sommersault

staying light

2012-02-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

I've got a lot on my mind and heart... swirling thoughts, ideas, decisions...etc. So I'm just needing reminders to breathe deep and stay light! SCRATCH LESSPURR MORE :)play more. these images are too great! they were found here, GATOPODER

paper love

2012-01-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness, I'm in love with the paper sculptures of Dutch artist, Peter Gentenaar! They are elegant, ethereal, organic, curious, & luscious. Still & floating, yet seemingly growing, curling, unfolding....!! What craftsmanship!

Rumi speaks

2012-01-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

"Here is one thing in this world that you must never forget to do. If you forget everything else and not this, there's nothing to worry about; but if you remember everything else and forget this, then you will have done nothing in your life. It's as if a kind has sent you to some country to do a task, and you perform a hundred other services, but not the one he sent you to do. So human beings

Judith Scott

2012-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

So this video pretty much just made my day :) It highlights some of the work and bio of artist, Judith Scott, an artist who I've admired for a few years now. Also- I just happened to see a few of her pieces at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore last week (such a delight). So this video is a fitting follow-up!! WoW- I'm in love with how they executed this installation in London:

MONDAY INSPIRATION

2012-01-09T19:13:00.000-08:00

um, this is inspiring! Check out these moving fiber sculptures by artist, Bernard Reyboz: "La vie existe, je l'ai vue, j'y étais." -Bernard Reyboz

Ideas n Projects for the New Year

2012-01-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Bonne Annee! Over the past few years I've come to really enjoy creating goals for the new year. For me it's an opportunity to reflect on the year behind me and get excited for the one at hand. I try to make my ideas/goals practical and more or less quantifiable. They are designed to give me something new to put my energy towards (I love a little change & newness here and

got a genius?

2011-12-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

I've never read her book, but I really like what she has to say here! Elizabeth Gilbert: "A new way to think about creativity"

currently reading

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

...while listening to lots of Charlie Brown Xmas, this is what's filling my brain as of late:

2011-12-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

Today I'm looking at the drawings/doodles of outsider artist, Laure Pigeon. I'm inspired. Gee... if I'm having a visceral reaction by just seeing these images in a book, what would it be like to see them in person? Get me to Lausanne, Switzerland already!! LEFT: Drawing from Collection du Musee l'Art brut, Lausanne. RIGHT: Drawing by Laure Pigeon 1961

be yourself

2011-12-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

From her dance moves, to her haircut, to her clothing, to her shoes... Robyn clearly has made an art of being herself. I'm inspired. From now on, when I'm feeling down on myself I'm just gonna have a little Robyn dance video therapy session :) I've got to learn those moves.**She even does a summersault on stage!!! BE YOURSELF TODAY.and tomorrow.

My Etsy shop is now OPEN! Come on in!

2011-11-29T06:48:00.000-08:00

It's been a goal of mine for awhile now to get an Etsy Shop up and running in order to make some of my work more accessible and affordable. Well the day has come! Woohoo!! I'm starting small... selling three different Giclee prints of my illustrations. See below. I plan to add more work with time. If you have a moment, come on in!! Visit the Shop HERE Fancy Owl

Silent Flyers

2011-11-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

Yes.Owls are trendy right now. But they are fantabulous creatures!!!!yes, they are. *Owls have three eyelids: one for blinking, one for sleeping and one for keeping the eye clean and healthy.* A group of owls is called a parliament, wisdom or study. Baby owls are called owlets.* A Barn Owl will eat up to 1,000 mice per year. If you're a farmer, get one!*Owls have specialized feathers with

beauty.

