Looking out…from within © Morri (formerly, Susan Morrison Sims)
(symbolic self portrait)
Why the name gypsy-heart, I am? Well, ’tis simple. I have a restless heart…which I can tell you is a blessing and a CURSE!
I will not bore you with a long and dramatic story about my life. Besides I think it would be too confusing for you. I lived it….and even I get confused!! :O
Why this blog? I really don’t know why I started it. For one thing I am pretty much a recluse..in fact, I am an island dweller. I live on two islands. One has bridges (Fleming Island) and one does not (Drayton Island). I go back and forth to both places..I guess, to appease this gypsy heart of mine (and it’s working…for now, anyway).
Drayton Island, the bridgeless one, can only be reached by ferry (a small little thing with limited and crazy hours) or by boat. That one is my home of choice…in the middle of fenced acreage…complete with alligators. :)
Back to blogging…maybe it’s the whole concept of blogging, the idea of stepping in and out..the freedom to come and go as I please. No strings attached…nomad writing, if you will.
As for what I do, I am a studio (hermit) artist…all mediums, but primarily a painter. I’m also a plein air painter (a fancy term for painting outside), and a photographer. The inspiration for my work comes from my environment (external and internal), music, and my photographs. I am often described as an expressionist or post impressionist artist.
I try to paint, draw, and paste the energies I see and feel, and what I struggle to say.
My writings are much like my gypsy heart…honest, but quite imperfect! Divinely so.
Good energies to you,
~gypsy-he♥rt
Formal Education
*Continued Studies, U.S. & Abroad
*University of North Florida, BFA (painting/drawing)
Jacksonville, Florida, Summa cum Laude
*Florida School of the Arts, Fine Art, Summa cum Laude
*St John’s River Community College, AA AS, Summa cum Laude
My Art Web Site: Morri Sims Art
That’s me on the left in the middle of the two ladies..I’m in the black top with the bob hair cut. :)
Nobody can be exactly like me.
Sometimes even I have trouble doing it.”
~Tallulah Bankhead
Hi Susan, i just came across your blog as I’m finding my way around WordPress. I enjoy your paintings very much, and of course the photograpy also, and the collages. I relate most to the paintings, they seem very tactile, and moody, I love that. and the figure drawings are beautiful! I have piles of them myself, that aren’t too dissimilar.
I wish you the best, Sally
Hello Sally…how very nice that you visited. I thank for visiting and for your words of inspiration.
I plan to visit your web site and blog soon. From what you said I already know that I will like what I see. :~)
Namaste’,
~suz
Thanks for the comment. Glad you were the first to get a conversation going over on philosophis+
I like that you are authentic, radically authentic to be more accurate. That is why your blog will work. It attracts one by inviting them in through first the pictures and then through your words.
You apologize that you are not a professional writer. That’s authentic! But if I may add you are a writer if you write. Go to Oprah and see her last book club selection The Road By Cormac McCarthy @ http://www2.oprah.com/obc_classic/featbook/road/obc_featbook_road_main.jhtml and watch THE CORMAC MCCARTHY INTERVIEW. Cormac doesn’t “care for punctuation and any thing else that gets in the way of a writer expressing themselves and trying to make it an easy read for the reader. Capitals and periods.” That’s it! Cool hey?
So keep up with your writing and your work which I think, and it really doesn’t matter what I think, is fantastic.
Kind Regards,
Michael
Thank you Michael….I am taking your words and suggestions to heart. “Radically authentic” will do…in fact for some reason that pleases me. tee hee.
I will go to the link and check out the interview. No punctuation is cool…sort of like an unframed canvas (which I prefer).
I am honored that you like my work and my, shall we say, simplistic writing. ..in the style of Grandma Bessie. :)
Hey Suz,
Thanks for the longest comment on Philosophis+ today.
What I am doing is following my gut.
Had I not done that then “thinking” enters into my mind replacing the “space” of the ocean that lies within.
All of you points were in favor of the “good” the internet does but I had the sensibility to know that the bad far out ways the good and that is not right.
