Ponderings and Observations

Detail from my Painting "Outside the Gilded Cage"

It is late Friday afternoon. "Good Friday" actually.  The light is starting to golden, making everything glisten and soften.  A gentle breeze dances across the sea oats and you can catch a subtle perfumed whiff of wisteria mixed in with the slightly salty scent of the bay.

The birds are loud and constant in their chattering, especially the seagulls as they try to out do one another.  There are all sorts of dogs, little, big, prissy, curious, aloof, prancing along the path along with kids, some in strollers, some on bikes, many running just outside their parent's reach giggling and swirling.  A wedding party rehearses.  A well dressed family poses for a portrait.  A couple lays out a picnic. A pair of elderly men sit quietly on a bench staring into the horizon. A tan tattooed young man throws a net from the pier.  A group of fit 30 somethings jog up and down the stairs in cute little shorts and brightly colored tanks.  A trio of teens gather cells phones in hand.  I could go on and on.... Vignettes of life are everywhere.

I feel like I am a part of an ever-changing painting.  It reminds me of the musical "Sunday in Park with George"  inspired by the painting by Georges Seurat. I feel like an observer, a sponge. I am a part of it all yet not.  Everything needs to be tasted and tested.  I wonder what the next moment will look like.  My eyes feel like a camera... click, click, click... capturing the subtle differences second by second.  Each insignificant alone but together a story.  It is the very ordinary particulars which make art -paintings, movies, poems, music universal, don't you think?  Generalities don't touch us like specifics.

"Outside the Gilded Cage"

It takes the deeply personal to connect and evoke emotion.  The vague overalls fail to spark passion or awe or fear.  Cancer, hunger, war is bad - true enough statements but until it is narrowed down to an individual, we can ignore their implications. Why are certain commercials so successful?  Why do certain songs transport us? I am hearing the voices of Jennifer Nettles, Carly Simon, Alana Morissette in my head.  Music paints pictures as vividly as brushes.  I think that why I like to include a YouTube link with my posts.  They give a glimpse into my mood at that instant. Our preferences and desires are tiny imperfect reflections of who we are -a single tile in the mosaic of our being. And don't we all want somewhere deep inside to be understood?  Even if we say we don't.  Even if we are scared to completely expose ourselves, we give out clues hoping, even if we don't realize it at the time, they will be noticed.

I want to try and read those around me more accurately.  Try and give encouragement to my fellow earthwalkers.  We live here connected by our humanity and frailty on this precious blue ball.  We all need love.  We all need grace.  We all need connection.  I want to make a difference.  I want to share and give.  I desire to desire less selfishly.  To love more wholly and more holy -even when I don't really want to at that particular moment!

Music: Alana Morissette's Ironic

This photo I took from the bench I am seated at as I write up this post.  What a beautiful evening!

How do YOU art Journal?

So Many Possibilities!
Do you journal BIG or small,  Messy or Polished?

  

Do you use your journal to sketch what you see or what you think?  Is it a practice place for future artwork?  Do you experiment with new techniques and medias or stick with your favorites?  Do you work on one page at a time or have lots going at once?  Do you start front to back or skip all around?  Do you begin a page with a finished look in mind or let it wander and evolve?  Do you prefer painting in prebound journals or on separate sheets to bind together at the end? Do you have a favorite type of paper or do you mix it up?  How often do you art journal?  Do you have a particular day or time of day which you tend to work on your art journal?  Do you journal alone or with others? Do you use your art journal to battle demons and combat fears?  Do you keep your journal private or enjoy showing it off?

There are as many ways to Art Journal as there are Journalers!  Although I do think there is this something that connects most art journalers together.  A certain something inside -an introspection and seeking.

I just love keeping an art journal.  I am sporadic as life gets so so busy, but I've noticed that my creativity all arounds intensifies when I am faithfully painting in my journal.

Several of my art journal pages lately have been in response to the Life Book Workshop.  The diversity of teachers and prompts is such a joy, but I find that by doing my pages on large individual sheets instead of a bound notebook, I tend to turn them into more polished works and they can become a bit too precious to me.  

I get caught up in trying to make everything just so.  I've even found myself wondering, "Will other people like my page, will it gets lots of Facebook comments?"  It is embarrassing to find myself think this way.  It is so NOT what art journaling is all about for me (it is perfectly ok if it is for you -totally no judgement here)  It is about process, exploration, expression.  It is all about the journey, not the final destination.  

I'm working on finding that balance which allows me to get lost in the freedom of letting go -letting go of the constraints in my head, telling me what I should be painting or should be thinking. I have this sneaky little monster on my shoulder that wants everything to be part of some larger goal, have an outwardly measurable worthy bigger purpose.  He questions my daydreams and tells me to be more "productive."  My best weapon against his pointed attacks is pencil and paint and more cowbell (wait skip the cowbell part, I don't know where I was going with that, random tangent -although more cowbell is always good.) 

OK, back to the art journal.  Focus Laurie.  I wanted to share a page I completed earlier this week.  I feel really happy with this one.  It represents the deeply personal messy unselfconscious attitude I like. It is not a "work of art"; it is unabashedly an art journal page -flip flower, secret meaning, imperfections, aspirations!

