the time between the years

A German friend recently told me that her country calls this time "between the years." I like that idea. After the grandiose Hanukkah and Christmas, we have some days before New Years where we can reflect on the retrospective of the last year and the promise of a new one. It is that build up of time that is considered "between the years." Resolutions, Threats, Promises Since Hanukkah came early this year, those of us celebrating it have a longer time between our holiday and the New Year. Unless you just go by your children's school calendar... that forced week off at the end of the year. When you don't have to make your kids do homework but you dream up all kinds of bribes to incentivize them to perform for the rest of the year. Well, at least that is what I do so I can align my hopes for my children along with their material fantasies in hopes for a better future.Wouldn't it be great if we could write New Years resolutions for other people?

An Artistic Challenge For this period "between the years", I have dreamed up an artistic challenge for myself as well. I have set out to complete 10 new paintings by December 30th and list them all at once on my website. All of them will be musical instruments, like the painting featured above called "Trumpet Trust." I have begun to post pictures of them on a dedicated page on my website HERE.

So this painting is a trumpet- but it is also more than just a trumpet. I will let you in on a few of its secrets. There is an elephant hidden in the background, a most trustworthy animal who has a trumpet of his own. The blue gray of the elephant forms the background colors allowing the golden brass trumpet to shine above. In the original painting, you will see the metallic glints on the instrument.  Hidden Words   Look more closely and you will see words embedded in the artwork. What else do you notice? The original art will come to you matted in a white 16x20" mat ready to slip into a ready made frame without the cost of custom framing. I have offered one framing suggestion above.   Print Options If you prefer the more economical option of a fine art print, you can collect those here. The prints also come with your choice of framing.

DECORATING IDEA For the room view, I conjured up this fantasy of an all white living room with a large bouquet of blue hydrangeas in the front to complement the painting. I don't know anyone who lives like that except in the catalogs of Ethan Allen. However, I am sure you can find a home for this trumpet painting anywhere... where would you display it?

POSTCARD GIVEAWAY To kick off the series, I decided to do a postcard giveaway. Now this is not your typical giveaway where there is only one or two winners. Everyone wins! All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter ( I also need your address so I know where to mail the postcard to!) I will be mailing this postcard out to active current subscribers in February 2016 (like the painting on this postcard? You can see it and the rest of the series on my website)

Other blog posts you might like

• Art Inspired by Music

• I admit it. I am a classical music nerd. 

• Music I listen to when I paint...

In Case We Haven't Met Yet...

Hello! I'm Miriam Schulman and I create mixed media art to tell stories. I also teach other people how to craft their stories with art. I give them the techniques they need to get the results they desire which brings more joy to their lives. 

What do you do during the "time between the years"?