Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts

Friday 14 April 2017

One BADASS Art Journal Course - Week 5 - Late Night Conversations

Welcome to my interpretation of the class led by Cristin Stephenson in the BADASS Art Journal Class.  For this class as with the others I did 3 pages, one double spread and then two that came after that could either follow the same theme that I had worked with in the main page or be totally different.

Magic at midnight
For my main page below I started out with random shapes on the page, then as I thought about the late night conversations the song 'Dancing in the Moonlight' by Thin Lizzy came to mind



That connection with the moon, the music, and the sea also came in as well.  My characters that came out on the page seem to want to go on an adventure, perhaps a Thelma and Louise type of adventure in a car on a raft on the ocean with the music blazing...and free.... who knows

Adventure awaits

Some times you have to take that leap of faith, not knowing how everything is going to work out.  Some times we prevent ourselves from doing things because of fear. It is either we fear failing or we fear changing and things working out so we don't fit in our neat little boxes.  Fear to laugh and be yourself, fear to say yes to something or no.

Follow your dreams

Listening to a speaker called Lisa Nicols she was talking about her life and saying that fear can paralyze you and that you should use it instead as your fuel to get you to where you want to go.  We can sometimes fear using a particular art material, or fear that creative play because of what might reveal about you.  You can put anything in there that you might be feeling fearful about, and think about what the worse that could happen.

It is time to let go, step out, step into but make that change!  This page then came out of all of that, she chose to step out and be who she knew she could be, she stepped out and is 'Dancing' as well, not worried who might be looking or that 'its always been done this way' or about anything else that could get in the way.


Come join me next Friday and see how I interpreted the next lesson


Thursday 26 March 2015

Gratitudes and Celebrations - Week 75 - Travel

I had quite a few of weeks break from the Gratitudes and Celebrations post, not because there wasn't anything that I could think of for being grateful, but I had spent a few weeks away seeing family and friends in the States.  

The trip away made me realize even more that each and every day is a gift to be treasured and not taken for granted. We got our first taste of bad weather and snow when we landed in New York on route to Richmond, Virginia, the flight was a bit hairy as we had to circle the airport for about an hour waiting for a spot to land and the runway to be cleared of snow.  As fast as they removed the snow more fell, and the skid of the final landing which was felt by many made us appreciate the skill and the composure of the pilot and crew on the plane.

Sometimes being away from your every day routine also shines fresh light on your life, and whether you can take a two week break as we did or if you can only get away for a few hours, it is something you should do on a regular basis.  Going away to a colder than UK environment was strange for us but we were excited to see folks and make use of our snow boots and see if the rest of the world copes better than the UK when it comes to snow, rain and leaves on the train lines.

The trip reminded me of the book that I brought my son when he was little - 'The Relatives Came' it is a lovely book about a family driving to see their relatives for the summer in Virginia, how every one mucks in and makes room for each other, the kids play the adults share memories until it is time to pack up and go back home.  It was something that we would do when we were kids seeing cousins and having adventures.  It was funny that the story had them travelling to Virginia and it was where we were going to visit as well.




Whilst in Virginia the weather picked up and we had some sunny days enabling us to get small doses of vitamin D, and we heard that folks in the UK had some lovely weather as well.  And it's funny that many a time we have gone away seeking the sunshine and the UK has a heat wave!  but you have to see the funny side of things.  The main thing about venturing to new environments is to get a different perspective or understanding, and you only get that by stepping out, doing something new, something different.

While visiting the states we took tours in Washington, Richmond and in our final destination New York with my cousin.  Travelling around we hopped on the metro (which is such value for money!) and we saw much of New York and the surrounding areas, and we have come back to the UK hitting the ground running trying to shake the jet lag and get ourselves organised. 

I am grateful and celebrate being able to travel to see different parts of the world, meeting people from different walks of life and coming back home safely.

I am on a journey and hope you come along and join me. Why not start your own journal, keep it as simple or complex as you wish, but do something!

http://realityarts-creativity.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/gratitudes-and-celebration-journal-new.html

Sunday 15 March 2015

Greetings from the US of A and Happy Mothers Day


Happy Mothers Day to all mothers around the world!


I have taken some time away from my schedules in the UK to take a trip to Virginia and New York


Snowed in at the Airport

We are thankful that the snow is on the melt, when we flew into New York last week on route to Virginia we were snowed in as flights came to a stand still in New York. Thankfully Virgin put us up in a hotel for the night so we didn't have to stay at the airport waiting for the next flight the following day.

On our way to Virginia at last!

While in Virginia, we drove down to Washington with Alan's Sister Yvonne and Sekani and did a 6 hour tour with Signature Tours (I thoroughly recommend!) which enabled us to get a snapshot taste of the city.  You really have to spend longer in the city, so it is on my list for next time!

Tour stopping outside the White House

We got to see the White House up close and personal, they forgot we were coming so we didn't get an invite in!


Also took in a stroll to the monument on arrival to Washington



Spent some time with Alan's sister Yvonne and later that week her son and daughter joined us, it was great catching up with them.

When we got back to Williamsburg, Virginia I got an opportunity to see my friend and fellow Artist Mika from Motley Soul.  We got so caught up in chatting and looking round her studio and getting to know her beautiful family that we forgot to take a picture together.  I left for New York and arrived yesterday to see my cousin and his family and see some of the sites here in New York -  we are also enjoying the brisk weather.

I will be posting more on my return and have a few things to show you this week that I had been working on, and some of the great supplies that Mika passed on to me on my visit. Here is something that I have been working on with the supplies I managed to buy on my trip to Virginia.