I see just today people coming to philosophis+ and IIIIiterature as well. They are curious and now I see why the message was given to me to right from the ocean within.
Thank you again for you comment and for bringing awareness to the light of the internet. Perhaps if people would slow down and focus on the light as you and I do then we might attract others through this conversation who will find the light too. Together we can stand for the lightness of being and evolve instead of being led down into the dark cesspools of every known corner of the net leading us into involution.
The well is not dry; its just contaminated. This is my metaphor for the minds of our youth.
Kind Regards,
Michael
HI,
I like this blog! Thank you for visiting mine.
Thank you also for the comments about the 80 year old man that passed out. I was able to read that to my stepmother today and I think it made her feel better.
Happy Christmas eve! Christy
Ah…this looks great! I’m going to enjoy peeking around the corners of your blog. Will check out the website also. Namaste!
Greetings GypsyHeart. Thank you for leaving a comment I could follow back to you.
You do gorgeous work, however, I see nothing of the real you in your pieces. There is detachment and distance. Isolation and loneliness. None of your figures are even looking at you, the artist.
++Sue Ann Edwards++
Greetings to you too, and I thank you very much for your comment.
I very much appreciate the compliment, and I always find observations of my work interesting.
I will try to address yours:
“detachment and distance. Isolation and loneliness. None of your figures are even looking at you, the artist.”
+++”Detachment and distance”++
I guess I am sort of detached from some things of this world…I always have been even as a child. It is difficult to explain. I do not feel isolation..to the contrary, I feel a part of everything..every energy here…including the souls…humans and creatures. Maybe that is what you are picking up on…I don’t feel a separateness…as the artist I see myself as a part of all.
In fact, I see myself in every piece of work I have ever done…every mark.
+++ “Loneliness”++
I do not feel loneliness and I never have. I have felt trapped, but that was in the past. Maybe you are speaking of such pieces as the Masked Mime? That all has to do with some years back…I was trapped in a religion. Some of my previous posts touched on that part of my past a little.
I do not dwell on it or even feel sad about it…for all those things were part of my walk in this world. I can honestly say that “Loneliness” has never been a part of the walk though. I have NEVER felt alone in the physical or spiritual sense. All one has to do is observe the world around them to see they are never really alone.
“Split wood, I am there. Lift up a rock, you will find me there.”
~The Gospel of Thomas (Line 77b)
I could say more about the spiritual world but I will let that be for now. Let’s just say that I know what I have seen..so I do not feel alone there either.
+++”Your figures are not looking at you, the artist”+++
I guess you mean the figures on my web site? Those are models and the renderings are simply from the spot I was standing. I have done portraits and naturally they are looking at me. Maybe I should put a couple of them in a post. In fact, I was going to do a post on Happiness today…but maybe I should do it on this subject. Hmmm. I’ll have to think about it. :) I have to say that I feel a part of those figurative pieces too though…I most certainly felt it when in process…every line, every value, every negative space, every energy that passed between us. :)
Were you able to read some of the posts or did you only have time to peek at the work?
Sometime if you have time here are a few posts that may explain me a little more:
.New Beginnings and the Magic Box
http://island11.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/new-beginnings-and-the-magic-box/
The Call:
http://island11.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/328/
The key:
http://island11.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/328/
I could write a lot more about this…but enough for now.
I do thank you again for commenting and for caring enough to express your observations.
I realize that sometimes my art may seem dark…as I always say though:
~~’Tis the darkness that reveals the light~~
That would be my wish ..that I could help others to realize that too.
Hope to “see” you again. In the mean time though……
Look for me in the face of a flower for I am there. :)
Sending you light,
~gypsy-he♥rt
I wandered into your site today and it was a real treat. I thoroughly enjoyed the art and the writing. Your powers of expression are as wonderful as they are lovely. As a musician, I am hoping to do something similar on my humble site. To that end, may I use the-journey.jpg as apart of that expression for one of my song titles. Thank you. I look forward to your reply and to enjoying more of your site.
