Solstice Prayer

I have this idea that every breath we take can be a sacred act, can be a prayer. So today, the Winter Solstice of 2008, I made a painting as a prayer. A prayer of thanks for the lessons and gifts of the past year, and a prayer of hope for the coming year. I had wanted to do a ritual, to celebrate the Solstice, where I would marry my higher self, but the day seemed destined for something different.

It was kind of spur of the moment. I wanted to know if I could make a paper collage, gesso over it lightly and then paint over that in a way where all the layers are present and meaningful. It's def hard to see some of the layers from the scan alone, but when you are in front of the painting, holding it, all of the layers come alive. I am not sure what I will do with the painting, but I have a feeling it will be in my etsy shop at the beginning of the year.

WIP

Taking the mixed media class with Suzi Blu has been a real eye opener for me about my abilities to draw and make art in general. In order to continue practicing and developing my own unique way of making these 'pretty girls' have decided to make paintings for some family and friends.

Currently I am working on a painting for my dear friend Laurie. She is someone that has stuck by me through a lot of BS and I know I can count on her to be steadfast and true. We don't see each other often these days even though she only lives 2 blocks away due to conflicting schedules. She and her husband are planning to move away in a few months to the Bay area and I am dreading it! I wanted to make her something she could take with her that would always remind her of me. The girl in the painting looks nothing like Laurie (although with her ever changing hair color someday it might resemble her a bit more!), but I did make sure to add a silver kitty to represent Minou, Laurie's beloved familiar. The painting is not quite done, I would like to add a few more layers and I need to finish painting her face and clean the piece up a bit. I am also looking for a quote I can stamp on it that would somehow be meaningful to Laurie and our friendship (suggestions welcome!). So here is a look at what I have done so far: