|
|
 weekend arts and crafts fair in Embu, SP Monday was an awesome day. Thanks to our host Sueli, who took on the role of our very own personal driver, we spent the whole day out. We first went back to the little center of town near where they live, Embu, and walked around for some wonderful pics, and also we became the proud new owners of a handwoven, authentic hammock, that should hold the whole family!!
Then we went to an orphanage named Lar Batista. This orphanage was one which my grandpa had been very involved in while he was alive. We had lunch there, and the boys sat together with some other boys, and managed to have some sort of conversation in Portuguese, while they ate. They also showed us around, and explained a little bit about what they do, which includes a sort of After school program for nearby children who live in one of 5 nearby shantytown/slums. They teach them music, English, art, amongst other things. They also feed them lunch. At the orphanage currently, they have 24 children in this particular facility, but there are 4 other facilities that are supported by local baptist churches…. More on the specifics later.
We then went to a park I used to go to as a kid. Parque do Ibirapuera. Unfortunately, it was cold and cloudy, with temperatures hovering the low 50’s, so we didn’t stay as long as we wanted. It was good for the boys to run around. They did get in trouble for speaking English out in public, though. We are really trying to get Phoenix on board. He is still being stubborn.
Going backwards, Sunday was possibly just as good, if not better. We spent the better part of the day, after a late start, in the center of town, walking around and enjoying an arts fair. It goes on every saturday and sunday. It takes over the whole town. It made me want to live here, just to be able to show and sell my work on a regular basis, in a place where value is given to it. The art and artisan/handmade stuff was amazing, and so inexpensive that it made me feel really bad, in that they weren’t making any money. We drank coconut water straight from the coconut. We then had a pretty late lunch and went to their night services.
Other random facts:
We’ve been having brasilian coffee around the clock! We’ve seen more than a few dogs that have no owners and just roam the streets. Sao Paulo has much more traffic than NYC, and we spend large parts of each day in the car. Seeing family is fun. Poverty is a very real concept, and it makes me crazy that we have so much. Having fresh squeezed and natural juices is part of the norm. Yum. A roast pig has too much fat and too many bones to make it worthwhile eating. All my family seems to love handmade stuff, so I guess I’m not so weird after all! 
Yesterday, we had the privilege of serving along with the friends we are staying with, at a church and community outreach project to neighborhood kids. We were the “guests of honor” whom the kids got to hear from, as an “american family”. We showed them a slideshow of some of the day in day out activities of life in the states, and then we got “interviewed” with some questions. We then got to share a little about our faith in Christ, and Fabio felt a strong leading to share a brief description of his testimony, which he did all on his own in Portuguese. While he was sharing, the often rambunctious kids were extremely riveted to what he had to say, and you could hear a pin drop! I am exceedingly proud of my love, who did an awesome job sharing about God’s love for the first time in Portuguese. He’s amazing!!
After that the kids spent a large part of the time playing. The boys playing soccer, and the girls doing a sorta dance/choreography to music. Both Willik and Phoenix joined in and played soccer along with Brasilian boys, and had a super time. The kids loved asking us to say stuff in English, and asking about America.
We then had lunch with them, where they insisted in hearing Fabio pray in English, while I translated. Willik held his own, and started to make friends, and develop his Portuguese. Phoenix is still being a bit stubborn, and is not saying much at all in Portuguese. He’s going todo it at his own pace! We gave them FBC High Seas Day Camp tshirts, and they loved it! Many of them gave me hugs and kisses, thanking us for bringing the shirts. It was really sweet!
Tomorrow we will be going to an orphanage. I can’t wait!
 right click on this picture, then click on "view picture" then use the + magnifier to look at each piece more closely. I seem to enjoy a bit of torture, when it comes to coordinating projects for church. I take on a huge project which nearly kills me with the amount of time and effort it takes to get it done.
The last few weeks have been exactly that.
I was asked by the pastor last year, if at day camp this year, I would be willing to do art, instead of craft. I was thrilled with the request, even if part of his reason was to save money.
He talked of a mural, or something big….
Fast forward 6 months, when the planning for day camp started. After talking some to the children’s director, we came up with this idea of individual canvases joining, but having each child’s art, with one big drawing to connect them all…. And that’s what I did.
Unwrapping 350 canvases that were double wrapped was a lot of work, as was doing a number grid system on the back of all of them. I was blessed with many hands, which helped to lighten the work.
Another able-bodied carpenter made a plywood wall that would hold all of these canvases spanning 19+ feet across and 10 feet tall. But then there was the issue of how we would get these to stay on the wall.
