More altered book of Me

This is the second spread in my altered book made for the Art, Heart & Healing class.  As you can see I had a terrible time with doing transfers.  I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.  These are “fuzzy” and I left them at this stage because they were starting to rub completely off the page.  I don’t really mind the rough effect of them, but would like to be able to figure out how to do the process properly.  Guess I’ll play with that technique some more.

For my third spread I didn’t use any photo’s.  I simply painted a girl with her mother and talked about unconditional love.  Every child should feel support and love from her home.  I was fortunate to grow up in a loving family.  That doesn’t mean things were perfect, but I knew my parents were there when I needed them. 

We are having yet more winter weather today.  Everything is closed and I’ll be calling to reschedule the appointments I had for the day.  I have everything I need for the painting I want to start today and I’ll be moving down to the art palace to get started after enjoying a little more coffee.  My hubby called and made it to his office safely so I’m free from worry til he calls to say he’s on his way home.  I’m hoping for a productive, enjoyable day.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Happy Friday!

Mother Henna's Hero/Shadow Collaboration

I've been struggling making my submission for Mother Henna's latest artist collaborative project. I had many things cross my mind while I considered my interpertation of both a hero and a shadow. At first, I really thought I would push myself and try my hand at a typical comic book style. I even went out and purchased my very first comic books. Well, after really digging deep and doing some further reading, I changed my mind.

I researched the shadow archetype quite a bit and the thing that kept grabbing me was that we all need to face our demons in order to conquer them and live a more fully developed life. I have faced a few of my demons, but know that I have many more to confront. My shadow art depicts me "uncovering" a demon. The text on the art says "Reveal your shadow, Acknowledge it and Heal." I think acknowledgement over conquering is more of what we must do. Our demons never really go away. We simply learn how to live with in a way where we know our weaknesses and can work around them, or even sometimes use these weaknesses to become better in certain areas of our life. I know I have used some of my "demons" that I have dealt with to help other people going through some of the struggles I've already faced. All aspects of our life, both we deem good or bad can be useful if we learn how to approach them.

My Hero art depicts women in my family. Four generations worth of feminine willpower, strength, courage, compassion, hope and most of all unsurpassed love. Each of these women contribute different attributes that, when combined, form the greatest hero one could ever hope to encounter. The main transfer picture is of my Grandmother, the head of the family. She has lived a life full of trials and tribulations. She has shown me that you can smile and find the good if you dig deep enough. She's also shown me that you're never to old to have fun and be silly. (Notice her wax lips in the picture!) Underneath Gramma is the group of us at our annual family "girls weekend". (Lots of wax lips donned for this pic) These women support me through good and bad and I know that they are always there when I need them. That's what being a hero really is. Good times OR bad, they share your life and make it a divine adventure.

This project did not come easily for me, but I met my deadline and sometimes that's what life is all about. Pulling through and getting what needs to be done- done. No matter what struggles you face.