(Note: I removed the actual Cardinal Goddess picture, because it may have been infected with malware, and Google reported indigeneart as suspicious; the site is currently under review for the warning to be removed, and I will re-upload the image at a later time.  Thanks for all the comments!)

After some surgery, I’ve been at home resting and looking out of my living room window. I happened to see a cardinal eating from the bird feeder in my neighbor’s yard. I always see cardinals as the seasons changed, and they always whisk me to another dreamy zone. I am captivated by their color and songs. I love cardinals and hummingbirds, they continually rescue me from the mundane and add a natural sparkle to my surroundings.

I dipped into some of the work I’ve done in the last couple of weeks, and this little darling came to the rescue! Color enriches life and this Cardinal Goddess has given way to spring time happiness! Just what a girl needs to perk her up!

Dip into and Enjoy the Spring, it’s finally here and in color!

Always in peace.

I am focused on: “The Healing Power of Art!”

“Art has and continues to illuminate me, through creating, sharing; meeting with others to view it, inspire, affirm and celebrate. Creating art lights my path to soul revival. It has nurtured me and help me understand myself, therefore giving me the capacity to understand others.  It is the physical peace in my storms”

Manhattan Arts International’s “Celebrate The Healing Power of Art 2010″ is based on the belief that Art is a natural force that promotes health and well-being for the creator as well as the viewer. Renee Phillips, Director of Manhattan Arts International, is organizing an online exhibition of positive art that uplifts the spirit, plus collaboration with others who share this belief. Interviews and articles reflect the contributions of Art & Healing leaders and causes.

Website: www.ManhattanArts.com

Blog: http://HealingPowerofArt.blogspot.com

I am sleeping badly. My mind and body feels tired, but as soon as I lie down, my mind becomes alert, goes into overdrive and over-active. I paced the floor or I read until the early hours of the morning, then I finally fall asleep.

My norm is hyper-sensitive, anxious and quick to become annoyed. My voice trembles, not from anger, but from passion. about what I believe in. When I was younger, people thought, it was nervousness or some type of rage; my inner tensions were so great, I had debilitating migraine headaches. After intense mental, emotional and spiritual therapy, the end result is and was that I need art to be a part of my daily life, no matter what!

It is when I’m actually making art, which includes the doodling, the scribbling, random notes to myself, research, reference-taking photos and finally putting the materials together for some unknown art project, I feel like relief, normal, calm and pleasant to be around. The world then feels right for me.

When I am not making art, (either by trying to avoid it, because I’m not sure what I’m going to do next – or because I have to put that art on hold because I’m trying to care for my family and others, (at the risk of forsaking myself), I return to that state of uneasiness and depression. This state becomes even more intensified, when external things are happening, outside of my control, such as the cancer running rampant in my loved ones.

Maybe my sleeplessness has something to do with trying to stop these things from coming out in my artwork, revealing myself. I am going to have to just let it all out. Otherwise, I’ll only tear myself up inside. Maybe that’s what these revelatory ramblings are about…“entanglement“, now maybe peace and sleep can come, it’s morning.

Masks are often used as a “talisman” in many cultures around the world. They always fascinate me, with their wealth of symbolism and ancestral markings.

At the time, I created this piece, I was trying to find a way, to merge, the body of ancestry that made me…“me”.

How does one incorporate, Portuguese, Carib, Asian and African, into one equally identifying symbol?

Living in a country, where one is identified by race, I wanted as a child, to have something, maybe a “talisman“, that I could carry. A symbol that would identify all those people that physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally made me.

Maybe, then people would see it and recognize all those parts of me, that I hold near and dear to my heart, and try not to put one identifying label on me.

I did found that “talisman“, and I did found my true self in that journey.  Art is my secret and shared talisman.

Art is where I can combine all of me and show the world, the various aspects of me in a visual and tactile way.  We all have some sort of “talisman“, I think what counts is how we use them and what we use them for.

Peace, now and forever for all.

See you next week…:)

I get so nervous at my own exhibits! As an introvert, it just about makes me quake in my boots! There were so many wonderful people gathered there, who asked thoughtful questions, ate good food, shared their opinions, enjoyed themselves, bought art and other collectibles!

It was a successful night in every sense of the word!

It was such a soulful experience to be surrounded by family, friends, patrons, collectors and new acquaintances!

Thank you all for an amazing experience.

I’ve posted these pix for all the folks who wanted to come but could not, I wanted to share some of the ambiance of the evening. Enjoy!

(c) All Photos courtesy of Barbara Broadnax.

Thank you Ces (http://cesandherdishes.blogspot.com), you are so kind…this means so much to me! I sincerely appreciate any and every award I get! It makes my day, year and life! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I think, I’m suppose to name (7) things I love and pass an award on. So here are my seven:

1) My Family (I guess Oscar, our cat’s included, although at 3:00AM, most mornings, there’s not a lot of love for him!)

2) My Friends (they are there through thick and thin, I’m in a thick stage right now…lol!)

3) Art (This is really number one, but I felt guilty, so I put the others first, hmmm…I guess they know now!)

4) Observing life (when it’s not slamming me!)

5) Reading

6) Nature

7) My personal relationship with God (Well, this was first, then art, then all the others, but I’m a slow thinker!)

I pass these creative awards along to these wonderful bloggers: (they keep me going! :)

kathy hare illustration

Ooh La La Design Studio

studio lolo

Life Earth Sky

my collage art ~ nancy lefko

Swirly Girl

Between my full-time day jobs, commissions and illustration jobs, I actually have an exhibit! My solo exhibit will run from December 8, 2008 through March 13, 2009! The exhibit is at this wonderful place, in Wallingford, PA, called “Pendle Hill.” If you want a beautiful contemplative retreat place, this is it!

Please visit at the website listed below for more information on the exhibit and this fabulous retreat center:

http://www.pendlehill.org/news/highlight_art_opening_gaskin.php

I’m really excited about it!

Has my life been crazy… YES!…have I completed the prompt for Illustration Friday…NO! Right now, I’m just trying to bask in the light of having hung the exhibit :)

I’m just hoping to squeeze in a moment for this week’s illustration…

This post brought about so many thoughts, such as theory of evolution, theory of the big bang, theory of art, or are all theories about math…not…if it’s all about the math, then I’m screwed! lol!

Process: Brainstorming, Research, Application: Paper, pastel, oil pastel, ink, color pencil, collage = THEORY

So I decided to do a combination of big bang, evolution, birth and stages of man. So the end result is my renditon of theory for this Illustration Friday.