"Unconditionally"

I am releasing a  new 24" x 36" art, titled, "Unconditionally". 

 I poured my heart and my soul into this piece.  Here's a bit of truth... as I get ready to show you I am both excited and anxious.
Excited because I like how the piece turned out and I overcome obstacles as I created it.  Anxious... well that's just plain ole fear.  Who knows where the fear comes from.  I don't really care.  

What I know is when I step out of a place of comfort and into something new, fear is always there.  Wanting to keep me small. This isn't new to me or to any of us.  I (we) always have a choice for our thoughts.  I've experienced when I choose better thoughts I tend to make better choices.   I chose not to let the anxious/insecure feelings hinder me in any way.  I made a conscious decision to carry on. And you know what... I became more confident.

TRUTH:  The canvas size of 24x36 was a little daunting, tho.   I had said I wanted  to increase the size of my art yet I was planning on doing it in increments.  Then on June 24th  my husband brought home this canvas, saying he wanted me to make something different on it.
Surprise!!!!!         Hmmmm....  OK!
(my initial response) 
Right away I chose some of my favorite paint colors and put them on the canvas.  Not being concerned if the colors went together or where I was placing them, I just wanted to get rid of the intimidating BIG white blank canvas.  

And, you know what?  After I did that I felt ready to begin.

The whole point of me telling you this stuff  is to let you know that when I create art it runs much deeper than simply putting paint on a canvas.  

It is gratifying when...

I added this piece as my latest abstract art, "There's More to the Story.

"There's More to the Story"
24" x 30"
acrylic on canvas

As I begin the process of creating abstract art I go with a feeling.  Starting with what colors to choose, how to apply it, do this, then do that.  As I progress, by adding more layers, the meaning of the piece starts to reveal itself to me.  I struggle with the right words to describe what the piece is telling me.  I know in non-words, in my heart.   
Then I remember... that's the beauty of abstract art.  It is subjective.  It can mean something different to each person and I don't have to try and explain it.   
Yet... when someone "gets it" my heart is filled!  
That is what happened when Sarah posted this comment on my FaceBook Page.
_____________________________

If I may say my interpretation, I feel like this is my heart. Lots of things are scattered and misplaced, but there are stable, permanent, fixtures that will always remain (represented by the red squares)

_____________________________
Thank You, Sarah!

I have found another love

I have found a another love (artistically speaking that is) ... ENCAUSTIC MEDIUM.

I have played with it off and on in the past but I never was serious about it.

Not certain what prompted me to pull out my supplies out again but I am sure glad I did.

I am having a blast.

I am learning lots.  What I am learning I have been sharing with my friend, Christine.  Together we have been reveling over the outcomes.  Almost like little kids. (This kind of excitement is ten times more enjoyable when you share it with someone.  Which is why I love to teach!)

In May 2016 I had created this piece I titled, "Balance".  I liked it yet I felt it was missing something.  Last week while I was learning more about how to use encaustic medium I pulled this piece out.  I began adding layers of wax and fusing.  I noticed the piece was changing and appeared to be coming more alive.   I recalled the flower presses I had  stowed away in my basement from previous years when I pressed flowers as a hobby.  I brought them upstairs from storage.  I began adding leaves, flowers, and more wax to the piece.  

What a transformation!

                                                      Let me show you.    

           

By applying encaustic medium to this piece it has more interest, depth and richness. 

Encaustic is a keeper and will be a technique I will use more often in my art.

 I finished this piece yesterday.   It's of my oldest sister Judy when she was, I believe, in 3rd grade.  I used encaustic medium to layer the photo and flowers.

One of my desires is to develop creative ways for people to display photos.

To get them out of storage boxes and put them where they can be enjoyed.

To learn more about:

• Scheduling a time to create art with me
• Ordering a custom made piece of art

Contact me:  teresa@teresacashart.com

Thank You for all of your support and encouragement.

