I continue to be hypnotized by patterns. My mind is stuck in an endless loop of repetitive brush strokes. The rhythm is soothing. Sort of like my identical drive to school every morning.
I pass the same long morning shadows on the streets. Stop at the same
traffic lights. See the same little Asian man in his sarong sweeping
the same sidewalk in front of his bungalow court. Watch the same
firefighters backing their rigs into the firehouse. Put my cream in my
coffee outside the same blue walls of the commercial laundry. Pass the same day-laborers leaning against trees eating tamales wrapped in banana leaves from the hot food cart. Drive over the same old bridge that connects Lincoln Heights and Chinatown.
As much as I crave the different, there is something about repetition that I savor.
Other than our brief heat wave, the summer is milder than any Los Angeles summer in the last decade. Almost every morning I turn the heat on in the car for a few minutes to get the chill out. Around the house I have the windows open wide, but have to put on long sleeves in the early evening. Most nights I sleep in front of the open window without the ceiling fan on. The box fans I put in the windows every summer night are still in the garage. It's strange and wonderful.
Happy summer evening from Los Angeles to wherever in the world you are. I'm off for a glass of Spanish wine and a night of therapy with Gabriel Byrne. xo
love your blog, just found you through a link on Nancy’s blog “using up all that stuff” thanks, pam
your journals are hypnotic and lovely! isn’t this mild california summer somethin’? i’m enjoying it here up north, too. i agree, repetition can be comforting.
I agree with Violet … we need to enjoy this cool summer while it’s here because we’re probably in for a scorching “autumn.” LOVE your patterns and journal pages. They seem soothing. Always inspired by your work.
I am saturated with your journal pages, I am addicted to the patterns and colors, I check everyday to see if you have a fix for me. This CA weather is certainly un-summer like, but being a native I remember the same thing in 1986 (being sixteen and unable to tan because of the marine layer) and in 1992 (being pregnant with my first son and loving the fact that the coast was refrigerated). Just you wait, I am betting that August will be hotter than ever…better get some WD-40 on those fan blades:)
Your journal pages are always an inspiration!
I love your blog and your artwork, love the bright bold designs. Sure wish it was 68 degrees here, we have had a long hot summer. enjoy and keep on creating. Peggy in hot Ohio
I am so jealous of the 68 degrees. I have wanted to sleep out on my screened porch and it’s still too hot and muggy at night here!!
and, I love your journal pages, I have been playing around with shapes and patterns, but no one can do it like you do!!!
Have a wonderful weekend Mary Ann!
I love the patterns on your journal pages. so pretty.
Love the newest pages. There is comfort in the familiar, for sure. Enjoy your weekend in bliss. I’ll trade you those cool nights and mornings. The air is heavy here, more like Florida than MN. LA’s summer sounds like MN’s fall.
Ah, yes, Gabriel Byrne. Made the first season of “In Treatment” worth watching. Blair Underwood is easy on the eyes, too. I’m so glad to have a peek of your work area. I’ve been wondering how you achieve those rich saturated colors on paper, and how you manage to do so mobilly (is that a word?). Now I see the magic is $1 bottles of acrylic paint and a paper plate. I can do that.
Like what you are doing when your mind is on repeat!
it is a sweet cool summer….love your new pages!!
went to renegade craft fair and saw the bridge in the distance, isn’t that Mary ann’s bridge where sister takes her pictures??