C'est la vie, Capricorn, Junes Horoscope

C’est la vie, Capricorn! Junes Horoscope. 

Looks like another month of decluttering. 

Ready, set, organize! Until June 21, the Sun is in Gemini, your sixth house of efficiency and wellness, inspiring you to streamline your life. For the first three weeks of the month, tackle the mundane but necessary elements: Revamp your storage systems, deep clean your refrigerator, get rid of all the worn-out items in your closet. Anything with a practical, tangible result will bring your groove back. To boost your sense of accomplishment, clean up your eating and exercise routines, too. Wrangling some wayward parts of your life back under your control will feel great! - And as the month begins, you could be feeling OUT of control, since communication planet Mercury is retrograde (backward) in this same house until June 11. Since May 18, you could have had your share of misunderstandings, scheduling snafus and just generally weird mishaps. With Mercury retrograde in your health and organization sector, you'll definitely want to take extra care to avoid germs and careless accidents. (One person we know ended up in the ER after she scratched her cornea while applying eyeliner; then she fell off her exercise bike…while wearing her new eye patch.) As you put your life back in order, don’t get SO attached to your agenda that you fail to be flexible. While you may want to cling to a rigid plan, the universe is pulling rank. You may as well go with the flow, knowing that things will really settle in the back half of the month. As profoundly mused by Robbie Nevil—C’est la vie, Capricorn! - 

http://astrostyle.com/monthly-horoscopes/capricorn-monthly-horoscope/#sthash.kcSrLkf1.dpu

My plans for June are many.

Walking to yoga with my daughter each day during summer, painting, reading all those books I put on my kindle and snapping pictures of the hikes and adventures to come.

Be Inspired,

~jean 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar`*

Sunday's Tablescapes

Sunday tablescapes

Happy Sunday

Joie de Vivre 

Welcome to my Sunday Dinner Table.

This is my FrenchKissLife practise this week.

Everyday should be celebrated. Sometimes we just get too busy and forget that this is our life.

We should treat ourselves like we treat guess. 

Flower, candles, and heart shaped napkins 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Everything About Paris

Everything about Paris

Paris smarts

Question:

The Cordon Bleu, considered by many to be the finest cooking school in the world, was launched by a:

1. Journalist

2. Royal chef

3. Soldier

4. Painter

Answer:

1, Journalist 

The Cordon Bleu dates back to the late 19th century, when journalist Marthe Distel published Las Cuisiniere Cordon Bleu, in which famous chefs shared their techniques and advice. The weekly magazine was so successful that in 1895 Distel organized classes in the Palais Royal, and the international culinary academy was born. 

Julia Child went to the Cordon Bleu, and one of my favorite movies is Julia to Julia. 

I believe I am one of the servantless women she talks about when she said she would try to make french cooking easy for the American servantless women.

I have never cooked from that book. My mother might have.

She taught me from Emily Post, I taught my children from Martha Stewart and my daughter is learning from 

Rachel Ray. 

Since I have never cooked from a french cook book, here is my assignment.:

I will pick a recipe from Bon Appetite magazine and prepare it. 

Here is what I'm making for lunch, the french way from Bon Appetite cooking magazine.
The perfect grilled cheese sandwich. 

After rigorous scientific testing, we’ve determined that sandwiches sliced in half on a diagonal actually taste better.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/best-ever-grilled-cheese

Here is a really great movie to learn how to make a Cuban sandwich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgFws3AoIUY

If you too choose to prepare a french meal I would love to hear about it.
Be Inspired,
~jean
www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

The Month of June

June's Aspects

Taken from "The Grandmother of Time, Zsuzsanna E. Budapest

This month of June received its name from the Goddess Juno, protector of women and marriage. This is where the custom of June brides originates. This month has many flower festivals, rose parades, weddings, and dances. Midsummer Night is a major international holiday for lovers, for divining the future, for building bonfires, and for jumping them for good luck.

Full moon aspect: Mead moon, strong sun moon

Universal event: The sun is moving away from the earth, but the constant moon prevails. The summer is peaking out, all ripens and gets ready for the harvest.

Communal event: Midsummer Night and Day. This is usually a three day festival featuring dancing in the woods, with religious ecstasy. This is a time to gather all the tribes together, travel home to the old homestead, visit family and kin. All restrictions of chastity were lifted at the time, marriage proposals and weddings are lucky now.