I couldn't do this without YOU!

just a little off kilter

It would be fairly accurate to say that lately I have been feeling a little off kilter. 
I believe several contributing factors may be from two on-line classes I am currently enrolled in:  
Jeanne Oliver's Reflections : Paint Your Story and Melody Ross's Soul Restoration

There's a lot of soul searching and cleansing going on.
I am currently creating a cast of characters who have played a role, good or bad, in my life.
The characters that were in the good category were easy. I shared some of the stories in previous posts.
Now I'm delving into those bad characters. Not too fun! These characters I will keep private

I'm sitting with these feelings knowing that (mentally) running away or trying to hide is not an option.
I'll wear my BIG girl panties and face them head on.
On the others side I will be blessed with a broader knowing and understanding of myself.

In the meantime...

Today, in my journal, I created this sweet little girl amongst some very happy daisies.
While I created this piece my heart was filled with peace and love.

(acrylic, charcoal, pan pastels)

I Choose Love

This morning I woke up with a case of the "blahs".  There was no special reason that I could think of but I had them anyway.  After I sat around for a while I wanted to change things up a bit.  I decided to intuitively create.  I went into my studio  and turned some music on, really loud.  Usually I create in silence because I enjoy the solitude.  I got a piece of watercolor paper and wrote how I was feeling on the entire page.  That felt good just to get all that sh*t out of my head.   Before long I was slapping paint on the page over my written words. I wasn't even aware of my paint colors.  I turned the page sideways and grabbed a marked and wrote in real big letter Balance is the key.  Then I ripped pages from a vintage book and tore them into hearts.   I painted, sanded and painted again.  I took out my charcoal pencil and started to draw and before I knew it an angel had appeared.  This was the awesome part!!  At that moment I knew, without a doubt, the answer of my blahs.  Life is life-it cycles up and it cycles down.  No matter what we experiencing we ALWAYS have a choice as to how we will handle it.  It boils down to a choice of two - love or fear.  I choose love!!

dreams

Someone asked me the other day what I had been up to and I wasn't sure how to answer.  Did she really want to know all the details or was it just a rhetorical question? I determined it was the latter so I said "not much". 

My objective is to look at life from a more positively position, than negative. Being negative doesn't serve me or anyone else.  I prefer to see life as either ebbing or flowing.  Just like with nature, it will change.  The last couple weeks I seem to be ebbing more than I would like.  One day I surrendered and stayed in bed all day - watched YouTube "how to" videos in between naps.   It actually ended up being a good thing. 

My art comes from my heart.  "Simple Truth/Simple Reminders"  I smile when I can see a piece of my art and know exactly what I was feeling when I created it.  This piece I did on 9/23/12, I was feeling like I wasn't getting anywhere with my dreams.  My message to myself was, it doesn't matter how long it takes or how you get there, just begin to follow the path of your dreams.  The tricycle is to symbolize how slow it can seem.  I was ebbing when I created this piece.

On 10/7/12 I created  this lady.  She most definitely is in deep thought, perhaps about her next adventure.  I used a new product, Faber-Castell Gelatos,  for her face that I will be using alot of now.  I learned about gelatos while watching YouTube "how to" videos the day I stayed in bed. (this was only one thing that turned out good from staying in bed that day)

I have come full circle, the ebb is gone and I am flowing, again.

Here is a piece of artwork from the on-line class I took with Donna Downey Canvas Create.  I made it for my neighbor's birthday, Maureen, who exudes love.

Another thing I did the day I stayed in bed all day was re-read my journal. What a revelation that was!  My journal is a place where I write everything, my hopes, my dreams, and my fears.  Many times within the past year I had written about a project that I felt I was suppose to do.  And because of fear or whatever, I haven't done anything with it.  I remember I let fear or whatever delay me beginning my creative I'm a Late Bloomer blog (read about it here) This blog was the best thing I could have ever done.  I am honored to share stories of some pretty awesome women who have creatively bloomed late.  There are many, many more women out there who need a little boost to let their creative spirit out to play. 

 

Well.... enough of holding back from moving toward my dreams.  I'm going for it.  It will be fun watching it unfold.  I feel my next piece of art stirring within my soul that will be called The Happy Dance, so stay tuned for the rest of the story!

hold on to love

I have been watching Oprah's Life Class.  The classes began some time ago-I got a late start.  I have the shows taped and I watch the webcast on line whenever I want.  The lessons being taught are resonating with me and I am feeling some stirring going on within my soul.  It's all a good thing! 

This piece of art was meant to be a reminder to hold on to love, particularly self-love!