Create Chaos, Find Order

The last day of construction today, another studio created from the "Nine Muses", the community/library/computer room. So it will be a bit more quiet today. There was no internet for most of the day. Just the birds and an occasional truck that needs a muffler goes by in Colon valley. I worked all day on my four large paintings, turning them upside down and sideways, studying there compositions. Reminding myself to take my time and enjoy the process.


Susan adopted a playground up the street. She spent the morning picking up garbage and filling large bags for pick-up. The best thing she said while doing it, was a costa rican boy started to help her. She found a necklace with a heart on it in the playground and gave it to the little boy and he gave it to his little sister. It had a heart on it.

Found some beautiful orchids on the colony property today too. Discovering something new everyday.

Alice came in from NY, she was with us last year also, so Carlos, Susan , Alice & I made plans to have dinner together someplace. Carlos took us on a mystery ride to the most beautiful spot in the Central Valley. We went up a really steep mountain and it was the most breathtaking view of all of San Jose. Great meal too with Tres Leche for dessert we all split. I am definetly making this when I get home.

Mandala Journey @ Essentia

La Mandala
I started the "mandala " at the Essentia Restaurant down the street from here, this morning. It is coming out very nice if I say so myself. It still is not finished, I'll finish tomorrow. Needed a few more colors in it that I didn' t have today. So I am showing the progression of it. These are two pictures #1 taken after finishing all of the drawing, 39" circumference. #2 taken after finishing just the center 3 hours in a very different light that will make it even more dramatic looking. It will look different in each time of the day, it has a chandelier next to it, so at night it will glow. The center depicts a dried flower found on a path, lavender flowers that grow in bunches and fall like wisteria, bamboo leaves, dragon flys and a border of waves. Colors TBD.

Definition: A mandala is usually a circle format illustrating a "personal world" in which one lives, the various elements of the mandala or the activities and interests in which one engages, the most important being at the centre of the mandala and the least important at the periphery. Depicting a personal mandala in pictorial form can give a good indication of the state of one's spiritual life.

I love painting mandalas and giving the assignment to students. I am working on a smaller one as well which was the plan for the big one.

Michael, another writer in colony came down to keep me company for a little while, he went in the jacuzzi and we also had a wonderful lunch "on the house" while I was painting the mandala. We got back to the colony and I sat outside at Susan's casita and painted the smaller one. Juan Camillo, 11 and his friend Estephano, 11 came by to say hola and we had a lesson in spanish and they had a lesson in english, really nice boys. They picked us some tangerines with a special fruit picker pole, I forgot the name of it, but it gets the ripe ones from the top of the trees. I went to Susan's because the grounds man are doing construction and making lots of noise around the studios getting another casita ready for occupancy and a community room. Some of the artists are very unhappy about the noise.

I am a bit dissapointed today too, I thought I was going to able to paint with Patricia Forrester, a watercolor artist who has comes every year since the colony opened. She has been painting a really, really large painting on a farm, a vinca. The owner has asked she not take anyone else on the property. Ticos are very protective of their land and he didn't want the colony to have thoughts of anyone else coming onto it for subject. So, hopefully before she leaves in a couple weeks we can go somewhere else to paint together.

Full moon tonight

Alice & Susan came over for potluck tonight and we are still reminiscing, catching up from a year of travels and tribulations. Because we three were here last year together at this time.

The Colony

Carlos & Josh












Michael












Josh, Isha, Nancy & Patricia

Just Another Ordinary Day

Carlos made bamboo supports for Nancy's drawings of bamboo. She is in a big show at The National Gallery in San Jose, February 8, 2008. Too bad I won't be able to go to it. She has done some beautiful bamboo drawings with graphite and substracts the graphite instead of drawing with it. And when they were choppping off the extra branches it came to me that bamboo will be my christmas tree this year. It will be the best looking christmas tree in Costa Rica.

Susan's Back Pocket
Susan & I took a walk to Colon for ice cream in the afternoon. El helado de hilgo, (fig ice cream) and vanilla/lemon sherbert, not together but two different cones. Worked the rest of afternoon on some sketches for a new painting.

Josh, Nancy & I took a taxi and went to Bacchus Restaurant for dinner, I had sea bass with mussels in a wine sauce, that melted in my mouth and a wonderful antipasto with potatoes and some great company!

