Wow— the stark contrast between the violence experienced the day before and the soothing presence of the violinist in the grocery store parking lot shows how music has the power to heal and bring solace in the midst of chaos and sorrow. Even in the midst of despair, there is always the potential for healing and renewal. And the speed that these contrasting emotions can shift is indeed dizzying.
I hope you and your family are well again and spring time brings you healthy joy after a chaotic January-February! Sometimes, we are happy when some months are finally over. Beautiful art! Bless you!✨💜🙏🤗
Exactly, thank you, Charlotte! Music is a powerful, magical tool. It has buoyed me along so many times in so many unexpected ways. And I love how hopeful your wording is, “Even in the midst of despair, there is always the potential for healing and renewal.” I could not agree more. We are healthy and happy and enjoying the renewal of spring, thank you for your kind words and encouragement, I hope you have a beautiful weekend filled with all the wonders of a California spring time! Sending love and blessings to you! ❤️✨💐
Oh Jenn! Big hugs to you and your family. What a scary terrible experience. Bless you some healing in time. It’s nice to see you back here. Your drawings are beautiful and in the context of your story are love! Thank you for shining your light. Sending love and light your way for all of you. Blessings. Thank you for being here. 🙏❤️
Thank you so much, Jamie! I appreciate the hugs! It was a horrible tragedy. We are well, the experience won’t soon be forgotten. Thank you for your always kind encouragement. I truly appreciate you and I’m looking forward to catching up on the posts of yours that I missed!
What an astonishing contrast Jenn. First of all, thank goodness you are all safe and well. But your experience with the musician and his music the day after is such a reminder that we can only function fully and productively when we choose to concentrate on the beautiful and beneficial aspects of our humanity, but of course acknowledging those darker, malevolent potentialities that lurk within our psyche.
I love your analogy of "polar opposites" being as applicable on a micro-level as on a literal global level. We use phrases often without even thinking of their derivation, don't we?! It is so very apt in this context.
Thank you for glorious artwork again. I particularly like your hand grasping the watch. A picture packed with metaphor and symbolism. I could immediately hear the words and music of Pink Floyd's "Time" : 'Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to nought, or half a page of scribbled lines...'
It's a short ride for us all, and we need a reminder of that every now and then. Thank you for that reminder. We should aim to wring every last drop of worth from every day we are given. All too often we forget, sadly.
Oh, and your attitude to using the pen for so many of your sketches is so cool. Crossing thresholds and no regrets, just push on to see where it leads etc. It's like the visual art equivalent of the spirit of the jazz musician, improvising on a theme and pushing boundaries to take the tune and see what it can become.
An astonishing contrast, exactly. And it is so true that we must seek out the beautiful and not fall victim to the malevolent. Polar opposites; like a magnet. Good attracting good, bad attracting bad. I LOVE the song Time by Pink Floyd. You are right, it is so apt here, I hadn’t thought of it before, thank you.
And thank you for the kind words and compliments, I like the comparison to a jazz musician; we are all just making it up as we go in one way or another, aren’t we? I hope you have wonderful weekend, and truly, thank you for this thought provoking comment!
Wow Jenn! Just like with your last post, you’ve left me reeling all over again! The depth of emotion and genuine wonder that your words convey is incredible. The duality of life often leaves me baffled too. Sometimes it’s as if ‘the good’ and ‘the bad’ are so closely linked or follow so quickly from one another that it is hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Yes!! That is so true. You’ve described it perfectly. It just really throws you for a loop sometimes. Thank you so much, Michael, I so appreciate your thoughtful and encouraging words and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who feels this way!
