Original Painting by Natasha Reilly Copyright 2011
She makes me want to swivel my hips and lose myself in music, lights and moments. As she finally allows herself to be consumed by the colors in life and in her soul, she finds her true center. What I love is her willingness to play …to allow her body and imagination to play with all the gifts she is given in life.
Color continues to explode from my being and as it does I discover hidden desires such as a longing to do things like learn flamenco dancing, salsa and create everything from my paintings to my writing with a new fiery passion.My longing to play has deepened as I think play is the only true way to explore anything in life.
Today I invite you to breathe deep, breathe in this beauty and let your soul get a little hot, a little spicy and bask in the colors within and all around you.
Last night I went to see U2 at the Meadowlands with friends I love….I DID NOT sit the ENTIRE time. I danced from the moment they started to play till the end. I was DRIPPING in sweat and did not care. A couple of people said, “You’re having the best time aren’t you?” It’s GREAT music shouldn’t everyone enjoy it. Should we enjoy life fully dancing around and singing? It was amazing. This song came on and I went WILD!!! I invite you to push that chair back, get up and dance to this RIGHT freakin’ now!! You will feel AWESOME at the end…trust me. You’re alive. Let everything else go. LOSE YOURSELF for a little bit and DANCE with your eyes close. It’s a BEAUTIFUL DAY because you are in it!
Bitchy. Miserable. Angry all the time! Do you know people like this? I do. I know people who start there day in the WORST mood imaginable. And not talking waking to one random bad day –we all have bad days – I’m talking MANY bad days. They snap at you when you ask what’s wrong. Isn’t it funny – they are so buried within their own anger that even a simple, heartfelt question feels like an accusation. I used to get all jammed up by it. Then I hid from it. Now it just makes me angry which tells me two things. The first is that I care and the second is I need to work through that anger here to find a way to let it go.
Perhaps I get angry because I was that person. You see anger like that comes from hiding EVERYTHING under the sun – thoughts inside journals, feelings screaming across the page and “Nothing. I’m fine” in response to the questions like “What’s wrong?” I know what it feels like to stand in judgment of others while hiding because it’s scary to let yourself be true and easy to criticize others to make yourself feel good. I know what it means to be that person who feels like you can’t trust a soul BUT at the same time you just can’t figure out why everyone doesn’t understand what you are feeling and why they don’t know exactly what to say to you to make you feel better.
People are not mind readers – ok, I know there are some who say they are but I don’t personally know any. It is virtually impossible for someone else to know what you are thinking and feeling unless you share it with them. We ALL carry around suitcases, steamer trunks and small caravans of stuff with us. We see things through OUR lens and often we need others to explain how they see things so we can find common ground to sympathize or, in my case, empathize.
We all get hurt and I know that hurt can sometimes be so overwhelming we need to go away and hide. But what I have come to understand is that eventually we have to come back out into the sun. Without talking, without expression that hurt will cause us to die a slow death within and no one may even know. We need to find a way to release our feelings; we can share them on an art journal page, through music, through talking with another soul, etc. If we sit with pain alone it can become such a jumbled mess within that after awhile and all we are left with is a mountain size mess of anger or frustration that blocks the sun, never letting us see the joy in life.
I read a truly moving piece today by the beautiful, talented Tami Chacon, author of Dream, Wish, Hope, and it got me thinking about the importance of expression. Expression is scary. When you express yourself you run the risk of being vulnerable and criticized and yet it is so worth it. YOUR idea may not be popular at first but it might change the world. Your words can free someone else from their prison without even knowing it. Or very simply your words may free you from your own prison and allow more love to settle within like a bird coming home to nest.
This is life. As far as I can tell it’s not a dress rehearsal. It’s your story and you have a choice. Do you want to write one that’s been told already? Do you want to play it safe and write what’s already popular in the hopes that others will like and read it or do you want to create something new for YOU?? A story YOU love (which of course will invite others to love it?)
I don’t want to live in a prison of my own making again. Each day I learn something new about communicating and expressing my heart. Often times I feel uncomfortable and every now and again I can find myself feeling like a failure but I push through and like the change of seasons – when I allow myself to step out of the cave within me – I find it is like stepping out of winter and into summer. I share my heart and though not everyone may like it, I’m starting to love it. I like being the odd woman out. I’d MUCH rather be on the outside then on the inside …I’ve just discovered that and I’d rather share what’s within – good, bad, grotesque – than keep it in. I need to make more room for the good stuff.
