IF: New (nuovo)

Wishing you all a serene and creative new year

A tutti voi, l'augurio di un sereno anno nuovo, tutto da creare

Suspense

"Leap and the net will appear." -- Zen Saying

"Salta, e la rete apparirà" Detto Zen

Let's throw out something old, let's bring in something new - Buttiamo via qualcosa di vecchio, facciamo spazio a qualcosa di nuovo

Old me: "Oh, look at that advertisement: a drawing and painting course.... I'd like so much to take it... I always wanted to... But... I am still looking for a job... maybe I should save money and time... Who knows if the teacher is a good one? Is learning to paint really a priority right now? What if my children get sick and I can't go? Where shall I store all the paintings I'll paint? Anyway, I can always do it later... One day when all my problems are solved..."

New me: "Hallo? My name is Barbara. I would like to enroll in your drawing and painting course."

The course starts tomorrow.

Happy new year to you all!

***

Vecchia me stessa: "Oh, guarda quella pubblicità: un corso di disegno e pittura... Mi piacerebbe tanto seguirlo... E' sempre stato un mio desiderio... Ma.... Sto ancora cercando un lavoro... forse dovrei risparmiare tempo e denaro in questo momento... E poi chissà se l'insegnante è bravo... Imparare a dipingere è davvero una priorità in questo momento? E se i bambini si ammalano e non posso andare? E dove metterò tutti i quadri che dipingerò? E comunque posso sempre farlo dopo, in futuro... Un giorno, quando avrò risolto tutti i miei problemi....."

Nuova me stessa: "Pronto? Mi chiamo Barbara. Vorrei iscrivermi al corso di disegno e pittura."

Il corso inizia domani.

Buon anno a tutti voi!

One must have chaos in oneself to give birth to a dancing star - Bisogna avere il caos dentro di sé per generare una stella danzante (F. Nietzsche)

Well, chaos rules here and I am trying to turn it into dancing stars.
A peaceful and happy Christmas to you all!

Il caos qui non manca ed io tento di trasformarlo in stelle danzanti.
Auguro un Natale felice e pieno di pace a tutti voi!

(Photos of my creations taken in the shop "Eu vivo" in Pescara, during the event "I Love Abruzzo", organized by Roberta Castiglione , with the participation of Barbara Vicari - that would be me - and Letizia De Antoniis).
(Foto delle mie creazioni nel negozio "Eu vivo" a Pescara, in occasione dell'evento "I Love Abruzzo", organizzato da Roberta Castiglione con la partecipazione della sottoscritta e di Letizia De Antoniis).

IF: Swell (Flutto)

"You cannot change the wind, but you can adjust the sails."

"Non puoi cambiare la direzione del vento, ma puoi regolare le vele."

IF: Perennial (Perenne)

Rock, water, sky, yin, yang.
Last-minute submission for Illustration Friday topic "Perennial". Watercolor pencils + fingers (I had no brush at hand).
I've started practicing tai chi chuan again and maybe in September I'll start teaching classes. One more little step :)

Roccia, acqua, cielo, yin, yang.
Contributo dell'ultimo minuto per Illustration Friday sul tema "perenne". Matite acquerellabili e dita (non avevo un pennello a portata di mano). Ho ripreso a praticare il tai chi chuan e forse a settembre inizierò a insegnarlo. Un altro piccolo passo :)

IF: Lesson (Lezione)

IF: (Not) Bottled - (Non) Imbottigliato

This ship does not want to stay in a bottle - safe place, but so boring...
(Washi paper + watercolor, postcard made for iHanna DIY Postcard Swap).



Questo veliero non ha voglia di starsene in una bottiglia. Al sicuro, è vero, ma che noia...
(Cartolina realizzata con acquerello e carta washi per lo swap 2011 di iHanna).

IF: Chicken (Pollo)

"Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow"?



Maybe. Or maybe not.
Maybe sometimes we should be able to look beyond the egg, to wait patiently until we get the hen.

"Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani"?
Forse.
O forse no.
Forse a volte dovremmo essere capaci di guardare oltre l'uovo, e aspettare pazientemente di riuscire ad ottenere la gallina.

IF: Resolutions (Propositi)

Focalizzarmi sui miei obiettivi
Diventare impavida
Prendermi cura di me

Si può fare - It can be done

It can be done, it can be done You can take it, you can leave it
It can be done, it can be done You can run and fly.
You can sing and you can shout You can sell and buy
You can steal and present You can cry and dance.
It can be done, it can be done You can take or leave
You can want and fight Stop and give up.
It can be done, it can be done You can take or leave
You can grow and change And continue to sail.
It can be done, it can be done You can take or leave
It can be done, it can be done Leave and return.
You can betray and conquer You can say and then deny
You can play and work Hate and then love.
It can be done, it can be done You can take or leave
It can be done, it can be done You can eat and fast.
You can sleep and suffer You can laugh and dream
You can fall and make mistakes And then start again.
It can be done, it can be done You can take or leave
It can be done, it can be done You can ask and find.
You can teach and tell You can pretend and lie
You can destroy and burn And then try again.
It can be done.

"Living well is the best revenge" (G. Herbert) (Vivere bene è la migliore vendetta)

A war is going on here.
Not much time for creativity.
But I opened a Zazzle shop.

Qui è in corso una guerra.
Non c'è molto tempo per la creatività.
Ma ho aperto un negozio Zazzle.



create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Meditation for the weekend

Past, present, future

I found this today while decluttering. Made more than a year ago using watercolor and an old letter from an old friend, it is very imperfect but I like it because this is how I feel my relationship with my past should look like.

DIY

Almost one year has passed, and the earthquake debris still have not been removed.
The town center is still closed to the people who used to live or work there.
Many or us have not even seen it after the earthquake.
We have had enough of it.
Thus, the people of L'Aquila decided to remove the debris by themselves and have been doing it, with wheelbarrows and buckets, for three weeks now.
On 28th February I was there with my family (my husband and my eldest daughter are in the drawing above). I met so many of my fellow citizen whom I hadn't been seeing for months, I saw the main street full of life, smiling faces, voices, again. I felt part of a community, again.
We all were there to demonstrate, but also to work, in a very concrete way.
It was beautiful.
It felt like home. Almost.

New year's resolutions

To fly high.
To show claws.


Watercolor.
L'Aquila (The Eagle) is also the name of my hometown.
Inspired by a photograph by Baldovino Midali.