Growth

Sometimes pressure, personal obligation, produces a problem, but in that we are able to choose and grow.  This picture was hard for me to do. It first started out as a sunset, but then paint spilled accidently while enjoying some children in our home.  I grew increasingly frustrated.  Then I realize I can either  enjoy the moment or stay stuck in my ways. I covered over the sunset with gray to make gray clouds.  Then I thought about growth.  How sometimes we can stay tall, but grow bitter roots or we can weather the storm and grow in life to become  flexible with strong healthy roots.

Count the Stars/

Unfortunately I am not able to share the story at this point in time.  I will be able to in the future one I have been given the permission to do so.  Thank you for your patience and your respect.

Beautiful Songbird

This picture came from a song that is written by singer & songwriter Lisa Mitts.  This song is dedicated to all of the young woman caught in human trafficking  On the night of  June 16 2012, as she sang this song during a  concert,  immanently I saw this picture.  Tears flowed  and I knew this project was like no other, because it was for an important purpose and beyond what I have done so far in my art abilities.  What I saw was this.  In the back yard there was a songbird in a cage, but the door was opened by a young girl whom herself had been rescued.  She being angry, wanted the bird to come out of the cage  The bird stood there not knowing what to do.  Both of them  in different situation, but yet going though similar story.   Little does the child know she is loved and has a voice and destiny in the kingdom of God, and the song bird also has wings to fly and sing outside the cage.

Prior to this project, I've not explored drawing things from my environment  I have done abstract and shapes.  I have tried several times to do a face, but it was lop sided and not really clear.   In learning to draw a face you draw: an oval one line in the middle and three horizontal lines indicating the position of the nose eyes & mouth.  However, once I started to draw the features they would become crooked because I have to get close to see what I am drawing.  I also did not understand what shapes were needed to draw the: lips, eyes, & nose.  After doing the sculpture I was able to do this picture.  I wanted to do a sculpture of a face because I wanted to understand the shape of the face. It  was exciting to me to see each feature take shape. Like a puzzle feeling and putting things together. The human face is full of shapes within shapes.  Everything is aligned.  God is detailed about his creation.

Even the bird took time. Up until Lisa sang this song, I had no idea what a songbird looked like until I looked on the web.  There were all different shapes and sizes, but one stood out to me that was red & black. The beak was different color.  I don't know what they sound like. Being an artist has broaden my horizon to the world around me.

Do schools Kill art?

I found this video in a 30 day challenge I am doing  with a community of artist.  I I really got excited to hear this gentleman speak about this.  I learn hands on by manipulating and feeling things. I like to move around and doodle while people are talking. Some think that I am not listening. School could have taught me a lot but even at the blind school I graduated with out the ability to balance a single check book.   I really believe art needs to be reinstated. I also believe teachers have the creativity to teach students who have the gift as an artist.  Speak to them  as an artist and they will flourish.  Pass this video on to your children's teachers.

Golden Butterfly Collage

I had fun making this one. I think at the time I was very stressed and I  needed to convert my energy into something that I enjoy doing.  In this piece I got to tear paper to pieces without a care in the world.  I love collages because you don't have to be so mathematical about how things go.  It is a messy process. But i love how it comes out in the end.

I made this piece out of white linen, shredded paper, and heaver paper that had a picture on it. One had a butterfly which i placed in the middle.  The rest was shredded up decorative paper.  After shredding all of the paper, we mixed glue and water together. I applied it onto the cloth then applied it again onto the pieces  then we applied some tissue on top of that.   The hard part was waiting.   I believe I added some paint too .  After allowing it to dry I sprayed some gold paint and then used  butterfly stencils to make the butterfly 

Cellabration

This is entitled "Celebration" This was one project where I already knew who would receive this painting.  However the occasion for giving this painting was unknown to me. I knew right away that I was suppose to give it to  my pastor's family.  We as a community wanted to show them with our appreciation.  What a better occasion to present it to them on the night of  10 year aniversery of One New Man Ministry.   They are instrumental in the community to to my life and the lives of those in the community.

A Hawaiian Memorial

This is dedicated to Jan White who was a great friend of mine.  She helped and encouraged me in so many ways. One of our project was to take a picture and make a quit square.  The square was out of paper.  Unfortunately I got too excited when saw her picture with the guy and I immediately saw a Hawaiian seen where she was placed in the sky in the middle of the sunset.   So I created this scene on canvas and for me this was a great way to have some closure to a good relationship.   She had passion to serve others and a zeal for life and the colors represent that. Hawaii is also the land of paradise. I thought you know now she is in true paradise where she can rest.  I am proud to have know this wonderful artist.

Although this one is not  available, I would be happy to do a memorial painting for your loved ones.