Sunday, March 24, 2013

From Darkness to Light


Everybody's talkin at me
I don't hear a word they're sayin,
Only the echoes of my mind...

If you don't remember the movie (Midnight Cowboy), maybe you've heard the song.


This song echoed in my head this week, as I navigated various conflicts where I seemed to be the person in the middle.  Both sides were coming at me to vent, look for reassurance, and support.   And at some point, I just didn't want to hear it any more. 

I took to my studio.  I had a canvas already prepped with book pages, and used a black pastel crayon to draw angry faces.


 I started painting, trying not to think about a finished product, just pouring my feelings out in paint:


I doodled around the painting with white paint and a thin brush, rotating the canvas as I went.  I splattered paint.  I painted with my fingers and with the edge of a credit card.  I just played and had messy fun.  My mood began to lighten.


Inspired by the work of Corrine Gilman, I added some pieces of corrugated cardboard I had wripped from a box.  After stepping away and giving the painting a new look, I saw the horizontally placed cardboard as an arm and hand, protecting me and keeping the angry voices at bay.  This made me happy.


With the strength of this protective "arm," I was able to banish some of the angry faces into the background.  I felt that I was on a journey from the depths of winter to the warmth of spring.  In gratitude, I added little wooden Prima flowers on the protective "arm," and let a tulip and dahlia bloom where an angry face had been.  Leaves appeared and turned the angry arm/hand on the right side of the canvas into a nourishing tree.


As I journeyed from winter to spring, and my mood went from darkness to light, so did the expressions in my faces.  Amazing how "randomly" placing some corrugated cardboard completely changed my mood and this piece!

The finished painting: 


The writing says: "find peace in the darkness and holiness in it all."

http://pinterest.com/pin/199143614745242569/
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I had intended to do a post today about decoupaging plastic easter eggs with gelli prints on newspaper, but unfortunately the stomach bug that's been going around interfered with my plans...  So here's the link that inspired me -- maybe I'll get to it, or maybe you will!

Linking to all my favorite Monday blog hops: Creative Everyday, Inspire Me Monday, Monday Mantras, Make it on Mondays, Mandarin Orange Monday, and to the challenges at Pin and Tack, Spark Your Creativity (where I was thrilled to be highlighted for their February challenge), Anything But a Card (Spring), and  Eclectic Paperie (corrugated cardboard).

A warm welcome to all the new people following this blog.  I really appreciate it!   

Please check back on Thursday for a stencil test drive featuring the doors and windows stencil, and the art of Carolyn Dube, Corrine Gilman, Maria McGuire and Judy SheaOf course, there will be a giveaway!

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.

36 comments:

  1. Wow, Jessica. That piece is amazing and beautiful! It is amazing how our feelings come out in our art. Someone posted on my blog and said the face in my piece looked sad. Thank you so much for sharing that.....I need to go paint!

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  2. I never would have imagined how much this piece transformed from the beginning to the end if you hadn't shared the steps! Isn't that the greatest thing about art- that it can move those feelings along and even transform some! Sorry it was such a yucky week-sending you a virtual hug.

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  3. WoW!!! what a difference from beginning to end...I could really see your mood getting lighter and lighter:-)
    Amazing work, your colors and shapes really speak to me... thanks for coming out to play with eP !!

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  4. Wow I love how you calmed the savage beasts..or should I say voices.... EXCELLENT!! That's how you do it!! It turned out beautiful....I enjoyed the process! Hope this mirrors your life!! Peace is so important to me... wishing you a peaceful and creative rest of the week!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  5. Dear Jessica,
    thank you for sharing the way of this painting. I love the intention and the result. The writing is touching my heart, also the colors -
    all so sweet
    Sending hugs
    Erika

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  6. Fabulous, love the painting and more so how you got there - great lesson to us all.

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  7. So glad you are feeling happier (apart from the stomach bug - get well soon!) I was wondering where this page was going but as I scrolled down I could see you were feeling better! Great! Chrisx

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  8. Love how this page came to be.... the best kind of art... letting go and letting out. It's absolutely fabulous. Thanks for joining us at eclectic Paperie!

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  9. Woohooo Jessica loved reading your post from start to finish . . . stunning work of art and thank you so much for joining in over at eclectic Paperie.
    Big hugs
    Tracy
    xoxo

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  10. Jessica, thank you so much for sharing not only your feeling but the process of the painting. Both gave me a lot to think about today.

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  11. (((((BIG HUG)))))) to you, Jessica. What an amazing transition in this art. Love how it evolved and why. End result is beautiful.. Feel better, my friend.

