Astrology Day Blogathon 2010: A Cosmic Art Gallery

Hello and Welcome to A Cosmic Art Gallery published in honor of International Astrology Day Blogathon 2010!

You'll find Blogathon articles written by various astrologers which suggest practical solutions for the problems we all may encounter during the reign of the difficult Cardinal T-Square and Grand Cross patterns of planetary energies bedeviling our world 2010 - 2014.

Read to glean practical ideas for trying times from noted astrologers with special emphasis placed on the three planets involved in the Cardinal T-Square.

Here's the line-up of articles and the dates they go Live:

Friday March 19, Skywriter's Pluto Problems Got You Perplexed? Here's What Helps by Donna Cunningham.

Saturday March 20, Astroair's Look After Saturn and Saturn Will Look After You by Mandi Lockley.

Sunday March 21, Aunti Moon's Uranus in Aries: Claiming a Self Reliant Future by C. J. Wright.

Many other astrologers are taking part as well including astrologer Neeti Ray so be sure to check out Neeti's insightful work at Astrology Expressed.

Our Cosmic Art Gallery 2010 opens with a spinning Cosmic Art Cube featuring Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, Earth's Moon, and Jupiter - simply point to the Cube to spin, speed up, or slow down your view.

Then you'll find the Cube's 6 images displayed in full (below) along with a celestial illustration drawn in 1996, View from Cave Observatory, plus, a link to a rather psychedelic Secret Moon Art Kaleidoscope Slideshow being published in solidarity with all my fellow Flower Power Baby Boomers - and the rest of humanity, too!

A strong brew: Saturn in Libra opposing Uranus in Aries, squaring Pluto...



Saturn Spies the Moon

Uranian Road is a quirky path!

Now lumbering through Saturn-ruled Capricorn, red-hued Pluto Draws Near:



Yet affirmingly, here's a serene fairy cove lighted by Orion's Moon ...



Created during my own Jupiter Return of 1996, here is my previously published Merit Award winner in a city college exhibition during Atlanta's 1996 Olympic Games, Timeless Path, meant to add the faith of Jupiter to our Art-Astrology collaboration:



And last of the spinning Cosmic Art Cube's 6 images: Faceted in Space...



Image #7 is View from Cave Observatory which reminds me of Astrology's As Above, So Below principle now being used by my able colleagues to write their articles on the difficult energies affecting the collective as the Great Cosmic Clock of our Solar System times events here upon Earth and yields astrological clues about how best to manage our issues and concerns.



Now here is your invitation to view a special Secret Moon Art Kaleidoscope Slideshow of Moon-infused images, if you wish.

In addition, please check out my new Cosmic Flowers Slideshow if you find a free moment. This 'puzzle-style' presentation goes along with the Blogathon's Flower Essences suggestions for healing, soothing, and making it through life's storms.

And if you wish to browse you'll discover that 'Uranian Road' and other Cosmic Art images are now adorning T-Shirts, Ladies' Keds, Wall Art Posters, and more in my Zazzle Art Shop.

Well, thanks for clicking in and I sincerely hope you enjoyed my Cosmic Art Gallery set up for Astrology Day Blogathon 2010. My special thanks happily go to Donna Cunningham, C.J. Wright, and Mandi Lockley, all wonderful astrologers and writers, for inviting me to participate!

Jude Cowell

Athens, GA, USA, planet Earth, the Universe

Are You Ready for the March 2010 Astrology Day Blogathon?

Both Astrology and Art things are really simmering on the hob now in preparation for March 20's Spring Equinox 2010 as a variety of astrologers prepare informative articles for the 2010 Astrology Day Blogathon! If you read any Astrology at all, you know that Spring 2010 begins the difficult time period of Cardinal T-Square and Grand Cross energies which will last into 2014.

These patterns between Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto were also in effect during the Great Depression of the 1930s so full economic recovery may be remain on the backburner for a few more years, sad to say. Therefore, the 2010 Astrology Day Blogathon will contain articles on how best to navigate these difficult energies by way of practical solutions.

