Life in Letters...

There are so many times in our lives when we don't quite know where to begin. (Writing this blog post was one of them.) Maria von Trapp would suggest we start at the very beginning (a very good place to start) with Do Re Mi. Unless it's the alphabet, in which case, like Rick and Maria's beautiful tile this week, you start with "A"...

But sometimes, what we endeavour to do seems so incredibly daunting that we simply can't seem to begin. Of course ("journey of a thousand miles" and all that), we will eventually have to take that first step. That 'leap of faith.' (Or, as I like to say, "get over yourself, Kit, and just do it!") But why is it so scary to just start? Somewhere. Anywhere...

(Click image to embiggen)

It's a simple answer, really. We're not living in the present moment. We're firmly and emotionally entrenched in a fictional future. We look at what we have set out to do... and two things are usually happening. First, we have an attachment to the outcome. We want a 'certain something' to happen, to exist, to develop, to appear. Second, we're worried about stuffing that up. It's natural. It's normal. It's ridiculous!

We. Haven't. Even. Begun and we're frightened of what might happen if...

That's all, just an "if" (no "buts" about it).
There are many clever definitions of FEAR in this context.
Here are a few:

F.E.A.R.

• Future Events Appearing Real
• False Expectations Appearing Real
• Finding Excuses And Reasons
• Failure Expected And Remembered
• Frantic Effort to Avoid Reality

but my personal favourite would have to be:

Forgetting Everything is All Right

Because we do forget that. I'll say it again. Everything is All Right. We need to breathe, relax, and remember that. Of course, things don't always feel "all right"... acknowledged. But, except in the midst of immediate and present wrongness, they usually are.

Think about it. Where are you right now? Oh, I know, I know! You're sitting at a screen reading Kit's blog post. Good... that's sorted (and clearly "all right"). Are you in immediate need of shelter or food that you don't have access to? Are you injured badly? (Probably not, if you're still reading.) Are you in immediate physical danger? No? Ah...

Well... regardless of emotional turmoils (which we all experience from time to time)... I want you to do something very physical and grounding.

Feel your feet on the ground. Push at it a bit. Not moving? Good. That's "all right." Feel your body breathing. Are you breathing? Breathe a bit more definitely, so you can feel it. Yep - that's "all right" too. So... let's take it from there.

You're alive. Breathing. Not in immediate danger of any kind. You can feel the earth solid beneath your feet. Just feel all that. Know it. Know it deep, and sure, and certain. And breathe that knowledge out around you. Wrap yourself in it and (yes, I'm going to make you do it) repeat after me: "Everything is all right." Not convinced? Say it again. Out loud. (Yes, people may look at you strangely... I don't care... and neither do you - riiight?)

Everything is All Right

Okay... now to begin.
You don't start at the end.
You don't need to start with a result or an outcome.
You only need start.
Any kind of beginning will do.

Let's start up some music, shall we? (No, I hadn't forgotten, Shelly. [grin])

That's a start.

If you're starting something that you understand may not be easy, then do what I do. Start (and finish) something else. Something small and quick. Something you know you can do... with sure and utter certainty. For me that's a Zentangle. It's only going to take about 15 minutes (if I'm not attached to the outcome, of course), and I know I will succeed. Before I start. What a treat! What a buzz! What a confidence boost!

If you don't know how to tangle (yet), then make a cup of tea, or take a photograph of your feet, or whistle a nursery rhyme... whatever works for you. Whatever you know you can't fail to succeed at. And enjoy succeeding. And, when you're done. Appreciate what you've done. "Go me!" And, for future reference, you really ought to try your hand at Zentangle for this. Yes... all of you. [smile]

I finally finished a commission that I'd been having difficulty with... mostly because, the more I drew, the more I would potentially lose if I 'stuffed up' (yep, I Forgot Everything was All Right). But finish it I did. "Go me!" So here I am, sharing it with you (this blog, ostensibly being about drawing primarily... though philosophical musings are becoming a habit [grin]).

A new beginning.
A commission for Jenny's beautiful daughter, Nova.
(Click image to embiggen)

What do you think? Talk to me.
Or tell me about something that you made a start on today...

Comments form below (open for everyone, no sign up or anything).  

Woman Awake

Many of you have wondered where I've been lately.

I've been walking a difficult road, but a rewarding one.

A road of self discovery.
A road of expanding horizons.
And finding yet more to learn and grow and know about my Self.

