Book Quotes and Art Experiments

Tags

altered art, art journal, cats, collage, gratitude, painting

Did some kirigami while Marq and his girlfriend watched movies. I read Read “Why be Happy when you can be Normal by Jeanette Winterson. This quote to me means want what you have and love who you are. That is something I am always working towards. Interesting book overall.

This page became an interesting series of layers as I tried a new adhesive. I used PVA on my first layer and the top of it dried really tacky. I played around with different transparent or translucent layers to cover the stickiness without losing the color and text of the initial layer. I think it turned out quite interesting. For top layers I used Washi tape, tissue paper, and a transparency with a color copy of a Zendala I made a while ago. And there are my cats holding paws in the corner.

This page has a quote from Pema Chodron’s book The Places That Scare You. The whole quote is:

“As a species, we should never underestimate our low tolerance for discomfort. To be encouraged to stay with our vulnerability is news that we can use. Sitting meditation is our support for learning how to do this. Sitting meditation, also known as mindfulness-awareness practice, is the foundation of bodhichitta training. It is the natural seat, the home ground of the warrior-bodhisattva.”

I had a very interesting experience related to  staying with my own emotional distress.  I generally have a panic attack during my acupuncture treatments and I have been using a variety of yoga and meditation techniques to help me manage and move out of the panic attack. Yesterday I went in to my appointment with the intention to stay with my emotional distress rather than trying to get out of it. It was the first time in ages that I didn’t have a full blown panic attack. Hmmm. I may have to try this again. I was very pleasantly surprised, but I’m not quite sure about cause and effect just yet. However, I did want to share that experience.

Pockets, windows, and anemoes

Tags

altered art, anemoes, art journal, gratitude, iris paper folding, painting, windows

Here is the sample page for my November art journaling workshop.

I had to photograph it instead of scanning it so all the windows would look right.

Here is a painting based on my photos from the secret garden tour from this past summer. The funny thing about these flowers is that I could not remember what they were called and yesterday I was catching up on reading some of the blogs I follow and Gwennie’s Garden posted a photo of anemones so I found the name!

Coloring Pages and Walking through Autumn

Tags

Altered book, art journal, autumn, Coloring Pages, CROP Walk, gratitude, illustration, walking

This past week has been really busy with lots of walking and lots of art. Some of the walking was just for entertainment with friends and some was to raise money and awareness for people who have to walk to get to their food and water – the CROP walk. In any case, it has been lovely autumn days to walk through cool clear air and crisp leaves. My acupuncture doctor is back from her walkabout in China and I am feeling so good. I have had a few days where my migraine has been down to a 2 – I have to stop and ask is it there? And then I notice flickers of pain, but I am free to move through my days with joy and energy. What a wonderful feeling!

I have finished the illustrations for my coloring pages. I am really happy with how they have turned out. I already sold one set and have decided that I’m only going to sell 2 more. I have really struggled with the idea of selling my art so inexpensively, but I also enjoy giving art away, so you can see my struggle.

My husband has been working so hard on a play with our community theater and I was able to see the fruits of his labors. I laughed and I cried. I’m so proud of him and he looked so cute on stage, too. What a wonderful week. I hope you find time to notice all the good things in your life, too. Namaste.

Plein Air Landscape with Zentangled Enhancements Collage

Tags

art, collage, flowers, illustration, yoga, Zentagle Inspired Art, zentangle, ZIA

I finally finished a collage!

Yoga Art, Children’s Progress, Art and Ducks

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Altered book, art, art journal, ducks, gratitude, illustration, yoga

Naturally High

Tags

coloring page, illustration, yoga, zentangle

Here is the completed illustration that I mentioned in my Diva Challenge post. The original is a little bigger than my scanner, but I think you get the idea. I’m going to sell it as part of a painting pages/coloring book. How much should I charge for each page? I plan to print them on cold press watercolor paper.

Diva Challenge #188: National Coming Out Day

Tags

Coming Out Day, Diva Challenge, LGBT, Rainbow, zentangle

I was going to put this tile in my gratitude journal for Saturday. I was working out different variations of 2 tangles to use in a larger Zentangle Inspired Art piece I’m working on and experimenting with working out how they fit with Flux in the middle. However, when I read the Diva’s Challenge for today I thought this tile would be a good metaphor for National Coming Out Day. I added some rainbow images to further enhance the idea of diversity. Just as there is so much variation possible within artistic patterns, the variation that represents the diversity of humanity is what makes the world such a beautiful place.  I am so happy to support people of any age as they find the courage to be their authentic self.  However, I find a special joy in supporting a young person who demonstrates courage and initiative. Here is the quote from the Diva’s website that explains the origins of this week’s challenge:

“Daniel told me that October 11th is National Coming Out Day.  Daniel’s friend is gay, and so he wanted me to help him support his friend and to issue a challenge with a LGBT theme.

“Daniel says:

I think it would be a good way to further inspire tanglers and raise awareness if you considered a challenge to somehow put some aspect of LGBT in a tile. Perhaps using the colors of the rainbow, or using tangles that start with L, G, B, and T, or using those letters as a string?

To see Daniel’s beautiful artwork and to see all the other wonderful interpretations of this challenge go to:

DIY Yoga Stencils, Fall Foliage, and 8 Breaths

Tags

Altered book, art journal, Dharma, fall, gratitude, gratitude journal, meditation, photography, yoga

I finally made a few yoga stencils from my photographs of my lovely yoga teacher. The facing page is a remnant from a wallpaper sample my mom and I played with when making a photo collage earlier this week. I have also started another  Zentangle Inspired Art piece inspired by the lovely Helen. Included here is a portion of my sketch for that piece.

Fall in Wisconsin makes taking photographs so fun and easy. I love walking through the crisp air and listening to the leaves crunch under my feet. Now that I have an iPhone I always have a camera with me, too! These morning fog on the river photos were taken with my iPhone.

I have returned to my Dharma teachings class on Tuesdays. It is so healing for me. The Venerable Chodun taught us about the 8 breaths mediation and I have been practicing them every day. I have been working on letting some difficult feelings go because they really have a negative impact on my health and well-being. This 8 breath practice has been so helpful. On the right hand is my husband walking right through all those balloons I am letting go. He has been my hero this week. For this, and for so many other things, I am grateful.