Category Archives: Art, Garden, Creativity

by

Flora for Robert Mapplethorpe

Flower Portrait #1

Britt Salvesen, co-curator of a retrospective that opened recently at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum, noted that Mapplethorpe liked to play with the idea of flower eroticism and its association with lushness and vitality and its association with the transience of life.

I’m not sure that Robert Mapplethorpe gave as much in-depth thought to the images he created as Britt asserts.  By selling the public images of flowers, Robert Mapplethorpe gave people images that they could hang on walls without being, or feeling, uptight.

I take photos of flowers that grow in my yard and garden for the simple pleasure of knowing that in sharing the image, a greater joy will be unleashed in each individual that views it.  And I’d like to think that Robert approves of my mission: I want my art to be a joy that heals.

© 2016 Theresa Mae Funk, all rights reserved.

 

 

by

Last Night’s Masterpiece

rain soaked cactus

“You can never ignore a cactus in bloom.” ~ Albert Einstein

Albert was right.  I noticed the ceroid cactus blooms this morning while collecting my rain soaked watercolor paper from the garden. The passing shot taken with my mobile device is no Frans Lanting, but the result of the spontaneous act is, I think, worthy of a post.

© 2016, Theresa Mae Funk.  All rights reserved.

by

Blooming Art from the Garden

Our work constructing and filling the ten foot by 4 foot wooden garden bed for our front yard is complete, and the carrot, beet, and lettuce seeds I planted have begun pushing up the dirt.  You can see the raised bed just beyond the tips of assorted roses and lavender that grace the landscape of our home.

  front yard art garden

A pink Tea Rose bush is blooming in the back yard,

Pink Tea Roses

and our home is filled with the aroma of fresh cut flowers every day.

 rose bouquet

© 2016, Theresa Mae Funk.  All rights reserved.

by

A Flower for Sylvia Plath

Rain Drenched Tulip

      The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here.
(Excerpt from the poem Tulips by Sylvia Plath )

This rain drenched tulip winters in the garden’s row of spinach and chard.

© 2016, Theresa Mae Funk.  All rights reserved.

 

by

The American Ninja Terrier Turns 5

Big Idea Little Dog

According to her adoption papers, Stella will be five years old on Saint Valentines Day. In lieu of a birthday cake, she’ll enjoy a fresh homemade, squirrel shaped dog biscuit. Or two.  Certainly no more than three.

This recipe makes 2 dozen treats:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup melted bacon fat
1 large egg
1/2 cup cold water

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix by hand to form dough.  More flour can be added if the dough is too sticky; add more bacon fat or water if the dough is too stiff.

Roll out onto a floured surface, about 1/2-inch thick. A little less if your hairy kids like a crisper biscuit.  Cut into shapes or bars and transfer to a cookie sheet.   I like to perforate them with a toothpick and then bake them  for approximately 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  After baking, turn the oven off, flip the biscuits over, and place them back in the oven to cool to crisp them. Treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Enjoy!

© 2016, Theresa Mae Funk. All rights reserved.