Collage As Oracle

Since the beginning of my Color of Woman teacher training, I've enjoyed the fun and inspiring journaling guidance from our Journaling Maven, Jena Joy! She often provides journaling prompts to help us unpack information, and discover more of "what we didn't know that we know." She has a FREE offer on one of her little workshops  - register by Monday! 

This fall we embarked on a 13 moon painting process called CODEX, and began with

dedicating an Art Journal for our journey. One of the early exercises was to make a collage, then cut out sections using a round template for Oracle "coins." We interpreted the Oracle of the first com, then glued it into the journal.

I've long loved oracles, both printed cards and my own interpretations, including soul collage and story cards. And I especially love round cards ... So I had fun creating my collage, then choosing small images to cut from the pages! 

Collage spread in CODEX journal

I  

brought a few magazines, printed napkins, scissors and glue sticks for this week's Red Thread Circle, and we used drawing paper for the background. We used the top of a tea tin as the template, for slightly larger cards. 

I decided to glue one of the two pages I created into my #codex journal, folding in one edge, as it was a longer paper, then added more collage to the back of the folded bit. 

I may glue these cards onto watercolor

Morning reading

paper to make them a bit sturdier and give them a layer of sealer.

• What's in your cup, how do the tea leaves read?
• Time for an adventure, Paris, anyone? (Or a tour through nearby art studios?)
• Or perhaps a cozy rustic retreat, nurture the body and soul

Do you use Oracle cards? Have a favorite deck? 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Claiming Space

Several of my artist friends are claiming studio space, either in nearby business spaces, or in their homes. Recently one wrote about moving her studio into one of their largest rooms, with her husband's blessing. She realized she had "permission" all along, but didn't feel "worthy" of that large room. She invited us to notice where we play small, and if it's time to shift! 

This is a timely inquiry! For the past three years, I've had

Dining nook Atelier

my Atelier in my little dining nook, a space about 5 x 6', which opens into my kitchen. My daughter asked a few days ago if I'd thought of moving my seating area into that nook, and "claiming" my living room for my art! It's an area ~ 11.5 x 20' and I'd thought of using the back section (10 x 10') but not of moving my seating into the nook! 

Front living room

I go in cycles of more organized and clutter-full, and am currently in a cluttered need-to-dethug and organize phase! Sigh. And my daughter asked her good-at-cleaning and organizing husband, "which should and do first? Move stuff around, or declutter?" ... (you guessed it! ... sigh) I found this kool video on creativity and clutter from the "Clutter Fairy," nice to watch while I'm sorting through some piles! And she offers some great tips on going through craft stuff, to make it easier to get creative! 

As a Virgo, I have a tendency to want perfection, and can get overwhelmed when it's gotten chaotic. (CHAOS: Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). I love the energy of rearranging, and cleaning around that! So, .... on with it! 

Last night at our Red Thread Circle, our inquiry was

around the messages of Cancer, what are our crab claws ready to release, what are they opening to receive? I played flute while Sepha led a meditation, and then we moved to out art materials. 

I drew a crab on the white board, and told the kid's story about a hermit crab decorating its shell, then outgrowing it, and needing to move on. One gal, who's changing jobs, used that imagery. A couple of others painted hands, closed fist and open to receive. I had a tangle of seaweed that my crab was moving out of.

This morning, I'm sketching the spaces to rearrange, and thinking of better organized storage. I cleaned out the under-stair closet on 4th of July, and plan some shelves and bins for seasonal things stored there. I had a field trip to Ikea last weekend, and got a Råskog cart for in use materials, and some lights (and lots of ideas!) 

Happy Paint Party Friday! 
What are you ready to release? 
What are you opening to receive?

Around the World Artsy Blog Hop

A couple of weeks ago, Denise in Australia invited participation in an 'Around the World Artsy Blog Hop,' about our creativity ... & I decided to play along .... then was off at the coast on a camping trip, and .... and ... time to write!! 

These are the 4 questions:
1. How does my creative process work?
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
3. What am I working on now?
4. Why do I create what I do?

1. How does my creative process work? 

"Presence" Mama Lois & She Who Watches

I've always thought of myself as 'Artsy-crafty' .... my mom Lois knit, crocheted, & took craft classes including basket weaving. She always had a great eye for colour, & I followed her lead, taking 4-H sewing, & drafting some of my own patterns, learning various arts & She also mentions  and creativity are ... I took art in HS, and a live drawing class in college, and 'always' sketched & did crafts in fits & spurts. I garden & keep garden note books, ... 
I made dolls & paper dolls, I took up spinning ....
I dance (from Ballet to Square Dance!) &  sketched kids at the ballet studio during my daughter's class, now sketch my grandkids ...Jewelry making, pine needle baskets, I tend to accumulate supplies, which tend to be beautiful all on their own! Over the last decade, I've taken classes from local artists - beeswax collage, slab pottery, & played with Soul Collage...

My mother-in law Dorothy Fender (now 98!) loved having a full collection of various art materials, & in the 70s & 80s, would often 'share' with me - when we were 'into' embroidery, she bought us EACH a full set of DMC embroidery cotton (!) later, Prismacolor coloured pencils.... she has some lovely pastel paintings she did in her earlier years, at this point, she no longer creates, but still appreciates what I bring over to show her!  

