It seemed:
But it turns out:
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Been painting...
Sometimes it's good to be kind of child-like. A looong time ago, a good friend IS from Kalamazoo suggested to me that I get a box of crayons and a pad of paper and draw to get some "stuff" out. She was helping me work on my energy/state of being through her art- and suggested that I try through my own art.
I did go out and buy some crayons. Then I moved on and also got pastels. That was all back in Kalamazoo. When I moved to China, I was working with pastels more than anything else, but not too often.
In Latvia, I used pastels and colored pencils. Thanks to DB I have a few wonderful adult coloring books (they are books of mandalas to color, not like "adult" content!). I have really enjoyed coloring the mandalas- but I find that sometimes it's too daunting to think about the stuff the book tells you to think about. Sometimes I just want to chill and color.
Since arriving in Luanda, I have colored a couple mandalas, but, I have also picked up watercolors. At first I got some from the store- just a little kiddie pack of cheap ones. They weren't bad, but, no wait, actually, they were bad. I painted three paintings with em, and just got annoyed, because they were crap. Then we got that shipment of stuff for school (the container) and it came with a certain C-name brand of water colors. I got em out for the kids, but I loved em. Oh my goodness, I loved em. The other teacher/my superior said I could borrow a pack for at home use, since I loved em so much.
So, I have been painting. Sometimes with an aim. Sometimes without.
By the way, I don't by any means proclaim to be an artist. I would not say at all that I have an artists eye or ability. I do this for fun. And for expression. For release. So whether this art is "good" or "bad" is of no bother to me. That isn't what it's about- and I am not at all proclaiming that it is good!
This picture had much more behind it. Through conversations with my mom, DB and AS, I have been exploring my spirituality. Specifically with DB we discussed the need for a visual when praying. Praying has never really been a part of my life. And I will admit- the thought of doing it feels kind of weird. I don't know who I'm talking to, what I am trying to connect with. That said, I know I believe in God/Goddess/a Higher Power- but I have never expressed my faith in a way that involved direct communication between myself and any such being. Because I can't seem to get over a myriad of issues in my life, it seems its time to look for something bigger. My mom keeps telling me to talk to my angels. I got a Note from the Universe the other day that said I wasn't using all of my angels. I like the idea that I have angels. So, I decided to try to give one a face, one that I might then be more comfortable communicating with. So here's what I got:
This one I did at school while the kids were painting too. They all liked it. :) It's amazing how good a 4-year-olds compliment can make you feel, because darnit, they're just so genuine!
The struggle, the struggle... love. At least I'm still thinking about it. Again, it isn't about romantic love- it's about love for myself. It's about knowing that I have this huge, powerful beating heart inside of me (I'm not talking about the literal one) and that it can provide me with all the strength I need. But I need to remember it, and to be in touch with it. And to accept what it offers- because the self love thing- it's still a bit hard.
Finally, this one is a work in progress (on paper only). I know exactly what it is, and I think it will be obvious to a lot of other people, because I think it is pretty obvious- but, some of you might have to have a think I guess.
I did go out and buy some crayons. Then I moved on and also got pastels. That was all back in Kalamazoo. When I moved to China, I was working with pastels more than anything else, but not too often.
In Latvia, I used pastels and colored pencils. Thanks to DB I have a few wonderful adult coloring books (they are books of mandalas to color, not like "adult" content!). I have really enjoyed coloring the mandalas- but I find that sometimes it's too daunting to think about the stuff the book tells you to think about. Sometimes I just want to chill and color.
Since arriving in Luanda, I have colored a couple mandalas, but, I have also picked up watercolors. At first I got some from the store- just a little kiddie pack of cheap ones. They weren't bad, but, no wait, actually, they were bad. I painted three paintings with em, and just got annoyed, because they were crap. Then we got that shipment of stuff for school (the container) and it came with a certain C-name brand of water colors. I got em out for the kids, but I loved em. Oh my goodness, I loved em. The other teacher/my superior said I could borrow a pack for at home use, since I loved em so much.
So, I have been painting. Sometimes with an aim. Sometimes without.
By the way, I don't by any means proclaim to be an artist. I would not say at all that I have an artists eye or ability. I do this for fun. And for expression. For release. So whether this art is "good" or "bad" is of no bother to me. That isn't what it's about- and I am not at all proclaiming that it is good!
This picture of flowers was just for fun. Sometimes, being a regular, non-artist type person, I get a picture in my head, and I wonder if there is any chance I could recreate the picture I see in my head on paper. So this was an attempt. I actually think I did pretty well (but only I know, because only I know what was in my head, hey?).
This picture had much more behind it. Through conversations with my mom, DB and AS, I have been exploring my spirituality. Specifically with DB we discussed the need for a visual when praying. Praying has never really been a part of my life. And I will admit- the thought of doing it feels kind of weird. I don't know who I'm talking to, what I am trying to connect with. That said, I know I believe in God/Goddess/a Higher Power- but I have never expressed my faith in a way that involved direct communication between myself and any such being. Because I can't seem to get over a myriad of issues in my life, it seems its time to look for something bigger. My mom keeps telling me to talk to my angels. I got a Note from the Universe the other day that said I wasn't using all of my angels. I like the idea that I have angels. So, I decided to try to give one a face, one that I might then be more comfortable communicating with. So here's what I got:
This one I did at school while the kids were painting too. They all liked it. :) It's amazing how good a 4-year-olds compliment can make you feel, because darnit, they're just so genuine!
The struggle, the struggle... love. At least I'm still thinking about it. Again, it isn't about romantic love- it's about love for myself. It's about knowing that I have this huge, powerful beating heart inside of me (I'm not talking about the literal one) and that it can provide me with all the strength I need. But I need to remember it, and to be in touch with it. And to accept what it offers- because the self love thing- it's still a bit hard.
Finally, this one is a work in progress (on paper only). I know exactly what it is, and I think it will be obvious to a lot of other people, because I think it is pretty obvious- but, some of you might have to have a think I guess.
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