Plus, I am honored to be offering a little Cosmic and Moon Art to go along! More on that later.

Pictured above: Mystic Biscuit Tea Room which is my meager representation of a dream I had a while back: a cosmically inspired Tea Room serving teas, coffees, and steamy biscuits and jam, with for-sale Astrology books on the shelves, and my office tucked in back from whence I offer insightful Astrology consultations.

Ahhh! Yet so far it's only a dream and a drawing though I often have tea simmering on the hob. But from the looks of it I could use more customers, pass the butter!

So stay tuned for more details on the 2010 Astrology Day Blogathon and you may wish to keep current with Donna Cunningham's blog Skywriter for important updates on this upcoming online event which will provide Practical Ideas for Our Trying Times.

Cat in a Very Green Chair

Cat in a Very Green Chair by Jude Cowell may be downloaded for printing or for your desktop display at my Lulu Art Shop, if you like!

Plus, you may have heard that I have a Zazzle Art Shop, too, and it's always open so you're welcome to drop by any time @ your convenience.

Return of the 'Silver Tree'

Silver Tree is a drawing from 1996 when I using paper in the 18" x 22" or 20" x 24" sizes. But these days all my drawings are scanner bed size, know what I mean?

There are two reasons I think this image looks yellow-ish...it's third generation because it's been scanned from a slide (you do remember slides, right?), and back then I embossed most of my drawings with silver pencil (actually aluminum which stays silver-looking longer than an actual silver pencil could.)

Perhaps I should have titled it 'Aluminum Tree' but somehow that's not as...lyrical.

The original framed and matted Silver Tree has been described to me by more than one person as looking as if a unicorn might step out from behind the foliage.

Well, what do you think? Are you imagining any magical creatures in the forest? ;p

Take a 'Uranian Road' for Spring Equinox 2010!

Soon it will be time for the 1st annual International Astrology Blogathon scheduled for March 19 - 21, 2010. Various authors will present articles to aid us with the challenges brought by the now-forming T-Square pattern between heavyweights Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto.

This difficult planetary pattern will influence the collective off and on from 2010 - 2014 so practical ideas are in order from the most up-to-date astrologers around. The most helpful info will be gained by readers who have a copy of their own natal charts so that the houses involved may be noted yet Blogathon articles will be educational for everyone.

If you wish to keep updated on the Blogathon and its Aries Ingress 2010 celebrations visit Donna Cunningham at SkyWriter where it's all happening at the zoo...and with your Auntie Moon, C. J. Wright, helping coordinate, along with Mandi Lockley from Astroair Astrology.

Part of my own Blogathon 2010 contribution is a new drawing 'Uranian Road' which is now available as a small Art Poster for your wall, or as adornment upon an electric blue tote bag for stylishly transporting your Astrology books or other stuff. For as you undoubtedly know, one of Uranus' favorite colors is electric blue so grab a sneak peek of 'Uranian Road' by checking out my Zazzle Art Shop offerings.

And keep your eye peeled for this blog's Cosmic Art Gallery Opening specifically drawn and published for the International Astrology Blogathon 2010!

Cosmic Art Gallery Opening to be announced...

'Shroomhome on Silvery Tree Path

'Shroomhome on Silvery Tree Path is actually not one of the original drawings from an early attempt at writing and illustrating a children's book, it's a more recent effort.

No, I'm not certain at this point which of the story's characters lives here though perhaps it's the home of one of the Chimes Sisters who appear each Saturday evening at the Roasted Root Cafe, premiere gathering spot in the Great Lichen Forest!

'Secret Moon Art' Kaleidoscope Slideshow!

Welcome to the Secret Moon Art Kaleidoscope Slideshow 2010.

If the 1st Annual International Astrology Blogathon for March 2010 has inspired your visit, may I extend a Special Welcome to you!

Seventeen images of my oil and watercolour pencil drawings await your consideration and I hope you enjoy them any time but especially this Spring Equinox...aka, Aries Ingress 2010.

Jude Cowell

The International Astrology Blogathon is sponsored by Donna Cunningham and Friends. Donna may be found at her SkyWriter blog.

