Tag: Fowlerart

A Bed of Hollies

Daphne, cranked her petaled head over to Diedra and whispered curiously, “So, I just have to ask, but do you think she’s a witch?”

Big ears from below Daphne called out, “Who!?”

Diedra sighed, “Good heavens Dharma, Daphne was talkin to me, but if you must know, I presume she means her” Diedra said pointing a bright yellow petal towards the woman in the yard watering.

“Well, do you?” Daphne asked again

Deidra rolled her eyes to Daphne, “Darling, of course she is. How else could we possibly be talking right now?”

Daphne winked, “I thought so, I just thought I would see if you all had been inclined to notice.”

Dharma snickered, “Now Daphne, I just can’t sit here in this dastardly heat, wilting as I am, and listen to such nonsense. I just know with all of my pink peteled self, there is no way you would have asked Deidra if you had known the awnser in the first place, And, I have to say, as for myself, I am a little perplexed by the notion you didn’t know.”

Delia looked up warily, “I think it’s the heat Dear. It really does cause momentarily stupidity in some”

Giggling, Deidra flapped a petal as if to brush off the fact that Delia just mentioned Daphne might have grown daft in the blazing sun and went straight into, “Ladies, I just have to ask in my complete boredom this mundane Tuesday, has anyone heard any new gossip they might want to share? .” Diedra asked quizzically

With excitement, Diana awnsered, “I certainly do, and boy do I know it’s just gonna blow your mind. As a matter of fact, you’ll never believe it.”

“Do tell, Darling!” Delilah called from underneath Daphne.

“As it is Ladies, you know that shrub over there at bikini broads, the big one that goes by Hank, just outside that fence….well, either way, I had something itching my mind and I shouldn’t have but I just had to ask if he knew what ever could be going on behind that fence.. And you know what he said?”

Darlene shook her head, while Daphne blurted out “OH lord, what on God’s green earth did he say?”

“He said they put in a pool, but not just any pool, no no..So, let’s just start by saying, it’s about time, especially since that woman has been parading that bikini around for 15 years without even the tiniest blow up pool, but I suppose that husband of hers was slow to get the message, anyway, Hank the Shrub said that pool is one of those nudie pools. That’s why they put that wooden fortress of a wall up. “

“Nudie pool? Whatever could that be?” Daphne asked

Diedra sqweeked, “Oh for Christ sake Daph, surely you aren’t serious right now…. A nudie pool… As in that woman loses her bikini and floats around that pool like a raisen in a bowl of milk!”

Daphne cupped a petal to her mouth “Good heavens, I just can’t imagine how that poor shrub must be getti’n along. It should just be a crime, I mean, if you asked me it is. Can you imagine being forced to watch that horror show through the very cracks in the fence”

Dharma made a gagging noise, “I may be quite ill if I had to picture it, I do believe I shall pass this time sister.”

“I always knew there was something uncouth about that whole fence business, especially when that bikini broad stopped loitering in the side yard so often.” Diana said

“Just to think, we never knew such a thing existed right under our noses” Darlene said with disdain.

“Well… all I can say ladies is I am just so thankful for that tree graveyard for a barricade, otherwise we would surely have succumbed to the rust” Diana said matter of factly.

Diedra snickered at the same time Dharma laughed sarcastically.

“I would say, perhaps being planted on the other side of the house would have been better, but I truly think watching that old man mow his yard every other day would be such a bore. I mean, what is the fun in that .” Daphne said.

“I do believe, you are right” Darlene added. “Now can someone explain what in the name of Christ is that kid doing, is that skate boarding or is he researching the speed in which he will be visiting a medical professional, I swear watching that is like eating a jalapeño with gasoline on a mid August day. “

Diedra smiled, “Oh lord, here we go again.”

Thank you for reading ♥️

The Southern Oracle

Sixth painting from the series Southern Oracle
Oil on panel 24×36
Mandi Mk Fowler

I don’t exactly like to divulge the reasons or meaning behind a series or specific painting. In my opinion, I find it crippling to the viewer and diminishing to the work.

Several years ago I attended a concert for one of my most beloved female artists. I had listened, cherished and held close the lyrics close as if they were written specifically for me. I carried these musical treasures as if they had the ability to save me from every monster in the closet. It had been a long journey from the time I was 15 all the way to my 30s. In those years that music was exceptionally powerful and in some ways spiritual to me, because it was those words so eloquently written and sang with beautifully chilling vibration that literally held me through some very difficult years.

I felt this strange closeness to it, a connection. I was beyond excited to actually go see her live, let alone have some kind of deeply enlightening experience.

It definitely was, but not exactly in the way I hoped for. You see, it went wrong when she decided to explain every song she ever wrote, why and what she was going through. In those moments, it was like she had just belted me in the face while belching out everything I ever thought about those lyrical chords was all bunk.

Nothing, and I mean nothing was at all what I had believed it to be or mean. In one swift move she had completely ruined this savior I had clung to, this understanding kinship and spiritual meaning.

I learned then, that although it was interesting to know, I wished she had kept that to herself. The music was only subjective when I didn’t know anything other than what the universe wanted to say through it.

I was so upset that for awhile I put her music away and let everything she babbled about mull out of my brain. It took some time before I returned to it but when I did there were still a few songs that she had out right obliterated. I couldn’t hear anything other than her marriage dissolving or a stalking fan. Which I can assure you was never anything I heard when I had found refuge and solace in those albums.

Therefore, I choose to keep my deepest emotions, thoughts and secrets about my series or even individual paintings to myself for the sheer fact that if there is something hidden in them that’s meant just for you then I wouldn’t want to diminish that by telling you anything that might taint that view.

I have never wanted to paint anything that was merely static or white noise for a wall. In fact, I have strived hard to paint things I felt were moving or powerful. Some viewers might not experience that but they wouldn’t choose it because it matched a great set of French curtains or some HGTV make over. I wanted to create something that would speak without anyone saying a word.

I wanted them and hope they elicit a secret to be told only to you, the viewer and that somehow it has a bigger meaning than even the viewer would want to share.

Art should be loved with great conviction so that it never bores or tires. It should always speak to you.

If it doesn’t, then it’s just wall filler.

Sometimes, I like to share my direction but after that it’s up to the viewer to decide, and, I find that more prophetic than a set of tarot cards and a mystic reader.

The only thing anyone really needs to know is that every painting, no matter the subject matter, size or media has a piece of me in it.

Usually, it’s the tiniest of details, or hidden symbolism that no one knows but me, but nevertheless they are there. In some ways, I have often thought they took on a life of their own. They occasionally feel as if they breath in when I turn my back and I know without a shadow of a doubt that late at night, after the lights have been turned down I hear them talking amongst each other as if they are bestest of friends.

I suppose in some ways, they are.

Thank you for reading. ♥️