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I knew it was coming but it wasn't completely REAL until I got my copy of the magazine in the mail. My artwork, something I painted with my own hands, in print!
The funny thing is, I didn't submit the artwork, the art director of the magazine found it on my blog and asked if she can use it. The magazine is the May/June issue of Horizons Magazine, published by Presbyterian Women. It accompanies an article called "Words Matter"- about how the words we choose (or don't say) shape our reality and how we experience the world and ourselves. I am very honored to have my artwork accompany this article, as many of you might know, words are very important to me. Almost every piece of artwork I make has a word or words on it that help express the feeling I want to convey. Or maybe just a word that is important to me and no one else.
I want to thank Tam over at Willowing.ning. It was in her free online class "Art, Heart, and Healing" where I made this journal page. Not only did she teach me how to make a stylized portrait with water soluble crayons and paint, and create some awesome backgrounds (can you say brayer?) but she made me think about how, with inner strength, we can move past those words that have hurt us in the past and heal. Here is a closeup of just the journal page:
You know what I love? The idea of women telling stories of how words from the past have affected who they are today. Maybe I'll write a book about it someday. I'll put it on my to-do list.
Happy Hump-day! Have a great rest of the week!
Well, I don't think two blog posts within a week is actually a roll yet... but baby steps, right?
Today I wanted to feature some of the artwork I did when Tam at Willowing.ning so graciously offered a free course in Art, Heart, and Healing. What a fabulous turnout she had! And what a wonderful and informative and FUN course it was. Sure, she's a bit goofy (luv ya, Tam!) but the quality of videos she puts out are really excellent. It's very easy to follow along while watching. Week one was creating a front facing portrait. I really liked her style of using water soluble oil pastels and paint. I chose to reveal my sensitivity to words. Throughout my whole life I've let words hurt me. Here is my page:
Yep, that's me with blue hair. Just kidding.
The second week we worked on altering a board book. We were to make an image transfer of ourselves as a small child and tell our child what we wish for her as a grownup.
Yeah, that's mini-me, all dressed up as a sheriff of the wild, wild west. I even played with guns. (Insert collective gasp!) I'm not a mushy gushy person and didn't think this exercise was a big deal, but when I saw myself as a small child and thought about what I wished for her... well, it was interesting to say the least. I found myself crying for what I didn't have and feeling sorry for mini-me because I haven't been able to giver her some of those things on my list.
Moving on... we learned how to make "Whimseys" those cute little big-headed characters. The page focused on healing childhood trauma. I don't remember a lot of my childhood, especially my elementary school days, before my best friend Carrie came into the picture in 3rd grade. I can remember wandering around the playground by myself because I had no one to play with. I also remember the older kids making fun of me because I had a big head in relation to my skinny body. (I suppose I looked like a Whimsey, hehe) My Whimseys show some girls reaching out to me and asking me if I want to play with them. (Carrie, do you recognize yourself in your fiery redheaded-ness? With Maria?)
We learned some really good background techniques. Like using a brayer. I had one but never used it with paint before. I love it now. As the layers of paint on my brayer show... I use it often and neglect to wash it before it dries :-)
The third week we made "Empathy Monsters". I've made plenty of stuffies before so I had everything I needed. Except a zipper mouth of course, the key thing an Empathy Monster needs. The monster is our inner critic and we need to be able to zip its mouth when needed. Well, I figured I could use duct tape when needed. I named him Jude, after a character in a book who was a surfer-dude.
He has an eyebrow piercing, a hoop in his ear, a nice shell necklace, and endearingly crooked teeth. Duuude. Best of all, he loves me unconditionally and tells me how wonderful I am. Of course I keep the duct tape nearby ;-)
I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't finish the cover of my book or lesson four. I think life got in the way. But all the videos were downloadable so I can finish them whenever I am able. I believe if you go to Willowing's site the free course is still up and the videos are still downloadable. It's worth it just to watch Tam work her magic.
That's all for now. I'll be back in a few days, have a great week!