What do you think?? Write it, paint it, sculpt it, sing it, dance it, share it….don’t you think it’s better to get it out?????
Falling in love with life – this is what happens to me when I stop long enough to listen to the sound of leaves giggling with the wind on a busy street, watch clouds move past sky scrapers, share a smile with a stranger and partake in a fit of belly laughter with my kids or friends. When we “get busy” we limit the amount of beauty we take in because we are so focused on “what we need to get done.” Yet, there is always a choice, always! We can still grab hold of moments in the middle of a busy day.
Recently, I committed to spending a day being present while I got my daughter to gymnastics and later managed both my daughter and son as I fed them, bathed them and got them ready for bed. Before falling asleep, I asked myself a question – what did I fall in love with today without realizing it? Randomly in the middle of the night I woke and my mind was filled with words. I jotted some down before falling back to sleep. In the morning, I wrote some more before I actually got up.
What I discovered was that when I kept my senses open and allowed myself to create within my head while “getting things done” all the information I took in throughout the day churned and burned until it became a poem while I slept. It was amazing to discover. I’d fallen in love with sounds, smells, ideas throughout the day and at night I was able to create between waking and dreaming.
We are such limitless creatures. We are always creating – if we let ourselves. So today I invite you to remind yourself to be open as you move through your day. You will take in so much without even realizing it and then tonight set an intention to try – to remember what you fell in love with throughout the day and see what happens when you wake!
Love. It might be the most overused word in our vocabulary and yet each time it is said it means something very different and very precious for the person who says it. That was illustrated today in the heart-warming works that were created for this theme. The next time you hear the word “Love” stop, listen, think of what it means for you – what it really means and then wonder about what it might mean for the person who said it. It’s a precious gift we should all treasure!
It Gives Me Great Pleasure to Share the Work of Our Artist/Writer of the Week: Trina, Creator of Woven Chains Jewelry
Trina, the exceptionally talented artist and writer behind Woven Chains Jewelry, created this gorgeous work.
“This week was all about my love of playing with rings and my love of making very similar patterns look really different,” said Trina. “Here are two pendants, and two pairs of progressively smaller earrings, all made with almost identical patterns of rings. I had fun!”
“It took me a long time to decide what to do with “Love” as a theme. I decided to think about what I love about what I do. What I love best is the flexibility and the plasticity of what I do. I start with a pile of rings, and every time I’m done, I have something different, yet they are all related. In the first picture, there are two pendants, both made exactly the same way, only one is flat, and the other is folded up into a 3D shape. Then in the second picture, I made the shapes smaller and smaller. I love playing with different ways to put rings together, and every time I sit down I love the idea that I could come up with something totally new.”
Amanda, the super talented writer and artist behind Persistent Green, created this 8×10 mixed media piece, a work in progress titled, “Together.”
“Another busy week–it felt so good to wind down, put on some music, and just play with color and movement,” said Amanda. ” The photo I used is one of many in a long tradition with my husband, started when we first started dating. I love how that larger-than-life image represents how the two of us are better and stronger together than we would be on our own.”
Kris, the fabulous artist and writer behind Lisianblue, created this phenomenal piece.
“I had to laugh when I saw this weeks theme and thought the collage of my family would have been perfect, but already used. I had another idea in mind, but it has been a crazy crazy busy week, while sitting at the bus stop this evening this came to mind about my grandson:
“Love Ocean”
A little bluish with a tinge of grey
discolored his light chocolaty skin
with a mass of thick black hair, wet & unruly
Breathe,
Breathe,
Baby,
p l e a s e
Breathe,
Minutes turn into eternity
Finally
A breath
A cry
Relief
Of course his eyes are a deep brown
with long thick eyelashes
features of his father
yet so much like his mother
I felt him reach inside
my chest and grab a hold
of my heart.
KH 6-1-11
My grandson’s name means ocean – so I decided to title it as such. Lrg background pic – 6mos (I think), clockwise – 10mos w/his mom – my daughter, 3yrs, 4, 5, & 10.
