Y is for Yūgen

 As I was searching for a word to use as inspiration for my post this week, I came across the Chinese and Japanese word yūgen.  Being a fan of the Japanese arts, I was naturally drawn to it.  Yūgen is an important concept in Japanese aesthetics.  According to Chinese philosophical texts, it means dim, deep, or mysterious.  However, in Japanese culture, it is used to refer to a profound and mysterious sense of beauty in the universe or the sad beauty of human suffering.  Yūgen is beyond what can be articulated about a special experience or something beautiful in the world.  Therefore, in my mind, it would be like the first time I saw each of my girls after my wife gave birth to them.

Summer Angel Card
Tim Holtz Sewing Room Die, Layered Angel Wings Die/Embossing Folder, as well as Bottle Caps & Retro Cirque Embossing Folders; Various Tissue Tapes, Distress Ink Pads & Stickes; EK Success Balloon, Star & Heart Punches; K&Company Americana Paper; Mulberry Paper; Matte & Shimmer White Cardstock; Uniball Air Pen; Copic Fine Ink Brown Pens; Scrap Ribbon & Fibers; and Glass Beads.
Simon Says Stamp
Karen's Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #236-237
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Ramona's Inspire Me Monday #235

The latter are two of my most memorable moments of yūgen, which I chose to represent here with a Summer Angel original design for my oldest daughter's birthday card.

My Wife's Garden
iPhone 6s, iPhoto & Pixelmator
Our Beautiful World #153 - Three
Denise & Roger's ABC Wednesday 18-Y is for Yūgen
Julia and Jan's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #369

Another moment of yūgen is the miraculous manner through which God produces food for our nourishment through the vines of a tomato plant.

My Playbook (Work In Progress)
Zutter's Bind-It-All V2.0 & Double Owire; Tim Holtz Elastic Loop & Mini Stapler; Martha Stewart Screw Punch; EK Success Door Knocker Dimensional Sticker; Dymo Labeler; Ephemera; Assorted Scraps of Hand painted & Gelli Prints; Pentel Sepia Brush Pen; Sharpie Micron Pen; Various Types of Adhesives; and Scrap Ribbon.
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Tic Tac Toe
Kristin & Eva's Paint Party Friday - Week 17 Year 6
Alexandra's Sunday Sketches 

Other moments of yūgen for me are the ones I experience when I work on my artwork to create something out of nothing, such as this "Playbook" to express my feelings through this summer.

There are a plethora of other moments of yūgen that I've been granted throughout my life for which I'm very thankful.  Just yesterday I experienced another one, when I received my passing scores to be certified as a school principal in the State of Texas.  As per James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  I pray that you find moments of yūgen in your lives.  Peace - Shalom - Paz!

W is for Wondrous

Hello friends!  ¡Hola amigos!  Summer is here, and it's a wondrous feeling!  I have several important tasks to take care of this summer, such as home repairs to be made, a professional licensing test to take, and work on a school district strategic planning committee.  However, I will also have time to travel to visit family, time to visit museums, time to interact with nature, time to read, and time to work in my art studio.  It's such a marvelously freeing and inspiring feeling to have some control over my daily schedule.  Anyway, the following are a few of the art projects I've been working on since my last post with a short description of my inspiration.

Flowers of Peace
Strathmore Toned Tan Artist Tile; Mechanical Pencil, Sakura Micron Pens; Uni Ball Air Pen; Royal Talen's Opaque Watercolors; and Prismacolor Colored Pencils.
Moo-Mania *** Masculine
Creating and Sharing Mixed Media Art
Julia's (& Jan's) What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #367
Eva & Kristin's Paint Party Friday - Week 15 Year 6
Kim's Show Your Face

This tile was inspired by a quote by Tichh Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist Monk & Peace Activist, "In the garden of my heart the flowers of peace bloom beautifully."

Beach Garden Wedding Card
Brother Scan'N Cut; We R Memory Keepers Alphabet Punch; Paper Flowers; Glass Beads; Distressing Ink Pad; Kraft Card Base; Various Cardstock; Jute Cord; Various Types of Adhesive; and a UniBall Air Pen.
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Summer Garden

This greeting card was inspired by a fellow teacher and friend of mine who loves flamingos and is having a beach garden wedding in just a couple of weeks.

Deuteronomy 23:12-13
iPhone 6S Shot Edited on iPhoto
Our Beautiful World: OBW 151~Texture
Sue's Image-In-Ing
Karen's Word Art Wednesday: Challenge Week #234-235

I took a field trip with my students to a Christian camp, and was intrigued by the Scriptural reference on the outhouse.  It refers to Halakha, Jewish law, on the proper way to relieve oneself.

Father's Day Card
Tim Holtz (TH) Travel Ways, Warehouse District, and Odds and 100th Collection Stamps; TH Distress Inks; TH Gadget Gears, Mini Gears, and Mini Tickets Dies; Glossy Accents; Adirondack Gold Dabber; Various Brads; Various Adhesives; Manila Tag; Kraft Card Base; Silver Metallic Cardstock; Uni Ball Air Pen; and Scrap Ribbon.
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Father's Day
The Male Room Challenge #37 - Father's Day
Ramona' Inspire Me Monday - Week 232

This card is for my Father-in-law, whom I love dearly.  Although he is not known for working on his cars, he is an engineer.  Therefore, I thought the gears were appropriate.

In Memory of Muhammed Ali
Art Journal and Mechanical Pencil
Alexandra's Sunday Sketches
Try It On Tuesday: It's All About Him
Denise & Roger's ABC Wednesday - Letter W

This sketch, which is a work in progress, was inspired by the late Muhammed Ali.  Although I've never been into boxing, I always admired his personal strength and determination.

As you can see through my work, this Summer has been a wondrous journey thus far.  I hope yours is as wondrous as well.  Thank you for following my blog and taking the time to leave a gracious comment.  Godspeed!  ¡Vayan con Dios!