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Free as a Feather & A Better World

I’m getting into a better flow with creating while also working my full-time job. And it feels good. I’m in a good headspace right now. I feel busy, but in a good way. Balanced somehow.

Free as a Feather

Liberation has been on my mind. A lot… I read that in the United States, around 50% of folks don’t know how many folks have been killed in Palestine. Recorded numbers are around 37,000, but there are likely many more buried in the rubble. Something like 60% of them women and children. It is heartbreaking. And nearly all of them could have been prevented if the United States pulled funding from Israel. If you live in the US, your tax dollars go towards keeping those atrocities going. And are also likely linked to the terrors happening in Sudan, Congo, and more.

I make art to help me connect with hope that the leaders of the world will do the right thing. As the voices against oppression grow, I still hope we will create a world with liberation for all.

On the creation side of things, I really love using that music paper. Normally I use it as collage elements. It’s nice as a background too, though it’s not the easiest to work with. The book it’s from is very old, so the paper is a bit brittle. I definitely have to be gentle with it.

I find I’ve been experimenting more with 3D elements in my works. This one has a brass bird pendant hanging. Using elements like this in my works is getting me to think outside the box a bit more with what mixed media art can really be. Definitely fun to try!

A Better World

With this one, I started playing with colors I don’t always play with. I started with my color wheel and chose the pink, green, yellow, and lilac colors. I started with circles of paint, since I don’t gravitate to circles most of the time. I like to challenge myself with playing with different shapes. Part way through I realized the colors were watermelon-like, and there it was, staring me again in the face: support for Palestine.

I like the bird cage image too. It is from a stencil with a heavy paint scraped over it. The texture is wonderful!

But the bird cage, with a bird trapped inside and others flying on the outside. The symbolism spoke to me of liberation. And of creating a world where we liberate all people.

How do you connect with these works?

I’ve given you a snippet of my artist behind-the-scenes. But how do you connect with these pieces? How do they make you feel? What do you like about them? Or don’t?

Create With Me!!

My creative process is largely intuitive: making a choice, then making the next choice, and on. One playful decision after another. If that sounds nice and you want some time to reflect in the midst of the maelstrom, and dare to let it out through creative expression: I’m offering Power Word Creative Workshops in-person on 06/26 (at Allendale UMC in St. Pete) & virtually on 06/29 (via Zoom). Let me guide you through reflection, journaling, and creating an art piece based on *your* thoughts and feelings! Register before June 15 for a discounted rate for either workshop! I hope you can come!