An apple a day-------but which one is organic?!

We try to eat organic food most of the time,-it''s part of our way of life

as I feel that food in it's natural unadulterated state

 has to be more wholesome than food grown with chemicals, pesticides etc.

The other day though we were low on apples, so bought a small

supply from our local fruit and veg. shop. Not organic ofcourse.

Here in Malta organic food is not in plentiful supply

and is much more expensive than the other.

These apples , on the surface looked good;( the one on the left is the non organic one.) I noticed though that although the organic fruit was smaller

it felt as heavy as the other.

Tasting this cheaper, good looking

apple was a disappointment to put it mildly.

Not too bad to start with, a bit of apple taste,

then increasingly a tastelessness,- or maybe  sawdust-like,

certainly an emptiness. Not much juicy fruity experience here!

Closer to the core it became discoloured,- more mushy.

Are we really kidding ourselves that this is good or healthy

or satisfying?

I feel very concerned about the movement that Europe has made in the

field of genetically modified food.

Maltese John Dalli, the European Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner

thinks that those who oppose his decisions are ----'scaremongers',

and states that he is in favour of science-based policy making, adding,-

'We cannot be responsible for reducing Europe to an innovation backwater,'

----but is science always right?-Certainly the large monopolistic

science based chemical companies are making lots of money!

Anyway apparently next on the agenda is a report on animal cloning!

I suppose that so long as there is little education in this whole area,

and so long as the majority of the public continues to

show a lack of awareness or  interest, then things will develop

increasingly this way. As for me,-----I'll continue within my limited circumstances,

to seek out natural wholesome organic food,

because I honestly believe that this is the  true way.

I saw advertised recently a DVD documentary film called

'Food, Inc;'-----I think it will provide considerable enlightenment on

this topic, and will prove most interesting if not horrifying.

More scaremongering I'm afraid!

Mo.

'Summer Fields'--------and Sting's' Fields of Gold'

Summer Fields----a textured background with acrylics on stretched canvas.

This is how Summer Fields started. A simple painting,

 using a textured medium as a new approach. I enjoyed the feel

of working with  texture, and the finished painting seemed to have

more depth and interest.

In the studio I kept looking at it and feeling that I wanted

to add something. I liked the colouring and sense of space

but felt there was something missing.

And so Summer Fields becomes this!

I'm happier with it now I think.No longer a fairly empty space.

The background perhaps not as vibrant, but poppies always

seem to give an animation, a cheerfulness,and in spite

of their fragility, their vivid colour provides the vibrancy.

A haze of cornflowers has to belong with a summer field,

a delicately soft romanticism.

Yes----I'm happier with the painting now,

----I feel that it is more alive.

The painting is available.----28"x20" guide price €130

P.S. It reminds me a little of Sting's Fields of Gold.

Thank God for Summer .

Mo.

Today's painting-----"Sunshine Dreaming.'

'Sunshine Dreaming.'-20"X14"-acrylic on deep stretched canvas-

no need to frame.----- Available.

I wanted this to be a happy painting with a feeling of lightness,

and so the sunshine yellow sets the mood.The sun to

radiate warmth and energy.

I felt it needed a sense of restfulness too, a quiet relective

tone that  would be a calming focus.

Simplicity is in most of my paintings, I like the lack of complication,

the unclutteredness that helps clear the mind and soul.

So the stool is here,- also the daisies with their

simple freshness, their little centres, microcosms

of the yellow sun. Maybe a little mysticism?

Where are her dreams taking her?  A natural setting,

outside air, sunlight, flowers, energy-giving and inspiring.

A painting to relax with, a painting to dream with.

A gift for a special occasion.

Mo.

Guide price- €70---90  USD.+postage and packing.

Take a quiet moment-----

                                                                          

In these fast-paced days of seemingly ever increasing materialism
and confusion, I find it so calming and uplifting to find time
to meditate on simple truths. Truths that we know in our
 heart to be the real answer to lack of peace on all levels,
an answer to our own disquiet and that of the world.

So perhaps you would like to take a moment of quiet to
enjoy and reflect on this video, -a simple yet deep statement
to touch our heart and inspire our spirit.
                        Mo.


       

Humid days, the flowers- and me.

The last several days have been almost unbearable with

the heat and high humidity, reducing us to a limp,

drained state, where for me  the mind almost ceases to

function,and I move  in zombie -like fashion through

each minute.

Night time is the worst, with the dense, dark air

descending and wrapping me in a  thick, hot , damp blanket,

I'm suffocating here!

