Art Journey – Page 42

And more new things…

Posted on May 19, 2021by sue boardman

I am reminded today of the old true-ism that, while we can’t control everything happening around us, we can – at the very least – influence our responses. And, yes, I’ve been watching CNN again.

Frankly, I’m full up with Israel and Palestine blowing each other up and with notions that January 6 was just tourists at the Capitol. That our leaders are still kissing up to the former guy in the round room while criminal charges against him are likely and folks like me are looking up the definition for treason.

Well, you get the drift…

On to making choices… TV off, I learned a new thing! I made a GoFundMe campaign! (Sadly, my girls are busy doing things like field hockey and homework or it probably would have gone a lot faster!)

Why, you wonder, did I choose this moment to learn that thing?

Gloria!

Gloria was my summer intern from Columbia Theological Seminary, working in the crossroads between theology and art. She became active in the Intentional Creativity community and a part of our family.

This year wasn’t easy for her as an International student in the midst of the pandemic. Housing was in question. Food was scarce. (Fortunately, she likes soup!) And her family is in India.

Bill and I have helped. And we’ve reached the point where we need some other folks to help, too. You see, Gloria needs $5500 to finish paying her deposits at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago. She got accepted to a PhD program in theology and art!

So, back to GoFundMe. I’m going to ask you to read the attached campaign. You’ll read Gloria’s words and a powerful endorsement from one of her professors.

Asking for financial help never gets easy. I’ve been there, too. I started Greek School at Columbia as a broke single mom with a 7-year old in tow. It was one of the best/hardest/best times in my life. And one of the things I remember most is that we all kept emergency food and fed whoever needed dinner. And other folks helped with grants and gifts and loans.

One day, Gloria will be helping someone else. For today, she needs us. And the world needs what she has to say!

So, please read the GoFundMe thing. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have. Here’s the answer to one of them. The deposits are due by June 15. Yep, 2021!

ps… as you might imagine, this will come up again in the next few weeks. I’ll ask you to hang in there with me. There’s also some more news coming!

pss… Yes, the painting is Gloria’s. It’s called Mother Earth and there is, indeed, a Red Thread running through it!

Art Journey Contemplations Grandmothers Phoebe and Luther

Out of my comfort zone!

Posted on May 16, 2021by sue boardman

I was listening, on Friday, to a program called Awakened Wealth. Our fearless leader announced, with a straight face, that, “Stepping out of our comfort zone is the key to abundance!”

It’s too early yet to know where all that is leading but I think the guy may be some kind of crystal ball predictor of the future because I’ve had a whole lot of “out of my comfort zone” going on ever since I heard that.

And, yes, I can think of several reasons why that might be true.

I said, “yes!” to an opportunity to be interviewed by a creativity sister and I’m declining to be terrified! One of the things we’re going to chat about is the program I’ve been hatching for three years which is likely to become real sometime later this summer. It’s called Grammy Camp! I’m waaaayyy past excited!

Then, there are some more new friends. One is the painting I’m doing, glimpsed above, which features an image of the late Congressman John Lewis. John is becoming a friend, instead of simply a mythical inspiration, as I paint over and swear and paint over some more.

As I’ve mentioned, I am not a portrait painter!

I am, however, a pretty decent notice-r and wonder-r. For example, as I’m still not real comfortable with the out and about bit, I’ve been noticing the details of black and brown skin tones on TV. CNN is especially helpful for this.

Being, by nature, more tuned to words than images, I seem to have spent more time listening to what the folks on TV were saying than I did studying their facial features. But, learning happens everywhere we let it and, at the very least, I have new things to try.

And I’m wondering how I’ve gotten this far with faces painted purple and blue. (Don’t laugh. It works!)

It has never been my plan to be a realist. (Well, not with paint.)

But, we’re making progress, John and I. I know two people who have actually looked at my painting-in-progress and recognized him!

Then, today, I made another new friend.

I was sitting at my easel in the studio which has a big window facing out to our garden. And the front porch.

A young black man in an Amazon vest arrived and flung a (blessedly unbreakable) package at the door. I acknowledged the thump with a wave.

Then my visitor was back, just outside the window, pointing at my painting, grinning and doing a thumbs up dance.

Suddenly, I suspect, we became real people. And it felt like something we could all use a lot more of!

