The power of raw nature...

I just returned from my second trip to the Washington Pacific coast and Cape Disappointment State Park. My second trip in six weeks, mind you. And, it's ANYTHING but "disappointing"! I cannot begin to describe the RAW power of this place, once a "stomping" ground (although temporarily) for the famous Northwest explorers, Lewis and Clark.

One need not walk very far from the campground to be immersed in raw and powerful natural elements, including (but not limited to): powerful surf, rocky cliffs, lighthouses, shipwrecks, awesome sunsets, swampland, evergreen and birch forests, the sound of bald eagles from above...I could go on and on. This is what recharges my batteries as an artist, mother and human being...

This gorgeous photo was taken by my "significant other", David. Great job!

Stop, look, listen...

Dear Diary: I have had enough! Enough holiday chatter to last me a lifetime. Enough already! (That's what my dog told me today while I was trying to get a good shot of her by the Christmas tree, in her new holiday sweater).

I am revisiting some photos of mine of a recent camping trip the the Washington coast, near the town of Ocean Shores. I can hear the surf, the birds, smell the brine, the damp, the muck...it's glorious!

Remember to stop, look and listen...

I wish everyone a very warm and peaceful and quiet holiday, whatever that holiday may be. Be grateful, be in the moment. Sit by a lake, or on a beach, or by a river....as a gift to yourself.

What the heck is happening here?

Top: part my drawing from college project, copyright 1980 JonesMoore

Bottom: "Water" segment of work in progress, copyright 2010 JonesMoore

Now working on in the studio:  I recently found an amazing drawing of "ah-hem", those 'cabaret-type' women, that I did in college! I'm am re-inventing them in encaustic wax. It's been so much fun, carving out buns and breasts in warm wax...no, really!


This is the first of a series of these pieces, based on the 4 elements: water, fire, earth, and air. This one is 'water'. This concept came to me while 'tubbing' at the Korean spa the other day, surrounded by all those fabulous female bodies, every shape imaginable! I was in 'water', looking up through 'air' and through the skylight, feeling more 'grounded' (earth) because of this experience, and was about to visit the hot sauna (fire) rooms.  My 'educated' conclusion: women need to address the 4 elements–water, fire, earth, air–within themselves on a regular basis, in order to feel truly grounded.

It's beautiful here even when it's 'gloomy'...

Photos of Snoqualmie Falls and Snoqualmie River, Copyright 2009 JonesMoore

Last week, I took a little road trip (in the rain) down to Snoqualmie Falls, near Seattle. The landscape was drenched in water, and saturated with glorious color. The mist from the falls was both invigorating and healing. 

Just a reminder to self: "when the going gets rough, the tough go out in NATURE."

Sheep on Orcas Island

sheep on Orcas Island, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

I spent the weekend on beautiful Orcas Island in the Puget Sound. Stopping to take a few pictures of these adorable sheep and lambs (three black ones, one white one), cost us our coveted spot in the ferry line. Had to wait 4 –1/2 more hours for the next ferry!! Ah, that's island life. But, it was a gorgeous sunny winter day, and there was much exploring to do around the ferry dock: beaches, gift shops and the Orcas Hotel (built in the 1800's). Had a grand picnic in the back of the car, complete with beer, cold cuts, cheese, olives, strawberries, chocolate...and a mean game of gin rummy! No complaints.