Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sharing the Spark

I've been a well of emotion lately.

The world spins - children are born and grow up as you blink ... people you love pass on.  As Emily says in Our Town, "it all goes by so fast, we don't have time to look at one another."  She asks, "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? - every, every minute?"  Most often, the answer is "no."  (The links are for the amazing Lincoln Center production of this play.)

Do you ever feel as though your inner light dims and the world seems grey?  IT SUCKS!  But inevitably, something happens; someone re-kindles the spark, and the world is alive again. 

This post is about the gratitude I have for those angels who come to me in human form and teach me to see the world with love and not despair.  You never know when you are that angel who lights another's spark.    Here's a fast forward of my process as I created this canvas in gratitude for the angels in my life.




After I finished her, I felt like she was missing something.  I wanted spiritual motifs in the background and on her dress.  I pulled out my Priestly Blessing stencil, with its beautiful Hebrew letters, and my Medieval Leaves stencil, which is designed from ancient motifs.

The canvas was too small to accurately stencil directly on top of the design.  So I pulled out some white tissue paper, and stenciled on top of it with gold paint.


The great thing about stenciling on the tissue paper is that I was able to tear out portions, and then place them exactly where I wanted them.  With a thin watery brush, I traced around the areas where the designs should be, and adhered the tissue paper with matte medium. 


Once I adhered it, the white portions of the tissue paper melted into the canvas, leaving the gold design exactly where I wanted it.


"at times our light goes out, and is rekindled by a spark from another.  
Be grateful for those who have lit the flames within you."

This image is available as a print at Society 6 (which has free shipping through Sunday) and the original is for sale in my Etsy shop.   

Linking to my favorite Monday blog hops:  Make It Monday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Creative Every Day, Inspire Me Monday, and Be Inspired. 

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

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37 comments:

  1. Oh Jessica, you are always so full of wonderful creative ideas. I love how you did the stencilling on the tissuepaper. It looks wonderful. And your words are so very true ....

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  2. I'm so glad you've been re-kindled! Such questions you pose about living life! Feeling life, watching life go by, losing lives ... Yes, experiencing all of that too ...working hard here living life, noticing life, acknowledging life, being grateful for being alive! But not yet fully comprehending the enormousness of death, the finality of it, sitting in disbelief. Is that what shiva is, being cushioned by others as you sit in dis-belief?

    I love these women angels, love love the Hebrew words behind them ...thank you for sharing, I might benefit from such an angel right now.
    Xoxo shalom

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    1. Ill check your store for a print of her....Lynn

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  3. Beautiful canvas, I love the ideas of angels coming in human form - I could do with one just now! Valerie

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  4. This is so good, I love your angel. Adding the extra embellishments really made this piece pop. Really enjoyed seeing the process in your video :)

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  5. Well I know that you are one of my human angels who always inspires me to step into that spark and see what ignites. I love your Angel and her layers of goodness. xox

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  6. Jessica, I know how you feel. I am also very thankful for those that kindle that spark for me. You painting is lovely.

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  7. love your angel! tx for sharing and inspiring, aloha,angi in hana

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  8. Your post and video were very inspiring and provided a welcome spark for me today. Thank you for always so generously sharing yourself and your talents.

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  9. such a very poignant post Jessica. Your angel is so peaceful and beautiful. Love the quote you used too.

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  10. Great video and stenciling technique Jessica! Beautiful canvas!

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  11. Love this video.. I think you and Carolyn Dube are my favorite of all times. I learn so much. Thank you for sharing. I am going to try a canvas, never painted on one.

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  12. Always thoroughly enjoy the process and videos! She is stunning! Thank you for the tissue paper stencil technique!

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  13. This is fabulous! What a wonderful technique.

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  14. I am a big believer in keeping aware of the people who come into your life and provide a light in the dark. What a lovely way to appreciate that and to inspire your art.

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  15. What a wonderful piece! And your tissue paper trick is so clever. I love your emotions and your response to your angels.

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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  16. What a fabulous creation! Thanks so much for dropping this off by our house at 613 Avenue Create! We look forward to your next visit!
    Hugz,
    Chana Malkah, Owner

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  17. I love, love, love your angel. Blessings!

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  18. Another moving post...so moving! I love your words, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this angel! Gorgeous Art!

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  19. Once again, I really appreciate your video. You continue to teach me new techniques, thanks, Jessica. Your colours and textures are stunning! The words are a great reminder to celebrate all of the people who have influenced us and encourage us! Thanks for lighting my flame!

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  20. Thanks for sharing the spark, Jessica. You inspire me with your generosity and your honesty... Thank YOU!

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  21. Fabulous art Jessica. I saw this on MIM..Loz

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  22. Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful project with us at Make it Monday! Good luck!
    Rene :D

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  23. I enjoyed following her developement - both words and images. She is lovely!Thanks for sharing on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

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  24. Simply stunning Jessica.
    Huge hugs x

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  25. The layers are as divine as the angel. I often think about that character from "Our Town" when she comes back from the grave and wants to just be in a moment of a regular day in her life and look at everyone and everything--it really makes you realize how important it is to live and love in the moment. Thank you for sharing!

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  26. Your angel is beautiful! Love how the tissue paper disappeared leaving the gold images.

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  27. Jessica, thank you for this interesting video, I learned a lot by watching you work on this beautiful angel. I have used this tissues technique once in my art journal and liked it - I don't know why I never came back to it. I also will try to paint with a piece of cardboard, - I love when the layers beneath look through. Thank you for sharing!

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  28. What a beautiful angel, I love the golden curls in her hair.
    xx Monique

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  29. Oh so beautiful Jessica. Great video. Lots of layers and I think this Angel was standing right behind you as you worked. Lovely.
    gloria

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  30. Thanks for that wonderful video - don't know why I never thought about stenciling on tissue paper - I use tissue all the time in my collaged pieces. And although I've used many strange items to paint with - I just love the effects you get with that small piece of cardboard. Gorgeous angel - love the colors and all the texture

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  31. Beautiful. I love the look, the colors and words. What a peaceful work of art. I love it.

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  32. so beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration

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  33. Do you know Tomoyo Rezvani at Little Angels in UM? This is someone you should know, both spiritually and commercially. Loving your work.

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  34. Do you know Tomoyo Rezvani of Little Angels in UM? This is someone you should know both spiritually and commercially. Loving your work.

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