My Mane Blowing in the Wind

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 934

2012-03-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 934: The Path of Integration

Feeling off-balance is part of integration. Until the mind and body have acclimated to a new situation, feeling, emotion everything may seem a little off-kilter. Sometimes I just have to hang in there until my inner guidance system realigns itself and has chosen a new way to go.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 933

2012-03-01T22:13:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 933: Elicits Twice the Passion

I do think that a "sunny" disposition (oranges = sunshine) elicits a greater positive response than let's say a gloomy gloomy or sour one!

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 932

2012-02-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge..Day 932: A Sacred Alliance

Why do I like this photo? I think I like all of the feminine energy, and that this man (seemingly the husband and father) likes it too. Loves it, and is maybe open to the beauty and magic of it, perhaps in awe at times. Now, I could just be projecting my own feelings, and I'm sure there are more than enough times that a man in such a situation has wished to be in another place. But somehow, in this photo, there is something very loving about the scene. You can almost feel it.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 931

2012-02-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge..Day 931: Romance

A bit of a maze, I'd say."Romance" in all of its comings and goings and explosions and beauty. It can be the most glorious thing in the world and the most devastating. I think a lot of it has to do with those chemicals we emit when you first meet someone who might possibly become your mate. This scientist studied the relation between loving, being dumped, and the brain's related activity. She quotes a lot of poetry in the process. Love her approach and her analysis.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 930

2012-02-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 930: Loving, Losing, and Believing

This could also read "Loving, Living, and Believing" or "Living, Loving, and Believing" or "Living, Losing, and Believing" or even "Losing, Living, and Believing." There seems to be a myriad of choices but one element is constant and that is "Believing." And this is true in my life: No matter what happens I have faith in something, some principle, some feeling greater than myself and yet a very strong component of my self.

A Host of Workshops: Retrospective

2012-02-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

Marilyn's "Between Kisses" AB Spread (Collage Cafe 1.21.12)

Here are photos and links to more photos (click on the captions) to Express Yourself! Workshops and Collage Cafes that I've held over the past few months. An assortment of women and men from the Bay Area keep proving to me how rejuvenating it is for the average human being to create something artful! Making art is a way one can be brave and take risks in expressing oneself without having to think too much about it. This is especially true I find with altering books: accomplished artists can renew and expand their creative spirit, and so-called "non-artists" can easily discover their creative side with the added benefit of the pleasure of seeing something that only they could have created. Marilyn (above) came to a collage Cafe and had this to say about it:

"Thank you so much for the collage cafe and more! t was so nice meeting you and your wonderful studio, jewelry, journals and inspiration! I did 3 more pages when I got home! I lovelovelove them... I can see the growth already. Again, thanks for all the fun and inspiration!"

Janet's Back Pocket AB Spread (Express Yourself! 2.3.12)

Janet's work was a great example of an artist trained in a specific area (mono print) who desires to experiment in another medium. Her use of color and choice of images is bold and experimental. Janet said this about the workshop:

"I had a wonderful time at Virginia's Introductory class. What fun to play with all those art materials and to start to transform a regular book into something so rich and original. I've wanted to learn to do "altered books" for some time and when I first met Virginia and saw one of her books, I knew she was the one I wanted to learn from. And I loved working in her studio. Everything you need is there. I look forward to going to her "Cafe's' and learning and playing some more in my book! Thanks Virginia!"


Express Yourself! at Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA (1.28.12)

My Book Passage Express Yourself! workshop in January was a lot of fun for me and the participants. Attendees ranged from "I've never done any art" to people who had attended art school. A fun note were two women friends who each brought a teenage granddaughter. Here's what Leslie (she created the above spread) said about the experience:

"I attended your Altered Books Workshop in Corte Madera, along with my granddaughter, sister-in-law and her granddaughter. We all had a wonderful experience and hope to continue altering books (and maybe our lives). Thanks again for sharing your talent with all of us. Each of us came away inspired to explore and develop our own artistic abilities."

