WARNING- This is NOT an ART Blog

Day 10 - WARNING: This is NOT an Art Blog… This is a HEART blog.

There has been something haunting me lately.

I want to warn you right up front that this blog has to do with Religion, Gay Rights, and of course MY OPINION.

I do not wish to debate with anyone about the subject, so please leave your negativity at the door. I only wish to express my opinion.

Some things you may not know about me:

I was born and raised Jewish.

I am now a Christian. …Although I hesitate to use the term due to the radical implications that go along with it… I am a Born Again Christian. This does not mean I wish to shove my beliefs down anyone’s throat, this means that I choose to live my life biblically. I wish to reflect the LOVE that God has shown me to others. I do, however still swear, drink, and I am usually the first to make dirty jokes at inappropriate times. ( I learned this from my Grandma!)

I have been married more than half my life to a man I am MADLY and PASSIONATELY in LOVE with!

I am 50 years old and LOVE being 50!

I have two daughters whom I LOVE and am SO PROUD of both of them! … One of my daughters is going to become a Vet and is working hard at finishing her 3^rd year at URI. One of my daughters is a hairstylist who has to work a second job to make ends meet while she builds her clientele .

One of my daughters is Gay and is currently living with her girlfriend. THIS is what today’s blog is about. Being a Christian mother of a gay child in a state (Rhode Island) that currently legalized Gay Marriage.

So… If I’ve triggered any of your negative buttons… PLEASE READ NO FURTHER! I do NOT wish to upset anyone… I merely would like my opinion heard.

When my daughter first came out to me in the parking lot of the art supply store, I was in total shock. I turned white and a million questions were rolling through my head! I was upset that she had “chosen” this life style for herself. Life just got a whole lot more complicated for my family, especially my child… The child that I loved and adored, the child who wanted nothing more than to be a great Mom since she herself was just a small child. A child who had not only chosen to be a Christian, but begged me to find Jesus myself.

How could this be? I never once asked God WHY this was happening to my daughter. No… My first question was this… “Have you talked to Jesus about this? “  MY greatest fear was not that my child was gay. My greatest fear is that she had chosen to leave her relationship with Jesus. Her answer, “YES! And He still LOVES me!”.

Three years and a handful of girlfriends later, I’m still not comfortable with her being gay. I like her girlfriend now… but there have been some I did NOT like at all! Although I am still waiting for Prince Charming to come and sweep her off her feet, I am content to leave this in the hands God and my daughter. It is HER life! I will support my daughter no matter what, even if I don’t understand her choices, I realize they are her choices to make.

What do I want for my daughter? Happiness, safety, health, and most importantly for her to maintain her relationship with God! I can’t be there to always protect, provide, guide, … but I believe that God CAN and God IS! HE LOVES her no matter what… and you know what… I DO TOO!

So when I hear people making statements about Rhode Island being a Godless State… it is offensive. It HURTS! Do they think my child chose to be gay? Someone compared her being gay to choosing to watch pornography. I believe that watching pornography IS a CHOICE… Being gay is NOT a choice.

If you are still with me, I challenge you to watch the following video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzFnV3vwqD0

 I warn you, it is very UPSETTING to say the least! The combination of  having friends making judgments about my daughter, and watching this movie provoked my need to express my opinions.

So what do I BELIEVE?

I BELIEVE we are ALL called to LOVE one another.

I BELIEVE that GOD LOVES ALL HIS CHILDREN.

I BELIEVE that we need to leave Judgement to GOD, because who is without flaws and sins of their own?

I BELIEVE that every word in the BIBLE is TRUE.

I BELIEVE in LOVE!

So please do not judge me for being a Born Again Christian. Please do not judge my daughter for being GAY. PLEASE DO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU WOULD LOVE YOURSELF.

Day 9 - Commissions and Thinking Green

This week was a great week! 

Filled with friends and just enough time in the studio to feel somewhat productive!

The first project to start this week was a commissioned painting. I only had two days to work on the piece, but I am about half way done, and there is no deadline. 

Here is the progression so far:

As you can see, I love my layers and LOVE to drip on off my edges! 

