I Felt The Wind....

I felt the wind of the Holy Spirit as it blew through the classroom, at my last Spiritual Awakenings Retreat on Art Journaling I gave at Pleasant Vineyard Ministries' Retreat Center in Camden, Ohio.  During class, as I walked around the room, I felt the connection of spirit with creativity with all of the participants.  I had an amazing experience and facilitator, David Maynard was the ultimate host.  I have been asked to come back and do another retreat in the Spring of 2013 - I cannot wait....
Here is a page from one of the participants in the retreat, Marcella Roe's journal... 

Here are some of my pages, that I demonstrated from the workshop - hope you enjoy!

This is a page I demonstrated from my Altered Book, titled, "Roots" - this altered book is a tribute to all of my ancestors who have made me the person I am today.  This particular page is devoted to my Great Grandmother, Nellie McVeigh Anson.  I recently found my great-grandmother's journals - a treasure of insight into who Nellie was. 

On the left of this page, is an excerpt from one of her journal pages, I have collaged onto my journal page.  The added bonus is where her entry includes me - "Patricia"!  I knew her only briefly growing up, but her journals give me more in depth insight to who she was.  

One such insight was, most of all of her pages started with, "A grand day..." (the lettering on the right, is copied off of her original handwriting).  I liked knowing that my ancestor was a positive person, as am I and I loved tracing her handwriting - it made me feel connected to her in a new way.  

This page is my tribute to her...

 My revelation for this page is that you should always stay firmly connected to your ancestral roots - they are a part of you. 

My second demonstration involved another altered book I have begun which has the working title of,  "Le Fleurs Of France".  This is an old french book of poems, that I purchased while getting lost on the streets of Paris in April of this year, 2012.  I looked the book up online and found translations to all of the poems.  I printed out the translations (excerpt seen on the left side of page below) and collaged them onto the pages next to the french poem.  I have included the poems that speak about various places I went on my journey through France in April 2012.

The page below has the poem, "Le jet d'eau/The Fountain" on it's page's text- it reminded my of the Medici Fountain and pool on the grounds of Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, so I sketched a part of this fountain on the left page.
"deep calls to deep" is an exerpt from the Book Of Psalms, which speaks about how God calls to us in all of creation to our very souls.  I felt God in that special moment as I gazed at the beauty around me...

I spent a magical day there and this page takes me back to that day.

The retreat was a wonderful experience and I look forward to going back!  Thanks to David Maynard, Joyce, and all of the staff,  for a wonderful time! 

More information about Pleasant Vineyard Ministries can be found at www.pvmcamp.com

BLESSING = Getting Paid For My Passion!

I woke up this morning and said to myself - "It is a BLESSING to be paid for my passion!".  This thought was prompted by an email I received that someone just the other day.  I thought I would share a very special day with all of you.

I recently held a program for the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society in September, on my "Nature's Palette Series" where I used actual leaves in my painting process.

I am using the photos GCWS used on their blog to show my process (see link to their blog, below).....

I also demonstrated what to do when you go back to your painting and there is a disaster!  I showed them, with the use of gesso, how to the pervasive fix dark value that is throughout the entire painting and turn it into a good mixture of light and dark values.  I held my breath on this one and hoped it would work!  I love the finished painting!

BEFORE.....a dark, muddy, mess!  What to do?  I knew I needed to pull back some light and mid-tones.

 DURING....I took a roller and rolled a layer of white gesso over the entire piece.

After the gesso was dry, I tinted it with harmonious color to finish....

AFTER.....

 There is something empowering about taking a seemingly rejected painting and bringing it back to something beautiful!

Here is the link to the Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society's Blog for the entry for -  Thursday, September 20th.

www. grtrcincyws.blogspot.com