Cay Denise

Today, I went to the theater to see 'The Shape of Water'. It is a stunningly beautiful love story with some suspense and action too! The music was great, the story lovely, the sets very appropriate to the time period, and just nearly perfect in every other way as well (especially the poem and final scene). I loved it, if you can't already tell, and highly recommend it!

If you have a chance to see this, do! It is a great movie filled with philosophy about creativity and the value of doing it in old ways, especially for writers and musicians. I also enjoyed the sculptural artist's imaginative work using typewriter parts.

In reviewing the year that has passed, I'm so appreciative of the many accomplishments I'm looking back on that are outside the arts-related ones on the list that follows.   I began my work life this past year as my jurisdiction's Acting Office of Emergency Services (OES) Director, managed our office through two local Presidentially-declared disasters including one for a flood that impacted 14,000 residents in our community, on-boarded a new OES Director and other staff, and completed our jurisdiction's annex to a multi-jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan among other responsibilities. The effort to sustain my art-making practice in the face of my work life was a challenge, but it has also been necessary for relaxation and re-integration as time has allowed. That said, January through March was a blur...with storms, more storms, a flood, an Emergency Operations Center activation over 19 days, long hours, little sleep, three phones to manage, and more work than availabl...

This was completed as part of the Woman Unleashed Winter 2017 retreat.  It was not an assignment or session product, but rather a piece that simply arose spontaneously.  The shape is intended to be a pair of angel wings.

I've finished reading this book, and I have absolutely loved the journey through it!! The last 50+ pages are writing exercises -- very doable. Lynda Barry, the author and illustrator, is so imaginative and philosophical in her look at life and experience. If you are a writer, a writer wannable, or an artist/artist wannabe, this book provokes thought, provides a creative method to follow and develop your artistic muscle, and is well-worth the read. Even the symbolism, art, and collage elements have meaning! To purchase the book, you can find more information about it at this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1897299354/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_U_BzGkAbCVHGKTC

Consider checking out the Woman Unleashed Online Retreat with host Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici at:  http://theradiantmama.com/OP/winter2017/ .  I've done her (no cost) retreats for the last three years focusing on the art-related sessions.  She has good instructors! Project 1 is to make your journal cover--the journal we'll be keeping throughout the workshop.  You can do whatever you want.  Her example was to gesso the cover of an art journal and then paint an image on it. Mine started out by reusing a piece of cardboard from an 8x10" photo paper package as the base.  Other materials used include metallic tape, alcohol inks, glitter, paint, pen, magazines (for the collage paper), a recycled earring, and reused stitched writing on fabric (with verse that is mine). There is an outside and an inside.  The inside drawing is a quick self-portrait in pen. The face and hair have been left black and white.  I'm thinking of filling them in with paint...