Stalemate - Word Offering

Pink cherry blossom laden branches
And yellow daffodils speak of spring
While winter's cloak of white still clings
To frost-weary, snow-capped mountains

A reluctant meeting of two seasons
One bashful, not yet fully awakened
The other still holding on with icy grip
Each one waiting on the other

© Copyright 2007 B.Y. Penman. All rights reserved.

Ghosted - New Digital Abstraction

Beyond - Word Offering

My tag overflows
With all the things that I am
And those I am not
To live beyond the labels
Is the path I choose to walk

© BYP 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Soggy Third Day of Spring

It sure doesn't feel much like spring here in soggy British Columbia. Although the trees have started to bud, the temperature is around 47'F and it's expected to stay like this for the next several days. We get that heavy, grey socked in feeling with low lying clouds that cling to the mountains out here where I live. If you can look beyond the dismal grey sky, the low lying clouds can be quite beautiful.

Here's a picture I took from the window of our hotel room on the last respite trip my husband and I took. You can see the mountains that surround us and the way the clouds hug them.

It's been unusually wet and grey this winter, and I can honestly say I've been homesick for California weather. I used to live there in the 80's and have fond memories of the San Francisco Bay area and the weather. Sure, it rains there in the winter too but it's not the same bone chilling damp rainy weather that we have up here.

To help get myself in a spring mindset, I created this abstract image of spring's first crocuses and wrote a haiku to match. Yesterday, to celebrate the first day of spring, I made the finished haiga (haiku and artwork) available for purchase through Savvyology Designs. It's as much a positive affirmation and short prayer for personal renewal as it is a simple haiku.

Renewed Haiku Affirmation © BYP 2007

New Cavern Blossoms Series

Here is a look at two pieces from the new Cavern Blossoms series I recently completed. They are abstract digital paintings, as opposed to photomanipulations. I chose a vibrant, cheerful palette for this series, and I'm extremely pleased with the entire set of images.

To view the rest of the images and purchase prints please click on one of the pictures and it will take you over to my deviantArt gallery.

~ B.Y. Penman



Cavern Blossom 3 by ~Savvyology on deviantART

Cavern Blossom 5 by ~Savvyology on deviantART

Waiting In The Wings - Word Offering

Spring waits in the wings
Behind veiled curtains of rain
Soon its time to dance

© BYP 2007


   

Favorite of The Week - Finding Your Purpose

While setting up and exploring my new link tiles and profile on linktiles.com, I became curious about the man behind the project and free service for us independent creative folks. It turns out that Wayne Wirs is a photographer and author of a book titled Fading Toward Enlightenment. To learn more about him and his various projects please check the links offered below.

My favorite inspirational find of the week that I felt compelled to pass along and share is this short movie titled Finding Your Purpose. It is a slick, well presented combination of beautiful photographs and down-to-earth advice for finding your purpose in life.

Learn more about PeaceCause.org & Wayne Wirs.

Growing Collection of Original Art Ties

Here's a look at my growing collection of original abstract art ties. The patterns and designs on the ties are based on my original digital abstractions and bear the name of the original piece. You can click on each of these ties and be taken to my Zazzle gallery for more information and pricing.




Double click on magnify to see a closeup detailed view of each tie.

New Poster Prints - Temperance Undone

Temperance Undone © BYP 2007

Here is the new digital abstraction, titled Temperance Undone, that I've added to my ArtistRising & Printpop galleries. It is a vibrant unbound exploration of form and colour.

Poster Sizes & Prices at PrintPop.com

Small	18"x24"	$19.99 USD
Medium	27"x36"	$24.99 USD
Large	33"x44"	$29.99 USD

Poster Sizes & Prices at ArtistRising.com They offer a choice of mat & frame options.

20" x 16" $19.99

10" x 8" $9.99

Shattered - Word Offering

I've decided to start posting the haiku, senryu and other verse I write here on my professional blog. I generally only post these on my personal Northern Ruminations blog but think it important to share here as well.

Like many creative people, I struggle with finding time for my art and writing. My life is very full and can easily pull me off in other directions, leaving little or no time for quiet reflection or creative pursuits. When I'm caught up in all the hustle and bustle and rushing around something as simple as a broken glass can remind me to stop, slow down and be in the moment.


Shards of broken glass
Such perfect shattered moments
Force me to slow down

© BYP 2007

This Week's Favorite - Motivational Article About Doing the Work That You Love

I stumbled across this article and thought it well worth sharing here in my blog as my favorite inspirational tidbit of the week.


Motivational Article - Doing the work that you love

by Vered (Tanmayo) Neta

As a child, I remember my father, sitting in his room, surrounded by his books, writing. His work was his love. Later in his life, when most people have retired, he was up early in the morning, busy with his work. It gave him, both a meaning to life and kept him young. My mother never liked her teaching job, although she was very successful. She retired early and kept searching for satisfaction, without success. She became bitter and sad. Until today I cherish the lesson I learned from them: "Find a job that is your hobby, your art." As children we all wanted to be somebody. A fireman, a pilot, an artist. As we grew up, we realized that our job must also pay our financial and social bills. So we sold our passion and love for stability and security. We rationalize by saying that 'work is work', and pleasure will come later. But does it? When was the last time you found the time and energy to do the things that you really care for? What if your work could follow your heart's desire? What if you could really do what you love to do? Finding it might be difficult, as we have lost touch with what we enjoy most. It has been too long since we have given ourselves the chance to connect to it. So, how about taking some time off and instead of complaining about your job, start searching what it is that you love doing. Find out what is it that you are good at, where your talents lie and what comes both naturally and easily to you. Recall childhood activities that you once loved. Become aware of the situations that bring out the best in you. Discover what values are important to you and what you would like to see manifested in your work. Once you have created a framework for those activities, talents and abilities, in which you excel (as well as those values that you wish to express in your work), start investigating what sort of work expresses them to their fullest potential. Allow yourself to be creative; don't dwell in the area of "sensibilities". Allow yourself to be open; as opposed to reasoning everything. Communicate to the world the type of work you wish to have. You will be surprised at how much support you will receive, once you clarify your wishes. When you do the work you love, it becomes easy and effortless, because work becomes a source of energy rather than a drain. You continuously grow and develop while creating for yourself a space of love and friendship. You tap into your creativity therefore remaining young and alive. So how about making your hobby your work?!