**Soul Seeker**
Well, I am happy that you wandered by and enjoyed your visit!
I love music as much as I love art!! In fact, I am not sure I could paint without it. I am looking forward to hearing your music ..that is such a gift!
I sent you an email concerning the image. I think it will not be a problem. :)
I plan to skip over to your site in a bit.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and leave a note.
Wishing you the best with your music and your blog!
oh, I get it now, your an islander! That explains so much!
~giggle~
Went to your site, you have some beautiful and provocative work up over there…I always forget to check the About…I don’t have one myself…guess i should…naaa.
I like the poison piece, It’s thought provoking with out being in your face..Does that make sense?
hey gypsy…i was just over at your art site/galleries…do you have any of your sketches there of the faces you have shared on your blog?
*Sorrow*~ Yes, I am an islander…you can only get to one of them by boat or a ferry that runs on a limited schedule. :) So I really am an ecentric hermit. :O
Thank you for visiting the art gallery and for your kind words of encouragement. Yes, I think you should have a gallery site so I can see more of your beautiful work!!
I do understand what you mean about the poison piece not being in your face…I am so glad too for that is my preference.
*surfaceEarth*~ So glad you visted the art site/gallery. :)
No I don’t have any of the faces on there…at one time I did, but I removed them. I thought I had too much on the gallery..and those were just sketches and probably should not be on there. A few of them are in a sketch book.
Did you want to know more about them or have any suggestions? I am open to any and all!
Hello gypsy heart, I sent you an email. It’s too late for me to read your latest post, Your art is amazing…………………………………………………………………………………………….
so are you!
Gypsy……remember when you shared the sketches, including Mother Teresa? was that on a separate post? They were so incredible, so human, I can’t tell you the depth of response I had to them. That’s why I went hunting at the gallery, I’m a charcoal fan also!
@Warrior~ Ahh…You are much to kind…thank you!
@SurfaceEarth~ So glad you liked them! I love charcoal too.. there is something so raw about creating with a stick of charred wood..eh?
It was an earlier post (Portraits black and white..) Here is the link: :)
http://island11.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/portraits-black-and-white/
I add my compliments to the rest. Your soul shines through. I absolutely believe it was something I needed to see and read today. Thank you, gypsy-heart. Many blessings on your journey.
@Angela ~ Thank you very much for your sweet and inspiring words.
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you found something here that you needed to see and read today! It makes this blog worth all the time and work!!
I will be over to see your site soon. :)
Many blessings on your journey too!
Gypsy Heart… what beautiful energy you have here… What a beautiful home… thank you for sharing your light…
What a wonderful energy your site and work give off! I think you get it on the seperation and being alone thing. We are all one. It is an interesting concept and sometimes hard to grasp. You know, the whole ego thing….sometimes getting in the way of our own happiness. Love your work.
Hope I’m doing this right….I’m new around here ;)
*aeracura* ~ Hello! I thank you for stopping by and leaving such a kind and wise note!
You did it perfectly, and I hope you will come again! :)
Dear Gypsy. Please cancel my stupid Blog-note. I found out, that I was completly wrong. You live in Florida and you are surrounded by millions of crocodiles. Henry (-:
But that feeling with your colours is still true. Thats not the boaring bright sun of the south… Why?
Dear Henry~ that was not a stupid note..I hope you never feel that way here!
It was completely understandable. Yes, I am in Florida surrounded by alligators (I believe..cousins of crocodiles). hee, hee.
I am not sure what to say about the colors. I only paint what I see and feel. :) What colors do you associate with Florida?
Maybe it is from where I dwell…deep in the woods. Or could it be that I am a moon chaser!! :)
Gypsy-Heart.
