When I think of bravery, women always come to mind.

Women are brave in caring for their loved ones; brave in how they carry out their work; brave in love and war;  brave in transitioning the end of life. Women are the greatest creation in humanity.

Celebrate all women in your life! Learn about how Women’s History Month came into existence (click on links) and Happy Women’s History Month!

Work in Progress is shown below: part of the small and large scale goddesses I’m working on.

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

There is much written about music, and the only thing I can add is, listen to it with gusto, with your heart; your feet are bound to follow.

The beat of a heart is music and so precious, embrace it!

Peace.

(Oil/Wood -24″x24″)

Canvas/Paper Prints are available!

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…:)

This painting was created to show how small, one tries to get when despairing, the hair symbolizes blue emotions, the background colors, show the vividness of life still going on in the midst of those feelings; and how small we try to contained our body when feeling these emotions. It is up to the viewer to imagine why and what is happening to cause the containment and despair.

It was created with oil paint, impasto style on wood. It is entitled, “Despair”

Emotions are for me, the hardest to contain and I view myself as a container of feelings.

Laughter bubbles out easily, contagious and freely from children, it’s something adults have learned to try and  contain in some situations.

But, despair, sadness, grief, tears and loneliness is something that we hide and containment of these emotions is imperative, if we do not want to be judged as weak adults.

Why?

Why can’t we show the flip-side of happiness? It is what makes us total self actualized spirit-filled beings. It will also keep us healthy. It is..sometimes…what I believe causes so many emotional breakdowns…the containment of feelings.

Find a place today, whether private or public to laugh freely, cry profusely, dance wildly, or sit quietly, but whatever you do, be true to yourself, it’s all good, the textures of life so open that container!

Peace

Well, this was a tough one, since I don’t think of the style of this image or the people as primitive, but there are others…

This image was created after visiting South America. While I was there, I distinctly remember, tourists stating that there were still “primitive people” to see in the jungle. Every time I heard it, I cringed inside. I absolutely despise the term, “primitive” when it is associated with people or their culture!

Yes, I know that some folks don’t mean any harm when they use the term when referencing people, and I try to take in consideration, ignorance, age difference, cultural exposure, etc. But it still gives me a burn and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Anyhow, I created this piece after visiting the beautiful forest areas in South America and enjoying all the children, I met along the way. They were like all children all over the world, simply beautiful.

Happy Week and try to expose yourself to new environments and people and remember to leave your judgements at home!

Well, since I couldn’t decide on which image to use as the image of the week. I asked you folks to vote! The vote has been cast and the image: 100% Loving has won!
So for this week the illustration of the week is 100% Loving! I can go for that any day.

Poll Stats:
100% Loving = 54% - Winner!
100% Giving = 36%
Couldn’t Decide = 9%

Mother Earth
Giving 100%

Adam & Eve
Loving 100%

This IF prompt drove me insane, so I decided to leave it up to the pollsters! You decide, when is it 100%? When you give 100% love like Adam & Eve or When you are Mother Earth and you give 100% nature to humankind? Is your motto 100% love or is it 100% giving? Or do you need to give 100% to get love or is giving 100% your idea of Love?

See what I mean? Take the poll and leave some comments!