I wrote a poem this week and, in departure from my usual blog posts, am going to share it here. And yes, Michele, dear heart... I'll provide you with a soundtrack, as promised...

As I share my written 'art' with you, I also share with you a part of my Self. Knowing so many of my readers — so many of you dear, beloved friends, and others as-yet-unknown friends — I choose to trust you with a glimpse of the very heart of Me. 

Woman Awake

She's not here

The woman you 'know'

She's just not here

Look again

See not history

See not expectation

See...

Finally see... Me

See, hear

Understand anew

Meet her again

Who stands before you?

Gently explore... study... ask...

What do you see?

Who?

This is Woman Awake

Alive, Vibrant, True

Her time, her day is now

Her will to claim it strong

Spirit free

Soul courage

Heart creative

Life Succulent

Can you walk her road - unpredictable?

Her life - unexpected, unplanned?

Her whim, idea, her impulse?

Follow her on roads unknown?

Exchange safe for uncertainty?

Embracing it?

For no acquiescence,

No compliance,

No compromise,

Travels This road

With This woman

Courage, Zeal & Passion

Accompany her steps

This amazing, creative,

Rich-life Woman.

Unfolding, unfurling,

Growing, learning.

Not complete ...never that.

Never reaching journey's end,

She will reach for love and for laughter

And, finding both within her Self,

She. Will. Live.

Can you do that too?

Are you able?

Is that you?

© Kit Murdoch, 28 June 2011

And here... my favourite recent visual art creation.
(click on image to embiggen)

And, your written comments are soul-food to me... so talk to me...

rip... trip... strip... stripe... oh, yes... Stripes!

A tile created for soul sister, Susan and her man, Keith... with love.

This is (for a change) a purely pictoral blog post,
for The Diva's Weekly Challenge, 

Number 24 : “String Theory version II: Stripes”

Still tangling my way through
my love affair with life!

What a world, what a life... I’m in love!

Tonight, I’ve been catching up with my friends’ Flickr uploads. I particularly enjoyed reading the narrative a friend wrote for one of her photographs. It goes something almost exactly like this:

She said, “Oh, I fall in love at least twenty-eight times a day!”
He said, “No you don’t.”
She said, “Don’t you ever catch a stranger’s eye and your heart skips a beat, or hear someone laugh and it’s the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard?”
He said, “That’s not love.”
... and then, “I’m making sure I never fall in love again.”

She had a feeling things weren’t going to go the way she’d hoped.

Click here to see the dramatically beautiful image that goes with those words.  Thank you, dear heart, dear friend, Tracie. Your words made me smile today.

♪♫ “I've got the world on a string...” ♪♫

Yes, of course things don’t always go the way we might hope, or imagine... but that doesn’t mean we won’t keep falling in love. I won’t. I’m not sure about “twenty-eight times a day,” but I certainly fall in love on a regular basis.

I fall in love with beauty, animate and inanimate. I fall in love, easily, with a smile. Falling in love with the expression on a stranger’s face, a look that speaks to me of joy. I find myself falling in love, more and more often, with easy, unthinking laughter.

I’m in love, always, with those moments when the comfort of friends wraps me in its effortless solace. And I fall in love, over and over again with the silent beauty, the solitude, the gentle stepping tranquility of meditative drawing.

These are the things that make my heart skip a beat. This is what makes living in this absurd, fabulous, nonsensical, achingly wonderful life so extraordinary.  

This love is what makes me want to sing about my love affair with life...

Without the voice of the divine Lena Horne, I express my love affair with life in the written word, but – best of all – by drawing out what’s captured the attention of my heart. Playing with pen and paper, watching the lines as they appear. Curious to see what form they may take each time.

This week, my pens played to the tune of the weekly Zentangle challenge game (#23) of another Diva, the unutterably sexy Laura Harms. [G’day, girlfriend!] She gave me a string for my pen-song (which I copied by hand, from the screen of my laptop).

And I give her this playful tile in exchange.
A pen-song, this time, that sang of my love affair with the whimsical.

“The Yellow Brick Road”
(Click image to embiggen)

Embrace the uncertain, welcome the unexpected...
but most of all,

Never stop falling in love... with LIFE!

---

Cooperative drawing and collective nouns

Wow... it's been a while since I dropped by and wrote a line or two.
How's everyone been?

Good?
Oh... well, that's a relief.