All images copyrighted by the artist; your use by permission only; convo: judecowell at gmail dot com

More of my Artwork and/or Astrology articles may be found at:

Jude's Zazzle Art Shop (original Art designs decorating apparel and other merchandise)
Cosmic Persona Designs (contains some Art images for 17+ years of age)
Two Hours You'll Never Get Back (a tapestry blog woven of various threads)
Stars Over Washington (Political/Mundane Astrology about America, Washington DC, and the politicians who infest them)
Lim's Limericks (political cat limericks with kitty photos complimentary)
Jude's Threshold (Art, Astrology, Politics, and News)

Shhhh! There's a Fairy at Work!

Don't move too quickly, you might disturb the Fairy at Work!

~:~

You may also like to visit Sepia Art Theater for Art, Drama, and Chocolates, or my two 'tapestry blogs' of various themes Two Hours You'll Never Get Back (don't fret, you will) and Jude's Threshold, both of which contain a little Astrology and Politics mushed in with a helping of Art.

Julia Howe tune w Rob Howe Christmas Art~video!

A dreamily beautiful tune by Julia Howe blended with Christmas Art Work by Rob Howe make this synthesis of Art & Sound a must for YouTube embedment here in my Secret Moon Art gallery. I couldn't resist and if you're yet to view and listen, you'll be thanking me for the shout-out. So...

...enjoy 3 minutes and 46 seconds of Joy from a brilliantly creative pair!

~:~

Disclaimer: this blog artist/author has no connection whatsoever to the artists here described, the Howes. I just think the Video Art and Song are perfect for our harrowing times - why not chillax for a few moments! You deserve it.

It helps to read a children's book. Preferrably read it to a small child (or two) but for Yourself Only is good, too.

The 7th Tree

The 7th Tree is the one unique from the rest...do you feel like a 7th tree?

How interesting! Tell me more...and click this post's title to visit my Art Shop @ Zazzle if you wish.

Spooky Fairy Night

Spooky Fairy Night, another artful offering on behalf of the upcoming winter season here in the Northern Hemisphere!

Remains of Kyle Castle barely stand - photo

Of Family Genealogy and stuff:

Oh dear! Guess this is all that remains of Kyle Castle in Great Britain and my Cowell-Kyle-Coel-Coil-Coyles-Coilus-Cole family members circa 2009 must be living elsewhere by now...let us hope.

A friend sent me this photo a while back and I don't know who snapped it. The pic may be from a website so if this is your work, you have only to let me know to receive a deserved photo cred, no problem!

Until then, I'll be sleeping in America where my ancestors migrated afar from their Old King Cole/King Coilus remembrances of long ago...such as...

King Coilus was King of the Britons in Roman times, I've read, and there were thought to be 3 of them - father, son, and grandson, at least one of which was an early astrologer. (This would apparently make me a late astrologer.)

In fact, if you know anything about Astrology charts, you're familiar with the terms Medium Coeli (Mc) and Immum Coeli (Ic) with 'coeli' meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' Well, you'd be under the heavens and stars for certain if you slept a night in Kyle Castle!

Interestingly, the ancient city of Colchester may figure in to the legends somewhere, and although I've seen Colchester featured on PBS' Rick Steves travel program, I have yet to walk its narrow streets in search of a distant cousin or two. But I do know that if you say 'Kyle' or 'Kile' with the right accent, you get what in America sounds like 'Coil.'

And few believe its verity, yet I've read that when William the Conqueror first arrived in England one of his men struck the land (presumably with his sword) and is said to have been given the surname Strickland ('Strike land'.) Funny that, since my Dad's mother was a Strickland. William built Colchester Castle in 1076 on Roman ruins - the Temple of Claudius - to give it strength which must have worked since it's available for touching if you but go there and lay your hand upon it.

Yes, these old chieftains of Eire are sometimes known as Coel Hen - Coel the Old) which I assume to be an 'Old King Cole' reference, but who knows? It was all so many centuries ago.

