Roka's Blog

The Fridge Family

Roka — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:57:23 +0000

I created this for an art class this week. I had to create two people out of anything except actual people or people parts or clothing. They needed to be interacting in some way and I had to create a background out of something relevant.

The Fridge Family

The man is made of vegetables, the woman made of fruit (Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus?). Their sofa is made from a carton of eggs and starfruit with a parsley houseplant behind it. I got the idea of the babies when I saw a pic of baby carrots… hence the bowl bassinet of babies. Now you know what happens when yor refrigerator door is closed. Enjoy!

Back to School and Dressing Up

Roka — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:27:33 +0000

It’s back to school week. I didn’t get very much done over the break, but I’m looking forward to this term – with more Psychology, more Writing, and more Art. But am I doing my homework? Um… no. I was plunking ’round in some old folders and found a photo of a rose that that I had taken at a friends farm a couple of years ago. I really loved the image, but it needed a little dressing up. Her she is in all of her glory.

Photo - Rose Delilah

Eve’s Iris

Roka — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:15:34 +0000

Well.. the votes have been tallied… between responses here, emails, phone calls, and my Facebook page – Number 1 is the favorite, with #3 in a very close 2nd… and one lone vote for #2. Thank you for offering your perspectives. I’ve named it Eve’s Iris – as it feels like it must have come from Eden.

And – don’t forget. If you haven’t already LIKED my FB page – Please do so. I’ll be drawing a name when I hit 200 LIKES. The winner will receive an 8×10 print matted to 11×14 – winners choice of print.

You can see Eve’s Iris here in all her glory (larger).

The Party’s Over

Roka — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:58:37 +0000

Well… it hasn’t exactly been a party, but the break between Fall and Winter terms is about up. I look at my long list of things that I had put off until the break… I think I need to put them off until Spring break. That’s pretty sad. One of the biggest accomplishments isn’t quite done. We’ve been painting the living room. Decided to go bold and painted 2 walls in a brick red and painted the other 2 in a pale beige. We blew it on the trim and are now living in total chaos while we test more colors. It has to be done before I start school on Monday… or we’ll just do parts of the trim when we have some spare time. I’ll post some pics soon.

Meanwhile I’ve been playing around with some photos of an Iris that I took in the gorgeous garden of my friend, Marilyn. (It is one of my favorite places to go with my camera). I’m having a hard time deciding which crop I like best, so I sent the choices off to some artist friends and the result is still a mix. So.. I’m going to post them here for more feedback. Thanks for any observations or perspectives you want to offer.

Iris 1

Iris 2

Iris 3

Silver & Gold – Weekly Photo Challenge: Winter

Roka — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:49:33 +0000

An old holly leaf… Christmas is over and it’s now left alone.

I found this while walking with my dear friend, Marsha. The old saying – Make new friends, but keep the old… One is silver, the other – gold. Marsha is golden.

Silver & Gold

Christmas, Close Drivers and Compassion

Roka — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:12:44 +0000

I haven’t really written in here very much over the last year. I keep vowing to write more, but time has been so elusive since I’ve gone back to school and continued to get my art “out there”. I’ve got a little less than 2 weeks before I hit the books again and I can’t imagine cramming everything that needs to be done into such a small amount of time. But I’ve been thinking about something that I felt a need to put my pen to. And it so happens – a Facebook friend mentioned the same issue on her page this morning.

Christmas morning, Steve and I drove to Albany to celebrate Christmas with my daughter, her husband and our grandkids. It was a delightful time. The kids were thrilled with their bounty. After a decadent breakfast treat of gingerbread Yule log, we hit the road again to visit Steve’s kids in Portland. His daughter and her husband had just bought a sweet house and celebrating Christmas in it was definitely in order. We met 2 of his other daughters and one’s boyfriend there. We shared an incredible brunch – quiche (baked to perfection), ham, Caesar salad, yummy potatoes, and then later – gingerbread Yule log. It was a delightful Christmas – a very sweet and mellow, warm and relaxing Christmas Day with family.