2011-11-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

This is beautiful, ushering me further into the mystery and beauty of life and God. and thus new inspiration to bring into the studio. hmmm... thinking about pining for more images of bird flocks... to inspire new ink drawings. "No one knows why they do it. Yet each fall, thousands of starlings dance in the twilight above Gretna, Scotland. The birds gather in magical shape-shifting flocks

inside the creases

2011-10-31T19:25:00.000-07:00

The Artist tends the edges And graces the borders of the in-betweenShe sees the hidden worlds between worldsWalks in the shadowy landsAmid awake and asleepThe Artist lifts the veilsand reveals beauty that would go unseenShe sees inside the creases and crevicesUnfolds the color of flowersPuts scent on canvasTogether they playDancing on the narrow edgeOf timeThat is NOWThey greet the present

i heart Gaudi

2011-10-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

"The creation continues incessantly through the media of man." -Antonio Gaudi "Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator."Antonio Gaudi all photos by Sommer Roman

2011-09-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

OG source unknown. found image from HERE

...and some more JoY

2011-09-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

As a response to last week's post on the subject of joy, a lovely friend and graphic designer, Hannah Hudson sent me some illustrated joy bursts! I'm so delighted :) Thanks Hannah for sending, spreading, sharing joy & thankfulness from your side. p.s. I love the birdies!! by Hannah Hudson got joy? please share.I welcome comments or scanned images highlighting small moments of

spread the joy

2011-09-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

unknown source. found it on pinterest. i like it. My friend Kay and I started handwriting "joy bursts" back and forth many years ago. It has proved to be a healthy practice of sitting down and naming the many, many good things that come along each day. There's enough negative stuff floating around out there. It's much better to focus on that which is good and lovely. Here's a few

words of the day

2011-09-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

The artist tends the edgesAnd graces the borders of the in-betweenHe sees the hidden world's between worldsWalks in the shadowy landsAmid awake and asleepThe artist lifts the veilsAnd reveals beauty that would go unseenShe sees inside the creases and crevicesUnfolds the color of flowersPuts scent on canvasTogether they playDancing on the narrow edgeOf time That is NOWThey greet the present

I'd rather be reading...

2011-09-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a little photo + illustration I put together for the latest Design Sponge Contest. Grace Bonney will be giving away a few copies of her new book "Design Sponge at Home" to folks with the most creative photos showing where they might read or house the book. My boss at Trohv recently gifted me with tickets to see Grace Bonney in Georgetown (for her book tour) later this month. So,

new work. SneaK Peek!

2011-08-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

so here are a few pics of some recent work I've been doing with reclaimed fabric. These are just glimpses of what are larger pieces in progress. feedback is welcome especially as I'm still in process of creating and growing this body of work. ..et Voila!

found

2011-08-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

This morning I rediscovered this piece that I made 8 or so years ago. The words are speaking to me. I love when old creations feel new.

the doodle days of summer

2011-08-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

some doodles from my sketchbook. all doodles made by yours truly, Sommer Roman

found

2011-07-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ben and I stumbled upon this beautiful feather today. I just love simple everyday discoveries. Thanks little birdie who let it fall in my path! I wonder where you are right now. **We must never forget how to truly see & observe the world around us with an expectant & creative eye. it takes lots of patience and practice. still learning. photo by sommer roman

Scraped Up!

2011-07-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so inspired this morning by my dear friend Chrissy Dodson- a fantastic multi-media storyteller! Her latest short documentary, "Scraped Up" highlights a group of teenage boys in the East Bay neighborhoods of California... who spend their summer days creating "scraper bikes." What's a scraper bike, you might wonder? ... well, check it out for yourself by viewing the film. and if you LOVE

quote of the day

2011-07-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

Swinging

2011-07-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

Random acts of kindness...spreading joy... via SWINGS! I just had to post this when I discovered it at SwissMiss blog this morn. Check out what Jeff Waldman is doing thru his expanding public art project involving swing installations across various cities and countries. Through the support of grants and random donors he has installed swings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Marshall Islands,

Take a sip of summertime!

2011-06-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Summer is my favorite season. It may or may not have to do with the fact that my name is Sommer (with an "o") or that I was born in the summer... buy hey... it is what it is. Can we not all agree that summer is a lovely time (minus really humid days and mosquitos)?? It sort of has that je ne sais quoi... an eternal youthfulness... a pocket of fun... you know, like a creamsicle. Summer inspires

NOTE: blog name change. new url!