Message: to bond, to lead, to rule

Activity: Endurance and triumphant fulfillment

Emotional mode: Bonding, loyalty

Healing properties: To make Strong, to cleanse, prevention and protection

Color: Purple, indigo

Tree: Oak and mistletoe, symbols of the male principle. This is the time for ritually cutting mistletoe and catch it in a white cloth so that it never touches the ground

Flower: Rose

Creature: Wren

Gem: Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite

With summer for me comes getting outside more. This year is the year of hiking for me and my family. I love that the days are longer and that means that we can sit outside after work and enjoy an easy barbecue. 

I woke up to the sounds of this hot air balloon over our heads with our morning coffee. 

While I was watching this fly up and was reminded of how much fun Kerry and I had when we took our first hot air balloon ride. 

So now the question for the month is:

Do you make the journey or does the journey make you? 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

morning sketches

Jean Hart Artwork 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

These are my sketches. An artist doesn't get better at drawing if he advoids drawing. 

These are my moring meditations.

Be Inspired,

~jean 

Mail art letters for Dave

Jean Hart Artwork 

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June is coming up quickly and I have many new projects that await me.

I love to do mail art projects. 

I love to write.  This next project fits me to a tee. 

I invite all storytellers to join in .

I'm not sure what he plans to do with the letters he gets. But, not to worry, all my news will be fictions and the names will be changed so as not to embarrass anyone. 

Be Inspired,

~jean 
P.S. please feed my fish, they're hungry

Letters for Dave

Ruud Janssen at Mail Art Projects - 2 months ago

Letters for Dave Dave Tuck wants your mail. As an introduction to Mail Art please send him a nice newsy letter in a decorated envelope. And he will send you a letter in return. Dave Tuck Flat 55a Huntington Terrace Rd Chadsmoor, Cannock, Staffordshire, England Ws11 5HB Deadline July 1st, 2015

Flamingo or Butterfly?

Jean Hart Artwork

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For years I said I was a caterpillar still in my cocoon. Last year I emerged and became a butterfly. 

This year I belive I will be a flamingo.

Why? 

First, have you seen how beautiful they are. Not only in color but how gracefull they are.

Many of their characteristic I like.

I like how social they are, I like their diet, I like where they live, no snow. 

Here are a few things to know about flamingos.

Taken from Alka Sharma, Environmnet. 

Even though flamingos are not endangered in the wild, they are very vulnerable. These amazing creatures have suffered a lot in past years. In some places people kill them for their fat, which is thought to be a cure for tuberculosis. They also have intraspecies competition for food resources from other birds such as ducks and coots. We must stay alert and continue to work for their rosy future.
1. There are six different species of flamingos. The Rosy flamingo or Caribbean flamingo is the only type of flamingo that lives naturally in North America. The most widespread type is the Greater flamingo, which is found in Africa and southwestern Asia. Other species are the Chilean flamingo, Andean flamingo, Lesser flamingo and James’s flamingo.
2. There are 19 bones in a flamingo’s long neck. It’s unusual beak and feathers are made of a tough substance called keratin. The beak plays an important role in the flamingo finding food in muddy areas. Did you know that the bend halfway down the flamingo’s leg is actually its ankle?
3. A very interesting fact about flamingos’ beautiful pink feathers is that it is their diet that makes them colored so; it is high in beta carotene and found in foodstuffs such as algae and prawns.
4. Flamingos often rest on one leg in the shallows. This position is very comfortable for the bird, as it greatly reduces the amount of body heat lost to the cool water. Sometimes, they also sit down on land, especially during the hatching period, to keep their eggs warm.
5. Closely related to grebes, flamingos are very social birds. They love to remain in flocks. Their cone-shapednest is made up of mud, shells, grass and pebbles, with a flat top and strong base. After the eggs are hatched, cute little chicks are born. These chicks feed on special red-colored ‘milk’ that is very nutritious. The amazing thing is that both the parents feed their youngsters with this milk-like substance.
Did you know flamingos are fantastic dancers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW8GX2n4qbY

Be Inspired,

~jean 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Paint with me

Jean Hart Artwork 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Welcome to my studio.