It started as an example of background techniques when I invited a few special ladies over for a little art play on my birthday. Very random and quick.  Then I just added bits (like the cut out flowers from a birthday card) off and on during the week after work. 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there and ta-da, here it is!

Music for today: The Who - Who Are You?
(I had such a crush on Roger Daltry when I was young)

Happy Epiphany

I just had a sudden realization: I have a Personal Style in my Artwork -a point of view, unique voice, whatever you want to call it. This is something I've so wished for -sort of the Holy Grail of want I want to achieve creatively.  Ok, here is the qualifier, I'm not "there" -I've so much to learn, so much more to evolve -but still.

This realization just hit me (TMI, as I am soaking in the lavender scent water of my jetted tub which is tempermental and won't stop bubbling at the moment so I might as well write out my post until my tub decides I'm done) As I've mentioned previously, I joined the Life Book Art Journaling Group which has weekly lessons by various mixed media artists and I'm learning all sorts of cool tidbits but my art remains my own.  Even when I intensionally try to duplicate a portion, it evolves.  I can't help but make it personal.  See my girl and the lesson's girl by Patti Ballard for "COURAGE DEAR HEART"

I actually tried to simplify my tightrope walker but she would have none of it.  In fact she actually wants more but I have a life and atleast for now she is put aside.

I hope I grow and my art changes, becomes "better" (yeah -what does that mean) but for now I feel in-sync with myself.  I want to paint a million things, the muse is on the war path, I am struggling to keep her contained.  I'm out of balance (funny, considering the subject of my painting above, huh?) I'm tipsy on ideas.  Euphoric even.

But alas, life intervenes.  I can't neglect the rest of my life; friends, family, work, service, the house.  The quote that goes something like -Moderation in everything, even moderation- comes to mind.  Is it ok to temporarily become obssessed?  Let the feverish call of creation spin out of control? Oh I know the proverbial porcelian god may beckon eventually as she always does with overindulgences. But for now, I am basking in the sweet taste of creativity.  

So what if it can be labelled cute, unsophisticated, or kitsch.  It is mine -a blend of girly, whimsical, illustrative, folk mixed media art filled to the brim with my heart and soul.  Whew... I have a feeling, I'll regret this post but right now I don't care.  I'm loving life and that in itself is a wonderful amazing thing!

Quote: "Every dreamer begins with a dream.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world." -Harriet Tubman

Music (Such Fun!) Bang Bang with Jessie J., Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj

Quick Little Catch Me Up

Hello Beautiful Ones! Ready for Some Atsy Fun!

I hope your new year has been skipping along nicely.  Personally, I've had lots of artsy fun lately. Most everything is in various stages somewhere between sketch and background.  I sure hope I can get a little time to finish up a few this weekend.  I thought as a tide me over I'd post a one of my "Star" ATCs (artist trading cards) which I will be sending off to swap tomorrow.  I hadn't gotten out my watercolors recently and it was fun playing with them again.  I have a relatively large word painting that I am going to do in watercolor and I figured it would be prudent to practice with a mini painting first. 

Next, I'm showing off a photo of my version of the "Beacon of Light" art journal page based off the Life Book lessons.  I'm actually pretty happy with her.  The flying heart and floating key are elements that came to me during a meditation and fit the theme of an artistic muse or guide perfectly.  I think the most challenging part of Life Book will be participating in the lessons and prompts but still keeping them wholly my own.  (Not that if something is completely new I'm against copying parts to get the hang of a special technique before taking it in to my own direction -that's part of the learning process)  

I'm totally excited about seeing so many artist's versions of art and hearing what inspires and moves them.  I will probably be able to manage the time for about half but the great thing is I can download the rest and then one year's worth of lessons actually becomes two year's worth.

Well, I'm going to keep it short and sweet tonight.  

Have a blessed week and keep on creating :)

Music (so much fun -I love this song!): 

Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars

An Artful Start!

Happy 2015!

Its been a kind of  Fast  s l o w  start to the year.  Unfortunately its not going to be an easy beginning with more struggles for the family to withstand.  But we are strong.  God is good and He is in control. I am continually learning to trust in His great Sovereignty.

Now on to the artsy side of things; this weekend has been so lovely!  I signed up for Tam's Life Book 2015 which is a year long art journaling online workshop with lots of different teachers.  It is going to be fabulous and I am so excited.  I just completed the week one warm up exercise.  A page with lots of layers (yeah -one of my favorite things) and our word for the year.  

I am really being drawn to "P" words this year. So many are so applicable: passionate, perseverant, positive, prayerful, peaceful, prosperous, patient, perceptive, powerful, pure, plentiful, praiseful but the one I've decided on is "Purposeful."  

I tend to float through life instead of taking charge of my destiny and while there is something quite positive in drifting, there is such power in having a definitive goal in mind (what is that quote, "If you don't know where you are going, you can be sure that's where you'll end up" or something like that) Well, Ok I'm not sure yet my exact destination, but I'm going to figure it out. AND then come up with a do-able plan to achieve my intentions.  So there.  Imagine me standing tall with hands on my hips and a focused glint in my eyes. 

