Portrait of the Boy Jesus

Can you imagine what is must have been like to live in those Bible times and to be born into a life mission to save the world?

I tried to capture this in the look of innocents yet intensity of purpose.

I love to capture more than a likeness; more then the shape of the face figures but to capture the emotion of the moment is what I like to aim for.

This is a close-up of just part of this drawing that I called,

"The Path Before Him."

More on My Altered Book

I decided that this was a Hymn book then I would do a play on words and do a "Him and Her" section. I glued the edges of several pages together in the middle of the book. Then I cut a section out of the middle and glued and glued. I mog pogged papers and pattern tissues.

Then I made a little book and entitled it "Him and Her stories." I want everyone of the gals from "Airdrie 7" to write their love story of how they meet their husbands.

Faces

I have always been captivated by peoples faces. Never will I forget a face even if I forget the name. Faces tell so much about a person:

• It tells if they are young or old



• It tells if they are happy or sad



• It tells if they are fair or dark or darker



• It tells if they are male or female (usually)



• It tells if hardship has been their friend



• It tells... well so many things...

Faces can tell what is in the soul and what is on the mind. I love trying to capture that most of all. The challenge of capturing the likeness it really important but to capture a mood, a feeling, an emotion or the character of the person is very fulfilling.

This is part of a drawing that I did called, "Crisis Pregnancy Blessed Hope." I tried to imagine what it must have been like for Mary in those days when they would have stoned an unmarried woman who was caught pregnant.

Next 2 pages of my Altered Book

"Blossom and Bloom with Song" is what I call this page on the left. I decided to do it all black and white. I found little words and sayings related to my theme. I also clued a little print that I had done a few years ago for some little gift cards.
I love dancers and the freedom of expression they seem to display so I wanted to do the next page with a dancer some how. I Mog Pogged the page with some papers and pattern tissue then drew the dancing on with an ink pen. I really believe that Life is a dance. We should have fun with it.

More on my Altered Book

I added more things to my first few pages. I love how I can add tissues from sewing patterns over parts of my pages and make it look softer and older. Then I download some beautiful flute music from Theresa Griffith onto a CD and put into the pocket envelope for people to listen to while they work on or look at the book.

Hum Your Hymn; Sing Your Song

What’s your hymn?
What’s your tone?
Give us a strum
Let out a groan
Own hymn to hum
Or song to sing
Beat that drum
Make it swing
Others to see
They will hear
Set them free
No more fear
They can do it
Harmony their own
To them will fit
Into their zone.
So sing and dance
Clap your hand
Take a chance
Even make a band
Your life to fill
Just your core
Or Other’s thrill
Spirits will sore.

My Altered Book

We decided to work on an "Altered Books" project with our "Airdrie 7" Group.

This is new to me and I am loving it. My friend Rhea called me up the other day and said come on over and work on our books. I was happy to do it because I was a little stuck. After a few hours I was really flowing into it. "You will get addicted to it," she said. And she was so right but like other creative projects it is very therapeutic for me.

I decided to alter an old Hymn book. I hope I don't get into trouble for doing this but the process has begun so no turning back now.

I choose to call my book "Hum Your Hymn; Sing Your Song."

I started by taring out several pages because as you alter a book you add so much to it that it can become very thick.

Then I decided to decorate the cover first. I am not sure if I am finished yet but I like how it is turning out so far.

Coffee

"Where the Coffee Comes From"


Tuesday
Latte I always thought coffee was bad for me and preached this anti-coffee life-style to others for years. I don't know if it is my body changing or what but I love coffee now and it actually makes me feel better. I have since found out that it had health benefits. The last couple of years I went from not drinking coffee and still using an old drip coffee maker that I used for the occasional victims to an amateur coffee connoisseur with all kinds of methods and types of coffee. This is translating into my art work with "Tuesday Latte" and "Where the Coffee Comes From."

New Beginnings for the New Year

On this New Year's Eve I have been reflecting on 2009 and all that has happened with my art. I started the year with categorizing my life into 7 areas and giving them creative names. I then tried to fit everything into these areas. The category that I put my art into was "Impacting Creativity." I wanted my art and other creative areas to impact others in significant ways.
I joined a group of female artists called "Airdrie 7." We had 3 main art shows and were represented by 2 other shows. We plan to show our art this coming March in Airdrie's public library.
In November 2009 I joined my friend "Rhea Warholik" at the Perrenoud Ranche Art Centre for our Country Christmas Art Show. We set up the previous and before we shut the lights off I snapped this picture because it looked so pretty. The show was a lot of fun!
I am excited for this coming year and what will happen with my art. I have a feeling that it is going be wonder-filled and very creative!

"Unity" in Christmas

I think unity and tolerance mean different things to different people. I feel that it is not agreeing with what the other person says or does but it is loving them in spite your differences. I will not argue with someone on a point just to convince them of my point of view. However, having said that, if I saw someone about to walk in front of a freight train I think I might say something. If a person's thinking will hurt them I would want to share something I had learned, if I think it would benefit them. People have done this for me over the years and I appreciate it. I don't always take their advice but if they have something to say that may help then I am open to it. I like to be challenged on my thinking because it makes me grow and also aids me to really know what I believe.

My prayer this year is for Unity in Christmas for all those I know and love.

I painted "UNITY" with my friend, Rhea Warholik. She had it in her house for awhile and we decided that I should have it for now. It is for sale but I am enjoying having it in my dinning room for Christmas.