Noccalula Falls

Noccalula Falls is a Beautiful 90 foot Waterfall located in Gadsden Alabama.

The waterfall is part of a 225 acre public park open for all to enjoy.

The falls are said to be named for a Cherokee Princess who was the daughter of a chief. The legends dates back to the eighteenth century and may have basis in real events from the Cherokee village of Turkey Town. According to the tales Princess Noccalula's father betrothed her to a rich and powerful chief from another tribe who offered a large number of goods and hopes of peace for the two tribes in exchange for her hand in marriage. Although Noccalula was in love with a warrior from her own tribe her father insisted she marry the chief.  Noccalula then fled to the Black Creek Falls and jumped to her death heart broken to not be marrying the man she loved. 

A majestic view of the waterfall can be enjoyed from a short paved walk thru a beautifully landscaped park near the parking lot passing thru no admission areas and totally free for people to enjoy.  The accompanying public park has a great play area built for all children to enjoy including those with special needs and numerous picinic areas.  The paid portion of the park includes a fun train you can ride circling thru unique and scenic views.  The park is home to a number of historic buildings and a wonderful petting zoo for people of all ages to enjoy.

The park staff including my good friend Josh are friendly, helpful and full of great stories about the park and animals. Here Josh is holding a watercolor painting we worked on together at the park of Clyde a red-headed talking Conure who welcomes all who visit with a festive "Roll Tide".   The park includes scenic trails where you can even experience an unforgettable view from behind the towering waterfall. 

Holidays are a fun time at the park as well with many not to be missed celebrations throughout the year. 

This painting was a joy to paint surrounded by nature and lovely views. Keep on the lookout for more from this site a favorite place for me to spend some free time.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Perfectly Unique

Perfectly Unique Life is an original painting in Honor of the many Wonderful People in this world who Live Perfectly Unique Lives with Spectrum Disorders such as Autism.

     Spectrum Disorders can be defined as any of a group of disorders that occur on a continuum with certain features that are shared but manifest in various forms and degrees.  Examples include Bipolar, PTSD, OCD, Anxiety, Asperger's, Autism and others.

     I had heard of Autism, seen and met people who were living with it, but I began to understand it better after my nephew's diagnosis.   I went to the local library and checked out every book on the subject.  I wanted to be a supportive, loving and understanding Aunt.

     Shortly after I heard of a charity event for Autism Awareness.  I have donated paintings in the past to various organizations and wanted to do my part to help. I started working on this I decided to attempt to cut a canvas board into the shape of a puzzle piece it was a challenge but turned out pretty nice.  I thought long and hard on what would be appropriate.  I decided a heart of gold described well many who live in the spectrum. This specific heart is created with 2 spirals representing the Eternal nature of Love.

     I wanted somehow to reassure my brother, his wife, my nephew, and others that this recent diagnosis while a bit confusing and a tad scary for us all was going to perfectly fine.  I considered how much I love my nephew just the way he is and so the "Perfectly Unique Life" came to be.

     It took a little longer than expected to finish this so when I called to offer it to the organization I was disappointed to hear I had just missed the deadline by days.  I decided that may well be for the best because I have a firm belief the love we pour into something can be felt by others.

     I continue to Love this painting as I have the pleasure to watch my young nephew grow, evolve, and live a Perfectly Unique Life.  I hope you enjoy this work of art and if you have the pleasure of knowing someone living in the Spectrum appreciate them for who they are Perfectly Unique individuals.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Wedding Waterfall

I love this painting it's full of so much symbolism.

     This painting was inspired by my love for nature, my feelings of one with the universe, symbolism of feeling blue, and the lovely waterfall design of my wedding dress train.  

     

     You can find a number of symbolic elements in this painting.  The 2 birds represent the freedom purity and unity of free spirits.  The mountains one tall and sharp above the man the other rounded and soft above the woman is symbolic of the yen and yang of the male female relationship.  The 2 trees that grew together pooling each other's resources and combining them so both will benefit and flourish together each providing for the other what one may lack.  This is actually inspired by a number of trees that did this exact thing at different places we had lived including the one you may notice in "Up Mountain".  

     The flowers represent many things including weddings themselves. The willow trees are symbols of sorrow, sadness, and grief.  The tiny willow you can see thru the leaves of the other is symbolic of the one we planted for our son Mason shortly after he passed.  The water itself a symbol of the many many many tears I have shed over the years and the blue feelings that often overwhelm me.

     Wedding Waterfall has inspired a series of these waterfall people each with their own meaning and symbolism. 