My Daily Horoscope - Overview For Today: December 15, 2007

Art is incredibly appealing to you right now, but you may find that you're even happier producing it than viewing it. Try to make sure that you expose yourself to culture in some big way early on.

Enchanted

Colon Valley
4x9 watercolor by Lorraine Bromley

The Nutcracker at the Teatro Nacional, San Jose on Thursday night. A spectacular ornate building in the center of the city, inside and out. The ballet was enchanting. I took a few pictures after asking if it was ok. Then I was told by someone else not to take pictures, so I put the camera down and walked out at the end without my camera. I realized it when were still in the city and went back to the theater to get it and the whole theater was shut tight, it was weird, having only been there a half an hour ago when there was dancers, Tchaikovsky, an audience, clapping, and now going back into building with security was like I was in a play myself, it was pitch black, no lights, he turned on a single light to lead the way to the backstage, he opened the huge red velvet curtain and I was on stage, felt weird, I walked down the center stage (I bowed..no I didn't) and took the upstairs to my balcony and there was no camera there. I panic. Had nightmares all night. Carlos took me back to the theater this morning and security turned it into office. What can I say, it was an emotional moment!

So, I wonder where fantasy ends and growing-up begins.

P.S. Talia the dog just ate a lizard.




I think Cal needs a new hat!!!

It Takes My Breathe Away

Yoga today, some grocery shopping .... dip in dark blue pool...83 degrees here in Cuidad Colon and thinking about the mural size painting the owner of the Essentia restaurant asked me to do on his wall in his restaurant. Monday morning I will get a ride to the restaurant early to leave my marks on a wall as many other artists have done before me. Glass art, paintings, sculpture, recycled stuff made into art, little cozy places to sit and enjoy the avairy and jungle. Great place to stay, eat or come to relax in the spa. Has to be one of my favorite places now in CR. Very peaceful place.

Exploration

"Amongst the Bamboo"

watercolor by Lorraine Bromley

(detail)

Meditation in Motion

Yoga today was very strenuous, but excilerating. I even like the ride to yoga. looking at the homes, vegetation. Janine the yoga instructor is an amazing instructor, watching her move is meditation in motion. I hope to be that flexible or just a little bit more than I am now, geesh...so hard right now with extra weight and the arthritis. But I will get to a different place some day. Cal & I will find a yoga class on weekends to go to when I get home.

The Butterfly Farm in Alejuhah was fascinating, doesn't matter how many times I see a butterfly, I get awestrucked, is that a word? Their cocoons are just as awesome to look at too. Metallic gold and some look like sterling silver. Some look like beach glass. Patterns on their wings imitate my landscapes.

Livelula

Interesting chat with Royce the director of artist colony. His last day is Friday here and maybe there will be another Costa Rican Artist Colony to check into the future. I met another artist Patricia Forrester today, she is very well known and one of the artists that helped get this colony started. I am going out plein-air painting with her this week, and it will be wonderful to be on-location with someone. I have been taking great pictures when I am out wandering, and then working in studio painting, but to have someone to paint with in the area who knows the area, knows spanish and loves being outdoors for along time will be wonderful to be with.

I found the most beautiful red dragonfly (livelula) today, it will go in one of the paintings tonight. Luis insisted carrying it to my studio for me, so I wouldn't have to touch it. I also have a small black and white butterfly in the studio keeping me company along with "goforit", the gecko. Carlos is taking me to a butterfly farm closeby in the afternoon tomorrow and more photos. I let Michael borrow the camera to take a movie of his dinner with a family in town celebrating Hannakuh tonight. I sam till eating my chicken soup I made the other day, made alot of it, it does have a costa rican flavor to it, coriander and oregano. The trees out my door are so full of oranges/lemons and grapefruits, they are falling from the trees, so I squeezed about 10 or so. They start to go bad very fast. So now I have juice to add to my water, salad and some to marinate my fish in this week.

Had my first spanish lesson today, felt like a first grader. Have to practice my words and the more words I can memorize I feel I can get by and get my point across. I'll be sneeking spanish in all my conversations from now on.

Still having fun experiementing with my designs.

