Sheila

Hours filled with blessed creation. International Soul Art Day 2017 proved to be meaningful, mindful, and mending. This was my fifth year participating. I always find it so hard to put into words.

I was in the moment. No plan. Feels like I have said that before about Laura Hollick’s Soul Art Day. Layer after layer, I continued to paint without a preconceived idea of where I wanted the work to go.

In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.
Deepak Chopra

Not sure why the word chaos came to me when thinking of a title for this post. The only chaos was the unrestrained creative activity. The free-flowing mark making.

We live in a rainbow of chaos.
Paul Cezanne

First layers.

Watercolor dripping and staining the paper. Wine, yellow, orange, fuchsia, rust. Acrylic stamping with wood and rubber. Stenciling gone wrong, paint too wet. Do more “wrong” stenciling in different areas. Use a dropper to add more yellow acrylic. Mist water on top and watch the paint spread in jagged blooming fingers. More yellow marks with a twig.

It seems like the chaos of this world is accelerating,
but so is the beauty
in the consciousness of more and more people.
Anthony Kiedis

Detail 1.

White acrylic scribbles and swirls. Some of the watercolor mixes in and softens the bright here and there. White repeating texture. Some strong, some fading. Some becomes soft yellow when paint accidentally mixes.

Wine dipped dry brush tapped on the paper. Marks become like feathers. Thinking flight. Freedom. Spirit. Jagged marks with watercolor pencil. Swirling scribble line to cover the page.

Detail 2.

Dark splatters in watercolor and acrylic. Cover almost all with watery white acrylic. Layering in patches. Use the same square brush that made the feather marks.

Outline Seussical shapes with black marker until it runs dry. Continue with thick wine watercolor. Cover black marker with the same. Soft diluted splatters finish it off like sprinkles on frosting.

Art is the triumph over chaos.
John Cheever

A few tools.

When we submit our work to the Soul Art Gallery, Laura asks about our process, what the day means to us, and what insight we gained from taking part. The insight was slow in coming. Maybe I just was not focused on that.

That inner nagging voice told me that this wasn’t about creating a pretty picture. Maybe I took a wrong turn and missed the path to enlightenment. Maybe I was stupid for worrying and being too serious.

Maybe it did not HAVE to be deep, to be meaningful.

It wasn’t until the last layer of whitewash that it came to me. A single, simple thought. I know. Not very original or deep. But a message just the same.

Bloom where you are planted.

Amy Irwen, LYA side swap 2017.

This gorgeous surprise arrived today. All the way from Minnesota! At first glance I thought it was a collage. And it is of course, in a way. I love the vivid colors, the warmth, the pop of black. Love the ode to nature and the repeating shapes.

The date on this is 2016. Amy said she didn’t get her cards out this year. I am counting myself lucky to receive this “leftover”! Amy sent a personal message on the back of the card, and wishes me “Happy Arting!” She also included a sweet sticker tribute to a friend who was a mail artist. Isn’t that a terrific idea?

The card is postmarked the 17th of May. Arrived on the 25th. LOL. Thanks Amy for sharing your art with me! It was such a nice surprise!

Yesterday was Soul Art Day and It was a blessed day of creating. Tomorrow I will share the work with you.

Happy arting Amy – and to you all as well!