Back to the canvas. I’m currently sketching in the Capitol dome. Rough sketching. And John has decided he wants cherry blossoms!

I’m thrilled. Lots more of my favorite kind of prayer dots… the ones I make with a fingertip.

By the time you read this, I will have taught some more new friends at Envoys for Humanity about the magic of prayer dots. (Or, Dots of Hope.) And, if Phoebe has anything to say about it, she’ll have made a bunch more friends, too.

Luther finds Zoom more challenging than he used to and will no doubt nap during the dot-fest.

Here’s our question for you…

Where are you going out of your comfort zone to make new friends? I’d love to hear! If you click on John’s photo at the top of this post and scroll way on down past these words, there’s a place to leave a comment.

ps… if you do wander from your comfort zone, making new friends, you’re pretty much guaranteed some abundance of spirit. Maybe, just maybe, some of the other kind, too.

pps… the intention for the painting of Congressman Lewis, which you can see glimpses of in the blue sky, was a quote of his: We may not have chosen the time but the time has chosen us. Let’s be Good Trouble!

Art Journey Contemplations Grandmothers Phoebe and Luther

When Life Feels Like a Painting…

Posted on May 12, 2021by sue boardman

It’s been a bit of a day. As the old song begins, It’s raining. It’s pouring…

There are 265 total pounds of wet, snoring Newfoundlands lying at my feet.

We made it home from an excursion not only out of the house, but up the big road, to visit my ortho guy. It went the way I hoped it would. Basically, “Yes, several things hurt but the bionic knee parts are holding up well!”

This is powerful good news. And a perfect reason to catch up with my physical therapist buddy.

The new laptop registration thing they’ve added to the office, though, needs to go!

While Republicans booed Liz Cheney today, I am cheering. I agree with her about virtually nothing except that we need truthful leaders we can trust to uphold the Constitution and rule of law. Which brings to mind one of the new questions on my list of hugely important things to wonder… What are the girls learning by watching us?

Just in case you have littles, too, I’m happy to loan you my question!

All of which, in a round-about way, brings me to my work-in-progress painting for this particular Wednesday.

It’s supposed to be last year’s Red Madonna painting, which I only began in January or February, in the company of a dear Paint Sister. I tried following the process. Really!

Somehow, though, there’s a message in there insisting on being heard.

And, in my world, that means it’s been time for the heavy body paints (Think brightly colored toothpaste!) and the palette knives. (I’ve moved on from swiping kitchen spatulas!)

It’s an amazing tool for new perspective. And there are lots of layers on this canvas. I think I know what’s coming next, but only time will tell. For this moment, I’m in love with the colors and the energy.

And the reminder that we often don’t know where we’re going until we wind up somewhere else.

Actually, I’m winding up somewhere else on Sunday, and you’re invited! (Really!) We’re going to learn how to use prayer dots, or Dots of Hope, to energize postcards (and their writers) for things like getting out voters.

Here’s the link for all the info. Great people. One of those ways we hope our kids will learn from watching what we do. And, maybe even by helping!

ps… the dots work for other things, too. Like peace signs to go with prayers for our sisters and brothers around the world. Or a healing heart for those struggling with loss and fear and loneliness. You get the drift…

Art Journey Contemplations Grandmothers

Not Your Typical Saturday!

Posted on May 9, 2021by sue boardman

You know how, every now and then, there’s a day that feels like you need all of you – all the many parts of you – working together to pull it off?

Saturday was kind of like that. Including the little hints around the edges that maybe, just maybe, I needed a few more parts of me than have become fully conscious yet.

It started with more than the optimal amount of joint and muscle pain. That led to half a tube of Arnica gel and some time in the magic chair with all the angles just so. Predictably, I fell asleep, with Leonard Cohen serenading me from YouTube.

I woke suddenly to the raucous sounds of horns honking and cars racing down the (in)famous, big road behind our house. I will admit to being more than a bit cranky about the whole thing. And then I figured it out.

Saturday was the designated National John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Day of Action. And I live on the edge of the late Congressman’s district. In Atlanta. And the noise was honoring in action.

So, crankiness aside long enough to notice that I didn’t hurt quite so much as before, I decided to work some more on the painting I’m doing that includes Congressman Lewis’s face.

