Friday, May 18, 2012

well mixed

“I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed.”  
~ Robert Frost
watercolor


“I asked the Zebra, 
are you black with white stripes? 
Or white with black stripes? 
And the zebra asked me, 
Are you good with bad habits?
Or are you bad with good habits?
Are you noisy with quiet times? 
Or are you quiet with noisy times? 
Are you happy with some sad days? 
Or are you sad with some happy days? 
Are you neat with some sloppy ways? 
Or are you sloppy with some neat ways? 
And on and on and on and on and on and on he went.
I’ll never ask a zebra about stripes...again.”

~Shel Silverstein 
for ppf

55 comments:

  1. I am blown away by this. AND in watercolor! This must have been so difficult, and the result is just amazing. Doubly impressed by this striping on the zebras.

    Your quote ... and poem ... perfect.

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    1. Thanks Nancy, but I think it looks more difficult than it was. I focused on one square at a time, which made for 15-ish little paintings... and it turned out to be therapeutic:-)

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  2. Excellent ~ very well done ~ love the 'poem' ~thanks, namaste, ^_^

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  3. Your animal paintings are absolutely wonderful. I was here the other day and just watched your slide show. You do beautiful and very original work. It's your composition and the depth of color you achieve with this medium. Very nice. These zebras, of course, are a knock out--as is the elephant. Very memorable.

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  4. oh my gosh...you must see a photo i took once...its the other end of this i think..i should give you the link...its funny...ok...now...i love this...of course...the poem is great,,,perfect for the piece...lols...xxxno wait...it could be the front...now i'm going to check...

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  5. http://mandyeightisenough.blogspot.com.au/2009/01/heads-or-tails.html
    you'll have to copy and paste...it is the heads...it's in a scrapbook page i did...
    ok...enough of me...

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    1. Found your post - too funny! Zebra head and giraffe tails. May I please have your permission to paint those tails?

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  6. this is stunning - your work just amazes me. I love of course that it features our fellow earthlings in all their guises but your unique take on it just inspires! the poem is brilliant too!

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  7. wonderful painting am so loving your zebras. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  8. Beautiful quotes and artwork!
    You are uber-talented!! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  9. I am also your newest blog follower! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  10. What an intriguing background for all those stripes. I love it!
    Stay inspired!

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  11. Really really love it! Great piece!

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  12. Your watercolors of animals are so amazing,Valerie! Thank you also for the quotes to go with! Good idea to take a section at a time, but it all looks so seamless.

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  13. Wow!! Your work it's AMAZING!! I enjoyed looking some of your old post. Just beautiful work!

    Happy PPF!

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  14. Your Zebra painting is brilliant! Hmmm, I'll have to think twice about asking a Zebra questions. Lovely post. Happy PPF

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  15. so so cool and perfect watercolor paint, Love this painting and your post

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  16. Fantastic composition. Wonderful paintings.

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  17. Gorgeous Zebras!!! Love the post too!
    Happy PPF!
    Sheri Cook
    Happy Horse Studio

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  18. Fabulous painting! The background with the zebras is a great effect! Perfect quote to go with it too!

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  19. Buenisima watercolor, is charming. Saludos

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  20. Gorgeous...visually entrancing...totally beautiful and magical...this is one of my faves now!
    Victoria

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  21. Ok, I have to say this....YOU ARE AMAZING!! In case you didn't know already. I'm in ahhhhh with your paintings, seriously! You know, you're art needs a gallory! Yes, it does! :) Now, I'm a bit nervous trading with you, my work is nowhere near your level. just saying. Happy PPF!

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    1. Oh dear me, no I'm the one over here biting my nails to produce a "just right" ATC for you:-) I actually could never do what you do, try as I may. But you are a wonderful cheerleader to have on the journey. I need and appreciate cheerleaders!

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  22. This is just so glorious and I loved the poem... you must ahve a store of magnificent poetry to draw from... and your skills are just awesome... both paint wise and drawing... so impressed every time your post arrives in my inbox...xx

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  23. oh, that was hilarious, and your watercolor is so beautiful and interesting. i love the colors you chose for the background too. Great work. xoxo

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  24. Ha ha ha, great quote, I love Shel Silverstein. And your art is really inspiring!

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  25. Oh, I absolutely love this. Zebras are my favorite animal. And Shell Silverstein is the greatest. What a perfect quote to go with your painting.

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  26. I love this piece--it's really striking! And the quote is too much...I had never read that one before! I once actually had that thought about zebras...are they white with black stripes or black with white stripes...glad I never thought to ask one ;)

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  27. Lol! Love the quote! :) And totally brilliant painting. I love it!

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  28. Love the quote and your painting! Speaks so much about the quote!

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  29. What a wonderful painting, it feels like the zebras are really on their way out of the painting, it's very captivating! Love your words too, such fun!

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  30. I love Shel Silverstein and I love these elegant zebras. So cool, the way you incorporated the gridded background!

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  31. Beautiful compositon, lovely piece!<3

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  32. Wow this post is so perfect I got goosebumps!! Well done...and I love Shel too!! Wonderful illustration!

    Hugs Giggles

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  33. Love your zebras. Very nice.

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  34. Great technique!! Love those zebras!!

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  35. These zebras are spectacular. I love the bit of orange in with the black and white. I love the quilted looking background. I love the composition of them there. So so so well done! Bravo!!!! How fun it must have been to draw those stripes!

    Thanks too for the quote and poem!

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  36. Your work is incredible. I come back all of the time to look and enjoy.

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  37. Neat! Awesome work on the zebras, cool way for them to intertwin with the background.

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  38. Wonderful watercolor of the zebras! The poem is so appropriate.

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  39. Holy cow it took AGES to scroll to the bottom of these comments! Wooo! Of these attributes I can definitely say I am sloppy with some neat ways. ;D

    It's so cool when you do this technique with the squares! And wonderfully done with zebras. My favorite is the one in front looking thoughtfully off to the side with his big, grand nose. Love the browns mixed in there too.

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  40. The zebras are awesome. . . remember the poem. Love the color mixes. Blessings, Janet, PPF

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  41. So, so interesting. I looked and looked and discovered the squares and then I read about them in the comments. Always a new technique for me to try.

    Darla

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  42. Hi, Thanks for following. Looking forward to more unique artwork from you. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  43. I love it, and the one on the left is my favorite!

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