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

Memories of Home - Mixed Media House Series

Memories of Home - 5 x 7 in mixed media painting

Memories of home, is a weekly series of art and reflections of home.  I will be sharing a selection of mixed media 4x7 houses that I have been making, that capture different elements of home either that I currently enjoy or that I remember as a child.  I had originally started making these as one of the monthly challenges on Motley Soul, but the challenges of life got in the way!    I have decided to continue to make and share the houses, which are made from a selection of materials.  As I continue to make the mixed media houses they take me back to times past and in contrast how very different things are now.  I chose a selection of words that all bring back memories of home life, or how I wanted my environment to be ie 'nurturing, relaxing, a sanctuary' things that I want to experience at home and I am sure that others too want to have that place where they can be themselves.  I will share a memory or thought whether from growing up as a child or where I currently live with my family.  Along with the mixed media house, every now and then I will add a journal page or a piece of art around the word for that week.

Earliest Memories

Parliament Hill Fields - age 4

 

My earliest memory of home was when I was around 4 years old.  We lived in 2 rooms on the 2^nd floor of a house.  My mum, dad, me and my brother who was a baby occupied one room and my sister who was 10 years old occupied the other.  A large fireplace dominated the room and at bath times we had a large tin bath which mum used to fill with jugs of water.  I never thought about how it would be emptied, but I guess there are a lot of things that you don’t question as a child you just know that one minute it is full and we are playing, splashing and laughing and the next minute you are being wrapped up in an oversized towel looking forward to the night time snack.

The house that mum currently lives is where I grew up in from the age of 7 until I left home.  As a family we faced the normal ups and downs, the challenges and triumphs and came out the other end.  My sister was the one who started our quest for adventure, if you were bored and wanted something to do when we were kids you went outside and played.  My sister would take me and my brother all over London going to museums and galleries and exploring the sights that people come from around the world to see but many who live here take for granted. When my sister went off to University it was just me and my brother Robert.  We didn’t have the technology they have now and our entertainment was playing outside with a football, or making it up a game as you went along.  The storyline for our adventure games always involved a space ship, aliens, saving the world and low food supplies!

Gardens on our doorstep

 

View from Parliament Hill

We had to make use of our environment, we had Parliament Hill Fields and Hampstead Health on our doorstep.  From a very young age it was one of the places my dad would take us on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and we relished being out in the wide open space.  

Me and Robert continued to use it as our back garden and when we weren’t saving the world we would frequent the adventure play ground with its climbing frames and tyre swings.  We had loads of great memories of our adventures during our 6 week holidays, riding out on our blue scooters and facing the world of ‘aliens’ –  the sweets in our pockets acting as our cloaking devices and energy packs.

Traditions handed down

Back at home, finished your homework, cooked dinners and all of us around the table, the chatter of our voices excited to share what we had done.  Mums cooking could rival any chef and she could put her hand to an amazing array of dishes - the tastes, the aromas, the combinations, she was an amazing cook.  She passed on those skills to us as we developed our own specialities.  Robert mastered making deserts, pies, - mums famous fruit spiced cakes and his custard with a dash of mixed spice and vanilla which he would make from scratch - he made it an art, he made it just right with the balance of texture and flavours, it was on his 'to do list' at every family dinner. My sister mastered fine dining and I was always a ‘lets see what we can make out of this’ type of person.  I love the challenge of learning a recipe and making it my own, altering and creating and entirely new dish.  I like the spontaneous and it depends how I feel what I will cook.

I think back to those days with fondness with the family - no elbows on the table mind you!  but you spent time sharing about your day and more time was spent, listening, laughing and relaxing....

I hope you join me each Wednesday on my journey over the weeks, as I share my mixed media houses and some art journaling and look back to the memories of home, and look forward to you sharing some of your own memories.

Childlike - Creating in Faith

We often hear the term childlike/childish being used in a negative context with the offending party is deemed to be acting like a child when an adult response is required.

As artists on the flip side we encourage tapping into your creativity the way a child would.  Children often approach creativity with a 'can do' attitude without the baggage and fear that can come over you when you start to tell yourself your not good enough or talented enough.  Fear of anything other than loud noises and falling is a learn behaviour that starts when our children are young and like sponges they soak up the fear of spiders, lack of confidence, or being good enough.  When taking my son to school when he was little you would hear how the children talked to one another, imitating conversations they had heard from parents and some learnt from an early age how to undervalue themselves.