You and I were talking the other day about nature and sleep being such good medicine...and clearly here's another healing remedy--art. Both creating it and observing others' creations have proved to be soothing to you in this situation. Being human and interacting with other humans can bring so much trauma, but the other face of that is the ability to express, create, and heal. What a blessing! I'm so glad you guys are all feeling well again. Thank you for always sharing your own beautiful art with us here! Much love to you and your family! 💕
Thank you, this is such a beautiful comment. Yes, music soothes me, and art, too. I know it does for you, too, as a musician and creative person. There is magical healing in the arts. It blows my mind that as humans we can be capable of such opposite passions. It is a wild world. Thank you for your kindness and for leaving such a thoughtful comment. I love what you said. I hope you and yours have a wonderful weekend! ❤️
It surely does, doesn’t it? It is still a beautiful life. Maybe the ugliness enhances the beauty. Thank you, Francesca for the kind compliments and thank you for checking out my post. I hope you got the chance to draw today ❤️
I was aware of your absence Jenn. You did a wonderful job of retelling the black and white episodes, a little like a hero’s journey but not of fantasy but of reality. I understand pulling away and regrouping but I can’t relate facing a tragedy while with your kids. Kids can’t comprehend the evil and how do you unpack it for them and tailor it to their ages?! Over the years iv come to look at parents a bit like superheroes.
In my local market was a mom, like a drill sergeant, with 3 or 4 rambunctious kids. The mom was barking commands, trying to get in and out of the market as quick as possible. While the kids were respectful they were also having fun with each other. A few weeks later I saw the mom again and she was working at our local hardware store. In the back of mind I was a little bit in awe.
I was there to buy kitchen sponges, there is a kind with channels on the surface which pushes the debris out and away. We briefly discussed washing dishes by hand, and she mentioned the kooky smell when using the metal wire pads. I bit my tongue as i wanted to share my technique of using a brush, sponge, and mesh system, lol, but thankfully guessed it was a bridge too far.
When I see your posts and the art you make and knowing you are in the middle of raising kids it impresses the hell out of me!
Thank you, Michael! I’m pleased to know my absence was noted, it’s a nice feeling in this fast paced and distracted world. We still use your art book in our weekly classes, by the way!
Thank you for the kind compliment, I wanted to tell it without making the bad part the focus but rather as the foil for the sublime, so I’m glad you felt that way. The kids and I probably trauma bonded over it, but we are all ok. the mom giving orders in the store sounds about right! 😂 Thank you truly, it means so much to know your respect for parents is so deep.
I would love to know of your brush sponge and mesh system… I pre wash and load them in the dishwasher these days, but i was in charge of handwashing as a kid, we’d scald them with boiling water after scrubbing in a soap bath.
Oh Jenn, what a terribly frightening experience. To think of the juxtaposition of chaos in one place and the sound of peace in the other. An offering, a gift as you said. It's times like these we appreciate the generosity of spirit of what feels like an angel perfectly planted as you attempted to shop again.
I pray the kids are okay and recovering from something so frightening. Your train of thought with your exceptional artwork to match spreads warmth and light over the hard part of your story ✨
Thank you for writing this and for sharing so much beauty. Happy happy birthday to your little 🥳✨🙌🏻
Charlotte called him an angel, too. I think you are right. I have been to that store frequently and not seen him again. I think I have a grocery store Angel. Yes, I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that musical offering!
They are recovering, pretty well! I suppose they had to learn at some point that life is horrifyingly ugly sometimes. I told them you never know about life and we can’t be afraid because something bad happened one time. But We said prayers for all the involved and witnesses.
Thank you for the extremely kind comment! I appreciate you taking the time to read and send me some good thoughts and a hug. Enjoy your weekend, I hope it’s a beautiful one! ❤️❤️❤️
We just never know what each day is going to bring to us. What happened to you during an ordinary shopping day would throw some of us into a paranoid frenzy, maybe one so bad that we couldn't even go out of the house the next day, whether we needed to or not.
I've seen over time that some things that we witness, after many years are still so unbelievable, we wonder whether or not they were real. This might be one. A parallel universe.
That you wrote about it, included your art, and published, keeps it steady.
I think maybe at some point in your life, you may need this memory for whatever reason.
I am so thankful that you are there for your kids.
Hi Jenni! It does feel like a parallel universe. I have it written down in detail along with my kid’s recollections and reactions. I could not rest until I recorded it, if only to get it out of my head. But I do want to remember it with the balm of the music coming after. I think that it’s important for balance.
