Sacred Arts

More to it than Dreaming

2012-01-20T08:47:00.000-06:00

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.

~Anais Nin

We learn early to be dreamers. From the time we are first asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" we are learn to get out the giant sketchpad in our hearts and brainstorm. What if? It's playful, fun, imaginative. It's creative, thinking of something different than what currently is. It's a necessary step in the growth process. But there's more to it than dreaming.

From dreaming, we must believe. Not necessarily believe that our dream will come true. Although we are told to do this all the time. Unfortunately, life events happen. Not all dreams do come to actualization. Believing a dream will come true and then it not happening can set a person up for giving up on dreaming entirely. No, the belief I'm talking about here is belief in the possibility. For if a dream is possible (not plausible, mind you)... if a dream is possible then it is worth undertaking.

And from belief, we must focus. Put all that imagination into action. Begin taking steps. Big steps or small steps.. any step is better than no step at all. Focus and begin to create a path for yourself. It's no surprise that words action and actuality are so similar. Go do it!

Set of 3 Mixed Media Inspirational Word Magnets

$15, $3 shipping

2" x 2.5"

Wooden hearts painted and adorned with thread, letter cutouts and beads.

Message me at cori-lynn@msn.com for purchase interest.

♥

A Little Mingling...

2012-01-19T10:09:00.002-06:00

The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

~William Shakespeare

Earlier this week I went to visit a friend, a knitter, who has a debilitating disease making it difficult to continue her handiwork. She was kind enough to donate all of the yarns she is no longer able to use to my artistic efforts -- bags and bags of precious yarn. For her, the experience was a relief and a release... more space in her home and the feeling she was donating to an artist friend who can really use it. For me... very mixed feelings -- a bit of guilt taking such a wonderful material without giving something immediately in return and a sense of creative curiosity with these new yarns I've never used before. And of course, just a bit of sadness being reminded that one day I, too, will have a body that begins to fail me. I, too, will have to exhange some creative expressions for others.

This is the first piece I made from the yarns I was given, so it is extra special. It was a new experience for me to use so many different kinds of yarn in one piece. It felt like I was painting with yarn. Wool, acrylic, and soft nylon ribbon - a blend of her special pieces with some I had. Spinning the thread of ambiguous feelings into colorful brightness...

Large Mixed Yarn Ruffle Crochet Cowl

8" wide with an additional 3" ruffle

45" circumference around the neck

$35, $5 shipping

This cowl can be worn several different ways. Hanging low down the front, it goes just below the breast line. Or wear it high, with ruffley goodness around your neck. Big enough to wear over a coat, or nice over a turtleneck! Email cori-lynn@msn.com for purchase interest.

♥

Spread Some Heart!

2012-01-18T08:12:00.000-06:00

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

~Mother Teresa

I like to infuse accessories with meaning and tiny reminders. This one has hearts encircling the wrist - some pointed inward, others pointed outward. It's a reminder, when worn on your dominant hand, that as you work throughout your day, to make your work be an offering of love and care ... whether it is office filing, giving someone a plate of food, or putting your hand on someone's back. Likewise, the hearts that point towards the self are also a reminder to also take care of yourself. Seek relationships that nourish your soul and refill your spirit when it is deplete. For this in turn, allows you to give back to others.

handpainted wooden bangle size M

$20 plus $5 shipping

A total of 8 hearts encircle the bangle in colors of fire and deep violet. A nice chunky bangle with an inner diameter of 8 1/4 ", outer diameter of 10" at it's widest and height of 1 3/4". These photos were taken prior to adding the satiny protectove coat to prevent glare. Send me an email at cori-lynn@mns.com for purchase interest.

A Colorful Kind of Hug

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-06:00

Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism.

~Leo Buscaglia

A scarf to me, is like carrying a hug around your neck. Especially when it has been given to you as a gift!. Maybe it's the two ends that mimic arms, or the way it covers your heart and is close to your head... but I just love their comfort. I like giving them to people going through a rough time in life... a physical presence of how I care for them and am thinking of them when I can't be with them in person. If I only had time to make a scarf for each person who needs one!

♥

Crochet Red Ruffle Scarf

5.5" x 68"

100% acrylic yarn -- super soft

$40, $5 shipping

This is such a cute scarf! Layers of ruffles wind their way around making this one extra cozy, yet not bulky because the ruffles are on one side only. This red is a true warm red, not a cherry red, or a tomato red. Email cori-lynn@msn.com for purchase interest. Commissions also taken.