This may seem a non-sequitor, but I have decided that Zentangles need a collective noun. You know... like a swarm of bees? There is a lovely list of them on Wiki (isn't there always?). And some simply won't do. A 'labour' of moles? Labour?! The antithesis of Zentangles! I did enjoy discovering a 'neverthriving' of jugglers. That's a groovy one... but it doesn't work for Zentangles either. However... along those lines, I think I've come up with the answer:

A Luxury of Zentangles!

Now you'll see the reason for that tangential narrative... I had a week of no computer over Easter. (I killed it. Accidentally.) It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Been done before? Oh... okay... in my own words then...

Following the surgical extraction of my laptop from my side table, I discovered I had a luxury of drawing time! And I drew a Luxury of Zentangles. (Yep... I like that.)

I have since decided to regulate my computer time, limiting it to a couple of hours a day... no matter how much I 'need' to catch up on. And, if I feel like I 'should' spend more time 'working' on the computer... I make myself a cuppa, stop to appreciate my world (outside the screen), think about what's Really Important, shut the lid on the electronic world... and pick up my pens!

Getting by with a little help from my friends – end result
(Click on any images to embiggen)

I drew Zentangles and ZIA for many of The Diva's Challenges, perhaps I'll post them at some stage.  But I particularly enjoyed this week's challenge: 'A little help from my friends' — where Laura directed us to "enlist the help of someone other than yourself who will draw the string on your tile or Zentangle Inspired piece."

But, before I share, obviously I should give you some music to listen to (it's kind of a Dreamscribe tradition now). So, appropriately enough... here's Carole King with Where You Lead I Will Follow:

I drew two tiles for this challenge. I only like one of them (but I won't tell you which). And, going with the flow (all Zen-like) I'll post both of them.

My first string was drawn by Alison, at Tuesday Tanglers.

Alison at Tuesday Tanglers

Alison's string for me...

Et voila! Here's the finished tile.
It reminded me at one point of The Lost Thing
and I'm not certain which way up is up?
(Click to embiggen)

---

My second string was drawn by Christine.
We get together weekly, for tangles and wine.
(That sounds incredibly civilised doesn't it?
It's actually riotous fun! [grin]).

Christine

Christine's string for me...

...and what I did with it. I'm not absolutely certain why, but I call this one
Celebrate! (Click to embiggen)

I have a couple of 'philosophical musings' posts in the pipeline... but I also have a cold (one of my bestest friends called me "Snot Monster" today!!), so for now... just a Luxury of Zentangles! And then I'll crawl back under my blanket!

First snow of the season last week...

Primary School ABC's

I just had to share these 

beautiful tangled letters 

with you all!  

They are from a local primary school group,

grade four (ages 9 and 10).

Aren't they awesome!?

(Click on the image for a larger view.)

The children have added their letter

to the front of a recycled paper book each,
and will keep their Zentangles in these books. ☺

Pen Dancing Lightly : drawing in Time

This week I was challenged (by Laura Harms a.k.a. "I am the Diva") to "do a Tile or Zentangle inspired piece within fifteen minutes.  Dots, Border, String, Tangles and Shading - all in fifteen minutes."

This may sound a little daunting... especially to those of us with a tendency toward careful, exact drawing techniques, but here's a tip for you.

I've discovered a fun way to approach Laura's 'challenges.' I just picture her, way up there in Saskatoon, thumbing her nose at me, and saying, "I dare ya!" And, if it's a particularly daunting challenge, I also check out her local weather... which is often a bit of a giggle (for me). Et voila! There I am in a playful mindset. Ready to dance my pens across the paper to the tune she has set for the week.

Before I go on... for those of you who like musical accompaniment to my blog posts (Hi Shelly!), here's the song I've chosen for this particular pen dance. ♪♫♫♪♫

For fifteen minute drawings: you can play this song four times
(and still have 36 seconds left over for a final shading touch
...and don't forget to write your initials on your artwork)

What fun this challenge turned out to be!
I so love playing these mini drawing games each week (thank you, Laura ♥).
First, here is what I accomplished, blank paper (tile) to end product, in fifteen minutes:

(Click images to embiggen)
Shattuck, Flux, Mooka, Jonqal, Paradox, and others

Process: I set the timer on my watch (without looking at it as I drew) and, on my first attempt (just) made it from start to finish in the time limit.  I admit to drawing a smaller string than usual (no edge to edge work for this one!!), and to shading it with my finger rather than taking the time with a paper stump... but I didn't 'rush' this drawing.