We are all made so different; I have an openness and trust towards people in general that hasn’t been quite shaken. Perhaps it is a flaw in certain aspects; I was across the grocery aisle from my child -in-cart this week and was chastised by a lady who was afraid someone would take her. I wonder what happened to her to make her so afraid.
Thank you for the night light analogy, it brought tears to my eyes, I love it so. I will be a night light until they are not afraid of the dark anymore.
I hope you are well, and your family, too. I hope you have time to paint and make art! Happy spring and may God bless you!
Jenn, you are a wonderful storyteller, you stir up emotion, and inner visions of Life in it's ebb and flow, harshness and beauty. Your art does the same, telling a story, representing you and your imagination, your beauty, your focus. An incredible experience here, and I can relate, I live in what is now the most dangerous city in the US. In my own neighborhood we have been woken in the middle of the night several times in the past couple years to the sound of gun battles. I too have driven to the next town over to do my grocery shopping in the days following these events, sometimes wary of walking in my own neighborhood. It really isn't the hood, but the hood has come for visits.
I love art nouveau, Gustave Klimt is my favorite artist and his work influences much of my own painting, and creations!
Oh, I’m so sorry you’ve been afraid of your neighborhood due to violence. Not feeling safe at home has got to be so stressful. Sending you love and a hug, too. I think all we can do, sometimes, is just keep putting beauty into the world. It will help somebody, even if it’s just one person. And, I too love Klimt , his landscapes most of all. I need to catch up on your work. ❤️ Thank you so much for the kindness you’ve sent my way through your words and your empathy. I so appreciate it. I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Wow— the stark contrast between the violence experienced the day before and the soothing presence of the violinist in the grocery store parking lot shows how music has the power to heal and bring solace in the midst of chaos and sorrow. Even in the midst of despair, there is always the potential for healing and renewal. And the speed that these contrasting emotions can shift is indeed dizzying.
I hope you and your family are well again and spring time brings you healthy joy after a chaotic January-February! Sometimes, we are happy when some months are finally over. Beautiful art! Bless you!✨💜🙏🤗
Exactly, thank you, Charlotte! Music is a powerful, magical tool. It has buoyed me along so many times in so many unexpected ways. And I love how hopeful your wording is, “Even in the midst of despair, there is always the potential for healing and renewal.” I could not agree more. We are healthy and happy and enjoying the renewal of spring, thank you for your kind words and encouragement, I hope you have a beautiful weekend filled with all the wonders of a California spring time! Sending love and blessings to you! ❤️✨💐
Oh Jenn! Big hugs to you and your family. What a scary terrible experience. Bless you some healing in time. It’s nice to see you back here. Your drawings are beautiful and in the context of your story are love! Thank you for shining your light. Sending love and light your way for all of you. Blessings. Thank you for being here. 🙏❤️
Thank you so much, Jamie! I appreciate the hugs! It was a horrible tragedy. We are well, the experience won’t soon be forgotten. Thank you for your always kind encouragement. I truly appreciate you and I’m looking forward to catching up on the posts of yours that I missed!
Popping in to say hello and I wrote you back :). oxoxox
I wrote you back! ☺️❤️
What an astonishing contrast Jenn. First of all, thank goodness you are all safe and well. But your experience with the musician and his music the day after is such a reminder that we can only function fully and productively when we choose to concentrate on the beautiful and beneficial aspects of our humanity, but of course acknowledging those darker, malevolent potentialities that lurk within our psyche.
I love your analogy of "polar opposites" being as applicable on a micro-level as on a literal global level. We use phrases often without even thinking of their derivation, don't we?! It is so very apt in this context.
Thank you for glorious artwork again. I particularly like your hand grasping the watch. A picture packed with metaphor and symbolism. I could immediately hear the words and music of Pink Floyd's "Time" : 'Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to nought, or half a page of scribbled lines...'
