Wings .... Guest Blogger for Journal 52

Wooo Hoooo, I'm excited to announce that I'm the Guest Blogger for Journal 52 this week.  The theme is WINGS. That theme is right up my alley.  Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies are all reoccurring themes in my art journal. If you would like to see the step by step tutorial of how I made this page, head on over the Journal 52. 

I have just started reading Paint Mojo by Tracy Verdugo. There is a chapter on symbols and things that occur in your work over and over. Things that fly are mine.  I've been thinking about why.  Do those creatures symbolize anything for me?

At first I thought, "No, I just like them."  I've mulled it over a while and here is what I think today.  Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies all have a few things in common.  They fly is the most evident one.  What does that mean to me? Flying symbolizes freedom for me. They flit from place to place free and happy. 

More specifically... Birds are small but very strong creatures.  It takes a lot of effort to fly and they do it with ease. They have to make a new home every spring. That takes amazing strength in my book. 

Butterflies are all about change. They start out as fuzzy worms and turn into something beautiful. They totally remake themselves in order to fly free. This has really been brought home to me this year because my friends, Wee Man and Twinkle Toes Allan have a Butterfly project going. Check out their blog. It's amazing to watch the change take place. 

Dragonflies... remind me of floating and of water. "They are fast agile fliers, sometimes migrating across oceans, and are often but not always found near water. They are symbols of courage, strength and happiness in Japan." 

You may be wondering what the heck does this have to do with me? Over the last 16 years, I've made many changes in my life. I feel like I have come out of my cocoon and that I'm finally becoming who I am suppose to be.  

Mentally, emotionally and artistically, I feel like I have more courage and strength than I did when I was younger.  I know I am happier inside my skin.  Even though I still go to work everyday and do all the things I have to do to survive... I feel free. I feel lighter and more content than I have in my whole life.

And as for water.... my favorite place to be is the ocean. I don't live near the ocean and I miss visiting the beach very much.  I feel closer to God and more at peace when I'm at the beach.  

Do you have reoccurring themes in your art journal?

Link to:  Journal 52, Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Everyday, Twinkle's Twaddle & Wee Man of course