December 2013 | Niya Christine 365

by niya christine

Susan Cain: The Introverts Among Us

#366/365 Paintings

Susan Cain. “Quiet” the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking

“Poets and philosophers have been thinking about introverts and extroverts since the dawn of recorded time. Both personalities appear in the Bible and in the writings of Greek and Roman physicians, and some evolutionary psychologists say that the history of these types reaches back even farther than that: the animal kingdom also boasts “introverts” and “extroverts,” and we’ll see from fruit flies to pumpkinseed fish to rhesus monkeys.

Yet today we make room for a remarkably narrow range of personality styles. We’re told that to be great is to be bold, to be happy is to be sociable. We see ourselves as a nation of extroverts—which means that we’ve lost sight of who we really are. Depending upon which study you consult, one third to one half of Americans are introverts—in other words one out of every two or three people you know. {…}

If these statistics surprise you, that’s probably because so many people pretend to be extroverts.

…………..

If you are wondering why I’m going over 365 to a total of 367, I’m making up for 2 sick days (I posted replacements so it adds up to 367 now).

On Monday you will get the final wrap up posts. A painting and a lead in to the reflections article. Ugh, change… I need some chocolate.

in December | Word & Image / Project 365

by niya christine

Nancy Froeschle: Edwin and Maudey

#346/365 Paintings

An excerpt from Edwin and Maudey, a short film written by Nancy Froeschle.

MAUDEY
Would you do it all again?

Edwin smiles at her. Takes her hand in his and kisses it.
Both seem a little drowsy.

EDWIN
You bet your boots I would.

Maudey’s eyes tear up a little.

MAUDEY
I’m going to miss you. I’m going to
miss you, my sweetheart.

Edwin nods. All his love for his wife is contained in his
smile.

EDWIN
I’ve got you, Maudey – For always.

Sleepy, they both lean back in their rockers. Keep watch over
each other until their eyes close. Eventually the chairs stop
rocking.

…………………

Do you know how challenging it is to concentrate on art with tears? This is a seriously beautiful short film. When Nancy shared this script idea that soon after became a short film, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. And when I got a sneak preview I was even more deeply in the story. What a life, what a story, what an ending! Beautiful.

in December | Word & Image / Project 365

by niya christine

Sage Cohen … this is what love does …

#343/365 Paintings

from “Dear Luna” by Sage Cohen

this is what love does:

travels to the lowest ground,

then collects in the

carved out places.

…..

Isn’t Sage’s poem gorgeous?

This week is a series of prose, poetry, fiction excerpts from a few of my dear and talented friends. This style of working is out of my comfort zone. So I do hope I’m able to give their words the visual staging they deserve.

I’m learning so much right now about layering and visual centering in complex information sets. It’s great. Oh, and the first piece in this month… Edith Wharton quote won first place in an art/author quotes contest on Saturday. I was delighted.

in December | Word & Image / Project 365

by niya christine

Katherine Anne Porter: Notes on Writing

#339/365 Paintings

Katherine Anne Porter : NOTES ON WRITING

Berlin, December, 1931. From a letter to G.

… I can’t tell you what gives true intensity, but I know it when I find it, even in my own work—there perhaps first of all. It is not a matter of how you feel, at any one moment, certainly not at the moment of writing. Feeling is more than mood, it is a whole way of being, it is the nature you are born with, you cannot invent it. The question is, how to convey a sense of whatever is there, as a feeling, within you, to the reader;

………………………………………………….

I love the searching in her words. I love the sentence, “Feeling is more than mood, it is a whole way of being, it is the nature you are born with, you cannot invent it.”

She goes on to talk about the technical aspects of conveying ‘yourself’ to the reader. That it’s a matter of rapt attention and ability development. Again, I just love the struggle and search for how to get closer to her reader. The need in it.

in December | Word & Image / Project 365

by niya christine

Feather bed or Tightrope

#338/365 Paintings

“Life is always a tightrope or a feather bed

Give me the tightrope.”

~ Edith Wharton

Gosh I dunno. Right now? It’s featherbed for me. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. But all that food? Now I need to sleep it off. Featherbed please!

THIS PIECE JUST WON FIRST PLACE IN A QUOTES BY AUTHOR/ART CONTEST. YAY!

in December | Word & Image / Project 365

by niya christine

December is Word & Image

Mixed Media by Kathleen McCloud. An example of what I'm going for in December 2013.

IMAGE: Mixed Media by Kathleen McCloud.

Those fish were fun. And Thanksgiving holiday rocked this year. I hope for you too.

What to expect from me this month? A lot of errant tears. ; ) Actually, I’m so excited about this theme, it’s hard to shed any tears, just yet. I’ll wait for the inevitable in January.

This month’s daily paintings will combine image and word. Is there anything more primal? The hub of useful communications comes from the inception of this combination. From hobo’s to sophisticated signage in our cities. I’m most excited about the emotional language that is possible in between the lines/in the negative space between prose and pattern. Words are things, shapes, designs that a bit more than their singular definition when composed.

You can expect to see words from various sources in short series. Passages from authors that are well known that move me in some way. And passages from talented friends with works in progress. As well as a few passages from old journals or works of my own if I get brave enough.

I have missed words this year. And before this year, while writing stories, I missed painting. So this month promises to be bliss!

A few announcements:

I will write a larger article in early January that reflects on this project 2013. This is just the beginning. I’m feeling great about the body of work and the possibilities ahead. I’ll publish a monthly newsletter for subscribers to keep you in the loop as it grows.

PRINTS AND iPHONE CASES FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

There are 2 exciting ways to purchase art from the galleries. You can purchase 8.5 x 11 inch prints directly from the PRINT SHOP. Everyone gets 30% off the 8.5 x 11 inch prints in December to say Thank You for your support this year. Just enter code: xmas to get your 30% discount.

The other way is at FINE ART AMERICA. You can purchase framed prints, canvas prints, iPhone cases and more. I’m filling the galleries daily. If you don’t see your choice there. Email me, I’ll get it there within 24 hours. You can preview all art from the year in thumbnail view at the PRINT SHOP. I’m excited that I can offer larger and framed prints, greeting cards and iPhones from FAA. It’s been one of the main requests all year. And it’s guaranteed for 30 days. That makes me feel great about it.

In case you missed it, there are 2 new articles: Archeologist of Joy published in Skinny Artist Magazine. And the Redhead + Rabbits Road Trip. This chronicles the adventures this past summer in San Francisco and the Southwest when I took the project on the road with my critters.

And as usual, I’ll be taking another art class this month. I’ll be learning how to create handmade story dummies to express a few of the children’s book ideas that have come out of this years painting stories. I’m pretty psyched about this new tool.

So that’s it. I’m just rip roarin thrilled to have my loyal subscribers — their comments, insights, support. And the social media fun and buzz. It’s all just so good! Lucky redhead, that’s me.

in December | Word & Image / Project 365