Woods and Trees on 35mm

From Morocco to Me

 This is an acrylic and india ink batik based on a photograph taken by one of my heroes.

When my Grandpa was in the Army he spent some time in Africa. 

He took many pictures, although I never saw any of them until after he had passed away.

One of my aunts, who is also a photographer and an artist, found the pictures and

then shared them with the rest of the family. 

It made me so happy to realize that I shared this passion for painting with light with him.

I do know that he loved the arts though because his home was decorated with paintings

done by my Grandma and my Aunt. 

Thank you Grandpa for nourishing creativity in my Aunt, and thank you Lauri for passing 

it on to me. 

Wind Rose

This was done in the dark while I watched a film with friends.

Because I couldn't see the colours, I had to rely on the labels on my prismacolors before I

put them down permanently on paper.

What is a Wind Rose?

Stained Glass examples.

Why be an artiste?

Sometimes sketching will help me focus my thoughts and retain

any impressions I have while listening. This was done during a Relief Society Lesson.
See the good. - that's the thought now permanently associated with this.

I believe that it is part of our divinity to seek the artiste in us and thus to inspire and be inspired.

Always Up

I saw a place I thought I’d start,

tucked away within my heart.

A place where who I am and who I’ll be

is so much more than simply “me”

I am free

in how I see.

I can open my eyes to living light

or give into fear and close them tightly.

I’d rather see the truth in hearts

and trust in goodness from the start.

Light as inspired by Vermeer

This drawing is from six years ago but I found it in a recent move
and it inspires me to work more with LIGHT.

Arbre

Summer spent in a tree.

I'm definitely a "kindred spirit" with Anne from Anne of Green Gables
when it comes to woods and forests.

A forest floor with its carpet of  leaves is always inviting.

Whistle

This portrait is of my sister, with whom I've played many duets and

in consequence travelled through music across the clouds to different lands without

ever physically leaving the room.

Find from Time

I found this poem I wrote a long time ago so it's not a recent creation

but it was fun to read it again. I wrote it one time

when I was especially hoping to be able to be a mother someday.

It's still one of my greatest dreams even though I'm not married

yet. I've since learned that I can learn to be mothering if not a mother.

A great cavern in my heart brims with love and tenderness,

but there is missing the very core black in its emptyness,
white as a wall ready to be painted.

I cannot hope for that which I do not miss, and yet....

How sweet would be the colors, and what

patterns we could paint in layers thickly spread

with loving laughter as we coated ourselves in

a mural of memories and moments,

But not yet,

I only have these borrowed little smiles

not truly mine but enough to start painting.

Re-focus

 I've decided to use this blog to share what I'm currently creating;

whether it's painting, writing, singing, or dancing.

This is a batik. I paint everything I want to be color with tempera and acrylic.

I leave white space where I want it to be black. Once the paint dries I paint over all of it with India Ink.

Then I rinse it under cold water and most of the ink comes off. 

I haven't done one in a while so I'm getting used to the technique again.

You never know how it's going to turn out exactly so it's always a surprise.

This portrait is of my younger sister Ted who is my hero because she scales mountains

and rappels down 500 ft cliffs even though she's scared of heights.

Face the fear and find your faith.

The Light that lets me See

I glanced out the window late in the afternoon

and saw that it was that

magical kind of lighting outside.

This light makes everything glow at its touch.

Beauty that wasn't openly apparent before

now shines and comforts with its loveliness.

I have known a few people who are like this special kind of light.

They made everyone around them feel more beautiful and

happy, even after just being with them for a few moments.

Grandpa was one of these people and someday I hope to be one too. 

Here is an excerpt from one of my all time favorite conference talks.

It was given by Elder Gerald Causse in the October 2008 LDS Conference.

In his philosophocal short story The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

describes the confusion of a little boy who,

on discovering a field of roses, perceives that the flower

he has tended with such love, is not unique but very ordinary.

Then he comes to the realization that the thing that makes his rose unique

is not its outward appearance but the time and the love

he has consecrated to taking care of it. He exclaims:

Men...raise five thousand roses in the same garden--

and they do not find what they are looking for...

and yet what they are looking for could be found in one single rose...

But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart."

In the same way, our knowledge of God

does not depend on the amount of information we accumulate.

After all, all the knowledge of the gospel which is meaningful for 

our salvation can be summarized in few points of

doctrine, principles, and essential commandments...

Knowing God is a matter of opening our hearts

to gain a spiritual understanding and a

fervent testimony of the truth of these few fundamental points of doctrine.

Knowing God is having a testimony of His existence

and feeling in one's heart that He loves us.

It is accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and 

having a fervent desire to follow His example.

In serving God and our neighbor, we witness of Christ and

allow those around us to get to know Him better.

Sarandon: You guys are awesome.

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."

1 John 2:10