Leaving...

Jake made this painting table for me. It's strong and solid and I hated that I left it behind, but the new art room would not accomodate it. I had to be ok with it.. a little sad, but it's time to move forward.
Time to begin again. Start fresh with new ideas, new creations... a whole new world of possibilites!
I left behind 33 years of life in one place! Lots of good memories there, but as space got smaller and smaller, filled with so much stuff, it got to be impossible to work in this room. A room that became storage for art supplies rather than a working art room.. a place to create in.
Much got packed, but much also got released... given away.. thrown away.
I surprised myself.
I am one who usually holds on.. holds on tight.. too tightly.
Suffocating.
With releasing, I felt a sense of letting go. A part of me that I no longer needed. Who was that person? why did she need to hold on?
I think or maybe feel the reason that helped me through this process was death.
If I died today, who would deal with all this stuff?!? and would I want to lay that on anyone???
NO.
I emptied drawers and closets and boxes of stuff that hadn't been looked at in a very long time.
I came across art work from collage and even high school.. all now deteriorating.. and no longer feeling so important. I left behind the past. I moved on.
I don't need the physical stuff for me to remember. I just remember... the important stuff anyway...
I just didn't know.
Now I do.
NOW I know the JOY!
I know the joy of starting fresh... a new beginning.
Another chance.

Be filled with ....

Sun Light Beauty

Love

Sacred Layers

What is on the surface, this top layer of your life that is exposed, open for all to see? Are there obvious wounds, physical imperfections for all to see? Maybe not.
Maybe the wounds are just below the surface, just beneath the skin or maybe hidden beneath layers of clothing.. and then maybe the layer goes even deeper and not one person would even guess there is a wound, some scar left from the past.
How deep are these layers?
But even more important is how deep do we need to go to find the source of the wound... because it is there. The source for even the most obvious is buried deep within us... layers and layers.. and we dig and dig to get at it.
We unearth several layers, sacred layers of our existence to search for the truth - the source of our hurt. The real source.
The fear issue I was looking at today was defined to me as "abandonment". I didn't see it that way on a conscious level.. I just looked at my fear of someone dying as a deep loss. A little later on (during a quick meditation) I saw a moment of my past.. a source of this fear perhaps. Fear of something being taken away, fear of loss. An inner voice - that little "enlightened" moment.. aah, the holding on. I do hold on. Sometimes way too tightly.
I imagine releasing things, letting go, giving away.. and having compassion for myself for being this way. That is the dark side of grasping, holding.. so I bring it to light, bring it to the surface so light can shine on it. If it comes to the light, it can be delt with.. not so if it's buried in the deepest shades and I cannot see it.
A quote shared with me today:
"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, it is by making the darkness conscious." Jung

Mandala for Annie 10x10

This is one page... I'm going to do another :-)

10x10 journal for Monique

In honor of the full moon in aquarius, this was the second page in Moniques journal.

I really love working on black paper. This mandala was for this very hot steamy day... and now it's ready to move on to Serena..

Be

After another full week of being in the world, I finally got some time, and a book in the mail, to be with my self to create. To be creative is a most wonderful thing. I've been sneaking in some mandalas here and there, usually while I'm waiting....
I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but I managed to put some gesso and a base coat of gold on a page the other day when I received the book.. waiting patiently for the weekend.
I thought I might collage or even use some fabric, but the marker came out and I drew and then painted. It's what I really needed to do.
This is Lila's journal in our Art Saves.. Round Robin
And now to finish up a violin.

Frisbee mandalas

At camp the boys designed their frisbees after a little inspiration of some mandalas I made. It was fun to watch them create and of course, some got into it more than others. I had hoped there were some extras, but nope.. next year, I'll order more.
Beware flying mandalas...

Peace and Quiet

We took a few days to go upstate for some relaxation. This was a real do nothing get away. Sitting on the porch watching clouds go by. Listening to the sounds of nature. Watching and observing birds, rabbits... feeling the breeze. It was perfect weather. Very condusive to bringing me into bliss-state.
I did a little mandala art... a LOT of reading... a little shopping in Woodstock.. and eating the most delicious corn and salmon.. Thanks Jake :-)

Taking some walks by the "creek" to listen to the water, watching some tubers and these ducks. They were so cute and very fast.. especially when the tubers came!

