IF Bicycle

Garden Bicycle
for Illustation Friday
Permanent Marker on 6x6 Smooth Bristol

Here in lovely Western New York, we have been (not-so-patiently) awaiting the arrival of spring. As of about 7 days ago, it's been cold and, yes, snowy. When I wrote about the stages of winter snow in December, I really had no idea that I would still be writing about snow on Easter.

As I'm not particularly adept at drawing mechanical subjects, like bicycles, I needed to include something else. Flowers have been the images that occupy my mind lately. So, it's really a picture of flowery colors with a bicycle snuck into it. Or, is the bicycle really superfluous? Hmmm...

The itch to get into the garden has been almost unbearable. I say "almost" as I am still in enough organizational turmoil, that I really wouldn't have the time to effectively tackle the gardens yet. It's really the yearning for spring, and color, and warmth that's causing the itch.

Although, it may even be a reflection of  the desire for a definitive fresh start. A move forward into a different world.

Flowers are the epitomy of change and continual growth. That is probably why we crave their presence in our world. Sometimes it's the surprise of finding that unexpected bloom peeking up at you. Or perhaps, it's the joy of seeing all the work you've put into a garden acheive the glory you intended. At times, we have to put an intensive amount of love and labor into our flowers, and, other times, we can just step back and let them do what they do. Flowers represent harmony, brightness, form, and spontaneity. They demand attention and provide peace. All the basic elements of life are represented by flowers.

How would this tie into a bicycle? Obviously, from an aesthetic standpoint, it's not uncommon to see an old bicycle artistically used as a prop in a pretty bed of plants. But how else might it be connected?

This quote came to me twice this past week. The second time was when Penelope announced the topic of "Bicycle" at Illo Friday. The first time, though, it was sent to me by my intellectual muse and "oldest" fan. We were discussing taking on new challenges and some of the opportunities that have been coming our ways as of late. The quote was:

Life is like a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. Albert Einstein.

Flowers and bicycles: both symbols of newness and continual change? Maybe a stretch, but I like it.

Time to hop on that bike and check out the scenery!

IF: (Amazing Technicolor) Journey

The Amazing Technicolor Journey
6x9 Watercolor on 140# Watercolor Paper
©2011 BEDeuel 

As the proverbial road of life often does, it turns. Sometimes sharply, sometimes subtly.
I’ve encountered a sharp, defining turn in that road as of late.

An opportunity came upon me make a job change. It’s with a newer, growing practice, run by a young, dynamic doctor who is also a very nice person. And it’s incredibly close to home. With the unbelievable increase in the cost of gasoline today, and continuing to increase at an unbelievable rate, the opportunity couldn’t have been more perfect.

The unfortunate aspects of the change are that I will miss the boss and people I worked with, as well as my patients, and I won’t have as much free time to devote to the blog and the artwork as I‘ve had the last 7 or so months.

And now with spring (hopefully) upon us, I’m looking forward to spending a lot more time outdoors. So where does that leave Bronson Hill Arts?

At this point, the energy and time I can devote to BHA will have to be more focused. I want to do more involved pieces of artwork and do more with printing and selling Mike’s images. We’ve been invited to participate in a couple of shows and will submit to a local art show over the summer at a state college gallery. These steps are just the beginnings of what we want to accomplish with Bronson Hill Arts.

As for the blog, I want to keep writing it. And I want to try to tie it in with showcases such as Illustration Friday and Cactus Monday. The Twenty Minute Challenge also intrigues me. The blog will be for connecting with all of you, which was not the original purpose. That was to promote the artwork, not for the fun of it. And it has been so much fun joining the blogging community. The support and shared joy of life and art has been fabulous!

So in taking this new turn in the road, the new road has narrowed. The path is more and differently defined than the first road was. The goals have changed, too. Which brings us back to the journey. The journey has had to be altered as well.

The journey has started. Again. Isn’t it fun?