Surprise, surprise! Discovering that the very thing I have resisted the most is the very thing leading to mojo, momentum, and flow…. learning to trust – over and over and over again – while learning to let go of expectations. I’ve been attracted to art with strong human characters and stories and messages, but I never thought that I could actually create that kind of art. I have resisted attempting people, beyond stick figures with my kids, more than any other kind of art. As I began to embrace the desire to actually be an artist, I would see collages and altered photos and other mixed-media art and think, “Maybe I could do that!” But when it came to people, I usually thought, “I wish I could do that!” or “wow, I could never do that.” Yet, this week, that’s all I seemed compelled to do and joyfully lost myself in the process. As the momentum kept building, I found myself repeating the word/idea “trust” many times each day… determined to push through the critical voices and ugly phases to see what would emerge.
This work in progress was the first new face to come forth this week. She was inspired by a “phoenix” hair color a friend of mine posted a while ago. I’m not sure what she has to say yet. 🙂
The above phoenix girl encouraged me to keep going and the mojo started to flow. I decided to make one for a dear friend, Amy, for her birthday. I asked her if any particular songs or quotes were speaking to her right now and she told me about this song that she had just discovered: Here’s to Life!
Moving on to week 2 of Tamara LaPorte’s free Art, Heart, & Healing course, I watched her video about making “whimsy girls”. That video inspired me to make a prayer filled wall hanging for my cousin’s baby girl (on the way) and her big sister. My boys added the bit about “yumberries” since we’ve been picking and processing lots of blackberries for jam, and they think they should be called yumberries. 🙂
Feeling bold, I decided to try my first ever boy faces for my twin 9 year old boys! I’m finding this even more challenging than the girls, but I’m glad to be trying and finding courage as I go.
Remembering another friend’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks, I decided to start one dedicated to her. I found myself singing, “These are the days” (in between the repetitive “trust” reminder!) so I think this one will have some of those lyrics.
Finally, the girl that started it all found her voice and is cheering me on to “thrive”, which is also my prayer for the Earth and all of us that live here!
May we thrive in harmony. <3
Well done! The more you do faces, the easier it becomes. I look forward to seeing more of your pretty faces. <3
Love it, you already have a style all of your own and it is fab xxxxxx keep it up.
Wow Julia you’re on fire! Can’t believe this is your first time doing faces, they are really well done. And if you keep practising this much I am sure before long you’ll hardly even remember why you used to feel that faces were only for other artists!! Really love the expressions on your faces and the colours you used in the first one in this post really speak to me
Absolutely beautiful Julia. So precious. Love to see your progress & the artful gift of self that you offer to my world.