This rabbit hung around almost every day. We shared space together, quietly.

Going into nature to spend some time is one of the most healing things we could have done. John was definitely more revitalized by it. A deep appreciation for this gift of time.. time to share with my son and his girlfriend... for John and me to share together without distractions - or not too many anyway...

peace and quiet.. what we need to give to ourselves more often.

No tv. No phone.

Away from doing.

Just being.

quiet.

Art Saves... Ily's journal

This is my page in Ily's canvas journal.
It took a while to get to but I finally had a day "off" from most obligations, work, appointments... and was determined to get some art done.
Our theme of "Art Saves.." has had me mostly focused on how it saves me, but with this I have been more focused on how it has saved us.. We who inhabit this amazing and beautiful planet.
We humans have always created some form of art and so that tells me Art is here for a reason. We need it in our lives. From the earliest cave drawings to our modern digital art and all of it in between... art has saved us.
It helps us to deal with all the external stuff that surrounds us.. all the chaos.. all painful experiences. But it also helps us with grasping the beauty that surrounds us, trying the capture and hold on to it.. Assimilate it into our being.
Art is not just for artists but it is for everyone. How can we not live with art in our lives?
Unimaginable.
So, this page, for Ily, is my message of art spreading out to the four corners of the earth, radiating with love for all of us.. for all of the earth.
May art in all it's magic always be a part of your life.
Namaste'

10x10 RR for Valeria

I added a rhinestone in the middle... didn't delete the bottom picture though...
Val sent a really nice watercolor book and some watercolors as well... but... I used my twinkling H2O's instead. I haven't used them in a while and just love them. What won't show up is the glimmer that have. I added a bit of gel pen too for some added sparkle and I'm also thinking that white spot in the middle may need a tiny rhinestone. I took out the pan pastels for the edges and on top of the writing. For you Valeria, hope you enjoy it. It is a window for you. Open it up and let all the beauty of the world flow in to you.
And may love always be there no matter what direction you travel.
Namaste'
Doreen

Carmen's book

I spent some time last night working in Carmen's book, finally getting to finish it. I find it kind of funny how I waited for her book because I had these intentions of what I was going to do...but you know how that goes! With all that was going on, my idea went south on me, so I decided to start with a mandala and work from there and just allow it to unfold. Isn't that the best way to approach art anyway :-)
Of course the sparkle won't show as well here.. but enjoy it my friend. Carmen is my inspiration in following my dreams and this work was a message for me to keep doing just that!

10x10 For Ily

Of course I made this in Ily's book and it is for her, but it is also for me. The hardest part of doing these books is making a decision on what to do, what materials to use. I've been in a collage mode lately, so I went with it. No matter what medium, there is always a message revealed to me later on. Someone else may get something else out of it, but I found certain things amusing - what my subconscious had to say...
After painting the background and spraying it with a bit of glittery spray which no doubt will not show here.. and then I ripped images, just stuff, randomly, but what I found interesting as well.
As I began layering and fitting things together, I tried to make it flow. I moved and rearranged things quite a few times until I found or it found its place.
Then the messages appeared.
The cycle of life, the different stages of existence. I found a paper mache' tree and put the paper bag "house" there on top. We owe our lives to trees. Our breath and so much more...
I guess it's mostly about transforming. We change. From our youthful days where time didn't matter to aging and holding on to our appearances. Painting our hair, surrounding ourselves in beauty. Everything changes.. new growth and then eventually death.
How do we remain calm, serene and how do we maintain the state of wonder, observing the miraculous life all around us.. Amazing beauty, amazing world we live in.. and then chaos strikes. Let's not forget that mind-boggeling chaos that surrounds us and we work so hard at figuring it all out. We lose our balance for awhile... and then, we come back home to ourselves. We see a bigger picture. We move through the fears and grow a deeper faith. There is a light, a divine light that enters us... touches us and it brings us back to the wonder and the miraculous life once again.
Trust. It is my message to trust the Universe.
It all flows together. We all feed off one another. We are touched by serendipitous moments... messages that call to us. Yes. You are on the path. You are ok. Trust.

