New Paintings Part Two

Just the last two paintings I don't think I put up here. The top one is from a very quick sketch I did with my Art and Thought Lab teacher Maria Lucia Philips. I liked it and decided to spend time making it into a painting. A few people asked if it was a self portrait I said yes, but then again they are mostly all self portraits in a way. ( duh the profound deep thinking of an artist) 

This is a very long landscape that was problematic as it didn't fit on the easel. I kept having to move it from left to right to work on it. I have done a couple with this format. I like the shape for a landscape in particular.

More Art and Thought Lab Stuff.

A few things from the Art and Thought Lab. I went through my folder and I think I haven' put these up yet......

This is a quickie sketch on brown paper with ink. I think as I recall I was thinking about my headaches and the assignment or prompt included titling a couple things. (As those of you who may know my work know I hate to title anything). This one is titled 'Trying to wait it out'

 These are a series of little books I made in response to answering some questions about what types of rules we set for ourselves. (good, bad and even those we don't set but should).

 These two pages are examples of somewhat unconscious 'rules' I have that really don't work work for me most of the time.

 These two are more like the kind of rules we need to invent more of to help nurture.

This book is about addressing my personal inner 'critic' and as you can see- learning to get along. (Her name is Esmerelda)

A Guest Post by M. Lucia Phillips

I wanted to give space and thanks to friend and teacher of mine M. Lucia Phillips who will be teaching another set of classes soon. For any Ojai area artists out there who have ever felt a bit stuck or too comfortable in a groove that may feel like a rut. Or if you just have that urge to challenge your boundaries or play I highly recommend these classes. Not sure? Sit in on her first free introductory session. To see more of the work I did in Maria Lucia's class click on the "Art and Thought Lab" link at the bottom of this post. (M. Lucia is the one on the left) in the middle is a piece I did for class. And the cutie is Iris Williams' niece.

Finding the Hero Within

By M. Lucia Phillips

   The Hero Journey begins in a dark and warm cocoon – A place of incubation, as if we are an idea taking shape, becoming flesh.

   When we leave the cocoon for a much larger world, full of light and senses never before imagined, breathe is the first thing we do in communion with all mortals on planet Earth. – Life is a web of relationships.

   In this journey we are the heroes at the “center” of the universe, from where we have our worldview shaped. From there we weave our stories and are woven by our interconnectedness with others in the river of life – In truth we are the river ourselves.

   Life and Art are being crafted right now and shaped by how we respond to those external and internal challenges of ours. Are we transforming those challenges and limitations in raw material for our next creative work, be it a book, a painting, a play, a movie, a dance, a song, a project, or a relationship?

   Each one of us is in a certain point of this unfolding journey. We can be slaying or embracing the fifth dragon of our lives, saving the tenth princess, or lost again for the hundredth time, it doesn’t matter. It is always the right time to explore the boundaries of our creative potential, embracing our inner demons and transforming them into our allies.

   Art is always personal, always flesh-and-blood. It is all about conflicts, struggles, victories, losses, love or lack of it, frustrations, shame, numbness, faith, solitude, anger, expectations, dreams, courage, desire, fear, all of the above and more.

   It is all about what we truly embrace in grace or in pain throughout our lives and dare to express in some form – It is contemplating our history in the world that we create our own stories.

   The Art & Thought Lab Creativity Boot Camp is inspired by this journey, and designed to find, release and transform one’s resistance into creative material.

   The Art & Thought Lab is not for the feint of the heart. It is a place of surrender – an art playground, with no 'adult supervision', reserved for playing with the unthinkable, nonsensical, where you are the marble, the sculptress and the sculpture at the same time.

  

September 4^TH, you are invited from 6 to 8 pm to participate in a free Art & Thought Lab session designed to inform and explore your own potential through unique art exercise.  

Limited space, please reserve your seat at 805 6465581 ext.390 at  Ojai Recreation Department, 510 Park Road, Ojai - m.luciaphillips@yahoo.com 

                                         

M. Lucia is a local artist and creativity guide born in Rio among storytellers and artists.                                      If you desire to explore your creative potential M. Lucia art labs are for you.

The Book of Abby

This is a post I've had waiting for me take the time and photograph......

I did this a month or two ago for the Art and Thought Lab class. I've done a few quickie books and like the format. This was another attempt at just going and writing as I turned the pages without laying anything out or giving my persnickety brain too much time to fuss. Hence the sketchbook pages didn't have much extra room at the top when it came to bind them together. It may be a bit hard to read in spots but you get the gist.
I stitched it with the sewing machine
If you click on a page you should be able to see it larger.....

Birdies for the Baby

Here are some birdies I made for my friend 'Baby Joe's' birthday/Christmas present.

I played around with some paper mache birds with my niece when she was here at Thanksgiving and I wanted to make some for myself (or rather by myself).

It was fun but for some reason the first was my favorite and the last my least my least favorite, pretty much following in that order as I went along. I finished and thought "Huh? What happened? I thought they were good and then something just sort of fizzled"

But as often is the case not everyone agreed and that helped to redeem them in my own mind. At least Joe said he loved them.





Oh and merry Chris-mas, happy New Year. (now that it's almost February)

Art And Thought Lab Part 5 Meet my inner champion

This assignment was to describe (in any media I chose) a sort of inner champion. Think of it as a voice that reasons over any negative one. I'm learning to listen to the negative less and now I have my very own champion to cheer me on instead.

I've named her Juney. She is all brown recycled paper with oil paint. I loved just doing it all very fast and not worrying about archival consequences. (the paper is not sealed against the oil) but also just the fun of how the thin paper gets to have it's own life (the skirt and feathers)

Headache Book For Maria Lucia's Class

Well as one of Maria Lucia's MANY assignments was to do a series on my headaches which lead me to this book. I have always like making books of things and figured this a long story so......... Here it is.

Front cover.

Back cover.