Change is Good!

After a long absence from art journaling—due to many positive changes going on in my life—I'm feeling my mojo again and the creative spark has returned. New knee, new job, new art series I'm working on, new local art journaling group — things are definitely looking up! Maybe you can tell from the bright colors and images of this journal spread.

Illustration Friday - Asleep

ASLEEP -- NOT!!!

The Princess and the Pea

A prince wanted to marry a princess, but she had to be a real princess. He traveled around the world looking for a wife but was always disappointed. One evening, a young woman claiming to be a real princess sought shelter from a storm at the prince's castle. The prince's mother decided to test the validity of the princess' claim by placing a pea in a stack of mattresses. There the young woman slept. In the morning she complained of having spent a sleepless night. The prince was thrilled! Only a real princess could feel a pea through all those mattresses. She became the prince's wife right away. And they slept just fine ever after.

Illustration Friday - Journey

One of my art journal pages. I chose this one for IF because, after all,
isn't life really just one big JOURNEY here and beyond?

Full Circle, Back to Surrender

After a bad couple of months in which I didn't feel creative, didn't feel like blogging, didn't feel engaged in life except for work, I'm on my way back. One week ago today I had knee replacement, but I had no idea that changing a part of myself physically would also fix my head. The last post I entered was about SURRENDER, and here I am again. I've had to surrender to this profoundly painful experience to realize that it has actually saved me from my own rut. I've surrendered to the pain and find that it has made me more strong in my determination to get better each day. I've surrendered to the 6-8 week removal from normal life in order to gain a serenity that only comes from rest, relaxation, acceptance, and plenty of time with myself and my thoughts. It was as though my life was screaming, "Somebody stop me!" ... and surrendering stopped me in my tracks.

"Surrender has never been my favorite word. I always thought it had only one meaning, which was to lose and be defeated. There is also a spiritual meaning to the word. To surrender is to accept that there is a waxing and waning rhythm to events and to trust that good things can happen without our needing to control them." -- Peter Block, Stewardship

Illustration Friday - Surrender

Surrender

As luck would have it, I finished some new tiled boxes last week for an upcoming show. Shown is the top of one called "Surrender." Also pictured is the finished group of funky boxes.

Illustration Friday - Chicken

Where would be be without the rubber chicken???
(goofy journal page)

Finally, Something I'm Keeping

Table of Resolutions

I've wanted to design my own coffee table for years, and I just finished this one in time for a Christmas present to myself and my hubby. This is a 36" hardwood table on which I carved the design, then painted it with acrylics. It embodies all of my New Year resolutions for the entire year through all four seasons. The carved phrases around the edge are what I consider small ways to live better each day of the year. Happy 2011!

Illustration Friday - Mail

This spread from my art journal is a play on words for this week's theme of "mail." All of the collaged paper dolls have cancelled stamps for their bodies. Just silly...
Happy Holidays!

A New Start

The "Autumn" Tree

After a bit of a dry spell (discouragement, apathy, artistic block...) I'm back to producing new work and enjoying it again. This shot is part of my new carved 36" coffee table. I'm in the process of painting the trees and sky. This piece will be for my own home - first time in a long time that I've made something just for myself, not for sale. Nothing has ever felt so much "me" and it's bringing me so much joy. It's great that I can work on it a little bit each day, even if I'm doing other artwork. Even 15 minutes worth is a nice little painting session. I'm in my happy place again. :-)

Art & Soul 2010

Work by Talented Workshop Students at Art & Soul

Dawn on the Columbia River, Washington State

Woods at the Oregon Coast

View of the Shore from the Woods, Oregon

I had a great time in Portland last week teaching a small class in pop-up art journaling at Art & Soul. Ray and I enjoyed the rest of the week in the Tri-Cities (WA), then back to the Oregon coast before coming home. Going back to work on Monday will be hard, but my mind and body feel so much relief from stress. Life is good.