The Secret Garden

It's so black out there tonight. I saw some dark clouds come around the mountains out these huge windows, they must be still out there still, no moon, no stars. I am lost in my imagination with today's find, a garden was introduced to us today while walking into Colon this morning. I was taking pictures of a red hibiscus and at the same time an older woman was just getting dropped off by a taxi and asked if we would like to see some more flowers in her garden. Of course we could not resist the invitation and saw the most beautiful secret garden behind her casa. Orchids, jasmine, in a jungle, we had to duck under overgrown leaves as big as us along narrow paths, but so awesome. Walking along with the lady of the garden and her husband, and we found out it was Jauns grandparents, Juan works on the landscaping here in colony, he is about 18 yrs old. Great kid. "Nice", people. Nancy & I found other artifacts too to capture on film, only artists would find an air plant, squished by a car facsinating on the road and I am drawing it in one of my paintings, go figure, you will love it. lol Had a great day of painting today!

Made chicken soup today for the next couple days, muy bueno and looking forward to my Spanish class tomorrow with Michael & Bernarda.

The Sun, the Moon and Kindness

The sun rose again in orange and pink, in the same place'
The rooster crowed his morning song the same way
This place tends to me,
The sky still bright behind the mountains and yellow,
green light still shimmers sneaking its way thru a crevice of a valley,

The new day turns to the darkness of midnight blue,

A night of the cresent moon and
The jasmine again sends it's sweet scent to me, I remember,
It tends to me. LB

San Jose for lunch at the super mercado, a menagerie of vendors, selling fish, meats, octopus, fruits, herbs, christmas decorations, leather goods. I found a remedy for migraines. Some local honey for my rosa de jamaica tea, papaya abounds here, juicy and a meal in itself. City is not a place I want to spend much time in, ok for visit, but too much for this country girl. Too many people. Wonderful casada with rice, beans, bananas, chicken, potatoes. No dinner for me today, but I did enjoy a glass of white wine with artist Nancy next door and Michael, a writer.



Michael told us a story that he had dinner with a local family last night. He had taken a walk to cuidad Colon and he had his yamaka on, a man recognized it and told him he had just converted to judism and he and his family would love to have him for dinner after knowing now that Michael was here in the colony for a short time, so he had celebrated one of his nights with a Costa Rican family for hanakuh. He said it was so nice and his new friend walked up to colony to walk Michael. Many stories of the great tico ways of acts of kindness.

Susan had a funny story too. We had gone to yoga the other day with another couple who drove us there, WHim &Luz, they dropped Susan off so that she could meet up with another friend after yoga at a cafe and when she got out very fast not to get hit by on coming traffic, she got out with only one shoe, well we did not know this and took off with her other shoe, there she was with one shoe on and no way of retrieving the other till later. She had to explain to a man close by unloading a truck in her best spanish what had happened and he said to her uno momento senorita and returned with a pair of flip flops for her. We call it her "Cinderella" story. I could not stop laughing when she told me.

Time to play, magic happens

In order for my work to continue to evolve, I get involved in playfulness and take the opportunity to look at the what-ifs. Whatever the result, it expands my vision by letting go of who I think I am and discovering the spirit within.

Yes and after a time this place begins to remember and tend to you. I played all week and finally have a good feeling today about what I am doing here now. Alot of progress & inspiration today, I was getting a little worried.

Creativity-Peace-Balance

Yoga was great this morning in a studio that was long, narrow three glass walls surrounded by bamboo trees. It touched all my senses. I will go back on Thursdays to this class. Took a ride around the area, went to Price Right (BJ's) and bought a big bag of almonds for snacking, a papaya, ceviche, and mouthwash, weird combination.

I just made the ceviche for dinner tonight, "Oh my God", it was sooooo good, easy to make very fresh (sushi-grade) white-fleshed ocean fish, such as grouper, wahoo, sea bass, or red snapper, (it was a mix), lime juice, fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, red pepper, diced yellow pepper cilantro, extra-virgin olive oil, marinate, added rice when cooking it and the juices cook the rice. Muy bueno!!!


I just now see a gecko on my wall.....where has he been all week? Must be "Go For It", he is moving around in spurts. Oh geesh! Maybe I should give him a paintbrush. See him? He is way down towards the left corner. He is making his way towards me.


I am finding these wonderful quotes in different places, inspiring me.