It is the beginning background stages, so when I get a chance will be adding more and hopefully completing it. Also working on a few pen and ink drawings that I will be sharing along with some more photographs when I get the chance to post.....

What have you been up to and in what way are you spending time with family this week.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!






Saturday 28 June 2014

Creating....the process

I love looking at the process photos of how a painting comes into being, and every now and then share with you here.  I wanted to show you this particular painting that I had done recently and how it started out and what the finished result looked like.

I have over the past few months been attempting to paint a few more male portraits, it was something I was quite used to doing with graphite, but never attempted many paintings

After using my gelli plate to create a background this young man came to visit and I was able to capture him in charcoal.
Starting out using gelli print and charcoal to sketch the image

with each application of paint, he reveals a bit more of himself..
Image continues to emerge


he shares his dreams of travelling, and I wondered if they would remain just dreams or if he would be able to have some adventures of his own.


It had taken quite a bit of thought, planning and convincing that he was able too venture forth






He had already begun, he was living his adventure, travelling around the world, meeting new people and finding himself..


He knew who he was, where his talents and opportunities lay and he set out to share them with the world.


Valiant - Mixed Media Art on Watercolour 



Friday 21 February 2014

I love you today because - Day 22

I love you today because......
You Love adventure

You have a spirit that loves adventure, finding out new things and you are not afraid of being in unfamiliar environments.

Your life was meant to be lived and explored, there is still so much of this world that you haven’t yet seen, so many cultures that are still waiting to meet you, go for it!

Show some love
Make a plan at least once a week to try a new experience.

Share some love
Reach out to someone in your neighborhood and offer them some help.

To find out why 'I love you today' February Series click on the image below

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Water - Creating in Faith

Water is something that none of us can do without.  Our bodies are made up of around 75% and as well as hydrating internally, we need to hydrate externally as well.  It can be comforting to soak in after a hard days work and also refreshing drink.  Living in the UK we often take it for granted that it will always be at the end of a tap having access around the clock.  There are countries whose population still do not have access to clean running water for the very essentials in life, and the thought of having to give water to drink that you got from the lake, the same lake where the cattle tread, where you bath and wash clothes and every other imaginable use, to your child to drink is unthinkable, but the reality they face, check out these facts about water in the developing world.  If you alsowant to find out ways in which you can take more care with the earths resources check out reduce the footprints a blog about making a positive impact to our environment and has some great tips.

Memories of Home

I shared in Memories of Home series my experience between the age of around 4 – 6 years where the house we lived in two rooms with my family.  The house didn't have access to a bath or inside toilet.  We used to have a portable tin bath in the room and containers where the water had to be stored and was boiled as needed.  Many houses in the UK in those days didn't have bathrooms and had to use what was known as a public baths, buildings specifically designed to meet then needs of local people, you would also take your laundry there as well. The baths would have separate first and second class areas for use.  

Holiday surprises

We also found when me, my brother and sister visited our Grandma in Jamaica in 1982 just what it would be like without the modern conveniences that we were used to. As teenagers at the time we rolled up our sleeves and got on with it, and we handled it quite well seeing it as an adventure. With no running water each morning we would have to go down to the well - which was down a hill - to fetch the water that would be used for bathing and drinking and washing up the dishes.  It was a humbling experience and really put things into perspective.

Calling the Repair man

We can often take what we do have for granted.  Recently my mothers bathroom cold water tap stopped working and when I called for the repairs they told me that it would take them a week before they could come and look at it.  I was surprised that it wasn't seen as an emergency, especially for the elderly to have cold running water at home.  What we were having to do to set the bath for her was to run the hot water tap, let it go cold and then add the hot water after and make the best of the situation.  I waited in for the repair man to come, glad that the week had passed and we would soon be able to carry on as normal. Just before he came I decided for some reason to turn the tap on, I knew that it wouldn't work because I had been trying every day from the time I called them out.  To my surprise 10 minutes before he came the water began to flow out of the tap as if there had never been a problem. 

I was stunned, why on the very day that it was supposed to be fixed would it start working, all week there had been nothing and then all of a sudden the tap started to flow.   The door knocked and in the repair man came.  I explained, (slightly embarrassed), what had been happening and said funnily enough the tap started working that morning.  I wasn't sure if the look that he gave me was one that questioned whether there was a fault in the first place.  Anyway, after much fiddling and banging he eventually said that it was fixed, and confirmed what I thought it was - the washer.  I was at last able to get on with my day.

New Insights

When we look for the revelations and insights that can come from different situations in life, it can often show us interesting and important things.  It reminded me that you never know how things are going to turn out.  You can be dissuaded by how things look in the moment and sometimes you need to find temporary solutions making the best of it before a way is made.  You also have to slow down.  There are so many things that we find ourselves trying to do all at the same time we begin to miss the life that is passing right before our eyes and we forget to enjoy the simple things.  Take time to think about the events that happen in your life, what interesting revelation could they contain that you can apply to your life in a positive way?

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do 
prospers Psalm 1:3

The Lord will guide you always;  he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail Isaiah 58:11



Sunday 3 February 2013

Adventure - 52 Weeks of colour

A thought for the week

It is important to set boundaries so that you know where you are, where you have been and where you are going. There is a whole world out there waiting for you to make your mark, and be part of the adventure! Be proud of the many things you will achieve, whether they be big or small, you are wonderful.

Quote 
I shut my eyes in order to see. ...Paul Gauguin

Scripture
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

Thursday 24 January 2013

Gratitudes - Hugs





A hug can sooth away the pain, provide comfort and help you see things in a different light. 

What are you grateful for this week?
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...