Studio Sweetness

It's been gloomy and rainy lately so despite the fact that we have the pressure of tons of work outside to get done

I am enjoying the cozy warmth of my studio with delicious coconut cappuccinos and sweet sweet jazz...ah.

Freshly Finished

Freshly finished and naturally inspired by my long-eared warren...

Prints will be in my shop by the end of this week for any who love him.

Pompeii

I got to the big city back in August and I really wanted to visit the Royal Ontario Museum.

I hadn't been there in ages.  Not since my college days, when I used to go to sit & sketch my afternoons away.

I just had a strong desire to visit and stroll through at my own pace...all on my ownsome!

So whiles my honey was at work & I waited anxiously for the end of the day to arrive so we could go pick up Korra-Soleil.

I took in the whole entire museum...it was exhausting, it's a huge huge place but I enjoyed it like never before.

I especially loved the special exhibition on Pompeii.

I took well over 200 photos so that my honey could see what I was seeing...for he's abit of a history buff.

The very first thing you see when you enter the exhibit is this dog.

He was tied to a pole and couldn't run away at all to escape the eruption...

I knew right here that this would be a powerful and stiffening viewing experience...

I had to take a deep breathe before moving on.

 The design of the whole exhibition caught my attention almost as much as the artifacts...

but that was probably my background as a gallery coordinator peeking out.

I loved the shadows and reflections so so much.  I would inwardly gasp at almost every turn, ha ha.

I am actually shocked that I managed to get so many shots without people in them because it was jam packed.

I was surprised somehow at the quality of all of the artwork and sculpture...

I don't know what exactly I was expecting but it wasn't this advanced visual splendor & intricate beauty that's for sure..

This portrait of a Pompeii lady took my breathe away...a mosaic of a tiny little pieces of lime stone.

Apparently during this time religion was borrowed from all across Rome

with a huge appeal being found in exotic mystery cults...

such as the worshiping of the Goddess Isis, she among other deities offered hope of an afterlife.

The talent of the Pompeian artists and craftspeople was apparent at every turn.

This civilization was super huge into theatrics and theater as well.

Apparently having 2 covered amphitheaters side by side before any other covered buildings in their city.

I was continually surprised at the minute detailing of everything, even on water spouts like this one.

This is one this that the parents weren't keen on!

But apparently the phallus symbol and shape in conjunction with the sound of bells

were commonly used and believed to ward of evil.

They were apparently not a very prudish civilization...

Pieces like this one were found in bedrooms, bars & bathhouses...

but it was unknown if they were meant to be instructional or simply inspirational.

I had to laugh at this because whiles I read this fact I was also simultaneously seeing

parent after parent walking in and turning around quickly, 'tsk tsk tsking' over the lack of signage about nudity!

This piece was offending a lot of the patrons which I found silly because if they took the time to read about it

instead of walking away in a huffy rush complaining about this work being in the presence of their kids,

they would have learnt that it was not a piece about bestiality at all but about Roman myth & the folklore of Pan!

Apparently when shown in other museums this and other pieces like it were kept in rooms with strict restricted access...

I am glad the ROM had better sensibilities about them because they are as awesome as any other piece to behold.

This piece was exquisite, another incredible mosaic featuring all of the different fish that they ate way back when.

It was about 4 x 4 feet and even with large chunks sadly missing it was just incredibly beautiful.

and tugged strongly on my illustrative loving heart.

I was intrigued by the daily aspects of Pompeian daily lives...

and how similar their kitchen tool looked like ours, like this strainer.

I was also struck but how beautifully, masterfully & intricately they worked difficult materials like metal.

And how they spread beautiful items throughout their whole lives, especially in their private gardens.

Of course, I inwardly squealed when I saw a rabbit figure, ha ha...quite the wonderful water spigot if you ask me!

Pompeii was built on a rather steep gradient and was abundant in jetting fountains and water displays

thanks to the supply and constant high pressure of the Aqua Augusta aqueduct.

Their glass-ware was lovely...

these pieces weren't melted by the pyroclastic surge at all, it wasn't hot enough for that.

Apparently Roman glass only melted between 800-1000 degrees Celsius

and the eruption only reached heat of about 300 degrees Celsius.

These pieces were believed to have been left in a cupboard set on fire by an overturned lamp during the eruption.

The reflection of them has such an apparition-like quality that I loved.

Can you imagine being one of the archaeologists to find this piece...

too have a hand in cleaning it off and restoring it to it's former glory...wow!

(My honey & have actually have a dream of one day volunteering on an archaeological dig)

This bronze sculpture was found with several others around a pool...

one of few to survive not only the eruption but afterwards as well for

apparently many items were melted down for their materials.

And of course, the most powerful part of the show...

the casts of the bodies...

Haunting and very hard to look at...

There was a hushed and strange energy in this section of the exhibition...

people feeling something but not 100% sure on how to take it all in.

I felt somehow awkward taking photos but I wanted to remember what I was seeing...
I wanted my honey to see it all and in fact photography was encouraged.

Apparently escape was possible at the beginning of the first day of the eruption...

but by the 2nd day the deaths began and by the end of that day escape was impossible.

It was believed that most fled to the water hoping to escape by boat...

and something like only 1/3 of the area has been excavated so far...they haven't even gotten to the waterside area yet.

I was unfortunately thrown off from fully enjoying the exhibit & completely being able to take it all

due to all of the screaming rambunctious children bouncing off of me & running amuk like possessed little gremlins!

I understand kids are hard to control but come on...this wasn't a playground by far!

I never would have been allowed to run around so senselessly and noisily when I was a kid, no way!...

