Valentine’s Day : Jill Berry Blog

This Valentine was made about 1916, about 45 years after the greeting card for this holiday became popular. Now it is second only to Christmas, billions of cards per year. Yesterday I received three Valentines from arty friends, this is such a huge benefit to being in the art community. Last week I also received a crock pot cookbook from Deedee, just as I entered the door with a brisket that I did not know how to cook. I just love love love my girlfriends.

Yesterday my family and I went skiing. The sky was blue, the snow pretty fabulous and it was just cold enough to wear all the layers and a scarf. I am not a good skier, so I don’t go higher than the blue runs, but even one of those kicked my butt yesterday. It was called “Jolly Jugs” but for me it was not so jolly. I cracked my head on one fall, and have a pain in the neck literally today. That said, I had a helmet and my brain seems to be working. I thought about a lot of people yesterday that cannot ski, and made a point to myself to enjoy it to the fullest, for me and for them.

My studio is covered with parts of projects. I am making Gypsy houses, vending stuff for Artfest, maps for Artfest, kits for Artfest and notebooks for my Personal Geographies class in two weeks at Denver University. Then of course I have to make a postcard for Carla, and here it is.

Carla card 72

These images are inspired by the Aboriginal drawings and fabrics of Australia that my Auntie Ann brought back from her trip there. I get a lot out of copying and rearranging things I see, I always have. When you can’t think of something new to draw, copy something (the Old Masters did it this way, they called it apprenticeship). It keeps you moving, and your hand learns things you might otherwise not learn. Pick an artist and try it out, or maybe you already did that in 2 Dimensional Design in College. That might have been, just saying, a bit of time ago, so try it again.

Happy Day, to all of us who are well, and praying day for those of us who are not. I need healing energy for my friends Nancy, Deandra, Dana, Judy, and Lisa. Blessings to all.