Posts Tagged ‘Friends’
Sunday, May 20th, 2012
 Art journaling really helps you to look inward. For me, it operates as a visual diary of thoughts, ideas, issues, personal junk and humor.
One recurring theme with me is I love creating portraits of women, archetypes, goddesses and mythical women, in general.
What I don’t do and realized I don’t like is self-portraits or photos of myself. I never have! In looking through my Mom’s old photos, I realized that there are probably 20 photos of me from childhood until now! I was always camera-shy and really hated it, when there was a family photo-shoot. (I probably get this from my Mom’s side of the family, they weren’t very keen on picture-taking and if it wasn’t for my Dad, there wouldn’t be any pixs of our family!)
It’s only been lately, that I wonder why? When I was younger, I thought it was because I was a skinny child with glasses, as a teen, it was because of acne, as a young woman, I was too busy, going to school full-time and working one full-time job and a part-time job, who had time for fun! My excuse now is, outside of family and possibly a few friends, who wants a picture of a round 50+ woman! :)
Now, wait a minute, before, I get all those comments, about how I must love myself, and there’s nothing wrong with plus-size. Let me state, for the records, “No, I don’t hate my body”. I’m just not keen on taking pictures and I always have an excuse as to why I don’t want to.
My family doesn’t fight me on photo-ops anymore, they just accept it and try to sneak shots of me, when I’m not paying attention! :) (But, they can’t get away with it, because all the cameras, in the house are mine…all ten of them, including three video cameras!) I have a sneaky suspicion that my Mother-in-law has loads of pixs of me…she sneaks them in and won’t accept “No” on the photo-taking!!!!! (Well, that’s another story) Lol!
Lately, I’ve been really looking at myself…loving myself and realizing who I am on the inside and always quietly amused by the outside…:) I’m still that girl who like to lay on the grass looking at clouds or skipping around in a circle, blowing on those willowy weeds that scatter everywhere. I’m just now thicker, deeper, wiser and honor that happy woman/child, daily!
I can finally say, the sight of me is the inner growth that has let me love myself, and that is the most beautiful sight of all. I won’t be taking more photos, but I will be sharing myself through my art and art journaling, because that sight is very precious to me.
Look deep inside, the real you is there, in all your glory! Peace to you and yours.
P.S. Thank you, Nancy Bea Miller (a true doll!) for your portrait of me, I used it as my reference for drawing me in my art journal! You always see the best in me! :)
Image: Copyright-2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – Mixed Media Art Journal Page
Tags: Art Journal, Art Journal Pages, Authenticity, facebook, family photos, Friends, growth, http://indigeneart.com/blog, http://www.genrecookshop.com/, http:indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, journal entries, life, love, personal, Real, self-portraits, sight, twitter, visual journals
Posted in Art, Art Journals, General, Studio Time | 14 Comments »
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
 January has been a month of digging, in the tough and challenging consciousness. Ever since I chose the word “courage” as my word for the year, I’ve been battling some big fears and learning to trust my intuitive voice completely. It’s the same fears, I battle when the darkness of winter comes…am I strong enough, confident enough, financially secure, smart enough, helpful enough, generous enough, doing enough…?
My rituals and spirituality keep me nurtured. My family keeps me cocooned, safe and loved. As always in the dark nights of the soul, the light comes through, reminding me that there is balance and that fears will always be there, but it is the moving forward in those fears that the courage comes.
Love is the strongest engine of survival, life’s calling and I’m moving forward with the light of courage.
Peace to you and yours.
(“Life’s Calling” Collage/Paper-5″x7″ - ©2012 Indigene Theresa Gaskin)
Tags: Calling, collage, Conscious, Courage, faith, Family, fear, Finance, Forward, Friends, http:indigeneart.com, Indigene, Indigene Art Forms, Indigene Theresa Gaskin, life, mixed media, Movement, Nurture, spirituality
Posted in Art, Family, Friends, General, Illustration Friday, Studio Time, Work | 10 Comments »
Saturday, December 31st, 2011
 My intention, for 2011 was ABUNDANCE and that was felt on many levels.
The Highs and Lows of my 2011 year:
1.) I RESOLVE TO PROMOTE MYSELF SHAMELESSLY. (Those of you who read my blogs, encountered me on Facebook and Twitter know this is true! :) I also handed out many business cards and postcards during 2011.
2.) I RESOLVE TO CULTIVATE A GREAT WEBSITE. Well, it’s great website to me! My wonderful webmaster son and I spent an enormous amount of time on it, updating it!
(© 2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – Frontview of my 2011 journals).
