Day 45: Subtle Repose

I feel like I'm back at Day One.  So I had to go read Days One, Two, and Three to remember what I was feeling during that time and motivate myself to move forward.  It was pretty interesting to see how it all started off and what I got from that first few days was this.  "It's funny how in the beginning I started out feeling stressed and inadequate and ended up feeling encouraged and renewed."  I said that?  I guess that was me.  So I read on and looked at the final result of my first three days and something wonderful happened . . . I felt encouraged and renewed. 

So here I sit with a blank piece of wood, a pencil, 

 and an awake baby . . .

What's a tired mommy/starving artist to do? 

Hazrat Inayat Khan says, "The soul is a current that joins the physical body to the source.  The art of repose naturally makes it easier for the soul to experience freedom, inspiration, power, because it is then loosened from the grip of the physical body."

So I rocked the baby with my foot, picked up the pencil, and let my soul speak.  This is what came out.

I've been reading a lot of Frida Kahlo stuff so I was inspired to draw a self portrait.  I loved how she made herself her subject.  I have to laugh when I look at this drawing because I look a little annoyed, a little tired, a little frustrated, a little agitated, a little sad, and a little like a distant cousin instead of like myself, hah!  (I have a hard time making people look like themselves when I draw.  They usually look like family members of the actual person I'm drawing) 

I propped myself, or should I say my distant cousin, up against a wall and went to sleep at 3 am this morning.  When I woke up and looked at the drawing in a different light, it looks a little like, I might be having a moment of subtle repose.  So maybe my soul actual won this one.  Take that physical body!!!!!

 

What Day is it?

Don't even ask.  It's been way to long since I've blogged and I've beat myself up about it enough so I'm not going to linger there.  I made it back.  And although I haven't been posting, my 100 days of art journey continues.  I'll will do my best to catch you up.

Days 42-43 I worked on moving my web comic over to wordpress.  I wanted to wait to send you there until I posted up the new comics that I've created, but the computer that is hooked up to my scanner is out of commission so that didn't work out like I wanted it to.  It took me forever to get the little bit done that I did get done.  I still have some tweaking to do but there should be no issues at all with leaving comments now.  You can go see the first comic there and the new site.  Just click on the old Fly Girlz over and up yonder.  lol.  Or go to flygirlzsaga.com.  I have new comics coming as soon as I can afford to buy a new scanner.  So hold your horses.  Rome was not built in a day peeps.     

Day 44:  I played with my dolls yesterday.  It's not the actual 44th day of work but it's ready to post while the other stuff hasn't been documented yet, so I'm all out of order but who cares.  Destiny and Nadia are always fun to look at.  I love these dolls, I can't wait until Kaye makes a new tiny.  Her tiny beings are so perfect for me.  Here are Destiny and Nadia styling and profiling.  I won't commentate too much because the photos turned out so good they speak for themselves.

 She was feeling a little romantic...

 Stunning little rebel isn't she . . .

I love this composition, those trees roots are amazing and my girls are fierce!

They are quite the models aren't they?  I love them so much.  That should hold you off until I can get some more pictures taken of my other many art projects.  These girls are truly an inspiration. 

Days 40 and 41: Turtle Dee and Turtle Dove

Destiny Millie and Nadia Tillie have launched a tutu's and tee's business.  Well, not exactly, but they are plotting and scheming on one.  I over heard them talking about how much they love rocking baby tee's and tutu's.  Then one of them had the great idea to put the two together.  The next thing I knew, they pulled out the sewing machine and their sketch books!  They came up with two awesome designs that they call "Turtle Dee" and "Turtle Dove".

 

They didn't just sew their own tee shirts, oh no, they hand sewed felt appliques on their tee's of a sassy little turtle and a cute little turtle dove.  After a couple of days of brainstorming and elbow grease, these girls pulled off the cutest little looks.  They are so fashion savvy.

They are modeling around the house and begging me to open them an etsy store so they can start their own business.  Slow down girls!  You need to make more merchandise first!

They would not leave me alone until I promised to let everyone know to stay on the look out for their tutu's and tee's clothing line!  Do me a favor and send them a shout out so they know you've got their back. 

Destiny Millie:  "You know your dolls want this."

Nadia Tillie:  "Wait until they see what's next!"

Days 36-39: Lady In Waiting

Okay, I've been working hard, I promise.  I've been in a zone.  However, I've been slow documenting the process and blogging about it so I'm sorry to keep you waiting.  Over the next few days, I'm going to catch you up with the wonderful projects that I have been working on in no particular order.  In keeping with the waiting theme, I'd like to show you my latest painting that I've been working on.  It's called "Lady In Waiting".  This is just the under painting so far, done in oils on wood. 

I took this picture outside and the sun rays hit it so beautifully, I am thinking about keeping them in the final painting.  It's as if God is smiling on her.

The idea started with this sketch that I did of a pic I found on line of this young woman with these beautiful long, thick, flat locs.  I can't wait till my hair grows this long.

Day One

After I finished drawing her, she looked like she was waiting for someone so I started calling her the "lady in waiting" while I was finishing up the sketch.  After I finished drawing, I started to think about that phrase "lady in waiting" and it turned into a word study.  I wanted to know what it really meant.  In my research I found this poem by John Milton and realized what the term really meant to me and wanted to capture that feeling visually.

On His Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

John Milton

I can relate to the sense of frustration in Milton's poem.  He was this talented man that had gone blind and had to get his daughters to dictate his poems for him because of his impediment.  I feel like I have so much that I want to do with the gifts that I've been given, and it's hard to wait patiently for the moment when my dreams come into fruition, sometimes I feel useless because of my circumstances.  However, I know that God has a purpose for me, that I am His vessel, and that in His time, that purpose will be revealed to me and the world.  Until then, I just have to trust that He knows what He's doing and try to be patient until He finishes His masterpiece.  

So I'm painting the "Lady In Waiting".  Although uncomfortable with her position, she still anticipates that what ever it is that she's waiting for is right around the corner.  She's determined and has been waiting a long time, so long that she's grown roots as vines flourish around her.  She's cried rivers and collected tears that rush through her and feed her desires, reminding her that she is alive and thriving.  She rests in knowing where her help and strength comes from.  

 

 

Day Two

 Day Three

 

Day Four

Yes, someone is waiting behind that water fall.  Where do you think all those tears came from? 

I tend to fall in love with my paintings after I finish the under painting, and am often hesitant to carry on with the over painting, so I'm gonna have to really push myself to figure out the color scheme and get it right.  I have one more drawn element that I want to add to the piece before I start working on the finished painting, but that's a surprise.  So the next time you see her, she'll be finished.  I'm going to try my best not to let so much time go by in between blogs, but thanks for waiting patiently.     

Day 35: Peephole

My art buddy Lauren Brevner made this beautiful necklace she called "Peepers" that I can't get it out my head.  It's so me, and I want it so bad, I just had to make one of my own until I can buy hers!   I used a small wooden disc, paper jewelry cord, a few wooden beads, graphite, a little color pencil, and a little gouache.  I think she looks like she's looking through a large peephole.  It's true what they say, eyes are the "peephole" to the soul.  Thanks Lauren for the inspiration!