From our Family’s Poet Laureate
December 4, 2015
I recently spent several pleasant and carefree hours illustrating a poem by my sister, Elisabeth T. Eliassen, called “The Rose Knows,” originally written on 4 December 2000.
“VII. The Rose Knows. 4 December 2000”: “Roses know; They know the point of it all, They know the meaning of life, They know this experience is all in All, And are happy to smile broadly in the sunshine, From bud, to blossom, to full flower – Fragrant and bright… When roses fall, they laugh as they tumble, Because they just cannot hold themselves up any longer; They laugh and smile, letting go of their soft petals, So that the wind may carry their essence back, And onward into the ever-flowing stream.” From the book “Songs of a Soul Journey” by Elisabeth T. Eliassen (2001). Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015
On Determination: The Western Scrub-Jay
November 24, 2015
On recent lake walks I have noticed the absence of our familiar little furry caterpillars. However, I have seen a lot of frisky scrub-jays in the, well, the scrub. The scrub-jay is a very clever and determined little bird… one of the few to eat the hairy caterpillars that have guard hairs that other critters find abrasive when swallowed. The little scrub-jay simply shaves the caterpillar by rubbing against the sand before swallowing the delicacy.
An already-plump Western scrub-jay about to feast on a formerly-hairy caterpillar. Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.
Pebbles Beneath a Stream
November 19, 2015
I have wondered what life would be like if everything went as I planned or wanted. Would I be happier than I am today?
To shiny pebble at the bottom of a stream, a butterfly flying free seems to be capricious as it carries pollen amongst the flowers: both are equally spiritual formations to my view. Between you and myself, I would have thought of myself as the pebble. Imagine my surprise to be called capricious.
I recently came across a quote by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto (1843-1923) that made me pause… and reflect.
“Give me a fruitful error any time, full of seeds, bursting with its own corrections,” by Pareto, design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.
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Introducing Lacy the Lizard
November 4, 2015
Reports of the elder member of the Lucky the Lizard posse surfaced when I was visiting my parents in Sedona recently and I went to investigate. The only lizard to be seen was the young ‘un hanging out on my parents front porch, but he gave me a full description of how Grandmother Spider watched the handsome Lacy dreaming wide-awake and attached her web to the back of his head so that he would carry her language to the other lizards, which I illustrate in this drawing done in the style of Peter Parnall.
Drawing of legendary lizard of the Southwest as described by anonymous young lizard on October 14th, drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.
New Paisley Design
August 14, 2015
This paisley design features flower motifs that I toyed with as a teenager, but it is very different from anything that I have done before.
Paisley design featuring early American flower motifs from the Pennsylvania area drawn by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.
A Celtic Spider
August 12, 2015
Last weekend I spent a few hours with the Friends of Calligraphy and Marina Soria contemplating the evolution of shape, so coming soon to this blog… Snail Haiku will introduce Felix the Helix.
Until then, please enjoy the spider design.
Spider design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.
An Arabic Proverb
August 6, 2015
“The wind of heaven is that which is between a horse’s ears.”
“The Wind of Heaven is that which is between a horse’s ears.” Design by Meredith Eliassen, 2012.
Be grateful for what each day brings.
Two Dragonflies
July 25, 2015
Dragonfly design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015, features quote from Jerry Ellis, “We’re all only fragile threads, but what a tapestry we make.”
Totem
July 9, 2015
Earlier this summer I had a mental image of a totem pole with different creatures that features the letters of the word as a totem pole.
T is eagle representing Spirit
O is a human and the wings have two birds facing off
T has a fish to the left and human to the right
E is a bear facing eastward
M has a beaver with a stick in his mouth and a another face tattooed to his chest
I don’t vouch for it being in any way authentic tribally, but has meaning to me.
Totem design by Meredith Eliassen, 2015.
The Woman and the Pink Soccer Ball…
June 16, 2015
Well, I have been off the blog for a few weeks and thought I would check in…
For a recent birthday, I purchased a pick soccer ball because I needed to get some more exercise into my daily routine. When you draw, you are not moving about… you get the picture. I first took the pink soccer ball out for a spin a few weeks ago and went down the elevator with a pretty young thing and her boyfriend and she gave me a look like, “No lady, you are too old for that pick soccer ball, give it up.” Boyfriend seemed okay with it though. When I got out on the street, a skateboarder (with a basketball tucked under his arm) got a gander at the pink soccer ball and gave me a nod of approval as he whizzed on past. Whew!
And by the way: GO WARRIORS!!!
Things only improved as I went to the seldom-empty soccer field nearby. I kicked the little pink soccer ball around the field and was as happy as a kid. It’s the easiest way to run a fun mile that I know of… more to come.
Have drawn a little (very happy with TOTEM that I will share in the fall), but am finishing up a lot of “day job” projects, and starting new ones. It is going to be a working summer. Progress on a cool but out of my comfort-zone writing project too. Hope you are all enjoying the summer.
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