"Creativity is the ability of a person (or a gecko) to respond to visual and other sensory stimuli in an original way, and then to share with passion, individuality and spirit." Gerald Brommer

Seeing the Light

Walks on the property in the morning is refreshing, listening to grapefruits, oranges and tangerines drop as they ripen and fall from the nearby trees. The bamboo singing and insects calling. The tangerines, sweet and wonderful, but have to be eaten right away, otherwise they sour. Luis (pictured above) taking a break from some renovations here on property, I was on the way to the Bonanza Restaurante for lunch yesterday which is next door to the colony, there is a secret path to it in the forest. Real secret, sign to it and all. But, it's really a path just for the colony guests to get too. I remember the sunsets sipping mojitos there last year. Lunch was delicious today, just some nachos piled high with diced tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream and beans...mmmm. I walked over with Susan, she is working there temporarily filling in for Amber (waitress), who had a baby girl on Tuesday, Nina is her name.

I had been wondering why my phone was not working in the studio. All the buttons were in the right setting. Kept testing it and no ring, but could make a call out "mmm" I said. I finally realized it was not a bug or bird that was chirping, it was my phone ringing. Never heard a phone chirp before. Kind of a good idea actually, not so abtrusive. I saw this bug on the screen window the other day when I heard the chirp, so I thought it was the big green bug, but then when it chirped again the day after there was no bug on the screen, very smart conclusion I know.

Dinner was delightful and full of chit chat, Nancy artist, (Boston), Josh, (Amhearst, MA), Michael (Berkley, CA), Ish (?) musician, Susan (Canada) artist, musician. Fransico (owner) made tilapia fish, mashed potatoes, broccolli, salad. It was at Fransicos house which is built on a really steep hill, I get out of breathe just walking up to door, beautiful deck with view of Cuidad Colon valley, The large whole living room opens up to, I will take pictures next Wednesday night dinner. He speaks a little english with spanish, it his own language, funny, crazy driver, says he was a famous soccer player for CR.

I think I have to write at end of day, because I forget what I did the day before if I wait.Bear with me, I amjust writing like I am talking to myself.

The perception of light is the loveliest thing in the world.

Little Rain Must Come

I started a painting already from the first picture I took yesterday of the valley. I didn't take many pictures yet, I am just getting warmed up. But I kept going back to this one picture for my inspiration of the day, because it was my first.

It rained yesterday just a little, enough to make the photos I took look fresh. It was hot 81 degrees then the rain cooled the day down.

A small bug, light green and a yellow head, with lace wings I noticed on my Costa Rican Spanish phrasebook this morning. I must have put the book on it and squished it when I layed it down last night. Even the bugs are beautiful here.

As I was working in my studio I had the door open and outside my door is a tree with, what was a fresh bunch of bananas hanging from it, and now all dried up. It is now a bird feeder. With the door open I kept seeing the most colorful birds come to it during the day, I tried to capture with my camera but the trunk always seem to be in the way. Little bluebirds, yellow birds, a bird book is in my future. And across the driveway was another dried bunch of bananas that the squirrels took over.

Catching Happiness

Awakening to the first morning sunshine, "pura vida". Great cup of java and the usual yogurt breakfast, writing morning journal, little construction going on here at colony fixing up things. I also had a visit from a gecko this morning as I openend my door to let the warm breeze in, I am sure it was a "welcome back" greeting. Lots of oranges ready to pick outside the door. And I am almost ready to paint this morning, got to move things around a bit here for comfort. Great night sleep with no hot flashes, go figure. mmmmm weird. Susan had a couple avacados waiting for me last night, my favorite fruit, and a rose on my table. Nice welcoming. Susan was here last year and another friend, Alison will be returning in a couple weeks that was here last year with us. I have not met all the new kids on the block yet. I met Josh, a writer, from Amhearst, MA, we watched the last half of Patriots game last night on ESPN in the "muse", community room. Now, really I must get to work, I mean play, I mean work, yea yea work. Art is work.