Technique: I drew at an easy but continual pace, using my current fave tangle patterns, and used faster variants for some of them as I drew.  I drew Jonqal with stripes instead of solid shading; and I drew big fat tendrils for my Mooka furls.

Bonus: There was a happy 'chewy centre' with this challenge, too. Quite serendipitous. I went to get the kitchen timer today to photograph the tile I'd drawn Monday night. Yes, it's a Panda timer. 1, 2, 3, "Awww!" But, see if you notice what I did...

Yep! 

It's white and stationary — a Chancy State of Existence in this household, as my ever-moving partner will tell you. (Of course, stationery is fair game too, but that goes with saying... doesn't it?!) So, of course, it was just begging to be tangled! And, of course, I did (and used some great new tangles on this one – click through on the links in the caption to find the instructions for each).

(Click image to embiggen)
Flux, Donna Hornsby's Keenees, Sue Jacob's Ace,
Cristine Letourneau's Esses, and Laura Harms' Artoo

I think that the message for this week is all about Participating in Life, and Making Time to do so.  So I strongly encourage everyone ("all humans eligible," as one blogger commented!) to go and check out Laura's weekly "I dare ya!" games.

Here's the place to start dancing the fun!

Also, check out Shelly's poem "Today" (and her fifteen minute tile, too — wow!).

You can do this.
Take the Time...
Make the Time to be the Living Embodiment of your Dreams.

This can be a scary path to dance, I acknowledge that, certainly.

Although, as Willian Shedd wrote, "A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for." But, with great respect for William's wisdom, let me propose an alternate view for you to consider: much as it may seem safe to stay 'in the harbour' or 'on the sidelines,' a spectator, there is no safety in living your life without thought and awareness.

Following on from there... I'm reading a book at the moment by one of my favourite authors (and poets), Oriah House: The Call. I would like to share with you two of her poems (knowing that you'll likely go looking for the rest!). [Note: these are only excerpts... click on the titles to read the full poems. And find Oriah's books on Amazon (or Book Depository for free shipping).]

In The Call Oriah writes:

I have heard it all my life,
A voice calling a name I recognized as my own.

Sometimes it comes as a soft-bellied whisper.
Sometimes it holds an edge of urgency.

But always it says: Wake up my love. You are walking asleep.
There's no safety in that!

.....read more.

And a natural segue to that prompting (just right for this week's post) 
in The Dance Oriah writes:

I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don’t jump up and shout, “Yes, this is what I want! Let’s do it!”
Just stand up quietly and dance with me

.....read more.

---

I'm sending love today to a dear friend,
who loves Ronan's song too (and introduced me to it).
Hugs to you, girlfriend! ♥

I Hope You Dance 
[Ronan Keating]

...and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always)

I hope you dance (rolling us along.)

I hope you dance (Tell me, who wants to look back on their years and wonder)

I hope you dance (where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

Dance! 

Mooka much?

On the Zentangle blog this week, a brand new tangle (pattern) was revealed!

It is called Mooka, and it's creation was inspired by the wonderful Art Nouveau artist, Alphonse Maria Mucha.  Maria and Rick have also released a wonderful video, demonstrating Mooka (their first video, for the tangle Betweed, is also a must see).

This week, I am the Diva challenged us to, "Create a traditional Zentangle tile or ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) using the new official tangle: Mooka."

Having found myself so thoroughly addicted to drawing Mooka (on everything that sits still) that I'm loathe to spend more than a few minutes with the computer, I've decided to forgo my usual wordy blog entry and just post photographs of some of my Mooka ZIA (try saying that fast a few times – it's fun!)...
and then I'm going to Mooka* some more...

My new "chop" (KJ) unveiled — tangled up in Mooka
(Click on images to embiggen)

Moleskine Mooka'd

Thanks for the hat, Moira! 
I Mooka'd it.

Mooka Trio

More Mooka (actually... this was my first attempt)

Mooka'd Hat again (more views)

*I'm convinced that, although Mooka (the tangle) is clearly a noun... the word also makes a pretty nifty verb: "to Mooka"

— So... do you Mooka much? I do!!

———————————————————————

APRIL 9th - TANGLES in TASSIE

TEN MORE TANGLES!
Suits all levels of experience

A Zentangle® art group, sharing tangles with Kit

Saturday 9th April
12:30 —or— 1:30 to 4:30 pm
Lenah Valley, Tasmania
(Directions will be emailed when you register.)
 

You can now sign up for Kit's art group classes right here!