This drawing popped out of me this week and it felt like Christmas. I love her. Although I struggled with my art being too child-like and my Inner Critic screaming – be more of an adult woman – I have to say, after some conversation I’m in love with it again.
Jenjen, the wonderfully talented writer and artist behind Gotta Love Mom, shared this stirring piece.
“I just came from yet another showcase at the high school,” said Jenjen. ” My 15yo played “Someday My Prince Will Come” (my son played the piano while his friend played the saxophone. It’s cute because in the jazz band, my son plays the saxophone and his friend plays the piano)”
“So with this week’s theme at Creative Nachos: “Put a little love in your heart” and upon hearing the song, a story just came to mind…
‘To love again”
Somewhere in Spain, a young expectant mother rushes to the emergency room. She is having labor pains.
An attending doctor is on his way out the hospital when the young expectant mother touches his hand. He then adoringly looks at the mother and asks permission if he can listen to her baby. The young mother is confused but for some force within her, agrees to let the doctor do so.
As the attending doctor gently presses his stethoscope to the young mother’s belly, he whispers, “to love again”.
The young mother feels a kick in her belly.
The attending doctor smiles so handsomely and says, “she’s beautiful.”.
The OBGYN on duty attends to the young mother.
The attending doctor is whistling as he leaves the hospital and drives back to his home. As he was making a left turn, a big bus hits the doctor’s convertible car. Ambulance is in the scene and takes the attending doctor to the emergency room.
At that very second, back in the hospital, a child is being born.
It is a full moon, and a lovely girl is born. The young mother names her Maria.
Somewhere in a maternity room in Singapore, a young American mother is having labor pains. Her water breaks. The resident nurse brings in a glass of ice cubes for the young American mother. There are some complications with the baby.
While back in Spain, the young attending doctor dies.
At around the same time, a loud cry from a baby boy echoes in the hospital in Singapore. The young mother names the new born baby boy, Steven.
Pass forward 17 years.
In Central Park by the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, a 17 year old boy and girl bump into each other. A soothing sensation touches their skin. As the girl turns to look, her eyes meet the boy’s eyes and somewhere in her mind she hears, “to love again”.
That night was a full moon. The 17 year old girl sleeps and dreams of a young doctor who whispers to her ears, “to love again.”
(It was the same dream she keeps having since she can remember)
But unlike before, she can’t see the young doctor’s face, but that night, when she looks up at the doctor’s face, she notices that it was the young handsome boy she bumped into in Manhattan.
Now here’s my son’s latest composition, “Sweet Simplicity” that will put a little love in your heart.
Are you moved? So am I! I am ready to create so let’s not wait, let’s dive into the next theme: Glittery Sunrise!
Yes, that’s right we are going to use glitter!! Take the colors that reach you, that speak to you from a gorgeous morning sunrise and add some glitter and see what magic you create!!
The work created by these talented, professional artists and writers this week in response to the Cosmic theme was utterly magical. From a Mother and son who collaborated to bring about moving work to the fun and whimsical pieces created in honor of cosmic, you will want to revisit each work time and again.
Please join me as we take a spin through the cosmic cosmos……
It Gives Me Tremendous Pleasure to Introduce Our Artists/Writers of the Week: Jenjen Furer, Creator of Gotta love Mom & the musical talent, Jonathon Furer
Jenjen Furer, the exceptional writer behind Gotta Love Mom, created this sensational piece for her Mom with incredible music that was composed by her son, Jonathon Furer.
“I was checking this week’s theme..I wasn’t going to create anything, but then I was missing my Mom, so I put together this video with my son’s original piano composition,” said Jenjen.
Jenjen’s son, Jonathon, has a new, fantastic CD that YOU will want to check out. Please visit this Youtube clip that Jenjen put together – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz9QJNarheA
Tami, the uber talented creator of Choose Joy Studio and To Dream of Stars, created this amazing work titled, “Within”.
“My response was a simple art journal page – out of my background I saw a figure of a woman and within her body was a heart and another figure,” said Tami. “I love when I just let go and see what happens. Just the act of creating and playing are soothing to me.
I didn’t know the lyrics to the song when I created it – I found it interesting when I read the lyrics last night after I was finished. “No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight in the shadow of your heart”. And the image within the woman is of a heart being held by someone . . . . hmmmm.”
Maureen, the phenomenal artist and writer behind Aquamaureens, created this gorgeous work.
