Healing Tree

Isn't this pin so pretty? It's a Healing Tree pin made by my friend Winter, which, according to her description, began with the intention of becoming a bouquet of flowers, but morphed into a tree. Trees are so healing. They show up in my own artwork often and I love the very idea of a Healing Tree I can wear.

You can get a better description of this pin and see more of Winter's work at ERLICHDA – Enlightened Ornamentation, her Etsy shop. She also makes gorgeous beaded ornament covers and other beaded confections. Her necklaces are intricately exquisite – just beautiful. It's my hope she'll have some to share on her site soon, as it appears she's in the process of adding more pieces after the holiday crush. (How's that for a hint?)

I really just had to share this little pin, made with love and lots of good mojo.

Winter, you've got me thinking.... (and glancing sideways at the box of copper wire under yon art table...)

Fun With Photoshop

Photoshop has long been one of my favorite art playgrounds. It's great fun to scan a mixed media piece, for instance, and digitally enhance it even further, in an infinite number of ways. The paper-n-soul banner was created from a collaged shipping tag.

I also enjoy altering a simple color photo of someone to create an image with more impact by first desaturating the color, then maybe tinting it (as in the photo above). Then I enhance the most prominent feature, the eyes, by replacing the color from the original photo. Finish with a lightly textured layer and soften the entire image and the result is a striking contrast.

The process:







As for the good-looking fellow in the photo, he is my 18-month-old grandson, Luke. Yes, his eyes really are that deep blue. All he ever has to do is pour those gorgeous blues on me and I'm toast... And does he know this? Oh no. Nope. Not at all... (riiight – just look at that face ;).

And if you think this really just might be a thinly-veiled excuse to do the shameless grandma thing... (click on the photos for a better look – heh)

heARTful

I thought today would be the perfect day to share Joyce's February calendar page. Yes, the month is half gone but her art is so heartful, what better time? I'm enjoying gazing at the unique images everyday. Luke, my 17-month-old grandson loves pointing at the sweet photo in the upper right and saying "bay-bee?" (he's so cute).

In addition to the images, Joyce actually stitched tiny hearts along the edges of the textured paper. Very unique and lovely calendar art. The back has more images, stamped hearts and quotes:



The note on the back of the tag says, in part:

"I spend half of my winter in the Adirondack Park near Lake Placid. This is I am sure not everyone's cup of tea, but I have grown to really love the beauty, silence and isolation that winter brings up here."

Thank you, Joyce, for capturing the beauty and sharing it on your calendar page.

~~~

Winter has definitely returned to our neighborhood (we awoke to a blanket of snow to replace the piles that had been washed away by the rains earlier this week), so we might as well enjoy some winter art. The following images were taken by my daughter at the Plymouth, Michigan Ice Sculpture Spectacular in January.

And, of course, it had to be done:

Obama on ice – what more can one add?

(Click on any image to enlarge it, especially the mermaid – beautiful.)

Rain and Paper Angels

I was awakened a couple of nights ago by the sound of rain. It took a few minutes to register, as the first spring rain always does... welcome music not heard in three or four months.

This bit of spring is just a tease as winter is scheduled to return from her brief hiatus tomorrow. Now if only those promised thunderstorms would materialize before day's end...

~~~

The above photo is of Mariposa Lily, the first in a series. She's destined to fly off to Prospect, Nova Scotia where she will eventually be pressed into service as part of Lani's Guardian Angel swap. Lani is collecting Paper Puppet Angels to serve as Guardian Angels for those in need of a little uplifting.

Mariposa is created almost completely of paper. Her body is a collage of spring flowers. Her 'petal' wings are made using water color washed paper towel that has been brushed with a little sparkle and some gel medium to make it sturdy yet flexible for sculpting. Reclaimed silk fibers are spun across her wings and body to trail on the breezes. She rests on a lightweight stick, in keeping with her puppet status and enabling her flight about the room as in the poem that inspired her creation in the first place:

the letter from mariposa

the butterfly girl
has learned the secret
of sustained flight
even in daylight
because she got a message
not exactly in a bottle
from a far away place
named mariposa
..
the butterfly girl
remembers her chrysalis
remembers the grey days
of winter
sometimes warmed by a sun
she could not see
..
so she opened the letter
ivory white envelope
trimmed in gold and silver
and when she opened it
the card unfolded like a papilion
and flew about the room
..
the butterfly girl
was sad
because she worried that her beautiful toy
would last only a year
and in fact
she worried about it
for several years
and yet
she and the fragile
beautiful things
endured
..
the butterfly girl is older now
and her face has learned smile wrinkles
and she does nothing to hide them
for she earned every smile
ever to cross her face
and when she is sad
she just goes back into her room
where the eternal spirit of the butterfly
cascades up and down the walls . . .

~William C. Burns, Jr.

Lovely, yes?

~~~

Here are some close-up photos of her wings in an effort to show their translucence:






I hope she will give someone 'smile wrinkles'.

~~~

Soon the spring rains will be here for real, and Mariposa lilies will fill the garden.

Beyond Words

A couple of things conspired today to compel me to offer a few words on this subject (oh, the irony). Browsing Lani Puppetmaker's blog I was introduced to a short film by Nic Askew, which, of course, led me to the video posted above (mmm, breadcrumbs...) I am intrigued by Nic's work on several levels.

How often do we utter phrases like "there are no words" or "language is inadequate" when attempting to describe something, well, beyond words? There is a place of inherent understanding that surpasses all language (of human construct). The best art and, yes, poetry deliver me, unannounced, to this space of purely soulful communication.

This was inspired awhile ago in response to a fellow poet's work that very often has that power (thank you):

So often you lead me
to a place
beyond words

(Strange place for a poet
you say)

But the winds
in the hollow are still––

And strains
of my own song
reverberate in yours

As you travel the depths
of this valley of dark
your words transcend
and I am transcended
as well

The void is not truly empty
but balanced
in emancipation

From your own moonless night
you offer this gift––
from feathers, wings
from a tiny spark, warmth

And I am humbled––
beyond words

©11/11/08

I never fail to be awed by the capacity of words or art (or music) to move me to utter speechlessness. And appreciation. Nic's film offers yet another perspective to consider... (Read his own words here.) There are so many ways in which to experience an expansion of self into the infinite space that exists just beyond words. Art and poetry (both the enjoyment of and craft) are great places to begin.

And... on a really good day... you might even meet others in that space.

As my friend (and above-mentioned poet), William Burns wrote (in part):


I have crafted words
from the orbits of planets
from the currents of the seas
Crafted words
from the hearts of my enemies
from the hearts of my loves
Crafted verse to reflect
the 'Verse

I'd say.

I think it helps to remember that our soul is not a part of us so much as we are but a part of it.

Take a long look around at Lani's great blog and be sure to check out her Guardian Angel Swap whilst you're there.

Meanwhile, I'll be busy exploring more of Nic Askew's thoughtful work.

And so the trail continues...