Category Archives: Writing

An Artist’s Light

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Artist and Quaker-raised James Turrell once said  “It was important that people come to value light as we value gold, silver, paintings, objects.” 

Happy Solar Eclipse Day! I guess today is a good day to put our attention on all things celestial ~

“Hallelujah,’ I said to myself the day after Easter, “I can see the light from both sides now.” What prompted this thought, was a move I made on Easter Day from one place to another. Where I was living, faced in one direction. All light came from west-facing windows only. When I awoke on April 1st in my new abode, I realized how my exposure to the sun had changed. The day starts with the bright light coming in the Eastside windows and then moves around to the other side throughout the day. I can now see both sunrise and sunset.

And very fortunate for me, as an early riser and one who writes first thing in the morning, there is a beautiful little window seat on the East side where the light streams in brilliantly. We will see what new thoughts and perceptions come from my new early morning writing space.

Read more on American artist, James Turrell, who “is known for his work within the Light and Space movement.”

Ode to Irish Writers

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An authentic Gaelic writer, also known as a seanchaí, I am not, but what fun it is to play with words while thinking about the characters found in Irish pubs on this day celebrating Saint Patty. Many are doing what seems to come natural to them – oral storytelling.

Hundreds of years ago the Irish placed great value on things of the spirit, mind and imagination because material goods were hard to come by. They put faith in their gift of gab to deliver a good tale in the local public houses, bars and pubs.

On this day when everyone seems to find a little Irish in them, Happy Wearing of the Green!

*****

An Ode to Irish Writers

Tierney O’Leary 

Felt awfully dreary.

Lack-luster and paled

from too much ale.

The Irish fog had lasted too long

it was time to find a new song.

So, he went to the chapel

to kinda grapple.

A decision was made

which he obeyed.

Life became lived much safer

on grape juice and wafer.

He wrote with great fervor

it became a life preserver.

He was no longer sad 

instead, an upstanding lad.

Oh, the power of art

when set on one’s heart.~~

©Sue Batton Leonard

Happy St. Patty’s Day to all

May you never stumble and fall!

“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.” ― Pádraig Pearse, Architect of the Easter Rising in Ireland

 

Your Story Matters!

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So what’s your story? I’ve often wondered if people would live their lives differently if they considered every single day we are writing our own legacy by the choices we make, the way we interact with one another and the things we take an interest in. When reflecting on one’s life, sometimes the memoirist gets a glimpse into what an individual would like to do over, if given the chance. Unfortunately, we only have one chance at wholesome living here on earth.

What it is like help an individual reflect on one’s life? Here is a little insight into The Art of the Memoir

The Hush in a Season

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This beautiful painting “A Village Street in Winter” ” by artist Alfred Sisley (1893) represents the anthesis of what happens in today’s world at Christmas. In villages and towns in America and in many other countries, the hustle and bustle is frenzied.

I am going to take my annual holiday break from posting on All Things Fulfilling.com until after the first of the year. Have a blessed Christmas season. And see you back here after the first of the year! Thank you to those who follow my blogs all year long and purchase my books. Look forward to 2024!

When the mind is clear of all noise and self talk, this is when solutions are revealed, artists are inspired, paradigms are shifted.~ Stephen J. Kochan

Art Holds Memories

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This oft-repeated expression could have come right from an art collector’s mouth ~

An artist and I stood talking about the 2023 Plein Air Week in Harford County, MD. He told me of a scene he painted of a local farm, which has been passed down from generation to generation. When asked, the farmer welcomed the artist on his property and told him to set up the easel wherever he wished. The farmer gave the artist high accolades when the painting was complete. The painter felt sure the farmer was going to say yes, he’d like to claim it as his. The farmer passed.

A few weeks later, the farmer’s next door neighbor (also a farmer) called the artist and inquired about the painting of his neighbors farm. The caller said he’d like to purchase it because his daughter is getting married and he wanted to give it as a wedding present. Evidently, there were many memories made between the two neighboring farms.

Needless to say, the artist was delighted and so was the farmer’s daughter who received the gift. 

This story was shared with me by an active member of the local Liriodendron Wednesday Artist’s Group. Indeed, local art of familiar places holds memories for the collector.

Self-Fulfilling Action

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“We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than through our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we accomplish goals.” ~ Stephen Covey

 

It’s the season of Thanksgiving. Ten years ago I had limited knowledge about independent publishing and I had never written anything. But I had a strong interest!  If it hadn’t been for the fruits of my labors over a span of the last decade, there is no way a project that will soon come to fruition would have landed in my lap!  A year ago I became entrusted to write someone else’s story. I am honored and thankful! The publication is going to be outstanding.

Truly, it takes just as much action as it does words when it comes to becoming a writer and independent publisher. Nixing fear and doubt and replacing it with unwavering faith and the words “I AM WRITING AND PUBLISHING A BOOK” (rather than I am trying to) makes a big difference in ones determination and motivation to get the job done, project after project.

