Memories

Lately I have been doing art to get at the roots of where I am today in my life. Sometimes it's easier to say things with art than with words or emotions...art evokes both naturally. Art can help when I feel distressed or sad and it allows me the necessary outlet to tell my story in a way that others may or may not understand. Other people don't have to understand the message behind what I am saying for me....that is an important discovery, I think, about being an artist. When you start creating for who YOU are, and not for others, I think an important change happens. I know it's happening in me, and this brings a peace into my soul.

How does the child in this picture relate to who I am today? What is she saying with her eyes? Those are things I am trying to figure out through my artistic endeavours.

Little Girl

Time flies when you're having fun. I remember this little wagon, I took it everywhere. Here I am, maybe two, walking with my wagon at my Grandparent's house. I have such good memories of that house and property...probably the best in my life. I seem so small and delicate; little hands holding a little wagon. Life can be so pretty if we take a moment to think about it.

My Art Cat

Sometimes cats are beyond cute. Rupert is no exception!

Introducing Art Cat

This is Rupert. I have named my blog after him because he is such a big part of my art life. He often particpates in my creative process by sleeping at my feet while I create art. I know, I'm not supposed to talk about my cat, it's against good "blogging rules" but too bad. He rocks and he inspires me. Here he is enjoying the last of the summer weather on the back porch. Soon it will be cabin fever time and Art Cat won't be able to go outside anymore...he will just have to sleep by the fire (such a rough life!!!).

Crash and Burn and Almost 40

One day you are going along, thinking you are living a "normal", "healthy" life and then you have a wake-up call. Eight days before my 40th birthday I had mine.

My husband and I went out for a bike ride after I had gotten home from work. I was exhausted but decided to go...excercise, afterall, gives you more energy, right? When my front tire hit his back tire I knew I was done for and there was nothing I could do about it. Ambulance ride, x-rays, cat scan, pain medication and thankfully, no broken neck. I had worn my trusty helmet and that protected my brain from even a mild concussion. I was extremely fortunate that, other than bruises and some scrapes and some major pain the next two days, I had not done anything serious or permanent.

All this because my body was tired, my mind was fried and spiritually I was aching. I am exhausted, I am at the end of my rope and it is because I live with too much STRESS. I am sad, lonely, tired, depressed and have not taken care of myself for a long, long time. I have held in alot of grief and anger, bitterness and hostility....I must learn to let that go because it's acid to my soul..

But the whole point is, I did turn forty on August 7th. Many people don't make it even this far-Princess Diana didn't, Marily Monore didn't either. It's not too late to change things and I have started to do that. No more coffee for lunch/dinner, no more filling up on sugar/starch and I am starting to learn that I need to rest and truly relax. My jacuzzi tub is my new best friend. Baby steps....baby steps....baby steps.

I have begun the process of making an art journal to express how I'm feeling both physically and emotionally. I read the most awesome book called Art Journals & Creative Healing ........it has helped me discover that other people have the same struggles and pain that I do. It's worth checking out......the artists in this book are very candid about their struggles and this helped me alot!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Journals-Creative-Healing-Self-Expression/dp/1592533647/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219236840&sr=8-1

I have also started to change my thinking thanks to Louise Hay and her book "You can heal your life". Postive affirmations are a way of taking the negative out of your thoughts and out of your phsyche altogether...so I'm trying.

So as rough as it gets, I still got to celebrate a milestone with my wonderful husband Joseph and my best friend in the whole world, Jean!!! What more could I possibly want or need??

Trees

I think it's funny that trees have become the "new, in thing". Plant a tree to create oxygen, trees are cool...yikes. When did we finally figure that out? I am waiting for our civilization to be standing under the last tree, wondering as we cut it down, if that's a good thing or not. What did the people of Easter Island think when that fate came to them?

This is a little collage I did a while back while exploring Corey Moorgat's book The Art of Personal Imagery. I love the simple way that Corey gets her point across, using soft colours and vivid images. I liked the way this collage turned out (I did several more that will never make it to this blog). The coral colour in this piece is one of my favourite ones to work with, it's called Melon.

I love to combine art and poetry and I have done that here. Sometimes simple is good in a collage, although I am currently experimenting with more elaborate backgrounds. I am excited about those and the colours in them really bring the images to life.

I just ordered Beryl Taylor's new book Mixed Media Explorations and I am looking forward to making my way through that one as well. I love her soft techniques and her use of hearts as imagery.

That's all for now,

Nosilla

Another Self-Portrait

I am posting a second self-portrait that I made for my ZNE group. I had forgotten to add it here until I discovered it today while looking through my scanned pictures. I am hoping to make a banner for my blog that is more exciting than the generic one that I have and was looking to see what kind of stuff I already have scanned!!!!