“What got to me was near the very end of the video, where she reached inside her heart and pulled out a star and set it free . . .so that’s what I painted: the star in me that I release into the world,” said Maureen. “(The original is much truer to my colors of AquaMaureen, but it just doesn’t copy in those luscious colors.)”
Trina, the fabulous writer and artist behind Woven Chains Jewelry, created this stellar work.
“For Cosmic, I made a cute little decoration to hang somewhere (your rear-view mirror, a window, your cube, or anywhere else your heart desires) that is composed of two things that screamed “Cosmic” to me,” said Trina. “Of course I had to have a star, and I included interlocking rings. Totally fun!”
Amanda, the rock star writer and artist behind Persistent Green, created this fantastic untitled 11×14 mixed media.
“What struck me most about the video was its dreamy quality,” said Amanda. “I wanted to capture that feeling in my artwork this week. I was so pleased to be able to pull out a background I’d created weeks ago that had gone nowhere–and all of a sudden, I knew just what to do to finish it. I love those moments of serendipity, don’t you?”
Kris, incredible artist behind LisianBlue, created this unforgettable piece titled, Old Friend.
“I’m not sure how many years I’ve had this jean jacket – at least 10 I think.,” said Kris. ” I found an Altered Couture magazine a few months ago with altered jean jackets – I fell in love with them – but wasn’t so sure that they are “me!”
“I finally took the plunge after seeing the Cosmic theme – my hand was shaking as I cut off the bottom, hence the cosmic theme being so fitting. The beading on the lace isn’t done yet – it will go accross the back………….more on my blog!”
Felicia Kramer, the brilliant artist and writer behind Another bright Idea and More Bright Ideas, created this breathtaking piece titled, Taming the Universe.
How you choose to interpret the theme is completely up to you. It simply needs to be tasteful – no pornography or messages of hate here. When you sit down to create, you cannot think about how people will or will not receive your work. You are required to simply enjoy the act of creating.
This song has been piercing my chest, my heart, my soul all week. Let the music, the lyrics, the lights in the video, whatever it is inspire you…Dance…close your eyes and dance before you begin and see what piece of writing, arting, crafting, photography goodness is born!
Important Guidelines
The work submitted must be something you have created and/or worked on between the time the theme was revealed and the Thursday unveiling. Please submit your response to Natasha@creativenachos.com no later than end of day Wednesday, May 4th if you would like it to be posted on Thursday, May 5th. OR send me a link to your response to include in the comments section of the post.
With your response please include:
1. Your name – either first name, shop name, blog name or all three.
2. The name of your piece (if you choose to give it one)
3. Something you’d like to share (idea behind piece) if you’d like to share anything. Please limit this to 2-3 sentences
4. A small paragraph on the process of creating this work in case you are chosen as the “Artist/Writer of the week”
5. Links you’d like to include
6. Two photos of your piece or of each of the pieces (3×5 or 4×6 and 72dpi or a max of 96dpi – if you need any help with that please don’t worry I’d be happy to help!)
Forgive my delay today everyone. Mom was in a high demand all day long
This week, professional, talented, phenomenal artists gathered together to celebrate National Poetry Month by creating new, simply unforgettable works that blended art and poetry. These pieces will make you stop, stare, read, listen and long to create poetry of your own. But don’t take my word for it….
Join me as we bask in some poetry and art together….
It Gives Me Great Pleasure to Introduce Our Artist/Writer of the Week, Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea and More Bright Ideas.
Felicia Kramer. the artists extraordinaire behind Another Bright Idea and More bright Ideas, created this stunning enhanced photograph titled, Dad & Me.
“I can’t say that I had a great relationship with my Dad., ” Felicia began. “I think he was overwhelmed with supporting such a large family and there wasn’t much time left for personal interaction. This outing to a “ranch” is therefore a special memory, one of the few times I remember having Dad’s undivided attention for a while. He loved horses – he was part of a mounted division in the army and talked fondly of his horse Tony – and I loved horses as well. What little girl doesn’t??”
“I took this precious little black & white photograph and played with overlays and effects to incorporate some color and add a lovely glow to the sky behind. Besides, that’s probably how that little girl must have felt that day. It was a day full of color, not black and white.”
