Become Your Own Superhero

Art is You Mixed Media Retreat starts tomorrow.  It's hard to believe that it's here at last!  Sal and Ellen asked the instructors to make art to donate to the Generosity Project Silent Auction.  This year's beneficiary is Give Kids the World, and the theme is that everyone is a superhero.  I love that Art-Is-You gives back -- one of the many reasons I am so proud to be teaching for them.

As I sat down to create my piece, I saw this quote on Facebook from Elizabeth Gilbert:

As Gilbert said, this is by far the most efficient way to be rescued!

This quote moved me to create a Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.  We each already have the power to be our own rescuers - sometimes we just need help removing the obstacles in our paths so that our superhero powers can shine through.

I started by gathering all the scraps of paper and tags from various gelli printing sessions, try-outs of my stencils from Stencil Girl Products (recognize the Doors & Windows, Cascading Feathers, Circles & Squares, and Flowers Positive and Negative?), and other art adventures.  

I cut out a mask from a template, using the woven gelli prints I talked about in this gelli play-date post.

I cut out strips and squares from many of the other prints, and collaged them on a 9 x 12 canvas -- cool colors on the left, and warms on the right.  Then I glazed them to pull them all together.

I cut the mask in half for the eyes, and used the other scraps and pieces to collage my Ganesh face.  I used my Ganesh stencil as a reference, but let the piece take on a life of its own.  Glitter glue and Scribbles 3D fabric paint gave the piece added dimension, and Tim Holtz's chitchat stickers allowed me to create the sentiment I wanted.  "Believe in Your Magic."

I can't wait to see all the Super-Hero creations at the Silent Auction.  I've already seen a preview of one of them.  Check out Marjie Kemper's amazing mask here.  And if you are in the Connecticut area, stop by the Art Trunk at the Sheraton Stamford on Saturday, October 11th.  The Silent Auction will be one of the highlights, and many of the instructors and other artists are exhibiting - Marjie included!  

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The Ganesh Stencil from Stencil Girl Products

The Ganesh Stencil from Stencil Girl Products depicts one of the most playful, fun deities in the Hindu Pantheon.  He is the son of Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati.  He is depicted with an elephant head, which symbolizes the soul or the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and a huge, pot-bellied human body, which symbolizes our earthly existence.  In short, he symbolizes the duality of human nature - our ability to connect with our divine essence, while being tethered to this earth.  He is the remover of obstacles and is also worshiped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.   (Although there are different deities in Hinduism, they are all aspects of the one great, unknowable, creator - Brahman.)  Everything he is holding and sitting on is symbolic, and you can read more about it here! 

Here's a chant about Ganesh, if you'd like to listen to it while reading this post!

One of the first projects I created with this stencil was a T-Shirt for my husband - who certainly removes lots of obstacles in my life!

I placed a cutting mat under his shirt and then placed the stencil on top.

I cut a cosmetic sponge into small pieces, and used acrylic paint to stencil through it.

I used words from Carolyn Dube's Words to Live By stencil to add the phrase: Be Bold, Be You!  I then heat set it by putting it in the dryer on the hottest setting for 20 minutes.  Even after several washings, the color stayed strong! 

Freddie said he could have done without the flowers, but I think he's man enough for them!

To use up some of the extra paint, I started stenciling just some of the components from the Ganesh Stencil into my art journal.  They reminded me of butterflies. 

So I went with it.  I think the Ganesh stencil made lovely butterflies!

 

I wanted an entire Ganesh in my art journal.  So I took a page in which I had brayered off paint from my gelli plate, and stenciled the entire figure.  Then I surrounded it with black so the elements would pop out.

 Some more detailing, and there he sits, beaming wisdom out to me.

I hope this post gives you some inspiration to try the Ganesh Stencil!

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.