It's a short ride for us all, and we need a reminder of that every now and then. Thank you for that reminder. We should aim to wring every last drop of worth from every day we are given. All too often we forget, sadly.
Oh, and your attitude to using the pen for so many of your sketches is so cool. Crossing thresholds and no regrets, just push on to see where it leads etc. It's like the visual art equivalent of the spirit of the jazz musician, improvising on a theme and pushing boundaries to take the tune and see what it can become.
An astonishing contrast, exactly. And it is so true that we must seek out the beautiful and not fall victim to the malevolent. Polar opposites; like a magnet. Good attracting good, bad attracting bad. I LOVE the song Time by Pink Floyd. You are right, it is so apt here, I hadn’t thought of it before, thank you.
And thank you for the kind words and compliments, I like the comparison to a jazz musician; we are all just making it up as we go in one way or another, aren’t we? I hope you have wonderful weekend, and truly, thank you for this thought provoking comment!
Love the sketches!
Thank you, Joel! I so appreciate it!
Wow Jenn! Just like with your last post, you’ve left me reeling all over again! The depth of emotion and genuine wonder that your words convey is incredible. The duality of life often leaves me baffled too. Sometimes it’s as if ‘the good’ and ‘the bad’ are so closely linked or follow so quickly from one another that it is hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Beautiful words :)
Yes!! That is so true. You’ve described it perfectly. It just really throws you for a loop sometimes. Thank you so much, Michael, I so appreciate your thoughtful and encouraging words and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who feels this way!
You and I were talking the other day about nature and sleep being such good medicine...and clearly here's another healing remedy--art. Both creating it and observing others' creations have proved to be soothing to you in this situation. Being human and interacting with other humans can bring so much trauma, but the other face of that is the ability to express, create, and heal. What a blessing! I'm so glad you guys are all feeling well again. Thank you for always sharing your own beautiful art with us here! Much love to you and your family! 💕
Thank you, this is such a beautiful comment. Yes, music soothes me, and art, too. I know it does for you, too, as a musician and creative person. There is magical healing in the arts. It blows my mind that as humans we can be capable of such opposite passions. It is a wild world. Thank you for your kindness and for leaving such a thoughtful comment. I love what you said. I hope you and yours have a wonderful weekend! ❤️
How terrifying, Jenn. Truly horrific. And yet, as you say, life keeps going, beauty sits with ugliness, destruction with creativity.
Your sketches are fabulous. Maybe I will draw today. Maybe…🤗
It surely does, doesn’t it? It is still a beautiful life. Maybe the ugliness enhances the beauty. Thank you, Francesca for the kind compliments and thank you for checking out my post. I hope you got the chance to draw today ❤️
I was aware of your absence Jenn. You did a wonderful job of retelling the black and white episodes, a little like a hero’s journey but not of fantasy but of reality. I understand pulling away and regrouping but I can’t relate facing a tragedy while with your kids. Kids can’t comprehend the evil and how do you unpack it for them and tailor it to their ages?! Over the years iv come to look at parents a bit like superheroes.
In my local market was a mom, like a drill sergeant, with 3 or 4 rambunctious kids. The mom was barking commands, trying to get in and out of the market as quick as possible. While the kids were respectful they were also having fun with each other. A few weeks later I saw the mom again and she was working at our local hardware store. In the back of mind I was a little bit in awe.
I was there to buy kitchen sponges, there is a kind with channels on the surface which pushes the debris out and away. We briefly discussed washing dishes by hand, and she mentioned the kooky smell when using the metal wire pads. I bit my tongue as i wanted to share my technique of using a brush, sponge, and mesh system, lol, but thankfully guessed it was a bridge too far.
When I see your posts and the art you make and knowing you are in the middle of raising kids it impresses the hell out of me!
Thank you, Michael! I’m pleased to know my absence was noted, it’s a nice feeling in this fast paced and distracted world. We still use your art book in our weekly classes, by the way!
