Thanks For The Gerbera Daisy Seeds!

An article I had written on how to grow gerbera daisies has been capturing a lot of attention. A reader named Julie recently posted that she would send some fresh gerber daisy seeds to whoever wanted some. I was quick to say “Yeah” and poof there they were in my mailbox. I”m looking forward to planting them. Apparently Julie gathers the seeds from the plants she buys at the store. I was previously under the impression that store bought gerbera daisies would produce infertile seeds, but she proved me wrong.  From my understanding you need fresh seeds.  Fresh seeds tend to have an almost 100% germination rate.

Here’s what she had to say about planting them:

I have gathered my seeds from plants I bought at various stores. I get about a 98 % germination rate on the seeds I plant. I simply take a tooth pick, and make a hole, then place the seed with the fuzzy top up in the hole. The Fuzzy top must be above the dirt. But they grow really well that way.

Here’s what the germinated seeds look like:

These seedlings are hurting from shipping. The 2 leaves means it’s still to early to transplant them.  You should wait until there are 4 leaves.  For more information make sure you read the article How To Grow Gerbera Daisies Indoors.

Where Can I Get a Barberton Daisy?

A lot of home gardeners are trying to grow gerbera daisies from seeds.  They are forced to keep buying these hybrid seeds because the flowers do not produce fertile seeds.  The reason is because the gerbera daisy is a man-made hybrid that can only exist in nature because of science.  I’ve recently discovered who the original parent to these hybrid gerbera daisies is – the Barberton Daisy.  This South African native is named after the city of Barberton.  The barberton daisy produces fertile seeds just like God intended.  And you know, it’s quite pretty.  The only problem is, how do you get a hold of a barberton daisy or its seeds if you don’t live in Africa?  Please post any responses on my blog.

Useful reference:  www.gerbera.org

Possible place to buy seeds: www.bidorbuy.co.za

“Microcosm” Abstract Art Painting

Microcosm by Jaison Cianelli ©2009

“The little space within the heart is as great as the vast universe.  The heavens and the earth are there, and the sun and the moon and the stars.  Fire and lightening and winds are there, and all that now is and all that is not.” ~ The Upanishads

“Autumn Falls” Abstract Landscape

Autumn Falls by Jaison Cianelli ©2009

Turn to Love – Never Been a Better Time

Jesus Offering His Hand  by  Jaison Cianelli  ©2008

There has never been a better time in history to remember peace and love.  To embrace your friends and neighbors and to work the land so that you are better suited to live without money.  A bigger government can not solve our problems, infact it can only create more rules and complicate things.    Confucius once said, “To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; To put the nation in order,  we must put the family in order; To put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life;  To cultivate our personal life,  we must first set our hearts right.” 

So make sure to set your heart straight in peace and love and help your brothers.  Acknowledge the Great Spirit of God that abides in everything and nurture that faith that everything is in His hands.  To quote Jesus: “love one another, as I have loved you.”

Abstract Art & The Need For Expression

 

Abstract Art by Jaison Cianelli

As human beings we create nothing of our own, but only partake in the great creative process as conduits.  So the creative position of the artist is a humbling one.  The artist is essentially a channel.  This can’t be any more obvious than in the abstract expressionist artist.  

As you probably know, abstraction indicates a departure from reality.  The need to produce and be a part of something other than the “real world” is a natural desire especially in bad times.  In Europe before the 19th century abstract art wasn’t even considered art.  And it wasn’t until World War II that the Americans considered the idea or perhaps just found a need for this form of expression.   Jackson Pollock was at the helm of this new direction later called abstract art expressionism.

While caught in the moment, an abstract artist is often times unaware of just exactly what he or she is creating.  Exploration, uncertainties, and emotions all play out on the canvas.    Pollock once said, “My method of painting is a natural growth out of a need.  I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them.”  So for the expressionist, the visual outcome is important, but so too is the entire action of painting.  The action is like therapy for some – a means to channel feelings that need to be expressed for whatever the reason.

People question whether abstract art is actually fine art.  It’s hard for some to get past the sometimes carefree appearance and non traditional methods of applied paint and foreign matter. But at the same time there is a huge following.   Perhaps the intrigue comes from a simple truth  – that abstract art is a very raw and unique visual language, appealing both in its form and substance from which it came.

Abstract Landscapes – Painting From The Inner Light

The Impressionists were a genre of artists from the 19th century whose intent was to capture the effects natural light had on the landscape. To achieve this, they set their easels up outdoors. They called themselves “en plein air” artists which is a French expression that means “in the open air.” Some believe that painting outdoors expresses nature in a fuller way and allows the artist to capture the needed vibrancy and spontaneity in their work. Today the contemporary landscape artists are very much still “en plein air” artists, but there are a group of landscape artists that, while painting indoors, paint a light from a slightly different source.

These landscape artists tend to create work that is abstract or slightly abstract. And to understand their source of light, you have to understand the abstract artist. The abstract artist has a painting style that is all together very different. The general consensus is that the abstract artist paints from within where there is more emotional and expressive energy. So if indeed these artists are painting a light source it would make sense that they are painting not the natural light on the outer world, but an expression of the inner light from within.

Artists and critics have yet to classify all the genres of abstract art. So at this present time there does not appear to be a classification for abstract artists painting “the light from within.” But what does it really mean to paint this way?

First of all, not every abstract landscape artist attempts to paint an obvious light source within their work. And, those that do are generally unaware as to why they are doing it other than the fact that it may look intriguing. But considering what the light source represents from those abstract landscape artists that have spoken about it, it is something very soulful and connected with the individual. One way to explain it would be to say the light represent their our own souls connection with its source.