"Sometimes, our thoughts turn back toward a corner in a forest, or the end of a bank, or an orchard powdered with flowers, seen but a single time on some gay day, yet remaining in our hearts and leaving in soul and body an unappeased desire which is not to be forgotten, a feeling we have just rubbed elbows with happiness." Guy de Maupassant

Costa Rica Arrival a Success-Yippeee

A long day, with a couple of scares, really rough ride and landing this time, very scary and then steward tells me immigration might not let me in the country because I didn't have a return flight booked yet, but it worked out fine, they didn't even ask me when I was returning to the states, geesh, got my stomach in knots for no reason---patriots won---weather is grand, my tummy is full, I have my old studio here in Costa Rica, feels like I never left it. Can't wait to get into my artwork tomorrow, get acclimated to my surroundings again and set up house. Went grocery shopping, so I am set up for the week, except I forgot to buy toothpaste at mercado. I don't see my friends, the geckos tonight yet. Have made tentative plans for a tour for 22nd & 23rd of Dec with friends here, of the indigenous people in Costa Rica, we will go directly to Guatuso where the "Malekus" live and we will visit their ranch, Rancho Margarita where they will meet us about 11am. They will give us an explanation of their culture and give us an traditional lunch that includes vegetables and fish prepared inside banana leaves and cooked with other delicious natural spices. Then we will walk in the family's garden and have a very interesting explanation about the usage of plants for eating and medical purposes. After that, don Rigo, the grandpa and his grandchildren will have a theater performance for us. Finally, we go back to the ranch where we will view their craftwares. That is a whole afternoon tour. In the evening, we go to our bed and breakfast LA CASONA where we will spend the night. That is about 10 minutes from the town La Fortuna (where the Arenal Volcano is located). My Spanish teacher, Bernarda set this little excusion for us today and set up Spanish lessons for me too.

Back to Costa Rica

Going back to Costa Rica, December 3rd until the end of January. I will be painting, drawing and experimenting my watercolor techniques, lettering arts and other mediums. Journaling will be another great excersise here in my blog. I can't wait!!!

Kodie's Vacation

(these are excerpts from my new biography, The Life & Times of Me, Kodie, as dictated to my friend Lorraine)

Day 12
Well, I am still on vacation. This a long one, but well deserved. A little rain today, but I am having a delightful visit with Lorraine & Cal. Cal's son Ben came over too, to watch the Patriots game on Sunday, we had fajitas, mmmmmm good. I chased the frisbee and did some tricks for everyone. I love being on the compund here and sharing my vacation with my friends. Ciao

Day 1
Hi Humans
Well, I am on my own vacation here in Wickford, having a wonderful time, wish you were here. Nice breezes, sunshine, I am very happy here on the Mark/Don compound, as I sun myself today. This is my usual activity here on the estate. I did excercise a bit today though, went for a walk with Lorraine, Adele & Ricky, we stopped and had coffee & I ate Cal's toast while we had a rendevoux with the "breakfast club" at the cafe, it was delightful, jumping up on everyone and whining, I love being a dog! I will dictate more later.

Day 2
Hola!
Walking, toast, TV, chasing squirrels, sleeping under the covers, whining, running in puddles, bath, sniffing, jumping, visiting. A dogs life is so blissful!

Skiathos

Kalimera, sunshine, yogurt, honey, almonds, hazelnuts, croissants, chocolate spread, coffee, fruit de mar, boat taxi, old port, new port, internet cafe, local wine, beads, mobiles, colors, pine cones, cold salt pool water, hard beds, beautiful, hillsides of orange rooftops, steep hills, rocky coastline, driftwood, lots of photos, olive products. sweet smells. Evelyn, Niamh, Maire, Cathal, intricate wrought iron gates, ally ways, lace curtains, shells, leather, peaches, apricots, figs, blue flowers to be continued

Dublin, Ireland
Cheerio, now I am back in Ireland with Evelyn. I tried to post the above blog when I was in Skiathos but the computer wouldn't let me, who knows what the problem was, so I saved the draft and now publishing it. Anyway, today I am on my way home to RI and so ready too.

Visiting Skiathos & Skopelos was a wonderful trip, now that I have been to three of the Greek Islands I love them all and will want to see the others. They have some things in common but, each one it's own flavor and Greek ways. Very interesting. I feel that each time I go away I come back a different person. Can't explain it really. Maybe just a little more appreciating of what I have been brought up with. Not all good, not all bad. The respect for family and the comfort of friends, my health, my passions, enjoying the experiences that everyday brings. Can't wait to review my photos and start to paint what I came to love about these islands.

I think Crete is still my favorite, with it's ancient history, ruins, the actual size, villages and most of all it's most hospitable people. to be continued