What Is Life Without Mystery?

Life Is A Mystery - ATC

Mystery. I  love the word. For me, it conjures up images of smoke and mirrors, the positive and negative aspects of religious fervour, the secret of the inexplicable. Was the reason for the birth of the word in the 14th century much different from our use of it today?

Mystery spurs us on, a kind of Muse who quietly nudges us to explore, discover, and find our ultimate truth...in essence, to "know".

I chose to illustrate this line, attributed to Mother Teresa, from the Grand Circle Corporation book of quotes . The substrate for the card is illustration board. Dreamy shades of Distress Inks and acrylic paint set the background. In addition to the art paper and a wrapper from a Hershey's Kiss, I rubber stamped images using metallic acrylic paint. The thoughtful woman pondering her fate was over stamped with a Fleur-de-lis, a symbol representing wisdom, faith, and chivalry.

Our paths are many, but mystery and the search for answers and meaning in our Art and in our life, inspires us all.

Where would you be today without mystery in your life?

Mother Nature & The Seasons...

Demeter Goddess of Nature

Autumn is a time of reflection for me...the changing of the Seasons, the shorter days and longer nights..the brisk nip in the air.

The theme of my collage was to explore "Nature" and to incorporate at least one image transfer. I looked through my collection of photocopies and kept coming back to a palmistry hand...palm open with descriptions marked for guidance.

But what would be a good match to a hand? I thought about the changing of the Seasons. I thought about how so many cultures celebrate the seasons through the eyes of a Mother Nature Goddess. And that is when I remembered the Greek Goddess Demeter.

I started with the hand. The photocopy was transferred to a canvas board. I added Distress Inks to the background using masks and a variety of wax resists. Through the use of stencils...both "home made" and Punchinella...I completed the background with metallic acrylic paint.

With the background finished, I added the image of Demeter. As she is associated with the fertile earth, I surrounded her with flowers and butterflies.

I very much enjoyed the project...and finished it during the Full Moon.

Goddess, Muse, Spirit...each brings a gift of change and delight for every Season.