Rested some, found a new toad who sang to us, and did line work.
Every year our henna crops are slightly different, so every year we have to relearn a bit to work the paste.
This year was a big change as the paste I rely on for smoothness, is more like flour than silk.
So, lots and lots and lots of line work is in store for me.....
I slept today. With my eyes open and closed. I layed on the couch, with the heating pad and dazed out completely.
Boo!
Tonight I am trying to draw a bit. The henna crops took a hit the last two years and the consistency of paste has changed, so I have to relearn some skills to stay current.
In layman's terms, I am lounging about, doodling with henna and watching documentaries on YouTube.
Creating new synapses in my brain, that counts, right?
Tomorrow I hope to feel up to some intensive art practice, next week holds two big events I need to be top notch for.
Here's crossing fingers and toes.
Today was a library talk about the safeties of Tattoos and Henna.
The class was small, 9 wide eyed girls. Great awesome group. I bored and scared them with tattoos then, we got to play with henna.
When we broke out the cones they all bubbled up and got excited.
Creativity always opens people up. I sent the girls away with some henna to play with. I hope they are able to create some masterpieces.
Oh I am tired.... today was paste making day.
I started my paste yesterday at 2pm.
I started rolling cones last night and rolled for 4 or 5 hours.
I strained and coned the henna starting at 6pm.
It is almost midnighy and I still have 50+ cones to finish sealing.
Henna is a labor or love, it really is.
I slave to make every batch.
Each cone has the possibility of great, beautiful and amazing things.
But man, it is labor intensive and tiring.
Mixed henna..... 300 grams of amazing spicy goodness. It should be ready to package tomarrow.
Today's challenge was shading.
We do shade in henna, bit for today here is a cheeky lil snail with a shaded shell.
I love a good challenge! I freakin adore challenges that stretch my creativity.
Whimsy and Zen is hosting a 30 day creative challenge. Typically I do these type of challenges on Instagram, but I thought this time, I should share here.
If you would like to join, here is the link.
http://whimsyandzen.blogspot.com/2014/06/kellys-30-day-creative-challenge-starts.html?showComment=1401712831463&m=1#c5034997030771483570
I live a creative life, which means I am constantly creating. It will be fun to give a 30 day peek into my life.
Day one was yesterday, I had Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) to draw for my Swapbot and Grumbacher trades.
I love drawing and trading ATCs! I have a bunch going out in the next few days.
About two months ago I saw a call for artists with disabilities. An organization called The Whole Person is putting on an art show and needed artisits.
I really struggled with "should I apply" or "should I not." In addition to the usual self doubts about the quality of my art I had to really think about if it would be acceptable to use my "disability" to be included in a show.
To me, I am just me. I do not consider myself suffering from a disability. The truth is, I do struggle at times, but everyone struggles. I am no different. So, why would I apply for a show for people with disabilities if I do not consider myself disabled?
The answer is very simple. When I was young, autism did not exist. I was told by people I was cold hearted, aloof, crazy, psychotic all kinds of lables that did not fit. When I was 29 and recieved my diagnosis, the world made sense. All of the negative lables that had been thrown at me disapeared. I could dismiss every hurtful name as an inability on behalf of the speaker to relate.
It did not take long to realize that my postitive view of autism was not universal. I see so many parents devastated that their children have Aspergers.
I use my art as a bridge between myself and other people. If there is a chance for my art and sucess as an artist to show someone that autism does not mean a person is doomed to fail, then it is worth it.
So, May 2nd I will be featured in a gallery show. I will be extremely busy preparing art for this show but I am excited to be apart of showing invisable disabilities in a positive light.
Here is the link to the show.
http://www.thewholeperson.org/news-events/events/event-calendar
I have to get back to creating. I have precious little time to pull this off.
:-)
