"What Causes Us to Decide That One Day - This Day - We Will Do Better?"

Miracles are everywhere... if we notice them. We are effected by them or not. We are motivated by them, or not. What causes us to wake up one morning and know that things will be different, that today we will indeed approach our goals. Expect the brush of life to meets your dreams, on a canvas of miracles. Why not? Why decide that dreams being met, are for other people?

"What Causes Us to Decide That One Day - This Day - We Will Do Better?"

What changes us?

What makes us decide one day
that this day
we will do better?

This day
we will meet our goals.
This day
we will smile on everything
as if we were seeing it for the first time.
This day
we will take time out
for our own selves.
This day
we will climb that emotional mountain
that seemed inconceivable
yesterday.
This day
we will do what we had only hoped
we would do the day before.

This day we will FLY.

Within this very second
we will find what was missing
caused us to hesitate
one breath before.

We miss the serendipity of life
sometimes.
We plan
and fret
and spin our wheels.

Sometimes we miss
that our dreams are being fulfilled
right in front of us
and we walk past them.

We work hard to meet our goals
but fall short of noticing
that 'spectacular'
is within reach
and oft times all around us.

Why not I accept spectacular things happening?
Why not?
Why not see excellence?
It truly is all around us.

Within every morning there is a sunrise
and the evening brings the colors
of a well spent day of a sunset.
The moon is right there in its place
blessed by a zillion stars.

Stars shine and twinkle
within the very same galaxy
stars turn in opposite directions
as if to secure their individuality.

Looking onto a landscape
off in the distance
mountains take on a purple hue.
Trees and plants awaken with the change of season.
Rivers move toward the ocean
wildlife is as healthy as we care to make it.
What an opportunity.

Expect the brush of life
to meets your dreams on canvas of miracles.
Why not?
Why decide that dreams being met
are for other people?
Mentors come into our lives
to show us the way.
We stretch our minds and hearts
or not.

Today can be a spectacular
as YOU want it to be,
simply by noticing
and listening to your heart.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen
22 April 2009

"Euphoria" 36x48 oil on canvas by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen.

If you are interested in the original contact Monkdogz Urban Art http://www.monkdogz.com


Prints of this image are available through AllPosters.com http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?CID=C8EA57FACEDB402F8693535408DF5AC9&PPID=1&apnum=1852471&search=98682&f=c&FindID=98682&SearchID=&startat=/getposter.asp

It is also on Amazon.. but you would have to look that one up... smile.

"My Love- I Treasure The View That Fills Your Eyes"

"My Love- I Treasure The View That Fills Your Eyes"

I've spent time thinking how you'd like the wind to move.
I savour those moments with you
when we both felt it on our skin.

I still treasure all those antics of yours
the tunes you danced to
when you thought I was not looking.
I stroke those lines.

My tongue swells
and I anticipate the very color of your touch.

Secrets about you keep me awake at night.
I keep them jars along with useless glitter
and dried out baby roses
blessed pink whenever I am sad.

I am hoping you will write back
if indeed my measures rhyme between your fingers.
I am this moments advocate.

I painted the plaster meant to block out smiles
giving them another mystery.
No worrying about slow souls
reaching for exits
who cares after all?
I have my feelings intact for you
nothing will ever change that.

I hear the shape of your shadow
and I am bewildered
forever stunned
that you remember me when I miss you.

I'll send lilacs through a windmill
sift out all those pleasure stealers
who pretend to not understand.

Oh my love
I will always treasure the view that fills your eyes
And when I miss you
in those middle of the night hours
as I hear your breath sleeping
I will reach over for you with my longing
stroke your forehead
and let you rest beside me.

Oh yes
I've spent time thinking how you'd like the wind to move.
I savour those moments with you
and within that magic
I will always love you.

~~*~~
Kathy Ostman-Magnsen
21 March 2009
Copyright 2009

The image is of my painting "For Isa" 18x24 oil on canvas

I am represented by Monkdogz Urban Art, NY If you are interested in purchasing ORIGINAL art contact Bob Hogge, Marinia Hadley or Sebastian: http://www.monkdogz.com

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Scorpion Drawings-There's a Lot to Consider-Scorpions Can Have FIVE Sets of Eyes!

Scorpion Drawings-There's a Lot to Consider-Scorpions Can Have FIVE Sets of Eyes!

Below is a little poem I wrote about 'how to draw a scorpion'. When one draws anything at all one must consider all the facets of their subject, that includes scorpion drawings as much as it would sketching a face or a flower or anything at all. You need to become familiar with your subject in order to do a decent job. When I researched scorpions I was surprised to discover that they can have up to FIVE sets of extra eyes. Wow.

