Filed under: Art, Christianity, religion, Thrift Store Jesus, thrift stores, Uncategorized | Tags: Art, Christianity, religion, Thrift Store Jesus, thrift stores
Jesus…asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:13-16 (The Message)
I name most of my “thrift-store Jesus” finds, but not this one. To me, this piece doesn’t lend itself to a clever name. This is one of my favorites, simple and striking. I’ve always been fond of the rustic wood-slice plaque look, to me it says old Colorado (even though I’m sure it was popular in other areas, too). But what is special about this piece is that I think it is very original. I don’t think this came from a pattern, it doesn’t look like a kit. The plaque was painted black, then the image carved out of it. I wish it was signed or dated by the artist, but there is nothing.
So, why this piece right now? We are nearing Easter, a time when many think about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. This image is a typical Catholic Jesus, with the crown of thorns. I was always told that the Catholic images usually emphasized the crucifixion, but the Protestant Jesus was a risen Jesus (thus, the empty cross). To be real honest, I think both of them are missing half of the point—you can’t have one without the other.
But I do find it interesting how we tend to create our own “Jesus.” You could argue that it is “just an image…we know that wasn’t how Jesus looked, blah, blah, blah.” But I think we have a lot of reasons we imagine him as we do.
My husband, Jim, isn’t too crazy about “paint-by-number Jesus” (my first thrift-store Jesus). In mock frustration he asked, “When is this supposed to be? When was Jesus standing around in his “Sunday best” holding up a cross?” Jim doesn’t really understand all about promo photos and marketing and press releases and all that stuff, but I’m sure that is what this was. It’s just a public relations piece….right?
I can just imagine Jesus walking along with the disciples having the discussion quoted at the beginning of this post. I think he stopped right in the middle, looked each of them straight in the eye, and asked, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
I think he would have the same conversation with each of us, asking, “Who do you say I am…that’s what I really want to know?”
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
Albert Einstein
These are entries in the Green Pepper Press Street Team. This is a monthly challenge by Michelle Ward. I have not done it before, and just barely am making the deadline this time…or maybe not, depending on your time zone. But, I have been wanting to do it for quite some time.
This month’s challenge was “Portion Control”—showing part of a shape, rather than all of it. This is basically one of the basic graphic design “Gestalt” principles—that your brain “finishes” what it sees of a familiar shape. Thus, something that is hinted at is more interesting than something that is obvious, basically because it intrigues your brain and involves it in the process. If the entire shape is there, your brain just says, “Oh, that’s a circle” and moves on to more interesting things. Your brain enjoys it more if the image is a little mysterious and you have to think about it.
A lot of logos use gestalt principles. Once you become aware of some of the principles you start seeing them everywhere. It’s really interesting.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the artwork. It was fun, and I desperately needed to get out and do some artwork!
Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.
David Letterman (1947–)
I know…it’s way past fall. But I love this Letterman quote, and with the fall leaves on the artwork I thought I could get away with it. It’s even funnier to me after living out there for a while!
This is my first real foray into using beeswax. I really loved it!
The surface is a standard background I use a lot; foamcore covered with brown kraft paper (kind of papier maché style). It creates a great texture and color to start with. A few layers of paint and ink were added. Then came the beeswax—to attach the leaves, feathers, and tissue.
The center leaf is one of the big cottonwood leaves I picked up last fall (and blogged about in Nature and the Creative Impulse). The piece is about ten inches square, so the leaf is about the size of my hand…probably not all that big for easterners, but for Colorado trees, it’s pretty big.
Feathers are one of my favorite things, and these two are a couple of cool finds. The text on the piece is all foreign, and is off a dress pattern. I loved the way the beeswax made the tissue paper disappear, so all you really see are the words.
So…why “Run Over by a Truck”? Because the smaller cottonwood leaf in the center was laying in the street for quite some time before I picked it up. It literally had been “run over by a truck” (and many cars, no doubt). I loved it’s frail beauty. It is so fragile that I thought completely covering it with beeswax was the best way I knew to protect it.
Sometimes I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck…I hope I come out as beautiful in the end as the leaf.
It is the creative potential itself in human beings that is the image of God.
Mary Daly
Rhema Muncy, a young reporter from the Loveland Reporter-Herald came to interview me yesterday. In many ways it seemed more like a casual chat with a new friend than it did an interview. We talked about many things: my handmade journals, my artistic “journey”, paint-by-number Jesus, and Christianity. But, most of all, we talked about creativity—what inspires creativity, why it is important, why I think everyone is creative…stuff like that.