Deep rooted insecurity 
The negativity embeds itself deep in to their minds and I'm sure we can all think of a throw away comment made by someone when we were young that had quite an impact on us even though many years have passed.

Prior to the remark that embeds itself in a child where they think they 'can’t' or worry about what others 'might think' there is a freedom in the way they approach things, an inquisitiveness and a sense of awe and adventure.  Watching how babies explore their surroundings and learn to walk, if they held onto the impact of their first fall they would never walk again.  But they get up time and time again, strengthening their muscles until they take their first unaided steps.

Letting go of the critic
As adults we try to gain that sense of being back to when we were children.  As we approach our creativity our critic often says ‘who do you think you are’ and we stop in our tracks beginning to doubt just who we thought we were. But we have to face it head on, let go of the critical comments and allow ourselves to soar!

When God encourages us to come to him like a child it is so that we come without the baggage and the fears and doubts that can often surround us, wondering if we really are good enough, he says ‘come’ with his outstretched arms with no motive or calculated plan, just the desire to show love.

What areas of your life can you put a different spotlight on approach in a different way?  What possible  results do you think you can get?  I'd love to hear your views.....

Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...Matthew 11:28

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:16

Come join the group - Creating in Faith, show us how you will be incorporating the words and scriptures and reflections in your art this week.  Step out and be a blessing and you will also be blessed!

Try Something New - Week 3 Update

I am astounded at how quick the week went, I thought I'd get this update done as I go into week 4.  I tried to vary the time of my walks to see how I felt, and did an evening and afternoon walk.

I realised I prefered to hear the birds tweeting rather than the traffic, and you notice how many people are on the road and it then doesn't become a peaceful 'alone with my thoughts' activity, so the verdict is that either walking first thing or walking at lunch time when there is a bit of sunshine all helps to make an enjoyable walk.  I am also beginning to feel that 'have to get out urge' rather than forcing myself to get my things together, and when I do get that feeling of not wanting to go out, even with all the preparation, I have to remind myself it's only 10 mins in one direction then back!

This week I took a walk round where my mother lives in Camden.  It  brought back childhood memories of me standing on my mothers balcony which looked onto the main road.

I'd sing songs I made up hoping a record producer would hear me as they drove by....I was determined to be spotted, and sang at the top of my lungs;

I'm only 11,11, 11 but what's the use, use, use of me trying to get in show biz,

wow oh wiz you never see me crying,

wow oh wiz I'll never stop trying.......

I would sing on the balconly mostly at the weekends. Funny I am not sure what the neighbours thought, I never knew if they complained the only one that did complain was my little brother who would tell me what an awful voice I had, (brothers eh)!

My mothers estate backs on to two film studios.  On Monday I was in the process of going for my walk and putting out her recycling in the boxes which overlook the studios in my 'never wear these out on the streets, unless it's dark and no one can see you tracksuit' and who should drive up through her estate to the studio but Gok Wan, who glanced at me as I turned, I had to laugh as he had the look of 'you'd be just right for my extreme Makeover show' on his face.  Anyway...not to be deterred by my momentary embarrassement I strode off, vowing to myself that I would get a decent tracksuit to do my workouts in.

There are a lot of squirrels still to be seen, not sure if they are confused by the mildness of the weather and are eating up all their spring store or if they are still collecting for the winter.

Working on challenges to come....trying to get things organised such as website, goals and dreams for 2012, the thought of making 12 changes in the year that are lasting and will make a difference in my life is quite exciting.  I have been taking part in the Art Every Day Month on my other blog, will be updating some of the work I have been doing for the last few days, and have been doing some more backgrounds.  There is still so much to see in regards to the plant life, lots of bright blooms still on show;

and some rather unusual looking mushrooms growing on the grass..

but the changing of the leaves have been spectacular to see;

Roll on week 4 need to start thinking what challenge December will bring, what do I want to try?  What change do you think you would like to challenge yourself to making? Blessings for the rest of the week.

Week 4 Update
Week 2 Update
Week 1 Update