Be Patient

2012-01-16T17:53:00.000-06:00

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer.

~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

♥

This 8" x 10" acrylic painting is available for purchase for $40 plus $6 shipping and handling. Please email purchase interest to cori-lynn@msn.com

A Little Yarn Haiku

2012-01-16T10:26:00.000-06:00

Fingers weave story

Crocheting cozy phrases

Yarn meditation

I'm no poet but I tried my hand at it this morning. I was looking for words to describe how holy (not just holey) I find yarn work. It calms my spirit. The repetition of stitch is a contrasting experience to my other creative work where every brushstroke involves intense thought and decisionmaking. As I crochet, I think of the person to whom my work will go, weaving in hope that it wrap them in comfort and a sense of safety from the elements, both literal and figurative.

I posted this piece on Facebook early this morning and it was snatched up by a friend of mine within the hour. That's a validating way to start the week! If you are interested in commissioning a piece like this, feel free to message me at cori-lynn@msn.com The price is $30 plus and additional $5 shipping in the US. This one was made using a 100% soft acrylic textured yarn and measures 5" x 70". It's a very cozy scarf - perfect for a cold day!

Heart Light

2012-01-15T13:46:00.001-06:00

Love must be as much a light, as it is a flame.

~ Henry David Thoreau

No better way to know thyself, good and bad, than to relate deeply to another human being! Don't you agree? Reminds me of that song from the 80s with the refrain "turn on your heart light." Brings to the surface that which is hidden, finds what has been lost... that is LOVE.

This 2" x 2" original mini graffiti heart paint is available for purchase for $15 plus $3 shipping. Miniature easel is included. Message me at cori-lynn@msn.com for purchase interest.

♥

Espresso Yourself!

2012-01-13T09:57:00.000-06:00

Be a coffee-drinking individual - espresso yourself!

~Author Unknown

Well, it's been awhile! Many thanks to the kind comments from people while a took a hiatus from blogging. Hope to get back in the swing! This month I'm creating lots of little mini pieces to sell as Valentine's goodies while I work towards several art events I am participating in during the coming months.

These little crochet cozies fit over any standard coffee shop cup and make such a cute gift for teachers and friends this upcoming heart day! Add it with a gift card or put it around a cup filled with homemade cocoa mix for extra sweetness.

Custom Order, your choice of colors (pretty much any colors available)

1 for $10, 3 for $25

$3 shipping in the US

payable through Paypal or personal check

Just drop me a line at cori-lynn@msn.com if you're interested! Please put "Coffee Cup Cozy" in your message title.

Now my turn to go drink some java!

♥

The pattern for these hearts was designed by PlanetJune, one of my favorite yarngirls!

The Tree

2011-11-08T09:59:00.001-06:00

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.

~Martin Luther

Free Art Friday: Grafitti Art!

2011-08-05T14:51:00.002-05:00

Art is not a thing,

it is a way.

~ Elbert Hubbard

Tomorrow evening I'm part of an interactive arts event for teens in Dallas to help combat childhood obesity. I'm probably not cool enough for the hip hop clublike scene but I'll do my best. I'll be teaching the kids how to make grafitti books like this.

This one has lots of cool quotes about art inside and I thought it would make a perfect giveaway for this week! To enter the drawing, please answer the following question:

What is your favorite artistic medium and why are you drawn to it?

I'll draw a winner next Friday so come on back!

Now for this week's drawing for a little candle plate!

The winner is Elisa, comment #12.

Elisa, please send me your snailmail address to cori-lynn@msn.com so I can get this off to you! :)

And I just want to say a very special thank you to all of you for sharing such wonderful stories. If you didn't get a chance to read through them, you can

here.

Inspiration Picnic: Together

2011-07-30T08:08:00.001-05:00

You were born together, and together you shall be for evermore....

but let there be spaces in your togetherness.

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

~ Kahlil Gibran

This week's inspiration is taken from real life! Today is the wedding day of my brother-in-law and new sister-in-law, Ken and Whit. I painted this piece for them based on the color of the day, purple! Many blessings on your new life together and looking forward to a wonderful day with both of you!
A few more creative inspirations I've found over the last weeks...

Since I'm eating wedding cake today, you may want to try out these colorful cake batter pancakes! Mmmm... doesn't sprinkles take away all the calories?