3.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE OPERATING WITH COMPLETE INTEGRITY. This was done a 100% of the time and gave me great satisfaction, since this is one of my values, to act and serve with integrity!
4.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE EDUCATING MYSELF IN THE BUSINESS OF ART. I did this through workshops on and off-line! I made it through 9 workshops this year and in the midst of completing the last one now! I’ve read over (120) books this year, with thirty (30) of them being about art business and marketing (My bookstore receipts state I’ve purchased about 250 books, I still haven’t read them all yet)!
5.) I RESOLVE TO CONTINUE CONNECTING WITH OTHERS AND SHARE INFORMATION. I joined a guild and participated in meetings and continue to mentor others. This was really big for me, since I am incredibly introverted and enjoy my solitude greatly! These were all the resolutions I made in the new year of 2011 : (See http://indigeneart.com/happy-new-year-happy-birthday-to-me/)
Additional highlights included winning an award in arts and culture and participating in (2) Art Fairs!
 So I feel so incredibly wonderful that I accomplished all my resolutions and lived in true abundance that I gained this year.
(© 2011 Indigene Theresa Gaskin – sideview of all my journals completed in from 2011)
Wonderful highs, also come with lows. The lowest points of 2011 and which will make 2011, unforgettable is that I lost my Mom (August 22) and my sister, Renee (June 27). I can honestly say that I have been in the abyss and on the mountaintop in 2011. I was blessed with the abundance of kindness from strangers and family. The outpouring of love from my internet friends still continue to overwhelm me and kept me held in the abundance of hope and warmth. I learned so much from this heartbreaking ordeal and I still continue to learn from it. I realized what true friendship meant during this time.
So, 2011 brought me a fire of grief, a rainstorm of love and true growth and will never, ever be forgotten by me.
So with the old year, only a few hours left, I wish you all a very, wonderful, peaceful, spectacular, loving, prosperous, healthy and loving New Year!
I will see you in the New Year, with my intentions and resolutions and I hope to see yours as well! :) Peace to you and yours.
Tags: 2011, Abundance, Art, art award, art fairs, death, Family, Friends, Friendship, growth, highlights, http://indigeneart.com/blog, http://twitter.com/indigene1, http://www.facebook.com/indigeneart, http:indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, Journaling, Journals, life, lows, resolutions
Posted in Art, Family, Featured Artist, Friends, General, Handmade Gifts, Illustration Friday, News, Studio Time, Work | 8 Comments »
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
 I have been super busy!
Attending workshops, creating new work, gearing up for my Holiday Studio Tour, conference calls, video summits and taking care of my daily business routines!
I’ve also spent some incredible time with new friends and old friends, (Thank you, awesome goddesses, you know who you are); which always fills me with love and adrenaline…:)
My thoughts have been scattered, but focused…is that possible, you ask? Yes, because these scattered thoughts and actions are an abundance of energy, that I believe are coming together, to bring another dimension to my life, creating richer experiences for me. They are only scattered, in the sense that I’m snatching time from here and there, because I want it all (insert, Vincent Price loud laugh here)!
I want to do so much and every waking moment is filled with something I love and need to get done, but at the same time, I’m savoring every nano-second and loving it! Now, how’s that for scattered thoughts and feelings?! :)
Every day, I miss my Mom and my sister, Renee, but I remember their beautiful spirits and then I live…in all my moments!
Savor your scattered moments, they have a place in your life, too.
In peace to you and yours.
(Image: collaged page from my “Creative Entrepreneur Business Journal”, Date: Friday, Oct.14, 2011)
P.S. I didn’t have time to edit this, so pardon any typos or scattered thought processes (insert more Vincent Price laughter!)
Tags: collage, Creative, entrepreneur, Family, Friends, fun, Happiness, http://indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, Indigene, life, Life circle, living in the moment, love, memorial, memory, mixed media, moment, personal, scattered, spiritual path, Theresa Gaskin, Vincent Price laughter
Posted in Art, Family, Friends, Illustration Friday, Studio Time, Work | 14 Comments »
Saturday, July 30th, 2011
 Today, I just wanted to reach out to some of the talented illustrators, that I know. We visit one another, spend time in each other’s colorful blog world and reach out to one another with thoughtfulness, warmth and downright gut wrenching laughter!
When Linda Hensley, sent me this, I thought it was a good time to do something fun and show my appreciation of these artists.
First, I want to thank Linda Hensley, for giving me this award. Linda writes and blogs over at: http://lindahensley.blogspot.com. She’s a thoughtful and informative writer and an amazing illustrator. Linda adds value to the blog world! So this wonderful artist has given me an award! Yeah, thank you, Linda!
