Baring My Heart - Using Art to Heal

Have you noticed that I've been re-posting a bit lately?  It's because things have been going on in my life that are hard to deal with.  No, I'm not talking about the political situation in the USA, although that IS very hard to deal with.  I'm talking about family, and illness, and sadness.

Wishes and Dreams of Love and Empathy

I've been candid about my struggles with depression.  But in late February, my younger daughter went through a very difficult time after several months of struggling with depression herself.  She's doing much better, and learning every day how to live with the intensity of her feelings.  But it hasn't been easy.  (She gave me permission to write a bit about it.)

Salad of Feelings With All Eyes Upon You

So it's been hard to write this blog, while feeling that there is a big part of my life that I can't share.  I am not going to go into all the details, because that wouldn't be fair to our family.  But I know that many of you also have experience with intense feelings, sadness, depression and anxiety.  And it is always good to know that we are not alone.

Deaths in the Desert

Speaking of not being alone, I have been doing a lot of art and activism around immigration and anti-Muslim sentiment.  Here I am at a recent demonstration and press conference at Newark Airport, the day after the most recent travel ban was struck down.

In fact, my lesson for Wanderlust 2017 uses that as an inspiration. I was inspired by this Georgia O-Keefe quote:

to create a mixed media canvas using shapes and color to express things I have no words for. Click here to visit Everything Art, and I'll see you in the classroom.

Here is a beautiful video about one aspect of immigration.  I hope it moves you as much as it moved me.



Thanks for meeting me here. Wrapping you all in a big hug.  xoxox

         Visit Stencil Girl Products and RubberMoon Stamps to see all my designs!

If you haven't already - please connect with me here:

InLinkz.com

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.

Foto-Full Summer Summary

So much has been happening in my neck of the woods - I wanted to fill you in and also re-cap the summer a bit!

I participated in a bunch of online challenges over the summer via Instagram.  There are so many of them, and they are so much fun.  I finished off the 100 Day Challenge with numbers.  At some point when I have time, I think I'll put the alphabet and the numbers together in a little book.

When the challenge was over, I felt such a letdown. I loved the stimulation of a challenge.  So I searched around for more, and found #ifdrawaweek, #augustwithajournal, #simplealphabets, and #doodleadayaugust.  Occasionally, I was able to put the prompts from these challenges together for some fun and unlikely combinations!

At the same time, I participated in an amazing online class called MATS Home Decor run by Lilla Rogers.  It was so informative, supportive and fun, and I love the artwork I created for it.

Whew - I did A LOT of art this summer!

While all this was going on, I got things set up for our Creative Team.  Have you seen the first two posts?  They are amazing, and more goodness is yet to come!

I also managed to have lots of fun with friends and family, including reunions with Pat, who had been my youngest daughter's babysitter from 2003 - 2007, and her son Dave, who once did graphic design work for me (top left), and getting together with my best friend and boyfriend from the High School of Performing Arts (bottom row left).  Samy performed in a cabaret at the Metropolitan Room in NYC (middle row right).  I designed a shirt for Lin Manuel Miranda, which my parents are modeling in the bottom row middle, below.  (You can purchase the shirt at Teerico here.)  And I enjoyed lots of time with my girls and husband at my heaven on earth, Pine Lake Park.

What are some of the highlights of your summer?  I'd love to know!

         Visit Stencil Girl Products and RubberMoon Stamps to see all my designs!

If you haven't already - please connect with me here:

InLinkz.com

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.

How Community Service Inspires Creativity

My family's work in Guatemala started out as service with From Houses to Homes, but it has become so much more.  Every time I go, I return rejuvenated and inspired to do more, be more, help more.   And I can't wait to go back.

What inspires me?  Foremost is the love of our adopted family - the joy of my godson - the hope of his parents and their beautiful dedication to giving him a better life.

Then there is the quiet dignity of people who live in extreme poverty, but who repeatedly teach me about gratitude, loyalty, and what really matters. 

There is the joy and beauty over small things, like receiving one simple gift for Christmas; 

the juxtaposition of ruin and rebuilding

the colors and vitality

the humor

the persistence of life, pushing through decay

hope and reward from dedication and perseverance;

smiles, laughter, and clarity about why I am on this planet.




Here's a quick video my family made after our second trip to Guatemala.  I hope it gives you a little jolt of the amazing inspiration I glean from each trip.



You can also watch "A Child Does Community Service in Guatemala" on YouTube here.

What makes you say - OK - I know why I'm here?

If you haven't already - please connect with me here:

InLinkz.com

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.

Three Ts: Trades, Talk and Thought

Hey - I have three Ts on my mind.  First up is Trades:

Art is You Mixed Media Retreats is around the corner.  It's customary to bring little pieces of art to trade and the theme last year and this is charms.  Using some of my patterned paper from my Festive Soul Food lesson, made with my Stencil Girl stencils and RubberMoon stamps,

I punched circles, added words, punched little holes, and covered them all with Glossy Accents for a ceramic look.  They look so happy all together!   I'll share a picture when I have the charms all assembled.  In the meantime, I'm covering everything in sight with Glossy Accents - it's so much fun!

There are still a few seats left in my class, Masked and UnMasked: Stencils & Silhouettes.   Here's a little video to tell you what the class is all about.  

You can also watch Stencils Silhouettes Class Preview on YouTube here.  

Talk:

About a month ago, I received an email from the prolific, awesomely talented and generous Julie Balzer asking me to be a guest on her podcast, Adventures in Arting.  We spoke on Tuesday, and the podcast is available airs starting today.  We talked about musical theater, yoga, my former career as a lawyer and, oh yes, art. I hope you'll have a listen!

Thought:

I'm thinking a lot about where I'm going with my art, this blog, and where to put my energy.  I'll be sharing the results of this thinking soon.  I know that I loved creating my lessons for Festive Soul Food, and definitely plan to create an online workshop this year (which for me goes September to September!)

Plus, my younger daughter, Samy, just started High School, and I'm very aware that these are the last four years that I "have her" home.  Having watched my older daughter Mariel grow and spread her wings, I know that these four years are extremely precious.  So I definitely want to make time for all the moments.

Here's a bit of Samy, singing recently at our summer community.  I hope you enjoy her as much as I do!



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.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!