We’d agreed on velcro, so my wonderful husband gave up many evening hours by standing on a ladder, and putting 190 feet of velcro to accommodate all the canvases and he made sure that the lines were straight. We also had many hands putting velcro dots on the back of the canvases.
When the wall was up against it’s “permanent” home, then I went to work putting all the blank canvases on the wall. I projected my original drawing and stood on a ladder for several more hours to draw the whole thing. Then 350 canvases had to come down off the wall, so that we could pack them all for the children.
All during this, my parents were kinda enough to keep my boys with them in NYC for the week, so I could do all this prep work.
The moment of truth came last week, when we then started to have the kids paint.
They painted in the black shapes/lines which I’d drawn for them. They were only given black acrylic. Many had never painted on a canvas.
The black dried overnight, and we then had color out for the children. They were artist, and could choose to paint their canvases any way they saw fit, except that they had to leave the black alone, and not leave any white on the canvas. They followed my instructions perfectly. But at this point, I still did not know how it all turned out, and how things would all line up.
Wednesday night, when everyone else was gone, we had about 6 or 7 people who came out to help me put the canvases up. Many hands again made this go quick and smooth, with a lot of good organizing by my sister Raquel, who came up from NYC for a couple days to help me, along with Diana, who is the kinda person I need to have on every large project from now on.
As we put the canvases up, it was amazing to get to see the “mural/mosaic” wall unfold. The pieces were all lining up. Even some colors lined up. The black lines were there, and they met up with the next canvas.
The children did not know what the “BIG PICTURE” would be, but I told them I was going to be surprised as well, with how it turned out. And I was.
I could not be more pleased with it. It was a joy and a pleasure, and all those hours of planning, prepping, worrying and prepping, and planning were worth it.
I hope the children do continue to think of themselves as artists, and I’m glad I had a part in helping them see that we are all part of something bigger, and God instilled creativity in all of us, because He is the greatest artist ever!!
Here are some pics of the mural. If you’re in PA and want to see the real thing, drop me a line, and I’ll take you to it. It’s much better seeing it in person. But make it quick, because I don’t know how long it will be on display.
 
Oh, yeah! When this was over, we also made sketchbooks and had drawing lessons on shadow and light, and drawing a friend!
It was a great artistic week for 300+ children! And I loved every minute of it!!
Today, my goal was to put a dent on this commission piece.
I think I did..
Now the voyeurism is over, and I’m back to creating art on my own, and hoping people come and look….
People have been asking me if I am taking a break, and the answer is: No Way!!
For one, I’ve learned how much I can do, and I don’t want to lose the momentum.
Also, I have 3 art -related projects I have to work on.
First, I have to finish a commission piece I started before the 30dayartist thing.
Second, I was “commissioned” to do a small mural at the church library, which has to be done by the time school is out.
Third, I am running the art part of day camp for 400 children.
So, there will be no rest, and plenty of art, and for that I am grateful.
In the meanwhile, I will post progress, and updates and sketches.
If you think of any ideas of how I can display my art from the 30day run, I would like to hear it…
Most importantly, my husband comes home from a trip yesterday, and that makes me ecstatic!
For the past month, I’ve been the featured artist at 30dayartist.com
The goal was to create 40 pieces in 30 days. A daunting task, considering I’m married with children, and still need to take care of my family’s needs. A bit of laundry went undone, and I didn’t do many complicated meals this month. My husband spent a bit more time with the boys, and I accomplished the task.
I figured I’d learn some lessons along the way, make some discoveries about the process, likes, dislikes and such. I was not disappointed. I did learn and discovered many things.
One exciting and encouraging discovery was that I can paint quite quickly when under the gun. I used to think of myself as a bit slow in my process, but now not so much. Sure, some pieces need to “take their time”, but not everything has to be that way. And if I can do 28 finished pieces in a month, then I certainly can do 10, just as well, and still keep the family happy.
I continue to be drawn to many styles, and don’t intend to box myself in, but I was reminded of how much fun the mixed media pieces are, especially when I incorporate drawing and my own photos into them. They keep me engaged and “not bored”. And they give me license to continue to improve my photography habit!
The one desire that hasn’t gone away is the driving desire to show my art in public. It’s nice that so many people can look and see everything online, but looking at it online, and looking at it in a room, seeing the size and paint textures are completely different. So now, all the more reason to pursue venues and ways to show my art somewhere, anywhere. If anyone in or near Bucks County has any ideas of places I might try, or places that will take art, please let me know. I’m even toying with the idea of renting a storefront or some other space, and making my own gallery showing…
If you haven’t seen the art I’ve been making, go to 30dayartist.com where you can go thru my month of art backwards, with all the blog entries.