Plus, it may be the case that King Coilus' daughter
Helen married - or birthed, I never remember which - Emperor Constantine and both of them went mad for Christianity as promoted by the Catholic Church. (I say that because in America my family has been firmly Protestant for as long as we can remember! Yet back across the ages and the seas to Ye Olde Country, who knows? Druids, perhaps? ;p)

Well, you may wish to merrily check out more ancient history about King Cole and Roman Britain at Wikipedia, but Bing or Google for more links and sites where some industrious folks have traced their lineages back to ancient Britain, but most are just full of misty history.

Now perhaps you've never read the Page in the sidebar column of my Word Press blog wherein I detail the harrowing evening of my entry into the space/time flux of Planet Earth. You see, a personal name asteroid Cowell arose that evening, a few minutes later I was born, then asteroid Judith arose a few minutes later.

And who synchronistically named the little squalling babe on that dark winter's night? My Dad, of course, for he obviously knew a fellow Cowell when he saw one!

~:~

Disclaimer: no ancient chieftains or merry fiddles were harmed in the typing of this post; spelling of author's family name has been slightly adjusted to echo its astrological spelling, Cowell, and 'Jude' is short for Judith. jc

Have you more Coel-Cowell-Coil-Kyle info? Contact: judecowell at gmail dot com

Red banded wrasse says, Fish Art as apparel? Yeah!

A small Red banded wrasse has floated in to say, check out my Zazzle Art Shop for botanically drawn fish designs on various products and apparel! Can fish make good mousepads? you ask. Why, yes they can and do.

Plus, here's a heads-up direct from me to you:

A new Links List has appeared in Secret Moon Art's sidebar column containing a few of my favorite Zazzle Shops - more will be added soon - so do swim over the 'net when you can and visit their wildlife offerings and wonderful nature paintings, too.

Or you may wish to check out my designs at Cafe Press, if you prefer their site.

After all, gift-giving season nears, y'know!

meander down Blue Winter's Path

Blue Winter's Path will be here soon...

Come browse my Fine Art America Portfolio of drawings before the snows set in!

~:~

Update Dec 21, 2009: my excellent friend, libramoon, has penned a few lines of lovely wintry prose to go with the above scene...I turn you over to libramoon:

Traveling eternal twilight's hidden path
ever verging on ecstatic realization
touch to cold, to wisping snow, to winter
dreams barely beneath faith-scented falling sky
echoing life, sending faint refrain from shadow
beyond the winds of winter's night.

Visit libramoon's e-zine Emerging Visions for cosmically inspired Art and amazing flash Poetry!

'2 Comets' Necktie from Zazzle.com

'2 Comets' Necktie from Zazzle.com

Shared via AddThis

Are mature artists welcome in the World of Art?

Is it more convenient for the world of Art and art auction houses if mature artists simply retire from their creative pursuits and fade fade away?

Still Prime Time? discusses the topic of artists' later works with Picasso as a prime example of what can happen when creative people dare to age and paint.

Does their work even hold up as being purchase-worthy?

Is the market for their efforts diluted by their extended availability?

Well, read the article for more details, but I say that humankind doesn't create Art as much as use it to express who we really are inside. And I didn't realize there were limitations on it because I thought we were meant to become more of who we are as our lives go on.

Actually some artists, famous and otherwise, use their involvement in the creative process - whatever medium they prefer - as a way of transcending life's difficulties such as illness, lack of resources, a dearth of love, a lonely lifestyle...you know - human problems. And if the world presents someone who wishes to purchase such artwork, who are auction houses or galleries to stop them? Should anyone's age be a factor in the transaction if the eyes are satisfied?

Okay, I'm babbling, and didn't expect to become this animated about the topic. Must be my middle-agedness speaking through a lifelong habit of drawing for which I will not apologize!

So whether you like my creations or not, I shall go on creating them, for not to transcribe the visualized images in my brain onto paper is more of a nuisance than to perpetrate whatever forms a blank sheet of paper conjures...such as this old favorite, Moonrise at the Crossroads, just in time for Oct 7, 2009's 160th anniversary of the mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe.

