The background of this artwork is cut from a watercolor wash that I experimented with many years ago. Using this paper from my past gave me a sense of continuity and promise. Despite the mix of emotions I felt while putting the canvas together, using this paper helped me feel a sense of connection to my past and my future. The twine was collected from my basement. The flower is crafted from a variety of papers with tiny beads creating…
Somedays, my heart still feels tired and bruised. Grieving and healing can be exhausting and overwhelming. As I wondered how to express the idea of my still tender heart, soft grey felt came to mind. I sewed this heart, adding a few bruises with blue and violet pastels. I then wrapped a muslin bandage around the heart, tucking in a broken feather to complete the feeling of healing injury. Feathers are symbolic of so many things to me, and I…
Doubt has the potential to overshadow my positive ideas and accomplishments, creating a dark curtain over all bright and hopeful plans. I drew the flowers for this piece with colored pencils, one of my favorite mediums. To represent the feeling of doubt, I created a mixed media “curtain” by dripping and marbling thick layers of paint. I then cut out the shape and placed it over my flower drawing. Though I wouldn’t say I liked covering the flowers, it was…
This simple piece was one of the first I created as I took tentative steps toward healing. I sometimes create flowers from paper, as I did with these snowdrops. The red paper heart is cut from scrapbooking paper, while the background paper was purchased from a favorite handmade paper shop. The flowers in the picture are Snowdrops, a symbol of renewal and hope. Snowdrops are among the first flowers to appear in early spring. Since grieving can feel like wandering…
Healing from loss has required tapping into resources I never knew I had. I often found inspiration in unexpected places. Clinging to the idea of hope in the essential goodness of life and the positive flow of healing was not easy, but I found even my darkest moments held promise if I remained open to possibility. This uplifting poem by Emily Dickinson expresses the universal quality of hope. Hope Is the Thing With FeathersHope is the thing with feathers –That…