Article by: Nisandeh Neta, founder of Open Circles, an international center for personal-growth and leadership.
Visit http://www.opencircles.nl to learn more about how you can make a difference, through living your dreams.

---

Discovery by BY Penman - New Items at Zazzle

In addition to cafepress, I have other merchandise available for purchase through zazzle.com. Here is a look at the gift items embellished with my Discovery abstract artwork. A large version of the image is available on canvas or as a framed and matted print. I love the abstract tie. Very pleased with their product creation interface. I played with colour a bit and jazzed up some of the items for fun. Hope you enjoy them.



~ B.Y. Penman

New Yin Yang Inspired Artwork Available at Savvyology Designs

Helical Yin & Helical Yang are now available through Savvyology Designs.

Here's a peek at the magnets.

© BYP 2007

If you're interested in seeing other items and posters with these zen like, Yin Yang inspired abstract images please stop by the shop. I've been getting a lot of very positive feedback from visitors and would like to pass along a heartfelt thank you to those of you who've purchased items and offered feedback. The positive support is greatly appreciated.

Helical Yin & Helical Yang Design Page

~ B.Y. Penman

Don't Miss the Graphic Gifts

In addition to original poetry gifts, Savvyology Designs sells the original abstract artwork of B.Y. Penman. Stop by the shop and check out the selection of abstract graphic mugs, framed abstract prints, decorative housewares, graphic t-shirts, and more. Here is a brief glimpse at some of the items offered.

Favorite of The Week

Here is this week's favorite. Mr Picassohead is a playful creative diversion from work. You can save your creations and email them to yourself or friends. Here's one of mine that can be viewed in the online gallery. Title: Man in Yellow

New Spiritual Haiku & Artwork - Sunlight

Sunlight © BYP 2007 - All rights Reserved


Here is a peek at the newest poem and design added to the shop. Sunlight is a haiga. For an explanation of what haiga is please look below. Many of my pieces are haigas. I enjoy combining my abstract images with haiku. Sometimes the art and haiku compliment each other and sometimes they appear entirely unrelated. That is the beauty of haiga.

In this case, I worked at pairing a complimentary image with this spiritual haiku. One that would punctuate the simple intensity of the poem without overshadowing or distracting.

The haiku itself was inspired by a view of the mountains on a typical dark-grey cloudy day up here in the Pacific Northwest. On a drive through the valley, I saw a long sliver of sunlight wrapped around the side of a mountain and the words began to form themselves into a haiku to capture that beautiful vision and moment in time.

~ B.Y. Penman

What is haiga?

"Haiga, the combination of haiku and art, is nearly as old as haiku itself. Haiga began as haiku added to paintings, but included in Japan the calligraphic painting of haiku via brushstrokes, with the calligraphy adding to the power of the haiku. Earlier haiku poets added haiku to their paintings, but Bashō is noted for creating haiga paintings as simple as the haiku itself. Yosa Buson, a master painter, brought a more artistic approach to haiga. Haiga poet-artists followed either of these approaches.

Today, artists have combined haiku with paintings, photographs and other art media."

Quoted from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

The Story Behind The "Puns Are Fun Buns Are Fun Too" T-shirt

Some of you might be curious about the silly "Puns Are Fun Buns are Fun Too" design being sold through Savvyology Designs. I thought I'd share the inspiration and "inside" family joke about this punny quote.

It was my grandmother Peggy who came up with the saying. Puns were, and still are, enjoyed by a few of my witty relatives. I enjoy a good pun myself. At almost every family dinner, my grandmother would bring the basket of buns to the table and in her playful yet slightly wry tone say "Buns are fun." My grandmother was a sweet, tiny woman with a playful and young-minded outlook on life. She had a knack for saying outrageous things with an innocent expression and tone of voice. She was so good at the delivery of these "shockers" that I'd sometimes wonder if I heard her right.

Grandma Peg is no longer with us but her sense of humor and playful outlook on life have stayed with me. To honor her memory, I created the "Puns Are Fun" design and I know she'd get a kick out of seeing her words and sense of humor carried on for others to enjoy and have a laugh with.

© B.Y. Penman 2007

New Verse for Mother's Day

"Born of love and light
She has guided me through life
With grace and wisdom"


Here is the latest original poem and feminine figurative design created for Savvyology Designs. The loving Goddess verse and beautiful abstract artwork was created for Mother's Day 2007. The design is now available in store on a variety of items that are perfect for gift giving. We have pretty poetry t-shirts, poetry mugs, framed poems, and much more.

© B.Y. Penman 2007

Latest Addition to Savvyology Designs

Here is the latest poem and design addition to Savvyology Designs. In keeping with the spirit of Valentine's Day, which will soon be upon us, I worked with a romantic haiku I'd written a while ago and paired it with an abstract image I just recently finished.

© B.Y. Penman 2007