Oh! and Halloween approacheth you know.



Then, if you can take a bit of Poetry with your Art, here's a fresh rhyme just published today titled, An Ode to Readers of Poe, so curl up with your wine or tea cup - or your wine in a tea cup - and think of Edgar Allan Poe, Father of the Modern Detective Novel.

A Private Art Show for SkyWriter Readers!

Here are 7 drawings with astrological flavorings by Jude Cowell - you'll see that #5 is my illustration of the Sabian Symbol for 12 Cancer: 1. Pattillo Armadillo and the Dream of Green (children's book cover) 2. Diluvian Flux 3. Chiron Returns 2027-28 4. Neptune Ascends 5. A Chinese Woman Nursing a Baby with a Message 6. Lonely Wanderer (leaves his cave to share The Light) 7. Timeless Path (city Merit Award recipient, 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games) Click an image to enlarge: So who's Pattillo Armadillo? His dummy book was under consideration in 2004 a New York publishing house, but his hero's journey North didn't quite fit their list at that time. Kudos for the illustrations though! Many thanks to you, Donna Cunningham, and your SkyWriter readers for browsing my Astrology-tinged Cosmic and Moon Art drawings! Jude Cowell 10.1.09 @7:40 pm edt All images copyrighted by artist 2009+

Primula vialii says, 'view Jude's Zazzle Art Shop'

Here's a small clump of Primula vialii swaying under the moonlight with a fairy visitor nearby...

And be sure to check out my brand new Art Shop at Zazzle when you feel an Art browse coming on.

There you'll find Dreamyfish Wall Art Posters at the moment, and you're welcome to use Zazzle's spiffy Customize It! button to morph my designs into whatever products you wish...just click on the image you'd like to work with and Voila! we're design buds!

Cosmic, Moon, and Fairy images are coming to my Zazzle Shop very soon, so do check back often with a hopeful gleam in your aesthetically sensitive eye...

Jude Cowell 9.29.09

All Art copyrighted 2009+ so please play nice.

Purple trillium, a botanical drawing

Here's a close-up of my drawing, Purple trillium and yes, I know trillium usually grow in clumps but I wanted my drawing to feature the little fellow in his own cosmically inspired portrait...fairy visitor is complimentary!

This drawing displays my usual and favorite artistic blend of real (flower) with imaginary (fairy and scenery) so if you speak astrologese, you'll know it's a Saturn/Neptune kind of thing. Right?

Timeless Path

Timeless Path, my entry in a city exhibition during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia; recipient of a Merit Award.

This drawing sold as the exhibition opened yet through tech magic, you see here an image of it.

Effects are achieved with Prismacolor oil and Rexel Derwent watercolour pencils on black paper, and embossed with silver oil pencil by Spectracolor (aluminum, actuallly) which gives the drawing its depth, along with the spiritual quality that only black paper can bring.

If you like to draw, just try using black paper and see for yourself!

'Nine Leaves' for Twyla's Toilette

Funny, but Nine Leaves was the working title of this drawing which eventually morphed into a completed image that you may view if you like and are 17+ of age.

Not that its finished version, titled Twyla's Toilette, is racy in nature, but you just may encounter an Adult Content Warning from Blogger due to the sassier images in the Cosmic Persona Designs gallery...but it's all artsy drawings, no photography allowed (by me. Not interested, don't even ask.)

So just bravely click through if you wish to view Twyla at her dressing table with the Moon shining through the circular window...

Jude Cowell 9.8.09 1:40 am edt

(That's Coh' wull, not 'Cow' as in moo cow or Simon. Thnx for understanding.)

Masks as Art ~ Blue Masks

As a mask-as-art-theme lover myself, I find it impossible to rave enough over what I just discovered, so I simply say that you must rush yourself over to check out the progress of Jesse's Mask Project without the slightest hesitation or delay.

They're phantastic and blue!




Mask of the Cosmos, a drawing's image previously published here and elsewhere. No, it isn't The Art of Jesse but only my own, because that is what I had on hand and in file, and because masks are the theme of this post!

