Day 238 - Unresolved

Version Two Watercolor - Going to try some pen and ink on top

from griefshare.com:

Having unresolved issues with the person who died will cause you to be stuck in grief. These issues may be petty disagreements over work or family life, or they could be deep-rooted conflicts that were never settled. You can still settle those issues in your own heart.

"You can't get unstuck from grief until you deal with the issues that stuck and gummed things up in the first place," says Dr. Ray Pritchard.

To complete the grieving process, you must go back and deal with unresolved issues. These matters can be resolved. A pastor, counselor, or support group may help you with this.

You could also write a letter to the loved one with whom you had the disagreement or misunderstanding. Give details and ask for forgiveness. Because the person you lost cannot read the letter or respond to you, this exercise is totally for your benefit. Finally, tear up the letter. The matter is settled and finished. You can do no more.

Tell God about these conflicts, what the disagreement was, how you felt then, and how you feel now.

"Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together" (Isaiah 43:26).

Day 237 - Good

Watercolor
From griefshare.com

Good Grief

Good grief is accepting the fact that your loved one has died, accepting the sorrow and pain, and knowing there is more to come. Good grief is getting through the days, the months, and, eventually, through the years.

Your life will never be the same again, but you will get through the grief. The grieving process is a transition into your new life.

"He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age" (Ruth 4:15).

Day 236 - Bad

Watercolor

From griefshare.com -

Bad Grief

Grief is a process. A process is a series of actions and gradual changes that one progresses through. The grieving process involves forward movement—going from one emotion, one level, one day to the next.

There is such a thing as good grief. It involves identifying the loss, recognizing the grieving process, accepting that life will never be the same, and continuing forward on the journey. There is also bad grief: continually thinking about the person who died and refusing to let him or her go.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Day 235 - Piano

Watercolor

I have been able to practice the piano at least 3 times a week for the past month (about 45 min. to an hour). Amazingly, I've seen great improvement and hope to be more consistent. I have some challenging pieces I'm working on (Chopin's Prelude and Pachelbel's Canon) but think I can have them mastered...by Christmas!

Day 234 - Cooking!

Watercolor

I am behind on my blog! I am cooking up a storm though. Somehow my culinary senses have been resurrected and I am making pasta sauce, poached pears, bruschetta, chocolate pudding, beet salad amid a myriad of delicacies! I have no idea what happened but I like it! I am also working very hard on a department project and my tenure portfolio. Too much to do in too short a time. Will try to catch up!

Day 233 - Courage

Watercolor


"We always pay for lack of courage." Sarah Ban Breathnach

Day 232 - Start

Watercolor

"We can stop waiting for life to become perfect and start working with what we've got to make it as satisfying as we can. We can accept, bless, give thanks and get going."
Sarah Ban Breathnach

Something has happened. I've become interested in cooking, piano playing, gardening and working on my house again. Small wonders pop up everyday. Life is good.

Day 231 - Restore

Watercolor

The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. Isaiah 58:11-12

Day 230 - Lives

Digital paint


I believe we have two lives. The one we learn with and the life we live after that.

Day 229 - Sigh

Digital Paint


Well, Eat, Pray, Love lived up to my expectations only one third of the movie. I think I wanted it to be like Under the Tuscan Sun and unfortunately it was not. The Eat part in Italy was fabulous - she seemed so happy and at peace with herself, her life without a man and with the beauty of Italy and all it had to offer. The rest of the movie was disappointing. India and Bali held no fascination for me and ultimately she came full circle in my opinion and did not "move forward". I hope some of you enjoy the movie since all that movies portray are mirror images of our own experiences and emotions. This one was not one of mine.

Day 228 - Eat

Photoshop

This weekend is Eat, Pray, Love! I read the book right after my husband died and many things in it helped so much, especially the impetus to travel to Italy again by myself where we spent our 25th wedding anniversary. This is a good weekend as I realize I've come very far. It's my son's birthday this weekend! Lots of fun planned and good memories of his dad. I looked at pictures today of my son and his father and felt so grateful we had those years. My son is my gift and my joy.

This weekend I think I'll focus on the "eat" part of the movie.