I found this color scheme designer to help you pick out intersting colors for your work. Can't wait to try this out!

And how cool is this?

When I was a preschool teacher we would let kiddos drive plastic cars through paint and drive them across paper. The people who did this must have tried it!

What has inspired you this week? Add a link to a something inspirational you found on the web or a post about how your own inspired work.!

Free Art Friday: The Pursuit

2011-07-29T09:23:00.000-05:00

Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued,

is always just beyond your grasp,

but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne\

This week I'm giving away this little wooden handpainted candle plate. It can also be used as a money or trinket dish. Hope you like it! Enter the drawing by leaving a comment doing the following:

Describe a time when happiness came to you when least expected it.

Now for this week's drawing for a this floral keychain:

The winner is....

Valerie, from Craft Attack! She said her favorite flower was a rose!

♥

Tuesday Tutorial: Textured Gesso

2011-07-26T05:22:00.001-05:00

Indifference is isolation. In difference is texture and wonder.

~ Edwin Schlossberg

Ever so often it's good for us to go back to basic elements of design. As artist's our work tends to start to rely heavily on one particular principle or another and we can begin to miss opportunities to experiment with techniques that can give our work, as well as our self-discovery process more depth. For example, my work relies heavily on color. So I make it part of my weekly routine to do exercises like sketching, zentangle, and others to "practice my scales."

This simple technique is so easy and a fun way to get messy! It can be done on heavy watercolor paper or regular canvas.

First, lather a good heap of gesso on your surface.

Really, get a good heaping amount on there! Keep in mind as it dries, it will shrink up just a little...

Use a spoon or palette knife to spread it out over your paper. Then go back over it with your fingers to start smoothing it out (unless of course you want these deep ruts. That's fine too! I find it easiest to go over it horizontally, then vertically, and then horizotally again. As it starts to dry, you'll lose the ability to smooth it out.

Use the tip of a thin paint brush to start carving into the gesso while it is still wet. Keep a paper towel handy to wipe off the excess. You can also use a plastic fork, palette knife, pottery carving tools, old screwdriver, or toothpicks.

The amount of detail you will want to begin painting will determine how much carving you do. If you are going to use a lot of color, writing on top, etc, then a lot of carving may be lost and you might be better off doing less. But, you can see how cool it looks just in a single color, and may want to get very detailed at this step. Either way, texture is similar to darkness and light. You don't see one without the other. If you want textured areas to stand out, make sure that you have some areas that have none. Let dry thoroughly.

Now to add some color...

This is a sample using acrylic, gesso, and a transparent watercolor. Whatever you choose to use, you'll want to make sure your paint is fairly liquidy. You'll paint it on in broad brushstrokes and then have a paper towel handy to dab off a little of the paint, taking care to leave as much paint in the crevices as possible.

For me, the acrylic was easiest to use, but it is the medium i work the most with. It did take me a few times of applying it and wiping off excess to achieve the effect I wanted.

My gesso went on pretty thck as I didnt water it down on the palette, just squeezed some directly from tube to paper. The effect is more rustic, and the streaks from the brush are apparent.

Watercolor was probably the easiest to apply and left the greatest contrast between the crevices and the rest of the paper.

At this point, you decide what you want to do next.. pen and ink, more painting with a fine brush, leaving it as is. I'm going to use some chalk pastels...

Little moments can have a feeling

and a texture that is very real.

~ Ralph Fiennes

Being a Leader or Being a Star

2011-07-25T11:19:00.001-05:00

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,

you are a leader.

~ John Quincy Adams

The challenge this week at Summer of Color is purple, which I've seem to be playing with a lot this summer to begin with. When I first started painting, I mainly painted monochromatically, being very interested in using value to bring depth. As my artistic eyes have taken twists and turns, I find I am much more interested now in how colors play off of each other. As I began working on this piece, I realized that as I have worked on the Summer of Color pieces, I have used the designated color to really bring out the intensity of other colors, rather than having that color be the focal element.

Great leadership, authentic leadership, in my mind is similar. Rather focusing on self and how I look in the light, it is focusing on you. Rather than doing grand things that will look good on my personal resume, it is encouraging the growth and achievement of others. Through nurturing, supporting, questioning, scaffolding, a leader walks in the room oblivious to themselves, seeks out the creative spark in others, and lights the match.

