Remembering Those Who Have Fallen

Remember to proudly display your american flag today!

On Memorial Day the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

For this post, I asked my mother, now 89, who could recall no losses to family or friends during WWII as well as my brother, who had several friends that served and were wounded but none killed during the Vietnam War. As far as I know, my family hasn't experienced any personal losses, yet I am deeply grateful for those who HAVE died in service and honor each and every one of them and their families on this Memorial Day 2012.

Fort Logan National Cemetery gravesites during a previous Memorial Day Weekend

LINKS:
The Memorial Day Museum
Virtual Wall of Remembrance
Support the American Widow Project
Free mental health services to US military families

Faces #11, 12 & 13 ~ Mixing It Up

All three of the latest faces were sketched, initially, and then altered digitally! Being a photographer for almost 30 years, i've embraced the idea of digital manipulation YEARS ago and find it such an exciting way to express myself, artistically. I love taking the initial "vision" and then creating several fresh, new versions!

Trying a "cartoon" effect and playing with color, proved to be the most rewarding tweaks for the latest batch of sketches. It was exciting to see the results of thinking a little bit outside the box. I think you'd be quite pleased with the results using one of your sketches and either photoshop or one of the many free websites available!

Faces #9 and #10 - "Only" 19 Left To Go

Two more faces to contribute to the challenge! I do love them all, but being a child of the 60's I would have to say the inspiration from the 1967 poster by San Francisco (resident Filmore) artist Bonnie MacLean has to be my favorite so far. As i plan to finish these 15 minute sketches with the application of color, i am making notes and recording my thoughts along the way!

So far, it's been GREAT FUN!! 

When i added the little "strokes" around this pretty girl, i wasn't sure what they were and i didn't really concern myself with it, at the time. A day or two later it came to me ~ she is radiating ENERGY. The energy of the COSMOS. Which is just more fodder for my notes, as i want to remember what each face brought to me, as i drew them :)

Face #8 - Ready For a Change

After several, more traditional sketches, today I felt like trying a bolder, cleaner graphic. And since #8 looks as if she's lost her mojo, I'm sending her off on an Artist's Date to try and retrieve some of it.. 

A bit of photoplay ~ pretty cool, huh? It may even inspire how i decide to paint her.

29 Faces ~ #1 through 7

Today is Day #7 and I'm pleased to introduce you to my growing collection of lovlies! 

When i learned about Ayala's challenge at ilove2paint, i was immediately drawn to the idea. Why? Simply put, i love to sketch faces. I discovered my mojo over the past 3-4 years and have kept at it, always aware that by the act of repetition, continued development would result. This was PERFECT for me.

And what has been especially fun, keeping in tune with different layers of awareness (similar to intuitive painting), has allowed each 15-minute sketch to reveal its message/symbolism to serve me later when i finish some of my favorites and add color with paint, watercolor, ink, oil pastels or all of the above!  

#7 "aisha" is communicating self-love as well as NEW love (springtime) through healing and nature's magic!

#6 "anahata" shows me that she has beautiful red hair, an emerald green dress and the feeling of ancient royalty. She represents spirit energy & will wear a beautiful heart chakra medallion.

#5 "sacred feminine" represents beauty, harmony & the "sweet nectar of life" through the symbol of the honeybee.

#4 represents change & transformation/metamorphosis

#3 has a "fierce" (as effy says), somewhat tribal energy to her face. I also sensed her beautiful, black hair and dark eyes contrasting against a deep shade of sunflower yellow flowers at her face.

#2 "strength" The tears flowing across her delicate features sybolize that life brings us challenges when something/someone requires our attention and focus. She represents that overcoming obstacles makes us stronger.

#1 "luna lady" represents the super moon this month on May 5th. My best friend and cousin, who is an accomplished artist/spiritualist/musician/filmmaker, told me she perfectly matched the spirit of the Scorpio Buddah Moon! ~ xo