Don’t know why, but the Dr. Pepper song popped into my head, and the words morphed into the post title. In trying to get it out of my head, I watched the original commercial. I did not need to realize that it is nearly forty years old!
Janice Darby’s Dreamer opens the 2017 LYA video (by Kat Sloma). Each time I saw this image on the Facebook group page, I crossed my fingers that one would come my way. Love the layers in this! Janice and I have swapped before, I always look forward to her card. She lives in Santa Maria, California. Very inspiring city I think!
On the back:
Never let it be said that to DREAM is a waste of one’s time, for DREAMS are our realities in waiting. In dreams we plant the seeds of our future.
Love that thought Janice! So glad you agreed to a side swap. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome art with me!
Coneflower. Chandra Lynn. LYA Side Swap 2017
Chandra sent this digitally enhanced photo from Alabama. She shared her enhancement experiments in a recent blog post. Looks like fun to me! I need to find some fun photo apps. I really love the colors in this. Makes me think of watercolors flowing together. Beautiful! She included this:
We do not escape into philosophy, psychology, and art
–we go there to restore our shattered selves into whole ones.
Anais Nin
Chandra’s blog posts are often filled with inspirational words. She teaches composition and literature, reading and writing are her passions. Thank you Chandra for sharing your passions with us!
Diane’s work is always stunning. Take a look at her pet portraits. She also works in ink, and I just love her vivid, lively colors. Lot’s of happy in her work! Her floral pillows are gorgeous. So honored that you would swap with me Diane – had no idea your postcard postage is $2.95 (Australia)! If it helps, I think your work is priceless.
So blessed to count these talented women among my LYA friends! I find their work delightful and inspiring! Hope you enjoyed these cards as well.
PJ Lawrence, acrylic and oil pastel. LYA side swap 2017.
Seven postcards arrived today. Nine pieces of art in total.WOW, lucky day ‘ey? This first card is from PJ Lawrence in Tennessee. She tells me it is in an altered photography book. Oh my, that sounds like fun! The back of her card has some really cool graphics and a wish,
“Enjoy!”
Just love your card PJ! Gorgeous colors, shapes and textures! Thanks so much!! A reminder for me to mix my media and experiment more in my own abstracts!
Sherry Harmes, LYA side swap 2017
Sherry and I began talking about LYA months before it started. She didn’t say, but this piece almost looks like it is painted on wood. So much wonderful texture! I always look forward to Sherry’s cards, She often takes the most basic elements, and turns them into wonderful works of art. Never fails to surprise!
Conceive, Believe, Achieve!
Sherry’s message, she includes the date sent, current Larsen Bay Alaska temperature, Winds calm, and Seas at 4 feet. There is a sparkly family of Polar bear stickers. I can’t help but smile, thinking of them animated and perhaps enjoying an icy cold Coke! She also sends her trademark “Hugs!”
Love your card Sherry! The rustic, nautical, majestic feel. Thanks so much for always swapping with me!
Christine Brooks, San Francisco Mountains, Flagstaff. Watercolor. LYA side swap 2017
Christine Brooks shared her wonderful watercolor this year. Aren’t these mountains gorgeous?! On the back was a personal message, and a simple wish:
“Peace”
So love the simplified, loose look of this piece. Inspiring Christine! You are right – this is a fun swap! I am so glad to have met you, and I am sure we will meet in person one day soon!
Funny connection side note, my mothers maiden name is Francisco, and her name is Kristina.
Thanks Christine for sharing your lovely, wonderful art with me!
In the Thicket of Things, Suzette Rothlisberger. Side swap 2017
This soft photo is so lovely! Makes me think of fine Victorian women in all their splendor. Delicate, precious, regal. This thought came to mind. Even as beauty fades, strength endures. On the back Suzette included this sweetness:
Surely a star danced in Heaven on the day you were born Flavia
Suzette included a link for flicker, but sadly I can not read enough of it to share. Suzette, if you read this, please share it in a comment so we can see more of your gorgeous work! Suzette was so creative with her post card displays this year. Very entertaining!