Not so some of our plants! The hibiscus especially

seems to thrive in the humidity, scarlet flowers

bringing a welcome splash of colour and freshness.

Years ago, before we lived in Malta and I read novels

or travel books describing the Mediterranean,

the hibiscus seemed so often to be there

along with the mimosa and orange blossom,-

images of dazzling colour, heady scents and exotic

settings.

Thank heaven for these scarlet splashes of colour;

for their loveliness, their verve and vivacity,

their statement of everything beautiful

to lift us through these humid days!

Mo.

   

The invaders are back!----

Last week has been hot! Very hot----and humid. The only way to keep cool

is the sea. It beckons temptingly at every moment.

 Late July and August are always like this, but

this year has  excelled itself!

Why is it that at this time, when most in need of the sea

it puts up barriers?  What are all those people looking at?

----- The jelly fish ofcourse!

 

Call it what you will-the irony of fate, the perverseness of nature.

the sacrilege of increasing pollution, the negative vibrations

of people,-but here they come again, to disturb the peace.

I look forward to those winds of change!

Ofcourse I hope they come gently, and that I feel them coming;

but surely somewhere along the way is

the return of harmony and the beautiful,

natural, rhythmic flow of things, so that

everyone, -and I mean everyone,- can feel free

to enjoy the world as it is meant to be.

Mo.

No trust any more ?----

                                                                               

I came across this song Lead Me- by Sanctus Real, quite by chance, and
I find it so simply refreshing and perceptive.

 As a teacher and social worker I have become increasingly aware
 that many people are finding so much shallowness and insincerity
in today's world that they are fast losing the ability to form
 relationships based on trust for fear of being hurt.

 Masks are adopted very often and  a superficial exterior life
is led with so much loneliness  and anxiety on the inside
that there is much unhappiness.

This song cuts through the veneer, to approach the problem
with a humility and honesty.----I find it well worth listening to.
I've included the version showing the lyrics because I  think
they are so meaningful.
                                      Mo.

Colour, creation, creativity------

MORNING-----7"X10" ----ACRYLIC.

I know  that I would find it impossible to  live in a monochrome world.

Colour for me animates, motivates, inspires; as light

I see it as the very essence of life and living, alongside love,

infact fused into love as an integral part of it.

Colour My World.

Colour my world in rainbow hues,

nothing drab or dreary,

this is my wish:-

to live in harmony with Life,

see the beauty of Creation up close,

touch Heaven with my heart.

Mo.

-----and ofcourse Donovan's 'Colours'-----

Palazzo, palms, pomegranates------and the studio.

We looked through the imposing gate of neo- classical design,

 to the old palazzo beyond. How sad it looked!

Once it had been imposing too, now it had

fallen into grand----well not so grand decay.

We knew that it had many happy memories.

Memories of elegant dining, celebrations,

open air evenings with music and good wine,

 guests reclining in the lovely grounds.

As we looked we noticed, tucked away in a corner,

a small glass fronted room.

 There it stood, unobtrusive,

certainly not imposing, but it had a drawing power.

Encircled by age old  palm trees  somehow letting it feel safe,

  protected,and so peaceful,

 ----we knew that this would be the Oasis Studio!

Today, looking through the window,

at the old pomegranate tree,

listening to early morning bird song,

the  palazzo too radiates

a faint comfort mingled with its sad air.

Maybe it will be restored;

Maybe it will regain its former glory;

maybe it is here, waiting and hoping and believing that

once again it will hear the sound of music and laughter.

I hope so !

  Mo.

Any Umbrellas?

I couldn't resist this picture as we walked to the coffee shop this morning.

So peaceful-so serene; shades of blue and white, quiet reflections,

silence and stillness.

Return just a few hours later --- a different scene.

People!-----

All shapes and sizes, young and old,

filling up the loungers and the pool.

Not much space!

I always find it rather crazy this bustling activity;

and just behind, ----the vast almost empty Mediterranean.

-----But that's another story!

 Mo.

Taking a walk at sunrise-----

I haven't much time to spend on the blog this morning,

 but I just had to share this beautiful sunrise

seen on the way to the studio .

This hot humid weather means that if I am to

spend time painting  it has to be as early as possible.

So we rise early and get moving!

I am so grateful for this discovery of early morning.

In winter I so enjoyed the experience of a

pre-dawn walk, loving the atmosphere as the sky

turned gently to soft pinks,now it's the

splendour of a golden sun,radiating intense,

rich orange, and seeing this reflected in

the sea as we walk along.