The opportunity came on the heels of taking a break from any serious writing time because for a season in my life I became full-time caretaker to two terminally ill parents and it reinforced my belief in the power of writing to heal from loss and bring personal fulfillment.

The narrative was so much fun to write! I know the artist is looking forward to revealing his new publication and it will soon be hot off the press!  Keep your eye out on this website, soon more information will be posted.

Artful Titles

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“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines who you will be when you can’t help it.”

~ Oscar Wilde

Last night, many artists whom I’ve directly or indirectly made connection with in the art community were in my thoughts when I attended Bruce E Mowday’s book signing for his publication Stealing Wyeth. The book signing was held at the Harford County Public Library in Bel Air.

The veteran reporter, investigative journalist and public speaker knows how to tantalize an audience! Bruce E. Mowday gave us just enough information about the theft of fifteen Wyeth paintings for us to want to learn more and read on! All you art enthusiasts and crime book fans will want to know more about the characters, the art thieves and the author behind the story. Go to the author’s website. He has published about twenty books in various genres and he says his range of subjects can be contributed to his avid interest in people, both from the past and in today’s world.

Soon, more revelations will be made about more books artists world-wide will be interested in.  Keep your eye on this website.

 

She’s Got the Whole World in Her Hands

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Independent publishing has turned the whole publishing world nearly upside down because if you have the will, now there is a way! There is no longer the need to get the “green light” from a mainstream publisher to move forward with getting a book into the market place. Every tool is now available to anyone of any age to write, publish and sell through e-commerce or through any portal an author is willing to pursue. What is needed is a mature level of stick-to-it-ive-ness to accomplish such a goal.

Today, I’d like to share a story about a young girl from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. At thirteen years of age, she recently independently published her first book. I can well remember the fulfilling feelings when I birthed my debut publication which became an award-winning memoir. But, I was decades older than the girl featured in today’s story. Read more about this story of outstanding accomplishment here because it may inspire you to step up and write the story you’ve had inside of you.

God Blessed you, Mackenzie Ostrowski, with a creative spirit filled with powerful motivation and dogged perseverance to inspire others. At your youthful age, you’ve got the whole world in your hands and you’re going for it already in your young life! Good for you! Make the most of all your interests.

I can’t wait to read Mackenzie Ostrowski’s debut novel and it sounds like her success has encouraged her to write more.

Thank you to Laurie at the Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church for sending me this story!

“Be open to God’s novelty.”

Hallowed Halls of Johns Hopkins

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The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning. ~ M. Scott Peck, author of Gifts of the Journey, In Search of Stones and The Road Less Traveled

Happy Halloween, everyone. On October 3rd, my cousin Meg Heisse and I witnessed a little hocus-pocus when we attended An Evening of Victorian Magic at Evergreen Mansion and Library, which is a Johns Hopkins University Museum. Since my cousin is a member, we attended a pre-performance reception held in the Asian red room among Chinese and Japanese collectibles. The bartenders stirred up Victorian libations and we saw up close magic tricks by David London. Mind reader indeed, out of a 52 card deck, the magician asked me to select one card and show it to others.  No slight of hand involved, through telepathic transmission he correctly identified the card I had picked. But that was just the start of the delightful evening. The magician had many more magic tricks up his sleeve once the show started and he came to the stage.

There was no need to build a stage for the evening because there is already a Victorian era theatre in the Evergreen Museum. And although there were no upper level seats for celestials to sit as in many Victorian theatres, we were told apparitions are in or about the rooms of the mansion. The theatre, painted by Russian Artist Leon Bakst, was used regularly to entertain the three Garrett boys, who at one time lived there.

The Evergreen Museum and Library was built in 1850 and became home to railroad magnate, John Garrett and his family. He was President of Baltimore and Ohio “B & O” Railroad. A little over one hundred years later, in 1952, the Italianate home from the Guilded Era was donated to Johns Hopkins University and it is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Also in the mansion is a 30,000  volume library with much of which is English Renaissance literature. Paintings by Picasso, Degas, Modigliani and stained glass by Tiffany, a 23 karat gold plated bathroom all are housed in the structure. In the Asian red room I spied several pieces of Chinoiserie furniture and as I snooped around in the museum gift shop at Evergreen, I saw several beautiful publications about stained glass.

Today, my Halloween treat to our readers is a recipe for soul cakes which traditionally was the offering to others on All Hallows Eve. And here are a few pictures of our evening at Evergreen Museum and Library, too. Look carefully you might see things that fool the eye!

Some time soon I do look forward to returning to the historic Evergreen Museum to take the full tour. This wonderful landmark is only one of the institutions of the Sheridan Libraries of Johns Hopkins. Check out the others on their website.

Thank you Meg for inviting me to accompany you for the evening.

This blog is brought to you by award-winning author, Sue Batton Leonard.