My piece for Winter is titled: “winter’s gift”. For more about why and how I got there  click here.

Puppetry is an ancient form of performance. Some historians claim that they pre-date actors in theatre. There is evidence that they were used in Egypt as early as 2000 BC when string-operated figures of wood were manipulated to perform the action of kneading bread, and other string controlled objects.

Above is a marionette I stumbled across one day in the French pavilion in Epcot. Her character was undeniably so fun and flavorful I simply had to draw her.

Here is a reportage of where she resides in the pavilion.

and a thumbnail for a stamp design I thought could be an interesting way to feature the flavor of Paris.

p.s. If you’re into it, check out this blog I came across, diary of a genuine marionette maker. Tony is an artist working the craft today. It’s very cool and totally worth the read.

… exploring the gardens as they make their appearance for the annual Halloween Hoorah!

Calling all goblins and ghouls …. here’s to spooky (safe) adventures!

Study at the NY Botanical Gardens © 2010

I thought it worth mentioning this week the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is hosting a series ofexciting events associated with the United States Air Force from August 24th through August 29th.

The mission of the event is to bring together the Air Force and the general public and illustrate the incredible mix of services the people of the Air Force do.

It’s always a treat whenever I go to the Intrepid. The energy and movement available to draw is incredible. The planes are beautiful..the river is beautiful, so simple and complicated at the same time.

Air Force Weeks were established in 2006 by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Hope you too will take advantage of it.

My opinion is just that, an opinion. Whether or not there’s ‘a right’ or some think it ‘wise’ to build a mosque two blocks from where the World Trade Center crumbled – the timing is awful.

There are pivotal moments in history that require time and space for those who experience its chaos to process, accept, and heal from suffering caused by the choice of others. If the 9/11 Memorial was already established and there was confidence restored in the system ‘the right’ might be easier for many to acquiesce. But does that actually make it ‘right’ ?

Ironically this is a drawing I did six years before 9/11.

Who knew then what it would mean to me now? Michele

..I once read that Pythagoras is credited with having discovered the physical relationship between mass and sound, (otherwise known as music), and that this relationship (expressible as ratios) is essentially what led to Galileo’s revolutionary discoveries in physics. Reading this intrigued me …could the relationship between mass and sound be the same as the relationship between mass and line? uhhhmmm…(otherwise known as drawing)

Hymn of the Republic

What I mean is the same physical relationship occurs in a drawing when you choose more of this and less of that. It’s simply music on paper.

With this thought and an arsenal of ideas I decided to research a little into Plato’s theory on Music of the Seven Spheres at the American Museum of Natural History .

In the beginning I found that Pythagoras’ theory correlated the music of the spheres with cosmic harmony, and while at the museum that Plato actually related it to 7 planets. So I knew it was important to frame my thoughts with an essence of say, global or “universal familiarity”, and decided angels were the logical symbol to design the idea around.

Angels are a symbol of higher power that cross pretty much all culture,borders and language.

So maybe it could work?

Maybe it really could…

It’s the journey of discovery that’s the most exciting part for me (and admittedly the reason I continue to hunt for more).

Who really knows where a drawing can lead, this mixture of mass and line?  Maybe it is only the angels.

All images are property of Michele Bedigian©2010 Please inquire for permission to use, or to learn more on this series, by emailing michele@studio1482.com

The day is July 10th. It’s 1977, and I just got these new hot wheels! It’s a bright pink banana bike and I think I’m the coolest thing around … I play the best Pinky Tuscadero!

So it only makes sense I get to be her when we pick our roles in make believe. With the wind in my hair and my new pink satin jacket I’m off to see the world! Well if going around the block twice counts. (Mom said I could.) Enjoy the weekend –  Michele

With such picture perfect weather,                                                                     undeniably yesterday was the most incredible day to be out and about in New York.                          It would have been sinful not to taking advantage of the day’s offering.

I am lucky enough to live across the street from a park with a small lake,                   (or maybe one would call it a big pond), filled with lots of turtles, coy and large goldfish, deliciously tempting for even the novice fisherman.

Below are two girls I really enjoyed watching. My guess is they were talking, dreaming, and planning the rest of their summer days under the willow tree since school just let out this week! Remember that time?

This guy was incredible. He circled the lake twice to catch the fish, instead of waiting for the fish to bite. I think he had a system, hehe, (didn’t look like he had much luck though). Let’s hope Mother Nature graces us with more magnificent days like the one we had!

Teachers, friends and books … three simple words, but they mean so much. This past Monday Dominick and I were having a conversation about art and asking what does it take for an artist to truly reach their potential?

So I shared with him something my Kabbalah teacher Sarah told me last week, (it was a real ah-ha moment and one worth a million treasures). She said that in order for a person to reach their fullest potential in life it’s critical they look at their environment and only surround themselves with what will nurture their path. (What doesn’t MUST GO!) She said there’s 3 elements in life key to fulfillment. Those 3 were … teachers, friends and books.

And so I took a look … I and my friends at the studio have been fortunate to have had the greatest of teachers, for whom without we’d never have set our heights as high as they are and yes, still learning from him.

Friends are what we are to each other, (for that I am forever grateful), and books? Well, if you know one of us, (or all) you know; our books are our lifeline. We can’t ‘be’ without them.

Take a look today at your environment today and settle for nothing less. It’s worth it, Michele

A study for a painting currently on the board. The letters are from the Aramaic alphabet and the sequence is called unconditional love.