I have been getting a lot of questions about how I became an 

Art O Mat artist. 

Let me share this with you.

I suggest you go to Art o Mat website.

http://www.artomat.org/

Look around and see what they are all about. 

Down load their application.

You will have to submit your work.

Once you are approved go over all the guidelines.

I bought their blocks because for me its just easier.

 You will receive a box full and 50 2" x 3" blocks

 Next, paint, paint, paint.......

fill the box with your artfully painted blocks and mail it back to them.

Come along, I think this is an awesome idea. 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

I love lipstick.....

"Don't hold back. Be bold. It encourages others to do the same." Francois Nars

I love lipstick.

I think if I was told I could only bring one make up item, it would be lipstick.

It makes your smile sparkle.

It's just so fun.

There are so many to choose from....as you can see, I just can't choose just one.

It's impossible!

You will never guess what I found. 

Art painted with lipstick.

I can't tell you how many questions this brings up.

But, don't be so serious, have some fun.

It's only lipstick!

Sarah Britten has many paintings using lipstick as her medium.

Take some time to cruise around her site.

I think she will amaze you. 

http://www.sarahbrittenart.com/

This is fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-dRZ3TJbok

Here's a lipstick song 

I hate your lipstick 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-dRZ3TJbok

Show me your lipstick paintings.

I think am going try one.....I show it to you later.
Here is my painting,
THE KISS
MEDIUM, ;LIPSTICK
ARTIST
JEAN HART 

Feel free to comment, share, and follow,

Be Inspired,

~jean 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Sunday's art appreciation document Mark Rothko

Jean Hart Artwork 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

My movie pick for this Long weekend.

art appreciation.

Mark Rothko.

abstract artist

It's not really a movie, but a art documentary.

I remember when I first saw one of his paintings. It was in an art book. Without knowing the story behind the abstract paintings I thought. How plain. What's the point? 

I was an art student and I did not know how to look at art, not really.

Can art change a person, or their perspective of the world? 

Can art make you cry? 

That's what his art did for many who first saw it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6xLztH36kY

When I was working on the exhibit 

"Elements"

I came across his paintings again.

This time, I felt in the stillness of his work and there was a pull of emotion.

I incorporated a little of his style in my painting .

"A page in History".

Here is a closer look of it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWqxBoCup_U

This was my painting for 

AIR

Air painting, My concern is about the Ravens and Crows in my area. They are being poisoned and blamed for the decrease in the Sage Grouse bird population. Of course, there is much more to it then that. You can read more about it here. http://elkodaily.com/news/local/save-sage-grouse-target-ravens-county-hopes-pilot-program-sets/article_e8d4fe28-8df4-11e2-9981-0019bb2963f4.html

Do you ever paint about life issues? 

I would love to hear about it, if you do.

As always feel free to comment, share, follow.

Be Inspired.

~jean 

Memorial Day painting

Memorial Day 2015, acrylic, Jean Hart 

HOME OF THE FREE....BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE MEN.....FOR MEMORIAL MAY
artwork by 
Jean Hart 
acrylic 6" x 8"

TOMATOES, TAMATOES

Jean Hart Artwork 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Tomatoes, Tamatoes

acrylic,

9" x 12" 

Jean Hart 

SOLD

StarGate Series

Stargate Series

 

 

StarGate Series 


I am celebrating my fouth  year of recovery from Heart Failure.

These are a series of painting I did to capture the journey I had while In the emergency room. My heart rate dropped down into the 30's. I was experiencing heart failure.  
Be Inspired,

~jean

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Art lesson for Today

Jean Hart Artwork 

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Art Lesson

form 

The Artists Muse

Today I have picked 3 cards. Now remember you don't have to use all three cards. You can do two or just one for your drawing.

I have been busy with my little wooden blocks for Art o Mat.

The blocks came in and I have 50 blocks to paint.

These little cards help to shake things up in my imagination.

1. Windows of Opportunity, Use a solution of ten parts water to one part gum arabic to your paper. Let this dry completely. Repeat the first step. Mix this solution in a bottle and mark it so you won't forget and drink out of it! Use this surface with India ink and watercolor or with watercolor alone. 