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 929

2012-02-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 929: What Happens When

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 928

2012-02-20T21:47:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 928: Still Purring

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 927

2012-02-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 927: What Lies Beneath

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 926

2012-02-20T21:29:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 926: Never Look Back

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 925

2012-02-20T21:21:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 925: Live Life in Full Color

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 924

2012-02-20T21:13:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 924: Art Garden

In My Studio: At Home

2012-02-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Even though I have my larger and beautiful public art studio, I've kept my studio at home in one of the spare bedrooms. I removed a lot of furniture and collage materials and supplies and took them to the new studio -- but things just seem to keep multiplying and accumulating here at the home studio so it keeps evolving. I like having a place where I can assemble my jewelry and solder without worrying about the fumes, and a place to create some journal pages when the mood strikes. It's slowly evolving into some semblance of....me and my creative spirit. Things Take Time.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 923

2012-02-09T10:08:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 923: Impatience Is a Virtue

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 922

2012-02-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 922: Counter Intuitive

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 921

2012-02-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 921:Always Running to Full Speed Ahead

(Ralph Lauren is such a romantic -- he seems to get to the heart of the matter in this print ad.)

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 920

2012-02-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 920: How Does Longing Come into the World?

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 919

2012-02-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 919: A Quiet Presence

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 918

2012-02-01T22:16:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 918: Hello

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 917

2012-02-01T22:08:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 917: Nature Girl

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 916

2012-02-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 916: The Science of Awakening

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 915

2012-02-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 915: Time to Embrace Your Inner Spirit

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 914

2012-02-01T21:57:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge..Day 914: Savor the Journey

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 913

2012-02-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 913: Powers of Observation

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 912

2012-01-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 912: Zest for Life

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 911

2012-01-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 911: The Power to Rise Above

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 910

2012-01-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 910: The Power of Choice

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 909

2012-01-25T16:45:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 909: Radical Healing

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 908

2012-01-25T16:36:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 908: What Is the Source?

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 907

2012-01-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 907:A Time and Place For

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 906

2012-01-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 906: Giving Voice

The Collage Cafe: Money, Christmas Cards, and Color!

2012-01-25T16:12:00.000-08:00

Barry's "Nuministic Magnetism" Altered Book Spread

The Collage Cafe I held Saturday, January 14th was humming bed of altered book activity. Barry worked on his "Money and Success" altered book, using rubbings of collectible coins he brought with him, images cut out from a "numismatist" magazine (for coin collectors). I love the colors he chose and how he used a rubber stamp I had (which has four sides and features Roman and Greek coins) to make a frame around the image of Gable (now what stronger male image could one use to attract wealth, may I ask you?)

Judy's Christmas Greeting Card Altered Book

Judy wanted a way to save and present the Christmas cards she received this year, so I showed her how she could tie them or glue them into an altered book. She went to town with that idea, and used tissue paper and matt medium to make the cover. I love how all of the cards are tied in with recycled sari ribbons and form a colorful embellishment on the spine of the book.

Ingrid's "Garden of Eden" AB Spread

Ingrid continued on with an AB she passes to and from her mum in England. I showed her the credit card/acrylic technique of spreading paint on your pages, and she went to town and created an explosive, garden-of-Eden like spread, embellished with recycled banana fiber yarn and gold butterfly stickers.

And here's what they said about their experience:

"Being at Virginia's workshop is like being a kid again and developing your creative side, just playing around with crayons, colors, pencils and lots of glitter. It is like being in kindergarten for grownups!! It is a no-pressure, relaxing, fun experience!" -- Barry

"There is something so wonderful, nurturing, soothing, creative and healing going to Virginia's Collage Cafe at her studio in Hamilton Art Center in Novato. Virginia is an excellent teacher, as she guides you and introduces some amazing ideas. It is a chance to use a different part of yourself, that you can then access other times in your life. I am learning to more and more trust my creative instincts that are awakened in the class. I always come away with a beautiful outcome, lots of things happen unexpectedly, and it is a total joy to spend time with Virginia at her beautiful studio." -- Judy

For more information or to register for an Express Yourself! workshop or Collage Cafe gathering -- go to my website Kentucky Girl Designs. More photos of what people do in my workshops here.

"

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 905

2012-01-22T21:49:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 905: New Year, New Mindset

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 904

2012-01-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 904: Just Be

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 903

2012-01-22T20:09:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 903: More to Love

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 902

2012-01-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 902: Provoke Your Imagination

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 901

2012-01-22T18:48:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 901: Homage to the Color of Love

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 900

2012-01-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 900: Cat Got My Tongue

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 899

2012-01-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 899: Shine a Little Light

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 898

2012-01-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 898: Exploring

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 897

2012-01-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 897: Mystery

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 896

2012-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 896: My Strange Addiction

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 895

2012-01-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 895: A Lighter Touch

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 894

2012-01-15T17:34:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 894: Starting from Ground Zero

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 893

2012-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 893: A New Way of Seeing

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 892

2012-01-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 892: Is Anyone Listening?