I continued to think about these things long after Rhema left, and one particular person who came to mind was Harold Pennock. I hadn’t thought of Harold in quite some time. He was the father of my aunt/grandfather of my cousins (I don’t know if that makes him a “great uncle” or anything…I’m not good at that kind of stuff). I remember one particular visit to Harold and Pat’s home when I was young. I discovered that Harold was a wonderful landscape painter. He painted beautiful Rocky Mountain scenes in his basement. And that’s where they stayed…in his basement.
I don’t think very many people ever knew that Harold was an artist. I don’t know that he would have even called himself an artist. I know he didn’t seem to want anyone to see his paintings, and he didn’t want anyone else to have his paintings, he just wanted to paint. For many years I felt like it was such a shame…what a waste of talent to not share it with anyone.
But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate his love of creating just for the sake of creating. The end product didn’t seem to matter all that much, he just felt the need to paint, so he did. Not to make anyone else happy, not to sell art, not to show anyone his talent. I think the only reason Harold painted was because Harold wanted to paint.
I guess you could say he was “compelled to create.” I do think it is an interesting phenomenon, the need to create only for the sake of creating. I imagine there are a lot more “basement painters” out there than we realize. Have you known any? Are you one?
Filed under: Art, creativity, thrift stores | Tags: Art, creativity, thrift stores
The key question isn’t “What fosters creativity?” But it is why isn’t everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled? I think therefore a good question might be not why do people create? But why do people not create or innovate? We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.
Abraham Maslow
The journal above was created as a thank you gift for Mary, a fellow thrift-store-maven from Ventura, California. Mary sent me this Halma game she unearthed there. The game is a little like Chinese Checkers (which of course, has nothing to do with China and isn’t really checkers). Anyway, there are no copyright dates or any of that nonsense…waaay before that I guess!
I scanned the unusual box image so I could use it several times. Then I altered it some for Mary’s journal. On the inside front cover I put a copy of the instructions. It kind of seems German…but if you know what language it is, leave me a comment.
One of my other favorite finds is a book of cheerleading motions from the 50’s. I included a page from it in her journal. This also shows some of the journaling cards I stash in the envelopes.
Of course, Mary loved the journal! But the coolest thing was one of the comments she made, “It’s like a piece of artwork that isn’t finished yet, you’re invited to add to it and finish it yourself.”
Maybe that’s one reason I’ve been so “into” making these things the last several months. I’ve always believed that everyone is creative, and I want to encourage that creativity. This is one way I can do that.
So, if you want to create in one of these wacky journals, just check out my etsy shop. And go create something!
Filed under: Art, Perfectionism | Tags: Art, creativity, fear, Perfectionism
India Recycled Journal
Of course, the rest of the quote used in the title is “but fear itself.” I couldn’t remember who said it, so a quick Google search revealed that it was Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first inaugural speech (that is certainly timely)!
The actual quote is:
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
Of course, I could talk about a million things many of us are afraid of right now; but I am thinking about fear and creativity. One of the biggest barriers in my artwork is my fear that it won’t be “good enough.” Good enough for what, I don’t know.
The journal above is one of about a half dozen I created over the summer when I was learning how to do the coptic bookbinding stitch. I didn’t want to put any journals for sale on etsy until I felt they were “good enough.” I won’t admit to you how often in my life good enough never happens.
I’m not advocating putting schlock out there. But, quite often I am amazed at some of the things people sell, or teach, or write, or…whatever. Sometimes, I know I have something better to offer. But since I don’t think it’s good enough yet, it doesn’t see the light of day. So it really doesn’t matter what I have to offer…because I seldom offer it!
But really, it’s just fear. Fear of what I’m not real sure…fear of what other people think…or of being wrong…of being criticized…all of these things.
So here’s the second part, my challenge to myself:
The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.
Albert Einstein, (attributed)
I think everyone has heard some version of this idea; that we can’t do the same thing we’ve always done and expect different results. This has been on my mind a lot the last several months, and I’m trying to do some things differently.
Even starting this blog is “stepping out of my comfort zone,” getting over my fear of putting something “out there” that someone might reject. So, thanks for reading…and go check out my imperfect coptic bookbinding on etsy, too.
Then tell me how you’ve been able to look fear in the face.
Filed under: Art, Christianity, Nature, religion | Tags: Art, Christianity, Nature, religion
Change
Turbulence is life force. It is opportunity. Let’s love turbulence and use it for change.
Ramsay Clark
Turbulence…that is a good word for the feeling.
The artwork above is something I did about three years ago, at a time when change seemed to be at a frenzied pace. That really hasn’t stopped.
