Haiku

On New Year's Day
I long to meet my parents
as they were before my birth.
* * * * * * * * *
In my old home
which I forsook, the cherries
are in bloom.

http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/

Part the Second of Susan's Sleeve -- Tattoo in Progress

Drum roll......And here is the rest of my sleeve-in-progress.

Check out more of Greg's work.

www.TucsonTattoo.com

Susan's sleevework -- Tattoo in progress

Greg worked on my tattoo this week. Basically it follows a Japanese theme. Raijin and Fujin are the gods of thunder and wind and then there are the traditional cherry blossoms and chrysanthemum. The upper part of the arm - and onto my back in koi and waves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raijin Wikipedia is an excellent tool.
Obviously, the sleeve is in progress. This type of work is about the process as much or more than about the outcome. The evolving - unfolding of the artwork is really more inspiring than the sleeve itself. Will post the rest of the series after work today.

Tucson Artist Colony Announces Grand Opening

Contact: Susan Alexander
Tel: 520-270-6351
Email: placitadelaluna@live.com

TUCSON ARTIST COLONY ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
Tucson Artist Colony Provides Opportunity to Buy Local

TUCSON – 2409 N. Castro at Placita de la Luna – December 13, 2008 – the Tucson Artist Colony celebrates its Grand Opening with a reception from 5-8 pm. Tucson Artist Colony is an unprecedented collection of some of the country’s finest plein-air and studio artists who have come together to work and teach on the grounds of Placita de la Luna in Tucson. Artists such as Phil Starke and Chauncey Homer are instructors at the colony and are offering classes to share their talent and knowledge with the Tucson community. They and the other Colony fine artists are available at the reception to discuss their work and the scope of the classes offered. Examples of their works are on display and are for sale. This is the perfect opportunity to make Holiday shopping relevant by buying local and supporting the Tucson Arts Community. Tucson Artist Colony Gift Certificates are also available for purchase. Aspiring art students benefit from these gifts.

Colony Fine Artists:
v Phil Starke www.philstarke.com
v Chauncey Homer www.chaunceyhomer.com
v Brenda Semanick www.brendasemanick.com
v Sarah J. Webber www.sarahjwebber.com
v Robert Goldman www.robertgoldmanfineart.com
v Martha Braun www.marthabraun.com

The Tucson Artist Colony is the concept of Greg and Susan Alexander who saw a need in Tucson for a place Artists could call their own. While the downtown art community is struggling to maintain studio space these owners of Placita de la Luna have stepped forward to fill the need. Brenda Semanick, who is best known for her watercolors of the Tucson Barrio and large floral canvases and one of the key fine artists involved says, “It’s a perfect location to paint and to teach. Tucson has needed a place like this for a long time.” At a recent Open House held for the students of the Colony, Connie West, a local artist and art collector says, “Tucson has needed something like this for a long time. This is the best kept art secret in Tucson… This is going to be a wonderful thing for Tucson.”
The classrooms of the Tucson Artist Colony are located at Grant and Castro in a rambling building that was originally built as a home in the 1930’s and was constructed with adobe dug on site by the Native Americans of the Pascua Yaqui tribe. This historic property is now called Placita de la Luna (Grant Rd. was once Luna Rd.). Greg and Susan are completely committed to the development and growth of this new Tucson Artist Colony and pledge to set aside the entire complex to the endeavor as space becomes available.

The public is invited to share in the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony and to
celebrate this exciting development in Tucson’s art community. This event is also a perfect opportunity for the community to Buy Local for the Holidays by purchasing gift certificates for the classes. The enriching experience gained through instruction from the fine artists of the Colony is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Although the Tucson Artist Colony is not an "Artist Colony" in the truest sense it is a group of some of the best artists in the Southwest. The Colony is committed to creating and providing an atmosphere to foster artistic growth among the artists who choose to work there and among artists who choose to participate in the classes. For more information visit the websites.
http://www.tucsonartiststudio.com/
http://www.tucsonartistcolony.com/

And So It Begins...