In February, I took a 'Muse Encounter' workshop with my friend artist Elisabeth Friese-Mick, who has been studying "Intentional Creativity"with Shiloh Sophia McCloud, so painting has taken the forefont!  Chocolate is an important part of the process, keeping the Muse happy while we paint! In later Spring & Summer, I've taken on-line & virtual courses with Shiloh & with another of her students, artist Flora Aube.
When I go to an art fair, or into a gallery, I often think "I could do that!"  So my creative process is stimulated by other artists, by nature, by imagination.

I'm lucky (or unlucky!) to have an Art Supply right in town, so when I want to try new materials, they're very handy! If I'm inspired, I may begin painting in the evening, with a candle lit & some music on, & paint into the wee hours! I often have a couple of pieces going .... & revisit older canvases, as the muse whispers. 
I'm a Virgo, so love tiny things - have done water-colors on 1 1/2" squares of paper!! & have made wee rugs for doll houses, so it's been a bit of a surprise to find myself working on canvases that are 2' x 3'!!

Yarrow Rose, Healer

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I love reality & fantasy .... my faces tend to be 'sweet' & people seem to find my paintings uplifting (which I strive for!) .... 
I find myself loving being part of the Intentional Creativity movement, putting intention into the canvas, writing words, saying a little prayer, before applying paint .... As a Reiki Master, I have had a number of artists study with me over the years, who also seek to infuse their art with healing & inspiration.   
Flames, eyes that speak volumes, loving kindness  spirals, art as healing icons .... 
Several of my pieces seem to 'ask' to be part of a story , that may be next! 

 3. What am I working on now? 

Zander helping Journal

I just began a little canvas (square: 13") and an art journal that has words, collage, drawing/painting. Last weekend my daughter's family & I joined a number of folks from our church for a camp out at the coast, & my youngest grandkids (3 & 3 1/2) LOVED helping paste & draw Grammie's art journal (& mom & dad were grateful for keeping them happily occupied for awhile!)
 

Green lady

4. Why do I create what I do?
Gosh! Doesn't everyone who is creative 'have to' create in some fashion or another?!! I think it's the nature of the beast ... As Denise says "When I’m creating I’m in a different world where time does not exist." YES!! She also mentions art as a good way for processing emotions beyond words ... I find that true as well. Art, any art, is therapeutic! 

If others enjoy my offerings as well, all the better!!

Blessings to all who visit & find inspiration in these words!

I'm linking to Paint Party Friday, & to that Artsy Blog Hop!!

Soul Collage - Bees

Saturday my friend Heidi invited a group to a Ladies Night 
Soul Collage playdate! 6 of us met at a home with a lovely large dining room table for our adventure. Heidi and Anita had taken a S C workshop last summer, just after Heidi's mom Susan made Transition, & I'd taken one a year or two ago at a shop in town (besides making many cards on my own.)

We began with a brief overview of the process, and put images we'd brought to share on the large table. We took awhile, each assembling our own little pile, & going through some of the magazines for others. The three little girls (7-8 yrs old) chose some as well, then dashed outside to play in the fading light!

Heidi, Anita & I laid out the cards we'd made, face down, & mixed together, & each of us chose 3 cards for a mini 'reading,' in two groups of 3. We took turns drawing one card, & sharing our observations/ & how it 'fit' for us. One would 'scribe,' which we also took in turns. 

Then we took a little time, looking at the other cards, before pulling out our boards, glue sticks, scissors & images, to begin the process of creating new cards. I had stopped by a frame shop earlier in the day, & bought more card stock (matt board 8" x 10" center pieces, cut in half to make 5"x 8" cards).

All of us were attracted to pumpkins, sunflowers & fall colours. My first card (of 4 made that evening) is Bees - I just noticed the Queen Bee in the center of the honeycomb! (Love how these card images keep unfolding!) 
Sunday evening I dreamed of organization, & Monday morning wrote my 'I Am the One Who' definition:

I Am the One Who is organized and diligent 
 - who makes beauty from Nectar
I Am the Goddess in form
I tender initiations

I Am the One Who holds the key to your fairy cottage
I love symetry & form
My home smells of the Nectar of the Goddess
I Am She who feels her way home

(& this morning added:
I Am part of a Community of bees
I Am dependant on my Sisters & dependable
We blaze trails for each other & leave signs along the way 
"This is how it is done! Come THIS way!"
No separation - yes, we CAN!
We are a Nation of Women with Wings

Sunflower: I am perfect order, I radiate power, serenity, beauty in form & symetry.

Molly Sheehan, of Green Hope Farm Essences writes "I AM God, a Chalice of wisdom, power & love in perfect & balanced action." - & "Lets say you awoke one morning to find you had been cast in the role of a hero of a real life drama in which you must save the planet. This would be the essence to put in your super hero kit. Sunflower knows that each of us is a manifestation of divinity in human form. It helps us be a chalice of light with our personalities the servant of our divinity, our male energy in balance with our female energy & all systems go for being divinity in balanced action."

About bees (her Honeybees in the White Hawthorn essence) she writes: "An Ecuadorian Shaman once told me the energy & noise of honeybees is so healing that he sleeps with a beehive under his bed and his pillow right over the hive (!) ....Honeybees actually correct energy imbalances, and regulate energy flow on the land they work. They are the harmonizers of nature. Their vibration (in this essence) helps soothe energy disturbances, release disharmonious energies, and correct problems in energy flow in our energy systems."

Since my ? for the evening was my 'next steps in teaching energy (primarily Qigong & Reiki) this card fits the bill!!!