This is a family portrait ( Kim Ellery style!). 

Mom, Dad, My friend Melissa (note the hot pink... Melissa has blonde and hot pink hair!),

 two brothers, and then the baby sister who is into acting and singing...so I HAD to make her sing! 

This was two short days in the studio.

Today I woke up and realized "YIKES!... I am painting live tomorrow AND need to pick out a few paintings to exhibit! .... My commissioned piece was going to have to wait a few more days. 

 I wanted to bring along two paintings in progress to paint on at Opening at Hairspray Gallery.

 I already have one that is driving me crazy... So I added a few more layers to it today and put a thin coat of acrylic medium on it.

Next, I started the very first layer on a sparkling clean white canvas! 30x30x2.5! 

YAY! One of my favorite things to do!!! 

I think it kind of looks like a peacock so far! ... 

Check out the mess I work with! 

I am NOT a clean artist... but I DO know where to find everything!

Lastly, I wanted to prepare some watercolor paper to collage with. So I got out my used paper towels and used fabric sheets...Added a bit of water to some acrylic medium and applied the listed items above to a full sheet of water color paper.

So if anyone is free tomorrow from 7-9... I'll be painting live at 

Hairspray Salon/ Gallery

259 Wickenden St 

Providence, RI

(401) 273-9210

Until next week! Happy Spring and Happy Creating!!!

Hugs,

Kim 

DAY 8 - DOES THE WEATHER EFFECT YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION?

Does the weather effect your creative inspiration?

No... I'm serious, does it? 

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Yesterday was a cold and rainy day. 

Luckily I had plans for a few of my friends to come by and paint with me! 

  

We painted from 10-12, and then had lunch together. 

After everyone had left, I did not return to the studio... I returned TO BED! 

It may be that my painting partner had LOTS more energy than me,

 but honestly I think it was the rain that made me want to sleep instead of paint!

This morning I woke up before the sun! I found myself in the studio at 5:00AM!

I had this grand idea to start a new 30x30 canvas... But first I had to just finish up a few things on the two paintings I have been working on.

So I added a little more color to this painting and then signed it. Now it was time to start my 3 day long finishing process! Step one, add a layer of acrylic medium. 

Now I took out the second painting. I decided that the "sunflowers" were making me hungry... I couldn't decide if they looked like bagels or donuts, either way, they had to go! (see image below)

 I then decided to add some wild flowers on the far hill. 

FOUR HOURS LATER... I still haven't started my 30x30 canvas!

This second painting is definitely coming along S-L-O-W-L-Y!!!

It has already evolved 3 times too. I do love a good mystery,

 but I hope this doesn't turn out to be one of those paintings that torment me!

 ( you know what I'm talking about!)

Well... I'm taking a short break, but that's it for my blogging adventures for the day!

Have FUN today whatever you decide to do!

Kim

DAY 7 - IN THE ZONE

Today was a good day. With the exception of a doctors appointment and a quick stop at the grocery store, Me and Ben spent the day in my studio. 

(Actually, Ben spent the day chasing balls and playing with rocks)

I'm in the process of focusing on two paintings.

I immediately chose the painting that has been waiting the longest for some attention. You can see it patiently waiting for me to paint it, see it hanging there all crooked?...

Anyway, I like the way the painting started... 

but nothing had been calling me to put it on the easel. 

So, today was the day.

I started off by texturing and painting some watercolor paper. I then sat and cut the paper into small leaves, and then applied the leaves onto the canvas with gel medium. The medium will take a good 12 hours to dry. So, I started working on the ground beneath the tree.

I decided to make random marks using complimentary colors. Then it was time to add some grass.

                        

Lastly, I decided the background was looking a bit boring, so I spilled, dripped, and splattered some paint. 

Why was this the last paint to hit this canvas? It was because my Stone was calling to me! Such a beautiful day to carve some stone!

After my wrist started getting tired from chiseling away, I decided it was time to go and write my blog! What a great day! 

I love it when I'm in the ZONE!

Day 6 - Community and PAINT!