STARTING OUT?
If you've never tangled before, come along early (at 12:30 pm) for an introduction to tangling. All beginners welcome. Artists and non-artists welcome. No experience required - truly! And all equipment provided (included in class cost).

or BACK FOR MORE?
If you've tangled before and would like to learn TEN new tangles we haven't yet covered in any of our art groups so far... come along at 1:30pm and we'll do ten tangles. Yep - 10 brand new tangles!

Some of Kit's original tangle designs will be
taught for the first time this weekend!

Click on Read more>> below for the details...

"...see the crazy gypsy in my soul"

This week I am the Diva challenged us to tangle using "only curved lines. A curved string paired with curved tangles and curved lines..." and to "explore how this challenge made us feel after last week's angles and straight lines."

Rather than creating a traditional Zentangle (black and white, on a 3.5 inch square Zentangle tile), I opted for ZIA (Zentangle inspired art). I drew this challenge in my Moleskine watercolour art journal, so the original is about 205 x 130 mm (8 x 5 inches).

I was surprised that it wasn't as 'easy' as I thought it would be. Last week's challenge evoked such a strong emotional response in me that I assumed I would feel much more comfortable not being 'confined' to drawing with straight lines.

Well... Laura did talk about 'balance' – and the principle held true. What I discovered, as a result of participating in both these challenges, is that my favourite curvy tangles are enhanced by straight lines and vice versa. Just like the principles for shading a Zentangle, it's contrast that really makes tangles dance!

Challenge #15: Love your Curves, Baby

I didn't shade this piece. I decided I preferred the beauty of the stark black and crisp white, as a contrast to the curvy design. Of course, by the time I'd finished, I appreciated the difficulty of avoiding straight lines completely (and, particularly looking at the area of Nightsbridge, I'm not sure that I succeeded 100%).

This challenge did, however, send me off on a philosophical tangent (another of the existential ponderings I seem to be 'drawn' to exploring!). Before I continue, however – having just read through this post, I would like to begin by thanking Rick and Maria for Zentangle (again).

And now, on with this week's musings...

As I was appreciating the 'wandering' nature of the delicious curves I'd drawn in this ZIA, I began to reflect on the wandering path my life has taken in leading me to this particular art form!

Last week, in Sydney, I had the luxury of a long conversation with Chinese and Western calligraphy Master, William Lai (of Will's Quills). We discussed the best tools (nibs, inks, and paper) for tangling with a pointed calligraphy nib. We discussed the philosophy of art and the artistic process (as we always do), and the difference between 'making' art and 'allowing' art to happen. I could happily sit at William's feet (and yes, I mean that quite literally) for days on end, learning from him.

Will's Quills website - Click here to visit this wonderful store.

William's views on art, the artist and the artistic process are "Zentangle wise." Talking with him is like receiving the gift of a Life lesson. However, I've never really felt like I'm trying to comprehend some obscure artistic principle that he attempting to teach. Instead, I always feel as though he is showing me the truths that I already carry within myself. This time, I came away knowing that I can trust my instincts about my art (even more completely than I have in the past).

At one point during our conversation, William asked me, "When did you know that this [Zentangle] is what you have to do." I answered, without hesitation, "April, 2010." It wasn't until later that day I realised the significance of both the question and my answer.

In asking that question, William clearly and correctly intuited that I have to do Zentangle. And, by answering with such certainty and without stopping to think, I was not telling William a date (that was not the point of his question, of course). My answer gave me the gift of knowing that I know that Zentangle is what I have to do! (How's that for existential?)

Being a Zentangle artist was not, for me, an impulsive or casual decision, "Hmm... I think I might do Zentangle." In fact, it wasn't really a 'decision' at all. It was a sure and certain knowing that

This. Is. Me.

Yes, of course, I'm a partner, sister, daughter, calligrapher, graphic designer, and many other things... but each of these is a label, whereas Zentangle feels like Home. I cannot think of a different or better way to express this.

My entire life has been leading me here. Graphic design training, life science illustration, desktop publishing, watercolour painting, calligraphy... and even web design and counselling: each of these points on my journey has been bringing me home to Zentangle.

Before I found this place, I felt that my soul was nomadic in nature. I wandered from one chapter of my life to the next, never really knowing definitively what I wanted to be when I grew up (if I ever do 'grow up', of course – I have yet to be convinced of the wisdom of that, but that's a story for another day).

