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.
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.
Illustration Friday is a wonderful outlet to get artists creating on a weekly basis. It gives a word prompt, every week. This week the word is “duet.”
Hmmm…I’m sure that word does bring about songs, music, dances, couples and possibly love. It does for me, too!
But, I took a little detour from the traditional visual. What comes to my mind is the “duet” of our inner and outer selves.
You, know that duet, that dance! It’s the duet we do when we present one self to the world and keep that protected, vulnerable, beautiful self, well hidden. We all dance this duet with ourselves moment-to-moment.
Now take a breath, slow and deep…I would like to invite you to show that beautiful self that you keep hidden, that perhaps only your family sees, or your friends see or maybe only your God sees.
Maybe you can only show it for a moment, that’s okay, you get braver each time you show your true self. Peel back your winter defenses and let your spring shine!
We are all deserving of our true self, to share with others…so that our duet of self can become one beautiful dance that we can all participate in.
The word this week for illustration Friday is stir. I am glad that they had a word to prompt me, because I was at a lost for words due to the devastation in Japan.
My instinct is to help, so in addition to my donation to the Red Cross, to help the survivors in Japan, I am donating proceeds from the sales of this image from Fine Art America to the Red Cross.
Warning: Get your sunglasses! Warning: Blinding vivid color!
Exploring, the concept of animal totems and nature-based stories, there is a lot to be learn through nature, especially the animal kingdom. I adore bears and not just the cuddly plush toys. It’s the real bears that I have an affinity for. The quiet, swift, adaptable, solitary, very protective of their young, independent, wild and ferocious bears. These traits are human traits, too! Many we can identify with.
Many indigenous cultures, have myths and legends where animals are the main characters. The stories play an important role in teaching and continuing native traditions through important life lessons. I am fascinated by all myths, legends, history, fairy tales; stories of fantasy and imagination involving nature and the power of female archetypes. These stories still have the power to teach, influence and empower you. Researching these traditions have led me to many resources, numerous experiences and dreams! Just simply put, “good stuff”.
So as the bears are slowing turning over from their deep sleep winter hibernation, because there is a little spring wind hanging about. I decided to honor these magnificent creatures. So here you are, a new painting to delight in, “Bear in Mind”.
Hibernation is almost over, let’s take our heads and bodies out and enjoy the hints that nature is dropping us; letting us know Spring is coming, slowly, but surely. Get out and explore nature, it’s time for us to add to the stories of old.
On my artist date today (a date with myself and art, outside my studio); I ran into an old acquaintance. It was a brief and lovely encounter. But what stood out to me, was when she asked me, “How are you?” I blurted out that I was in flux. When I saw her puzzled look, I quickly smiled to put her at ease, since the word “flux” sounds chaotic to some. Yet, it best describes where I am right now.
The word, Flux means “continuous change, instability; constant movement. I sometimes take the meanings of words from the dictionary and in order for it to have meaning and relevancy to my life, I add a spin on it. Flux is one of those words.
Why, because when I think of continuous change and being an adult, over 50, flux can be a scary word! The unknown is still scary to us of a certain age, because now when we come up against it when we feel vulnerable. Vulnerability means no defense mechanism and damn, that’s even scarier.
But I’m looking at this another way, flux as being vulnerable. Vulnerable is the beginning of being open to change, continuous change…flux. I am embracing flux, as a challenging, exciting adventure, for which in the middle of my life, I am so ready for!
Embrace your flux; you earned the right to be vulnerable, it may be leading you to a higher level of self awareness.
In peace.
P.S. Brene Brown at TED, looks at “vulnerability” and why it’s a great thing!
It has been a long week full of exciting things, that I will reveal in time. It has also been a week of taking care of the daily things in the routine of life; you know the stuff, that you do, but you really rather be doing something fun. Oh well, there is always dreams…
So after dreaming about birds again last night, lots of birds, lots of birds flying, the whole dream in blue, I decided to post my dream sequence image of swarming birds…:)
Sometimes dreams help solve problems or give answers that exist or are needed in the conscious world, but sometimes dreams are just crazy nonsensical dreams.
But, how do you tell? I’m open to answers.
After my week, I think it’s probably the universe, playing its own kind of game, (see image below) watching us, running through our lives, not doing what truly matters.
As part of my “Dread” Series, I’ve created another painting which has an iconic presence. Icons in general culture is more like a symbol — for example, a name, face, picture, or even a person readily recognized as having some well-known significance or embodying certain qualities or maybe that represents something of greater significance, usually associated with religious, cultural, political, or economic standing.
The painting began as a graphite drawing, layered with color, then layered with more color…again and again! The whole process of creating is a layered project, which begins as an idea sparked from a creative well from my mind, soul or spirit.
This weekend, it’s dreads, presence and color. What iconic presence resonates with you? In peace.
As an artist, you create, enjoying the process and wonder at the end result (at least, I do)! When your art work finds a home, you miss it, but you know it has gone to a place where some else wants your creation to rest.
I received this picture (taken with camera phone) from a collector in Indiana, showing me where “our girl” lives.
I love the unique way she has formed a mediation alter out of it. Another wonderful idea for my goddess art. A way to salute your womanhood!
Thanks Lucy, you’re a doll to send this! :) May you continue to get the joy and peace you deserve.
In rearranging my studio nook and painting, life was chaotic! When you’re working on a new painting, that you have to stop and start, there is that feeling of deja-vu! Yet, you know it’s all real…lol!
This is the beginning of the painting. I put several different symbols around the main part of the painting…and then…I changed my mind…and erased the symbols.
I’m feeling the main character, but the symbols are eluding me.
I was rearranging the studio as I painted, you know trying to multi-task and get as much done in the window of time I had.
But, back to the painting…
I erased all the surrounding symbols and redid some others things and finally, it felt like it was flowing.
I’m still in the preliminary stages, but I think she and I are feeling the flow on this.
There was a mad dash by me to get everything in order before the new year. I’m superstitious like that, whatever state your home and business is in, is how it’s going to be for the new year. So for me, the control freak that I sometimes am, everything was straightened up, dusted, cleaned, reordered and finished!
No…everything was not completed, but there a sweetness in what was completed, and you know life goes on.
Deja-vu is now reality and chaos to order! Now that’s a great beginning!
My art work is created and based on honoring all women, from various cultures, traditions, myths and spirituality. 
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).
You, know that duet, that dance! It’s the duet we do when we present one self to the world and keep that protected, vulnerable, beautiful self, well hidden. We all dance this duet with ourselves moment-to-moment.
The word this week for illustration Friday is stir. I am glad that they had a word to prompt me, because I was at a lost for words due to the devastation in Japan.
It has been a long week full of exciting things, that I will reveal in time. It has also been a week of taking care of the daily things in the routine of life; you know the stuff, that you do, but you really rather be doing something fun. Oh well, there is always dreams…
As part of my “Dread” Series, I’ve created another painting which has an iconic presence. 
