McNulty

Something about this painting really caught my eye. It's so amazing how one can look at a piece of abstract art and think how easy it would be to re-create, but once attempted, it is impossible. I often feel this way about paintings by Rothko. I see his paintings, think "oh color blocks, no big deal..." then try to paint a replica only to have a muddy looking mess on my canvas. There is something about the way that the artist layers the paint to create depth and variety within the seemingly simple "color blocks." Looking at this piece makes me want to pull out my easel. This is good. I am inspired.  

Bemuse: 2.To cause to be engrossed in thought.

The title of this blog is twofold; it will be a compilation of the things that engross me in thought, and the things that inspire me to write, to paint, to photograph, to live more extraordinarily. 

Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.  -Amy Tan