This piece is 10" x 20" acryclic on cotton duck canvas. It is available for purchase for $75. Please email your interest to cori-lynn@msn.com.

Sunday Sketch: The Perfection of a Popsicle

2011-07-24T10:04:00.000-05:00

Saving for a later day

Will only let this joy melt away...

All over the news, the Heat Advisory continues here in Dallas. The streak of 100 degree weather continues. "The numbers are now 22, 29, 5, 19… As in 22nd day in a row, 29th time this year, 5th on list of record consecutive days, 19th on the list of number of 100 days in a year." (CBS DFW) If the predicted forecast for the next 7 days holds, we’ll end up 2nd on the all-time list of consecutive days of 100 plus weather. Enough is enough, .. this girl is ready for winter.

So the best I can do is think about popsicles, the sweet delight from childhood, the sensible splurge for a modest family income. Best eaten outside where the drips wouldn't stain the carpeting, these little bundles of goodness are the epitome of summer. Cherry became my favorite because I could rub it over my lips and look lke I had the lucious Wonder Woman lips of Linda Carter. Trying to eat the last bits of a melting popsicle with one piece dropping off was like climbing Mount Everest. So gratifying! During those few minutes of frozen pleasure, the heat outside was forgotton, all thoughts focused on such fake fruity sweetness. And of course, we'd hoard our washed off sticks to build fanciful pencil cup later.

But perhaps the best thing about popsicle is that they are a reminder that all good things are meant to be split in half and shared...

♥

Today I wave "howdy y'all" to my friends from Sunday Sketches and Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesdays. Hope everyone is finding something fun to keep cool!

Inspiration Picnic: Doors to Learning

2011-07-22T17:45:00.076-05:00

Education is the key to unlocking the golden doors of freedom.

~ George Washington Carver

Here's my inspiration story for the week...

You know how much I love doors? Look at this immense door I found at a church we went to last weekend for an improv show of all things...

This door was huge. I mean really really huge! It looked probably 20 ft tall, but it was in hung from the ceiling of a huge atrium in one of Dallas's megachurches, Bent Tree.. You know Texas loves things big.

Then I ran across this postwith pics from Timbuktu found on a quirky, loveable blog, What Possessed Me. (Persephone is one of the wittiest blog writers I've come across and I enjoy her writing so much I'm reading it from when she first started a number of years ago.) Specifically, I was drawn to the lovely metal work found on doors in this picture:

Timbuktu is a town in the West African nation of Mali probably best known for the phrase "road to Timbuktu." It has a rich history of scholarship, being a world center for Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th centuries.

Now let's open another door found over at artist Carol Carter's blog.

This is a picture she took while viewing the Art in the Streets exhibit at Geffen Contemporary at the MOCA in Los Angeles. (I've hunted desperately for the artist's name for this piece. If anyone by chance knows, please help me give due credit.)

Putting these photos together and playing around with their elements, thinking about doors and education, I was given pause to think about the biases we have towards learning and it's sources. For some, it's not real learning unless it's formal, found in books and universities, lectures, and papers. For others, true learning is "from the streets," through lived experience. I'm probably not alone having had some times when my academic learning and other times when my experiential learning has been scoffed. Irritating! I've worked hard for both! (I later resolved to understand that when people scoff it comes from their own need to be validated in their source of knowledge.)

So the piece I created is a blend of both worlds, inside the scholarly houses of learning and outside. Both are rich sources for ideas. Both can be sources for ties that bind, or freedom.

What is inspiring you this week? Now's your chance to link up an inspiration story from your website, or even something inspiring that you've found out there on the web...

♥

Today's piece is acrylic painted on flocked fabric on a 7.5" square masonite frame. The attached butterfly is acrylic painted on heavy watercolor paper and the entire piece has been sprayed with an acrylic coating. It is available for purchase for $30. Please email your interest to cori-lynn@msn.com.

Free Art Friday: Soul Blooms

2011-07-22T09:47:00.001-05:00

Each flower is a soul, blossoming out to nature.

~ Gerad de Neval

Each Friday I give away a small piece of art. It's my little way of sending a little joy out into the world. This week it's this key chain, with two original mini paintings enclosed in an acrylic frame. It measures 2" in diameter and is valued at $8. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment answering the following question:

What's your favorite flower?

And if you have a reason why that flower is your favorite, please share it! Reading the answers is the little gift back to me. I love nurturing a deeper connection with my readers! Please respond by 8 am CST Friday, July 29. Check back next week to see if you've won!

