Monday, February 27, 2012

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)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

mystery

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

-Julia Cameron (b. 1948)

Sunday, February 12, 2012

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.





Sunday, February 5, 2012

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.

Friday, February 3, 2012

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

Thursday, February 2, 2012

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)