Joy

Joy - 11-5-13

The other day I was experiencing quite a bit of pain. In order to cope, I tried to distract myself by focusing on the word "joy". A poem and some art came out over the next few days. You can view the poem here in  ASL http://instagram.com/p/gblXsyqwwB/ or hear it here in English: http://instagram.com/p/gbkJDzKw92/

Random zen "doodle" art

Random Zen Doodle - 11-8-13

This entry is about something I call Random Zen Doodles. Doodles have long been under estimated as both an art form and a method of thinking, relaxing, and tapping into our creative mind. But let me back up a bit.

Since starting to Zentangle. I have found my art shifting and moving into a place that I am really enjoying and finally feel like I am coming into my own style. This is something I have always wanted, and everything is just starting to flow. So much so, that often I have more art flowing from me on a daily basis than I can keep up with, and even if I stopped making new art today I could easily post something daily for the rest of the month without going back even more than the last few months of my creations.

Walter - 11-7-13

Several series I am working on have yet to be released, some of which are related to the doodles you see here, so stay tuned for those in up coming blog entries.  In the mean time, let's talk Random Zen Doodles!

Swoon - 1-23-13

Doodle Pixie - 10-20-13

A large part of this proliferation of creative expression is due to my being limited to primarily staying home by myself while I'm waiting for a medicine to be found and kick in that will better stabilize my mast cells.  Another part of the cause has also been my introduction to Zentangle.

In Zentangle I draw one line at a time, with no real preconception of what the end product will look like, focusing on my breath and the line I am currently drawing.  I really love this method of creating! I find it relaxing and inspiring. And it is a great way to let go of my perfectionist ways when my body is not up to the level of creation I would like and to embrace whatever my body is able to do or create in that moment. If a line I am drawing is shakier than I would like, that is OK, because it become s a part of the final picture. It has allowed me to explore many things I never would have otherwise. I am grateful for this new way of being. I highly recommend Zentangle, Zentangle Inspired Art, and Random Zen Doodles to anyone! Give it a shot and see where it takes you, you may be surprised! And if you do, please share your results in the comments section. I love seeing other's art.

"Self Communication" - 8-7-13
Inspired by an art therapy prompt, using zen tangle patterns,
and drawn one line at a time wth no plan in mind.
It was drawn during my first visit to the Mayo Clinic

Wacky Wednesday

Joy Monster 11-6-13

It's the first weekly installment ofWacky Wednesday, an anything goes art day in which I create and share whatever randomness comes to me, and no theme or word of the day need be used.

I did actually work on the word Joy today, and have been putting a Joy  series together, but all these other pieces were just crying to get out into the world instead. 

Swoon, Visionary 11-6-13

What do you do when you're working on one project and it inspires others? Do you set sketches aside for later, take notes? Switch projects? What are your techniques for staying focused enought, but not focusing on any one thing to the exclusion of all else?

Swoon, Reaching Out  - 11-6-13

Joy Mask - 11-06-13

Transgender Awareness

A Day of Remembrance - 11-4-13

Every year on or around November 20th, people come together in their respective cities to remember those lost to anti-Transgender violence. It is a powerful event, full of emotion. But there is so much more about being Trans* or gender variant than danger and fear. 

There are amazing things which have been done and are being done by people who are simply being themselves no matter what society, friends, family, etc. may have to say in support or against doing so. In the coming weeks I plan to spot light a Transgender or Gender Variant artist.  I'll call it Trans* Tuesdays if you will. Today I thought I would celebrate November, Trans* Awareness month with this blog entry and by sharing some of my own Trans* related art. 

From Within - 11-5-13

Please feel free to respectfully ask anything and if I do not have an answer, I will be sure to point you in the direction of someone who does.  In the mean time I hope you enjoy this selection of Trans*  related art that I have been making recently. There are other pieces in this theme from my past work, and I will share them at a later date.

Please be respectful. Real people with real feelings read my blog. I will not hesitate to delete harassing, hateful, or bigoted comments. Discussion, education, and questions are always welcome as is anything positive, empowering and uplifting. Be well, and happy Trans* Awareness month!

