01/30/11 - First Dragonflies done =o)

01/29/11 - "Projection of One's Inner Self"

Our true selves become manifest in this world through our actions...but remember...our actions are not us...just our spirits pulling the puppet strings from within...master the puppet master...and our actions will fall in line...

This drawing is based on LeVar Carter and his ability to project his inner self through fire

01/28/11 - Capoeira with children

..she runs up to me all during class and says "I want huggies!"
and she has a purrty butterfly hair band! =o)

01/27/11 - "Batwings & Tentacles"

i would have never thought to put these two things together...this was fun! =o)
my initial idea was to learn to draw a scarab tonight...but this idea just kept poppin to mind!

01/26/11 - Big and Beautiful Ladybug Fairy

still working on the idea =o)

01/25/11 - Butterfly Flip-book (my first flip book)

01/24/11 - i also had never cut out dragonflies =o)

01/23/11 - each day i am at a loss for an idea i'll draw a new fairy

01/22/11 - Got wings painted on my arm by Nikki...yes...there was glitter involved!

01/21/11 - "Garden of Faeries"

sometimes you take a moment to look up and realize that not only are you going through a storm...but those around you are weathering various storms of their own...a time when we all need to cocoon...we may not be able to be there as much as we want to for a friend...nor they available enough for us in our times of difficulties...

Garden of Faeries is dedicated to those moments when we must remember that we are all beautiful inside, but sometimes we must take care of our own healing processes for a moment...but the storm will pass...we will emerge from our cocoons....and we will...be...FABULOUS!!! =0)

01/20/11 - "Tattered & Smoldering Wings"

Aural wings are not just for flight, remember, they grow back. They are also there for protection,

 when life throws itself at you with gusto.
i can't wait to flesh this out more! =o)

01/19/11 - "Flight Through Song"

One of the things I love about capoeira music is how it is used to pass on little stories that offer a view into yesterday.  Many of the formerly enslaved in Brasil became fishermen, and worked the docks. Before they were freed, they were sent to fish for the own food as it was less expensive and if they were lost at sea the plantation owners didn't care so much.  So there are lots of songs referencing this aspect of life for them.  Some sad, some happy, some just matter of fact.  This is one of my favorites.  Please forgive misspellings!

Eu estava la no rede quando eu ouvi um cantar (i was there with the net when i heard a song)

era um canto gostoso que se ouvi no ar (it was a lovely song that could be heard in the air)

quando vi um passarinho fiquei pra reparar (when i saw a little birdie i sat to pay attention)

eu disse para ele nao parar de cantar (i said to him don't stop singing!)

canta sabia eu quero ouvir o seu cantar! (sing thrush! i want to hear your song!)

canta sabia! (sing thrush!)

canta la e eu canta 'ca! (you sing there and i'll sing here!)

01/18/11 - Photo shoot "Thunderbird"

Shelia painted a thunderbird design on me from a book of symbols, this one from the north pacific coast region. she painted it in three parts, the face is on my face, the talons are on my shoulders and the wings are on my back. this is from my phone but i'll be posting the actual shoot photos later.
MUCH FUN!!! =o)

word of advice...between a thunderbird and a leopard-bird woman...put your money on the woman...speakin from personal experience here...

these are the wings from 01/12/11
Shelia did a great job as usual!

01/17/11 - "Feathers"

...feathers are individuals of a larger community that
work together to uplift the whole...
-hug them when you see them-

01/16/11 - i realized that i had never cut out butterflies...

i like butterflies...

01/15/11 - "King's Wings"

an old friend nicknamed king got me to
thinkin' about smoke wings and how they'd work.

01/14/11 - "Gliding On the Wings of Friends"

today's is dedicated to those who help you stay up when your wings are tired...misplaced or damaged...those that make you smile when your heart is broken...those that make you feel light when the weight of the world seems too much...
i love you

by this time mom was giggling and said "ok...one more!"
i think this is my fave =o)

01/13/11 - "Emergence"

the punctuation at the end of a rough week is oftentimes an ellipsis...

01/12/11 - Designing wings with Shelia for a photo shoot.

First Sketch:

Shelia, i love you, period

Phil, you too, exclamation point
Soleil, can't wait to see you rockin' wings!
(first sketch)

fleshing out the idea but got carried away
and needed to change it because
it was getting too big.

Shelia was doin all the hard work
while I doodled and jibba-jabba'd

01/11/11 - "The Pigtailed Avenger!"

Done at the Zwerdster's.
thanks to Rio & Deanna for starting Raq Crafty Mountain craft night!
Thanks Nati G for convincing me that a case of the mopes is no reason not to go hang with friends.
Thanks again to Julian & Bombeiro Legal for putting a pencil in my hand again!
Thanks Khalima for finally pushin me off the fence!
and an extra special thanks to Noah Scalin for being such an inspiration! =o)
*hugs n' luv all around*

Imagine yourself with wings...

We are larger than our physical forms...these vessels we use as our anchors to this realm...we are in truth our spirits, which powers the vessel from within...yet is not contained by it. Our auras surround and envelope us...they carry the weight...or levity of our emotions...an aura of sadness can be felt...an aura of happiness can infect...

This formless aura...this us that is we...what shapes can you mold it into?  The forms are as limitless as your imagination...

Me?

I like to imagine myself with wings when I'm down...

You have to stick your chest out when you have wings you know...

You have to let that little light of yours shine through...

Because you have wings...

And they're pretty...

They're long and they're flowy...

And since they're your aura...

No one will mind when you flap them a little...

How bad is a day when you can imagine yourself with wings?

Not so bad...

So while it won't change what has gotten you down...

The moment you can imagine yourself with wings...

Is the moment you know you are coming out of that sadness...

Then flap your wings...

Give emphasis to your flight from sadness' realm...

And fly...

------------------------------------------

For 365 days I will find a way to represent wings, or cocoons, or both...as for me both are important parts to maintaining a healthy level of happiness...wings for flight....cocoons to heal when the world throws its all at you and you need to hunker down for a while...but for the next 365 days...I hope to show that an important part of the healing process is letting go of that pain or sadness when it has run its course...that it is important to come out of that cocoon...spread your newly healed wings...and shine again in all of your wonderful glory!

*hugs n' luv all around!*