April is upon us

 

My bands are going great and we are getting ready to play in a few concerts. In my steel drum band, I now play conga and cowbell (instead of lead pan) and that has been a lot of fun. Our jazz band, The Flashbacks is playing for a dance next week. 

Above is one of my collage I submitted to an art show featuring Virginia flora and fauna. I chose my deer as it is a common animal in Virginia and the piece had to accompany a “Virginia Story” . I researched a famous Virginian who loved deer and here is my story for my piece: 

My name is Henry and I once lived in a deer park at Mount Vernon. Many people know about General’s (George Washington to you) love for animals, especially his horse, Nelson who was a friend of mine. General also loved deer and my family enjoyed living in the park he made. Our habitat was unusual because in those times people mostly saw deer as game to hunt. My family often entertained General’s guests by showing them how gentle and tame we were. I have fond memories of eating freshly picked apples from orchard out of the hands of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, who were frequent visitors. My portrait here captures me near the Potomac River which ran behind our home at Mount Vernon many years ago. 

Spring is in the air!

 

Hello and Happy March! Spring is in the air and my daffodils have been in bloom already for a few weeks. I take that as a good sign. I hope this finds everyone doing well. 

For me I have been enjoying learning some old Spanish guitar repertoire. This year marks my 49th year playing the guitar!  It has been 49 years of joy. I have played percussion now for 53 years and playing in my 3 bands is a great source of joy to me. 

I have also been working on expanding my repertoire for my hospice patients I see. When I play at the hospital, I play a lot of my own compositions and improvised music but at hospice, there is more need for songs they know. I am enjoying this work. 

Pictured is my newest collage that will be part of a series for my upcoming art show at the Northside Library in Charlottesville in April. 

Thanks for coming by and Happy Spring!  

A Foxy February

 

Hello everyone ! I seem to be drawn to foxes lately in my art.  In Native American lore, they represent cleverness, intuition, adaptability and playfulness. All of these qualities are important ones for navigating through challenging times. This collage pictured is my latest one in a series I am making for my upcoming show at the Northside library in April. Stay tuned for more info on that as the time nears. 

My music continues to bring me much comfort and joy. I have been reviving some older Spanish guitar pieces for my own pleasure and education. Some of these pieces I would not likely play for my patients but I learn from them and I am always working on growing and improving my knowledge and technical abilities. 

I have been reading some interesting books for CEUs (continuing  education credits) toward my certification degree. The last one I finished was “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord” by Daniel Levitin. My favorite quote from the book is, “Your relationship with music takes place in a secret language, known only to you and to her. The secret chord is  you, the product of all of your life’s encounters; every word or note heard, every thought shared or kept to yourself, every dream achieved or struck down. “ Wow!  How about that for food for thought to ponder! 

It is now February and I have noticed the days are getting longer. Won’t be long now before spring. Keep on going! Thanks for stopping by! 

A Magical Forest for 2025

 

Hello all and Happy 2025! There is much change going on and our future remains uncertain. I am finding that focusing on the magical elements of life is helping me to stay optimistic. Always the future is full of possibilities and what we focus on is what we experience. I am not saying to deny the dark forces that are around us but use them as a way to find the light in the darkest days. 

Attached is my first collage of the year.  One friend described it as “intricate yet serene” and I feel that sums it up well. There is a lot going on with animal life and nature’s lines intertwined. Colors and rhythms flow in a moment of stillness to catch our breath. 

Music is my biggest inspiration and I see this as full of rhythm and harmony and melodies. When I play my own compositions, if they could be visual, I think they would look like this piece. There is an order and flow but a unique vision that only i can see and share. We all have a unique voice. Something that comes to mind is that we each have a unique view and vision.  Embrace that and celebrate that and share that with others. 

So if this is my first collage of the year, that makes me wonder - what lies ahead? What is being called to appear on the horizon?  Only time will tell and I will share with you my next vision . 

I hope this finds you at peace and that you can find some magic in your life. Don’t let the darkness overwhelm you, there have always been dark times. But there have always been people doing good but the media may not be focused on them right now. Thank you for stopping by and wishing you all the best!