Now for this week's drawing...

This week a little magnetic pocket of sunshine will be sent away, ,

to...

Diana!

How neat! (I started to write "cool" but that's not right when talking about suns.) Diana is a wonderful illustrator and has a beautiful sun in the header of her website. Take a moment to go visit!

♥

Can't forget to say hi today to my Paint Party Friday buds!

Project Hope: A is for Aware

2011-07-21T12:14:00.001-05:00

be aware

look high and low

for instances of the universe aligning in your favor

let not one opportunity for hope pass you by

celebrate the ordinary

live under the assumption that you are

loved

held

and taken care of

be aware

I've been seeing other artist's participate in different alphabet challenges but the timing was never right to join in. I was excited yesterday to find one starting yesterday at ABC Wednesday One thing that excites me about this blog linkup is that the participants aren't necessarily artists. Although I adore artists, sometimes it's nice to meet other types of folks to! So I decided the them for my alphabet will be Hope, and the attributes one can cultivate to live a hopeful life.

As I created this little piece, I enjoyed playing with transparency. Hope is elusive... it's work. You have to hunt for it. But it is there.

Today, whatever your struggle, whatever your burden, may you discover a hint of what you have been looking for all along...

♥

Today is the last day to enter the Free Art Friday drawing! Check the link at the right!

Wings

2011-07-20T12:31:00.006-05:00

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?

~ Frida Kahlo

Inspiration to me is often a sentence, with meandering clauses. Ideas come and interact with others until a sentiment forms. This week the theme at Summer of Color is red, a color for passion and blood. We were also given a challenge to use wings in some way. I stumbled along this little quote, so moving in its simplicity, which then inspired me to watch the 2002 movie Frida, directed by Julie Taymor. This is a gorgeous movie, with paintings that come to life! Here's a trailer.. (It's available to watch instantly on Netflix if you have it.)

I was happy to see, not only that red was symbolic for the passion that comes from pain and suffering, but also that the quote above is highlighted at the end of the movie. I've never really known a lot about Frida Kahlo but her story resonated with me very deeply. She spent many, many years suffering from a spinal injury. I developed a serious case of scoliosis which involved a number of surgeries as a teen and it continues to affect me. Although my physical suffering is nowhere near the level that Frida endured, there have been times that my body has felt very broken, and in turn, my spirit. Art has been my wings, just like Frida.

I've been struggling as an artist to communicate messages of hope authentically. I'm past the preoccupation with pain and angst of my early artistic journey. Yet, I am leery of an art that becomes "bubblegum feel good." Hope is much deeper than slapping on a smiley face attitude.

Today as I continued to work on this piece, a friend had posted a trailer for the recent PBS POV documentary Biblioburro: The Donkey Library. (The full movie can be watched at the link to the left.)

Luis Sorrano is a Colombian teacher who brings the message of courage, strength, and hope amidst violence each week to children in poor provinces through his traveling library. In one touching scene, he asks children to draw their stories with crayons and says " Even bad memories have pretty colors." The color, the vivid passion, is made alive through the context of turmoil .

I am not one to boast that the purpose of suffering is to create beauty. I do believe, that we have the ability to take our difficult experiences, to shape them in our hearts, and use them to do good.. whether it is creating beautiful art or helping our neighbor. The "why" behind our suffering is not as important as "what" we do with it.

This piece is painted flocked fabric on a 7.5" square masonite frame. It is embellished with three dimensional painted canvas flowers, embroidery, and buttons. It is available for $45 through Paypal. Please email your purchase interest to cori-lynn@msn.com. This item has SOLD.

♥

A special welcome today to those from the Inspiration Workshop at Gussy Sews, Take a Word, and the Summer of Color participants!T

Free Art Friday: Make Some Sun

2011-07-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

It's the artist's job to create sunshine when the sun fails.

~Romain Rolland

Well, I believe we are all artists so I guess this means all of us!

I'll be drawing a name from those who comment below or on the Sacred Arts Studio Facebook page and the winner will receive this magnet! A nice little reminder to put in your space! Please answer the following question in your comment...

When it's gloomy, how do you prepare yourself to "make sunshine"?

Remember... you're all artists.. Whether your art is painting, music, cooking, friendship, mothering...

How do you give yourself a boost to outpour sunshine in your work when everything around you seems dim?

