In my youth, I happened upon a little green grasshopper who had been through a great ordeal prior to my finding him amidst the little green weeds of our backyard. He was without one of his front legs, which made it exceedingly difficult for him to jump or take off in flight. I immediately envisioned him becoming easy prey to one of the many neighborhood birds. So, even though I was timid when it came to insects, I managed to capture him up in a little bug terrarium I've been

Rain showers always lift my spirits. I love them for their soothing rain-song, for their rhythmicity and the way they dance on gleaming pavement, for their cleansing affect as they polish leaves and spirits, alike. As summer nears, I am already longing for renewed showers and rainclouds. 16/52 :: April Showers ArtStew52 is a 52-week creative challenge orchestrated by artist Rhea Amyett of Hatching Artist to spur on creativity in the Instagram community.Artists of all mediums-

I've long been inspired by cobblestone walks. While treading their slightly uneven surface, I consider the many footfalls that have traversed the same route I am undertaking. The many-colored hues and varying shapes of stone remind me of the many unique narratives carried by each passerby. And, I cannot help but smile to know that I am one part of a grand something. Reims, France 2013 #statesofbeing

Growing up as a hapa with a Japanese American mother, I learned many unspoken values by watching her and our family members. The care they took i the wrapping of a gift taught my sisters and me that the wrapping was just as important as the contents within. To present a gift to a loved one was something especially meaningful. From the handwritten note attached with ribbon, to the delicate paper that safeguarded the gift itself--every aspect was given focused attention, precis

When I was a child, my mother and her best friend were rubber stampers who introduced my sisters and me to the loveliness of Color Box ink pads, Le Plume's dual-tipped markers, and a rainbow of embossing powders that caused images to rise up out of the dust like magic as we watched on in wonder. To this day, rubber stamps instantly remind me of childhood–of the numerous drawers filled with stamps sorted by category, fitting just like Tetris bricks so as not to waste any space

quick to listen, slow to stampede gently growing understanding hearing narratives other than our own love to demonstrate, beliefs t enact open-minded tender hearts reach to learn to bridge to mend to bond we see our kindred sameness as we celebrate the beauty of our differences and we become altogether all together altogether all together © Kimberly K. Taylor-Pestell 2017 12/52 :: Quiet ArtStew52 is a 52-week creative challenge orchestrated by artist Rhea Amyett of Hatching A