Video – https://youtu.be/4XgDI995CJ0
Hello friends,
Welcome to Sunday’s ART of Truth. Thank you for stopping by. If you haven’t already watched the video, I highly recommend it. I shared a lot of the inspiration in the video itself this time. It just worked out that way.
Today, I created a controlled collage in my art journal. It is made up of mostly scrap paper with a few elements to accentuate the inspiration. I love how it turned out and it was exactly what I was going for.
In the video, I was sharing open thoughts about how I feel like the world has put a price tag on us that is not at all reflective of our true value. In today’s ‘social economy’, we are judged based on what we have, where we work, how much money we make, the size of our body, our skin color, or our ‘productivity’.
It is a false economy. Our value comes from being intrinsically worthy, loved and accepted. By allowing the world to be our measuring stick, we forsake our power to affect change in our own lives.
There is a longing in me, at least, to retrace where my value comes from. What measuring stick do I use or let others use to measure my value? It is a powerful thing, public opinion. It takes a concerted effort to shift our focus from what others think about us to what is true about each of us. It is human to long for the approval of others and look to others to reflect our importance or value.
For me, to believe is to have faith. However, I recognize that we all have different belief systems and different things that drive us. I know that we are more alike than we are, different. We want to believe in good things. We want to hope for better tomorrows. We want to believe in the goodness of people. We want to be loved wholly. We want to be seen. We want the pat on the back and the, ‘I missed you.’
When we have the courage to evaluate our own value and soak up the truth of who we really are, we become better people. We are healthier and happier. We are going to able to affect change within our sphere of influence. Not just talking about our faith system, but what we believe about our own power and ability to choose to make a difference. To believe that we are enough now, to touch someone else. We don’t have to be perfect or whole and we don’t have to live in the Facebook, Instagram, TikToc, and Pinterest worlds to make that impact.
Our past doesn’t dictate our present or our future. Our mistakes are not the end of the story.
What does it mean to believe in ourselves? I don’t know what it means to you, I only know what it means to me.
To belief in ourselves, we take the scissors and we cut off that price tag that has been tied around our necks. We take ownership of our emotions and our choices. We learn to say no, when we need to take care of ourselves. We are gentle with our emotions when we have the confidence and peace that comes in believing who we really are. When we cast away the lies that say that we are not enough. That we will are too much, sometimes. When we believe in ourselves, we believe that we are worthy of healing, joy, hope, and love. And, when we believe those things, we engage in bringing out those things in ourselves first and then in others.
My friends, I am in a bit of thickness, emotionally right now. I am grateful that I have learned to breathe, pause, and reflect so that my choices are in alignment with what I believe about who I am and what my core values are. However, when the past and the lies creep in, I must go back to ‘whose’ I am and stand in that truth and believe in myself, my truth, and my story. And, REST.
Is there something weighing on you my dear ones?
Is there a belief, a thing that makes circles around your head and heart that affects your interpretation of your worth, your world, and your circumstances?
Do you know how beautiful you are?
Do you know how brave and loving you are?
Do you know that you are worthy of all those things if you never did anything else to ‘earn’ it?
Do you know that you are strong, and you can power your own ship?
You have what you need to take care of yourself.
You are enough. You WERE ALWAYS ENOUGH.
I will say that again…you were ALWAYS enough. No matter what happened to you. No matter where you have been, you were always enough.
My friends, I pray that if this speaks to you, that you can absorb a morsel of truth. Tuck it away. Treasure it. Repeat it to yourself.
There were many a day 30 years ago when the best that I could do was sit in a chair and be still- rock and remind myself that if I felt like I could do nothing else, I could breathe. I would breathe. My mantra, “today, I will breathe.” That was all that I had, and it was enough.
Healing comes. Hope visits. Truth waits around for us to take it for our own.