Flow with it - don't resist. Play while you are here for it is a short journey.
Create.
Love.
Enjoy it all.
Namaste'

10x10 in Shay's book

I couldn't scan this as it cut off the edge, so I took a picture and not a very good one... oh well. Hopefully it's in Coby's hands at this point. Waiting for the next book.... I was torn on this and what I felt like doing, so I doodled around the edge and then just HAD to do a flower mandala.. Fireblossom :-) If it were still in my hands, I'd probably keep filling in the space. click on it for a closer look....

Art Saves RR - Gemma's book

A mandala for Gemma. Not totally sure I'm done with this, but I'm also trying not to clutter it up too much... I used metallic and pearl paint and added a bit of glitter glaze to the outside part, so I am sure this picture won't give the full impact of that. A clear heart gem for the center.
I focused on the heart chakra for this.. heart and hand. I almost used the daVinci quote: "Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art". Instead I spoke from my own heart :-)
Hope you enjoy this Gemma... and now to work on your tag.

The Reception

When the work is up and it's time to celebrate, this too becomes a favorite moment. I get to share with parents the joy of "playing" with their children.

They are so proud of their work. This municipal building holds two floors of their art and the kids get so excited going from floor to floor, finding their art and photos.

A budding romance???

I wonder who gets more joy... me or the kids...

Children's art show

These are a few of the boards that will be part of the children's art show this month. This is part of week of the young child. I hold art classes for preschoolers, and while working with them, I take photos of them.. because it's really all about the process. Along with the art and photos are quotes. If you click on the picture, you might be able to read them. These are only 4 of 32.. plus sculptures in a case. I so enjoy working with these children, capturing their moments of creative expression... one of the highlights of my work.

I give them black circles and shapes and let them explore... some are so typical of the mandala stage of their drawings.

Playing with clay is one of my favorites.. and beading. Such concentration in their faces. And the pure joy of discovering new things.

and then there is this printing project. I give them soft blocks in various shapes and let them "build" on paper. Of course being a messy project, this usually turns out the be one of the projects that produce the best pictures of colorful hands. Those I will save for the next post :-)

Today is our reception... looking forward to seeing these cutie-pies and their excitment. Kind of cool having your art exhibited at 3 years old!

10x10 Round Robin Journal

This is another, yes, a different round robin that I also joined. It has gotten me into the back room.. the art room that needs a major cleaning up! These get mailed out Monday for Coby to create in... "Have fun Coby" and then will move on to 8 more creative souls. I'll be posting here on this blog as books come through. It will be hard to do just one page, but will refrain myself. Sometimes it is just so hard to stop.

The problem lies in what to do.. which medium to choose. I started out painting, but also wanted to collage... but the pen, the zentangle/mandalas help to get me centered. They quiet my mind from the worlds distractions.

Thanks Ileana for inviting me to play. I needed it.

For Karen

In our RR canvas journals "Art Saves", I have received Karen's book. She did a page with a Klimt images and I love Klimt. It was immediately inspired when I saw her page and I knew I would use gold. My original idea though was something different.
Instead, it turned into the "klimt-style" tree. Unfortunately, metallic paint and glittery accents don't show up so nicely so you'll get to see it much better when it reaches your hands. (those participating, anyway)
I took a walk yesterday and it was so nice to see crocuses.. white, purple and tiny buds on the trees. I was thinking about how much I appreciate Spring after a challenging Winter.. You who live in paradise type environments where the weather is mild most of the year... I wonder if you take it for granted. Do you lose the magic of these small buds.. these tiny miracles of life!
I am in awe all over again. GREEEEEN!!!!! COLOR!!! LIFE!!
It's actually happening. Today I welcome Spring with wide open arms today at 1:32 pm.