2. Circles of Growth, use one fully saturated color, one dull color, (neutralized with black or the color's complement) and one pale color. 

3. Doors of Awareness, Paint a wall-drawing, designing and hiding your name in its surface.

You may add other elements, such as texture of decorative items. 

I can't wait to hear what you thought of this weeks muse assignment.

I also can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Be Inspired,

~jean 

You are welcome to share and follow me if you like.

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Tomatoes, Tamatoes

Jean Hart Artwork 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Tomatoes, Tamatoes

Still life 

by Jean Hart 

I'm working on this little still life, and it has taken me many steps to finish the highlights.

I think I'm done. But, then every now and again, something catches my eye that I want to fix.

Right from the start, shame on me. I didn't have the right red color and tried to mix and match a tomatoe color. 

I think I should have used a scarlet red. So, for now I have not sealed this painting up. 

I don't know if I can fix the color or if I should just say done.

The really cool thing about acrylic paint is that you can go over it with a new color and the background color will not show through. 

Artist tip:

The best way to handle gels and pastes is with a palette or painting knife. Use the knife to scoop the mediums out of containers, mix them with paint, or spread them over your paintings. surface. 

These mediums let you experiment with the consistency of your paint. They will help give texture to your painting. 

Be Inspired,

~jean 

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Friends are not by accident

Friends are not by accident

Spring Creek Marina, acrylic, 16" x 24" Jean Hart

There are no accidents,
we don't meet people by accident. We meet them when we are out and about and open. People are meant to come into our lives for a reason.
Be Inspired,
artwork by Jean Hart
Spring Creek Marina www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1* 

My movie pick for today is: The Master of Light-Johannes Vermeer

Jean Hart Artwork

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It's a cold and rainy day here today. The kind that makes you want to cuddle up to your angora sweater and watch old movies. 

I just heard that Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson are making a Zoolander sequel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p83T54_iU-U

I can not wait for that to come out, seriously I have to wait until 2016. 

My movie pick for today is: 

Art history and appreciation venue. 

THE MASTER OF LIGHT - JOHANNES VERMEER - Discovery/History/Art  

You can watch it for free on YouTube 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQ2W-cb-C8

Johannes Vermeer is one of my favorite painters. 

As a final for my art class I drew in pastel Vermeer's " Women with a Pearl Earring. "

I found it interesting that they said in the movie that he left no records of his life, no notes on his paintings,

 no dairies, nothing.  

Just his amazing works of art. 

Here is my rendition of The Women with a Pearl Earring. 

As always feel free to comment, follow and share. 

Be Inspired,

~jean

www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Everything About Paris

Everything about Paris

paris smarts

Today's question is from Le Menu

True or False

The rich Parisian diet makes for a population with high incidence of heart disease.

Answer

False

Despite their high cholesterol diet, only seven percent of French adults are considered obese (compared with 22 percent of Americans), and the mortality rate from heart disease is significantly lower in France. Some attribute this to the smaller portions in France or to the everyday consumption of red wine (a phenomenon that's know in the wine world as the "French Paradox").

Wonderful, I love red wine. I would surely have thought that it might have been different considering that France makes over 300 cheeses. 

I have read a little more about their diets and their attitudes towards food. In France no one every eats the big potions we are severed in America. They're portions are much smaller. 

Here is a site with American vs French diet.
I found them to be interesting.
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/american-vs-french-diet-10996.html

Be Inspired,
~jean
www.zazzle.com/jeanhar1*

Interview with an Artist

Jean Hart Artwork 

Interview with an Artist

Jean Hart

 

What is it that you say about your artwork when people ask you???
Do you explain HOW you make it, prepare canvas, brushes, paint mixes, or do you explain WHY you choose this subject.

I think another artist might be interested in how I constructed my painting, but if I want someone to be interested and connected to my artwork they may be more interested in

What motivated me to paint it.

I do a lot of conceptual artwork. People have gotten use to my paintings having a deep meaning within them, the subject, the color, texture ect...

 But, sometimes a flower is just a flower,

and,when that happens, I like to listen to how my audience tell me their interpretation of my artwork.

Spring Creek Marina

That's fun too!
Just something to think about when looking at  the story of a  painting.

Rainbow Forrest

Key to my Heart

The Red Apple

Be Inspired, 

~jean

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