I think the thing that stresses us about a lot of the change in our lives is that it is not the change we think we need. The change we want seems to move at a snails pace, if at all. Meanwhile, the changes we don’t want keep us reeling.
The leaf on this piece of art is an actual leaf. I was picking up my husband at work and noticed a bush that looked like it was made of lace. It was really beautiful. But I could tell something wasn’t quite right, so I got out of the car to get a closer look. Every leaf on the bush was eaten by insects. Of course, normally you would see that and think, “Oh, no…someone should get rid of these bugs.” But even something like these insects—these unwanted guests—had created something of beauty.
This leaf is to remind me that the even the changes that I don’t want can work together to create something beautiful. And, to remind me that the creator of it all doesn’t change, and he is still in charge.
There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself. Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them.
Hebrews 13:8–9; The Message; Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Filed under: Art, Nature | Tags: Art, creativity, fall, Nature, Vincent Van Gogh
He that sincerely loves nature, finds pleasure everywhere.
Vincent Van Gogh
It is beginning to feel like fall is coming to a close here in Colorado. It’s been violently windy the last couple of days and most of the leaves have blown off the trees.
Fall is my favorite season. If I had to live with one season all the time, I would choose fall. This year has been especially beautiful.
One of my favorite things is shuffling through leaves. If there is a big pile of leaves in the gutter I have to go shuffle in them—it doesn’t matter where I am or even what I am wearing. I love the sound and the feel of it. Last week there were these incredible piles of huge cottonwood leaves a few miles away. Jim even stopped the car and let me shuffle in them, it was great! I picked up several of the leaves to use in my artwork; they are larger than my outstretched hand.
Nature is one of the things I find most inspiring for my creativity. I love to use natural materials in my art. The mixed-media piece at the top includes two of the maple seeds that are all over. I have a couple of box-fulls of sticks and rocks and leaves and seed pods and bones (yes…bones) and feathers and… One of the greatest gifts others give me is there natural “finds” (an entire catfish skeleton, wasp nest and birch bark curls). And, nothing puts me in a creative mood more than taking a walk.
Have you ever realized; nature is different every day. The aspen tree in the front will never be exactly like it is today. Most of the time we are too busy to notice it, much less appreciate how beautiful and amazing it is.
Today, stop…and look…shuffle in the leaves if you get a chance! Then go and create something beautiful.
Filed under: Art, Christianity, religion, Thrift Store Jesus, thrift stores | Tags: Art, Christianity, religion, Thrift Store Jesus, thrift stores
Paint-by-Number Jesus
My ancestors must have been voracious hunters and gatherers. My husband and I get on “crusades” as we call them. One of us will get some wacko thing stuck in our head and nothing can get in our way. My latest crusade has been finding unusual, generally handmade, images of Jesus at the local thrift stores.
It began at the thrift store just 1/2 mile down the street. Recently, a number of unusual Jesus images started to appear (no, not miraculously, like in the mold spot on the wall). Paint-by-number Jesus was the first. It caught my eye, but at $7 it was a little pricey so I passed it up. But it stuck with me, until I finally went back. It was still waiting for me (the other Jesus image, of him peering into the windows of the United Nations, was gone).
Paint-by-number Jesus is very carefully done, and appears to be professionally framed. It really put my brain to puzzling over why we seem compelled to create images of Jesus (one reason for the name of this blog). Most of them are probably amazingly inaccurate, but it doesn’t seem to matter. We just want to imagine the Divine with skin on.
But, the thing that struck me most about p-b-n Jesus is the irony. Paint-by-number allows anyone to create a decent-looking painting with little or no thought. If only Christianity were that easy. I wish, when hit with a #4 in life, I knew to bring out the sky blue and all would be well. The #7 is dark green, and #16 is bright red…the answers would be easy. I would know the next step.
Instead, it seems I am usually bumbling around in the dark with my trusty paintbrush but no numbers to guide me. But one thing I know, my life’s “painting” doesn’t look like anyone else’s.
Matthew 7:13, 14; The Message; Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
Filed under: Art, Perfectionism, Rabbits | Tags: Art, Perfectionism, Rabbits
I guess I’m not exactly one to jump on the latest bandwagon! I’ve wanted to create a blog for some time now, but being true to my slightly obsessive/perfectionistic self, I wanted to be sure I could do it “right.” More later on the various themes of this blog.
For now, just a pic of some older artwork. I’ve really been into making handmade journals of various sorts for several months. Some will go up on etsy shortly! Below is one that was sold at a silent auction benefitting the Colorado House Rabbit Society.
Handmade, recycled journal donated to the Colorado House Rabbit Society
Compelled to Create 