A use for a box

This box held some yummy chocolate crunchy cookies given to me by a yoga student... best was the box! It has a magnetic clasp to hold it shut and it was a perfect size to hold the canvas book. It also contains a bag of "goodies" that you, the participants can draw from for whatever your heart desires to use it for.... and the sign in tag. It's not attached. I used a coffee filter for the pocket to hold colorful cards with various words on them. Pick one and sign in and play :-)
I put the box into a bag... one of those padded things from the PO, but "you" do what ever you need to do to send it, but I do want the box to stay nice... Maybe I'll paint it when it returns home.

Looking forward to the next journal................

RR - open spread and links :-)

Here's the second page in the RR canvas book. Needing some color, I think this is the antidote to Winter :-) This actually triggered the paint response in me.. I needed to keep painting, so I did. Picked up another canvas I started and then another.. I'll post those later on.
Snow day yesterday = art day.
Others participating... take a look :-)
Susie/Angie http://crinkleroot.blogspot.com/

Gemma/Linda http://gemmasjournal.blogspot.com/

shari http://teainbohemia.blogspot.com/

Serena http://dreamwiththefishes.blogspot.com/

Karen http://deldino.blogspot.com/

Lila http://artycollagesanddolls.blogspot.com/

Scarlet/Ileana http://littleredhare.blogspot.com/

Carmen http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/

Art Saves Lives - Round Robin

I'm participating in a Round Robin again... (getting over my fear of lost art)
I love doing this, but it broke my heart when another book disappeared with the last RR..
(But I'm over it :-)
and it's because art heals and it can save your life!
This is one page, the other is still in progress.
First some gesso and then I painted and I just HAD to use that stamp. I was in a painting mood mostly, but I did add fabric for the dress and the sign is stamped on card stock.
I'm not sure about the cover yet. Not sure if I want to do it now or later.
Now would mean it would be less bulky and most likely easier to deal with, but I may want to see the overall book and the flavor of it.. to tie it all in.
Still up in the air about it.
Most certainly, I will have fun with it!

Two sides of the coin

This is titled, "Angry Bird, Happy Fish"
Go ahead and find each one of them... maybe with just a tilt of the head.
Living this life of duality, we come upon situations and it is our response to them that brings about that feeling of peacefullness, contentment, the allowing and going with the flow... OR we resist, kick, scream, have a tantrum, worry, fear and move into doubt and want to hide under the covers.
Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it not. Why is it that at one time, I can easily accept, while other times I just cannot. I get frustrated, angry, become fearful, doubtful and wonder what the heck I am doing here?????????????
And then... shift... someone comes along and helps you... oh, life IS good again. It is a lesson in patience sometimes.. sometimes, faith, trust.
Sometimes the lesson is deeper and more time consuming. It causes us to slow down and take a look within. Something we haven't done in awhile. It makes us humble.
We needed to change our perspective.. we needed to grow.
What we once saw as the wrong side of the coin, was some blessing (in disquise) and it brought good changes. We just couldn't see it at the time.
We were too caught up in fear.
My prayer: to have fearless bliss.
But in order to move towards it, we need to move t h r o u g h the fear and come out the other side. Ok, it's scary, but I'll do it anyway... that kind of thing.
Two sides: love and fear... same coin. Have you loved something so deeply, but feared not having it, being rejected, losing it...
Maybe we need to love our fears. Tend to them, cradled them and bless them... say, "it's ok, but we are going to try anyway, because I love much more than I fear."
Today I am a happy fish :-)

I am back :-)

So there! you nasty little mean thing that was hidden in the computer.. take that! I now have an amazing computer guru....Thanks Hugo :-)

Miss you blogger

I have not fallen off the face of the earth.. I just don't have my computer and even when I did have it, I could not get onto blogger.. why? I haven't a clue. I sure don't like not having access either. I will persist, though.
Until I figure this out.. have fun out there :-)

Return to the Sacred

I decided to return to the practice of Sacred Life Sundays. It's been pretty crazy for awhile and blogging hasn't been the top priority, even though I love it.

One issue has been the computer itself. I'm not going to dwell on all the "wrong" stuff.. or let's say the challenges.

Rather, I will be thankful for all the good that goes on in my life.

Here's one of them.. my work.