I’ve visited your site often, but this is the first time I’ve visited your “About” page. Thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with us. I saw your picture, and your outside appearance (somewhat conservative look for a gypsy) looks nothing like I had imagined. I suspose with the name Gypsy Heart, I imagined you to look gypsyish–Kind of 70′s flower child-like. As such is the power of words. I have a conservative look too, when I’m in the office; but when I get home, I can then be free to bum around. Your paintings are beautiful. I love each one of them. I’m especially fond of the landscapes and figuratives. I used to draw as a child and teenager, and I really loved it. I’ve been thinking of doing some of the things I used to love and learning a few things I’ve always wanted to learn. Do you know of any instructional books that would be good for a beginning sketch artist? Also, the link on your gallery site for purchasing is not working. I would like to purchase one of your prints. Again, thanks so very much for sharing your talent, your spirit, and parts of yourself and thoughts with us.
Peace, Light and Love, CordieB.
* cordieb ~ I am so happy that you visit often, and that you decided to “chat” with me! :)
You tickled me about the gypsy look. I do have my nose pierced does that help? hee, hee. I am curious which picture did you see?
I am so happy that you feel a connection to my work.
I encourage you to draw again! When I return home I will look in my library and see if a book catches my eye. You may want to go to a library and explore the art section. Somehow the right book will appear at the right time…agreed? If you like it then buy it for your library. The best book you have is your spirit though..I see it in your words on your site. You already paint with your words!
I will check out the link to no where on my gallery site…thank you for telling me! Was there a particular piece that caught your eye? Feel free to email me anytime!
Peace, Light and Love to you too!
*enreal~ Somehow I missed the previous note from you…I am so sorry!
I thank you for your kind words. You are most certainly a light and I thank you for BEING!
Gypsy – I only saw one picture. It is of you in Italy, 2006. It’s a nice picture – after taking a second look, I see the Gypsy resemblence. (smile).
Peace, Light and Love. . . CordieB.
http://susanmorrisonsims.com/Contact_and_Purchase_Iinformati/IMAG004A.JPG
[...] friend at Spiritual Perceptions, who asked to see a picture of me, the fact that I had perceived Gypsy Heart to “look” like a gypsy (smile), and the multi-talented, Persistent Illusion, who is so [...]
Hi Gypsy – can’t quite believe, but I’d never read this before. I appreciate to know a little more about you…
Odd that you found my last haiku strange/mysterious – it’s very simple, but maybe you prefer to have the mystery than the explanation? let me know…
This below was not done for you, but when I suddenly remembered you are from Florida, I couldn’t resist – so ENJOY!
English Channel in
mist; soft rain on Florida
miniature golf course.
(I have to say that for some obscure reason, a miniature golf course at the English seaside called the ‘Florida’ seems the height of normality in aspirational publicity.)
**94S~ I don’t know how I missed this before..but what a nice surprise to find it now! Loved the haiku .. from where I am in Florida it is a land of water, trees, alligators, etc. :)
Thank you for leaving your words here..you always make my heart smile.
Hi!
I like it here.
I’ll be back (often).
:)
Hello to you delilah so glad you liked it here.!
I hope you will come back often! :)
You followed tobeme and now I follow you to your home :) I have been admiring your art, a lot of soul went into them. Must say that I am envious of your surroundings it must be incredible to paint and just be in nature. Art is one of the greatest expressions of the heart, yours is beautiful!
When I grow up I want to be as good as you :D
Hello SanityFound! So glad you did!
I thank you for your kind and inspiring words…I am humbled and honored! :)
[...] Gypsy [...]
Hi! Thanks for the comments! Thank you for taking the time to speak to your readers/fans individually.. I find that very kind! About “Don’t Take My Wings” – yes, I did write it. =) Pretty much everything that I write on that blog is posted without being edited, usually because it’s more of a spur-of-the-moment thing for me. So my poems are still kind of rough around the edges.. I’m glad you like them, though. x)
Good energies to you as well!!!
~Rachel
Hello Rachel!
You are most welcome I enjoyed your site!
I am a fan of the souls that come here! :) They are an inspiration!
I thought you wrote all of it..and I have to say you have a gift! I like the freshness of it…sometimes, rough around the edges is a good thing!
Keep creating!
