The Rebirth of Venus

Remember this lonely little Venus that I started during my 100 days of art challenge?  On a solitary journey towards becoming, arriving to the wilderness?  Yeah, she's been sitting every since, waiting.... on me.

I am drawn to the famous painting, "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli.  It depicts the goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a fully grown woman.  Arriving to the sea shore upon a shell, aligned with the myth to explain her birth.  On her left, the wind god carries his bride towards the threshold, blowing the shell amongst a shower of roses, gently caressing her hair and the incoming waves that seamlessly break over the shore.  As Venus is about to step onto dry land, a hand maiden waits patiently for the goddess to come closer, reaching out to cover her shy naked body with a cloak. Venus' contrapposto stance depicts grace as she carefully leans on one hip, modestly covering her private parts, slightly revealing her sexuality.
 

It's been said that this painting "illustrates the birth of love and spiritual beauty as a driving force of life.  Once she lands ashore, the goddess of love will don the earthly garb of mortal sin", an act that could lead to the creation of a new life or the possibilities of an everlasting one.  Once draped in earthly garments does she become a personification of the church which offers a spiritual transport back to the pure love of eternal salvation?  In this case the shell upon which this image of Venus stands could be seen as a symbolic pilgrimage.  "The sea brings forth Venus just as the Virgin gives birth to the ultimate symbol of love, Christ."  Is Botticelli's Venus meant to represent the idea of divine love?

Rather than choosing one of the many interpretations offered for Botticelli's depiction of the Birth or Arrival of Venus, I think it's better to view it from a variety of perspectives.  This layered mythological, political, and religious composition was intended to portray the goddess as the epitome of beauty arousing humans to physical love at first sight, then inspiring intellectual love upon second glance.  After further investigation, one might be inspired to lift the mind towards the Creator.  Lets get lifted.

When I became a mother, I experienced The Rebirth of Venus.  I have my own ideas of what that means as I add my own layers to the many layers of this great classic.  I'll explain more about my motives as it progresses and as she emerges, but can I just say....I am so addicted to illustration as fine art.  It makes all the spit rush to my mouth....soul stirring artful storytelling at its' finest.  Food for my soul.

"The Rebirth of Venus"

WIP

And just in case you were wondering, my Venus arrives on a cowrie shell and my hand maiden, and my God who controls my wind, just so happen to be trees....anything less would be uncivilized.    

Missing My Muse

Sitting here thinking of my muse Luna Blue.  Realizing that had it not been for her, I would still be sitting somewhere sulking in a stinking cubby.  Instead, I'm rolling with cheribiums!  Thank you for inspiring me to smile, pray, love, play, roar, be...and fly....despite my circumstances.  I love you precious babygirl.  Cancer can't kill you.  Your presence remains!

In memory of Luna Blue

The cutest little monster I've ever known....

Rawwwrrrr!

RAAAAWWWWRRRRRRR!!!!!

It's been since October!  What in the world! 

I guess when hurricane Sandy hit, she hit me hard because I've been in a whirlwind every since!  I've been tossed and turned, drenched and blown, but guess what.....I'm still standing.  And do you know why?  Cause God has my back and.... 

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter,
dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and
You're gonna hear me ROAR
Louder, louder than a lion
Cause I am a champion and
You're gonna hear me ROAR
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar"

RAAAAWWWWRRRRRRR!!!!!

Sorry....I thought I was in the video!  I've been singing Katy Perry's new single hard!  I'm feeling that thang!

So let me catch you up.  Ahem.

The hurricane hit.  I went over the river and through the woods, ended up in a cubby.  But today, ten months later,  I can say with confidence and pride....no more part time. 

I am officially....a full time artist.

I like how that rolls off of my tongue.  I like how I can say that with conviction.  I like how my chest pokes out a little, and my chin rises, and my heart pounds and races, and my knees shake when I say that.  But you heard me, right?  Good.

I'm working with Young Audiences of Maryland full time.  I did an awesome mural this summer with my summer learning students.  I'm back! Boo cubbies!  Never give up on your dreams!

Enjoy some process pics of the summer's mural experience and stay tuned because Mrs. D is on fire!  The phoenix has risen!  And I promise you're gonna hear me RooooooooOOOAR!!!!!!

BCPS Summer Learning Progam

Site:  Rognell Heights

Middle schoolers

Mobile Mural inspired by 

Lauryn Hill's Everything is Everything

Emily King's Walk In My Shoes

Cat Stephens' Where Do the Children Play

Bob Marley's Get UP Stand Up! and One Love

  

Hurricane Sandy Hits!

Sitting here in the middle of the biggest hurricane on record in a long time, a little bored, but praying that the power doesn't go out.  One of my student sends me a picture of a bowl of fruit that he's painting and asks for feedback.  I give him some pointers and the next thing I know he's sends me a better version.  I thought, "Wow, he's using his time wisely amidst the chaos of the perfect storm."  Then I scroll down and see the status of another student who has sketched a cute little monkey sitting, waiting for the storm to pass.  I couldn't help but to be inspired by my star students, spending their down time drawing, painting, and doodling while I'm watching news people put their lives in harms way, about to be blown away by hurricane winds just to prove that we should stay in.

Needless to say, I was inspired and decided to pick up my sketchbook.  Then I thought, but wait, I still have electricity.  I want to use it while I have it so I put my sketchbook down and went to my sketch n draw app on my phone and got busy with my finger instead of a pen.  Who knew a finger doodle could turn out so nice!  I'm getting better at using the sketch n draw app, it's relaxing, and a lot of fun.  I should use it more often.  Many thanks to my students and this storm for the inspiration and whoever created this fun app!  Despite the rain, the wind gusts, and the threat of losing power, I'm still managing to find creative ways to occupy my time.
 

 Hurricane Sandy Doodle by D.L. Tucker

So here's my little finger doodle inspired by the storm.  Thankfully, the electricity is still on so that I can blog about it.  Stay safe folks!  And stay creative!

RANTics: Keep Swimming

It's been two whole months since I've blogged.  Why must this task be so difficult?  I've been working up a storm but inching forward.  Why does the life of an artist have to be this way?  The process is soooooooo long and drawn out.  And nobody wants to pay you for your process, they just want the pretty end result.  But you can't afford to not get paid.  So you chase a check full time and chase your dream part time all while sacrificing your sanity because the ideas are flowing way faster than your hands can find the time to produce, you start to rationalize that maybe somehow you can get away with not sleeping until you die so that you can spend every waking hour trying to squeeze it all in........my heart hurts, cause I've got something to prove.   

Yes.  This is one of those posts.  One of the one's where after you've come to terms that nobody is really listening you decide, I'm gonna talk to myself, because I've got something to say that I need to hear......yep, that's exactly what I meant.

I've decided that my dreams are ghosts, and GHOSTS ARE REAL, they're haunting me, and I AIN'T SCARED OF NO GHOST!  I'm gonna catch that mickey fickey put it in a box and show it off to the world to prove my point!  I AM A DIABOLICAL GENIOUS! okay, maybe not but,  I AM A MESSENGER!  I AM AN ARTIST!  I AM A BAD, AS IN GOOD, MOTHER SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

This post will probably never be published.  Someone might think I'm drunk.  But I'm not, I just....have this dream.  That God gave me a story to tell through my art.  And it's a message that HAS to be heard, by me, and hopefully some other folks too.  So what the heck,  I'm gonna publish it. 

I hear Nemo telling me to "keep swimming".  I might be delirious, but I just might really be on to something too.

 

Keep Swimming (work in progress) oil on masonite