“Often when I think of my Dad now a certain poem comes to mind: “my father moved through dooms of love.” It’s by my favorite poet, e.e.cummings. I love the way cummings plays with words and how the words roll off your tongue as you read them. The poem is quite long; here’s three favorite stanzas that remind me of my Dad.”
Tracy Carlton, the super creative talent behind Expressive Souls, created this awesome piece titled, Letting Go.
“A few weeks ago my 6-year old son had a very scary dream about blue-faced zombies.,” said Tracy. “They have invaded his psyche, bedroom, and our house. They have become a common topic of discussion and as a result we have had many conversations about facing our fears, facing what scares us. My son is my best teacher.
So when choosing some words for an art journal exercise in 21 Secrets, the words Blue Faced Zombies jumped in quite readily, wanting to be included. So this spread is about shedding fear and moving forward with gusto.”
“This is an art journal spread with the poem I wrote for the exercise Three Little Words. I wasn’t sure what would come about. But here it is! The poem, in case you can’t read it on the journal page is:
Lisa Dieken, the incredibly talented writer and artist who created Wild Creative Heart, created this truly beautiful piece.
Lisa’s Poem
shimmering
fairy wings
in the moonlight
“I started with the word “shimmering” as I sat gazing at the light on a lake.,” said Lisa. “The short poem was written from there. It is so freeing to allow myself to write something so short. Then I was inspired to create a small watercolor painting with a bit of acrylic to go with the small poem. As I drew it, she ‘told’ me that she wanted to be wading in water. The smallness kept it manageable for me, not too overwhelming, yet a sense of accomplishment. I enjoyed using my watercolors again and creating the sense of ‘shimmering’.”
Lis, the amazingly talented writer and artist behind Dandelion Seeds and Dreams, created this gorgeous work.
“My piece is a spread from my art journal.,”said Lis. “I poured through the poetry books I had on hand and nothing new was jumping out at me. I decided to stick with a line from the very first Mary Oliver poem I heard while in my yoga teacher training program. The poem is “When Death Comes” and it marks a huge shift in my life. These lines have stayed with me since that first reading and continue to inspire how I think about my life:
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.”
My journal page was inspired by an earlier line:
“and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,”
Mel, the sensational writer, artist and vlogger behind Weaving the Moon, created this 8×10 mixed media on canvas titled, hasn’t got one really…’lost girl #4′
“Ah, poetry and art — my two favorite things…like peanut-butter and chocolate, it’s a match made in heaven!!” said Mel.
“Another of my ‘lost girls’…..words first? or the image? I can’t quite say…..as I’m drawing and coloring the girl, the words perhaps sneak in….or maybe the words are there and they dictate the image. It’s outta my hands, so it seems! Although, since this one is done on canvas as opposed to in my journal, I DID do the background first…just layers upon random, grungy layers.”
Maureen, the wonderfully talented writer and artist behind Aquamaureens, created this superb piece.
“This didn’t work out as I’d planned,” said Maureen. ” The haiku was about writing on ordinary blue-lined school notebook paper. So when I painted it, it didn’t really illustrate the poem. But ya know, I like it anyhoo.”
Trina, the uber talented writer and artist behind Woven Chains Jewelry created this magnificent work.
“I continue to be touched by the themes here,” said Trina. “This one was wonderful to work with, bringing back so many memories. I chose two of my favorite poems to be inspired by; one from my childhood, and one from my womanhood.”
“First, I chose An Invitation by Shel Silverstein (http://www.lverose.com/littleones/order/poem.htm). This is my favorite poem from my childhood. I can remember this on almost every elementary school classroom wall growing up. To celebrate the wonderful sentiment in this poem, I made a pendant in my favorite shape — a star.”
“Second, I chose Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/phenomenal-woman/). This bracelet is my homage to every Phenomenal Woman out there, as well as an acknowledgment that I have most definitely joined their ranks.”
Amanda, the awesomely talented writer and artist behind Persistent Green, created this striking untitled 8×10 mixed media (work in progress).
“I’ve been celebrating Poetry Month all through April, so this was a perfect way to cap the experience,” said Amanda. “For my piece I took a step back and played with highlighting the creation of a poem. The photo I used includes bits of my actual poetry in progress (remember to click on the photos if you want to see them up close).”
