Color Life

 

 

How does one color their life? 

 

For the last month, everyday I have seen a butterfly, whether it is outside or at a store or from an email attachment.  My friends tell me this is starting to be freaky. I always had a spiritual connections, this time I feel even more connected.  Everyday we have signs given to use, and the sign that is connecting to me is a butterfly.



 

 

 

The butterfly is my inspiration for the next drawing.  In fact I can see this as a series of drawings based on this lovely insect.

 

If you know anything about my art, color and shape are the focus. Take a look at the colors and shapes from these butterfly photos...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now my art:

 

This first drawing is taking the shapes and colors and enlarging them.  (I have more ideas for the next drawings.)

 

 

 

 

 

Did you say, wait this does not look like a butterfly...of course I have to use my other inspiration who was the best at turning something concrete into a creative piece...Picasso.

 

 

I believe, there is a change happening for me.  (About time as some would say.) But I also believe that the butterfly is my deceased mother from heaven saying "hi" to me and guiding me through this change, for all I know it could be the whole gang up there that I miss!  I certainly need her, more than anyone would ever know.

 

 

Here are a few quotes that are beautiful to think about...

 

 

 

Every time I see a butterfly, I look up to the heavens and say thank you. 

 

 

Quiet Times

 

It has been a quiet weekend.  It was the 4th of July, and normally there is food and some form of a get together, this year was more of a "don't feel like that."  I spent the weekend outside, as that is the best place to think in a productive way.  Being outside keeps me from crying, as my heart has been deeply hurt for too long. I couldn't help to think about a year ago, how so much changes in one year.

 

One thing that my life taught me is to live for the day I am in, not for tomorrow.  Although goals and dreams are good to have, I tend to plan too much and far too far away from now.

 

I drove to the park with my dog for a very long walk to get away and sort out my confusing thoughts.  This park is part for the Cleveland Metroparks, nearly in my backyard. While walking a white butterfly was flying near me, as if it was guiding me on my walk.  I have been seeing butterflies consistently for the past 3 weeks.  What is the spiritual meaning behind that for me?  Change of some sort?

Since the weather was beautiful many people took the opportunity to visit as well.  I wasn't alone, but yet here I was alone taking in the beautiful landscape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you wondering what I thought about?  I was thinking about love.  How it must feel to be in love and the other person sharing that same feeling with you. Does it really exist?  As I looked around and watched families and couples enjoying a picnic, I sat wondering if that will ever happen for me. If I could go back a year ago, I would say love does exist for me, but now?? Not sure where he is and unclear about why it ended.  If I could have a wish upon a star to talk to him again, to understand, to reconnect...if only a wish would be granted. Told you I have been confused.

 

  Then minutes later, I was thinking about painting here at the park one day, like the Monet's and Cezanne's of the art world.

 

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And the next day, after I relaxed and decided to not do anything for the day, I decided to go to my studio.  I have a painting that has been untouched since winter.

 

 

 

 

My cat joined me.



 

 

Of course this one had to watch over my paints.

 

 

Below are close ups of the painting.

 

 

 

 

before I began painting. 

 

 

 

 

Mid-way of painting today 

  

 

 

  

What I ended with, since I was loosing light.

  

  

 

 

 

So that was my weekend, tomorrow back to work.

 

 

Star light, Star bright, Wish upon a star tonight...

  

  

Nature Walk

I was walking my dog this early Monday morning, we came across a beautiful butterfly or is this a moth? I don't know. Well I am not an insect expert, I assume it is a butterfly. I feel blessed to be greeted by this delicate creature.

 

 

 

He gently opened his wings, just so I can take a picture.

 

 

Then later, I was walking my dog, and this fellow was still there. All I could imagine, are little feet, big feet, bike wheels and Lord knows what else stomping on him.  "Don't worry my fellow nature friend, I will help you." I felt so sorry for him, is he sick, injured?  So I did what a country girl does, I picked him up and walked him to my courtyard garden.  He is right now there, he is fluttering his wings.  Maybe saying, thank you for taking me to a garden!

 

 

 

 

Back to art.

 

 I am drawing Trees. It is truly time for nature in my life.

It has been awhile since I had a graphite pencil in my hand. There's something about drawing that calms me. I am also using color pencils for added texture and depth. (I miss art school).
Here are the pics...

 

 

 

  

 

This drawing is from my imagination, I am free drawing it, so as my mind thinks of what to put in this drawing, it will appear.

 

More to come with this drawing...

 

Mountains

This is a simple peek at the next painting. I sketched it quickly to get the image in my head out onto paper and in color. It will be painted on 24"x36" canvas. But first the canvas needs a few layers of gesso. The paint has been bought and the music is ready. Just need to sit in front of the canvas and get lost in my world.

Sewing Sunday

It been a long time since I published what I have been making. The reasons it took me awhile is because, I have been exhausted from work, adjusting to changes in my life, and became very ill for the past month. 

Today is the first day I have felt more like myself.

