September 19, 2018  

Ringling

carnival s

Layering, I spin
 turmoil—sparkled spheres reveal
the unplanned design

A fierce dance, a brazen leap–
 vortexed and saturated

For Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday, using synonyms for vigor and energy, and for Sarah at dVerse, who asked us to think about the circus.

carnival close up s

My life has been too chaotic to do collage, so I’ve been doing watercolor circles, some with stitching, some with monoprint on top.  This one has monoprint.  Although I am slowly learning how to exert some control over the results, there are always surprises.  Like a circus.

In Middle English the word ringling means “the sound made by something ringling; ringing, jingling, tinkling”.  I also like the association it evokes with rings, and circles in general.

 

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About memadtwo

For more madness, follow me on Instagram @h_zimel

52 responses to “Ringling”

  1. merrildsmith says :

    This sounds like an incantation to me. I didn’t know that about ringling. Interesting. And sometimes we just have to leap.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  2. rivrvlogr says :

    The art is like a one-ring circus, full of life. I see a few faces whirling in there.
    And the words – they’re perfect.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. sarahsouthwest says :

    The painting made me think of lights at night. Full of energy and movement, words and picture.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. Colleen Chesebro says :

    I always enjoy your creative expression, both in words and your art. This would be a wonderful incantation in my next book. 😀 ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Colleen Chesebro says :

    I forgot to add that I LOVE the meaning of the circle, too. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Frank Hubeny says :

    Nice phrase: “unplanned design”

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  7. V.J. Knutson says :

    These colours definitely have a circus feel, like clown soup.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  8. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says :

    The focus of colors is definitely bringing out the circus…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. K. McGee says :

    A fierce dance, a brazen leap – this line really speaks of the art peice. It makes me imagine a ballet of clowns.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. Suzanne says :

    I love the close up of your painting. It reminds me of Kandinsky’s first experiments with abstraction. Your poem works well with it and gives a sense of how life can spin out control sometimes when illness blights a family. (I’ve been busy myself this week with a family medical emergency).

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Gospel Isosceles says :

    This is cool, the associations between the watercolor circles, rings and the circus. Abstract and a wonderful take on the dVerse prompt.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. Sharon Mann says :

    I could wear this image, thanks for posting in spite of your own life chaos at this time.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. purplepeninportland says :

    Unplanned designs are often beautiful.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Lynz Real Cooking says :

    This is beautiful and bold

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. Betty Hayes Albright says :

    Colorful and pleasing circles – and words!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  16. Poet Rummager says :

    I thrill from the explosion of colors and images in your art! Even chaos needs to go untethered some days.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. Olga says :

    Your ringling piece seems like a very intricate, spiritual dance amidst the chaos of whirling unknowns. I find the creative spirit finds solace in expressing the chaos it has no control over. Beautiful colors swirling together, Kerfe.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  18. jazzytower says :

    I really like the colors in your painting as well.
    Pat

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  19. Vashti Q says :

    Beautiful bursts of color and Tanka. Did you really dance while creating these? 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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