Each year we try to predict, what the weather will do, how soon a season will come, when one will end…of late, we been way off course.

(“Woods” – Oil/Canvas)

Why?

Hmm…I think nature is doing its own thing, keeping us guessing. It’s only so much dumping on, nature can take, before it lets us know who’s boss and then we’re all swept up in its force! So for now, I’m just living in the present, enjoying one moment at a time, each rain drop, each sliver of sun light, just being still…

Stop getting swept away in the madness of prediction, stop and breathe in this wonderful present moment.

In peace to you and yours.

Spider Woman is an important goddess among many southwestern Native American tribes.  Spider Woman is responsible for bringing fire to the Pueblo, Tewa and Kiwa tribes.

For the Hopi tribes, Spider Woman is a creator of the moon, and their  emergence into the world. Spider Woman has the power to give and take life, and is connected to hunting and agriculture.

Cherokee Grandmother Spider brought people the sun and fire. She taught them pottery, weaving, and how to make ceremonial blessings.

The great blessings and history of Spider Woman will not “expire“ and will continue to be a wonderful tradition in Native American culture. Remember to pass on your cultural and family traditions so that they will live on for generations to come!

Work-In-Progress: The Spider Woman painting started out as a graphite sketch, proceeding to mix media including: ink, watercolor, acrylic and finally a light glaze of oil paint! It was a timely process, but so worth the luminosity that cannot be seen on any screen version!

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 link) 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!

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…:)

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

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!

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

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!