There were some rules for picking up the award, why, Linda, why? Rules…ugh! :)
The rules for receiving the award:
- Thank the person who gave you the award.
- Write a post about it.
- Answer the questions below.
- Pass it on to 10 bloggers who you think really deserve it and send them a message to let them know.
So here’s some miscellaneous stuff you didn’t want to know about me! :)
Q & A:
01. My favorite color: Orange & Turquoise – never could choose between them!
02. My favorite animal: I should say my daughter’s cat, Oscar, but we have a love/hate relationship! So I have to say my German Shepard, Keisha, who has gone to doggy heaven!
03. My favorite number: 3
04. My favorite non-alcoholic drink? Limeade
05. I’m a member of Facebook and Twitter
06. My passion: I’m not sure there’s enough time to list them all! I’m fanatical about My family, Women and Children Issues/Advocacy; The Elderly, The Environment, and Art, which is not last or least!
07. Getting or giving presents? I love both equally!
08. My favorite pattern? I don’t have a favorite.
09. My favorite day of the week? Friday.
10. My favorite flower? Sunflowers, because when I see them the make me smile, no, matter the mood, there’s something about their brown faces and bright yellow/gold flower hair, that brings out the best in me.
10 Favorite Bloggers:
I hate choosing just 10, because I love so many, but here goes this time around:
1) Vanessa Brantley Newton – http://oohlaladesignstudio.blogspot.com. Her joy and enthusiasm, and pure madness always keeps me laughing!
2) Valerie Walsh - http://www.valgalart.com/blog. Valerie thoughtfulness and beautiful aesthetic always gives me food for thought.
3) Bella Sinclair -http://bellasinclair.blogspot.com. Bella’s art is wonderful and Bella has enough warmth and love for the whole world, and I’m so happy she give me some of it!
4) Jack Foster - http://jacktoon.blogspot.com. Jack’s expressive illustrations are always fun, warm and so easy to relate to.
5) Josh Pincus -http://blog.marshotelonline.com. He is always over the top, and his posts has me laughing out loud with memories and amazed at his knowledge and research!
6) Paula Kuitenbrouwer – http://mindfuldrawing.com - Paula’s posts are always calming and meditative with a smile factor, proving life is in the moment.
7) Ellen Byrne – http://ellenbyrne.blogspot.com. Her blog always has a nostalgic feel and sparkles with her personality.
8) Laurel Gaylord – http://www.studiololo.blogspot.com. Who for the longest time, I only knew her by “Lolo”. She’s an amazing talent with several wonderful blogs!!!
9) Roberta Baird -http://www.robertabaird.com/blog. She is the only illustrator who can get me to look at a mouse, longer then two seconds! Her illustrations makes the child in you dream.
Last, but never least:
10) Sharon Wagner -http://sharonrwagner.blogspot.com. Sharon’s color and designs always jumps off the page, in a fun and whimsical manner.
Sharon has given me a beautiful award, which I want to acknowledge here, also so that you can see her beautiful style and of course to end this blog post in vivid color as well. Thank you Sharon!
 I’m truly blessed to know so many talented, amazing, fun-loving and caring artists. It makes life bearable and memorable!
Appreciate your friends, they are your extended family.
In peace to you and yours.
Tags: Appreciation, Art, Awards, Cherish, Friends, grace, Indigene, Indigeneart.com, love, Warmth
Posted in Art, Featured Artist, General | 14 Comments »
Sunday, July 10th, 2011
I have something very special to share, so stay-tuned for my wonderful unveiling on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 AM!
I’m excited!
Ciao, until then!
P.S. Once again, THANK YOU and an amazing and heartfelt hug to all of you for your cards, comments, thoughts, support and time.
Tags: Art, Friends, http://indigeneart.com, http://indigeneart.com/blog, Illustration Friday, Indigene, News, Stay - Tuned, Work
Posted in Art, General, News, Work | 3 Comments »
Sunday, June 26th, 2011
 I am in the middle of a summer night’s dream, of the mind, body and spirit. I am trying to wrap my mind around the concept of the spirit leaving the body.
It’s not something that I can articulate well at this point, and maybe I never will.
(“Mind Body & Spirit” – Mixed Media/Paper)
My sweet little sister, Renee is in hospice, that is really all I can say now. My dreams are filled with surrender, an outpouring of love and a deep hole of sadness. So on these midsummer nights, I try to understand, believe and sustain faith. May the God you believe in, give you the peace of mind, that can surround the body, so that the soul may be released. Blessings to you and yours.