2011-06-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

For the past few months I've been contemplating a name change for this blog. After struggling to make this decision, I just finally gave myself the permission to make the change. Plus the perfect name sort of fell in my lap: SOMMERSAULT I just had to post this image :) The content that is in faith creature will of course be included, only now it won't be limited to themes relating to art,

Reunion

2011-05-06T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is a recent paper cut piece that I did for Easter. It's titled, "Reunion" and is themed around Jesus' last words, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). I was SO delighted to see the resulting cast shadows from the little light that I placed the interior of the cage. The photos exaggerate the lighting just a bit.. but powerful nonetheless... ahhh! It made the piece

Lessons from my front yard

2011-04-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

by Sommer Roman Sheffield Over the past several weeks I've been observing a hyacinth bulb in our front yard slower emerge from it's winter's slumber. Not only did it stick out as the only bulb growing out of the sea of ivy, but it quite strangely had managed to grow through the middle of a dead leaf. The dead leaf appeared to be choking it, as it surrounded it's closed bud. I have

letting the light in

2011-03-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

So... some of my most recent creative work involves intricate paper cutting. The work references the grand design found in nature. It involves themes of life & death, beauty & fragility, light & shadow, as well as the interconnectedness of us, the land, and the metaphysical world. This work involves "letting the light in"... in fact the work is really nothing without the light.

discovered.

2011-03-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Just discovered some new music. This Portland duo is worth a listen & look. "Can we Stay" by The Woodlands.

Listen Generously

2011-03-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

For the last month or so I've been reading & soaking in "Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art" by Madaleine L'Engle. Her writings are speaking to my heart... so right. so insightful. for me in this time. ahhhh, love it!!!!!!! She is definitely one of those people from the past that I would just love to be able to sit and chat with over coffee. Mrs. L'Engle, thank you for leaving

on love....

2011-02-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

V-day is a silly day...but alas a day to be festive, eat a chocolate infused something... and reflect on love.love isn't easy. our highest callingto love our family.our life partners.our friends.our neighbors.strangers.in the way we want to be treated & loved.I fail at this daily... but it's a high high calling that I will continueto aim for. *illustrations by yours truly. sommer.

2011-02-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Contours of the Cosmos. abstract. hard to grasp. lots to imagine. full of mystery. intriguing. endless possibilities. et voila.... some recent small visual explorations I've done... "If the physical world surprises us and is different from everyday expectations, common sense if you like, it wouldn’t be very odd really would it be, if God also turned out to be rather surprising. Things

creating

2011-02-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

just a photo I arranged and took today. i like it. I call it "Spilling Open By Way of the Heart" photo by Sommer Sheffield

PROCESSING.

2011-02-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

SORROW. Been coping with some recent sorrow & grief. never easy...but nonetheless a rough river that we now must pass through. the key here is that we are "passing" through.... not stuck. dry ground awaits. In this past week of grieving, when I haven't been able to/want to do much with myself... I found an unfinished piece on my desk beckoning me. It's an illustration + hymn: "Everyday God

Weekend Musings...

2011-01-23T18:29:00.000-08:00

a few things fueling me with inspiration & ideas in these winter days: Ben and I took Friday afternoon to visit the Natural History Museum. There was of course Oh so much to take in. But one exhibit in particular took me by great surprise. For the first time I am seeing the absolute genius of design and BEAUTY in animal skeletons. The museum had quite an extensive exhibit (from whales, to

A CLOSER LOOK: Artist Spotlight

2011-01-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

TORY FAIR- sculptor I discovered the work of Tory Fair while flipping through the October 2010 issue of Sculpture. I felt an immediate connection with her work. First of all, there are some undeniable common threads between her sculptures and some of my own visual work (using flower as metaphor). BUT, how refreshing to see this done in three-dimensional, life-size sculpted

good thursday finds

2011-01-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

In my morning perusing of news & events highlighted at Image Journal, I discovered... 2011 Caravan Festival of the Arts Through the visuals arts, literature, music, & film Caravan works to build bridges between Muslims and Christians. They see the arts as the most effective medium to enhance understanding and encourage friendship between the Middle East and the West. In response to the suicide

new beginnings. new ideas. new blog.

2010-12-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

God help us with ideas, those thoughts which inform the way we live and the things we do.Let us not seize upon ideas, neither shall we hunt them down nor steal them away. Rather let us wait faithfully for them to approach, slowly & gently like creatures from the wild.And let them enter willingly into our hearts and come and go freely within the sanctuary of our contemplation, informing our