Art Exhibition and Exhaustion

 

I spent most of January creating these incredible acrylic paintings (each is 20 by 16 inches) for my art exhibition in my local library. I am being showcased for the entire month of February. It is such an honor!

All the effort did not go unrewarded as my immune system came to a screeching halt. Exhausted and tired due to running on adrenaline all last month, the FLU caught up to me. So, I listened to my body, because I had no choice and spent most of the weekend recuperating in my sanctuary, otherwise known as my comfy and cozy bed. Hot fluids, a few over the counter medicines and bed rest ruled the past couple of days. As promised, here is a digital collage of my artwork. I hope it brings you as much joy as it brought me when I created them.

More blogging when I feel better. Have a super-duper week!!!

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The Smile

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~ Mother Teresa

Her gentle smile removed all worries…have you ever experienced that gentle smile? Maybe it was at the doctor’s office from the unnamed medical assistant; maybe it was the nameless cashier who handled your purchases at the grocery store; or maybe it was the unknown driver in the car next to yours. A smile is a gift. A gift we can share and a gift we can receive. Smiles have a way of removing fear and putting you at ease. I find when I smile, even at myself, it puts me in a wonderful state of mind. Smile, and the world smiles with you.

The above artwork is an original painting I did today in watercolor. The idea was to capture a gentle smile for my blog today. I added a little color pencil for the fine detail work. Not only do her lips smile, but so do her eyes. May this smile bring one to your face. If you would like to see more of my artwork you can find it on these three locations on the internet: 1. Blissful Art (Word Press blog), 2. Angela Kowitz Orobko, Ed.D. – Gallery  and 3. Hearts That Care – Gallery

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Lines Going Straight….Bah humbug!

Untitled ART BOOK 101 Chapter 1.1 (This will be an ongoing work in progress.)

chapter 1 Straight Lines and Stick Figures, Oh My

Lines Going Straight….Bah humbug!

How many times have you said to yourself, I can’t even draw a straight line or stick figure? How am I suppose to create…..(fill in the blank). What is holding you back? Lack of confidence? Fear? Discouragement? It couldn’t be laziness, could it?

First of all, let us dispel the belief that your lines need to be straight and exact. Very few creative projects require precision unless you are constructing a house or a bridge. Now, pick up your favorite writing/drawing tool. Get out a scrap piece of paper. In fact, go ahead and gather as much scrap paper as you can find. Let’s has some fun creating lines.

I am going to have you close your eyes and create lines for at least 60 seconds (yes, a whole minute). Set up your space so you are sitting comfortably. Have your tools in place: paper and pen/pencil/any other art material you would like. Get ready, get set, GO! Now, take a look at your creation. Never mind passing judgment on your creation, focus on how it felt to just put your pen or pencil to paper and allow yourself to freely create lines? This is one of many ways you can express yourself. It is quite liberating.

I challenge you to try this at least once a day!

©AKOrobko

Follow the development of this book on BLISSFUL ART…my other fabulous WordPress blog dedicated to my artwork.

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Gifts of Love Update 14

This weekend I spent much of the time painting more Gifts of Love. I was able to finish a dozen Gifts of Love. Below are the images.

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Another drawing winner will be picked tonight; and, announced tomorrow. If you comment before midnight (I will extend it to Pacific Time), you will make it in this week’s drawing for a Gift of Love bag. ♥ 

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Personal Self-Healing Portrait…You can do one, too.

This is my personal self-healing portrait. By following what I did, you can make one, too. I first started with an art journal. I used a Strathmore Visual Journal with 140lb/300g paper because I used watercolors in my self-portrait.

On the left page, I used a soft-lead pencil to write self-critical sentences about myself; those things I know I should say about myself, but I find myself thinking at times…like, “I am not good enough or pretty enough to find success or have friends…etc. I filled the page to release all the pent up negative energy.

Then, on another sheet of paper I wrote down the good intentions behind those statements. My self-doubt gremlins wanted to protect me from being hurt. When you keep your self-esteem low, you are not likely to dream big. Big dreams leads to taking risks, which may result in great disappointment (or great success and joy); however, I know we automatically lose all those chances we do not take! We automatically fail all those activities we do not try!

I gave thanks to the negative statements (my gremlins of self-doubt) for their good intentions and over-painted my doubts, fears and negativity on the left page of my journal with gesso (a derivative of white acrylic paint) so those statements were no longer visible. On the right side of my journal I then sketched myself, emphasizing my best features. I used watercolor crayons and pencils.

Next, I added water and watercolor paints. I swept my hair to the left page and added a colorful background; I painted in hearts and added butterflies using a butterfly rubber stamp and ink. The final and most important step is to add a positive statement to heal my heart, “Believe in Yourself and Be Love.” I also added one word to my face to reinforce my healing, “FAITH.”

This art project was quite therapeutic. You could make this a collage project using a photograph of yourself, and other images and positive words, if drawing and painting are not your favorite activities. It would be fun to print out an image of yourself using the grey scale option. Then, you could color it any way you wanted. The possibilities are endless.

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Transformation

Transformation is traditionally defined as a marked change, as in appearance or character usually for the better. Transformation to me is more than just change positive or otherwise. It is a completely new form of yourself (reinvented or recreated), where you cannot go back because of new awareness. It is like waking up for the first time someplace different and never being able to go back. New experiences and new information has changed your outlook and perspective. Transformation involves your spirit, your heart and soul. You can no longer can look at something the same way again because of this new awareness and knowledge.

Most of the time this can be for the good; but, sometimes it can be negative. I am not going to dwell on the negative.  When you discover something new about yourself or someone else or something else,  you come to expect it. For example, I discovered that I a new way of combining digital art with art made on paper. This awareness has transformed the way I do art. Will I go back to just scanning in my little water colors without added things? Most likely, not. Embrace transformations, as it expands you!

Art

Art. What is ART to me? Art is an expression of creativity that may or may not convey meaning that involves any media the artist chooses. I love to create art as a way to work out feelings and emotions. I also love to experiment with various tools and materials to see what will happen. It can be so meditative. Sometimes when I play with my materials I will find a part of an art-piece that I really love and other parts of it that did not work.

Then I start thinking about making a collage. I will cut it up and use only the parts of it that I really love. I suppose that is similar to writing. We can pour out words onto a page and allow the flow without too much thinking or editing. Then we can go back and use those parts that really convey what we wish to express; those parts that we love! Art TRULY is whatever you create! Create with joy! (Virtual hug.)