If you’re interested in buying something, contact me via the contact page, and I will give you a price, per individual piece. Depending on medium, framing needs, the prices will vary.
Here’s a quick picture of all the work I created this last month. Soon to become part of the gallery page.
”The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.” Picasso
“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23[HCS]
Completing 40 pieces of art in 30 days is a big task. Some might call it impossible…
Come and see what I’m doing this month at 30dayartist.com
What I’ve been thinking about is, inspiration.
Where does it come from, how do you get it, what do you do with it?
And what happens if you don’t feel inspired? How can you paint/draw/create?
Rebecca Finch wrote a really interesting piece about inspiration last year at this time, when she did the 30dayartist run with some beautiful oil paintings. She talks about going to the studio even when you don’t feel inspired. I think I’m beginning to learn this lesson. I’ve had glimpses of this, but now I’m starting to understand.
Inspiration can come from anything. A friend mentioned being amazed and in awe of how weeds have beautiful flowers, and that is inspiring. One might be inspired by hearing a beautiful song. Or being in love. Or reading a great book, or seeing a movie. But I know I won’t have that everyday. Nonetheless, I need to draw or paint everyday, in order to keep my skills sharpened, and my mind creative and motivated. Inspiration will come, and on those days, I will probably make the kind of painting that sells. But even if it doesn’t, it won’t be a day wasted.
My last blog’s name was “Seeking the Muse”. I truly want to seek the Muse. My Muse is God. I want to know Him more, and love Him more, and I know that if my art flows from that, it will truly be Inspired. I don’t mean to say I will paint “christian” art, but my art should be an outward flow of my love for Jesus.
Accountability is great, and I hope those of you who are joining me in this journey will check in with me and ask me how I’m doing with my art when May is over.
There are a few things that have inspired me lately.
A podcast of an interview with an art family. This family, who I’ve “followed” for a whole is truly living the kind of life I hope to live. They are not working for “The Man”. Listen if that interests you…interview with Beerhosts .
Also, Danny Gregory, has been a source of inspiration for a long time. I credit him partially with getting me back into making art regularly. I have several of his books, and I want one of his latest ones, An Illustrated Life, if anyone is feeling generous.
I am also inspired by my kids. Sure, I have those moments when I wanna pull my hair out, but I also love when they are creative(see their artwork below), and cute, and kind. I want to inspire them to do great things. I want them to be inspired by my being diligent and doing the best I can do as a mom, a wife and an artist…okay, as a housekeeper too….
“The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt.” Bono
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”
Picasso
“Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.”
Chuck Close
For the month of May, I will be attempting to make 40 pieces of art in 30 days.
Join me in the journey over at http://30dayartist.com
Leave your comments and feedback there.
I drew a cat. Our newly rescued cat– “Trick”
See it here.
So, I’m working on my commissioned piece.
I’ve done a little bit at a time, waiting for parts to dry, and giving myself some time in between, to make sure it looks like I want it to look.
I’ve been building up the foreground and background. Today I hope to start on the main area.
Here’s the progress thru pictures. The pictures aren’t the greatest because of lighting challenges.
Last week, we had a mouse in the kitchen. Fabio promptly caught him within a half hour! (My hero!!)
Today, we got a cat!
Actually, I’d been wanting a cat for a while. I’d always said that when we got our own house, I had wanted a cat. We’ve now been here for almost 2 years. It was time.
Also, I now have my studio in order, and ready to be there regularly, and it will be nice to have company while I make art.
The boys are very happy as well, and truthfully, they made the choice on this cat, more than I did. We did like one other cat at the Bucks spca, but he wasn’t as playful and friendly, and this guy clearly won all our hearts.
His name was Patrick, and we’re changing it to “Trick”. We figured this was a nice transition, and shouldn’t scar him for life, plus I have to admit, I’m not a fan of animals with human names. It doesn’t seem right. He also was full of tricks and playfulness at the shelter, so it just seemed right.
He is a 3 year old male. He was in a home before, but they gave him up because apparently they had too many pets. He’d been there for about a month and a half, and although shy at first, he’d definitely had come around. He chased every toy the boys put in front of him, and even thru all the commotion of many people in the “cat room”, he was still playing.
He is a mix, with some tabby and possibly some Maine Coon in him. He is big, and gentle.
Right now he is too scared to come out from behind the toilet, but I’ll be excited to share many pictures, and hopefully get a few drawings and paintings of him too.
|
|