It’s an adventure. I’ve painted LOTS of faces but this is the first one I’ve attempted that is supposed to look like somebody recognizable. You know, not imaginary!

Then it was time for another of my teachers… Sam Bennett. A get together for some integration after last week’s journey into what the expert refers to as Peaceful Pricing.

I, predictably, was integrating several things at once.

What to offer next that would benefit from Peaceful Pricing.
New options for actual Grammy Camp® … possibly in N.C.
Some slightly hazy, but stunning, connections between the way-back machine known as world history and the news of this moment.
And a quote Sam often shares, I think from Seth Godin, that goes a lot like this, “People like us do things like…”

Trust me. They do all go together. Explanation to follow…

All of this was capped off by a Zoom meeting called Gifts from the Black Madonna in the Time of Covid & BLM which involved the Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox and some very talented musician/theologians.

By that point, I was just covered in chills and wiping away tears, certain that the questions rolling around in my head do go together and they will, eventually, point to a path.

Here’s what I am certain of…

I have two granddaughters growing up in this world.

For now, there are people to add to my painting with John Lewis. (It’s important to note that he’s not done yet… and neither am I!)

And a moment to wish Bill a very happy anniversary tomorrow! (We’re going to wait just a bit longer before venturing out to the Iberian Pig. Which, as I think of it, really isn’t too far from everything else going on in this post!)

ps… whoever you are and however this day feels for you, you are loved.

Art Journey Contemplations Food Garden Grandmothers Phoebe and Luther

Giving Thanks!

Posted on May 5, 2021by sue boardman

After three days of hail storms and tornadoes in the area and trees down over wide parts of town, I am blessed to be able to say that the house didn’t fall on us and the trees didn’t fall on the house. (Read that new roof and solar panels!)

Today is grey and gloomy, with an in-between feeling about it. Like waiting for whatever is next.

The beasties are anxious.

Malicious elves somehow climbed into my laptop and made all my favorite bookmarks disappear. (This is NOT a happy event!)

What I had planted in the garden looks pretty beat up.

Bill went to the Farmers Market with 10 things on his list and came home with two. This is a statement about existential weirdness in the neighborhood, not about Bill!

Blessedly, the space in our house formerly known as the breakfast room which now most resembles an appliance showroom, has two freezers in it!

Thus, our menu for this evening… thawed stuff on a bun with real tomatoes!

My calendar is running over with tech-y things inclined to make me want to hide.

The atmospheric pressure is still out of wack because of the weather which makes the things that hurt, hurt more than usual.

Here’s the weird thing… It’s all good!

Today I got to tell the person who’s been my best friend since the first day of seventh grade, “Happy Birthday!” despite a previous adventure with a very nasty brain aneurysm.

My Soul Expression Breakthrough group is doing amazing work as we round the bend to the future.

Gloria, my Intentional Creativity/Seminary intern, has finished her last class before graduation! (Details to follow…)

My painting of John Lewis has told me what comes next!

And, odd as this may seem, I have words for what I do!

Are you ready?

(Am I?)

Here goes…

You know how we get stuck sometimes and all the stories and tips and rules we’ve learned don’t help us to see what’s next?

Well, that’s what I do! I help women, many of them grandmothers, use the creativity deep in their souls to nurture the lives they long for! ®

There will be lots of examples, and opportunities to join in, coming soon. And I’m here if you have questions.

For this moment, the beasties are hungry and there’s only one answer to that. Sardines!

ps… Oh, and blessings for you and yours… from the early days of a Legend painting.

pps… If you haven’t joined the blog mailing list yet, and are curious about what’s coming, now would be a great time! Just click that annoying thing that usually drives you nuts while you’re reading and join the family!

Art Journey Contemplations Grandmothers

Last night I went to summer camp!

Posted on April 28, 2021by sue boardman

Well, not exactly, but it sure felt like it!

Back in the early-mid ’70’s when I was actually doing the summer camp thing, we had real campfires, and huge trees and Florida bobcats wandering down the road late at night.

We also had helicopter sized mosquitoes and rampant poison ivy.

And, with the exception of one miraculous summer, really, really bad food.

A lot of the things that are important to me now grew out of those weeks, surrounded by open minded women and all the words to the music, which my mom referred to as weird hippy stuff, that I still love.