Scorpion drawings
a lot to consider
two thousand species
in waiting for their portraits?
Oof... I shiver!

I can see it now...
Scorpions standing in line
some with their tail reaching
beseeching
those with no sketching
spine.

Drawings of scorpions
waiting to be done
but which scor-pi-on?
Those under rocks
those sneaky guys
under rocks
or in holes
hiding from the sun?

Their body
mostly in two parts
the head and the belly
a drawing begins
lightly
till it pleases me
or I'm silly.

Two eyes
properly placed
on their durable skin
yet oh and alas
that's not where their eyes end!
Along the sides
a word
to the 'not' so wise
a scorpion sees
with up to FIVE pair of eyes!

Four pair of walking arms
with hooks
that give us all
alarm.
while walking
to meet their prey
with their venom
injecting barb.

Living from age 4 to 25
nocturnal creatures
love the dark
so from sunlight hide.

They crush their prey
or inject them
paralyze
with neurotoxic venom
so please
be wise
when scorpion drawings
are calling you nigh.

No worries though
for humans?
Scorpions are relatively harmless.
A little numbness
might come
except I say
except for some...
Be mindful of those death-stalkers
no standing still
and no talkin'
be on your way!

One last thing
that you should know
Scorpions are also known to glow
Yes that's right
so draw some light
on your scorpion drawings
late at night.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen
copyright 2009

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My painting above is not a scorpion drawing obviously! It is called "The Secret" and is a 36x48 oil on canvas.

"Drawing Women Warriors in the Dark-Pain Can Form an Elegant Journey"

"Primal Block Party 1" 9-3x3x2 oil on canvas blocks. Contact my rep Bob Hogge at Monkdogz Urban Art, New York, http://www.monkdogz.com if you with to purchase this piece or other original art of mine.

"Drawing Women Warriors in the Dark-Pain Can Form an Elegant Journey"

I reach for my pen
drawing women warriors
in the dark
hoping that I might become one
hoping I might slay that dragon
or at the very least define him.

Pain can form an elegant journey
beautiful
mature
in the end
despite the frailties
and longings for normalcy.
Within this walk
pain can bring either chaos
or resolutions.
Twigs are found
under the wings of birds
that plan well.

I have emerged from the mire
placed my tongue on raindrops
closed my eyes when senses exploded
bathed myself in numbness
at times
just to cope.

This pain
this sadness
this walk
that so often gropes
and feels for me
in the dark
arises
well past promised rainbows.
Quietness seems to glare there
despite hobbled notations
of finding some tune to dance to.

Oft times I feel a presence...
beautiful older women
behind gates that don't open.
Slipping into another time
events of smelling history
and neatly pulled back curtains.
I am wounded by slivers from pale entrances.
I blow them kisses
hoping I survive
never clearly understanding the moral.

I am coated in black.
Or is it a tune of yellow?
A ribbon for my own soul
transfered onto a glass sidewalk
lest I forget my lessons.
Wouldn't you think I'd know them by now?

Pack them away
those diaries that boast no claims for sainthood.
Be positive
quote other people's words
and gain their wealth
of...
of...?

It is within this small second
that I take note of being happy.
I guess at times I expect it to be continual.
Mud blocks stand before the door
and me.
Yet, I will pass them by.
They are just the ways of childhood
bullied by fears
of never holding oneself close enough.

Such an elegant journey
pain
translucent
when held up to the light.

Painted now
those drawings of women warriors
painted with the blood of vacant smiles.
I'd always hoped to induce more.
Perhaps time will uncover a broader narrative.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen
copyright 2009

~~*~~

"Duplicating Snowflakes and Other Signs of Rain - Can Lily Escape? The Saga of Lily Goes On"

No need to worry about Lily.
Walk here along this splendid path,
one careless step
is as good as the other,
if you don't envision an outcome.
No tears can measure any sense of travel,
when one does not know the road.
New places lose their value,
without a reassurance of home.

So the two paintings are mine of course,
"Camille 1 and 2" 18x24 oils on canvas.
They are part of my "Victorian Series"

I confess that it would take A LOT for me to paint in this fashion again. I am more interested at this point in impressionism. I am also concentrating more on a more raw sense of thinking. Ahh stretching that bottled up person in me that could only follow rules and then worry that they were not followed close enough.. enough of that.. onward!

"Duplicating Snowflakes and Other Signs of Rain - Can Lily Escape?
The Saga of Lily Goes On"

White gauze on her eyes
taking hostage of her thinking
bandages over her mind
listless...
she fell.

