Shadows of ourselves?:

Greetings, Art Lovers!

I discovered recording audio as a young kid, grew up listening to radio (Detroit Tiger baseball games, radio drama series, and of course music). I'm not sure what possessed my dad to let my sister and I use his tape recorder but my oh my what fun we had recording our own made-up versions of radio commercials, storytelling and even live recordings of family dinners (not really sure what possessed me to record that?)

I've carried my fascination with radio and audio into adulthood and have dabbled with recording some online radio spots and the like. This odd desire to jump back into trying my hand at recording and mixing sound again has led me to explore that of creating an "audio blog".

What's an "audio blog" you might ask? Well, it's sort of like a podcast only shorter. Podcasts can be ten minutes to two hours long, but I wanted to experiment with short little blips of interesting topics. Keeping these anywhere from one to four minutes short.

I pondered on this idea for weeks before I finally just decided to power up my .mp3 recorder and just do it! So, what better topic to begin with than the outdoors, right? Off I went (as seen in the photo above) to Oak Openings Metro Park to hike the Horseshoe Lake Trail with my little sidekick Reeses Pieces (miniature fox terrier with really big ears).

Click here to read the blog post about this first audio recording complete with pictures and descriptions.

For a first try, I thought it went fairly well.  Any new project as you know is always a work-in-progress, so I'm sure I'll tweak and improve sound quality and such as I go along. I'd LOVE to hear your feedback. Shoot me an email at rachel @ racheldickson.com and share your thoughts. Topic ideas? Share those too!

Click here to explore this new AUDIO BLOG section of my website.

One never knows what shadows of our past might jump back into our now. But I'd like to think the fun ones are always welcome! What do you think?

Go, Be, Do!

Rachel
 

For the Birds:

Somehow or other I stumbled upon the idea of painting little birds. And my what a hit they've become and SOOOO fun to paint! Wrens, Hummingbirds, Cardinals, and Finches all such fun little feathered friends to work with.

"A Crisp Evening with Mr. Jones" is a 5.00 inch by 4.75 inch original painting on wood, affordably priced at only $35.00!

Ready to add artistic flair to any work, play or home space.

Click here to get a closer look at "Mr. Jones"!

To get a closer look at Rachel's other paintings, simply click on any of the images below.
 

Here's What Other's Are Saying:

Check out Rachel's NEW, COOL friends:

I don't think we give enough credit to where credit is due sometimes. Nor do I think it really cool that most accolades aren't given until AFTER those who've inspired us or left an impression on us one-way-or-another are gone. With that in mind, I've created a page on my website where I've begun listing some of those people. Titled "Cool Friends", it's on that page (obviously an evolving project) that I begin to tell their stories.

Click here to view Rachel's newest COOL friend Kelly Summersett.

NEW Audio Blog is here!

It's time....to introduce sound into the picture! The way I see it, if companies spend millions of dollars for a 30 second commercial spot to play during the Super Bowl, then there must be something to this, right? Yes, yes I know sound is only half of it...but certainly a start.

Check it out.

Click here to visit Rachel's NEW Audio Blog

If only...To Face the Sun:

Every day we face trials and tribulations mostly from outside ourselves. This painting is dedicated to inspire us ALL to let go and let it flow! Not to mention it's been REALLY cold here in Northwest Ohio and standing in the warmth of the sun sounds extremely inviting to me!

Measuring 7.75"x7.85" this original abstract painting would be a great accent to any part of your home, place of work or place of play.

Original Abstract Art!

Or need a little artsy gift to give that special someone? Give ART!

Click here to view "Facing the Sun."

Artists that I LIKE!

I thought this was a photograph too at first glance! And if you thought this too, we were BOTH wrong. Kenneth M Kirsch painted "early evening paddle" with acrylic paint on canvas!

Canadian Landscape Fine Artist Kenneth M. Kirsch was born and lives in Toronto Canada. Working with acrylic and oil paint on stretched canvas and board, Ken paints the Canadian Landscape that he knows and loves, in his own unique realist style.

Canoe paintings like these are HARD to find. And Ken nails the essence of canoeing and the gorgious views that canoeing often surrounds you with.

Take a five-minute art break and check out his work. It's COOL!

Click here to learn more about Kenneth M. Kirsch's art.

Talk, Tell, Rumor, Leak it, Spread the Word:

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And THANK YOU in advance for spreading the word!

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Summary:

Cartoons are entertaining. I remember watching Looney Tunes on Saturday morning as a kid and my Dad would walk through occasionally and laugh-out-loud at the adult humor written into those scripts. Bug Bunny, Foghorn Legorn, Yosemite Sam, you know what I'm talking about.

Alice in Wonderland was a little different as far as cartoons went. Riddled with life lessons and double meanings this cartoon is chocked full of life-lessonry. And the quote to the right is one of my personal favorites!

"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things."
"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a adya. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."  --Lewis Carroll

Without a doubt I hold myself back from my own greatest dreams and desires for one reason or another. Often times it's because somewhere in my mind I don't believe it's possible...or rather I believe it's impossible. And then I remember this quote from Alice in Wonderland and lighten up a bit on myself...and start to consider...maybe it is in fact possible?

It's now 2013. No better time that now to start allowing your dreams and impossibilities to become possible. I have a quote hanging on my studio wall that serves as a daily reminder to me that "sometimes the unobtainable can in fact be obtained."

Consider the possibilities!

Until next time...enjoy your life! After all...we are the ones creating it.

Happiness,

Rachel

Questions? Comments? Snide Remarks?
email rachel at racheldickson.com