I'll announce the winner next week right here so make sure you check back! Now on to this week's winner!

For my little nightingale muse bookmark, I put all your names in my little nest bowl. I said a little prayer sending you safety and peace while I wrote your name...

And, by process of elimnation, the winner is...

Victoria!

♥

A special welcome today to my friends from Paint Party Friday , as well as Gussy Sews . And a wave hello to those who found me today through some linkie love on Kind Over Matter (hey I've seen that painting!) and Art Muse Dog ~ Share the Creative Journey. Thanks Amanda (squared) and Carol!

Grounded

2011-07-14T10:24:00.003-05:00

Emancipation from the bondage of the soil

is no freedom for the tree.

~Rabindrath Tagore

The knotted sequence of events in one's life is often an interplay of the struggle to find security and freedom. The challenge is to find those people, tasks, structures, and habits that ground us in such a way that our spirits are able to grow and flower. For many people, journaling is an activity that assists in this endeavour. A few minutes of "dumping one's thoughts" brings clarity to experiences that lie behind and ahead.

This is a 5" x 7" x 3/4" prefabricated journal that I have altered with an original acrylic painting on the outside and inside cover. The cover is very sturdy! There are 100 recycled brown pages inside.and it is tied together with fabric and organza ribbon. It is available for purchase for $30 throu Paypal. Please email your interest to cori-lynn@msn.com. This item has SOLD.

♥

Welcome to my friends from the Summer of Color! I enjoyed learning about the symbolism of brown -- earthiness, stability, groundedness. Hope you enjoy my piece!

♥

Today is the last day to enter the drawing for Free Art Friday! Click the link on the right and leave a comment on the post! I'll be drawing a winner early in the morning!

Here for You

2011-07-13T10:18:00.001-05:00

"I am here for you."

"I know you are there and I am very happy."

These two paintings are inspired by this Talk for Children given recently by zen master Thich Nhat Hanh recently at Plum Village. I just love his explanation for children and adults of mantras and how to speak them in our minds and our bodies. The talk is shown in it's entirety at the link listed above and I highly recommend that you watch it. It runs about half an hour long. It's worth the time!

The words that inspired these paintings are declarations of love, transformed into mantras to connect us to each other, to relate in authenticity, and to give of ourselves honestly.

The words "I am here for you" to me is a way of touching, of holding, of protecting without the need for touch. How lovely! How comforting! What a blessing these words bring to the person who receives them. I announce my presence in your life.

Here I acknowledge your presence and it's affect on me. You are precious. Your spirit bursts into my life, and I burst with joy in return.

♥

A special welcome today to all those from the Playdate at Beneath the Rowan Tree!

♥

These paintings are 6" x 6" and are available for purchase through Paypal, sold as a set, for $45. Please email your interest to cori-lynn@msn.com.

Tuesday Tutorial: Adinkra Magnets

2011-07-12T15:12:00.004-05:00

Adinkra are beautiful decorative symbols from the Akan people found all over Ghana in West Africa on clothing, pottery, metalwork, and architecture. They represent concepts or aphorisms, meaningful short phrases or proverbs.

These images come from the site West African Wisdom: Adinkra Symbols & Meanings, a wonderful resource for this project.

This symbol is dwennimmen, or "ram's horns" and it is a symbol for humility with strength. A ram will fight fiercely in battle but will submit to slaughter.

This is the symbol aya, which means "fern" and it means endurance and resourcefulness. A fern is a hardy plant that is able to grown in difficult places.

This symbol is boa me na me mmoa wo, which means "let me help you." It is a symbol for cooperation and interdependence. Isn't it just beautiful? The elements of one are in the other as they face each other... So much is told in the blink of any eye! That's the power of visual symbols!

This set of short videos is a wonderful primer on the process of making Adinkra cloth and the meaning of it's symbols as told by artisans from Ghana:

Part One: The Dye Making

Part Two: Textile Stamps

Part Three: Textile Printing

Did you see how gorgeous those stamps are!

Are you excited? You should be!

For this project you will need:
pencil
thick white glue
self stick magnet sheeting
gesso
acrylic paints
fine point white paint marker
spray varnish
cardboard coasters
chalk pastels
paper towel or napkin

I got these cardboard coasters from a local Michael's craftstore. They come in a pack of 8 for $1.00 but they were 60% off. Deal! That's only 40 cents People! This is cheap therapy!

