• About
  • Books I’m Reading (or have just read)…
  • Top Posts…

Satin & Sand

~ Reflections on Beauty

Satin & Sand

Category Archives: Art

Aspirational weight…

31 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Aspirational weight, Female body, Nude, Nude watercolor, Steve Maraboli, Weight

© Joan Currie Nude watercolor

There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty. – Steve Maraboli

When I renewed my driver’s license recently, I was surprised at the weight listed on the new license. I had made no changes during the renewal process, so all of the information was the same as it was several years ago. Was the weight listed my true weight at the time or an aspirational weight? If it were an aspirational weight, I wonder by how much? Short of requisitioning my medical records, I truly have no idea!

Making do with what you have…

10 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Photography, Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Art, Art supplies, Saluda, South Carolina, Watercolor brush

© Joan Currie – Saluda, South Carolina

Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.

Over the last several years I have taken many online and in-person art and craft classes. Instructors routinely have provided students with a list of materials needed for each class. At first I thought it was necessary to buy everything on the list, but unfortunately, practically every instructor had a different set of material preferences so the cost of the more expensive supplies became prohibitive. I finally decided to start making do with what I had.
One of my favorite mop brushes came from the town of Saluda, South Carolina. I was walking along the side of a dirt road when I noticed a very large, and thankfully dead, rattlesnake in my path. Oddly, next to the rattlesnake lay a watercolor mop brush. Although it had seen better times – the wooden handle was chipped in many places and the ferrule was dented, the bristles appeared intact. I snatched it up and quickly moved on! On closer examination, the bristles were soft and full, and it has turned out to be the best brush in my stash for doing large color washes.
I have made similar but not so exciting finds at Goodwill, garage sales, and in nature. Not having all the designated workshop supplies has not been a barrier to entry for my creative pursuits. In fact, sometimes the found supplies have been the most enjoyable to use!

Welcoming My Muse…

26 Friday Feb 2021

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Creative, Marc Chagall, Muse, watercolor

My Muse watercolor © Joan Currie

I had only to open my bedroom window, and blue air, love, and flowers entered with her. – Marc Chagall

Merely opening the window does not ensure that my Muse will arrive – she is attracted by genuine intent. So when she appears, I am truly grateful. And if she appears after my opus is complete, she still guides me on my creative journey, which is never-ending.

One of my favorite Chagall paintings, Les Amoureux (1928), is discussed https://youtu.be/5v7C2nMnZjc

Home for Christmas…

23 Wednesday Dec 2020

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Crafts, Design, Photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christmas, Humber River, I'll be Home for Christmas, Michael Bublé, Old Mill Bridge, Toronto

© David Dodds – Old Mill Bridge, Toronto

I am dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it’s a long road back
I promise you 

I’ll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.
from I’ll be Home for Christmas by Gannon, Kent, and Ram
sung here by Michael Bublé 

Best wishes to those who have been in lockdown and have perhaps spent too much time at home this year.
And Godspeed to those finding their way home in time for Christmas.

Finding time…

20 Sunday Dec 2020

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Crafts, Design, Photography, Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Art, Creativity, Georgia O'Keeffe, Photography, Reflections

© James Currie

To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage. – Georgia O’Keeffe

Grateful for a day dedicated to my creative pursuits…

Image

Eye_ology

30 Saturday May 2020

Behind the Mask by Joan Currie

Behind the mask @Joan Currie

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

Thanks to all our healthcare workers – true heroes!

Posted by Satin & Sand | Filed under Art, Coronavirus pandemic, Isolation, Photography, Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

Tea Time…

24 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Design, Food, Photography

≈ Comments Off on Tea Time…

Tags

Afternoon tea, Tea ceremony, Tea time

Navy teacup by Joan Currie

Teacup in acrylic © Joan Currie

The Tea Party

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
‘Twas very small-
Three guests in all – 
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
‘Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.

By Jessica Nelson North (1891-1988)

A lovely cup of tea punctuates the day…

You, on the other side…

21 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by Satin & Sand in Art, Reflections, Relationships, Writing

≈ Comments Off on You, on the other side…

Tags

Art, Grieving, Loss of loved one, Memories, Mixed media, Poetry, Remembering, Woman with Roses

Lauren in Joshua Tree

Lauren DiMarco at Joshua Tree

 Still Too Sharp
by Joan Currie

My memories of you are like shards of glass, 
they have to be handled very carefully.
Fearing that if I were to sustain a wound,
the bleeding would never stop…

A life worth living…

16 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by Satin & Sand in Aging, Art, Design, Garden, Reflections

≈ Comments Off on A life worth living…

Tags

Alfred Austin, Art, Charcoal sketch, Poetry, Summer, Youth

Joan Currie Iris

African White Iris © Joan Currie

When Summer, lingering half-forlorn,
On Autumn loves to lean,
And fields of slowly yellowing corn
Are girt by woods still green;
When hazel-nuts wax brown and plump,
And apples rosy-red,
And the owlet hoots from hollow stump,
And the dormouse makes its bed;
from Is Life Worth Living? – by Alfred Austin

This poem brought me back to the delicious summers of my childhood…

RP-T-1948-88

A lasting fragrance…

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Satin & Sand in Aging, Art, Fashion, Photography, Reflections, Relationships, Writing

≈ Comments Off on A lasting fragrance…

Tags

Aging, Fashion, Lauren DiMarco, Longfellow, Photography, Poetry, Time

Party dress by Joan Currie

Party dress @ Joan Currie

Maiden, that read’st this simple rhyme, Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay; Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime, For oh, it is not always May!

from It Is Not Always May by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sometimes it is hard not to lament the passing of time…

Getty image

Getty image

← Older posts

Archives

Copyright © 2010 – 2021 Joan Currie/Satin & Sand. All rights reserved. Do not use or reproduce without permission. Thank you!

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×