The last two days have taken me by surprise a bit. I had really been looking forward to the art classes beginning at the Tucson Art Colony. We had worked so hard on the buildings and grounds and websites....
So of course I was excited. But then the first class was Tuesday. Chauncey Homer had his first class (on our grounds)...and I was just about overcome. It's really happening. These wonderful fine artists are teaching classes through the Tucson Art Colony on our grounds. Placita de la Luna has REAL artists painting there!
We had already been blessed when Brenda Semanick and Sarah J. Webber began using studio space at the Placita. That has been completely heady.
Then today Phil Starke's class met. Some of his students opted to paint in the courtyard instead of the classroom. I smiled everytime I saw them set up with their stately easels painting things they had found in MY humble abode.
December 13 is the Grand Opening. I do hope we can get the word out that this new part of the Tucson Art Community has begun - and we want to SHARE it!

Thoughts on the Bailout

I found this haiku on the internet this morning (hint to Greg: sure would like a book of them for Christmas). It was written in 1499 in China.

and will the land not fall in ruin
with its commoners in distress
EM - 1499

Current thoughts:
Hey! Doesn't anyone see us down here!!?? We're drowning! HELP!

Art Classes in Tucson at the Tucson Artist Colony

Gain the Competitive Edge...Be a Better Artist.

You can't miss this opportunity! Brenda Semanick is forming classes for drawing and for painting. Classes begin soon.....This is the perfect year to BUY LOCAL. Sign up for Brenda Semanick's classes. http://www.brendasemanick.com/index.html

Tucson Artist Colony Grand Opening

TUCSON ARTIST COLONY
GRAND OPENING

Tucson ArtistStudio announces the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony to be held at 2409 N. Castro on Saturday, December 13, 2008 to celebrate the inception of this exciting Fine Art Colony in Tucson.
Please join us for a come and go reception where you will meet the Fine Artists of the Colony and be able to view their works and even purchase directly from the artists.
The reception will be held in the Tucson Artist Colony classrooms where you will be able to speak with the artists about the exciting classes being offered.
Gift Certificates will be available. This year especially would be an excellent time to give that special struggling artist a gift card from the Colony. The enriching experience gained through art instruction is truly a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Support the Tucson Fine Arts Community by attending the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony. Share in this celebration of our beginning.

Participating Fine Artists:
v Phil Starke http://www.philstarke.com/
v Chauncey Homer http://www.chaunceyhomer.com/
v Brenda Semanick http://www.brendasemanick.com/
v Sarah J. Webber http://www.sarahjwebber.com/
v Robert Goldman http://www.robertgoldmanfineart.com/
v Martha Braun http://www.marthabraun.com/

http://www.tucsonartistcolony.com/ http://www.placitadelaluna.com/ http://www.tucsonartiststudio.com/


contact Susan Alexander with questions: 520-270-6351
email: placitadelaluna@live.com

Saying Good bye to Otis

It's been three weeks since we had Otis put to sleep. And I can just now talk about it. This picture was taken in May before he was sick. It was always so hard to get a good picture of him. Black dogs are like that.

William worries that Otis may already have been reborn and that his new owners are not being good to him. What a child I have there.

I explained to William that if Otis has come back then it is as a Buddha because he was such a perfect soul. He was my Golden Boy.

Thanks again to Justin at the Southern Arizona Humane Society. He made this journey so much easier for Otis and for me.

Fall Day in Tucson

It's a beautiful fall day in Tucson. This is why we live here. The little finches are busy in the backyard and William is running in and out the front door and playing with the neighborhood kids. The sound of boys laughing and shouting is as bright as this Tucson blue sky.

Tonight we will light a fire outside and drink a nice red wine.

Life is good.

Blessed are the meek.................... I'm going to Hell!!!!!: Dear President Elect Obama,

So I'm just chillin and surfin the blog stuff today. I swear I'm behind the times and don't know what all the little widgets and things mean....but the important stuff -- the thoughts people share....I'm having a good time with that.
Here's a good read.
Blessed are the meek.................... I'm going to Hell!!!!!: Dear President Elect Obama,