taking an artistic leap.

“when in doubt, make a fool of yourself.  there is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.  so what the hell, leap.  ~cynthia heimel, "lower manhattan survival tactics"

everyday during the school year, i walk my son back and forth to school. it is a lush walk on a city street, mostly shady, taken among a hawaiian fern and moss-covered-rock. sometimes i gather up pretty little weed blooms, pods and heart shaped rocks that i find along the way. and always i am gathering up images, and dreaming day dreams as i make my walk back home.

{ her dreams began to bloom  |  12" x 12" mixed media }

she started as this:

 

and then became this...

then i found this:

 

eureka! testing out my ideas in photoshop first...(the green vine ended up as green little doodles in the photoshop version)

then a sketch on some tracing paper to see how the images would overlay...

see the delicate leaves on the tiny green shoots?...inspiration from the vine.

 

this painting is my first attempt at capturing and putting down on paper, all of the images i collect on the daily walks with my children...i’ve been reflecting on how to express the fleetingness of innocence and magic of childhood, so here's to a new start. more to come! more to come!

Comments

[Linda R.]

This was fun - you lost me how the green vine works into the revelation of Photoshop? Still I had a good time and will be back LOL.

[Jan Avellana]

oh! the green vine! see the teeny little green scribbles (they look scrolly) in the painting...the vine ended up on canvas!

[Jennifer]

She is SO cute! Love it! It was really neat to see your creative process. That is part of what I am doing on Fridays on my blog if you would like to join in some week! :)

[Jan]

I like it very much, and I also appreciate you sharing your source of inspiration. It's a good thing when creativity flows from our everyday life, isn't it?

[Liv @ Choosing Beauty]

She's beautiful! Thanks for showing your process. Fun to see!

[Suzanne]

I like that. I can really see the things that you've found. And that's a nice series of "process" photos on how you created this painting. Very nice.

[Juliette Crane]

it is so fun to see your art evolving! i just LOVE it! and how you are putting in things from your daily walks. i can so see the you being revealing and i am so inspired :)

have a lovely weekend, jan!
-juliette

[Jacqueline]

Dearest Jan, this is such an inspiring post and as i continue to read on it put a huge smile on my face. I love love reading your process and how this gorgeous painting came about. She is really gorgeous! i LOVE this lots as always you know i am a huge fan of your work. :) Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to yoU!

[Jennifer]

she's awesome. thanks for sharing.