Sing a song

 Song Sparrow 10x10" oil pastel; Kathleen Faulkner

Let's just say I know 

because

a little bird told me.

winter perk

'Night Vision' 12x12", mixed media;  Kathleen Faulkner

On these cold, clear nights

one doesn't have to travel far

to get a glimpse 

of our vast

Universe

Near here

'Sanctuary' 16x40" oil on canvas;  Kathleen Faulkner

 I was born and raised in the city.

noise, people, traffic...

Now I live where I can walk to quiet,

or listen to the geese

where it is empty of crowds 

and roadless.

in defense of color

'A Grey Day' 24x36" oil on canvas;  Kathleen Faulkner

On the greyest of days,

a little color can ease the doldrums.

life cycle

'Minders' 24x30" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

 

The nurse logs

feed new growth

and life goes on.

Lucky Day

'Lucky Day' 18x24" graphite on paper;  Kathleen Faulkner

Sometimes, 

when I wish I had done things differently,

I think of the Chinese tale of the father and son: 

The son had many misfortunes

that turned out to be 

A blessing in disguise 

 

If trees could talk

'Family Tree" (I & II) 24x24 / 24x20" oil pastel;  

Kathleen Faulkner

 

I don't have to go far

to see the natural history

around here.

a remedy

'A Quiet Afternoon' 20x24" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Those lulls in the weather

respite in uncertain times.

The Innocents

'My Kingdom for a Home' 29x24" graphite on paper;  

Kathleen Faulkner

It's been a time

of political turmoil 

and a pandemic that is ongoing

add a mix of

fear, unrest, and uncertainty.. 

I'm concentrating on my

non human friends.

 

Sharing the Bounty

'Urban Landscape, (my favorite neighbors)' 20x24" graphite; Kathleen Faulkner

I leave the apples on the ground

because, each morning, momma and baby

show up looking for their breakfast.

Later, the squirrels and other critters

clean up the leftovers. 

a journey

'Could be Anywhere" 24x20" oil on canvas

Kathleen Faulkner

 It has all the necessary ingredients:

water, land, sky.

Time sink

'Tidal Current' 24x24" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Tidal current is the movement of water associated with the rise and fall of the tides.

Watching this event can be mesmerizing.

some memories

'In the Deep' 10x10" oil on panel;  Kathleen Faulkner

I used to work on boats.

I like my yard

'Yard Work' 23x37" graphite on paper;  Kathleen Faulkner

 

We have been hoping for change.

We hoped the COVID would alter our way of seeing/being.

I don't know if if is permanent, but,

I find a new sense of appreciation for small things.

You choose

'Heavyweight' 10x10" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

 Some events are more dangerous than others.

I got my shots.

a rare encounter

'Middle of Nowhere 21x29" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner 

That place 

no humans

no garbage

only nature sounds

An ongoing project

'Helpful Friends II' 22x30" graphite;  Kathleen Faulkner

'Art Pals II' 22x30" graphite;  Kathleen Faulkner

I'm still drawing masked portraits.

These exceptional humans have been there for me in one way or another

throughout this pandemic.

I am grateful.

first-aid-for-worried-soul

Variants

'Variant' 22x15" graphite;  Kathleen Faulkner

I have a new appreciation for my own small spot in the world.

I see things now that, before, were invisible

only because I didn't look. 

Please don't litter

'Wiley Slough' 24x12'
oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

A friend is doing a project documenting discarded masks.

I am helping her. I have documented eight.

One was in Wiley Slough.

as the world turns

'Field Work' 37x33", 37x27" oil;  Kathleen Faulkner

While we isolate, 

the earth carries on

going about its business.

speaking of March

'Vignette II, 30x22" pencil drawing;
Kathleen Faulkner


Here we go.
Back in lockdown again.
 
I have explored my yard like never before
this year. 
I'm drawing what I see  
in my tiny bubble.
  

 

first aid for a worried soul

'Art Pals' 22x30" graphite on paper;  Kathleen Faulkner

'Helpful Friends' 22x30" graphite on paper, in progress;  

Kathleen Faulkner

'Helpful Friends II' 22x30" graphite on paper, in progress;

Kathleen Faulkner

It has been a tough year.

Because of COVID, I am unable to be with my friends

so I decided to draw them.

Seeing them looking back at me gives me comfort 

and knowing they are all wearing masks out in that cold, cruel world 

gives me hope that I will see them again, 

in person, 

sometime in the future.

'Self Portrait: Mirror Image'

Kathleen Faulkner

 

offshoots

'Vignette' 14x17" graphite;  Kathleen Faulkner

Twig

a slender shoot of a tree

a small, dry, woody piece fallen from a branch

to see; perceive

to understand

 

musings

'Squall' 17.5x34" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

 

I am thinking about this strange and dangerous year

as I sit on a log and look out at the sea

Nature is not happy with we humans

Nautical Twilight

'Nautical Twilight' 29x28" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner 

two different worlds,

night and day

each as full

in different ways

B is for Brooch

A Bevy of Brooches various sizes, sterling silver, driftwood, pottery shard,

colored pencil;  Kathleen Faulkner

It is nearing the end of July

cool and cloudy weather

We are lucky, though, 

while the rest of the country burns up.

On this early afternoon

The sun starts peaking through the clouds

building patterns.

I am grateful to be here. 

here's a thought

'Thought Bubble' brooch 2.25x1.25" sterling silver, paper, ink, mica
Quote by Henry David Thoreau;
Kathleen Faulkner

...or don't see. 

things change

'Stick Pin'  4.75" sterling silver, stick;  Kathleen Faulkner

Back in the day

when running free was a given 

no worries about touching

or being in close quarters

 a sneeze brought a

'bless you'

a cough meant not too much

Community of stick pins. Kathleen Faulkner

We had our art openings and events 

filled to the brim

hugging and laughing

the good old days. 

'COVID safe' stick pin, 4" sterling silver, paper,
gouache, mica;  Kathleen Faulkner

Today's stick pin is fully covered

for protection

no direct contact

social distancing is currently in place

as it sits in a box 

on a table.

survival tips

'Western Larch' 24x24" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

The good thing about living on the edge 

is that one must be

flexible.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, 

nor the most intelligent;

it is the one most adaptable to change."

Charles Darwin

Life during lockdown

'Hillside' 24x24" oil pastel;  Kathleen Faulkner

Springtime in the Pacific Northwest

It is especially beautiful this year

maybe it is the clean air,

the quiet 

or lack of humans 

all around 

I walk the trails

sunshine hits the back of my head

I forget, for a moment, that life is different now:

No touching

 no hugs, no kisses

10 feet

always wear a mask if out and about.

I can do this.  

It's not that different from my weird normal life

but I miss my friends.