Freedom…

This word means soo much but really it can be a small thing too. This weekend I painted a picture of freedom that started out as a woman running from fear and danger but really she is running to her freedom. It is inspired by the Women of Africa who have to deal with bandits and soldiers who rape and pilage from Sierra Leone, The Congo, and many other nations in Africa. Some women are fleeing from ritual female genital mutilation others from poverty and famine. Women here in America also face a lot of turmoil even though we have more freedom. Economic and social oppression are major issues facing us and I really want to let people know that there is much more to my art than a pretty picture.

Despite all of the things that I have to accomplish, I still have the freedom to do the things that I want to do and my artwork is one of them. I’m really happy with this piece.

Work, work, work..

   Today I went back to work after having been on break for two weeks. I was prepared for almost everything except the 1st graders!!!! They drove me CRAZY!!! They Love Art, and they do their work and they are TOO CUTE! But the babies, Lord…the BABIES! They are very needy, too playful, have the attention span of a gnat and  THEY DON’T LISTEN! Their excitement is such a mixed blessing. First, they all want to be monitor and if they don’t want get to be monitor they cry, pout and whine something awful. And then…they don’t want to stop so when I have to stop them and take a way their brushes so then they paint with their fingers. When I take the paint then they keep rubbing on the paper until it gets a hole in it and becomes a piece of tissue! When I take away the art and try to get ‘em to leave they stay so long that I have to throw them out to get my next class in! Lord, these kids needed art soo bad!  I am starting an after-school program so that they can exercise more of their creativity But, I must say… THEY WEAR ME OUT!

     I just had to say it..sorry! I have a great job, I know that I am lucky, but sometimes ya’ gotta let it out! On the art front, did more paintings and more pictures are on the way!!! Check back by Friday!

 

Love

Juggling act…

“Pray”

Okay, it’s been FOREVER! I have decided to paint, seriously paint! I have put my e-store on hold for the past few weeks and frankly…I don’t know when I will re-open it. I need to focus on my art! Between, being an art teacher, an author, and business owner my painting suffers alot!

      Really and truly, many people don’t even realize that I am a painter first and the t-shirts and stuff came much later. It is really more of a way of making the artwork affordable and accessible to more people, it’s only part of what I really do. But now it’s not enough. I have to get back to what I really do, so hopefully people will bare with me while I make these paintings that have been waiting patiently while I’ve been making a living. These are a couple of the most recent paintings this week. 

 This one is titled “Waiting in Vain”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                This one is “Stay with Me”.