I am so grateful for art and creativity. And for this season of my life when I can explore both. I am thankful to have a husband who supports these explorations and a little room (my laundry room) I can use to spread everything out. Sheesh. I am messy.
I want to write about what I am learning in the hopes I can encourage you if you are creative or want to be. It is never too late to pick up a paintbrush! Or a camera.
I have been experimenting with painting and mixed media for awhile, and recently I decided to take a mixed media e-course from Jeanne Oliver. Ohmygosh. It has been so good. I am thanking God for how he made Jeanne as an artist and a teacher. She is generous with her gifts and shows us how to use the gifts of art, creativity and beauty to bless others. I love that.
The first week we experimented with journals – made from old books, or catalogs or repurposed journals. This is my first journal. My girl doesn’t have a face. I was so scared to try to add the eyes or nose or mouth fearing she would be….hmmm…shall we say, unattractive. Yes. I think so. Faces are so hard. I want to practice and get better with them. I had my youngest sister in mind when I made the journal. I used a piece of sheet music from her high school piano competition as part of the background, and her handwritten name and entry. I think I will give the journal to her.
My first journal
I am working on another piece of art with a face of a girl but she is not ready for public viewing yet. I think she is a little cross-eyed and her nose a tad on the crooked side. Good thing for painting over.
See that is why I like art. You can always start over if you don’t like it.
Here is the next piece I made. I do care for birds, I think I have mentioned that before. This time I used old wood that I found out in our stash of old stuff that really should be thrown away but hasn’t been….yet. I used acrylics, modeling paste, and charcoal on this. It was really fun to do. I want to put some holes in the top and use rusty wire for the hanger.
Bird on a board
I have also been working on this bicycle for awhile. I will show her (yes, she is a girl) to you but you must not snicker as her tires are totally not round. But I am okay with that. My husband says I could have (should have) used a compass. But oh well. I think many things in life are imperfect. Just like this bicycle. So I hope it makes you smile and the color gives you just a little lift.
Bicycling
That is all for now. Are you ready to pick up your paintbrush yet? Or your camera? Best not dally.