Small Moments

Art is supposed to make you feel something. I've come to the end of this series of collaborative art cards, working with characters drawn by our almost-six-year-old granddaughter, Charlotte.

And, yes, I'm feeling some things: fun, sadness, inspiration, melancholy... a basket of emotions.

The soundtrack to the morning is one that my daughter compiled just for me:

You Matter to Me - Jason Mraz:

I could find the whole meaning of life in those sad eyes They've seen things that you never quite say, but I hear Come out of hiding, I'm right here beside you And I'll stay there as long as you let me

Keep Me In Your Heart - The Wailin' Jennys:

When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun

Keep me in your heart for a while

There's a train leaving nightly called,

"When all is said and done"

Keep me in your heart for a while

It took some time to find a quote for the card below. If you look closely, you will see the sketch of a hand. One of the handiest tools when learning to draw is to do 'blind contour drawings'. I must have done a blind contour sketch of my hand for someone on this test paper. Sometimes the right paper isn't handy and I use whatever is close.

Sarah Bareilles & John Legend:

The ocean is wild and over your head And the boat beneath you is sinking Don't need room for your bags Hope is all that you have So say the Lord's prayer twice, hold your babies tight Surely someone will reach out a hand And show you a safe place to land

I quite like this little character below that Charlotte drew. It has a vulnerability that is apparent. I think it works well with the background....chaos, much like what I hear on the daily news.

The words I found for this card should be comforting.

Fare Thee Well Love - The Rankin Family:

So I'll drink today love, I'll sing to you love In paupers glory my time I'll bide No home or ties love, a restless rover If I can't have you, by my side

More chaos and pale words for the background of this one. Names of watercolour colours: Raw Sienna, Ultramarine.

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.” (Patrick Rothfuss) That's the quote in the tiny, tiny book.

Around Here - Hawksley Workman

Around here We keep on messing up We drag our egos around In a beggar's cup

'Cause we all been taught From such an early age To build a wall around our hearts So that thing will never break

So, this is the last card. I couldn't bear to cover the background with words. And, the words I found, they were many. This card will be making its way across the ocean.

Catherine Maclellan - The Long Way Home:

So let's take the long way home Every moment I spend with you Let's make it slow, so slow We'll mark the moments as they go.

A preview for my daughter and her daughter.

Big Love, Small Moments - J. J. Heller:

There's no use in chasing nickels and dimes, nickels and dimes Riches all around you, open your eyes, open your eyes You can't buy the piece you're after so don't even try 'Cause you'll find...

Big magic in the mundane The big picture in a small frame Everything is sacred when you take time to notice Big love happens in the small moments

Here's to small moments.