The spiritual and mythical lore of women have, through history been erased, plundered, burnt and forced into a non-important resource. I believe, all of these stories share an instinctual archetype and there is always an element of innate danger in anything mysterious, wild and uncontrollable. The mystery of the feminine is being reclaimed and etched into our psyche again.
I love exploring the spirituality of the forgotten feminine, be it in dreams, myths, or truths hidden in mysterious legends. It is one of the things that my art allows me to explore…the mysterious!
There is a Navajo legend of the Changing Woman. According to this legend, Changing Woman comes closest to representing Earth and the natural order of the Universe. She represents the cycle of the Seasons, Birth (Spring), Maturing (Summer), Growing old (Fall) and Dying (Winter), only to be reborn again in the Spring. Changing Woman is mysterious and meant to be explored and shared.
There is a sense of the mysterious, everywhere, our challenge is to bask in it, share it fearlessly and allow it to shape us, not conquer it until it is only dust that slips through our fingertips.
How do you define mysterious? Does it excite you or make you tread carefully? I look forward to reading your answers and comments.
Our humanness is a mystery. Peace to you and yours.
There use to be a time when she and I would have days and days of play time, where all we would do is create art projects and play with toys: Barbies, Legos, Puzzles, Games, watch “Little Bear and Land Before Time”. Now I have to steal time for pixs and hugs!
No illustration or painting can stand up against my beautiful creation except her brother, my first beautiful creation!
This Saturday is strictly family time, I’m hoping for a few good snuggles…:)
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!
Tango is a very specific word, so for me, that didn’t translate into a lot of different meanings…humph…that was my thinking! Tango, I thought, well, I’ll do a couple, dancing a classic tango move.
Well, I can’t begin to tell you how this simple thought turned into an illustration, that wore me out! :)
First, I drew a profile of a woman. I then cut it out using black paper. Next, I drew a rose on a piece of scrap watercolor paper, painted it with ink and water color. Then I drew and outline of a couple doing a tango move and then collaged it, using this week’s newspaper coupons. All that was so much fun!
Then, the frustration hit the fan! First, I could not scan it, since it was too big for my scanner and I don’t know how to piece two scans together (yeah, I should, but I don’t!).
Next, I tried to photograph it and the gloss from the collaging, caused too many glare spots on the digital shot. This went on for a couple of hours, me repositioning the illustration, realizing my lighting inside was awful; and then going outside to photograph my creation.
That didn’t work either!
I came back inside, determined to tear the creation up and forget about the prompt for this week!
Oh, did I mention, I went outside, without showering, a T-shirt over my nightgown and flipflops on with my hair sticking up all over my head, looking like I’d stuck my hand in an electrical socket! I stood in the middle of our parking lot complex, to take this digital photo, and folks, I don’t care who saw me! (there goes making a first good impression, I just moved here!)
I re-cut the silhouette and painted it with black gouache, (used a blow dryer to dry it quickly). Then I cut all the figures out again and put them on a white background. I started the digital photo process again! Finally, after many words, that I can’t print here!
Voila…TANGO!
I finally had a photo I could use!
So here you have it, a simple illustration with a lot of hours putting it all together! So my vibe for the week is patience!
Persevere, my friends, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Peace.
From the time I was born to now, there have always been wars; but there were also people who were trying to end discrimination, and trying to be good stewards of the earth.
There were so many causes, “voices” trying to be heard.
I remember going to various churches, and back then it was the only time I felt calm during those tumultuous times in the USA.
As soon as I heard those voices singing, whether it was gospel songs, hymns, chanting or folk songs, it was those voices that gave me peace.
So, when I dream of peace, there are always voices involve. My most common dream is a wonderful saxophone playing on its own and voices of people from all over the world singing, in their own languages and these harmonious voices sends chills through me and brings me to tears. Maybe it’s naive and idealistic, but…
Yes, I have a dream…too…to live to peace in a diverse world community. It’s a prayer that I hold close to my heart. It’s time…to lift every voice and sing…Peace to everyone, everyday in every way.
The spiritual and mythical lore of women have, through history been erased, plundered, burnt and forced into a non-important resource. I believe, all of these stories share an instinctual archetype and there is always an element of innate danger in anything mysterious, wild and uncontrollable. The mystery of the feminine is being reclaimed and etched into our psyche again.
There use to be a time when she and I would have days and days of play time, where all we would do is create art projects and play with toys: Barbies, Legos, Puzzles, Games, watch “Little Bear and Land Before Time”. Now I have to steal time for pixs and hugs!
