A light shines in the darkness, Angel #11

it all starts here. this is the first painting in my new art studio! it is SO much nicer to be in this space, it really is like a different world.

very quickly i saw a bird form in the wings of this angel. i decided to play with this image and keep its shape. here is a good example of how my painting begins. there is a fair amount of under painting and direction.

Before & After in the studio

Previous to Dec 28th this is how my art space looked! I had my drawing table set up in the corner, with a small space heater nearby. What you cant get a scale of in this picture was some clutter encroaching on my creative space. Just behind my chair is also where my easel is. No doubt that an unfinished basement in Wisconsin, in December is a cold place. But I made do, I was just happy to even have a corner, but what if a basement corner could become an art room! The idea & help came from a friend, John. This was the best thing to happen for the old year& new year. I am so lucky. This was a neat project for me. It took us 2 days and $ 200, which mostly went to carpeting. For my art room, i had an idea to use tapestriess to make the walls. I was thinking of a hut, in the desert made of beautiful fabrics. I called around to local stores and totally scored when i called URBAN OUTFITTERS on State St. They had large tapestries AND they were on clearance. $9.00!! Marked down from 30! OMG! I was thrilled, i love a good idea and a deal, it was just what i needed. The other really cool thing that happened during the constructing of this art space was this thought: Urban Outfitters was THE destination for me as a teenager. My friend Wendie had heard of or been to Madison and we came up here (from Sycamore, IL) together when I was 15. I was instantly enamoured with Madison, going to State St., and Urban Outfitters! My mom recollects when i got home I told her "when I grow up I want to live in Madison". uh huh. So that would have been 1992. So fast forward to 2008, I live in Madison,(after living in California for 8 years) and I am in Urban Outfitters buying up tapestries ( 15) for my art space, from which I will create my angel art and pursue my business of selling it. Is this what is called a full circle moment?My drawing table in my new art room. Amazing what a difference it makes! Much more conductive for creativity and angel making! Thank you to the "angels" who helped make this happen!!

The Sacrifice.
Here is the drawing in progress on my art table. i like to have a candle burning, and an "aura-spray" from "Aunt Vi's Garden" handy. The green bloom is for creativity, and was given to me by a dear friend Ashley. It smells wonderful and helps cheer up my space. I will post the finished picture as soon i have one.

Mercy

Oh Mercy!
There is something mystical about this angel, something in the face. I was pondering mercy while i drew. I love it when i have the radio on (102.5) and i hear a song that has lyrics that my drawing illustrates. For example: i heard a song with lyrics that said "your mercy rains". Perfect!! I was on a little roll with these small colored pencil drawings on illustration board.
2 Samuel 24:14
David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."

I drew this angel on election night! November 3rd, 2008. It took me just a day to finish. I was so inspired by President (Elect)Obama, and felt like there was a "hope" (drawing 6) for "peace" (drawing 7). I was seeing a peaceful heart.
Leviticus 26:6
" 'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.

Angel 6 "Hope"

I love love love this little Hope Angel drawing. I was just sitting in my art studio when I grabbed a pencil and sketched out this angel. It was just after Halloween, and I needed some hope. It was a quick drawing, i'd say something like "it just flowed out of me" which is trite but true! I colored her in there she was, this was shortly after i added the hot pink in my hair. i liked doing this little drawing so much I decided to do another one. This was right around election time, so the air was electric. There was hope in the air of our country and it reflected in me emotionally.

Angel #5 "Breakthrough"

It took me a little while to start painting #5. It is now October, I was having a dry spell. I wasn't motivated to paint, i was distracted by challenges i was facing in my life; i like to call it emotionally congested. On one brazen night in October i just started painting with out any conception of what i wanted to do. I just painted so freely, and broke through the blocks I was having. It isn't very well defined, but "all theses things come from my heart". In the painting the angels' heart is bursting open and everything comes out from there. So in theory I painted out my emotional congestion. My art tends to be like that, reflective, relevant, and necessary. I think I did this painting in a week. Which is rather quick for me. Guess when i am being free and not seeking perfection i am a quicker painter. AAH, the learning curve. Aah, the breakthrough!!