What a difference! Art 101 Week 5

How much difference can a free online class, a little practice, and a week make?  I’m actually doing a happy dance over here!  Though pretty embarrassed at the before picture below!  I can barely believe the after picture was also made with my 2 hands! 🙂

Maybe that stubborn trait my kids inherited from me will eventually pay off as persistence?  Yes, I re-painted (and changed tools from the markers I originally tried to use to draw the details because I was afraid to try a paint brush) the above face several times, but it was worth it.  I love my flame girl now!  There is a ton of symbolism hidden in here for me as well.  The hint of angel wings, the heart shape of the upper body, the sunshine shaped flower she is holding, the blue eyes and flame hair.  I finally managed to create the vision as it came to my head and heart with my hands!  Yet, I still had a lesson to learn in trust.  First, I learned not to use copic marker to draw the outline with because it’s nearly impossible to cover up!  I tried and tried to hide the black lines in her hair…. until I finally realized that it mimicked a flame shape I have been drawing over and over for a year now as the head of an angel doodle I call “heartlight” that keeps trying to tell me something… alas, this was unfolding just as it should to keep the silhouette of the flame shape in her hair!  Learning to* TRUST * is definitely an on-going lesson for me.  The background was inspired by the lovely fireflies that make my nights here in the mountains sparkle and the lanterns were inspired by the book cover of “Lost Lake” by Sarah Addison Allen, which I recently read.  The song lyrics are all-time favorites that I was singing as I let her evolve… “you’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart!”  I see now that the words will be revised because she wants to say, “show the world all the love in your heart!”

I spent so much time on my girls this week, that my other art 101 cards were done rather quickly… though still with multiple layers across the days of the week.

Finally, I have actually used canvas instead of cardboard for one!  I haven’t thought my creations were “good enough” to warrant using the “real thing” yet.  I finally decided to just give it a go.  I love how it turned out, imperfections and all.  It’s now available in my etsy shop.  🙂

I once read somewhere that these words were requested by someone as they approached death: “the stars still shine”.  I wish I could remember where!  This idea really touched my heart as I had recently lost my mom.  I knew she would want me to have this same attitude and remember all the best stuff in life, especially the stuff that I could still experience, like being present with my kids and nature and self.  I have felt her presence when thinking of her (and yes, even talking out loud to her!) while stargazing! 🙂

Thanks to Tamara LaPorte for her art, heart, and healing class (and several other artists who have inspired me leading up to this point, including a book by Suzi Blu).  It was Tam’s class that finally got me to actually DO this, to stop fearing the failure and making excuses.  I had to adapt to use the supplies I had so my process ended up being a bit different.  This is the lovely girl that is helping me find my voice…

This was my first real attempt at a girl’s face (not just a little doodle of sorts like the original one at the beginning of this post) since 5th grade… when I was discouraged and put my sketchbook down (but I still have it after all these years)… and I had never done shading and color like this before. I LOVE her. I could nit pick her to death with the crooked eyes, odd nose, crooked lips, pencil lines I can’t seem to get rid of, but… in spite of all that, I still love her. Yes, plenty of room for improvement, but I’m finally stepping out and trying. Thanks to fellow artists participating in the art 101 challenge for so many encouraging comments earlier this week when I shared this with them.  So many sweet souls are cheering me on and even highlighting the imperfections as part of what makes her special.  She isn’t finished yet, but I had to share this since I’ve spent so much of the week with her.  I revised the flame girl (shown earlier) that I love so much after this one gave me the courage to keep trying. 

Her hair was inspired by a friend of mine, Deborah, that has been a great example, probably without even knowing it.  I have watched her grow from her very beginnings as a hair dresser into an amazing artist and salon owner and THE girl everyone in south Florida wants to do their hair!  She posts some incredible pictures of all these fun colors and styles she does and it’s been such a joy to see her evolve.

I hope this might encourage anyone that has art scars and hesitation and feelings of inadequacy or lack of talent (all of which have applied to me) to try… try whatever it is that your heart is whispering to you to do… whether that’s art or hair or whatever!  I have been one of those that has felt “not good enough” (and had that reinforced) for a long time.  I am a recovering valedictorian (meaning I’m finally trying to find my own voice… do you know that quote about remembering who you wanted to be before everyone told you who you were supposed to be?).  I am ready to shed the expectations and be free to be me.  If my behavior surprises anyone who has known me for a while, welcome to the club… I am constantly surprising myself lately… and I LOVE it!

Let your heart light shine!