Way Out of Comfort Zone

This prompt from Journal 52 2014 has pushed me a bit further from my normal execution of subject matter. The prompt: "Inspired by Abstract Art."

This abstract piece has a noticeable X to the composition. Much of my work has this. There are also hidden images, also in many of my pieces. I pushed or pulled some flowers and butterflies into recognizable shapes. That was to satisfy my little voice saying it is only a beginning!

The abstract is where my work begins My initial ideas are put on the board in a very abstract manner. Then those of  you who know my work  or as you look back at older posts will see samples of finished products. I always say I keep slowly resolving my images or tuning them in until my eye and sensibility are satisfied. For myself abstract work has not been complete. Like a lot of my work there are areas I might follow into other compositions. The mama painting can be allowed to birth her children which nurtured and coaxed become  stand-alone individuals in time. A fitting thought for a MOTHER'S DAY! That just came to me. Enjoy. Feel free to leave comments. Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.

Willing to Start Over

This is another page from Art Journal 52 2014. The prompt was building character. Some artists followed the prompt into actually designing a cartoon-like figure or  an avatar for the more computer adept. I went on a another inward journey using watercolor pencils and ink to express my ideas.

The face in the lower left corner represents me. I was willing to sort of start my life over and became a college student when my children went to college. The face is the face I saw staring at me from the rear view mirror as I commuted to classes each day. I did a lot of driving since I found myself alone following that yellow brick road.

I thought about what character is.What are the traits that make up character. There are both the good and the bad. I thought about what positive traits I would like or maybe already have to make up my character. Bad traits are banished ASAP to the garbage can located on the right side of the page. 

My road has been pretty long and maybe a bit hard. Building character is a tough uphill adventure. We arrive with a pretty clean slate. Experiences, family, friends and strangers all add to the character we build along the journey. I love fairy tales so my adventure follows a yellow brick road that climbs a mountain. Going to the top of the mountain takes persistence. Along the way traits are added and tucked into cracks, crevices and places along that yellow brick road. Take a closer look at the full page above and check out the detail examples too.

An inventive free spirit goes on to another adventure flying high into the sky. 

Lost art of love letters prompt 6 "Journal 52 2014"

My Journal 52 has more work to share.   

Look closely for hidden images often found in my work.

The lost art of love letter is the prompt. Several details below show close-ups of the writings.  

Across the top edge

"Emotional healing is much like physical healing
If I am hurt about a  broken relationship or suffering a loss of any kind,
APPLY the ANTICEPTIC of LOVE ......."

TOP EDGE

The quote finishes up along the side detail below:

... And the Bandage of forgiveness and allow healing to begin.

Then I add the powerful medicine of affirmative prayer..."

Unitie's Daily Word

SIDE EDGE

In the tree at the bottom is a quote from Deepoc Chopra:

"Desires are seeds waiting for the season to sprout.

From a single seed of desire,-

Whole forests grow"

TREE on BOTTOM EDGE

More pages from the journal will be posted soon.