Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Like a bird...

I've been working in art journals/mixed media/collages for almost as long as I've been writing. My art journal is where I go when I can't make words that make sense. Making them visual breaks something open in my mind so I can write coherently again. Sometimes I use my art journal to "art" about things I don't want to write about ever, or just yet. (Yes, I will turn any word into a verb if it suits me even if it makes me insufferable. And now I'm going to art about that.)

I follow lots of artist blogs in my RSS feed and every now and then there's a challenge. I have done a few, but haven't shared them. Until now. A Year in the Life of an Art Journal is one of my always-read favorites. Over the weekend, Rachel posted the following challenge:
THE PROMPT: Bird is the word
THE STUFF: yarn, twigs, sticks, feathers, leaves, things you would find in a nest.
THE TECHNIQUE: Doodle/Construct yourself as a bird. You can draw (with or with out color) or paper piece a photo of yourself and some bird parts. How would you look as a bird?
 

This one appealed to me so much because birds are in and out of my life in weird ways. Dreams of flying. A stranger telling me a story about an ex who murdered her parrot (is it called murder when it happens to an animal? If it isn't, it should be). That I won't eat outside at Whole Foods because I fear the aggressive grackles. I've been chased by ducks, geese and swans both as a child and as an adult. Telling my therapist that my heart felt like a wounded bird some of the time and a frightened bird the rest of the time. That the wings beating in my chest make me feel like I am going to die. Being able to let go by releasing imaginary birds to the sky. Birds are fragile and birds are strong. How my heart feels now, light, light, light.



This is my heart. My fragile, weightless, strong bird.


9 comments:

  1. GAAAH!! I love it!! I love it so much!! And I sent you an email because I mistakenly thought that you had left an incomplete link, and deleted it on the site!! You MUST MUST MUST go back and link again!! This is beautiful. I like the imagery. So relate-able.

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  2. Hi! I linked to it again - no problem. But OMG thank you so much for commenting! I so admire your work and the fact that you share it so generously (and I'm trying to be better about sharing mine). You just made my day. :-)

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  3. Okay, I totally LOVE everything about this! The page is stunning. Fragile and strong all at the same time. And I love what you say about why and how you art journal. I recognise myself in that.

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    1. Thank you, Carin! Rachel's prompt was too good to resist this time. I appreciate your nice words!

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  4. This is totally awesome!!!!! Thanks for playing along with us, I just love it!

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    1. Thank you, Glenda! I loved your piece too, that you gave yourself wings and a wise owl. I appreciate the inspiration and will keep reading and doing new prompts!

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  5. This is lovely Kelly!! What an amazing photograph!

    Brigitta

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