Designer, Jane Ryder
Dear Readers,
The first thing that I viewed this morning was an alcohol ink and acrylic painting I am working on that I have titled “Me Tarzan, You Jane”. So I was taught in college that you create your own art and let the viewer decide what they see. But I was talking to Tiajuana Neel Anderson last night and she inquired about the green blob, was it a butterfly on top of my “Mona Lisa” like head. “Yes, Tiajuana, it’s a butterfly”.
I was told in college to never paints butterflies. I was told and asked to promise never to make Teapots or sets again.
“Woodland Fairy Tea Party”, Honorable Mention in University of Texas at Tyler Juried Student Art Exhibition I complied but now that I am out of school, I paint and create what speaks to me so back to this painting which by the way is a progress in work.
“Me Tarzan, You Jane,” Alcohol ink and Acrylic which will eventually have glitter, 24″ by 18″ , 1 1/2 deep on Museum Gesso panel.
To quote the B-5s’s, “What’s that on your head?”, it’s a fascinator you all. A fascinator that holds a very cherished memory for me. It’s one that costume and hat designer, Jane Ryder helped me create one day at my little house in the woods that I call Murphy’s Law. I had asked my friend to teach me and my book club members how to create her beautiful masterpieces that have been worn by people from the Kentucky Derby to being featured in French Vogue to the comedian, Joan Rivers. She said she would love to in her very British accent and could she quite possibly also serve High Tea. Jane Ryder is from England and it’s bloody this and bloody that, I could listen to her talk all day.
So she came to my Murphy’s Law and brought in a carload of flowers, embellishments, accouterments and all the delights and goodies for the High Tea. Here I am wearing with Jane in my kitchen a creation that she gave to me one Girlfriend Weekend that is my favorite color, lavender and the flowers have imprinted words. I will cherish this fascinator forever.
Kathy L. Murphy and Jane Ryder
So we created that day and did we have some hats, here is my book club wearing the ones they created:
Pulpwood Queens of Wood County, Texas: left to right, Barbara Deen, Nancy Walker, Kathy Toon, and Allison ByerleyWe had the time of our lives that day and I never knew it would be the last time I would see Jane. You see she got pancreatic cancer and she went really, really fast. Tiajuana and I joined our mutual and dear friend, author, Tracey Carnes and more at her celebration of life.
So what has this got to do with Memorial Day and that painting? I have many family members who have died serving our country and I remember them and celebrate them giving themselves to our country. But I have had many more friends that have died too soon, ones that I hold near and dear like my recent loss of Pulpwood Queen Rosalie Oliver of my Roarin’ Red River Chapter of my Pulpwood Queens. What I am trying to say is I believe that people come into our lives for a reason and a purpose. I learned a lot from all of them but Jane was my age. Honey, she was a trooper and all I have now is her hats and her memories. So…
The fascinator in the painting is the one I created that day with Jane Ryder, the one with the soon to be glittery butterfly, the silk hydraegeas, the teal featured plume. And why the painting is called, “Me Tarzan, you Jane” as I always wanted to be Tarzan when was a child and well because my Jane, was my friend Jane Ryder. Mona Lisa because she is the iconic “art” woman and because my mother used to sing as she did the dishes, “Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you.” The portals are to take the viewer into other worlds of their own imaginations, memories, and longings. Jane would have gone, “Bloody good that you put your fascinator on Mona’s head”. I create in my painting what I want to see and there is going to be so much more, stay tuned.
This painting will be one of the many that I am taking on the road with me as I traverse to Rumson, New Jersey to deliver a fairly large painting to author, Laurel Davis Huber in the next couple of weeks. I have stops in Memphis/Nashville onto Bristol and Fairfax, Virgina to visit my chapter and lead queens there, Kimberley Cetron and Lisa T. Hodgson. Next I just added a stop to Baltimore, Maryland to visit my dear, dear friend author, Faerie Magazine editor, Carolyn Turgeon. She has a pretty special gallery to take me to, cross your fingers it’s the perfect fit. The FJ Cruiser will be a road warrior as I deliver my painting to Laurel who by the way is the author of “The Velveteen Daughter”, based on the story of the art prodegy daughter of the author of “The Velveteen Rabbit”. Again, you have to read both books, I am so honored and privileged to have my work installed in her home. Then on to Westport, Connetticutt to visit my author friend, Prill Boyle of “Defying Gravity”, another must read for women who are still trying to find their true calling in life. I’ll meet with all of them to do a Pop-up Art Show, Book Talk and an impromtu modeling of my Vida Home and Fashion Designs, check it out at ShopVida.com type in Search box, ThePulpwoodQueen to see my entire collection including my latest and first in my “Queen” Series, “Warrior Goddess, see below:
“Warrior Goddess”, Alcohol Ink and Acrylics on canvas, 12″ by 12″, 1 1/2 inch deep, first in “Queen” seriesSo now you know the story behind the story, Happy Memorial Day. In this life I do believe there are no coincidences. People do come and go in your life but Jane Ryder was really special. I remember her and you will be able to read more about all these stories with the sequel to my first book, “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life” which will be back in print real soon with NEW art for the cover. Yes, it will be mine. My next book is titled, “The Pulpwood Queen Goes Back to School” and seriously, I have learned everything in life through my mistakes. But change that to discoveries, I discovered that did not work so what am I going to do about it? The only way to learn is through trying and as I have always said, “She Tried Really Hard” will be my epitaph. So painting madly like Jane Ryder at her sewing machine. I have a lot of work to get done before I head out on the highway. Won’t you join me? I will be blogging here on the road and posting LIVE Facetime videos too. Now on to getting this introduction finished for my dear friend Kacey Kowars, new book and then company coming. You all may remember Nelson Collier who used to work with me at my Beauty and the Book in Jefferson, Texas. So excited as he and Johan, his life partner are stopping by on their way back from New Orleans to Dallas. A really big day and daylights burning…
Happy Memorial Day!
Truly, Tiara Wearing, Book and Jane Ryder sharing,
Kathy L. Murphy
Founder of The Pulpwood Queens’ Book Club Reading Nation
Email: thepulpwoodqueen@gmail.com
P.S. You can now subscribe to my blog so click the button on your right and so so hope you comment. All of you are what keep me energized, my batteries like the Energizer Bunny!
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