Voliotisa's Arts

2010-11-08T04:23:00.000-08:00

2010-11-08T04:18:00.000-08:00

2010-04-22T03:29:00.000-07:00

2009-12-13T06:13:00.000-08:00

These are my holiday cards using acrylic on colored card paper created for family and friends.

2008-09-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired by two and have produced the following.

2008-06-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

my floral, acrylic sunflowers in vase partly snapped with my cell directly from canvas

2008-06-18T03:02:00.000-07:00

I have been away for awhile but have actually been busy creating my art. I have been thinking of the blog lately, must admit that I've missed being here. I'm posting some of myacrylic paintings and one imposter, guess which one. I started working with acrylics when I purchased a new computer and didn't have all my graphic programs installed and found I love the medium. Yes, I admit I am an acrylic lover!! Below are some of my stories in art, 1) the sunflowers for my friend's special birthday 2) my mixed admiration, love and coming to terms with the horse 3) The most freedom one can experience riding on a horse and the history telling of its contribution to mankind and every country really but this one depicting a rider in the USA, and last but not least the universal love of a mother and child. Which one is rendered in Painter? Stay tuned I have just begun!

2007-05-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Right about here I revisited something a started a while back, and decided to finish it for what it's worth so, take a look:

2007-05-24T17:47:00.001-07:00

2007-02-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

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Elephant (My Story)

You can find me in the circus, I protest!
You can find me in the desert and the jungles
That’s the best!
In Africa and India I Rule!

Once the fools displayed me at the zoo
Alas, they saw the light -
They placed me in a conservation park…
At least there I roam around in simulated manmade freedom.

It’s safe to say they finally saw my beauty
They’re not trying to hunt me
For my lovely ivory tusks
They’re luminous and spiffy I’ll agree,
But they’re attached to ME!

Things are getting better all around - I hope and pray.
Look for me, I’m a survivor and still standing proud and free!
But if you fail to find me in all of the above
Look for me in still and moving pictures
Of those who had the courage to find me in my turf
Just take my picture, but
Leave me here happy to be alive and FREE!

By Anna (voliotisa's arts.©

2007-02-15T03:49:00.000-08:00

My Little Frida

How can I describe my little Frida?
Inquisitive, Temperamental,
Perhaps the best way is Independent
Always alert and oriented - and
That’s to say the least
Personality plus
Of distinct and discrete caliber
One in a million?
A million to one?
I struggle to find fitness in my description
The following is but a weak try:

She flew into my heart the day Diego left her
I’m sure by just bad luck and not intent
She’s occupied a big place in my heart thereafter
My love destined to grow as big as her persona.

That persona is marked by her eclectic style
I’m sure to match her namesake “Frida Kahlo” -
Never familiar, anything but the usual stuff
She’s not a Bird but rather a Grand Lady
Endowed with the intrigue, beauty and unpredictability
Only a Lady can possess and get away with

My Frida’s spirit has grown and I suspect will keep on growing
Forever she is Diego’s, but Casper, her new mate, he sees her worth
And keeps on trying to possess her
Because he too can see A Lady such as Frida
Is hard to fly by in a Lifetime, be it for Birds
Or Humans alike to behold and cherish
We all strive to please and impress her with delight.