Does it really matter?

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 891

2012-01-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 891: Visions

If you stare long and hard at something, things generally find a way of becoming clearer -- unless you are totally invested in the seductive lure of mirages! LOL!

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 890

2012-01-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 890: Elevate Your Creativity

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 889

2012-01-11T22:00:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 889: Rediscover the Magic

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 888

2012-01-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 888: Awake in the World

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 887

2012-01-11T21:41:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 887: Audience of One

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 886

2012-01-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 886: Expanding Universe

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 885

2012-01-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 885: Once You Got It

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 884

2012-01-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 884: Where's Wonderland?

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 883

2012-01-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 883: Who Are We Anyway?

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 882

2012-01-11T17:43:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 882: Touch the Miracle

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 881

2012-01-11T17:07:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 881: Pour Theatre

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 880

2012-01-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 880: Going Too Fast (?)

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 879

2012-01-10T22:06:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 879: When It Comes to Your Body,

Experience Matters

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 878

2012-01-10T21:58:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 878: I Want One of Those

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 877

2012-01-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 877: Uncover/Discover the Secrets

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 876

2012-01-10T20:59:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 876: All It Takes to Get Your Feet (Wet)
...is to look perhaps toward a change in the weather....

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 875

2012-01-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 875: My Joy

Yes, I think this will be my bed one day....

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 874

2012-01-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 874: Finds Herself
Yes, tramping through the desert can lead to something other than hell...

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 873

2012-01-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 873: The Ritual

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 872

2012-01-10T19:41:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 872: The Makeover
For change to take place...sometimes the house is gotta burn...

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 871

2012-01-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 871: Leave Ordinary Behind

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 870

2012-01-03T22:30:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 870: Taking Inspiration to New Places

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 869

2012-01-03T22:27:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 869: Find Yourself

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 868

2012-01-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 868: An Unexpected Turn

"Je Dessine" (I Draw): Show-and-Tell-Mondays

2012-01-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

Owl Dance

I start back to my painting and drawing classes with Sabrina this Friday. I am wondering what will come out of me next? I never draw during the week, I don't practice. I just go to my classes with Sabrina and see what comes out during that hour and a half. The mystery of creation. It kind of makes me nervous, not planning, not practicing, not preparing. But it also is quite exciting -- jumping on that bobsled, that skateboard, that runnaway train and tossing my cards into the wind. That seems to be enough for me.

This is a painting I did in November before I took my holiday creativity break. I drew a Mexican coconut head/cross kachina doll dancing among the desert cacti with an owl. Funny little thing. Sometimes I greatly amuse myself.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 867

2012-01-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 867:It's Time to Make Better Choices

Express Yourself Workshop!: Upcoming Dates & "Don't Think!"

2012-01-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

The next two Express Yourself! workshops will be held Saturday, January 7th (at Kentucky Girl Designs' studio in Novato), and a special one to be held Saturday January 28th (at Book Passage in Corte Madera -- go here to register).

Altering books is a great way to step over your preconceived ideas of what creativity is or what it looks like -- just grab a used book, some scissors, glue, photos or magazine images, pens and coloring tools and jump into a whole new way of expressing yourself! Using a few simple techniques you will produce an art object that uniquely reflects bits and pieces of who you are.

But the main ingredient is that you are willing to let go of any rules about what being artistic or creative means. Pushing past that thinking, analyzing, censoring, judging brain is an essential step in the creative process. This is a very difficult task for most adults, whereas children seem to have a blessed ability to jump in, imagine, fantasize, play, create from a very unstructured and happy place. It was a joy for me to have living examples of this in my December workshop. Maddy and Maya were twelve-year-olds and best friends who wanted to learn more about altering books. They jumped into my exercises with little hesitancy, quite a bit of joy, and their resulting pages were enjoyed by all, but especially by themselves. They created naturally, utilizing the "Don't Think!" principle. And everyone else in the workshop seemed to come to their own creative no-thinking place -- and it was reflected in their altered book pages. To see more of their work go here.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 866

