"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.  

I'm doing cartwheels!

I am so frickin' excited over here!!!!   I'm doing cartwheels!!!! (in my mind, of course)  

I just learned the portrait I entered into the Cloth-Paper-Scissors Mixed Media Portrait challenge was accepted as one of the finalists. 
Wanna do a "hApPy DaNcE" with me?

Captivated!

I have been going thru all sorts of magazines clipping out images and words that speak to me.

Not questioning why, just kept collecting.  

(On a side note:  I even involved my GRANDchildren, if you want to get to know a little person better this is a great way.)

After I had accumulated quite the collection I went thru them to look deeper as to why I was drawn to them originally.  

It is an interesting discovery!

There was this one photo in particular of a dwelling in India that grabbed my full attention.  It touched me to the very core of my being.  

The colors, the textures, even the layout with the slant.   

Since I like to challenge myself, as an artist,  I decided to try and re-create this.  

I've been periodically working on it for over a week now with plenty more to do.  

There is a lot of drying time required between the stages.  

Here is my work in progress. 

for the final piece.

4/4/18  Addendum to the previous post:

I finished it!

Authentic Truth

She started out as a pencil drawing on 9" x 12" water color paper and that was all she was intended to be.  I even went so far to spray fixative on her so whatever I had drawn could not be removed.  But I couldn't let her go.  I continued to add details and slowly I began to know that she was going to be more.  She was destined to deliver this message.  Not sure why, I'm just going with it and following my gut instinct.  Could be I was needing to express myself and this is how it came out.  I do know it is an important message.  I strive daily, to the best of my ability,  to be my authentic self.  Heck...some days are better than others. (**wink**wink**)  

Anyway, I wanted to show you how she evolved within the past 2 days.  She was just a simple pencil drawing on watercolor paper.

Then I knew she was meant to be more.  I attached the watercolor paper to a gallery wrapped canvas and added soft colors.  The colors were pleasing to me but I felt they needed to be bolder to stand up to the message she was delivering.

I got bold and added more intense colors,  more texture,  defined her features, and I intensified the border. 

As I am writing this, I am realizing that is how our lives are.   I know at many times in my life I have felt like a simple pencil drawing and not, sometimes, I feel bold enough to carry a powerful message.  There has been many changes within me, just like this piece of art.

I hope I'm not freaking anybody out with my metamorphosis comparison.  I am only trying to be authentic in writing what I am feeling.  Just know I'm smiling on the inside because this is stepping out of my comfort zone and when I press publish, I will have to resist the urge to re-write some of this post or to delete it all together.

ADVERTISEMENT:  She will be part of my "Simple Truth/Simple Remiders" series and is on sale at my on-line store.       http://www.teresacash.com/shop/originalart.html

Thanks Linda Kinnaman

My friend Heather and I were featured on this site, today. (the link is below)

Take a moment and head on over to read it.

http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/11/19/mixed-media-mondays-nov-19th/

Thanks to Linda. She is helping me share the stories of some incredible women who are proudly proclaiming to be a creative Late Bloomer. If you are a creative Late Bloomer I'd be honored to share your story, too.  Visit my site at http://www.imalatebloomer.com

This painting is by Linda.
Isn't is awesome?

Thanks Linda!

Linda Kinnaman regularly posts 3 times a week ~ she has Mixed Media Mondays + Wet Paint Wednesdays + Fighting Fear Fridays. Each post is a good read and I always leave with a smile or something to apply to my life.