Thank you Suzette for sharing your work with me! And thank you for making the arrivals so much fun to see!
Houston Skyline, Lisa Comperry. LYA side swap 2017
Look at those clouds! Look closer and you can see that lightning is striking. This is a low res image, Lisa’s photo is so much better. I know Lisa is a true photographer. She tells me she took this from the parking garage at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Even Lisa’s stamp is stunning!
Historic Galveston Pleasure Pier. Lisa Comperry
She mentioned that it was 80 degrees. I suppose that is on the cool side for Houston. Lisa, we will be in the mid 70’s this week! Lisa is from Riverside California, a hop, skip and a jump from where I lived. Follow the links to see more of Lisa’s terrific work. This image is for sale in her Etsy Shop. You will also find her stunning work on Flicker. Got lost there for a bit. Stunning work Lisa! Those Texas sunsets are divine! Love the duckling photos too!
Thanks so much Lisa for sharing your vision with the world, and with me! Your work is filled with JOY!
Kate Lehman, LYA side swap 2017
Kate Lehman sent this wonderful image. Just love the textured, weathered, aged look. Her Flickr stream is filled with gorgeous images. Love the monkey shots Kate! (Yes, the little human monkeys too! So Sweet!) And Oh those flowers!
Thanks Kate for the swap and encouragement! Such a treasure!
Rooftops. Montreal Canada. Louise Mamet, LYA side swap 2017
This colorful card is from Louise Mamet and came all the way from Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, France. I didn’t notice in the Facebook group, how blue the tiles are. And that green just pops. So lovely, notice the pattern on the brick wall. All rooftops should look like this!
Louise sent a very encouraging message – thank you for that my friend. You can find Louise on Facebook, and at her website.
Louise Mamet
Louise also shared this ATC sized, business card photo. So wonderful, it even inspired some terrific sketching by one of the LYA participants. Wouldn’t I love to have that little room in the tower!
Thanks so much Louise for sharing your photos with me again this year! Treasures!
Hope you enjoyed this tour of the Mingus Mail Art Museum!
Back from Arizona. And in the mail, my last two side swap postcards. (No Really, these are the last two.) The gorgeous flower photo below is from Teena Lurlene and came to me from Richmond Virginia. Teena says the photo is untouched by Photoshop. Hard to believe (but I do Teena) because the colors are so lovely! Hard to tell in my photo, but the leaves are a stunning shade of Princely purple. I had to smack my self to stop staring.
The image in the top corner shows how the card arrived, the top layer had been neatly rolled back. No worries, double-sided tape to the rescue. Good as new! Teena said she chose this card for me, because I love flowers. Thank you Teena, I sure do love this one!
L.Y.A. Side swaps. Vibrant Flower by Teena Lurlene, Zentangle Art by Kat van Rooyen.
Kat van Rooyen’s card is so fun. That swirl in the middle makes me hungry. Reminds me of a licorice rope. It was fun reading everyone’s take on the L.Y.A. Facebook page. I love these patterns, including the “zingers” on the top. They look like little bee hives. Kat included this on the back of her card:
No one can see through your eyes, no one can speak your art. Create!
Thanks for this terrific reminder Kat! You can find more of Teena’s and Kat’s work by clicking on their link. They are both on Facebook as well. Thanks so much to both of you, for sharing these wonderful images with me! Brightened my day!
Prescott, Arizona
The trees above surround the Yavapai County Courthouse, in the center of Downtown Prescott. I took the photo from the car, as we were sitting at a light. Looking up. The dark branches, the pale yellow-green leaves, the blue of the sky. Couldn’t resist.
The new house is moving right along. We go back at the end of May for the inspection. They have started to extend our street, so there will be lots of activity. Here is a peek at the view out my “studio” window. The homes across the street are set far apart. So for the most part, it will remain unobstructed. Knock on wood.