After yesterdays events in Boston, I woke up so thankful that I would be spending the day finishing a community project I had been working on since December. I absolutely LOVE being part of a community! I have my church community (where I spent the day today), my artist community, I am blessed to have two groups of friends who my husband and I "Do Life With", then of course there's my family!...and then there's always the neighborhood community! Life is just plain better doing it with people you love and care about!

I've always loved being a part of a community, but I hadn't really started thinking about community until I joined this new church. ( http://www.southpointeri.com ) 

What excited me about this church was their strong desire to build community and love on everyone! Fit me like a glove! 

SO.... naturally I started a community project with the two pastors encouraging me all the way. 

( I love you Jordan and Tanner!)

The idea was to build a huge tree that would be our "Family" tree. I started off by purchasing 3 hollow doors from Home Depot... Did you know how AWESOME these doors are to paint on?! AND they are only $24! ( http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202036234?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=hollow+door&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202766787&N=5yc1v&R=202036234#.UW3S17_ZYqc ) 

I gessoed each door. Then everyone got in on the fun of painting the trees! 

Next step was to make the leaves for the trees. I gessoed brown grocery bags, painted them, and cut out about 300 leaves! By the way, my favorite brand of Gesso for preparing surfaces is Utretch. 

( http://www.utrechtart.com/Utrecht-Artists-Acrylic-Gesso--White--Medium-Bodied-MP9000-i1004379.utrecht ) My favorite brand of Gesso for using as white paint is Holbein's smooth white. 

( http://www.dickblick.com/products/holbein-acryla-white-gesso/ )

Everyone in the church was given a leaf to write on, then they were applied to the trees with gel medium. Today my BFFL came along and helped me with the finishing touches! We did a little square dancing in between getting yelled at by our neighbors for playing our music too loud and going out for lunch with everyone! 

Here's the finished painting!

The last part of the day was really fun too! I got to splatter paint all over my friend JD! I guess I just like painting everything... Even if it moves! LOL!

Playing with Shapes

Today I only had a few hours of painting play time. I decided to tackle a painting that had the "Uglies". Instead of my usual decision to gesso over an ugly and hopeless painting, I decided to just start painting shapes. I was inspired by these oval/ sunflower type shapes against what was a blueish background.  (now painted in greens)

I really took my time shading these little guys, layering 3 different shades of orange and white. Sometimes I really enjoy these simple shapes and shading that don't require much thought. When I was done, I looked at the painting to see where it would take me next. I kept turning the canvas until I realized these shapes would make great sunflowers. 

I created the two hills and of course... a tree! I'm looking forward to my next day in the studio... I can't wait to see where this painting will take me next! I'm sensing leaves and shapes in the bark of the tree... We'll see!

A NOTE OF SYMPATHY 

I started my day with two of my friends having coffee. Great way to start any day! I came home and couldn't wait to get into the studio. It wasn't until my husband came home around 5:30 that I came out of the studio. It was only then that I saw the news covering today's horrific events. I would like to say how sorry I am to anyone who was effected by these senseless bombings. My heart just breaks by these acts of terror. My prayers are for peace and healing tonight.

Follow YOUR path!

Day 4 - Changing the Challenge and Following My Own Path

Today is actually day 6 of my 30 day blog writing challenge. For the past two days I was racking my head trying to think of something interesting to write about. I thought about doing a blog on color theory. I thought about simply writing about the things I love....

Then I realized something... I have the ability to change my own challenge! We all have the ability to make changes in our lives... after all, ultimately we all have the right to choose our own destinies. SO... I've decided instead of writing everyday in my blog, I am going to follow my intuition and simply write when there is something to write about! My new challenge: Write 30 posts regarding art... without time restrictions.

I generally paint anywhere from 3-5 times a week. I will try and post each time I paint. I will post images of what is on the easel and what I have learned for the day. I believe this will make a much more interesting blog to read, and then I won't beat myself up or feel like a failure when I am not posting daily!

My challenge to you.... Follow your own intuition! In the meantime, please feel free to post any questions or ideas for my challenge! I've had several people asking me about my use of color... I will tackle this question this week.

So, I leave you with this little giggle:

Hugs and Happiness!

Kim