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Inspirational Circle #11 – Dream

Remember being given a word, an idea or a theme and using that as inspiration? Remember the excitement that ran through your mind and traveled to your fingertips as your idea came to life?

The Inspirational Circle is back! This will be the last Circle of the year, and probably for a while, as I want to focus on compiling poems and promo videos for my poetry book starting next year.

To end the Circle with something fun and also contemplative, I have chosen “dream” as the theme 🙂  You can view it however you like (figurative dreams that you have at night, daydreams that you wish could happen, or realistic dreams that you want to pursue).  Make it fun, make it real, but most of all, make it “yours” as that is how the best art is created.  And, of course, share it with us on our Facebook Event!

All creative work will be considered – drawing, painting, photography, poetry, prose, mixed media, sculpture, etc. If you post the work of others  as inspiration, please cite the original source to give the artist credit. Please spread the word and invite others to join in.

Here’s a poem by Edgar Allen Poe that will give you some inspiration:

A Dream Within a Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow:
You are not wrong who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand–
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep–while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

And now a cute poem about childhood dreams that I found here: http://www.gigglepoetry.com/poetryclass/dream.htm

My Bed is Like a Sailing Ship

My bed is like a sailing ship-
when I’m tucked in, I take a trip.
I leave behind my busy day
and sail to places far away.

I sail past beaches, gleaming white,
with palm trees swaying in the night.
I watch the waves break on the shore,
and then I see my bedroom floor!

I blink my eyes, I scratch my head-
my ship is home, I’m back in bed.
My ships goes sailing every night
and sails home in the morning light.

And now for some photos that I found googling “dreams”

dream

dream3

dream4

dream5

dream6

dream7

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Inspirational Circle #10 – Family

Remember being given a word, an idea or a theme and using that as inspiration? Remember the excitement that ran through your mind and traveled to your fingertips as your idea came to life?

The Inspirational Circle is back! In honor of Thanksgiving, this month’s theme is “Family.” It’s time to capture your family, whether it’s happy, sad, weird, annoying, or just plain funny.  Make it unique and tell us what your family is like on our Facebook Event!

All creative work will be considered – drawing, painting, photography, poetry, prose, mixed media, sculpture, etc. If you post the work of others  as inspiration, please cite the original source to give the artist credit. Please spread the word and invite others to join in.

Here’s a perfect Thanksgiving poem to get you started:

Riches

© Jeanne D. Rhein
They say that times were tough then
That money was very tight
But I remember my childhood
And I know that can’t be rightMom would cook our dinner
Dad came home at five
We were all sitting at the table
Waiting for him to arriveWe wouldn’t eat from a microwave
Or a restaurant down the street
We all ate Mom’s home cooking
And boy that can’t be beatWe didn’t eat in front of the TV
Or with a phone in our hand
We weren’t plugged into a stereo
bopping to the latest bandWe would all sit at the table
Everyone in their place
There were never any surprises
We recognized every face

Brothers to the left of me
Sisters to the right
That’s the way we ate dinner
Every single night

We laughed we joked we talked we ate
We were a family don’t you see
Though some may have been raised poor
You can see it wasn’t me

We ate collards we ate biscuits
We ate fatback and blackeyed peas
We said yes sir we said no sir
We said thank you ma’am and please

So when you talk of family life
Or how it used to be
Though many had more money
None were as rich as me

Source: Riches, Poem about Family http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/riches#ixzz2BIIqiXK7
http://www.FamilyFriendPoems.com

Some other interesting poems:

A poem about generation gap

A poem about culture 

A sweet poem full of similes

Here’s a silly photo of my family:

My Family

My Family

And the beloved dysfunctional Family Guy

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Inspirational Circle #9 – Found Art

Remember being given a word, an idea or a theme and using that as inspiration? Remember the excitement that ran through your mind and traveled to your fingertips as your idea came to life?

The Inspirational Circle is back! This month’s theme is “Found Art!” Go find some cool stuff and make a collage or a sculpture. Go walk around the streets and take photos of street art and graffiti, or make a photogram. Go find newspaper scraps and magazines and create a poem from it. Let go of your creative block, and let the Inspirational Circle inspire you. So go ahead and brainstorm brilliant ideas and share them here with your fellow peers on our Facebook Event!

All creative work will be considered – drawing, painting, photography, poetry, prose, mixed media, sculpture, etc. If you post the work of others as inspiration, please cite the original source to give the artist credit. Please spread the word and invite others to join in.

To get you started, here are some links that you can visit:

Street Art Utopia on Facebook has a lot of inspiring art done on the streets all over the world, utilizing the landscape to the fullest aesthetic beauty: http://www.facebook.com/streetartutopia?fref=ts

Etté Studios has beautiful butterfly sculptures composed of found art: http://www.ettestudios.com/2010/02/found-object-art-michele-stitzleins.html

The Broken Doll series has some interesting pieces
http://karenswhimsy.com/found-object-art.htm

And for the writers, here are some ideas on how to write Found Poetry: http://www.creative-writing-now.com/found-poetry.html

Collage work that I previously made in college:

collage

collage

collage box

collage box

Photos taken at the NY MOMA

coke bottle sculpture

Blanket Collage

Chair on the Wall

 

 

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Random Food Posting

Last month’s Inspirational Circle was food, so i have some random postings for you 🙂  While I didn’t have time to do anything “amazing,” it’s nice to realize how the simplest of foods can appear beautiful under the right circumstances.  It can be pretty melodic.