By Anna Angelou
Written w/love For Frida my pet forever!
~~~~~~
Aftermath:
On 12:25 a.m. February 13/14 2007, Frida gently lay down her wings
& passed away
Although I feel she knew I stood there with her till the end
She slipped into a place we cannot see
But her legacy forever remains here with us
She was a twig but left a shadow
A giant would relish to possess

2007-02-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

Day of the Heart

One day each year we all await to bring the love
To us we so richly deserve
We look for proof that we belong
To those we hold so dearly above all.

They may be new and full with life
They may be old friends we spent our times
They may be hopes that they’re to come
And they may be flickers of our imagination
Of what should be for us
Flickers that started long since our time began on earth.

There should be love enough to go around for that one day
One day is all it is
One time when people need be reassured
The light of someone’ else’s yearning rests in the face the mirror holds
And beckons love to start and end each day
From that point on.

So for one day we hope and pray and search
To have a token of some other beings love
Perhaps a rich bouquet, a sparkle or a sweet.

We wait and wait and hope to have
That special someone think we’re special too
That’s truly the beauty of it all
There’s always hope that walking down the block
You suddenly turn and find your own true love
This day of hearts this time and –
If not year, fear not
The Day of the Heart comes by each year around this time.

By Anna Angelou
Dedicated to love and those who know the meaning of!

2007-02-06T02:56:00.001-08:00

And So I decided to annimate my Leonardo complete with a lady freedom rider.

2007-02-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Life is one big hurdle after another. It's exactly like riding on a horse with obstacles along the way, they come your way, Leonardo (the horse) gallops slower and the rider (me) stops riding tall. One hurdle passes, Leonardo seems to be picking up his gallop, while keeping a happy me onboard, pshou, one hurdle passed, the other one is coming my way. One after the other, but Leonardo has learned to brace himself and gallop through, taking me along with him on the perpetual ride. A

2007-01-22T02:37:00.000-08:00

these are some of my needlepoints. The one directly above was given to me by my sister when she traveled to Greece many years ago and I had finished many years ago and framed. The one directly below I bought when my daughter was attending dancing school but finished and framed for her as a gift when she moved into her first apartment. The one on the left I bought and is not yet finished and not framed yet. There is a story behind this too. My daughter moved back w/me to save some money and the ballerina started hanging out in my house. I now find I can't part w/her therefore I am working on a replacement for my daughter which is the needlepoint in question on the left. A

2007-01-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I watched the arts channel that was running a program describing Degas' sculpture of the little ballet dancer. It seems that ballet dancers were perceived, in fact, they were of ill repute, and thus of course the little ballet dancer was convicted of being "ugly"as well, which leads me to the evolution theory. At present ballerinas and the people who frequent the ballet are high brow. Can anyone explain to me where people get their ideas of what is elite and what is common?? What is pretty and what is ugly? There is no answer. This only led to my poor attempt at Degas' poor little ballet dancer A

2007-01-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

this is the cover for my calendar 2007. It is called the Dance of Love Calendar 2007. It consists of 1900 dance couples and the last couple on December 2007 is the couple dancing in the Roaring '20s. Enjoy it. It comes in a package. I am posting it here becaused when I gave it to an establishment to copy and bind, I was mortified to see that my original cover page was missing! It was highly upsetting but it prompted me to post here and tell my sad story. A

2006-12-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

2006-12-16T03:41:00.000-08:00

Where are the tears?
It's now the longer part of months - they're two to be exact
I thought the rivers would turn on by now
but they have yet to come
It was October eighth when last I peered
Into those awesome eyes that clouded everything in sight when they awoke
Yet on that mortal day, clouded they were - not able to look back
I searched in vain, and when I didn't feel their warm embrace,
I wept holding her tight while she lay motionless in bed
But then I felt the knowing back into her eyes
Those eyes that I looked into when stories they would tell
more colorful than any words could draw
Abruptly I stopped my weeping my sadness to withhold of the approaching doom
And never could I beckon tears again,
Never to come, stay out -
Those lovely eyes
Don't want to know I'm sad.

2006-12-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

here is Seniorita Maria Elena strutting her stuff, enjoy

2006-11-21T05:14:00.000-08:00

2006-11-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

2006-11-17T05:20:00.000-08:00

Turkey – approx. a 10 pounder – no more
Chestnuts perhaps to be used for stuffing with raisins and plain bread crumbs – a specialty that I learned from the Angelou’s
Also stove top topping –don’t stuff the turkey.
Chopped meat – 2 lb for meatballs as an appetizer – used for appetizer (mamma style, wash the onions a-plenty)
Rice – that might be used in stuffed tomatoes, peppers and perhaps squash
Tomatoes
Peppers
Perhaps squash
Parsley, which I have
Onions, which I have
White potatoes to be baked with lemon, shun the turkey, but consider adding to the stuffed tomatoes, and even in the veggie side dishes, etc.
Sweet potatoes to be candied my way w/cinnamon and allspice and butter (maybe adding some walnuts.
Some canned cranberry sauce (don’t forget it this time, MoMo likes it)
Peas, or lima beans, or perhaps kidney beans for the Greek side of the family.
Corn
Perhaps attempt some soup with noodles
Consider getting celery to make as side dish Aunt Karolina style.
Olive oil (virgin)
Reynolds wrap
Pans to just throw away at the end of this
Some fruit
1 pumpkin, apple or custard pie, as people might bring desert.
Some wine and/or beer for those who like to indulge.
Soda
Vitamin water
Good plastic plates (decorative)
Very little regular bread or pita
Think of what’s missing
FAMILY & FRIENDS! and some gravy perhaps

2006-11-16T17:41:00.001-08:00

2006-11-15T18:09:00.000-08:00

"My Red Cello And Me"

2006-11-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

NIGHT & DAY COLLAGE

2006-10-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

Shades of Blue is what I drew, and though I never meant to, my heart I did reveal. If there is something I can do to end this melancholy, I would but surely wash away the blue my heart poured out a-plenty

2006-09-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

2006-09-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

The above is "Baby Love" five years in the making.