Someone whispered to me,
"She will not fall far
no
not far at all.
No need to worry about Lily.
Walk here
along this splendid path
one careless step
is as good as the other
if you don't envision an outcome.
Sadness lends a soulful journey"

I think of her unending now
the undoing of Lily.
Lily
neglected in the dark.
Me with my jewel-less crown
who did I think I was?
How could I have trusted
listened
to anyone else?
Wasn't she mine for the caring?
Wasn't it me she trusted?

One by one
the monsters surfaced
and Lily
could not fend them off
her mouth filled with cotton.
A giant squid surfaced
pulled at her energy
down
into caves
without openings.
Her treasured creativity
inside the deepest sea.

I cried and screamed,
I pulled my hair
and ran to the shoreline.
"Oh god Lily
wait for me!
If resurrection be possible
I will cause you to float toward saints
pull away those scathing tentacles
let me
please
instill breath in you again.
Oh Lily
forgive me."

No tears can measure any sense of travel
when one does not know the road.
New places lose their value
without a reassurance of home.
When I think of all those masks
that I agreed to toss
away
ohhh.
I stripped us both of shelters
from beating days of rain.
Oh Lily
I will stand in prayer
although I have no hands.

The dragon changed his mind
he beckoned me in a lie
a pitiful story I had believed in.
I thought he was grooming me
that I would know a certain light
but before I recognized his presence
was evil
I had lost my way.

Restless in my heart
my soul torn to shreds
pieces bleeding only black and white
the colors had indeed abandoned us
both.

I was only sleeping
distracted by orchids
who sang tunes
of contemplative searches
for memories past ours
those ones that birth
unmatched miracles.
I was only praying
for a lighter day
I failed to see the sunshine
was already here.

"Oh Lily
let me find a softer letter
you remember that contract
don't you?
The out clause?
I know it is hidden away
somewhere.
I fixed it in that snowflake
the one we tried to measure?
You remember
don't you?

Not to worry
Lily
someone whispers in the wind.
I have my pallet filled now.
No, not with colors
but with moons.
No matter what Lily
I promise you
I will wait on Winter
no matter how long it takes
to find that snowflakes duplicate
OK?"

And with those words of mine
Lily
feeling the rain
simply faded away.

31 August 2008
Kathy Ostman-Magnusen


~~*~~

The Images are of my paintings "Camille 1" and Camille ll" both are 18x24 oil on
canvas. They are part of my "Victorian Series" Camille is a real person that I knew
from long ago. She was an extremely sensitive little girl, which is why I painted
her. I rented costumes and created a tea party for her mother, sister and a foreign
exchange student from France,who stayed with me that Summer. I chose these paintings
because "Lily" is the inner child.

~~*~~

ABOUT Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

I paint and sculpt female fantasy art and map fairy tale adventures. I dream of
beautiful women on canvas and art of exotic women. My career has ALWAYS been art. It
has up and downs, for creativity is a very tempestuous lover. Some days I hate it,
but I cannot help myself. I succumb to its relentless outbursts that include too many
colors to ignore. Not always perfect but always striving.

I have illustrated for Hay House Inc.,"Meditations of Women Who Do Too Much" CARDS,
taken from Anne Wilson Schaef's book. I also illustrated for Neil Davidson, who was
considered for the Pulitzer Prize in feature writing, and several other publications.
My paintings are collected worldwide.

Giclee canvas art work, greeting cards and posters are available for sale on my
website:

http://www.kathysart.com

Sign up for my mailing list: FREE ART GIFTS suitable for children: Drawings of
whimsical angel pictures, legends of mermaids and fairies in art. Tiny angels whisper
fantasy art for shrink art, or coloring pages. Also a "Letter From the Tooth Fairy",
ya just never know when you might need one!

I am Represented by:

Monkdogz Urban Art, Inc., 547 West 27th Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10001

ORIGINAL ART may be purchased through Monkdogz

http://monkdogz.com/chelseagallery/artistart/Magnusen/artist_magnusen.htm

Check out one of my 73 Squidoo lenses: Fantasy Art Woman|Beautiful Women Goddess Art:

http://www.squidoo.com/kathysart


(I am Lily, Lily is me, she may be you as well?)

Aloha, Kathy

~~*~~

"From Inside An Open Grave My Lily Did Escape"

"From Inside An Open Grave My Lily did Escape"

Lily opened her eyes from sleeping
lest death take her ore
and rob her of her own breath
this grave
opened up toward hope.
Remembering all
in conflict
wound or victory
thus
Lily spoke:

"Let me be a snowflake
drift in the wind
connect with the atmosphere.
Solace
solace
floating till I reach another wound
past this one.
This one is too hard.

Healing.
Let me know that space
no one around
freedom to dance over oceans
feet never even touching
its liquid whispers
at all.
Yes
I want to fly that high.
I don't care what you say.