Were that there were more Art Masks in the world and much fewer of the psychological kind....

jc 9.5.09 8:02 pm edt Saturday, the Sabbath

Have you an 'Evening Path' to take?

Have you an Evening Path to take beside a lake for goodness' sake?
As shadows lengthen will you pine perhaps recline near fairy's vine?

A primrose fair is nestled there to ease all care beyond compare
I'll leave a sign for you to find a breadcrumb rhyme along Life's line.


Jude Cowell 2009+ 9.2.09 4:10 pm edt a fabled swan song nears...

On 'Burning Man' Art and Handspun Yarns

Here's a Sunday Art Shout-out just for you:

NYC's Agora Art Gallery's blog has a new post on 'Burning Man' Art and temporary community which may be of interest to you.


Why, Hello There, You! Come here much?

Alpaca, a portrait snapped by Maya whose Etsy Store of handspun and dyed yarns is well worth a visit, especially if you're a dedicated knitter who loves yarns with names like 'Red Delicious' and 'Asian Pear' so do drop in when you can - you'll find that Maya's photo prints and notecards are available as well.

Parma bicolor says, Hi there!

Hey! How'd that fish get into this gallery?

It's a little Parma bicolor fellow, floating in from Dreamyfish Art to invite you for a swim party where you can meet his cousins, the lovely tropical fish of Western Australia!

And you may wish to check out my Art Storefront when you have a mo...

What makes you so special?

'Conceptual Art: you deserve to have to look at it as much as the next guy' by Jude Cowell.

Saturn Night~Purple Violets, a Children's Felt Activity Book

Here I sit typing late in the evening (after midnight actually), and wondering if you've ever seen this scanned image - it's the center page of one of my Felt Activity Books, this one made for Little Miss Violet whose Bubbles-In-Waiting Tutorial may be the gloriously sudsy solution for all your low-spirited spots and smudges!

~:~

Note: planet, lower left, is actually Dark Red in color and doubles as a pouch where the stars 'hide' when the book is put away, only to be placed up in the night sky next time around by a delightfully designing child.

Parental supervision is required until a suitable age; not for under 4 years old. Ordering is Limited, contact: judecowell at gmail dot com. Prices in $100 - $150 range (+ shipping) due to the individualism of each book; pages have a variety of scenes and activities. Exs: apples from tree to barrel; fish and starfish swimming with seaweed, numbers and letters, flowers, and more.

Your child's name becomes the book's title as in, Violet's Book. Fun!

~:~

And if you're partial to botanical fish portraits, please visit the gallery at Dreamyfish Art if you wish to fish a while and wiggle your toes in the water of Art.

>I prefer 'awhile' but I shall bow to convention. Maybe it's a Southeastern thing. Or perhaps it's only an innate laziness.

jc 8.14.09 12:30 am edt

Secret Moon Art says: Hello, Indonesia!

Today I'm taking note of this blog's Flag Counter stats in the sidebar and Indonesia has visited Secret Moon Art more often than the US or other nations - how cool is that? ;p



Detail of Minerva's Glen, by Jude Cowell 2009+.

Mrs. Cholmondeley cordially invites you to Tuesday Tea

~:~:~:~

Are you surprised that Mrs. Cholmondeley of the Clematis Family has dropped by to visit you again and invite you to Tuesday Tea?

The lady may be of the Charleston Clematises, but I'm not certain.


And did you know that Lulu has returned to town?

Liberty Cries (collage)

This is an image of a paper collage titled, Liberty Cries, but you may call it whatever you like.

All Art perpetrated by Jude Cowell copyright 2009+


An Art Storefront awaits you if you're at leisure for a browse...

Ballet Collage from 1991 re-scanned in 2009

Ballet Collage, completed in 1991, is here copied, scanned, and published for you in black & white. The original collage (paper) is larger than my current scanner bed so scanning a copy of it is as good as it gets!

One thing I enjoy about paper collages (running across old ones in particular) is that they can function later on as a small sort of Time Capsule for the societal concerns and topics of the day on which they were created; in this case, 18 years ago.