You see, without trying to re-create reality, some abstract landscape artists go within themselves to reveal on the canvas an essence of nature and also the source of nature, all while they are aware that the two are a part of themselves. The end result is something they consider spiritual, uplifting, or possibly healing. Of course, this is not to say that “en plein air” artists do not have these same emotions when painting, it’s just a different way to express the light source.

Abstract Landscape Painting – “Bursting Sun”

Bursting Sun by Jaison Cianelli ©2009 
 
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Bursting Sun - Detail

Treasure Upon This Earth

Hand Heart by Jaison Cianelli ©2008 

While you don’t know it, the heart of this universe, this one long song, goes on loving you.  When you look to the stars, let me shine in your eyes.  When the clouds put out the sun, keep warm, but don’t close your mind.  Be that which you are, a treasure upon this earth, and you will know how good it feels to be alive.

Quote of The Day

“Life is change, growth is optional-choose wisely.”

~ Karen Kaiser Clark

Kokopelli Art – Signed Prints with Free Shipping

Kokopelli Jam
Original medium: Oil pastel on board ©2005
www.cianellistudios.com

Purchase Print: $15

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A few years ago I became interested in the Native American Hopi people that now live on a reservation in northeastern Arizona. The word Hopi means “The Peaceful People.” From what I can tell from the books I have read, they had a beautiful culture, connected to the Spirit, and were skilled in agriculture. In these books I saw many different Kokopelli drawings that they created.

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To me, the Kokopelli figure shows a fun loving side to these people, which I believe is a reflection of the Hopi way of life. The Hopi had a total reverence and respect for all things. They did not believe in war. They believed in honoring the precious, sacred essence contained in all things in all their actions. This was how they honored the Creator (God). They even had instructions from Maasaw, the Creator or Caretaker of Earth, that showed them the way to live at peace.

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Harmonizing 3
Original medium: Oil pastel on board ©2005
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Purchase Print: $15

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I created these paintings because I was inspired and wanted to pass on my own Kokopelli art to share the message of opening up the heart. Unlike the typical Kokopelli, these Kokopelli figures are together sharing in oneness. They are symbolically sharing in music, laughter, positive energy, and anything that frees us from what is rigid.

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Contemporary Seascape Painting – Spiral Wave

Spiral Wave
Original medium: Acrylic on Canvas ©2008
www.cianellistudios.com

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The premise for creating this seascape or any other seascape that I create, is not to re-create reality, it is to convey a feeling.  When I spend time at the beach I’m not there to paint.  I am there because I love to be there.  To be in the waves and take in the sites, sounds, the feeling of the sand, and even the taste of the salty air.  When I come back from the beach I feel younger.  With the love for the thing that remains with me the most I have burning desire to openly paint this feeling.

I’ll work in stages.  First building texture with paste and white paint.  Pouring paint onto the canvas and flinging paint with my brush.  Once dry, I’ll add colors, pouring on more paint and adding details by guiding globs of paint on top of dried paint with the back of my brush.

This is generally how it goes.  But there is not one set procedure.   The only requirement I have is that I enjoy everything I do so that the painting will convey this joy in its final appearance.

Pencil Drawing of Jesus Making a Heart

Jesus Offering Making a Heart
Original medium: Pencil ©2008
www.cianellistudios.com

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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” ~ Jesus Christ from John 13:34

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Purchase Print: $15.00

Greeting Cards: $3.00

Life in Hillsborough County & The New Boston Area

I have been living in New Boston with my fiance for a little over a year now.  I have come to find out that there is plenty of genius tucked away in these hills.  Hillsborough county is filled with extremely talented artists, crafts people, writers, hard working farmers, musicians, and many spiritually enlightened people.  Working part-time at the A&E Coffee Roastery Cafe, I have exchanged more kind words and artwork than thought possible.  Over the summer I watched artists hang up their artwork on our walls, not so much caught up in the selling of their art work (which does indeed happen), but delighted in the pure enjoyment of being able to showcase it locally in the center of town.  These talented artists include Cyndie Katz, Mary Buergin, Pat Nelson, my neighbor Hannah Phelps, and coming in September, Eileen Belanger.

As I watched beavers, herons, and Harry (the Parker’s friendly black lab) enjoy the banks of the Piscataquog river, I also watched the A&E Coffee Roastery gradually become a focal point for so many kind people, artists, and families.  We joke but it’s “the office” for the Piscataquog Land Conservancy across the street.  Quite recently I was delighted to meet Carole Huxel who has a strong desire to inform and pull together the Goffstown community.  She runs The Goffstown Edge, a community blog serving Pinardville, Goffstown, New Boston, and Dunbarton.   The Goffstown Edge serves as another focal point, one that is online, where residents can get up to date information on what’s going on around them.

Community is extremely important in these tough times.  I know for a fact that high gasoline prices has in some way strengthened this commnity.  Traveling to the local farmers market, coffee shop, or lumber yard ends up being more cost efficient.  As does getting to know your neighbors and exchanging what is that you have to offer.  Even though this summer has been tossing a number of strange rain clouds our way,  it appears to me that gardening has become even more popular and the artists have even more reason to paint the rain away.  I love this town and I’m proud to live here.

Pencil Drawing of Jesus Offering His Hand

Jesus Offering His Hand
by Jaison Cianelli ©2008
 

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This piece was inspired by Jesus from Matthew 11:28-29.  There will be many more pencil drawings to be created of Jesus.  This was very natural for me to create.

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“Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls.”

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