For this theme, I read poetry and loved it all. At the same time, I was pondering the question – “What is poetry?” A poem was born. I laid the colors down on the page in the same way the words were spread across my mind and soon the two became one.
In case you can’t read the words, here is the poem:
The Poem…
is the green leaf turning a deep red,
the two hands becoming one,
the pen’s final burst of ink.
It is the mist skating across a lake in early morning,
it is dew drop fairy tears – they hate to part with night,
the great curl of a wave before it makes love to the shore,
the almost invisible puff of smoke following a candle’s brief flicker,
the birth of a new moment inside an already unforgettable moment.
It is all the Goddesses that time has tried to erase,
the midway point in the journey of a paintbrush,
the last breath of any creature,
that first hug after a nightmare,
the expression an instant after a balloon pops,
a crack of thunder on a sunny day.
It is You.
It is Me.
It is this moment right now.
OR
Is it simply living life?
Copyright 2011 Natasha Reilly
Are you feeling inspired?? Well, why not jump in on the next theme…
Cosmic
Let the music, the lyrics, the lights in the video, whatever it is inspire you…Dance…close your eyes and dance before you begin and see what is born!
PLAY! What comes to mind when I say that word? Well, for these fabulous, talented artists and writers it was new works that will make you celebrate the absolute magic that is created when you shake off all limitations and let yourself bask in the beauty of playing!!!
Come on, don’t you want to play???
It Gives Me tremendous Pleasure to Introduce Our Writer/Artist of the Week:
Lisa Dieken, creator of Wild Creative Heart
Lisa Dieken, the uber talented writer and artist behind Wild Creative Heart, created the most fabulous “Mob of Daffodils”.
“The daffodils facing in all different directions in this photo reminded me of a mob of muppets, so I decided to “play” this week and give them faces,” said Lisa. “I printed off the photo and my printer is running out of ink so it printed with a green cast to it. I added pastel and outlined it in marker. Can you here the music and the “mob noise?” ”
Lis, the super talented writer and artist behind Dandelion Seeds and Dreams, created this Mixed Media “All Things” (for Jenlui).
“I had just received the new book “Painted Pages” by Sarah Ahearn Bellemare ( click here to visit Sarah’s fabulous blog: http://sarahearn.blogspot.com/) whose workshop “Mix It Up” I was fortunate enough to attend last Fall. I was inspired by Sarah’s discussion on using poetry as a starting point for a collage and right away I knew Pablo Neruda’s Ode to Common Things would be the perfect place to look for ideas. These lines from “Ode to things” jumped out at me:
I have a crazy, crazy love of things.
“I immediately thought of a friend who loves trinkets and the things we hang onto, cherish and infuse with new meaning and memories. I had been wanting to make her a thank you piece and Neruda’s poem and a mixed media piece seemed like a perfect pairing. I settled upon these lines for the actual piece:
I love all things … all bear the trace of someone’s fingers …”
Maureen, a wonderfully talented writer and artist, created this
“I had to hang this immediately by the side of my bed, where I’ll see it last thing at night and first thing in the morning. I love being reminded that a playful spirit is one of the gifts I can give to the world.”
Amanda, the awesome, talented writer and artists behind Persistent Green, created this 11×14 mixed media artwork titled, “Ferris Wheel.”
“Loved this week’s theme!” said Amanda. “The concept of play just screams summertime to me, and what’s better in summer than carnivals? Let’s take an imaginary ride on a ferris wheel today . . . are you with me?”
Trina, the incredible artistic talent behind Woven Chains Jewelry, created this truly fantastic piece.
“This week I played with earrings,” said Trina. “I didn’t worry about saleability or inventory or what anyone else would like. I just played. I was lucky enough to get a shipment of new gems right at the beginning of this “Treat” and the brand-spanking-new sapphires, emeralds, rubies, tanzanite, and tourmaline sure made the playing that much more fun.”
I PLAYED!!! I splattered paint all around, cut out a splatter butterfly, pasted it on a page I painted like a little kid, and threw hearts and words around the page. It was a BLAST!!!
Don’t you want to play now?? Well, give it a shot. Come play with us for the next theme which is…
Poets and Art.
In honor of Poetry Month, I would like to invite you to create something based upon YOUR favorite poem. There will be more information tomorrow…I’m so excited!! It’s a double treat – we get to read great poems AND bask in exquisite new creations!! What could be more fun??