(Warning: there may be dinosaurs afoot! Click to enlarge image.)


So do you collage, lone reader? Well, I recommend trying it, if you haven't, because it's a barrel of monkeys even without your toe shoes.

Plus, Collage Mirage is available for your inner collager as well.

Hyper-Flora: the drawing

Now here's an oddly surrealistic view of the world called, Hyper-Flora.

drawing by jude cowell 2009++

Path to an Unknown Land: new drawing!

Now here is a good example of how some of my 'paths'n'portals' drawings look as they're in the early stages of development...as you see, you're on the precipice!

Path to an Unknown Land (which looks quite mysterious and 'unknown' with the distant landscape unsketched, doesn't it?) will be completed and published here as soon as I can find the inspiration and some drawing time to devote. And no, I have no idea at this moment where its path will lead.

Until then, click the title of this post to visit my latest blog where you'll discover a few of my drawings on display in the sidebar... Jude

~:~

Update 2.16.11: check out my latest blog creation, a science-y/poem-y concoction Woolly Mammoth Chronicles if you dare! jc

Come to magical Blue Tree Forest!

Here are two views of the enchanted Blue Tree Forest for you to wander in!


All drawings on this blog by Jude Cowell copyright 2009 and beyond...Use by artist's permission only.

Cat Archaeologist: a collage

~:~
Have you seen this collage before? It's entitled, Cat Archaeologist for obvious reasons!

Or is it? (Click to enlarge.)

Fairies Visit Goldfish Pond!

Fairies Visit Goldfish Pond, a drawing by Jude Cowell 2009+; an original illustration from Pattillo Armadillo and the Dream of Green.

Adam Lambert video: Mad World

In an unsual move for Secret Moon Art the video of Adam Lambert's rendition of Mad World is being posted here for you to enjoy in case you've been underground for months and haven't seen his performance from the 2009 season of American Idol.

As you've heard, Wednesday night was the AI finale of the competition and Kris Allen gained the crown rather than Adam. Then a headline I noticed afterward called Kris the 'dark horse' but someone must be messin' with our minds because archetypally Adam Lambert plays the dark one, with Kris a lighter version of The Singer archetype.

So oddly enough, it was the 'light horse' pulling ahead of the shoo-in, as some would say. Even Kris seemed surprised - yet with a Rx Mercury 26Tau+ now conjunct the degree of difficult Fixed Star, Algol, the vote (Mercury) may come under dispute or review in some way (Rx.)

Yet on another level, the Mercury/Algol link could be a reference to the strength of young voters going in another direction than expected and full of life force.

Squeaky Clean v Dark Dream. Now how often on this old planet does Squeaky Clean take the worldly prize?


Changing Channels: Politics and the National Archives Security Breach

Then there's the unfortunate revelation that millions of personal records and info have disappeared from America's National Archives in Washington, DC.

Supposedly someone's back got turned as the Clinton administration records were being digitally tranferred to the NA hard drive - and one of 100 staffers (or the janitor, visitors, interns, and your Aunt Granny Fanny) could have moseyed through on a tour or perhaps going to the restroom.

Quite a thoroughfare in which to leave unattended a sensitive national hard drive. And if you're thinkin' what I'm thinking, it's: first they steal the money, now it's the Archives with our Social Security #s - once again we're caught with our knickers down yet it's someone else doing the mooning (at us suckers.)

Oh well! Affected individuals will be notified, so keep your cell phone primed and wait for their text message if you're one of the lucky ones.

And the acting director for the Archives has been called to testify on Capitol Hill on Thursday, May 21, 2009, so let's have Adrienne Thomas explain all the what what she can about the this inexcusable matter which could very well be treason.

A Portrait of Golden Chanterelles

Golden Chanterelles, a pencil portrait by Jude Cowell 2009+.

Mystical moonbeams complimentary!

Secret Moon Art now has multiple Followers!

