Jonathan served as a military EMT, parachuting from a helicopter to provide first aid, the traumas he was involved with led to PTSD, which creative processes (he's a chef and poet) helped him transform those old traumas.
With this process, we each have been spending time pulling our some of the stories, to distill down into antidotes.
I'm beginning to put my symbols on the vessels, and write the prescriptions.
Our journey began March 31, and in addition to the painting process, identifying traumas, and discovering antidotes, Jenafer Owen has been offering a daily journal prompt. I love her method of writing with watercolor pencils, then adding collage, and activating /transforming the words with water!
Alchemical jars - we wrote, drew jars in Sharpe, and choose images that appealed for five remedies.
I adapted this for our Red Thread Circle last night, dividing a sheet of Mixed Media paper into four segments, journaling about an element in each (earth, air, fire and water) and choosing magazine images for each element.
This was a good warm up for our next class, in a week, my cohort Sepha and I will invite our students to connect with the elements as they paint "Gaia as a Portal"
Bezoar - Harry Potter fans will recognize this ancient universal poison remedy. An "indigestable" irritant in an animal's stomach or intestine (hair, etc) is transformed into a solid mass, a Bezoar.
We drew a winding form in our journal, connecting the end with the start of the line; and used watercolor pencil to write about the "irritant" bellow the line. Then choose another color to write the insight, and skills learned from it. Last, use a brush and water to activate the alchemy.
The next step is to add the Bezoar to one of the medicine confessing vessels on our canvas, with the same colors. It looks rather flower-like, doesn't it?
This morning's prompt was to use a 'Random item Generator' to give us several items pertinent to our alchemical journey! Mine were rubber gloves, masking tape, a snow globe, and a plush bear. I've been drawing and painting with my Grands, home on an inservice day. I used blue painting tape, for painting my Atelier, the gloves allow me to "dig in"
I asked the kids for ideas for the show globe, and when Z-man suggested Santa, I
remembered the Herstory of a Sun Goddess crossing the sky in a chariot pulled by a reindeer. She flies on Winter Solstice, spinning the sun's rays, and dropping Amber (from her tears) and apples!
I'm beginning to put my symbols on the vessels, and write the prescriptions.
 |
| Vessels in my Apothecary |
Alchemical jars - we wrote, drew jars in Sharpe, and choose images that appealed for five remedies.
 |
| Elements |
This was a good warm up for our next class, in a week, my cohort Sepha and I will invite our students to connect with the elements as they paint "Gaia as a Portal"
 |
| Bezoar |
We drew a winding form in our journal, connecting the end with the start of the line; and used watercolor pencil to write about the "irritant" bellow the line. Then choose another color to write the insight, and skills learned from it. Last, use a brush and water to activate the alchemy.
The next step is to add the Bezoar to one of the medicine confessing vessels on our canvas, with the same colors. It looks rather flower-like, doesn't it?
This morning's prompt was to use a 'Random item Generator' to give us several items pertinent to our alchemical journey! Mine were rubber gloves, masking tape, a snow globe, and a plush bear. I've been drawing and painting with my Grands, home on an inservice day. I used blue painting tape, for painting my Atelier, the gloves allow me to "dig in"
I asked the kids for ideas for the show globe, and when Z-man suggested Santa, I
I discovered parts of this story when I was painting the Celtic lady, Elen Star-Path. So I brought the Latvian Saule into my globe! My middle granddaughter suggested the word JOY.
Mr grandkids have been enjoying playing with watercolor and Inktense pencils as well, and seeing what happens when they activate then.
What's on your easel or table?
Happy paint party Friday!