My life has been, and continues to be, a wonderful adventure! I've been exploring – certainly. And experiencing and appreciating all that life has brought my way. But from here on in, whatever direction my life's journey takes, I know where I belong. The "crazy gypsy" in my soul has finally sunk her roots down deep.

Billy Joel, You're My Home

When you look into my eyes
And you see the crazy gypsy in my soul
It always comes as a surprise
When I feel my withered roots begin to grow
Well I never had a place that I could call my very own
That's all right, my love, 'cause you're my home

---

If you're wondering about the practical outcome of my visit to Will's Quills: I brought home some new pointed nibs and a pot of Chinese ink called Yuen Chung – Heavenly Origin (Extra thick SUMI black ink).

While I can't personally vouch for its origin, it most certainly smells heavenly! Those of you familiar with that beautiful and unique smell of high quality Chinese inks will know what I'm talking about. If you haven't yet played with Chinese ink... I strongly encourage you to do so!

Yuen Chung ink stays glossy and sleek black even after it has dried. It shines and glistens like the twinkle in William's eye when he has a chance to philosophise about the artistic process.

In answer to questions likely raised by the photograph above:

• No, I don't use an elbow nib or nib holder.
• Yes, that is a bottle of Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White (a 'must have'
  opaque white watercolour, made in Golden, Colorado).
• The nibs are a Leonardt Principal and a Gillott 303 (in the US, John Neal has these here: Leonardt Principal and a Gillott 303)

There is just one more part of my conversation with William that I would like to share with you.

William explained that there are always four key components in making an artistic mark: the paper, the ink, the tool used to apply it, and the artist (which includes the artist's spirit, intent, ability, mood etc.).

He also suggested that, whenever you try out a new tool, or paper, or ink, (or all three!) – keep a detailed record in a notebook of all four of these factors. This is how you learn what works, what doesn't, and how to replicate an artistic mark you created years ago (and may otherwise have long since forgotten).

Just for fun...

Here are a couple of photographs of my bird friends in Sydney.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Kookaburra's Breakfast

---

(You may recall that I promised a post of Zentangles and ZIA from our Tuesday Tanglers group. This is still 'in the works,' and still on the way! My internet connection is less than reliable right now... hence the delay for this week's post. But everything should be sorted out and working properly soon.)
.

This is where I draw the line ———

Well, this is where I drew the line this week, anyway!

(Click on images to embiggen.)

During this week's challenge*, I found myself seeing lines everywhere...

...and reacting emotionally.

I resented the way lines proscribed human contact with the 'natural world.'

I was acutely aware of:
fences, walls, railings, scaffolding, and electricity overheads.

(If you're not familiar with the weekly art challenge-play many Zentangle artists have been indulging in these last 14 weeks, go here to see some of the fun we've been having!)

I think my first tile reflects my initial emotional reaction to the challenge:

Before shading (I love the play of light in this photograph).

"Walking the line : take one."

It is also reminiscent of the airport runways I've seen during the week.
Do you see them?

After I expressed my feelings of being confined by lines (by tangling both feelings and lines), I thought, "There must be another perspective to explore."  I began seeking out lines within nature and, of course, I found them.  These beautiful palm fronds in my friends' back yard, for example.

I felt my animosity toward lines dissolving when confronted by the overwhelming beauty of 'natural' lines.  Lines don't only confine.  They define, they refine, they outline.  They're integral to beauty all around us.  And so I drew a second tile.

This time I used a curved string (sorry, Laura... I realise I've probably 'crossed a line' with such rebellious behaviour) and tangled one of my rare fifteen minute tiles.  The lines that appeared fluidly from the end of my pen were easy, carefree, happy lines (pardon the anthropomorphism).

I remembered to Breathe and to Relax.  
I stopped to Appreciate during the process and suddenly saw that it was done.

I didn't need to add (or say, or feel) more.
It was sufficient.

"Walking the line : take two."

(Definitely a digression from what I think of as my usual 'style'.)

It seems that, after all, most things can be viewed in more than one way.  And I've found that I have always benefited from personal contemplation of life (the universe, and everything) from different perspectives.

I've looked at lines from both sides now,
From up and down,
And still, somehow,
It's line illusions I recall.
I really don't know lines at all.

"Feather Canyons" (out my window on the flight up to Sydney this week).

I even found some incredibly beautiful, man-made lines (both curved and straight) by week's end.

Sydney Opera House : roof line.

Every time you think you know something 
(especially if you are certain of it)... 
Look again!