2006-09-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

2006-09-02T05:05:00.001-07:00

I say potato and you say potuto
LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF!

2006-08-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

wake me up when september ends

2006-08-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

2006-08-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

"Fred & Ginger" The following are interps of Fred & Ginger. They looked as though they belonged together and perpetually ready to dance. This was perceived by a little girl watching them on a TV years after they performed and perfected their mastery to the point it's even real today. I would not be surprised if they're still dancing somewhere up there. "Fascinating Rhythm" - Cheek to Cheek

Night & Day

Fred & Ginger Files

2006-03-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

IT'S JUST THE GYPSY IN ME :
A long time ago when a mere lass was I, my mom and dad would tell a tale, because I was a little different FROM the rest, complexion just a little to the olive side but eyes almost of blue, not looking completely like my dad, and not entirely like my mom. My brothers that came before me did not resemble me exact. My sister, coming after me, was not entirely like me in coloring. She had my mommy's eyes of green and brown and my daddy's lips and stature. She looked like dad profoundly. My brothers looked like daddy too. That left me , with my eyes almost of blue and skin of olive. To this my parents did retort, and I found it all so amusingly grand, that they got me from gypsies and -- to this day, when something I do is odd, I proudly proclaim with glee, "it's just the gypsy in me".

2006-03-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

HAIL TO A PARTY OF ONE
Well my horse is starting to slow down just a bit. Its gallop is a little less frantic. I suppose I'm deciding whether I'm done looking for my perfect job. I have not decided as of yet. It has sometimes been fun and amusing in a way to be in the job market. You walk in and you know all eyes are on you. Years ago I liked that, now I'm afraid to say time has made me more timid. To add to the whole funny-type picture, I never considere myself part of any pack, although friendly with every one. No pack had me, not even my own family. I sort of always stand alone or outside. Not in a bad way though. So I feel perfectly comfortable walking in as "a party of one" for interviews and job apps. I am a party of ONE.

2006-03-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, today it's snowing and sleeting in New York City. Had to go out and run my errands in that weather. Now I only love snow when it comes down softly and looks picture perfect preferably without wind and slush. That's a pretty picture. Which got me to thinking of the warmth and the blue, the pink and green and the life sprouting all around. So I wrote this lyric and further perfected it to describe a so-called momentarily free creature, the butterfly and it goes something like this: Fly Little Butterfly Fly little butterfly and feel The breeze atop your wings helping you steer To a land where flowers are red and pink A land that's rich with leaves of green Fly little butterfly to go Closer to where mountains reach high Nearing the blue and purple sky Fly there but stop where rivers run swift and deep ...Careful, don't let them sweep you underneath Keep flying higher and soon you will succeed To find the place of make believe And when you do, make it your own Because that's where peace, beauty and love still grows By Anna Angelou

2006-02-23T16:57:00.000-08:00

The Galloping Job Seeker -- I have recently joined the long line of the galloping job seekers. Woe is me, notice the smile on the face is frozen, that's because of the scrutiny of prospective employers trying to read your every thought! Your on a wobbly and lobsided galloping horse. When they shower you with a left-handed compliment, you're galloping a little faster than usual and feeling a bit sprinty. When they point out a so-called weak point, your gallop gets less bouncy for sure. You see prospects a little more rosy and green, they're here to trample your poor galloping horse and point out reality to you not to expect miracles. By the time you finished one interview, half the day is over and you feel you've run a never-ending horse race; galloping wildly and meekly. The next minute your on your cell dialing home checking if someone left a message . Then your gallop starts slowing down when there is no message. Your face reflects the frozen smile of the bouncing gallops of "The Galloping Job Seeker". Another day has passed, time to get off this horse.

2006-02-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

My life began in Greece. Although my memory of it is very clouded, can't remember beginnigs or endings there. It's one unrefined block. I can't even describe it as very happy or very heartbreaking. In one word I would have to say an average life for a somewhat average family of those means at those times. We had caring parents. We had lack of and surrounded by people with abundance of, that sort of prepared me for my whole life, but not for me when it came to money. Otherwise, I found wealth in being surrounded by a lot of family, friends and neighbors. I remember a loving grandmother too. I'll start there, heaven knows she needs a lot more recognition than she ever received! I usually draw pictures with people playing some type of instrument. It stems from the fact that I have always been fascinated in playing. In my time and my place in Greece, learning to play an instrument of any kind rested largely on your so called status in life. A person with no means did not learn to play. Getting back to my grandmother called "Nona" by us. My nona's story and the birth of my fascination of the arts is as follows: My Grandmother had a guitar once long ago when she was young. She told us tales of romance and glory when young she was. Nona said my grandfather (Papou) serenaded her with that guitar which she kept and together with him sang and played it after married they were. In America years after we arrived, my brother purchased a guitar. There it stood, sometimes picked up by her. We hung it on a nail on the apartment's wall. I could still see sparkles and faraway looks inside her eyes when chords she tried to strike. How wonderful to have such memories of days gone by, rather than empty dreams still waiting to unfold by some slim chance. On this guitar we fumbled a few notes to play, never completely happy with the sound. Perhaps some day the guitar chords will wake my yearning heart and sound their notes of love with crystal clear delight.

2006-02-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

I am racing ahead. The art on your left is in honor of my grandson's birth this year. He has brought nothing but sunshine with him. I found a Picaso which I attempted to copy. Picaso was renowned for his works of art and my grandson is as well. The work reflects unending devotion of a mother to her child. Our child is much loved and like Picaso's works he is a lovely work of art and not because he is ours!