Painting and the Art of Staking a Claim

Herd by Richard Bledsoe (acrylic on canvas)

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My husband Richard is an extraordinary artist..

just one of the many things I love about him.

He has sold many paintings over the years

but every once in a while

I stake my claim.

When Richard finished Herd

I told him it was mine.

So it is.

Intimacy and the Glorious Wonder of Jan van Ecyk

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It’s hard to believe there is no velvet rope

separating me from this magnificent work of art.

This was the second time I saw The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck

up close and personal.

I could have stood there for hours..

Once Among the Dead

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Once Among the Dead is the second book I worked on for my sister, Patricia.. and my strange little drawings have found a comfortable home within its pages. The painting I used for the cover has always been a favorite of mine… and is undeniably fitting for this unique collection of poems and stories. The first time I read it, I was left wandering around stunned for hours. Speaking to my sister afterwards, I described it in a single word: Potent.

ONCE AMONG THE DEAD

It is about time to make death mainstream. Death is seen as mysterious and feared by so many in today’s society. Yet it is a common everyday occurrence.

Once Among the Dead is a collection of meditations on death, dying, grief and loss. The themes range from the clinical, to the philosophical, to the spiritual. Raw, emotional and brutally honest, the poetry and prose are at times difficult to read. Grotesque and beautiful, this strikingly unique book contains elements of horror, hope and salvation.

Patricia Lynn Dompieri is also the author of Lemon Bee and Other Peculiar Tales. Both of her books have been illustrated by Michele Bledsoe.

Strange Habits and the Art of Polymer Clay

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Many, many years ago

when I lived alone with my dog, Gunther

I developed some strange habits.

Open packages of marshmallow Peeps

all over the place

slowly turning into Peep-jerky..

Dinner was often instant mashed potatoes straight out of the pot

drenched in ketchup.

I never used my oven for cooking…

just for baking all the little creatures I made out of Sculpey.

Sowing SEEDs and the Art of Sharing Your Gifts

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What do you do when you have big ideas and limited resources..?

You get creative,

and you get to work.

To make a long story short,

I taught myself how to create, format and publish books.

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It is sad how many great books never see the light of day;

how many talented authors never have the opportunity

to see their work in print..

just because the process is too complicated, overwhelming,

time-consuming and/or expensive.

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I used to think that way.

But, now I can do something about it..

one book at a time.

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The students at SEEDs for Autism

have been writing in my class for years..

sharing their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Responding to writing prompts,

telling stories and creating poetry.

So many different voices –

Now, all together

in a wonderful book.

And just in time for the holidays…

Sowing Seeds: A Collection of Writing and Poetry by Adults on the Autism Spectrum

The Story of Bug

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The beginning was horrific.

After dropping my husband off for work one morning
I returned home to a nightmarish sight…
what appeared to be a newly born kitten, lying in a bloody mess
near the step leading onto my front porch.
I was shocked to see that the tiny creature was moving..
impossibly alive.

A very premature birth..

Quickly, I reached down to rescue him from the swarm of ants
already blanketing the placenta lying next to him..
that’s when I discovered the umbilical cord
was still attached.
I severed it with my hands
and brought the tiny life inside.
I called him Bug.

Over the following 12 hours
I cleaned him
fed him, kept him warm
held him in my hands,
and loved him.

Sadly, it was not meant to be.
Bug was too premature..
not much more than a fetus, really.

Hairless, pink.
Eyes sealed shut.
Ears barely formed..
Incompatible with life.

I held him warm in my hands
One last time…

Minutes later
when I checked on him again
I saw that he had died.
12 hours..
From the moment I found him,
Until his quiet, peaceful death.

Still, I was heartbroken.

I wanted to keep Bug.
I wanted to keep loving this tiny animal
I wanted to give him a home
I wanted him to survive..
But, it wasn’t meant to be.

At the time, I didn’t understand..
I was not there to help Bug live,
I was there to help him die.

Bug did not suffer and die on the hot pavement,
exposed and alone.
For his short 12 hour life
He was warm and safe.
He was loved.

Goodnight, sweet Bug
You will live again..
in my paintings.

Not Trying and the Art of Failure

Illustrations from “Painting, Passion and the Art of Life” by Michele Bledsoe

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For many years

I had been trying to write a book..

but I failed.

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Actually, I failed many times..

over and over again.

I had lost my way.

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Then I had a revelation..

an epiphany.

I was thinking too hard..

getting in my own way.

I was trying to write a book

instead of writing a book.

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Filled with renewed passion and purpose

I poured my soul out

onto those pages..

and it became

the book I was meant to write

instead of the book I was trying to write.

Big difference.

.Big Big difference.