My parents were always respectful of the impact their kids were having on their immediate environment.

I felt like it was rather disrespectful to this piece of history.

The museum should have 'kid-free' days or hours...I am sure many of us out there would take advantage of that!

All that aside however, It was a very beautifully curated show and whilst extremely touching and sad,

it was a very powerful reminder of the frailty and preciousness of life for both the young & old.

Stand Strong Within Your Own Unique Self

Here's one of my latest pieces finished up...

"Stand Strong Within Your Own Unique Self"

Beside hating the paper and vowing to never work with it again,
I am happy with her and her strong and lovely message/reminder.
Prints of her are in my shop.  Hope some of you out there love her.
XOXO.

She's Happy

We are pretty darn sure that our beautiful Korra-Soleil is loving it here...

She's been misunderstood in her previous situations...

But as my honey so sweetly said the other night

'She's no longer misunderstood...she's come to a place that understands her'

We are kind of like the island of misfit toys,
Ourselves, our rabbits,
We're all different
but somehow we all go together in our uniquely wonderful misfit ways!

Wishing For You

I am wishing for you a cozy cozy beauty filled weekend...

I'll be emptying pots, picking the last of the tomatoes, stacking wood & twining twiggs...see you Monday XO.

A New Piece

I love the fall so so much...

cozy socks, cozy sweaters...

a warm coffee cup just feels sweeter in the hands.

Studio time just feels richer and fuller.

The need to constantly be outside on sunny days is lessened with chills & rain.

Call me crazy but I honestly can't wait until we're buried deep in the white stuff!

Standing Tall But Falling Short

Just the other week I thought to myself

'Wow, Henrie & Elsie are super-stars...they are NEVER sick'...

and than of course Henrie stopped eating for 3 whole days!

As always, we pulled out all of the tricks we've learnt over the past 20+ years and thankfully got him eating again.

Young rabbit or older rabbit, the possibilities of things that can be wrong felt endless...luckily, as normal, it was gas.

Rabbits can not fart or throw up so when gas builds up they get very uncomfortable with sore tummies & they need assistance.

At the same time that we were tending to Henrie, I was coaching a fellow rabbit parent through the loss of her first rabbit..

It was hard, because it brought back much of the sadness I've gone through 9 times before

(8 of which passed in my arms weather it be here at home or at the vets office)...

But I felt like a seasoned pro in regards to the heartbreak and loss of a family member and

I felt like I had tried and true methods to cope.

We've been through it a lot and will go through it at least 9 more times again with these bunnies we love so so much.

I realize more and more that my most powerful tool to get through the difficult ruins of loss

is to hold on to and find strength in what still remains.

But I felt like I was falling short and I don't know if I expressed myself well enough to this young woman...

I don't know if I encouraged her enough to keep going...

to not give up on making life with bunnies in the future despite their being hard & delicate pets/family members.

Rabbits out there need as many of us hard-core rabbit lovers as possible...

because let's face it, most people make life with easier species like cats and dogs.

I started thinking about all the rabbits out there with owners who don't know what to do.

Just last month a stranger was texting me for advice on their bunny not eating and I shared all my tips and tricks

but was expressing how important a rabbit savvy vet was and they just didn't want to spend money on vet visits...

which I found insanely infuriating but also it made me sad because I know firsthand just how expensive it can be

and I know it's just not an option for some people...

BUT that still doesn't make it okay when it comes to that animal counting on expertise and top=notch help...argh!

I hear again and again people who just say 'Oh my rabbit must just not be hungry right now'

or 'they'll eat when they get hungry enough'

YIKES & NOOOOO!

Rabbits don't work that way...a rabbit who isn't eating is a rabbit on a slippery slope...it require immediate investigation.

I just wish I could do more to encourage people to understand

that whiles yes, rabbits are not easy, that's no reason to shy away from the special care and treatment they need...

because they are worth all the stress and worry as much as any other animal, maybe even more so...

because they are magical, if you let them be!

Sigh!!!

There Was Time

There was time for a paddle before the stormy weather hit...

And I couldn't have been more grateful for this time out on the water with my honey.

A Grateful Veg Head

It's feeling like a good day...and I am feeling so grateful for this kind life I can lead...

Especially when I can fill my precious body with healthful vegetarian goodness...ahhh.

Beguiling Juniper

Everyone meet my latest piece 'Beguiling Juniper'

Do you think she looks naughty?

Do you think she is going to be naughty?

Or maybe you think she's already done something considered naughty?

One must try to remember however that first impressions can be tricky...

What do you think Juniper's story is???

Those we get my newsletter got a look-see at Juniper before anyone else

but 8 x 10" Archival Art Prints of her are indeed already sitting in my shop.
Beguiling Juniper is actually 1 or 3 pieces of mine that are currently in a juried group exhibition at the AOM Gallery.
Have a fantastic weekend all...and cheers to our very first week of blogging here in our brand new space
Yayyyyy!

WE HAVE JUST MOVED to www.MANDYSAILE.com....WOHOOOOOOO!!!

This is it...

This is the very last post here in this spot.

This Blogger BlogSpot has been a good blogging home to me since 2008

but it's time to move onwards and upwards

So this beloved blog of mine is moving.

Today I start blogging over at my brand new beautiful website

find me from now on at

www.MandySaile.com

 

 

I soooooo hope that you all follow me over.

I am in love with my new online home...

it's fresh, it's whimsical, it's joyful,

it's sweet...it's completely me.

 

I really hope you love it too.

 

So lovely souls, refresh your browers, bookmark the new blog link

and please do continue to join the bunnies and I on our artful and whimsical journey.

 

See you over there......wohooooooo!!!!