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Ode to Nature

A wonderful display of the Beauty of Nature this painting is full of the important little things we often overlook.

     Ode to Nature is among one of my largest canvas paintings to date (24"×36").  It is a lovely depiction of flowers I was growing in the garden at the time.  Having grown up in a city and having little exposure to gardens I fell in love with the complexity and beauty of my new hobby.  

I was for the first time in my life working outdoors I had many indoor jobs in the past but had taken a new path by starting a business with my husband and learning the Art of Stonemasonry Work.  Being outside 10-12 hours a day was a new and eye opening experience.  I began to notice more of the beauty surrounding me.  Stonework itself being a very time consuming task I spent countless hours an the ground breaking rocks to fit the puzzle before me.  Insects we're not really something I was used to but watching then in my new environment around me gave me a certain appreciation for their beauty.  

I decided to add them in to this painting as a reminder of the wonderful little things in life.  Look closely you will find butterflies, ladybugs, ants, a bumblebee, a dragonfly a grasshopper, even a groovy lil catipilliar perhaps inspired by Alice in Wonderland.  

A funny story about this painting, I had it on display at Art on the Square one year and a couple came up to discuss the possibility of purchasing it.  My daughter who was around 4 at the time accompanied me to art shows and displayed her young creations as well.  She overheard this couple's interest in the piece and quickly spoke up " but Mommy that one hangs in my room"  my heart immediately melted.  I looked over at the couple who had likely heard this as well and apologized for the misunderstanding this painting was here for display purposes only I had now discovered and was certainly not for sale.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Click below to see more Art By Bobbie Dyar

Divine Proportion

Up Mountain

Count the Stars

Flower of Peace and Eternal Love

This Bold, Exciting, and Colorful Masterpiece is a Pleasure for the Eyes and Spirit

This painting is very special to me I wasn't very artistic as a child yet this Eternal Flower often appeared on my school work and doodles.  Once started it would expand to cover the paper and any open space around.  It gave me feelings of Peace, Serenity, and Happiness in some of my darkest times.  

Flower of Peace and Eternal Love is symbolic of numerous things. The rich bold colors represent diversity and equality.  The eight center petals remind of the Buddhist 8 fold path to enlightenment.  The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi ('meditative absorption or union').  The flower itself is never ending representing the Eternal Nature of Energy and Love. 

I have often used this image to help me focus during meditation.  The center yellow circle being a powerful element holding together the unlimited petals. Remaining constant with the ever changing diversity and creation of new arrays of petals.  

I feel certain there are several aspects of this painting I can simply not find the words to describe.  It speaks to my Spirit and inner Soul in a way that is impossible for me to explain.

I have created a number of variations of this Flower of Peace and Eternal Love each expressing it's own meaning while maintaining the constant theme of Inner Peace, Energy and Love Eternal.

I hope this painting brings you and those around you a sense of calmness, happiness, purity, peace and serenity.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Sunshine Daydream

This creation is one of my Puzzle Paintings a unique series.

Puzzle Paintings are outlines of images hidden by beautiful colors and additional elements.  These came to be in a interesting manner.  As a new artist in my early 20s I had insecurities about starting art at such a late time compared to those who had been studying and practicing the art since childhood.  It has never been something that comes easily to me as some who simply see then create.  I was blessed with a logical, mathematical left brain dominate personality.  As a child I disliked the objective aspect of art and failed to understand how something that appeared to lack skill or precision could be considered great.  I liked absolutes like math, facts, other situations that had clear correct vs incorrect results.  

As I began to understand the numerous factors involved in "judging" art my mind began to open.  I started painting not as a way to "perfect" or accurately portray an object but as a form of therapy and self expression.  These paintings in a way represent the diversity, beauty, and complexity of things that may appear on the surface to be simple.  They are a challenge for the mind and a way to see things from multiple perspectives.

Being a folk artist without any formal training has allowed me to defy the rules and create my own.  I hope you enjoy the playful aspect of these puzzle paintings and appreciate the beauty of color and the complexity of simple things.

If you desire hints to see the hidden aspects please refer back to the title of the piece.  There is a second additional smaller hidden object to reassure the mind you have found what was intentionally hidden.  These are created in the spirit of subjective truth so if you find additional objects or see this as something completely different rest assured there is no wrong interpretation.  Similar to a Rorschach test allow this to be an exercise in discovering yourself.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Up Mountain

This painting always makes me Smile "Up Mountain" is full of lovely memories.