Ephemeral Ballet

My issue? Well… I’m not one who likes to travel on holidays, but it was necessary in order to share this wonderful day. We packed up early with our usual driving shift… I drive there-Steve drives back. We were somewhere between Salem and Portland where I-5 expands to 3 lanes and I was in the far right lane because I prefer to drive closer to 60 rather than run down the road at 70 plus – especially when it’s raining (which it was). I thank my dear, late friend Liza for the encouragement to take it slow. I generally arrive at my destination a few minutes later, but I’m much more relaxed and I’ve probably saved a bit on gas (and I’m alive). I’m not the only one who drives in this manner. There are always cars in front of and behind me and we call keep pace with one another. So…I was a bit perplexed when out of the blue a van slips between me and the car behind me and proceeds to “ride my ass” as “they” (and I) say. They got so close I could clearly see their faces. This woman was so stressed, she was gripping the wheel and I could have sworn that she was pressing her face against the windshield. When someone tails me (and it happens all of the time – even when I’m driving OVER the speed limit) I don’t hit my breaks, but I do take my foot off of the gas and slow down. (Two people suggested I put on my flashers – I will next time). They slowed just enough to keep what seemed like a 1-foot distance between us. I couldn’t figure out why they wouldn’t go around me. Then after a couple of miles, they sped down an off-ramp. I was left feeling stunned.

Perhaps it hit me harder because it was Christmas, but I was really upset for quite awhile. I just can’t wrap my brain around self-centered people who would put so many people in danger, just so they can arrive somewhere a few seconds earlier. I came up with excuses – they’re young, they’re Type A, they didn’t realize what they were doing – but none of them cut it for me. When my Facebook friend posted about 2 instances of being tailgated in one trip, someone commented that it’s the same kids who used cut in line in school – the Me First kids. Whether it’s their behavior or my intolerance for it – I feel like it’s becoming more and more commonplace to see people’s utter disregard for their fellow human beings. Be it shopping for the new Air-Jordans or hitting the stores on Black Friday with pepper spray – I don’t understand how our priorities have become so skewed. We can blame TV or technology, but I think it’s something deeper. Even the simplest courtesies seem to be disappearing. I worked at a local college for 12 years and over that time I watched the politeness of youth (sorry – but it was the younger crowd here – not the older – and they were generally male) become almost non-existent. I lost count of how many times I would be walking behind someone through a door and they would just let the door go – even if they saw me. Other times I would be going through a door and someone would push past me, knocking me aside. This happened continually. Are the basic rules of etiquette not being taught anymore or are people just so distracted that they fail to notice that they’re not the only person on the planet?

A bunch of little things – possibly pet peeves – but they all add up for me. Community is extremely important to me. Actually it’s important to everyone, but I don’t think everyone knows that. I’ve build my “family” from my community over the last 40-plus years since I moved away from my home of origin. The people in my community are vital to my life and happiness. We all give of ourselves to each other and reach out to others outside of our community. When I see people distancing themselves from their fellow humans it hits me really hard. I can’t bear to read the paper anymore. Who knows… maybe I’m just becoming more intolerant in my old age, but I have “had it up to here” (as my Mom used to say) with the me-centered culture that I see around me.

Maybe my expectations are too high of others, when it comes to treating people with compassion and kindness. I know I don’t always do this, but I do try to be considerate of others and am aware of how I speak to people – most of the time. In the coming year – I will be more conscious of how I treat my fellow humans and reach out to them more. I will try and offer grace to those that don’t live up to my expectations of what being human is. I guess that, in itself, is being human.

Happy New Year!

Mother Earth

The Color Red – Heat, Passion, Danger

Roka — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:02:03 +0000

Excited to announce that all three of the pieces that I submitted to the Red show at the David Joyce Gallery in Eugene will be featured in the show – Red, Red The Color of Warm on display January through March 2012. Click on each image for a link to a larger view.

Poppy Garden

Red Crow Sky

Folded Petal

You can always buy prints and cards online at my gallery (which will soon be overhauled).
And if you pop onto Facebook and Like my page – your name will be entered into a drawing for a free matted print!

Wonder – Photo of the Week Challenge

Roka — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:20:48 +0000

My youngest grandson, Jack. He is a Wonder!

Weekly Photo Challenge – Windows

Roka — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:50:42 +0000

Just a couple of photos I took a few years ago in Portland, Oregon. One of my skewed reflection in a window and one of the sky’s reflection. Click to view slideshow.

2nd & Blair Holiday Studio Sale & Open House

Roka — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:12:21 +0000

Oh yea….’til almost the season. I’ll be setting up my “ware” in the form of framed prints, matted print, mini-frames, & greeting cards for the annual (lost track of which “annual” it is) Studio Sale & Tour.

Right when I’ll be sliding into finals week, I’ll be setting up and spending 4 days tending the show. Four days after, I’ll be at my artist reception for my shared show at Willamalane Center Gallery during the 2nd Friday Art Walk (I’ll most more about that later). I’m trying to get all of my schoolwork and finals finished up before it all hits the fan. At any rate… it’ll be loads of fun celebrating the onset of the season with the hundred of art lovers who come to see the amazing work of the artists at 2nd and Blair. If you’re an Oregonian – I hope to see you there! You can also find us on Facebook!