Here is a simple image of lettuce and tomatoes in a bowl.  The contrasting colors and the juiciness of the tomato makes it very refreshing and appetizing.

lettuce

refreshing vegetables

This following photo was taken from my camera phone and not under the best lighting, but it deserves to be posted because it’s a sushi called “Little Jenny” (which reflects me) and also tastes pretty good.  This can be purchased at Cha Cha Sushi in San Jose.

Little Jenny

Little Jenny sushi dish

This next image was taken at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse for a friend’s birthday dinner.  The candle on top of the pizookie glowed in the dark and looked magical.

birthday pizookie

birthday pizookie

Now for something interesting, my friend found this link about S’mores Spaghetti, which was pretty awesome.  It’s a new twist to a traditional snack.

http://www.foodiggity.com/smores-spaghetti/

s'mores spaghetti

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Inspirational Circle #8 – Food

Remember being given a word, an idea or a theme and using that as inspiration?  Remember the excitement that ran through your mind and traveled to your fingertips as your idea came to life?

The Inspirational Circle is back!  This month’s theme is “food!”  Let go of your creative block, and let the Inspirational Circle inspire you.  So go ahead and brainstorm brilliant ideas and share them here with your fellow peers on our Facebook Event!

All creative work will be considered – drawing, painting, photography, poetry, prose, mixed media, sculpture, etc.  If you post the work of others as inspiration, please cite the original source to give the artist credit.  Please spread the word and invite others to join in.

Food is a wonderful subject as you see it multiple times in a day and everyone loves it.  Food is one of the elements that brings people together – strangers, family and friends.  You can never go wrong with food (well, unless it tastes bad).  So go ahead and do cool things and inspire everyone with your thoughts and images of food.  Make us hungry, make us happy, make us sad, just feed us with your ideas of “food.”

While looking up food – I found two really cool websites that I know you would love 🙂
Amazing shots of yummy food – http://experimental-food.tumblr.com/
Cute Japanese food (so adorable) – http://www.xcapedcat.com/28-pictures-of-cute-japanese-food/

Here are also some random photos I got off of Google

In addition, here is a poem that I wrote about German Chocolate Cake.

like no other

sniff, sniff, inhale,
take a whiff
of the sweet aroma,
an addiction
like no other.

the scent of cocoa
drifts in your nostrils
as you tremble
with longing,
salivate
with desire,
reaching
for the cake
of your dreams.

soft
and gentle
to the touch,
crumbling
in your hands,
melting
on your tongue
a sensation
like no other.

sandwiched between
layers and layers
of coconut pecan frosting.
cool, crisp, rich,
super, super, creamy,
a burst of flavor
in your mouth.

tickling
your taste buds,
tingling
your tongue,
a lingering moment
of bliss.
savor it!

shut your eyes,
more, more, more,
you just can’t resist
licking your lips.

licking your lips
in orgasmic pleasure.
no one does it better
than betty crocker.

While looking up German Chocolate Cake, I also came across this website that was pretty cool – http://barbarabakes.com/2010/05/easy-german-chocolate-cake/

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There is Magic in the Mundane
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There is Magic in the Mundane

Timing is the “magic” that encompasses every important moment in life.  That first kiss that you had wouldn’t be as special if it didn’t take place at night in the park, under the stars.  That song may not have been memorable if you didn’t hear it on the radio after you broke up with your ex while you were driving in the rain.  That adventurous trip wouldn’t have been amazing if you didn’t see lightning in the sky and took a photograph of it.  Photography, art, music, and poetry all utilize timing to create a special moment – making mundane events and imagery seem magical.

Who would have thought that a simple plastic water bottle could look “magical?”  I didn’t, not at first.  Since last month’s theme for the Inspirational Circle was texture, I was just randomly hanging out in my porch taking random photos of things that had texture.  While walking around, I came across my dad’s recycling bin where he kept water bottles.  There were a collection of bottles that had condensed water that looked like dew drops clinging to the surface.  With the sunlight shining on it, the dew drops sparkled like magic, mesmerizing to the eye.  With the macro setting on my camera, I took a shot.

condensed water in a plastic bottle

It was a simple beauty, but clearly recognizable as a water bottle.  To make it a little more abstract, I decided to crop the image and remove the “red wrapping” and add a little bit of contrast in Photoshop so that the image will only detail the “texture.”  At first glance, you may not know what this image was.  One friend guessed jewelry and another friend had guessed rain on my windshield.  What do you think?

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Inspirational Circle #7: Texture

Remember being given a word, an idea or a theme and using that as inspiration?  Remember the excitement that ran through your mind and traveled to your fingertips as your idea came to life?