Abandoned Garden with Peonies is appearing again to say Hello to Secret Moon Art's TWO discriminating Followers so check out their particulars in the sidebar to your right!

~:~

All Art Images are drawings by Jude Cowell 2009+ unless they're photos taken by Maya.

And my latest blog is Two Hours You'll Never Get Back, a tapestry blog woven from many subjects, so do drop by whenever you may.

A view of The Great Lichen Forest

Here's Pattillo Armadillo as he scampers toward the Great Lichen Forest, his hero's journey almost complete!

Illustration from 'Pattillo Armadillo and the Dream of Green,' my unpublished children's book which traveled to NYC to be considered for Little, Brown's publication list 2004/05.

Drawing by Jude Cowell 2009+

Relax! and stroll down another Cosmic Art Path to a magical forest where Indian pipes bloom enticingly from the forest's mulchy floor.

And here you may see the celestial sights that Pattillo enjoyed when he stopped at the Turquoise Observatory during his hero's journey to the Great Lichen Forest!

With or without fairies, Children's Art is so fun, isn't it?

The thing about my character, Pattillo - he can never see the fairies all around him (armadillos have notoriously bad eyesight, more's the pity, but they make up for it in other ways), yet you, Lone Viewer, may always spot a fairy or two flitting about and watching over the little fellow!

Temple of the Great Stone Face: Venus, Moon, and Mars at '30Pisces'

'Temple of the Great Stone Face' is a drawing meant to represent Astrology's Sabian Symbol for '30 Pisces' the degree of April 22, 2009's Moon-Venus Occultation - when Venus disappears behind the Moon - and marks the conjunction of Venus (attraction) and Mars (desire) for a romantic rendezvous, planetary-style.

And...Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day 2009 as well!

That's a lot of planetary action occurring at one little degree out of the 360 degrees of the zodiac, isn't it?

Here I quote from Marc Edmund Jones' version of the Symbols for '30 Pisces' which ends the full cycle/circle of the zodiac and butts against the Aries Point of Prominence (00 Aries00):

'The Great Stone Face'...a symbol of human responsibility as an immortality of the soul, and of a way of living which has become a continual manifestation of its ideal and so a constant dramatization of its self-discovery to others as an encouragement to them in their own alignment to eternal reality.

Each individual selects the image within himself to which he would shape himself outwardly, and this he comes to resemble as in Nathaniel Hawthorne's tale. Destiny is character as it most persistently constitutes itself.

Keyword: DISCERNMENT...

positive expression: self-integrity in its irresistible impact on the course of events;

neg/unconscious/shadow side: wholly inarticulate and ineffectual self-realization.

The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Dr. Marc Edmund Jones.

Drawing by Jude Cowell 2009+: Prismacolor oil and Rexel Derwent watercolour pencils on paper.

Violet in black and white!

Suddenly I was in the mood to see how this photo of a little girl I know named Violet would turn out when scanned in black and white, and published on a dark background.

Imagine the intensely blue eyes!

Pretty, yes?

'Shroomhome of Merri Chimes

A view of the 'Shroomhome of Merri Chimes, a drawing done quite some time ago for a children's dummybook which never escaped from my studio.

(A 'dummybook' or 'book dummy' is a mock-up of your children's book effort with text and illustrations, if you have them.)

Titled, Silvery Tree Path, the book concerns Roscoe Woodhouse and other characters who live in the Great Lichen Forest. Merri, one of the Chimes Sisters, lives along Silvery Tree Path as you see and is a songstress along with her sisters in the evenings at the Roasted Root Cafe.

This image is from a photograph of the original rendering which is rather large - appr 20" x 24" - and this particular published version is actually from a scanned slide. So that is what gives it a yellowish tinge here...that and the fact that all Silvery Tree Path illustrations are embossed with silver (aluminum) pencil!

Od Collage - for the Odyle Force of Life

An Od Collage by Jude Cowell 2009+ in honor of the quaint 19th century notion of the Odyle or Od Force...the life force which astrologically I would have to relate to Uranus (Ouranos), the creative spark or genius in a horoscope, and planet of electricity and eccentricity.