Does wheatpasting work on a ceiling tile? Hmmm…

I will be facilitating a really exciting Cultural Portrait pilot project at a local high school in a couple of weeks. The plan is for the 30 students to create a street art type ceiling as they explore self and cultural identity. The work is to go on those classic porous school ceiling tiles- you…

Circumstantial. Putting the research together.

Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact—like a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly—i.e., without need for any additional evidence or inference. On its own, it is the nature of circumstantial evidence for more than one explanation to still be…

China marker therapy

A china marker. Newsprint. The act of drawing. That is when my mind is at rest. That is where I channel my racing mind. Drop the baggage, for good. Leave no imprint, not even a trace… – Rebelle Society

The lowly paper-wrapped grease pencil. #chinamarker

The paper-wrapped grease pencil is a smooth-writing, economical marker for marking almost any surface. [source] I adore using China Marker. It has the give and control I like in charcoal but without the mess.  The graphic quality of the mark making is appealing.  You can’t erase it- so you have to go with flow.   Much…

Journal exercise: facing our barriers [writing and drawing]

  Before our drawing exercise today with my youth group, I asked them to write stream of consciousness around barriers– barriers that come up in life, that make us “stuck” etc.  TEN MINUTES.  10 minutes of writing can be very liberating as it gives us a private place in which to problem solve and release….

Holding on or letting go… lessons from my nephew.

As I watch my nephew taking his steps towards his independence, I am struck with the battle we all struggle with between holding on and letting go. Just by watching Henrik, I find a metaphor for those battles inside myself. From the simple holding on to the pinky finger to feel safe- to letting go…

Saudade: the emotion of missing. #grief

Saudade is a unique Portuguese word that has no immediate translation in English.  Saudade describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves.  It often carries a repressed knowledge that the object of longing will never return.  It’s related to the feelings of longing, yearning.   Saudade is the…

A pencil box. Regarded with reverence.

UPDATE!  OUR BOOK IS READY! Go to: DRAWN TOGETHER — My father’s last pencil box.  It will remain untouched.  It contains his favorite drawing tools like the black pencil crayon and his instant coffee spoon and his rolled up hand towel that he used to brush eraser bits away. I went into Staples today and…

Patti.

— — Dip in to the sea, to the sea of possibilities  It started hardening  Dip in to the sea, to the sea of possibilities  It started hardening in my hand  And I felt the arrows of desire —

ANTICIPATION. #Journaling exercise PART 4: draw out the poetry. #arttherapy

I’m developing a journal exercise around anticipation. Recall in Part 1, I encouraged you to write about the words: ANTICIPATION, PROCESS and AFTERMATH. In part 2, we wrote freely, deconstructed and wove the words together. In part 3 we drew out the fear. Today, let’s write about what we leave behind after anticipation and process.  Then draw…

ANTICIPATION. #Journaling exercise PART 3: draw out the fear. #arttherapy

I’m developing a journal exercise around anticipation.  Recall in Part 1, I encouraged you to write about the words: ANTICIPATION, PROCESS and AFTERMATH. In part 2, we wrote freely, deconstructed and wove the words together: Today write about how anticipation can cause fear.  Is it self-sabotage or is it part of the process? Draw how it feels….

#WomenIAdmire journal series Part 1 @RebeccaBree

Celebrating female by celebrating women in my life in my journal pages. Part 1: Rebecca Rawlinson. She’s flawless. Period.  Inside and out, one of the greatest women I know.  I adore her transparent beauty- her honest way of living.  Living FULLY! And I could not be more proud of her as she prepares to open…

Beauty in the struggle. Part 2. Dad keeping thoughts straight.

As I mentioned in Part 1, I notice Dad is struggling with keeping focused.  He finds it hard to keep his thoughts straight when he writes.  Today he struggled to make sense of and read from his notes he had written regarding his creative process.  He wanted me to share this with you in order to…

Beauty in the struggle. My Dad’s “chaos” gives insight.

Lately, I notice Dad is struggling with keeping focused.  He finds it hard to keep his thoughts straight when he writes.  And his current project illustrates the “chaos” he describes.  The drawings give me clues to his internal struggles and reminds me to keep things simple and routine for him. But he continues to LIVE FIERCELY…

Dad’s latest drawing: ART IS A SPECTATOR SPORT!

Dad keeps a piece of paper beside him to test his felt pens.  Instead of throwing out the paper, he was inspired to create a piece called “Roar Thorsen Art Studio.” He also uses his sticker technique to correct, what he calls- mistakes. Dad’s words: When you make a drawing, you check colors and pens on…

Saturday visual experimentation Part 5. Redo, Transform: Jocelyn

Recall: Saturday visual experimentation Part 1 Saturday visual experimentation Part 2 Saturday visual experimentation Part 3 Saturday visual experimentation Part 4 As mentioned in part 1, I’m experimenting with using a pre-existing book as a journal.  I’m using: Tales of the Batman by Tim Sale. Today’s original page (by Tim Sale): On today’s re-done, transformed page, I began with…

Visual experimentation Part 4. Redo, Transform: ALTER #BATMAN

Recall: Saturday visual experimentation Part 1 Saturday visual experimentation Part 2 Saturday visual experimentation Part 3 As mentioned in part 1, I’m experimenting with using a pre-existing book as a journal.  I’m using: Tales of the Batman by Tim Sale. On today’s re-done, transformed page, I used black and white china marker and red acrylic and was inspired by…

Visual experimentation Part 3. Redo, Transform: White on Black

Recall: Saturday visual experimentation Part 1 Saturday visual experimentation Part 2 As mentioned in part 1, I’m experimenting with using a pre-existing book as a journal.  I’m using: Tales of the Batman by Tim Sale. On today’s re-done, transformed end paper, I’m using white china marker on black to research my graphic novel.