Tags: acrylic paint, belief, Blessings, body, Care, faith, Family, Friends, God, Graphite, Hope, hospice, http://indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, Illustration Friday, Indigene, ink, love, midsummer, mind, mixed media, night, Paper, Peace, Prayers, release, Renee, soul, spirit, Surrender, watercolor
Posted in Art, Family, Friends, General, Illustration Friday | 16 Comments »
Saturday, June 4th, 2011
Soaking up this beautiful weather, communing with nature, chatting with friends, loving family, laughing, being shamelessly silly and truly understanding how life is so precious, always puts me in a pondering mode.
(Work In Progress- April 25, 2011-SEE COMPLETED PAINTING BELOW)
I’m currently pondering on…
Creating starts with shadows, some darker than others, with more and more substance added and once the shadows have become a thing of substance, color invades it from all angles.
Like our earth.
Maybe that’s really the big bang theory, or is it what God created from the shadows, what is now our earth; no matter what you believe, something started it off.
Is that what it will take to save the earth from the onslaught of humankind’s continual draining of her resources? An intervention is inevitable. She is a shadow of her former self…Save her…save us.
(COMPLETED WORK)
“Saving Me, Saves Us“
(24″ x 18″ – Mixed Media/Paper)
Enjoy what has been given freely…the earth.
Peace to you and yours.
Tags: acrylic paint, Art, Big Bank Theory, coptic markers, Cosmos, creating, Earth, Family, Friends, God, Graphite, http://indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, Indigene, love, mixed media, Paper, Planet, Ponder, Shadows, Silly, Substance, watercolor
Posted in Art, Illustration Friday, Studio Time, Work | 12 Comments »
Friday, April 22nd, 2011
For those of you who are blessed to have your mother, May 8th, is a day that is recognized to honor her. if you are like most, you honor this woman every day of her life, by living your life in a way, that she would want you to.
For those of us, whose mothers have transitioned out of this life, this can be a bittersweet day. We remember her with love, and then remember, that she is no longer with us. We continue her legacy by living our lives with integrity and the lessons she taught us.
Some of us may not have any of those memories above. You may be one of those courageous women, who did it alone, then you are to be celebrated too!
Maybe your memories are not tempered with love, maybe that mother figure was not what you would have liked; hopefully, there is a woman, that gave you some semblance of a Mom.
Hopefully, in most of our lives, we have met a woman, who has embodied that “mother” figure. She has nurtured us, cheered us on, when we needed it most, told us about ourselves when we were acting less than we were, she may be your best friend, a girl friend at work who taught you something that one else could or would take the time to!
I don’t think of Mother’s Day as the only day to honor my mother or the other women in my life, but it is a day, that can be used to remember all the other women in my life who have given me their “mothering ways”; the ones, that I might forget in the hectic thing, I call my life, it is these women, I honor on Mother’s Day, because, my Mom tells me I honor her everyday, so she would prefer that I honor all the women in my life who have been there for me as well!
So I encourage you to do that on this upcoming Mother’s Day. Honor the Women in Your Life. A special call, a card, take her out to breakfast, a gift, an “I love you for who you are”. Give her a token of your love. As women, we treasure those things, because the words and the action are important.
May you continue to honor the women in your life, wherever they are.
 My art work is created and based on honoring all women, from various cultures, traditions, myths and spirituality. For prints or cards, order by April 30th the latest for Mother’s Day at:
indigene-theresa-gaskin.fineartamerica.com
In peace from me to you.
Tags: acrylic, action, African Diaspora, Art, bittersweet, card, Care, Celebrate, Courage, Creation, culture, Family, Feminine, Friends, Friendship, GIFT, goddess, Graphite, handmade, history, Honor, http://indigeneart.com, Importance, Indigene, integrity, legacy, lesson(s), map, Meaning, Memories, mixed media, Mom, Mother's Day, Nurture, print, Spider Woman, Spirit of the Mountain, spiritual, token, Tradition, Travel, Treasure, watercolor, women, words
Posted in Art, Family, Friends, Handmade Gifts | 3 Comments »
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
 There is not one aspect of life that does not require a journey. It may be the physical act of a journey, a mental journey, an emotional journey or a spiritual journey. It is a fact, that a learning process can be had by any and all journeys, you just need to be open to the lesson(s).
Make all your journeys count, because in life, destination always looms big before you.
May all your journeys lead you to your ultimate self actualization.
Peace to you and yours.
Tags: acrylic, body, charcoal, Family, Friends, http://indigeneart.com, Illustration Friday, Indigene, journey, lesson(s), life, mind, mixed media, oil pastel, Paper, Peace, Self-Actualization, spirit, watercolor
Posted in Art, Family, Friends, Illustration Friday, Studio Time | 23 Comments »
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