Hey “Gypsy”, I love the way you define yourself, with your words and your art. I think together they give us a glimpse into the vastness of your mind and heart.
♥ live every day, laugh at yourself, love each moment.. ♥
Well hello Ms DvineAmber how nice to find your kind and inspiring words here..thank you!
I SO agree about live every day, laugh at yourself, and love each moment!!
GYPSY~ Worried about you… with all these hurricanes… sending love and light your way
Hi there, I just happened upon your blog while goggling “rose symbolism metaphysical” … I keep “seeing” roses around me :)
Anyway, your art is phenomenally wonderful. I love the two above, “The Key” and “Looking Out, From Within”
I hope that someday I can be the Artist that you are :)
Peace,
Dove
*Hello Dove, thank you for leaving such a kind note.
I am glad you happened here by goggling “rose symbolism metaphysical” I love all three of those! It is interesting that you “seeing” roses all around you. I’d love to know what you learn..what the messages are.
I’m glad you like my work…you picked two pieces that are VERY symbolic. :)
Somehow I think, you already are an artist!
Peace to you too!
dear gypsy-heart .,,the world needs believers.. science is fascinating but we need the other side of humanity to make it worthwhile.
bruce
http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/
**Hello Bruce how very nice to find your note, and I SO agree! :)
Gypsy heart, Just Had to comment on 2 things here.
1) Talullah was my grandparents nickname for me – they never called me by my actual given name, even in public – and it was because from my very first words — I sounded like that deep rich resonant voice of Talullah Bankhead! so I had to post a thanks for the heart-link there. I named my business Talula’s Wagon (and my blog name)-changed the spelling to make sure it was pronounced correctly by the public.
2) As per the person ‘finding roses’ those are definitely universe messages – look for the road they are pointing to. A close friend of mine (now) kept finding roses and pennies – she was a person who does wordplay all the time so she decided that the pennies meant “pennies from heaven” then “the universe’s two cents worth” and that the roses were leading her to love all around her — in a friend/ husband/ child’s behavior that day & eventually she began to find desert roses ( a type of stone weathered by the wind to resemble the closed rose & are a copper/orange color found in the Desert southwest states (she’s from New Mexico). she called them Rock-roses. It wasn’t long after, that she and I met and immediately became instant friends with a mind-meld across a room. “My given name is Roxie (Gaelic for Rose).” This was all in about 6-months to a year. she call me everytime she gets a rose message to see if I was ‘calling’ her!
Hi there,
Thanks so much for seeing me as an artist, Gypsy-Heart :)
As for what the roses meant. Hmmm, a few weeks after I made that post, I was given some, er, “downtime” from work. I was concerned about it happening, but it has been the most wonderful “vacation.” :) Lots of awesome changes, learning, growing, healing…and just enjoying “being.”
I recall “asking a book” (opening one randomly for an answer) what was the most important thing I was to do during this period of time. And the answer was self-love :) This period of time has helped me move even closer to that all-important self-love thing. That’s what I think the roses meant, self-love and the healing therein.
And, Talula, how very synchronous… Wouldya’ believe someone recently gave me a phone number to a hair stylist (I can’t seem to find that “just right” person to cut my hair) and I’ve wondered if I should call her. Her name is Roxie, ha!
And I love your Rock-Roses. I feel like there’s definite meaning in it for me. The first thing that came to me was strength, the strength that comes from self-love. And the necessity of intermingling the two, bringing determination, balanced discipline, and courage. In the Tarot it would be a marriage between the Emperor and the Empress.
When we do achieve that huge challenge (in this world) of true self-love, I know it is so very powerful, and through it, we can’t help but love everything around us — because it all is us :)
Peace,
Dove
*Talula ~ How interesting all the connections..which I so believe in too!! Thank you so much for sharing this!
*Dove~ How nice to read your words about connections and…you and Talula have connected here too! :)
I so agree about love….”it all is us”
Love is the way! :)
Peace to you too!
Link hopping is a medium for synchronicity…
Perusing your art (which is fabulously colorful and expressive), I find your less obvious or explicit themes highly intriguing.
