Whimsy

This week has been quite productive after some weeks of enforced rest.  I decided to take part in the Icad (Index card a day) challenge and will part in the Summer of Color.  I hoped that it would help me refocus my art.  It certainly has.  I get up already planning my index card for the day and I have decided on my theme of SOC.

I am illustrating a poem for Icad (See my post on that tomorrow.)  I am using some of the prompts, but only so far as it suites my goals.

Yesterday, I finally settled on a theme, it ties in with, my work for icad, whimsy ladies and text from the poem I am illustrating.   I had brought some 8in x 10in canvas panels ready for SOC challenge.  Today I got started and started to paint in acrylic, using my first index card for inspiration.  It was fun.

close up

 

The words are from a poem I discovered earlier this week and it really spoke to me.

Inside each of us

there awaits a wonder

full

spirit of freedom

she waits

to dance

in the rooms

of our heart

that are closed

dark and cluttered

she waits

to dance

in the spaces

where negative feelings

have build barricades

and stock-piled weapons

she waits

to dance

in the corners

where we still

do not believe in our goodness

inside each of us

there awaits

a wonder

full

spirit of freedom

she will lift light feet

and make glad songs

within us

on the day we open our door of ego

and let the enemies stomp out

by Joyce Rupp, from The Stair in my heart

One drawback of painting so small was that I had heaps of paint left over, as usual I had squeezed out too much, so I decided to finger paint over an old drawing in my journal.  That was fun and very messy. 

Have a great week everybody.

Linking to Paint Party Friday

and

Art Journal Everyday

 

The Artist's Play Room

The prompt this week at The Artist’s Play Room is Mugs inspired by Tracey Fletcher Kings love of tea and attempt to do 61 mugs for this year’s ICAD (Index Card A Day).

I couldn’t help myself; I have a mug I got in Australia in the 90’s when visiting my Mum in NSW.  Whenever I visited I would be dragged around all the local craft workshops and stores and galleries.  My Mum brought it for me hoping perhaps that I would be inspired to go and live there!  But nah, I am Kiwi through and through. Note, despite her extolling the virtues of Aussie, she has kept her NZ citizenship despite living there for over 30 years!

Sorry Trace, it is revolting to drink out of as the outside is rough clay and it feels horrible on your lips.  However, it makes an excellent pencil holder for my inktense pencils.  Also it reminds me of Mum in her better days and the interest we shared in art and crafts.

You will note that I have got some text about the Summer of Colour Blog Event that Kirsten of Twinkle Twinkle like a Star (http://twinkletwinklelikeastar.blogspot.com) is convening.  I am taking part in that and our job this week is to advertise it and if we do we have a change in winning a prize, hehehe!   

This week we vote for the colour we will use next week when we start to party for 6 weeks.  There are some delicious combinations, I voted for Lime and Purple.  However, I noticed that Citron Green and Turquoise is leading the stakes.  Whatever, all the choices are delicious.  I am not sure whether to have a theme or not, I’ll let the muse take over!  If you like colour and would like to celebrate the summer or like Trace and I, you want to brighten our winter, come and join us. Oh and it is for any art medium or craft.

Have a great week everybody.

Lots of Colour

Didn’t get much art done this week, I have developed tendonitis in my left hand through using it a lot!  Can’t win!  One good upshot is that I have somebody in to do the housework, hehehe.  Better not get used to it, as it is only for 6 weeks.  Meanwhile the right arm is healing well enough and I am able to use it for light tasks, whatever that may be!

However I did some work in my journal and finished the page I stared last week.  It turned out completely different from what I planned…..

When I was in hospital, I had a young nurse who had glorious red hair, which she called carrot!  Well yesterday while I was waiting at the bus stop after physio, she was coming off duty and came up to me and offered me a ride. On the way home I commented that I loved her pink and lilac outfit.  She laughed and told me how her mother would never let her wear pink, even though it was her favourite colour.  Her Mum said it clashed with her carrot hair.  So now she wore pink whenever she could. 

After thanking her for the lift and telling her in a stern voice never to call her hair carrot, as it was insulting to such a glorious colour.  I swear I saw tears in her eyes as she drove away.  I stewed for a bit at the damage thoughtless remarks can make, and this page was finished.

Every day this week, I have done one page of watercolour shapes for my journaling.  While I like to use magazines, I would also like to make borders and shapes out of my own art.  My journal that I am using at present soaks up paint like it is going out of fashion!  The paper is lovely and thick, so takes a lot of beating, but I can't get the watercolour effects that I love.   So this is a solution, and very therapeutic, as it gives me the feeling I am creating. Here are some samples.

Linking to Paint Party Friday

And

Art Journal Every Day