The Inspirational Circle is back!  This month’s theme is “texture.”  Let go of your creative block, and let the Inspirational Circle inspire you.  So go ahead and brainstorm brilliant ideas and share them here with your fellow peers on our Facebook Event!

All creative work will be considered – drawing, painting, photography, poetry, prose, mixed media, sculpture, etc.  If you post the work of others as inspiration, please cite the original source to give the artist credit.  Please spread the word and invite others to join in.

Alright, to get started, here are definitions of texture.  This is a fun theme to experiment with, whether you choose to focus on something two-dimensional or three-dimensional (slabs of paint on canvas, some mixed media work of random material, a sculpture, a descriptive poem, a photograph, a photogram, whatever you choose).  Don’t be afraid to do something out of the ordinary 🙂

Here are some images that I found online that will inspire you.  The first four photos are mine. :)

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Nothing in Particular: Part 2 – Photography

Color, light, perspective and repetition often speak to me and I long to capture that special moment in time.  Often it’s nothing too memorable, but a simple and elegant image that I would find myself rediscovering again years later.  Below are some recent photographs taken in the spur of moment, for no particular reason.

colorful blinds

Beautiful colors from the early afternoon shine through the white blinds to create a romantic scene

romantic lamp

The rhythm and repetition of the blue blinds is a stunning harmonious contrast to the rhythm of the vertical curtain

piano rhythm

The rhythm and repetition of musical instruments is always captivating

piano music

Feel the strumming keys and listen to the music in your mind

Now here are two random photos that I found in my camera taken a few months back, while we were in the Fox Theatre in Redwood City for a company event.

fox theatre

A view of the ice skating rink outside of the Fox Theatre (taken from the library across the street), such a lovely scene

water fountain

Water fountains near the Fox Theatre, the musical harmony of the running water

Last, but not least, I have two photos of a romantic water fountain in New York, near our hotel in Howard Beach.  As we were walking back late at night after dinner, we came across this lovely spectacle.  The glow of the purple lights illuminated this fountain to appear magical and I caught it on my camera phone. A glimpse of it in broad daylight was definitely not as intriguing.

magical fountain

Oh, so elegant

magical fountain 2

Bathe in the purple light and hear the music of the running water

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Some Rhythmic Repetition
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Some Rhythmic Repetition

This month’s Inspirational Circle was “rhythm and repetition” and while I was looking through some of the recent photos in my camera, I thought these were some fun examples.

Photos taken at the Berkeley Marina

Fishing on the deck

Bird, waves, rock, deck – natural rhythm

Photos taken at The Japanese Garden in SF, Legion of Honors & Land’s End

A serene path in the Japanese Garden

Me at the Legion of Honors

I love the forced perspective here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statues at the Legion of Honors

Railing at the Legion of Honors

Railing at the Legion of Honors

A path along Land’s End

Inspirational Circle #6: Rhythm and Repetition
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Inspirational Circle #6: Rhythm and Repetition

Remember being given a word, an idea or a theme and using that as inspiration?  Remember the excitement that ran through your mind and traveled to your fingertips as your idea came to life?

The Inspirational Circle is back!  This month’s theme is “rhythm and repetition.”  Let go of your creative block, and let the Inspirational Circle inspire you.  So go ahead and brainstorm brilliant ideas and share them here with your fellow peers on our Facebook Event!

All creative work will be considered – drawing, painting, photography, poetry, prose, mixed media, sculpture, etc.  If you post the work of others as inspiration, please cite the original source to give the artist credit.  Please spread the word and invite others to join in.

Alright, to get started, here are definitions of rhythm and repetition.  This is one of my favorite themes because the idea of rhythm and repetition is all around you, everywhere you look – from stairs, to lakes, to dancing, it just captivates your eyes, your ears and your body.  For a visual artist, an image that captures “rhythm” will let your ears hear music (whether it’s the thumping of footsteps or the sound of running water).  It will make you feel like you were present in the photo, art or writing based on the movement of the piece.  It’s simply beautiful.

Here are some images that I recently took that will inspire you. :)

And now for a poem that I wrote based on the word “music.”

Frozen in Time, The Beat Goes On

Sparkling glitter and gold,
swaying side to side,
she captures my eyes,
keeping me hypnotized.
Longing for her touch,
wanting to know her name,
my heart beats faster
as I gasp for breath.
The beat goes on.

Music filling my ears,
her body filling my mind.
I dance and dance,
swinging and shaking
trying to catch her eye.
Waiting… longing…
hesitating…
holding my breath,
she looks my way
and I am lost.
Lost in my mind,
frozen in time,
caught in her eyes,
hypnotized.
The beat goes on.

Working her way
through the crowd,
sliding and gliding
to be by my side.
She’s grasping my hand,
I’m gasping for air,
but without a care,
she dances,
seducing me with her hips.
The beat goes on.

How can I ever forget
the girl who captured my heart.
The girl like an angel,
but with mischief
in her eyes.
My little witch
who kept my heart beating
as our bodies swayed,
our lips met,
minds collide
on that special night,
our souls touched
and I lost my sight
blinded by love.
The beat goes on.

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