     "Up Mountain" is what my daughter used to say around the age of 2 when we were out and about and she was ready to go home.  We lived in this tiny log cabin atop a curvy mountain road.  When we first found it the owners had been using it as a hunting cabin.  The walls were a dark green it was gloomy and dark.  When we decided to rent it I asked if I could repaint the inside.  I went a lil wild trying to brighten it up.  Pastel pinks, purples, blues, and bright yellow.  It became like a wonderland.  We painted the high open ceiling to look like the sky.  The strong log beams that held up the 2nd floor loft we're a perfect place to hang a swing right in the living room for our wonderful daughter.

   

     The large triangle window upstairs created a nice small area to place a baby bed.  Autumn loved looking out the window to see nature surrounding us a few squirrels and a large pileated woodpecker would visit her there daily.  We built the lovely garden out front for her to play in we filled the circular walkway with bright colorful tumbled stones.  There I remember using the pretty stones to teach her to count.  I could go on and on with entertaining stories about this painting and our time there but I will leave it here and hopefully if you see me around sometime I will happily reveal more.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Count the Stars

This is a Fun Optical Illusion How many Stars can you find?

     I found this illusion online and fell in love. I decided I had to try to recreate it.  The scaling and precision angles were a tad challenging.  Yet again another of my many great escapes from my sometimes harsh reality.  I have a tendency to dive into art and complex learning to free my mind of my daily struggles. 

     My daughter and I were having a tough winter. The first holidays after losing my husband and for my daughter her beloved daddy were quite difficult.  I tried to keep her somewhat entertained and searched for ways to occupy our time.  Star Wars had made its way back to main stream popularity.  We spent hours and hours watching the entire series together. 

     When I completed the illusion portion of the painting I asked my daughter for suggestions of what I should add to the background to enhance it a bit.  She threw me for a bit of a loop when she suggested Starships. I was a nervous wreck I knew she had been studying them during the movies and I feared disappointing her.  Many times in my life she has inspired and pushed me to attempt thing that seems impossible.  I spent countless hours studying the ships and sketching them out before attempting them on canvas.

     It turn out pretty good considering the canvas size (12"×12").  The experience overall was a priceless blessing. I hope you enjoy this painting a labor of love and guiding light thru darkness.



    *Secret Hint about the illusion:  Find the Red Background, The Yellow Background, then the Silver/Light Sky Blue Background.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Multidimensional Art Cube

This fun little Cube is a Multidimensional Art Show. To view it just click the Change Image button untill you are ready to Change the Set to 6 more Featured Paintings don't stop there this is multidimensional there are a total of 4 sets of Original Artwork totaling 24 Paintings. The images may take a moment to load on each new set I promise it's worth the wait. I hope you enjoy and check out the rest of this blog for the stories behind the art. Thanks

Art by Bobbie

Thank you and have a Blessed Day

Divine Proportion

Φ PHI



THE TITLE OF THIS PAINTING IS SIMPLY Φ

This symbol is known as Phi the 21st letter of the Greek Alphabet in Math and Science it is commonly known as the Golden Ratio. 

Other popular names for this symbol are The Sacred Cut, The Golden Section, and Divine Proportion.

   

 When my daughter was very young I was blessed to be a stay at home mom this required much sacrifice including an extremely tight budget.  I often took her to the bookstore to play and read to her. I would find many books I loved to read but could rarely afford to buy any for myself. "Divine" intervention like the book itself good luck graced my path. I found a wonderful book titled Divine Proportion it just so happened to be on an amazing sale only a few dollars.

     I read and re-read this awesome book it discussed Phi in Art, Nature, Science, Math, Music, Architecture, even Mysticism and Religion. It inspired me to paint my first intentional depiction of this fabulous symbol.  My first challenge was dividing the canvas in it's Divine Proportions the book had taught me a method using circles and intersecting points this was how I practice in sketch but when the time arrived to attempt the painting I had chosen a fairly large canvas (24"/20") finding a compass that big was out of the question so after pondering I decided to craft one from sticks in the yard.  It worked perfectly.  I then used it to divide the canvas into it's Divine Proportions every angle possible. 

     The painting itself is a Mandala of sorts (another amazing bookstore score Tibetan Mandala $1).  The colors symbolic of many things inspired by both Buddhism and the Native American Medicine Wheel.  The Spiral of Archimedes and multiple Equiangular Spirals are examples of Phi.  As well as the smaller fractal pattern spirals.

     This painting has continued to bring me peace, great happiness, a focal point for meditation, inspiration, and many long hours of deep thought.  I hope you enjoy it as well.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day