Such richness I find breathtakingly beautiful

and I feel now that to miss it is to lose a gift of grace

so silently yet so grandly offered.

I have lived on this little island for years  ,

yet only in the last few months have I been

out regularly at sunrise. I realise more and more how

often I have let the wonder of nature slip

by almost unnoticed.

   Mo.

The flowers the children-----and John Denver.

                                                                                  

  I  love John Denver's songs, his lyrics, his music,
   his pure clear mellow voice.They are all
so lovely it is difficult to choose just one.

Rhymes and Reasons has a certain nostalgia for me
as years ago, when I organised a more varied Oasis programme,
I held monthly concerts in the local church hall.
These were not 'religious'- more a relaxing  mix
 of easy to listen to songs and those touching on
 the themes of Love and Peace.It's interesting how
often the 'sixties' tunes appeared in the repertoire.

Like myself, Pierre, our young singer, loved John Denver
and Rhymes and Reasons along with Country Roads
and Annie's Song were his favourites.
He sang the former with fervour and feeling
so the song has fond memories for me.

So much of my own belief is crystalised in the beautiful lyrics,
how we need this simplicity and wisdom to cut through all
the meaningless hypocrisy and posturing that we so often see
around us today.

 So relax and enjoy it.
                             Mo.
                                        

Colour my world------.

I paint because I love to paint! I also love colour, it's so

much a part of my world that  my paintings tend to be vibrant with colour.

Sometimes my mood changes and I look at a painting

 and see the colour changing-so the painting above

becomes this:-

The 'Joie de Vivre ' girl is now the 'Sunshine Girl'and I'm happy

with her this way!

As the artist it is my prerogative to alter a painting  if I want

to, and when I do, that painting usually has a symbolic significance

for me. It becomes part of a developing experience, a transition,

and I'm always reluctant to let it go.

So recently, when a friend, who loves Sunshine Girl

wanted it for her daughter, she commissioned me to paint a picture

 in very similar style and colouring. I was happy to do

this, with her daughter in mind, and they both

are really happy with it.-Another Sunshine Girl

has been created.

I love painting in this relaxed way.

For me so much of the joy of  art

lies in the way it gives so much scope to the imagination,

and allows for fluidity, creativity,inspiration,

freedom, and a completely individual interpretation

on the part of the viewer.

Painting for me  has to be fun! Nothing too orthodox or confined,

rather a spirited animation that bubbles up

and I hope conveys itself

to those who take the paintings.

Only positive vibes!

 Mo.

Weekly painting------Sea Breeze.

Sea Breeze----Watercolour 16"x12" with off-white mount.Guide price 45 euros.

Joe at the coffee shop likes to know the story  behind my paintings,

well this one is the story of the sea,

---really the song of the sea,-the summer sea.

On summer days, when there is a soft southerly breeze,

I can look below to see the blue sea gently ruffled.

Clear pools of green appear amid the blue,

drawing the eye and the senses deeper and deeper.

Mystery lies here, the unfathomable,a deep knowing,

the drawing power is strong.

Mesmerised I watch silver fish dart between

 rainbows.

My painting touches only the surface,- a doorway

for the imagination.One day maybe, I'll

paint the little fish, the rainbows,

then deeper, deeper,-----------.

Mo.

Breakfast and scarlet flowers------

Scarlet flowers, a morning sky softly turning from pink to  blue,
faint stirring of bird-song. This is the moment close to my heart.

A silver sea below, a stillness, a hush,--- a peace.

This is the moment  that I need, to move into the noise

 and the bustle of the day and preserve an inside calm.

I am thankful for the blessings of this time,

-time that is somehow outside time:-

a closeness to God,a sense of at-oneness

with myself, everyone and everything,

the peace that pervades my being,

the gentle stirrings of a new day- new life.

  Wishing you all a beautiful morning!

Mo.

                                                                                                                        
                                                      

The bubbly Rolf Harris----still painting at eighty.

                                                                               

It's so good to know that Rolf Harris that lively Australian artist

continues to paint now that he is 80 years. Here he is with

his portrait of Queen Elizabeth, as he launched a new

collection of artworks to celebrate 65 years in art.

-He must have been painting at 15 years!

His exhibition opens this week and is soon to

tour the U.K.

How well I remember his bubbly T.V. shows when he took

us through the various stages of a painting, quick as

 lightning, chatting all the time, and making it all look

like child's play.

A man of great charm and charisma, ----long may his wonderful

talent be offered to us!

Mo.