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  12. YES YES! Can I get a big HUZZAH! For therapeutic art. A wonderful transformative piece, it's amazing how art can take the darkness in our hearts and turn it into something wonderful. I can so relate, I'm having a Monday... you know, THAT kind of Monday... I've affectionately dubbed it F@%K IT Monday! I've been inspired by your piece to go battle it out. I'm off to conquer, I wish you well, may you slay the stomach bug, and live to art another day! All the best!

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  13. Your final painting is breathless! I love the vibrant colors and happy faces. I have kids and so I find my art in photography. It's easier to manage, but I miss the painting I used to do, albeit not that good. ;)
    Visiting from Sarah Evans blog hop.
    http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com

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  14. Fascinating story and process. The piece exactly shows your mood/environment at each step. Healing art.

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  15. Oh I love your transformation through moving that energy through the body and creating your protective arm. Glad I could inspire a tiny bit, but I suspect you have a pretty strong muse to get you through anything! xox

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  16. Of course I remember - my mom was lame and always a couple steps behind us, so she called herself Ratso Rizzo! Your artwork is so powerfully colorful and I envy your talent...thanx for sharing..

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  17. WOW! What a beautiful transformation....seeing the process was almost exhilarating as I am having a bad day too. Problem is I can't muster the courage to make art. This was very profound for me today! Thank you!!!! Just super beautiful!

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  18. I absolutely love the way your painting evolved - it's truly amazing to see. The finished piece is just lovely. I also love that it became a kind of catharsis for you as you painted.

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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  19. You have proved what a wonderful medium paint is to express your feelings.
    xxx

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  20. Wow.. Great post, and love how your painting evolved. Love the quote too!.. As for the eggs, I will definitely check that out. Funny, because I was just thinking to paper mache a balloon, but couldn't find a single balloon in the house!.. Hope you're feeling better, and that you're enjoying the day! ~tina

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  21. This is fabulous, so very great! I've loved how you lead us through all your internal process as you played and had fun with this. It's so soulful and just beautiful, wow, bravo! xx

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  22. Jessica, this is wonderful! Isn't it great how art can really help us move from the darkness to light, as your title says? This is really obvious here, with each step you posted. Wonderful. And i absolutely adore that last quote you have...I MAKE ART TO SHOW MY SOUL THAT I AM LISTENING. i think i'll make myself a little poster with this quote. Brilliant. xox

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  23. OMG, this is fabulous. I love how you just pour your emotions into your painting. A true artist. I need to learn to let go and need to do that (would love to learn to do that. ) Wonderful awesome painting. Thank you so much for sharing and playing along with the eTeam.

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  24. WOW! I loved hearing the story behind your piece - it makes it that much more powerful. The protective arm and your kind faces are just wonderful! Bravo, xoxo

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  25. This painting is beautifull, love the colours. I love that you show in your post how you build it up and went from one thing to another. Very inspiring.

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  26. absolutely amazing how you got it all out and then covered up with so much layering,changing the whole mood of the piece entirely-brilliant!!

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  27. Beautiful artwork and colors Jessica. Visited from MIM..Loz

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  28. Fabulous artwork. Thanks for sharing with Make It Monday this week.
    Remember, to be in the running to win the prize from our sponsor this week just leave a comment for another entry. Be sure to mention you saw them on Make It Monday. The more entries you comment on the more chances you have of winning!
    Hugs,
    Sandy

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  29. What an awesome piece of art!! :) Thanks for joining us at Anything But A Card!! :) :) :)

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  30. Beautiful series! And what a journey of moods... :)
    yes, i too remember Midnight Cowboy - and Zabriski Point and Easy Rider - loved them.... :)) Those were the days....
    Thank you for sharing on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

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  31. and that, my friend, is what is called: Art Heals! AMAZING to see the transformation. I actually liked it angry too :)

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  32. Astounding how your painting changed. I loved seeing all the stages, thanks for sharing your wonderful art. The final piece is so complex and beautiful and more so for having seen the processes by which it was made.

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  33. visiting via MIM: Love the vibrancy of your canvas and composition. your description of its metamorphis was very enlightening too.

    Lou
    x

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  34. I just so enjoyed reading about your journey through to the completion of this piece - creative and inspiring. I so love that finished piece; it makes me feel happy and warm just to look at it! Such a talent is wonderful.
    Thanks so much for joining us again at Anything But A Card.
    Happy Easter.
    Julia

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  35. This is such an amazing piece of art...and heart. I love the honesty of the emotions and the transformation from the dark and unhappy feelings to the strength and joy at the end. That's a lesson I need to be reminded of so thank you. Gorgeous finished piece. I love both the colours and the composition. Thanks so much for linking to the corrugated challenge at eclectic Paperie. I'm so glad I popped by.

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