Come Together for November - 11-5-13

Art Therapy - Conflict, Through Another's Eyes

Through Another's Eyes - 10-26-13

This week's journal prompt was "Conflict - Through Another's Eyes" and Working on this was a very inspiring evolution process.

Resolution - 10-26-13

I would love to see others take some of the journal prompts I share, and make them your own. If you make art about this topic,  I hope you will share it in the comments section.

Last week I faced multiple difficult communication moments with a variety of people who have some sort of influence or authority in my life.  These are my attempt to explore those from a different perspective.

I found the process healing and empowering. And due to that, I managed to have some good conversations that resolved some of my questions. 

Of Two Minds - 10-30-13

BowTie and Bars - 10-25-13

Success - 10-30-13

4 AM, the Series

4 AM - Awake 10-28-13

Since April I have been waking up at various degrees of mast cell over activity between 2 and 4 AM. At first it was multiple times a night. Thankfully the waking has gotten much less frequent, although I still seem to wake at 4 AM.

Trying to make the most of a challenging situation and reclaim the morning as a positive and productive time, I've begun a series called 4 AM.

4 AM - Creation 10-29-13

Here are the first few pieces I have created since making the decision to heal my feelings around these morning wake up calls from my body. They were created by tangling a pattern in freehand with a micron .01 pen, photographing and digitally altering those drawings in my Android phone.

This has also inspired a new Zentangle pattern I call 4 AM. Here is an example of the pattern and a page showing how to draw my "4 AM" Zentangle is coming soon. You can find lots of instructions on how to draw zentangle patterns at TanglePattern.com, one of my favorite sites!

4 AM - Magical Reclamation 10-29-13

"4 AM" Zentangle Pattern 10-28-13

Too Much Inspiration (not complaining!)

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when So much inspiration flowed they you could not keep up? These were created by drawing a sketch, taking a photo, then digitally manipulating it in my Android phone.

Here are a few of the pieces I recently created:

UnNamed Truth and Consequences Sketch 10-27-13

Swoon Series - Mister E 10-??-13

Swoon - Elemental 10-??-13

Thank You to the Nurses at St Joe's 10-25-13

Swoon Series - Doorways - 10-25-13

Inspired - Truth and Consequences Series (part 1)

Today was a day of making much art, both ink and digital manipulations. Actually since my most recent ER visit I have been really inspired and since I have mostly been recovering with bed rest and trigger avoidance, I have had plenty of time to sketch and to digitally manipulate those sketches.

Here are just a few examples:

Truth and Consequences - Finding Wisdom 10-27-13

Truth and Consequences - Seeking Wisdom 10-27-13

Truth and Consequences - Four Directions 10-26-13

Truth and Consequences - WWND - In Process

Truth and Consequences - Bright Eyes - 10-26-13

Possible Material Patterns

Inspired by artists of FtL 10-25-13

I am designing a line of clothing including epi holders,  filter masks, emergency medical totes and back packs, wheelchair friendly pants, and the like. The first designs shown here are inspired by my time with +Elizabeth Lain +Chris Bonney  and other artists from FtL.  The rest of those shown are inspired by Masto Maybelle and Faithful Friends. 

Inspired by the artists of FtL 10-25-13

I recently reached out to a mask company, whose masks I like, to see if they would be willing to to team up on creating masks. In the mean time, I am hand making prototypes. So stay tuned for more details, and more adventures of Masto Maybelle and her Faithful Friends!

Inspired by the artists of FtL 10-25-13

Inspired by the artists of FtL 10-25-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Pink Power - 10-25-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Pink Power 02 10-25-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Brian 01 - 10-23-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Friendship Circles -10-23-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Brain 02 - 10-23-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Power Circle - 10-23-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Friendship 01 - 10-23-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Friendship 02 - 10-23-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - It's Complicated - 10-22-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - It's Complicated 02 - 10-22-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Nasty Masties - 10-20-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Koda - 10-20-13

Inspired by Masto Maybelle's Faithful Friends - Maybelle's Mandala - 10-20-13

I made these by taking cell phone photos of my freehand drawings and watercolor paintings, then using "Kaleidoscope for Android"! I love that app, because it allows me to control source image, capture area, angle, number of mirrors, and more. You can Get Kaleidoscope at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.resonos.apps.kaleidoscope and try it yourself!