Thank you for the kind compliment, I wanted to tell it without making the bad part the focus but rather as the foil for the sublime, so I’m glad you felt that way. The kids and I probably trauma bonded over it, but we are all ok. the mom giving orders in the store sounds about right! 😂 Thank you truly, it means so much to know your respect for parents is so deep.
I would love to know of your brush sponge and mesh system… I pre wash and load them in the dishwasher these days, but i was in charge of handwashing as a kid, we’d scald them with boiling water after scrubbing in a soap bath.
Oh Jenn, what a terribly frightening experience. To think of the juxtaposition of chaos in one place and the sound of peace in the other. An offering, a gift as you said. It's times like these we appreciate the generosity of spirit of what feels like an angel perfectly planted as you attempted to shop again.
I pray the kids are okay and recovering from something so frightening. Your train of thought with your exceptional artwork to match spreads warmth and light over the hard part of your story ✨
Thank you for writing this and for sharing so much beauty. Happy happy birthday to your little 🥳✨🙌🏻
Sending you a big hug and lots of love. ox
Charlotte called him an angel, too. I think you are right. I have been to that store frequently and not seen him again. I think I have a grocery store Angel. Yes, I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that musical offering!
They are recovering, pretty well! I suppose they had to learn at some point that life is horrifyingly ugly sometimes. I told them you never know about life and we can’t be afraid because something bad happened one time. But We said prayers for all the involved and witnesses.
Thank you for the extremely kind comment! I appreciate you taking the time to read and send me some good thoughts and a hug. Enjoy your weekend, I hope it’s a beautiful one! ❤️❤️❤️
Hey Jenn,
We just never know what each day is going to bring to us. What happened to you during an ordinary shopping day would throw some of us into a paranoid frenzy, maybe one so bad that we couldn't even go out of the house the next day, whether we needed to or not.
I've seen over time that some things that we witness, after many years are still so unbelievable, we wonder whether or not they were real. This might be one. A parallel universe.
That you wrote about it, included your art, and published, keeps it steady.
I think maybe at some point in your life, you may need this memory for whatever reason.
I am so thankful that you are there for your kids.
You are their nightlight now.
As dark as it gets, they'll find their way! :)
Hi Jenni! It does feel like a parallel universe. I have it written down in detail along with my kid’s recollections and reactions. I could not rest until I recorded it, if only to get it out of my head. But I do want to remember it with the balm of the music coming after. I think that it’s important for balance.
We are all made so different; I have an openness and trust towards people in general that hasn’t been quite shaken. Perhaps it is a flaw in certain aspects; I was across the grocery aisle from my child -in-cart this week and was chastised by a lady who was afraid someone would take her. I wonder what happened to her to make her so afraid.
Thank you for the night light analogy, it brought tears to my eyes, I love it so. I will be a night light until they are not afraid of the dark anymore.
I hope you are well, and your family, too. I hope you have time to paint and make art! Happy spring and may God bless you!
I'm well, thanks and painting every chance I get, Jenn!
I am so glad to hear it! ❤️
Jenn, you are a wonderful storyteller, you stir up emotion, and inner visions of Life in it's ebb and flow, harshness and beauty. Your art does the same, telling a story, representing you and your imagination, your beauty, your focus. An incredible experience here, and I can relate, I live in what is now the most dangerous city in the US. In my own neighborhood we have been woken in the middle of the night several times in the past couple years to the sound of gun battles. I too have driven to the next town over to do my grocery shopping in the days following these events, sometimes wary of walking in my own neighborhood. It really isn't the hood, but the hood has come for visits.
I love art nouveau, Gustave Klimt is my favorite artist and his work influences much of my own painting, and creations!
Oh, I’m so sorry you’ve been afraid of your neighborhood due to violence. Not feeling safe at home has got to be so stressful. Sending you love and a hug, too. I think all we can do, sometimes, is just keep putting beauty into the world. It will help somebody, even if it’s just one person. And, I too love Klimt , his landscapes most of all. I need to catch up on your work. ❤️ Thank you so much for the kindness you’ve sent my way through your words and your empathy. I so appreciate it. I hope you have a beautiful weekend!