Cottontail and Easter Eggs, Michelle Kogan, © 2020, watercolor and watercolor pencil.
Happy Poetry Friday!
Happy Passover!
Happy Easter!
Well my #NaPoWriMo project has been eclipsed by many things… the major eclipse has been work–I’ve been preparing to teach two online classes that are starting the week of April 20th. I’ve made tremendous progress, and am learning and growing–it’s all new, unexplored territory for me, but I’m readying to take the plunge. So my fine feathered, climate endangered friends will have to wait a bit. I have done some work on it, in both art and words–poems, perhaps some will emerge soon…
As we are upon a holiday weekend I’m sharing some poems and art to celebrate both Passover and Easter.
6 FEET OF HOLIDAY LOVE
These days
a holiday
may leave you
in a holidaze…
But, look for those
treasures that
are surely
still there…
That love’ll
connect you,
break through, and
wrap around you,
no matter how far
that six feet
might feel,
our hearts
beat as one
and will carry
us through.
© 2020 Michelle Kogan
first greens of spring
emerge in march and
april blooms billow…
© 2019 Michelle Kogan
Musings of an Old Man, © 2020 Nancy Milford
And the icing on the cake this week, I received this lovely NPM postcard from Irene Latham–thanks for shining poetry’s light my way Irene! xo
The gorgeous art is by Nancy Milford, an Artist/Writer from Baldwin County Alabama.
Make sure you stop by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s blog The Poem Farm for this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup. Amy has been writing and reading her poetry this month from within her friend “Betsy the Writing Camper–” and it’s been a lovely treat!
Michelle Kogan’s studio set-up for online classes,
all art WIP, © 2020 Michelle Kogan
Here’s a sneak peek of my demo-setup for my online classes that start the week of April 20th at the Evanston Art Center, follow the link for more info and registration. I’m offering:
–Online Figure and Nature Drawing and Painting,
5 Week Session, Monday morning, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
–Online Watercolors: Materials, Composition & Technique
5 Week Session, Tuesday morning, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Visit Renée LaTulippe’s site No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Wonderful, Michelle! It must be a scary time for artists. I’m so glad to learn that you will be teaching online…but I’m sorry it’s a scurry to be ready. Your bunny is very, very sweet. And, I like the line, “love’ll get us through.” It will, I know…but so much to get through on the way. Be well, stay well. Thanks for the positive peek at your set up.
So much happening in your life at the moment – and yet you still found time to craft that wonderful poem which is just perfect for the times. I hope you also get some time to just breahe before your classes start.
I love your poem–yes, love will get us through and connect us despite our 6-feet of distance. Good luck with your transition to online teaching. I’m glad you have a way to share your gifts with students We need art and poetry and music even more than ever now.
Wow, I love this glimpse into your teaching studio, Michelle… and you know what a fan I am of your art in general, but esp. the bunnies. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Glad the postcard made its way to you. Thanks for shining your light. xo
I’m so amazed by your artwork, how you capture so much feeling in your animals and flowers. They are so joyful. It must be a challenge to switch to on line instruction but it looks like you are ready.
Thank you for reminding us, Michelle, that spring is still happening out there. And challenging as these days are, there is true connection in this experience. It’s as if an invisible thread links us together.
Michelle, I am in a holidaze. Love the world since it is so appropriate. What used to be is no more so I am trying to navigate the new terrain. I see you are doing the same with your online art class. Now that is a feat that you must tell me how. I am supposed to teach my hands-on ELA Summer Institute at the local college online and I need a tutorial on how to manage that. I’m waiting for the online department to get back to me. Your poems and artwork are beautiful as always. Do you have something already done for my Nature Nurtures 2020 Gallery?
Hi Carol, Good luck with the class this summer, I’m learning as I go… lots to take in. I sent you an image for your Nurtures 2020 Gallery via email, thanks for asking! 🙂
I got it and of course, loved what you sent. Stay tuned for my showcasing of what you sent.
Thanks Carol, I’ll keep my eyes out for it!
Several of my friends who are grandparents have talked about leaving Easter gifts and food on their family’s porch. Just heartbreaking. They are in a holidaze for sure. We’ll have our usual quiet day here. Maybe with some extra chocolates!
Good luck with your online art classes! #remoteteaching/learning is a trick, but it’s worth it!
So many exciting things happening for you, Michelle. I wish I could take one of your classes. Maybe someday. The white crocuses and poem caught my attention — the peacefulness of this season, despite what’s happening in our world. (Also: thank you for the cards from your Etsy shop. I love them!)
Good for you for taking the plunge, Michelle. While a live class might be preferable, at least this way you can potentially reach many more people.Thanks for the words and images to help us celebrate this weekend!
Yes – our hearts do beat as one. Thank you for this beauty…and for this peek into your teaching. Good luck with the online classes – it is a brave new world. All best to you and yours. xx
Thanks Amy! Yes, a brave new world–as if we are explorers on unchartered waters… xo
All gorgeous, Michelle. I’m so glad you’re getting to set up for online classes. That is wonderful. Happy Holidaze to you, too. I love your final lines of the first poem: “our hearts
beat as one
and will carry
us through.”
Thank you for sharing your lovely art and poetry. Like many others, I really love these lines:
“no matter how far
that six feet
might feel,
our hearts
beat as one
and will carry
us through.”
Good luck with your online classes!
Thanks Catherine!
‘Holidaze’ indeed, Michelle! Your poems and are work are a breath of spring air! And enjoy your online teaching. I’m new to the online teaching platform as well, but I am loving the flexibility of it. Be well. 🙂
Thanks for your lovely poems. All the hard work you are doing is appreciated! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
These are lovely, Michelle. And all progress is good. Best of luck with your classes!