We took care of our environment the best we could. We learned how the plants and animals and people were related and meant to live in harmony. One summer, we swam in a spring with Manatees!

Phoebe was our stand-in Manatee for last night.

Zoom was our campfire.

We had awesome musicians with un-electric guitars singing of a better world.

And, we had me, painting. Frankly, I was terrified. Until we started. And then the camp memories kicked in and I knew where I was and why I was there.

You see, the real artists for last night were a crowd of people writing postcards. Postcards to encourage U.S. Senators to support the For the People Act associated with the legacy of Congressman John Lewis.

And, as I tried to paint John Lewis, and adapt to the time frame, despite the fact that, no matter how important the project, paint still needs to dry, the postcards were stacking up. Postcards for a better, kinder, more just world.

The photo, above, is just a glimpse of my painting, which still has more than a bit to go.

People made of prayer dots, sheltering in the shadow of John Lewis’s care and vision.

I’ll post more when I’m closer to done.

For now, please hear me say that, whoever you are, you’re included in those prayer dot people. And, if you listen closely, you’ll hear lots more of us singing and writing and holding a red thread that connects you and me and all of us.

ps… just in case you want to know more, to sing along or help out, check www.envoysforhumanity.org

Art Journey Contemplations Garden Grandmothers Phoebe and Luther

What are we learning?

Posted on April 25, 2021by sue boardman

Living with a 165# dog who sees with his heart is a bit of a challenge sometimes.

Luther, as you may have heard, has been expanding his perceived parts of the house lately. I’m delighted. Mostly.

The fact that he and Phoebe spend a lot of time camped on the rubber mat in what serves as our family room can be a navigational challenge, especially on less than optimal orthopedic days, even though I just love having them there.

He’s really good at the door they use to get out back and he knows exactly where his placemat is for the canine fine dining experience. (I’ll spare you the details!)

Last night, though, he went on an adventure. I could hear him wandering and tried our usual strategy in which I call his name and tap on a piece of furniture to give him something to follow.

Somehow, though, we weren’t making much progress.

Finally, I went hunting.

He was all the way down the hall at the door to our room, doing his tap dance thing and wagging his tail.

That was quite the adventure for him!

As it was a couple of hours or so before anyone was likely to go to bed, I called him to come back down the hall with me.

He stayed put, wagging.

Being a huge believer in choice and opportunities to learn, I rubbed his ears and left him to explore.

Not too much later, I heard him making his way back up the hall.

Step. Step. Sniff. Step. Step. Bump wall.

He was working it out!

I added in some voice cues and a bit of chair tapping.

Eventually, he was safely back on the rug, curled up with Phoebe, while The West Wing played on.

As many of you know, I’m convinced that context is a critical factor in making meaning out of things.

Earlier in the day I had chatted with a friend who just had her second vax and was doing quite well.

Before that, I had checked out CNN‘s assertions that having the vax was, indeed, important, followed, before too long, by some conversation about conservative, evangelical pastors loudly taking the other side of the issue.

It occurred to me, after considerable watching and listening and pondering context, that we’re all a lot like Luther in this moment. A world full of things we’ve never experienced before. No real certainty about the path from here to there. Sometimes, even, the sense that we’re feeling our way along on our own.

In some ways, the world is always like that. These days, though, most of us are a lot more aware of not knowing.

Our children may be even harder to teach than my enormous, blind dog.

Here’s where I think we start:

It’s okay to feel what we feel.
We get to choose what to do with our feelings.
Not everybody will feel like we feel.
That’s okay.
There are lots of things to do with our feelings that don’t hurt us or others. (Art, music, tears… you’ll know.)
What we feel now won’t last forever. And, we get to learn from it.
When we feel scared or mad or sad, it helps us understand others.

When I think about how brave and wise Luther is, even with all he’s been through, it inspires me. And makes me want to help others.

Which, if we try really hard and listen with our hearts, may turn out to be what we all learn most in this moment. That, and new skills for finding our way.

ps… Spring has sprung in our garden!

pps… There’s still time to get in on the postcard party Tuesday evening! Live music and (me) painting. Just click here for all the info. We need all the Good Trouble we can get and you KNOW you want to help change the world!