"Mimicry" collage

Another journal page. See the beauty around you. Sometimes we copy others to grow and evolve ourselves.

"Liminal", collage

This collage is magazine pages, Sharpie, blue Elmers glue and silver polish. If you draw with the blue Elmer's glue, let it dry completely, then wipe the area with silver polish it will remove the magazine color and can be very effective. I also find torn paper to be more interesting than cut paper, depending on the intent of the piece. It is very foggy today. Water droplets are hanging on the trees. I am so accustomed to doing what is expected of me that it is sometimes hard to know what I want and need. I know that I am constantly evolving and growing. It is a part of being human.

"Interstitial" collage

Here is my collage called "Interstitial" which is a space or opening between things. Lately I have been putting off a lot of things so this quote really hits home. I wonder if procrastination and interstitial behavior has a link to each other. "When I keep putting something off, it may not be procrastination, but a decision I've already made and not yet admitted to myself", by Judith M. Knowlton. Find the small blessings in each day.

Hegemony, collage

Here is another page in my journal. Again it is not for sale. I have started working on the cow pastels again. All three are blocked in but none are finished. Hope your Christmas was merry. We made a nice dinner and curled up with a fire. We decided we had everything we needed so gifts for each other were not important. Only loving each other and everyday acts of kindness are plenty. As I look out the window...there are a thousand birds doing an ariel ballet. It is truely amazing.

African Mask, clay

This was inspired by my students. They are not for sale just sharing the beauty I see in them.

"Fecundity" collage

The collages I am posting are not for sale, if you wondered. They are part of a journal on post colonial studies. The class has really opened up my thinking and I feel the experience of this class will have long term effects not only on my art but on how I think.

"Ethnicity", collage

This is another journal page from my "Crossing Borders Class". Egyptian artifacts are so beautiful and this collage gave me an excuse to use these images to make a photo montage. It almost feels tomb like.

A very dear friend died yesterday. He had a way of making other people feel special and appreciated. He was generous with his gentleness and kindness. He will be missed by both Jerry and I. Let those special people know you love them today. You never know if they will be here tomorrow.

Breast Cancer Healing on Paper

Diversity, collage

This collage is attempting to get a handle on the idea of diversity. It is magazine slicks and fine tip Sharpie. I did about 20 or so of these collages. Now I have started my pastels of cows. I have the first one roughed in. When it is done I will post it. Nothing gets done over night but it is about constant progress. Every small positive action is important. All of those small actions add up to a big action or result over time. Remember, one day at a time.

Discourse, collage

This collage is about communicating, sharing ideas and speaking to one another. It is not just about talking but listening as well.

I just got my grade on my journal and I was so excited that I had to print it out so that I wouldn't forget what it said!!! It was 100+ %. My teacher said it was stunning. I am so happy. I really love my journal, but I was starting to worry that I had done it wrong. No one else in my class did it the way I did, so sometimes it is easy to begin doubting yourself.

"Creole", collage

This is another collage from my "Crossing Borders Journal". Creole is the mixing of Black and Spanish heritage to create a hybrid culture. I have a new thought for today. "We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves... The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined." by N. Scott Momaday. This idea is enough to really make you think.

Chromatism, collage

In this collage the leaves represent all the earths people and their multitude of colors and the pencils are the artists through out the world and their many ethnicitys. The scene represents the peaceful place we all deserve.

I passed my final yesterday and I am so pleased. I still have not gotten a grade on my journal but I'm sure Teddy will be grading them soon. She has really made me think about putting myself into my work. I may not have the answers yet but at least she has my mind working.

"We need to own our lives. We need to claim our experiences, all of them, and integrate them into our existence and decisions.We need to claim who we are and be who we are....." by Anne Wilson Schaef. This is a brief quotation from"Meditations For Women Who Do Too Much". This little book has helped me find peace when I was moving to fast.

Cannibal

The word cannibal in post colonial studies is not eating another human being but to take something from the dominant society and change it to fit the needs of the dominated people. I saw a documentary about the disappearing children of Sudan. It wretched my heart. The children leave there homes in the bush at night and go to the city to sleep under verandas and outside hospitals to keep from being kidnapped and killed at night in their villages. The children are wall to wall sleeping. Everyday I discover even more, how spoiled and privileged I am. If you want to know more, go to invisiblechildren.com

Crossing Borders Journal, cover

Well, here is the cover of my "Crossing Borders Journal" I turned it in today. It is not for sale just thought I would share what I have been doing. Remember to share smiles and kind words. My Dad always said that. Be positive and constructive. I am trying to be myself.

Binarism, collage

Well this is the 3rd collage in my book for my "Crossing Borders" class. I have done 20 plus collages."We must get in touch with our own liberating ludicrousness and practice being harmlessly deviant." By Sarah J. McCarthy Good night!