2012-01-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 866: Get This Out of My Brain

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 865

2012-01-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 865: Begin a Torrid Affair

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 864

2011-12-29T13:09:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 864: Meeting Place

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 863

2011-12-29T13:05:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 863: New Custom-Designed Solutions

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 862

2011-12-29T11:55:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 862, Side A: Cockeyed Optimist

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 862, Side B: Slowly Succumbing to Heat

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 861

2011-12-29T11:28:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 861: The Curious Eye

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 860

2011-12-29T11:17:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 860: Cockeyed Optimist

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 859

2011-12-29T11:12:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 859: Open Channels

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 858

2011-12-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 858: He's an Old Soul

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 857

2011-12-28T21:22:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 857: The World Is Very Open

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 856

2011-12-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 856: Come Fly with Me

In My Travels: A Needed Vacation

2011-12-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

Virginia Doing "Nothing"

Everyone needs a vacation to replenish, renew, rejuvenate -- yes? What about a vacation from creativity? I returned this year with my husband to the Four Seasons Resort at Punta Mita, as guests with our friends Bonnie and Larry. Lucky us. For some people it's hard -- very, very hard -- to resist the temptation to lie around and do "nothing" -- such as: sunbathing, and lying on canopied beds by the water, and dipping in the infinity pool, and of course sipping the local beverages and eating wonderful food.

But I rallied. And while Bonnie, Larry, and Munro got on their computers and answered emails, or dealt with business from afar -- well I, I did "nothing" for them too! (How generous of me!) This is perhaps the first vacation ever where I did "nothing". Well OK maybe I checked my email a couple of times (this is a very hard habit to break). And although I took an extra bag with art supplies and journals, only on the very last day did I do some color, tore out some pictures from magazines. Otherwise I just soaked up the sun, the balmy sea air, the tepid pools, ate, drink, and did nothing.

Now I'm back and time to catch up. It's the holidays...26 people for Christmas dinner! No time for nothing now!

In My Studio: Impromptu Collage

2011-12-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 855

2011-12-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 855: Adventure and Wildlife

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 854

2011-12-01T20:49:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 854: A St. Germain

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 853

2011-12-01T20:35:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 853: The Secret

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 852

2011-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 852: The Paradox of Free Will

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 851

2011-12-01T20:23:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 851: Preparing for Life's Journey

Daily Journal Page Challenge --- Day 850

2011-12-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 850: Disarmed Is Not Charmed

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 849

2011-12-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 849: Resurrection

In My Studio: Preparing for the Holiday Open Studios

2011-11-27T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Novato Arts Center is holding their Holiday Open Studios next weekend. I am slowly organizing my pendants and books and paintings and pricing and tagging and making gift certificates in preparation for this event. I wish for many creative people to walk through the door and be inspired, and perhaps purchase something if their heart lights up with a feeling of something positive or joyful. If you are in the area, please drop by and say "Hi!". Kentucky Girl Designs -- Building 500, Studio #107.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 848

2011-11-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 848: She Gave Up One Life for Another

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 847

2011-11-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 847: Inspiration -- Bobcat Fever

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 846

2011-11-25T22:34:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 846: Freeing Les Muses

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 845

2011-11-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 845: This Is What Has Driven Me

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 844

2011-11-25T22:24:00.000-08:00

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 844: The Process of Awakening

Je Dessine (I Draw) Mondays: Music in the Garden

2011-11-23T15:24:00.000-08:00

As I continue taking lessons from Sabrina, I am always surprised by what emerges by the end of my session. I always start out feeling a bit helpless. But once I take on the assignment for the day -- and say "no, no, no!" to that curmudgeonly critic in my head -- something kind of takes over. The thing I create is not necessarily outstanding on its own, but increasingly I see how it's all part of the process of learning how to paint and draw.

This painting is from a photo of Sabrina's granddaughter. The background was a plain wall, so Sabrina told me to fill the background with something else. Something else? My imagination is not that broad or great! So I sat kind of stumped and looked out the window to a bright fall day. In a bit my gaze lingered on a pot of begonias on Sabrina's porch. OK --why not that? Perhaps that will solve the background -- ahem -- problem. And maybe it will. It's a start. But I'm sure something else will emerge in this painting. So maybe next week.