Day 227 - Nurturing

Digital
Art. My tribute to Claudia Helmuth

Several things are needed to nurture the artist within all of us. We need to work in a safe environment and we need to develop strong character traits which include discipline and perseverence. The safe environment should be a place where creativity can happen. It really can be anywhere, but it needs to be accessible and dedicated. We also need to focus on what we need to do to reach our goals and not move haphazardly all over the place. We need encouragement and positive reinforcement, even if it only comes from within. Fulfillment and creativity needs to be taken care of like a garden; cultivated and loved.

Day 226 - Dreamers

Digital Art

The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do. Sarah Ban Breathnach

Day 225 - Mission

Pen and Ink

The mission statement of The American Art Therapy Association begins with:

The making of art is healing and life enhancing.

Day 224 - Art_Heals

Colored Pencil

There can be healing when curing is impossible. Art heals by accepting the pain and doing something with it. The process becomes more important than the goal itself.

From Art Heals: How Creativity Cures the Soul by Shaun McNiff

Day 223 - Conflict

Pen and Ink

The most difficult situations have always presented our greatest opportunities for transformation both collective and individual. Creativity comes from conflict. Conflict is the subject matter. Learning how to engage it, creatively transforms it into new forms of life.

From Art Heals: How Creativity Cures the Soul by Shaun McNiff

Day 222 - Heal

Watercolor

Healing involves soothing discomfort, lessening fear and learning how to live more effectively with difficulties.

From Art Heals: How Creativity Cures the Soul by Shaun McNiff

Day 221 - Beauty

Watercolor

Perceiving beauty in a particular thing brings an overall sense of renewal, wonder, and passion, all of which generate life-affirming energy.

Day 220 - Series

Watercolor
I decided to start a new series tomorrow on Italy. I think the influence of Eat, Pray Love coming out and watching Under the Tuscan Sun again (twice in one week) has me thinking...

Day 219 - Strive

Watercolor

'To strive to seek to find and not to yield'. Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem Ulysses

One of my favorite quotes. To me it basically means not to give into unfulfilled potential but to make the most of the life you have been given.


Artwork to come.

Day 218 - Portrait

5 minute Pencil drawing
I love doing portraits (can you tell!?). I feel I can look at someone and know something about them by doing a study. I think it's important to capture people in art as well as photography - there is something a photograph can't get even though it is a perfect replica. Sometimes the abstract says more than reality.

Day 217 - Yoga

5 MINUTE WATERCOLOR
I am anxious to see the movie Eat, Pray, Love because of reading the book at a time when I needed to connect to God again after my husband's death. The book had some meaningful insights for me. I didn't agree with all of the philosophies in the book but that is the beauty of taking someone's experience and connecting it to your own. That is yoga for me. Taking the experience and tying it to my needs to help me focus. Painting is of the yoga teacher and model.

216 - Draw

Waxy crayon
I took a life drawing session today - 2 hours of pure drawing. These are one minute gestures. The model taught a yoga class to us before the session. It was in a beautiful setting in NY State. A perfect morning.

Day 215 - Persistant

Watercolor of Lily

When I lack persistance, I try to do a few things to break out of the rut:

1. I visualize that I've already achieved my goal and work backwards.

2. I visualize that I am just a step away from my goal and imagine what do I have to do next to achieve this dream?

3. I picture crazy ideas to achieve my goal - one might be the right one!

4. I talk to people about my goals and see if they have any insight.

Day 214 - Drama

Wataercolor Magnolias

I know when I dream up personal dramas with myself or other people someone always gets hurt. The small, petty things that bother us in life are so unimportant in comparison with the big picture. I find when I am focused on the minutia, I over-dramatize reality. When I take a breath and think about the overall scheme of things, I can sit back and let go. I wish all the negativity surrounding each day would take a vacation and let the kindness and confidence in treating each other well take over. Maybe it's time Drama takes a Holiday.

Day 213 - Goal_setting

Watercolor with Pen and Ink

I am still running that race everyday where I reach for the high prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). I have so many goals right now that I think I'm on overload again. Tomorrow is my day to go over those goals, reset, realign and regroup. I find that once a week goal setting can be an oasis for the rest of the week. It helps me focus and relax because everything in my head is put down on paper and I don't have to worry where to turn. This week I won't be saying, "But where shall I go and what shall I do?"

Day 212 - Back

Illustrator Drawing

Today my vacation officially ends and I am back at work. I am surprised at how much I did so far this summer, but the real work begins now. I'll be posting all kinds of different artwork as well as designs for web sites I am developing. Fun but still work. I even started writing the book on grief I've been toying with for years. It's time.