The ultimate pleasure of watching children create.. discovering that the spiral fits perfectly inside that hole in the square! How joyful it is watching children play, explore, and allowing the messiness of it all.

How blessed my life is to be doing work with these children.

It is the time of the year to look back and see how many blessing I have actually had..

The art show with my husband who sold his first piece of art.

Not bad for his first showing!!!!

Getting closer to family. With the death of my sister in law, I have come to know my mother in law on a much deeper level and have had the blessing of her wisdom bestowed on us.

Being grateful and saying thank you to all of it.. even the stuff that is challenging, because that is where we grow.

My brother stayed at my mom's awhile, and it was so nice to have him around. I love talking to my brother, sharing our ideas, experiences.. helping each other work through "stuff".

It was so great having him here, helping with the caretaking of our mom.

And that is only the beginning....

A new venue...

The work is down from the gallery and now it moves on to the town house.. into the case in the lobby. Anyone living in Harrison, NY or the surrounding area can take a peek if they missed the first show... Recycle into Art, the reincarnation of the cigar box...

The Show is up :-)

Art Exhibit pictures are here

A quick update...

Since we've gotten back from vacation, dear hubby and I have been focused on our collaborative exhibit.
It's at Masterpiece Framing on Halstead Ave. in Harrison... just in case you're nearby and would like to stop by.
After the show, I'll put up the pictures of my work. They are assemblages and shrines and I am having a blast in creating them. Ideas transform, each morphing into something else - inspiring even more ideas. LOVE IT!
I've begun my art classes and I'm back to yoga as well, both holding some surprises for me.
Expect the unexpected... Uranus... opposing Saturn. Still holding on to some old "stuff".
But life is good.. moving along in an interesting manner.
Merc being in retrograde will be blamed for me not getting on my blogs again. I'm at my MIL's house using the computer there. Thus, no pictures.
I really don't like blogging without pictures, and I rather not blog at all without them.
BUT... these blogs need an update, b a d l y.... and here I am.
so... get off the computer and go create something :-)

Woodstock

Where else?

"Talisman" store window (one of my favorite stores in Woodstock)

a most colorful town. a fun place, but I have been saddened by some of the "missing" stores. Bead store is gone :-(

but a new photography gallery opened up :-)

Changes.

Hanging out :-)
Having fun, eating great food at Oriole 9 and finding the best books at Maribai.


Peace.

Done.

Camp was a struggle for me this year.. too many things going on, with little "down" time for myself. The time we all need to restore and renew ourselves.. It had it's moments though....

It was when I had fun creating with the kids. We made power sticks. I told them with these "sticks" came the responsibility to take care of the Earth. They created the sticks with intention, using animal skin paper to represent the different energies that they represented to them and each feather represented a different element... I love working with children and watching the power that play has on them. Allowing them to create and to be able to play. It's wonderful to watch... and I found myself getting pulled into it myself. Playing.. yelling out "POWER!"

and teaching them how important it was to take care of the Earth.. Water.. Air..

Talking and listening to them.. what their favorite animal was, the use of Sun as power.

This is where my heart lies. This is what I've come to realize this summer: That my heart lies in teaching, healing, creating with children... on my own terms. More on that later.

Vacation beckons me now. I am off to restore in the mountains and by the stream, finding my balance again.

I'm baaaaaaaaaackk

I've been doing a mandala a day now.. not sure how many day's but it's been steady and haven't skipped a day. They're small but sometimes so intricate they take a bit of time and other times, quick.
Yesterday, I went back to some and added to them. I love mandalas. They bring peace to me. Quiet. A stillness that I can use to help me center.
The above is called, A gift for you and done in sharpies. They smell too much and don't really like using them, but I love the smoothness of the color applied.

This is called Showering you with love. Unfolding my love - unraveling it, opening up to you and showering down upon you all that love that fills my heart. I think we are not always aware of how much love we have stored inside until we open up and let loose and we surprise ourself.. More.. more... keep it flowing. Feed the seeds and let those blooms open up and shower even more love.
So now, I have more blogs than I can probably handle but right now, I am soo very happy!!!