Find your truth. Believe in who you are – you, precious and beautiful you
Blessings until next time,
Beloved-Reborn
Supplies used:
Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium – See Basic Mixed Media Supply List below
Scraps, scraps and more scraps
Bits of ephemera from here and there
Junk Journal Basic Supplies List –
FabriTac Glue – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=fabritac&ref=nb_sb_noss
Art Glitter Glue – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=art+glitter+glue&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Ranger Archival Ink – Vintage Photo – They no longer make the pad so I bought the reinker and a DIY ink pad – https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-AIP48077-Empty-Archival-Pad-Empty/dp/B016A88EAI/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ranger+diy+ink+pad&qid=1626104364&sr=8-4
Https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vintage+photo+reinker&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
List of basic mixed media supplies:
TCW Light & Fluffy Modeling Paste – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=light+and+fluffy+modeling+paste&crid=3PFDSLJUPLGOO&sprefix=light+and+flu%2Caps%2C272&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_13
Shoresua Script Stamp- https://www.amazon.com/Shoresua-Transparent-Silicone-Scrapbooking-Embossing/dp/B07PGN3MR3/ref=sr_1_77?dchild=1&keywords=bo+bunny+stamps&qid=1601231832&sr=8-77
Golden High Flow Acrylic – Transparent Yellow Oxide – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=goldenhigh+flow+acrylics&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Liquitex Matte Medium- https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Matte-Medium-8-Ounce/dp/B000IYWYNE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=74CDOKRUL040&dchild=1&keywords=liquitex+matte+medium&qid=1586229506&sprefix=liquitex+ma%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-1
Liquitex Glazing Medium- https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Multi-Purpose-Acrylic-Polymer-GAC-100/dp/B001YJPX58/ref=sr_1_46?dchild=1&keywords=golden+glazing+medium&qid=1586230065&sr=8-46
Liquitex Heavy Gesso- https://www.amazon.com/Liquitex-Professional-Super-Surface-Medium/dp/B001UNREO6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=liquitex+heavy+gesso&qid=1586229647&sr=8-1
Penny Black Script Stamp- https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Black-Script-Unmounted-40-470/dp/B01HNO5R08/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Penny+Black+script+stamp&qid=1586229678&sr=8-1
Shawn Petite Stencils- https://shop.shawnpetite.com/Stencils-c14287046
Decoart Crackle Paint – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=decoart+crackle+paint&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Rembrandt Soft Pastel – Black – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rembrandt+soft+pastel+black&ref=nb_sb_noss
Golden Fluid Acrylics – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=golden+fluid+acrylics&crid=1140N398O4PP1&sprefix=golden+fluid+%2Caps%2C520&ref=nb_sb_ss_ac-a-p_1_13
It’s beautiful. Everything you placed was just perfect for the meaning of the piece. I especially connected with the tape measure and the images connected with sewing. The tape measure is a form of judgement and the sewing things relate to how things can be put back together and repaired with the right tools. The beautiful butterfly is the end product of all the work. That’s my interpretation anyway. I can relate to every piece you placed. It’s just beautiful. One thing that has really bothered me over the past few years is that it seems in the world today less value is placed on older people. It can be a struggle to find purpose and value when reading headlines that seem to discount the worth of the elderly. My husband and I have talked about this often and even though we are on the younger side of retirement it is disheartening. On another topic, with a collage piece, is it a design principle that things are placed upright? I noticed that everything you placed was in straight lines.
Thank you so much! Much of what you said is exactly how I was processing it as it was going together. It is a sad state of affairs when so little honor is giving to the older generation. I am thankful to have my kids around me that model respect and honor to all people, including those from another generation. It is rare though.
In regards to your question about the placement of the elements. I don’t think it is a design principle, that I know of. I knew when I was preparing it, that the vertical and horizontal lines were important to what I was processing. It was about how we do line up in ways that the world expects us too and yet, my interpretation was that in the midst of that, there is individuality, perspective and beauty. I have never done a collage like this with things placed in straight lines 🙂
As always, my friend, I value your words and your feedback. This makes beautiful community. I am grateful for you. Blessings on your week ahead 🙂
You already know how I love your artistic talent and your process. I appreciate you sharing your faith, there is a gentleness in your voice and words that have the ability to touch the heart. This is beautiful and I love the butterfly!!💛
Lynne, I so enjoy it when you stop by 💛 thank you for your words and kind feedback. This is my hope that my words and process would encourage others and would come across as soft and welcoming. Fills my bucket 💛 blessings to you precious lady 💛