No tentative toes testing for ice.

No need to dip fingertips twice to know…  

Yeah, it’s cold.

But the current seduces and before you know it you are sucked in….fast.

Past the shores you slip in and out of consciousness…

If only you slept this deeply.

Letting go, feel the sea flow fulfill.    

Rejoice… No choice but to lay arched back buoyed…

Absorbing the blue.

Original Words and Watercolor © 2011 Michelle "Shell" Rummel     

I want to feel...

The flush of Crimson

The rush of  Wasabi

The brush paint me Peridot.

Bathe me in light ~ Infuse me with color ~ Saturate my cells

So I can feel warm, again.

Thanks to Steve Finikiotis @finikiotis for inspiring the title of this painting and assuring me the light is rebounding :)  This gal's counting on it.  

Original Watercolor and Words  © 2011 Michelle "Shell" Rummel   

Drawing

from deep within...

Understanding

Breath is everything…

Believing

That you will catch me….

Figurative Landscape Original Watercolor Painting © 2011 Michelle "Shell" Rummel  

It’s been one hell of a climb...

But such a sweet view, above the abyss….

First painting of 2011

Original Watercolor Painting  © 2011 Michelle "Shell" Rummel 

You posing for me

Brush caressing paper

Paint flowing freely

Following the flow of your form

You slipping away

Leaving the tracery of our sweet conspiracy...

~ words by  @artvaughan 

I have always admired figurative painters…am drawn to the languid lines of the body, the shapes and shadows at play.  There are so many artists who do this with such elegance and ease…I am always in awe (yes…. @jshawback I am speaking about you) yet I’ve been so fearful of exploring this unknown terrain. I’ve always been more comfortable when imagining the human form in natural elements of the landscape around me, such as seeing the feminine in the curvy bark of a tree, the sway of hips in the flowing hillside or female grace in the rolling ocean waves. I believe I capture abstracted human elements well in my own style. But I have shied away from actually attempting to paint/capture the human body. Until now. Initially inspired by a stunning black and white photograph of a reclining nude that I saw on Chris Weige’s ( @Reckon ) Posterous,   http://reckon.posterous.com/lucien-clergue I picked up a pencil and began to sketch. I asked my friend @artvaughan, an accomplished poet, for some inspirational poetic words to keep the Muse close at hand. His words came through just as I was completing my watercolor…I read them and went silent. Evocative prose, capturing my very loose sketch and watercolor play with an eerie clarity, I felt. Those words made me smile and are the serendipitous catalyst behind my willingness to share my VERY raw first attempt at figurative painting.

~Shell

Rocks in pockets weigh me down

Exhale exhausted…

Yet gems along shoreline shine.

Call to me

Like the light I crave

I’ll come….

Tender hearted,

No matter…

Mind if I sit for a moment

Catch my breath

Before skipping my soul stones

Heartbeat hopscotch

Towards waters edge.

Shine On is my contribution to the Twitter Art Exhibit in Moss Norway to raise money at the local library so that books can be purchased for the children. A most worthy cause…very proud to be a part of it. For more information and/or to contribute your own work of art, please visit David Sandum’s Posterous

Original Watercolor and Words © 2010 Michelle "Shell" Rummel

And with a delicate grace you let go…

Fall away from limb,

Lithe, languid.

Hush….

Floating on breath,

Free falling fearlessly.

Have faith….

The winds of chance will carry you along.

My One Stop Poetry entry for One Shot Wednesday. Have a look ~ some incredible poetry to enjoy!

 So willful

The water, cold…

Receding,

Leaving me reeling and exposed.

And no matter how firmly I cling to crevices

Rock climb and sand sink

Wish upon a far off star…

I understand that some things are simply stronger than me.

Besides, I always hated tug of war.

So, I surrender.

Sweet suction release…

Tumble me gently out to sea.

Glide me under moon glow

Closed eyes trap tears…

The ocean is salty enough.

What a lovely honor, to be the featured artist today on One Stop Poetry.

Deepest thanks to Brian Miller  @bmiller007 for the beautiful write up and for choosing my work to spotlight.  

Original Watercolor and Words © 2010 Michelle "Shell" Rummel  

You chiseled away my edges and seeped deep within the cracks of my soul…

Original Words and Watercolor © 2010 Michelle "Shell" Rummel 

My One Stop Poetry entry submitted for One Shot Wednesday~ Please take a look~ so many talented poets and writers sharing their evocative words and images.... As for my entry, I'm not certain one line of text constitues a poem,  but my emotion is true in these brushstrokes and few simple words. I can only hope that my painting and accompanying words convey that.. Beside, I've been gently *nudged* and encouraged to submit.... and really, does anyone say no to Adam? ;)

You’ll never truly know what lies within layers,

Unless you’re willing to get your hands dirty.    

Dig Deeper….

It’s all yours to discover.

Dig Deeper Original Watercolor  © 2010 Michelle "Shell" Rummel