Green. It is the colors of new Spring grass. It is the color of new leaves on trees. It is the color that these talented, professional artists used to create the most beautiful pieces. Each one will set your imagination on fire and leave you thinking about how you see green in your own life.
Join me for a hippity, hoppity green adventure…..
Meet Our Artist of the Week: Melissa
Melissa, a sensational writer and artist, created this stunning piece using a combination of images and words.
“The color green reminds me of Ireland–you know the luck of the Irish,” said Melissa. “The process in which I created this work was one based on my love for Ireland. No where in the world have I found shades of green more lush, more pronounced than those found in Ireland. Often times, after a spring rain, I look outdoors in hopes of catching a reminiscent glimpse. Shades of kelly green are few and far between, but there is one tree that fits the bill, the pear tree. This particular pear tree does not produce fruit, but the leaves, oh they do Ireland green proud.
Tracy Carlton, the fabulously talented creator of Expressive Souls, created this absolutely breathtaking Painting #6.
“This one is dedicated to my dear friend and fellow artist Lis Hofmann,” said Tracy. “She has inspired me in so many ways, not least of which was embarking on a painting challenge for the year. Mine, inspired by her, is 43 paintings in honor of turning 43 this year. This is painting #6. She also created a painting of Sarasvati that totally inspired the completion of this piece. Her beautiful work helped me break through a major creative block! Thank you Lis!”
Mel, the fantabulous creator of Weaving the Moon, created this exceptional acrylic on 8×10 canvas liberally using her NEW FAVE thing — molding paste. “JOY!” exclaimed Mel.
“I have this thing about asymmetrical eyes — something to do with inner vision…one eye always independent of the world — OR — a blatant disregard for anatomical rules…you be the judge. ” said Mel. “I wanted this to be as close to intuitive as I could get with only the theme of green in mind…and this is what I got.”
Amanda, the wonderfully talented writer and artist behind Persistent Green, created this gorgeous untitled 8×10 mixed media piece.
“Loved the theme this week.,” said Amanda. “I took this opportunity to push myself, exploring a subject matter I normally wouldn’t give a hoot about–cows! As you might remember from my piece last week, I’ve been exploring a new series and method in my artwork that I’m calling Lens. My mission is to find beauty and mystery in the seemingly mundane–what surrounds us every day and usually gets overlooked. Can I be honest? I’m so tickled with my subject this week! Let me tell you, despite my life out here in the prairie, I am NOT a cowgirl–or a girl who likes cows. But once I looked at these creatures through Lens, I started to notice the interesting play of lights and darks. The way they’re so rooted, centered, almost part of the earth. But especially . . . their attitude! Don’t they look like they are about to say, “What? You lookin’ at ME?” That’s the power of art . . . seeing the world in a way you never thought possible.”
Lis, the amazing writer and artist behind Dandelion Seeds and Dreams, created this rockin’ self-portrait titled, Undercover Mommy.
“Last night was my daughter’s kindergarten musical and the theme of the show was Superheroes (Captain Clean, Super Speller, etc.) At the very end all the kids turned around and had these masks on, proclaiming they were all Kindergarten Superheroes,” said Lis. ” Needing to take a self portrait today, I saw the mask lying on the counter and thought it would be fun to play. So here I am, undercover Mommy, a superhero on the move … what are my powers? Good question! Right now I am attempting to vanquish the cold and snow and bring Spring to our world at last.
Go Green!”
Trina, the awesome artist creator of Woven Chains Jewelry, created these phenomenal pieces.
“I went a little crazy this week. I have three pendants, two rings and one pair of earrings, all exploring green. Usually green is my sister’s color. She’d better watch out (or get ready for her birthday),” said Trina.
Maureen, the incredibly talented writer and artist behind, Aquamaureens created this super fun piece.
“You DID say an operative word on this site is “play,” right? And that can involve “silly,” right?” asked Maureen. ” Well, here is me, stepping into life, putting one foot in front of the other, out of the old and into the new . . . and the color is called “spring green,” of course. I won’t even go into the logistics of trying to get to a bathroom to wash off my foot . . . ”
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” said Mel. “I wanted this to be as close to intuitive as I could get with only the theme of green in mind…and this is what I got.”
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