I met a sea lion once
he sang along with me
as I ran across the beach.
At first I felt afraid
as magic entered too close.
How could I possibly be that free?
And then?
I melted into it.
Not one other soul around
to deny me
my own tongue
worrisome
broken
setting boundaries
silent to forbidding
if only for a time.

Am I strong enough
To get that back?
Does the breeze tell me I'm OK?
Am I thirsty enough
to stretch past my own clauses?
Am I visible
to me
at all?

How black can the sea be?
How far is the sky?
Might I capture those stars?
How empty, how full
how long
how many times will I commit
to being my own self?

Stars do turn in different directions
within their same galaxy.
Perhaps I am too judgmental.
Wouldn't that be OK
for me too?
Choices to not just embrace
but become their living shadows.

The mystery combs my hair
cleans my body
brushes my teeth
scrapes every single barnacle
away
when I let it.

How lonely is that dragon
or is he in fact
really OK?
Has he gone on to march in parades
under the sea
without me?
Is it really true
what doubters say?

Silver Strand
forever glistening
I hear it still
and I need to
get back.

There is a sandcastle there
the tide cannot overtake it
the magic forever saved
deep inside
my mind.
Dragons yes
they live forever.
And everyone else is a lier.

In moment of doubt
transgressions plotted
It crossed my mind.
It's maybe true
what insecurities say
I might just be addicted
to every unknown fall.
Unsure
standing still I see them
attaching themselves to me
stubborn on my face
will I ever recognize my soul?
Will I ever come up for air?

Masked recusers died in the Fall
I saw them changing
their minds.
All of those promises
dropping to the ground
brown
raked up
and burned before winter.
Singing
earthquakes come here too.

I wanted to run
to that other side they talk about.
With blood in my ears
I realized
they were mistaken
plagued
by their own determination
that was actually indifference
to love.
Because
oh
they forgot to be kind.
I thought that was the message.

No matter
a dragon awaits me
I felt him breathing
once
on the Silver Strand
Tis not a poor desert flower
in a jar.
No.
I set my table
candle lit
messages unmarred.
And each and every breath
I now take
reflects a sacred note.
My dragon lives forever
with in that grave and out."

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen
28 August 2008

My career has ALWAYS been art. It has up and downs, for creativity is a very tempestuous lover. Some days I hate it, but I cannot help myself. I succumb to its relentless outbursts that include too many colors to ignore. Not always perfect but always striving.

Be sure to check out my Squidoo lens: Fantasy Art Woman|Beautiful Women Goddess Art:
http://www.squidoo.com/kathysart


Do you Twitter? Here is mine: http://twitter.com/kathysart

The image is "Bronze Nude 1" 24x36 oil on canvas. It can be found at Barebrush:
http://www.barebrush.com/Artists/ALB43e.html

~~*~~

"Sometimes I Feel Frozen - Bleeding Snow"

Frozen,
that is how I feel.
At times,
I am still haunted by our flaws,
together.

Some people must take separate roads,
travel does not come easy,
despite what you thought,
I truly never blessed it.

Evenings get cold,
sometimes,
still,
without breezes,
and oft times without breathing.

You remember that song I wrote?
The one about ice on the sidewalk,
bleeding snow,
that's just the way I saw you,
as bleeding snow.
Yet, you never claimed that kind of ice.

I write in the afternoons now,
no more pretending I don't,
no longer hiding scraps of paper,
on past due notes.

No one is perfect,
that will always,
always be true.

When I'm alone I send out apologies,
to passers by,
no matter they don't hear me.
I evoke social graces,
sentiments that may fall empty,
on a perfect stranger's deaf ears.
I owed you that much,
I am the first to say,
too little and way too late.

Yet...
you never got it,
never heard,
never dreamed my dreams,
or wanted to.
Who would frame that kind of art?

Being cold,
takes a long time to recover from.
Frozen statues in the dark,
if I look out past windows,
I still can see you.

Frozen,
that is how I feel,
at times.
I am still haunted by our flaws,
together.
Yet standing still,
has given me...
wisdom,
despite my un-mending.

I ask myself often,
what was I fleeing to?
If I stay very still,
not moving one single bit,
and feel the colors I now paint with?
I know.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

30 July 2008
by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen
copyright 2008


The image is of my painting, "Sunset" 24x48 oil on canvas. It is from my "Passion Series"

I am represented by Monkdogz Urban Art in New York http://www.monkdogz.com

Check out one of my Squidoo lenses: Hawaiian Travel|Hawaiian Fun Food
http://www.squidoo.com/hawaiianartprints/


Aloha, Kathy


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