Art-Making Reflecting Life

If I stop to ask the question, "What is this saying to me?" each art work says something to the maker and about the maker. At the beginning of the year, I began working on a series of monthly postcards commissioned by my favorite realtor. This year I am featuring doorways from our trip to Scotland, Ireland and England. Here is the doorway for this month.  

In this case, I could not remember where this door was the entire time I was working on it. Then as I was driving the next morning, I realized the stone work is like the Iona abbey. It must be the Iona Abbey, the little chapel behind the Abbey, hidden away and discovered toward the end of our visit. It all came back to me as I was driving.  

When we entered through the dark wooden door, light softly beamed through the window highlighting the cross at the table. There was an instinctive sacred pause, and we entered into a quiet, secret place of peace. I remembered none of that as I painted the light in the keyhole and under the door. The addition of the light is not in the photo, nor was it in my memory, but the process reflected the experience of my heart that remembered it. The painting brought the moment and its significance to my mind in a fresh way, kindling my gratitude, beckoning me to embrace the mystery of God. 

Looking closer, I realize the illustration also represents how I feel about this upcoming season of my life; Sacred mystery, quiet in some ways but also anticipating the journey into the light beyond the ordinary. Building on the past, even the ruins of yesterday with hope of new light and discoveries.

Another thought comes to mind, one of integration. As I worked on this monthly realtor postcard, the process went twice as fast as usual. I employed methods I am now using for the coloring book pages, and it flowed like water. Some of the previous postcards are even making a repurposed appearance in the coloring book as line drawings. It reminds me that nothing is wasted and everything influences everything. 

We cannot use up our creativity. The more we use the more is activated. 

May you be blessed with more creativity as you step out and create!