Beauty Of Now and Graffiti

Sunday at Slurping Life is a day of sharing beauty.  Beauty is found in that which is created from the heart.

It's almost the deadline for posting my completed Wrapped Emotions project for this week, and  honestly, I almost forgot to do it.  Spending a lot of time observing, enjoying the world around me and saying "wow" has taken my mind to a new level of contentment...it's a refreshing vantage point.  Much like climbing to the mountain peak, looking out and photographing the entire world with one click.  I like it.

From my present vantage point came the realization that there is no reason to continue to procrastinate with want-to-dos, projects...dreams.  Last week I realized it was time to overcome the stressful fear found in not trusting myself, and as a result, this week has been much brighter for myself and my family. 

Life entrances me.  I want to learn, soak up knowledge...even more than knowledge, I want to deeply inhale every moment of life equally...the moments spent plunging a toilet...feeling an autumn breeze against my skin.  I want to use my word countless times before this brief earthly life passes.

So this week's graffiti project was done very quickly this morning in the true spirit of a graffiti artist.  I had a message and my art was created quickly without a thought process.  As I worked it, the piece looked rather blah to me.  It was only after completing it that the depth of the multi-layers became apparent.  There are words buried in there that you cannot see, but still they bring forth the message..much like emotions that are hidden deep within myself, yet they make me the whole.  Those deep emotions subliminally create who I am.  The end result of the colors are jeweled, deep and rich even though they appeared extremely drab, uninspiring during the process. 

It truly is after completing a piece of art that the beauty is revealed...the message is spoken.   Perhaps if we step back and look at our lives through the view of "whole" rather than harping on the little drab spots, the hard times would not be so overwhelming...the jewel tones of the rich, beauty of our lives would be revealed to ourselves now...rather than only to others after the piece of art which is our lives is complete.

Step back...take a long, loving look at the whole image of your life.  Do you see the jewel tones...the rich beauty?  It's there...keep looking...

~~~

What I did...
First on the journal page I painted two layers of gesso.  Then using a metal skewer I scratched textures and lines, squiggles over the page.  Next I took a black marker and wrote words...wow, joy, love...and ink stamped the word smile a few times.  With black ink I placed several of my thumb prints.  Then I squirted acrylic paints and a gel medium in lines and squiggles and scraped them across the page using an old credit card.  The gel keeps the paint workable longer and I dabbed the colors with a paper towel.  When dry I wrote the words "do it now" and using a white oil pastel crayon, I colored over the entire page.  Then using the same paper towel from above, I smudged, rubbed and softened the effect.  Using several colors of oil pastels, I quickly traced some of the textured lines that had been etched into the beginning gesso layer.  None of this was a thought out process.  I just had fun.  It was a joy to create.

~~~

Take a moment and inhale the beauty created by several introspective, creative women.

Comments

[Melissa]

I love it Melody! You used so many different mediums!

[Kate]

Turned out great Melody! I LOVE your analogy of comparing our lives to a completed piece of artwork . . . we SOO need to look at the whole rather than the pieces . . . thanks for the reminder! :)

[Lynnae @ From Under the Clutter]

I love it! It's beautiful, and I love the message behind it, too!

[EA]

Something about the layers, and the way the words seem to be surfacing through them, makes me want to DO IT NOW before the opportunity submerges again...like life presents this moment, and this moment, and this moment, and I need to take them each as precious gifts when they present themselves...

[EA]

Oh, and I forgot to say, the layers are beautiful! :o)

[Mama Zen]

If I may borrow your word - WOW!

[Stacy]

You did a fantastic job, Melody. It is beautiful! Glad that this week has been better and that you are learning to trust your instincts. It does sound like you are more content this week. (((hugs)))

[An Ordinary Mom]

I love how you wrote this:

"Life entrances me. I want to learn, soak up knowledge...even more than knowledge, I want to deeply inhale every moment of life equally...the moments spent plunging a toilet...feeling an autumn breeze against my skin."

I so identify with slowing down and enjoying every moment. This is the journey I am currently on and I hope I can stay on it!

[An Ordinary Mom]

I also LOVE the title of your blog!

[Carrie]

it's beautiful...I love to legal graffiti things...thanks for sharing your "technique" with us too...stop by my blog..I tagged you with a meme...

[phyllis]

It's gorgeous, and I love your words too. And thanks for sharing how you did it...that was another fun part of your magic:-)

[arizaphale]

A message a can really relate to. I am such a procrastinator! Also, the need to step back and look past the blah bits of life (there are a few of those at the moment)and see the whole picture. Thanks for sharing this.

[Jenny is Live & in Color]

WOW!

That's all that came to mind after viewing the piece and reading your words.

The other week you were having such a struggle. It's a blessing to see you on the upside of the trial. Something big and wonderful has grown in you and I feel privileged to witness it.

Like your project this week, you have so many interesting layers that come together into something amazingly beautiful.

[diana/sunshine]

thanks for sharing how you did it. most of the process i wouldn't know how to do but it's obvious how much work you put into it. good job. i like it.

[Mandy]

I love the scratched, textured surface with the subtlety of the colors coming through. So soft, yet vibrant. And, I especially liked where you wrote "the jewel tones of the rich, beauty of our lives would be revealed to ourselves now...rather than only to others after the piece of art which is our lives is complete."
That really touches me and it's a thought I'd love to keep with me, especially when creating. I loved the so many nice comments on my own work, it really made me feel good. Thanks for continuing these projects, I'm really enjoying them, Melody!

[Kim]

It looks great!

"Perhaps if we step back and look at our lives through the view of "whole" rather than harping on the little drab spots, the hard times would not be so overwhelming"
I love that... and will try hard to remember eat as I get through my current situations.

[Angie at Sonflower]

If you will let me add to your word, I have to say that when I was a little girl, I used to say, "Wowwee!". That's what came to my mind. Looking at your project inspires me to want to do some more graffiti.

When I look at the parts and pieces of my life, I'm tempted to focus on the failures and shortcomings. When I see the whole, I see the growth, the maturing process, God conforming me into the image of Christ.

Jewel tones...I love jewel tones...

[Marie]

Melody, you never fail to touch my heart, with your words, with your art, with your photos. I love coming here each day and seeing what you have waiting for me. I know, it's not just for me, but it always feels like it is. That, I believe, it the mark of the true artist, be it of the worded kind or the visual kind.

[Christina]

WOW! :o)