words are in short supply

i give up (9" x 12" mixed media)

i'm still working my way through life book 2012, and also recently began an online lenten pilgrimage via abbey of the arts. the coupling of those two things, along with some other projects i'm involved in, has resulted in some interesting (to me, anyway!) artwork. i wish i had words to express the riptide of emotion these classes are stirring up in me, but words are in short supply these days. in the meantime, i'll just let the art do the talking.

the ecstasy (12" x 16" mixed media)

mystery

Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.

-Julia Cameron (b. 1948)

coming of age

coming of age (9" x 12" mixed media)

i learned to love

my name

when i learned

its meaning.

who wouldn't

love being

of the resurrection,

able to live

again?

-stacy wills (2/12/2012)

my painting for week 6 of life book 2012 was done using the paint over collage technique. the theme for this month (february) is "celebrating the achievements in our life." for a perfectionist like me, that is not an easy task, but i forged ahead and was quite surprised by what emerged. life book is turning out to be quite the eye-opener.

laughter is the best medicine

(laughter is the best medicine, 9" x 12" mixed media)

at the height

of laughter,

the universe

is flung into a

kaleidoscope of

new possibilities.

-jean houston (b. 1937)

this is a page from my life book 2012 project. this week's assignment was to do a self-portrait using a black and white photo-copy of a favorite picture of yourself. i was really scrambling to find a fairly recent (and half-way decent) photo of myself. they're rare as hen's teeth because generally i loathe having my picture taken. however, this one was snapped before i could protest and it catches me in the act of laughing - something you'll find me doing quite frequently - and, as those who know me will attest, often at the oddest moments.

for this portrait, i collaged the image onto a sheet of watercolor paper, then painted over it using caran d'arche neocolor II's (aka crayons for grown-ups!) as well as some watered down acrylic paints. once that was done, i scanned the painting and played with it digitally, giving myself a cool punk hair-do.

to mingle with the universe

from all i may be,

or have been before,

to mingle with the universe,

and feel what i can ne'er express,

yet cannot all conceal...

-lord byron (1788-1824)

from his poem: The Dark, Blue Sea

the gift of tears

in god's economy

our tears are never wasted.

there is no shame in crying out -

does not the psalmist say

that god knows our weeping

indeed, saves our tears?

when jesus wept, were his tears

not also kept in the bottle

that bears his name?

and has he not tenderly knelt before

many a weary and broken soul

in an unexpected guise,

(like that woman long ago)

and washed their feet with the same?

-stacy wills (2/2/2012)