Abstract Feelings

Abstract is the best word I can come up with to describe how I feel these days.

Graffiti Alley

Might as well show off some of the abstract art I’ve collected. A definition is as follows:

For some reason, this piece called out.

I think it has something to do with the centre sort of 3D geometric breast/shield shape.

As you can see it was painted over other art. The abstract artist allowed some of the previous art to remain.

Chuckling about the teeth (old art) chewing on. the new art.

Alley Gallery

Graffiti Alley isn’t the only alley with art in Toronto. These are from alleys near my home.

Since first sighting of the wedge below, Graham at Mandala Vihara came to mind.

So, using the rotation feature, I made 4 sides to form a mandala. Only perfect is perfect. This is the best I could do with imperfect.

BY THE WAY: Tiffany Arpdaleo Is an abstract artist I follow on WP. Her art is fabulous.

Below – A car reflects wall art.

This alley fence I pass at least once a week was painted 2 years ago. I took the pic back then. The colours are still holding out.

Garage Doors

A bit further away, but within a 3 hour there and back walk:

This garage door in 3, parts, makes a cool triptych. A resident came home & parked her car. It was cool how the doors opened. The 3 pieces are featured individually in the slideshow below.

Same artist as the fence at the end of Alley Gallery. There were 4 in 1 alley – in the slideshow.

The below artist’s work is popular in the alleys.

This is an old rotting wood garage door. Yay for art!

On the Street

Not swung out at first sight, but it’s grown on me.

Boxes

I’ve been somewhat neglectful of taking pics of power boxes and Bell boxes. Most are abstract. Pulling my socks up as of NOW!

Below- Tags piled on tags. I’m quite fond of the accidental abstract this non art, art form randomly creates. Still, it defies the definition, which makes me like it even better. Think I’ll call it Rebel Art.

Pics taken by Resa – 2022 – 2025

Toronto, Canada

Some of the Artists:

September

Check out this exquisite mural Diana – Myths of the Mirror painted on an outside wall of her studio.

The colours make me think of autumn, my fave season.

They go with the colours in this stained glass effect garage door at The Painted House.

The same artist did some art inside the Painted House, that had similar colours and that cool stained glass effect.

Holly picked September for my recent post on Art Gowns. It’s perfect for this post. Thank you Merril for suggesting I use it again!

Header Mural art & image © D. Wallace Peach (Thank You!)

Pics taken by Resa – August 11, 2024

Toronto, Ontario

The stained glass effect Artist:

Can you find Resa in the painted house collage?

Going Squirrelly

I’m getting a weird plug-in message when I use the classic editor.

Research said it’s related to my theme, or the classic editor.

So, I’m trying the block editor and it’s not happening.

Anyway, fell in love with the squirrel when I saw it, but the sun was bright and made annoying shadows on the art.

Figured while I’m in the blockhead, enjoying a learning curve, I might as well try a feature! I chose image compare.

The first one is full sun and shadows. The second one is 3 hours later. There was 1 thick cloud over the sun. I had about 5 minutes to shoot the squirrel.

Before the merciful cloud, I went back after about 2 hours and got this shadow.

All in all, squirrelly.

Pics taken by Resa – April 1, 2024

The artist:

The stupid message:

Fifteen First Times – by D.G. Kaye

It’s easy to read these memoirs, and think of your own first times. I kept thinking of my first times.

Nonetheless, these are D.G.’s first times gleaned from the garden of her life.

Whether it’s a commonality, such as diets, shoes or learning to drive, I see we are each alone, unique in our experiences.

First boyfriend or first kiss  are times when we are not alone during the experience. Yet, are we not experiencing the same things, each in our own way and own world?

I was struck with all the humour in these memoirs.
I thought…”Does D.G. know how funny she is? Even when in reality sometimes things aren’t so funny”?
Then at the end of the book re: “First and Last Love”,  she says “Humor. It’s the one thing that always got me through some of the darker moments in life.”

Resa – D.G., My question was before I read that, and still is – Did you know you were being funny when you wrote this? I mean did you have to think about adding the humour after it was written, or were you consciously being aware that you should write humor as you wrote?
OR –  Did you just write, and the humor presented itself naturally?

D.G. – My motto as a writer is – eclectic conversationalist. I write like I speak (of course with edits). I’m afraid my personality is always present in all my books – despite the content. I’m a storyteller, and this my friend, is my voice. Thank you for noticing and picking that out.

Resa – Well, D.G. don’t be afraid! (I’m being funny there!) Your personality’s voice is a queen. (not being funny here)

Now, one might ask, “What’s with all the butterflies?”

Well, I wanted some images to help express my thoughts and feelings. As I perused my photo files I kept picking out butterflies. I figured it was because a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, and is a new changed life. That seemed akin to having a first experience, and adding to one’s life.
Still, I felt there was more to it. Why? Then I saw it, on the cover of D.G.’s book, a Monarch butterfly.

Resa- I wasn’t going to ask, but now I have to. You will see why when you read the post. There is a Monarch Butterfly on your book cover. Why? Tell me about it!

D.G. – Lol, you have that observant eye my artistic friend. When the cover designer made the mock up, she placed it there by my name. I never thought anything but to keep it there, as butterflies bring messages from our lost loved ones. I love butterflies and felt it was an approval from my beloved husband, so it stayed.

“First and Last Love” is not one of the “Fifteen First Times”. Rather it is an addendum after the firsts.

D.G., a bright and shiny person, was cast into shadow after the death of her cherished husband.

As time passes, I see she has emerged into a light. Perhaps she is not as shiny yet, but she is as bright as ever!

Pics taken by Resa – 2018 – 2023 – Toronto, Canada

Artists include: Nick Sweetman, Christine Mazulla, Leyland Adams,

About the Author

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.

D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.

Visit her website at www.dgkayewriter.com and join her mailing list to keep up with her latest blogs and news about her books and events.

Follow D.G. on her social sites:

http://www.dgkayewriter.com

www.twitter.com/@pokercubster

www.facebook.com/dgkaye

www.linkedin.com/in/dgkaye7

Visit D.G.’s author page and books: www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7.

Podcast links: Grief the Real Talk

https://www.youtube.com/DebbyDGKayeGies

https://soundcloud.com/dgkaye

https://open.spotify.com/episode/38OoQQysdvNYjXL3pfCMMq?si=wg-DQ8_PSs-hthRtIzvpFQ

Blue Tit & Arnie in Blue

Direct from Manchester, UK; courtesy of Alex Morris via Professional Moron is this fabulous wall art of a Blue Tit,  by Sarah Yates.

“This piece was commissioned in 2011 by Converse as part of the Wall to Wall project. Sarah Yates is an illustrator focusing on topics of environmental awareness. She is well known for mixing graffiti with graphic design and taking inspiration from nature, especially from birds, which are her favourite subjects, as we can see in this large-scale mural depicting a large blue tit.”

As a thank you to Alex, I present this garage door art of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I find the piece quite humorous, indeed.

If you have ever been to the Professional Moron blog, you will see that humour reigns supreme, which makes this the most apt thank you.

Of course it’s not all fun, much of which can involve Arnie & other famous personalities. Alex does fab book reviews, movie reviews and game reviews.

🌼Humungous thank you’s to Alex for the Blue Tit!🌼

Photos of the Blue Tit © Alex Morris

Arnie pics taken by Resa – July 24, 2019

Toronto, Canada

Arnie Artist: