New Art: Sea Horse

I am living art this year by spending more time in the studio, trying out new art supplies, and sharing my art and myself with the world.  I have produced more pieces in the last year than in my whole 48 years combined.  I am happier than I have ever been in my own skin.  With each new piece I feel my true self emerging from years of pushing back the creative urges because the stuff of everyday life was getting in the way.  Not much about everyday life has changed.  There is still laundry to do, groceries to buy, and school to teach. Yard work, dogs to walk, a husband to keep fed.  So, what changed? I stopped expecting life stuff to be perfect.  Why did I not paint?  I had to much stuff in my life to take care of.  I reduced the stuff, did away with the unnecessary, and gained time.  I fill that time now with things that make me happy...painting, reading, taking art classes. I live art when I am with others in art classes.  I live art by sharing my work.  I live art when I spend all weekend at home in my studio and never cut on the television.  I live art when I have no idea what time it is.  I live art when I forget to eat.

The piece above is my latest. It is done with all gelli printed papers.  All the papers were science worksheets left over from the classes that I teach.  There is a little colored pencil, some acrylic inks, and charcoal for the outlining.  Mixed media collage / paper painting has been my medium of choice this year.

I am linking to Emily Freedman's blog and Link Party: We Will Make Art.