You could also use:

coasters you swipe from your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant

tagboard cut into shapes

heavy watercolor paper

cut up cereal box

coasters from a thrift store (I always see them there)

You will first need to give a thin coat of gesso to the coasters. This just provides a surface for the paint and glue to adhere properly.

Choose your adinkra symbols. You can use the first website I posted for a list of symbols and their meanings. I'm choosing ones to be reminders for my dear hubby and I.. good things to help us in our relationship.

When the gesso is dry, lightly sketch your symbols out. You will be putting your glue inside of the lines that you will be sketching.. so you will need to draw this as a block shape. Keep it light as it can be a little tricky erasing pencil off gesso.

Glue an outline for your adinkra. A couple things to keep in mind:

Start with your glue bottle barely open. Gradually open it up more as you find what is best for you to control the flow of glue.
Go slow! I know it's exciting but realize art is a process. Take time to think about the symbol as you make it. Enjoy what you are doing. And you will mess up less! :)
If you get an air bubble, do your best to try to pop it by lightly tapping on it with the tip of your bottle. A little bubble won't show in the final product.

After you have made your outline, start to gradually fill it in... a little bit at a time. You don't want to put too much glue or it will ooze all over the place and you'll lose your shape.

You can keep going in and tapping over spaces to fill them in ...

...until you've got the whole adinkra filled in.

When you've filled all your adinkra in, now's your time to sit back and ponder the mysteries of the universe, or wash your dishes. I always prefer pondering over dishes.

Now if you're impatient like I am, you can try to speed up the drying a bit with a hair dryer. Don't use a heat gun like I did. I got weird warpy shapes in this one. Or, if you're impatient, don't do a shape like I did that will have a big area of glue to dry. But if you're a good girl, just give them a full day to dry. I let mine dry outside for half a day in the hot Texas heat and it just wasn't long enough.

(I fudged this picture to make it look like they were completely dry and started the next step anyway. :) )

Using a liquid acrylic paint, cover the coasters with a light layer. Then you have two options: you can either use a folded over piece of wetted paper towel to take off some of the paint on the glue or just run a wet brush without paint over the top of the glue to whish some of that paint away. I did a bit of both. I had to work fast though as the paint dried a lot faster than the glue did! And make sure you get paint around the edges.

Yes.. that's my camera strap in the corner. But you're supposed to be noticing how pretty these all are. You could stop here but....

A little chalk pastel rubbed in the crevices is so easy and makes a colorful impact. The pastel won't adhere where the glue is.

Spay a coat of varnish on. Mine dried almost instantly although the can said to wait an hour before you move them. I think this is a good time to break rules.

Spread out your magnetic sheeting, trace your circles, and cut squares large enough for one magnet. Peel, stick, and trim with scissors. Then use the paint marker to write the meaning of each symbol on the back.

Here are my finished pieces:

And here they alll are with a wedding picture!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and feel free to email me if you have questions!

Ripples

2011-07-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

Never think your contribution isn't

good enough,

big enough,

far-reaching enough,

because you never know how far your ripples may reach.

~ Amanda Fall

I saw this quote on Persistent Green yesterday and knew immediately I wanted to attempt painting it. I think most people wonder from time to time if what they are doing makes a difference, if it is worthwhile and should be continued. We just don't seem to take enough time validating each other and expressing gratitude for the effect other people have in our lives. Can you imagine how a checker at the grocery store would feel if we took the time to say, "Hey, thanks for being smiley and bubbly! It perked me up in the middle of an otherwise gloomy day."

So, I have two remedies for this. First, let's all commit to really taking the step to express those words of appreciation - even for what seems little and mundane. Make it a rule that if something brings you joy, to take a moment to express gratitude for it... in a little or a big way. And second, have your cohort of support who can be there to regularly remind you that what you are doing is worthy and to be cherished. Know who these people are and remind them what a difference they make in your own life.

Those little words, those little touches, may be exactly what a person needs.

Sunday Sketch: Share the Light

2011-07-10T10:34:00.002-05:00

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,

and the life of the candle will not be shortened.

Happiness never decreases by being shared.

~ Buddha

A special hello to my Sunday Sketch friends! If you'd like to join in.. please do! All levels of expertise receive support and kudos! Make sure you also check out the free art I'm giving away! Click the link to the right!

Time for me to wash all the graphite off my hands...

♥