I’m a creative, experienced, multi-purpose artist and art director
who can take projects start to finish in a variety of styles.

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my designs sell out!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

"Artificial"

Anything artificial isn't real. It's false. It's a lie. It's a deception to fool us into thinking that orange drink is something like orange juice, even though it's full of sugar, chemicals, and manufactured vitamins.

I've tried a number of starts for this topic of the week, and found them all rather depressing. It's just my nature to look for honesty in people and things. I want to look for the good around us instead of being sucked into thoughts of artificial things created in China with plastic made possible with Middle Eastern oil -- which then gets shipped around the world for purchase at Wal-Mart. I don't want to think about artificial people either. You never really know where you stand with them. I'd rather hear unpleasant truths than try to figure out what someone else might be doing or saying behind the scenes.

Fishing flies are artificial in another way. They are created to mimic things fish want to eat. Creating them can be an art form in itself, and I started painting them instead of fishing after meeting a Japanese couple in Yellowstone. We didn't understand anything the other said, but the man showed off his fishing flies, which were exquisite faux grasshoppers and other bugs. I'd still go fishing if I were hungry enough, but I'd rather order fish at a restaurant off the menu than cut off somebody else's head.

This is watercolor with rice paper on the border. I'm hoping next week's word is something nicer like "natural".

24 comments:

  1. Beautiful watercolor! And that's a real, honest compliment! :o)

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  2. Your idea for this week's topic is interesting. A fishing lure actually looks beautiful! For some reason the word artificial just reminds me of people, which is a depressing notion, so I completely agree with you.
    :)

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  3. This is beautiful Linda! And a wonderful post to go along with it. I would like to have met the Japanese couple, there is some much to share even when there is a language barrier.

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  4. What a beautiful image of this bit of art. I know people who make these think of them as art.

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  5. Beautiful!! Your blog is wonderful-- I loved the post about your grandma-- everyone should have a perfect grandma!

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  6. Thanks everybody! And thanks Krista and Adrienne for the follow!

    The Japanese couple made a big impact on me, and maybe I'll write about them more another time. They were going home the next day and we swapped things because they couldn't take bulky things they'd bought in the US, so we gave little things they could remember the trip by. Also gave them a stringer of fish. I was really sick of eating trout by that time and wanted a hamburger!

    My sister said my Grandma post made her cry at work. I've never felt so proud to make someone cry! Yes, everybody should have a perfect Grandma!

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  7. Hello Linda :) You know what else I like other than your painting? The honesty I see in your writing. Two things that match beautifully!

    Thank you for stopping by my blog, it's very kind of you. :)

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  8. Thanks Amalia! And for everyone else, Amalia has an interesting conversation going on her blog about people stealing her art, watermarks, etc.

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  9. I love your interpretation of the topic :) The worst thing for me out of all the things you listed here are artificial people, I can't think of anything worse than that.

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  10. clever idea and really nice illustration.

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  11. Great illo! Nice take on the word with your story! Yes, I would rather order it and not fish either! :D

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  12. lovely....... am really happy to c ur post on this topic....... gr8 stuff on ur blog..

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  13. Thanks for the follow Veronika! And thanks everyone for the comments too! I love getting feedback.

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  14. Hey Linda! Great artificial fly! You really nailed the detail on it! WoW! I hope all your plumbing woes are behind you.

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  15. Heh, I really love how your responses are so different to mine for IF. It's like two sides, black and white. Your work is sensitive and responsable and delicate - mine is dark and silly and made with a mallet - oh well.

    beautiful work as usual,

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  16. Hey Linda Thanks for visiting my blog...I like to try different things in playdoh...it's fun!!
    I like your thought behind the artificial things and its true! Thanks again for the compliment!

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  17. Hi again, Linda! Thanks for the comment on my 'watermarking' post. I just posted a follow up on that, if you're interested. :)

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  18. Hi Linda! Thanks for visiting my blog! Your illo for this week's prompt is so lovely! Very nice!

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  19. Such an original idea! Very delicate illustration. I looked at the others on your website too - beautiful! Going to read your Grandma post now!

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  20. Yay! Another follower -- thanks Loni!

    I'm so happy people are leaving comments too. It seems like most of my career has been receiving demands and deadlines, and the positive feedback was viewed as kind of a waste of time. That's why I think it's important to give other artists encouragement for good work.

    Jack -- the house is dry, but I'm still fighting for linoleum and the wood floors need refinished. My house is still messed up, and it's all making me crazy! Today is a garage sale to sell stuff I'd forgotten about until everything in the basement got wet. Let's hope I make lots of $$$.

    Andrew -- thanks for the kind words, but give yourself some kind words too. I enjoy your silliness, and I hardly think your style is done with a mallet. I'm amazed at what you accomplish every week!

    Off to read Amalia's latest...

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  21. Heisann!

    Thanks for the nice comment you left on my blog.
    What a wonderful watecolor you have made of a fishing fly. My brother in law make them and my sons want to learn from him since we now will sepnd som time during the year at our house Lia in Telemark where here are many fishponds and lakes.
    Youe painting also reminded me of a neighbour´s work. see: http://www.kunstnerforbundet.no/kunstnere/336
    http://www.folk2.no/show.aspx?p=1537&kn_id=T12633646
    She paints small and neat objects like you do ;:OD)
    Have a nice weekend, and see you on tomorrow's IF!

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  22. This has been a great week. More followers! Yay!! Thanks Michelle and Bjorg!

    Vilt, thanks for the link and for the comment. I like what your neighbor is doing.

    One day of garage sale done and a little richer :) Mostly glad to be rid of more stuff. I'm going to try to travel lighter from now on.

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  23. Lovely drawing! I like the quietness it holds in this small, obscure object. Beautiful!

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