Giving old stuff new life. And giving it away.

"Life Giving"
2011
13"x14"
Acrylic and paper on wood










Often when I start something new, I don't set out for the piece to make a statement or send a message. That usually comes during the process, or often a long time after the piece is done. Sometimes I just like it and it doesn't mean anything tangible. But, usually, the art takes on a meaning to me or someone else that only God can inspire. This particular one was inspired by my brother and sister-in-law's discarded kitchen wallpaper from the 70s. I had my eye on it from the day they moved into their house. When they renovated their kitchen, I got the leftovers! I cut out the flowers and got crazy! These flowers seemed to be having a very important conversation with each other. About what? You tell me. The rest of the piece just kind of happened. Then, months later, I was contacted by a friend from Creative Dreams Outreach Center in Stafford. Creative Dreams is a non-profit after school arts and tutoring program for middle and high school students. They make the arts accessible to teens who may never have the opportunity. They needed artwork donated for auction at their upcoming fundraising event. The theme of this year's event was Take One: It only takes one person, one minute to impact the life of a child. Hmmmmmm. Immediately, this piece came to mind as the one I would donate. Now I know why I made it. Our impact on others can be limitless, if only we will open up our lives to freely pour out Christ's love, life and gifts on others.

To find out more about Creative Dreams, you can see what they're doing at http://www.creativedoc.org

Health for All

One of my favorite thrift stores occasionally puts a box of books out front with a free sign. This is VERY exciting for me because I love old books. Sometimes I love them for reading, but they also inspire me to make them into art. This one in particular, titled "Health for All," is a junior high health textbook from the 60's. 

Awesome. On so many levels. The possibilities never end. First of all, the 60's is one of my favorite eras for fashion, art, and design. The colors, the graphics, the illustrations, the photos. Awesome. Just the book itself, all other ideas aside, inspires multiple collages just waiting to be made. So many of the headers and topics are strangely relevant to my life right now. For example, I recently made a portrait of a family of owls for a friend from this book, and the background page was titled "tips on getting more sleep". 


Here's another Great one--"you're growing up." 

Yes. Thanks for the reminder. I try to forget that as often as possible. 

Part of the fun for me with collage is putting a cheeky spin on the original content of a book. I will share some of these pieces with you as they work their way out. My goal as a blogging artist (that sounds weird) is to not only share with you my finished work, but bits and pieces of my thought process, my movement through and the joys and pains of the journey of creating. I find that the most rewarding and fruitful part of being an artist is not having a huge fantastic body of work (that would be cool though), but the process of getting there. The most amazing conversations I've had with other artists are over unfinished pieces we are struggling with. My husband has connected to me and my art more deeply because he sees the constant problems and new ideas and techniques I push through in order to produce what is in me to make. When you see an unfinished piece of art in that ugly awkward stage (what many of us experienced in junior high, I might add), it is a vulnerable place for the artist to be. There are always the questions, "am I any good at all?" "can I really do this?" "what was I thinking?!?!" All of these questions and conversations and trials and problems expand me as an artist, as well as my heart and ability to empathize. They make us more healthy. 

I'm learning to embrace this ugly stage and all the questions and troubles as valuable and healthy parts of the process. Healthy isn't always fun, but it's necessary for quality of life.  

I guess I should go exercise now. 

Hope

In May of 2010 a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28. She was a beautiful presence as long as I'd known her. She loved on my kids and me so freely as well as everyone around her. Her passion for art and beauty inspired me. When faced with this terrible monster we call cancer and the implications it could have on her life, the troops were rallied. Friends and family joined forces to bathe her in prayer, love, and hope. She fought hard and was victorious! Not all stories end up this well, but we thank God for this particular miracle. I'm so proud of her and how much stronger she has become, and how she continues to unabashedly love and inspire people.

Over several years time, this friend has wanted to commission me to do a piece of art for her home. It took a while (as is typical)  for me to come up with an idea for her and her husband's home. As we looked at a wall together that she was reserving for my future art, we talked about using an old door hung horizontally for me to work on. The result came about as I thought about these sweet friends and the long road they have traveled at such an early age.

The door speaks for itself, so I didn't want to cover it up too much. Its original enamel paint would require sanding or primer in order for paint to adhere. After some very light sanding and cleaning, I went with oil paint so I wouldn't have to stir up too much dust and so I could maintain the integrity of the door. As I did the green drips, it made me think of things springing up from the ground. The circles are just a small obsession I have right now, morphing together into other forms. As the time came to make the tree trunk, I decided to try my hand with carving tools, taking off the layers of old paint precisely to create branches and a trunk. I wouldn't recommend carving over an oil painted surface (I had a lot of patch up to do). But, as I do often, I shot from the hip and learned as I went. As I worked on this door, there was no theme I was seeking to convey. I just went with what I loved and what worked well. When all was said and done, I looked at this piece and felt hope, a theme I have been thinking on lots lately.

So, to my sweet friends, who have lived through many highs and lows, I pray for a long life filled with hope.