I had this sewing since August. I bought it when I was in Tennessee for my aunt's funeral.  There isn't much to do, but yet so much to do in Tennessee, that I needed something to keep my mind occupied when we weren't cleaning my aunt's home. Then life changed more, I became upset at some things that took me by surprise, and couldn't concentrate on sewing.  It seemed everything unimaginable happened. This sewing stayed in a bag untouched all winter, I tried to sew every now and then, but no luck.

Then the exhaustion from work and the anxiety and sadness hit me again, and then I became ill.

what have I learned: to rest!
And now I am taking my time trying not to rush and instead enjoy my moments more often.
This sewing will go into a frame, that will be painted and embellished with buttons.

I will return to the other sewing. I also have a painting that needs to be finished. This time, I won't rush or exhaust myself with other parts of my life. 

From August til now, I learned that I need to Live Love and Laugh, just like the sewing I just completed!

Funny how things happen in our life, no coincidence that I chose this sewing, I needed it in more ways than one.

I wish other coincidences in my life would come true! Perhaps they will.

Rest for Creativity

It's been a long moment.  I have no excuse about where my art is, except that I just can't get the creativity flowing. 
I have been busy at work, preparing for an intern to start learning how to facilitate individual counseling sessions, focus on private practice, cleaning my house, walking my dog, and trying to rest.
Today I woke up to a spring snow. A great day to be at home, but work must be done and clients need to be seen.
Art from nature...(okay, I'm cheating, I don't have any of my art to show)

This was taken on Sunday.  I was excited to buy the first patio flowers for this spring.  

Would you mind sitting with me? I would love your company on my patio talking about random topics.

Don't blink! 

It's a spring snow today.

Pray my flowers have inner strength(like the person who planted them,  hey that's me!) to survive this cold spell. 

Fifi waiting on me, I really don't want to walk her in this cold, didn't we do this for the past 6 months? Am I  moving back in time? I thought we were to discover the future!  Yikes. 

There's something beautiful about this photo. Delicate pink flower standing tall in this soft thin layer of snow. 

Art in nature is beautiful. 

Enjoy your day.

Easter Memories

 

 

To all the people who died, to all the people who are no longer in my life, I pray and think about you everyday.  My heart deeply misses you.

 

It's been a challenging year.  As I look back, I have success with the failures.  Last year, it began the year of "clearing out" the unnecessary pain and hurt and to replace it with my passions.  It took one year to pass for me to reflect this journey.  Instead of letting people take advantage of me, the approach I used with assertiveness.  I spoke for myself.  I lost people and opportunities because of this.  I needed to hear my own voice and thoughts.  And that lead me to painting again.  Looking back, it is no wonder I became lost.  It was last year that my passions finally came again, they were always there, but I allowed some things to take from it.  It was last year, last spring and last April, I decided to follow my spirituality and my natural artist flare of life to lead me.

And so, I share the most recent art. 

 

 

I feel my thoughts and feelings are emerging more everyday.  The surprise images in the Zentangle seem to get more clear as they are painted.

I will tell you at the end of this post what image I see...

 

 

 

 

This is not completed.  Unsure what the surprise image will be.  Can you see anything? 

 

 

 

I went to the park again. 

 Love the ducks.  They always swim to me when I am there, even with the dog next to me.  The first Zentangle art in this post, has a surprise image that caught my eye.  I see a duck.

 

What is the significance of a duck for me?  I looked the meaning of duck on the website:

http://www.signology.org/bird-symbol/duck-symbol.htm

 

The bird is generally thought to be a symbol of freedom. They can walk on the earth and swim in the sea as humans do but they also have the ability to soar into the sky. Birds are free to roam to earth and the sky. Many cultures believe that they are a symbol of eternal life; the link between heaven and earth. A comprehensive guide to Duck Symbol including the meaning of duck symbol, facts about the duck symbol and dream explanation. What is the significance of seeing a Duck in a dream?

 

 

The Duck is generally thought to be a symbol of resourcefulness. The duck has the ability to walk, swim, fly and 'duck' under the water to feed or hide from predators. In both Chinese and Japanese culture, the duck is a symbol of happiness and fidelity. When the duck and drake are together, it is a sign of happiness and beauty. The duck is a symbol which joins the sea and the sky according to Native American mythology.

Duck Symbol - Dream Explanation

• Seeing ducks in your dream, either represents spiritual freedom (if flying) or it represents the unconscious (if swimming)
• Ducks are rather multi-talented animals that can walk, swim and fly and thus may represent your flexibility and in blending into various situations
• To dream of a Duck could be a symbol that you are setting yourself up or being set up for the kill as associated by the phrase "sitting duck"
• The duck may be a pun on "ducking" some issue or situation, instead of confronting it head-on
• Seeing a white duck in your dream is a symbol of falsehood and deceit

  

 

From the above information these are the words that describe me:

 

Symbol of freedom, resourceful, happiness and fidelity, beauty, multi-talented

 

All of that in a Zentangle!  This is why my passion is art. 

 

 

This duck has a memory from last year.  Every time I visit this park, I think about this person.  In fact every day I think about this person.

 

Life has a way about itself.  Life will go on.  I have gone on, but memories are the story to my life, as they are for you too. 

 

Enjoy your memories.  Happy Easter

Caroline