Another part of the warm up page included finding a personal symbol for the year.  After the meditation (also part of Life Book) certain images came to mind; a key, a heart, a star.  I also know that the rose in honor of my mom and the anchor in honor of my dad will play greatly in upcoming artwork.  For this page, I chose to include the anchor.  Instead of the taped tight intentions of the warm up, I chose to have mine slipped into an open envelope which sort of resembles a flower with my writings on the backside of a note with a "pure" heart.  As I want my goals to not be secreted away but easily accessible both actually and symbolically.

The next journal page will be a "Beacon of Light" - a whimsical character I am taking to represent inner wisdom and artistic muse.  I have a quick sketch of her in one of my journals -now I've just got to find the time to bring her to life.  Ah... Next post possibly?

Just a Beautiful Mix of Amazing Music

The Day After Christmas and All Through the House ...

This was a hard year to catch the Christmas spirit. Other than a few internet purchases, I really didn't do any shopping ahead of time. Which is odd for me as usually I am 90% done before Thanksgiving. But Christmas shopping was definitely a Me & Mom kind of thing and my heart just wasn't ready. Luckily the Saturday before Christmas my oldest daughter came home and we did a marathon trip to the "Lifestyle Center"and got most everything. It was fun. We had a really great time being together. I hadn't had much just the two of us time recently so it was quite special.

Our Christmas celebration started early. Autumn left for Sweden right before Christmas so we had a partial early Christmas on Sunday. (Yes the day right after the shopping spree -guess what I did Saturday night) Matt read the Christmas story from the Bible and Santa filled the girl's stockings with goodies. We exchanged gifts with Autumn that evening; herr biggest surprise, a Madewell leather purse.

Christmas eve, Carey Anne, my youngest daughter, and I went to my brother Robby's house and had soup with him and his family after church. They made traditional plum pudding and eggnog. 

Christmas morning was nice and quiet. Pete made a wonderful frittata from various left-overs and we oo'd and ah'd over all the presents. Carey Anne got a juicer so we had Champange with strawberry, carrot, and blueberry juice. Yum!

Now, the day after Christmas, I am heading over to Robby's house again to visit him and my youngest brother, Patrick who just came in from Baltimore. My middle brother and his family will be here late tonight. I've got to get the makings for our big dinner as Saturday we will feast (as if we hadn't eaten enough already -lol) Then Patrick heads back home Sunday and we will head to Mississippi to visit my Mam-maw, who just turned 97 year old about a week ago.

That's a quick update. I hope you and yours have had a very Merry Christmas and that this coming year will be your best ever!

Hugs and Kisses,

Laurie Anne 

Adventure Girl (Part Three)

Adventure Girl (Part Three)

Well here it is; the final touches. (If you want to follow the whole process; start with Part One then Part Two and finally finish up here with Part Three)

More details on the face and feathers, a little more contrast with white acrylic and black ink and I am ready to scan the canvas. Then Photoshop Time for a few minor tweaks. I decide to try the face paint again. I tend to think of it as war paint -you know life is a battle field and all -but in a good, ready for anything kind of way. This time I copy some of the blue from the background and paste as thick and thin stripes. One of the nice things about photoshop is that with layers nothing has to be permanent if you don’t want it to be -a touch of the mouse and on and off they go.

I apply translucent doodles in red and black on to the girl’s top with custom brushes. I use the dodge and burn tools to to darken the edges and intensify the contrast between elements.

The painting is now complete. Here she is -my brave little warrior girl ready for her grand adventures. Part Phileas Fogg, part Tom Sawyer, part Pocahontas. Poised at that point in life when you truly become yourself. You are ready to take on the word armed with open eyed optimism and fabulous feathers. No doors have yet shut. It is such a scary but exhilarating moment. The world is full of endless possibilities. You feel both small and large. Almost invincible. It is a time for bravery and courage. You are powerful.

There are the obvious milestones in our life when we stand at these crossroads; the transition out of  elementary school then from Jr. High to High School and finally graduation. There is your first big trip, first time living alone, or becoming a parent. There are also those scary transitions like when you quit a stable job to follow a passion. Complicated transitions like the ending of a marriage. Sometimes these times of empowerment don’t have an actual outward sign at all; it is a blooming of the heart and you just know you are ready; Ready for whatever is next. The risk of remaining in the bud is more painful than the risk to blossom.

Finally as the last bit, I have played around with the colors and shapes of my adventure girl; skin, hair, eyes, mouth to reflect the rainbow which is us. All ready for our story to continue.

As girls, young and old, fair and dark, we embrace change and the beautiful possibilities that are yet to come. We will seek the unknown and laugh as the wind tousles our hair, keeping our minds curious and our hearts open.

Quote for the day: I have no idea if it is original or something I copied long ago as it comes from one of my journals but I really like what it says. "Courage doesn't always roar; sometimes it is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow."

... & flash is not working again so no music for today. drats :(