The inspiration from certain aspects of nature like flowers and landscapes are obvious. I noticed the moon and reflective surfaces play a big role in what you still have posted. Passive/feminine qualities, relating to dreams, visions, intuition, mystery, secrets, mirrors and emotions.
I see imagery reminiscent of barbed wire or bondage at times. Paired with the keys/locks and hidden entities within some of the paintings, well, I can connect with you there. We are more than we put out; we are more than the expression. We can choose to hide or reveal; this is part of stage magic. It is also part of interpersonal relationships and a slice of life that people turn a blind eye to many times.
Art is for the courageous… true, living art anyway. Artists’ hearts do bleed, and they bleed all over canvas, paper, and pixels. I think the handle you picked for your online identity is apt.
We all speak in tongues; yours sounds familiar.
♥ theskinhorse ~ Hello.. I so agree..
“Link hopping is a medium for synchronicity”
Thank you for your gracious and kind words! How beautifully you write so I am happy that synchronicity brought you here today. :)
Art for me is all about connections and I think you very much understand my language.
Hmmm.. I do like a mystery and you left behind no link to your world which means you must have been only passing through mine. So I thank you again for taking time to pause here and leave such a thoughtful note!
May the language of a trillion+ stars light your way on your journey.
~gypsy-heart
Wau, I am impressed, really wonderful works of yours. I myself am a picture freak, I never leave without my camera:)
Your paintings are really impressive. I think I will come around here more often.
Thanks for such creative work!
Oh my world? http://theskinhorse.wordpress.com/
And I do check back. Some roads are heavily traveled by our Selves or Vessels, even if we don’t recognize our own footprints at times. One set of footprints = all sets of footprints = no set of footprints.
Mmm the language of Stars… they have so much to say. I’ve heard that they are interesting in human language as well.
[...] Gypsy What can I say? Kindred… so much love and light it is blinding! Her words resonate on another level… her art work is meant for the eyes of the soul… I am blessed for the wisdom she leaves for me… [...]
[...] Gypsy What can I say? Kindred… so much love and light it is blinding! Her words resonate on another level… her art work is meant for the eyes of the soul… I am blessed for the wisdom she leaves for me… [...]
wow you are so talented… How beautiful your artwork is… i’m astounded!
OHmyGawd you’re just awesome! I am now a fan!
I got really confused when I saw Morri on the header… its been too long my friend. hope all is well in your world
walkwithmetothemoon~ Forgive me..I just found your words. Thank you..I am sorry you did not leave a link! :(
Enreal~ I agree..it has been too long, my dear friend. Yes..there is a story behind Morri. :)
Thank you for inquiring..all is well..my world is a complex and unfolding as ever..as I am sure yours is too! What an adventure though..agreed?
I must get by to read your soul stirring words soon!
Heart hugs to you!
I held your hand. You were not in harmony, sad, searching. Your skin was soft and cold. It was December, the party kept the door opened. The circle had gathered and I was being inspected by those who had heard the lies. But I did not know. I knew you needed comforting. You were seeking. Confused? Not at peace.
I spoke with you softly for a long time. We discussed the harmony of the universe. How you are where you should be and it is perfect with all in life. That you will, when you are ready, have the strength and spirit to exist with the stars and all that is good will be with you as one.
I had lost a good friend that day. Her passing was a blessing and an emotional loss. I miss her to this day as she was the seam in the fabric of my life that unbeknowst to me unraveled that night.
I put my hands above and below yours. You said you could feel the heat in the spaces between our hands. I explained to you that in a previous life I had been a healer and that perhaps I could help by giving to you of my aura.
That night my life began on a foreign journey. Sent by evil forces that gather and dwell in this place of beauty, to the dark place where non of us want to be driven. Perhaps I was able to redirect their opression to me who was stronger on that star sequined night so that you were freed to create the beauty you do and be at peace with this space in time.
I do not wish the torrment my life has endured on anyone, but I wait for a starry night so that I too can be free and at peace again.