Wonder Woman super hero

...When she was given the magic lasso of truth they said to Wonder Woman,“Having proved thyself bound by love and wisdom, we give the power to control others! Whomsoever thy magic lasso binds, minds obey thee.” Wonder Woman responds, “With its great gift, I can change human character; I can make bad men good, and weak women strong.” It takes strength not to abuse that kind of power....

Read more in my upcoming book "Life lessons fro Heroes and Villains." 

Coming 2017

Heroes and Villains - 2016 Project

Iron Man Print Available

Many of you know that I self published my book - "Life is a Circus, Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" last year. It was something I enjoyed working on so much! 

The idea came to me when I was at my mother-in-law's house for Christmas and I felt I wanted to communicate to the youth, my husband and I had worked with, the lessons that we worked hard to teach them. I felt that they would leave us but they were usually going right back to the environment the came from (which usually was not the best one). Then in the middle of the night the ideas came flooding in, one after another...ringleader was first, the trapeze artist, the contortionist... each one had a lesson to teach about life.

We have given out many copies of "Life is a Circus" to girl who have left our care and moved back to their families, some copies went to survivors of human trafficking for Valentines Day, as Christmas gifts to the youth at an emergency shelter, and to youth on there last day at a domestic violence shelter. I am so glad that my family and I have been able to give these out to those survivors, victims and future victors!

Well, after finishing the book, my husband noticed that the illustrations were more suited for the females - so we came up with the idea of comic book characters for teaching some life lessons - so "Heroes and Villains" was born. 

I hope to get a good amount of characters to convey lessons about life. Some examples are; 

• Joker and Harley Quinn - lesson about toxic Love 
• Poison ivy - Eco-terrorist and her love for the environment 
• Catwoman - 9 Lives and perseverance
• Woman Woman - displaying strength 
• Iron Man - Believing in yourself

After I am done with all these illustrations, my plan is to participate in some comic book conventions to share and sell my artwork - eventually raising enough to help me purchase more books to share with more at-risk people, exploited women and children. Eventually I want to create gift bags that will have these books included in them. 
You can read more about it in my post - "Gift Bag Joy."

If you enjoy these, please don't hesitate to share this with friends and even purchasing some. A percentage of every sale goes to helping me share these books and more.

Life Icon part 4

"Close your eyes and take three deep breaths… This is the only moment you need to be worried about. There’s no yesterday. There’s no tomorrow. There’s just right now. You’re not late for anything. You aren’t going to miss anything. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. And you’re exactly who you’re supposed to be. You’re absolutely perfect. And whatever happens today is exactly what’s supposed to happen.”

Dax Shepard

A really good suggestion from  psychologist, Eric Maisel, is to create a life purpose icon. It is similar to the totems that each person had in the movie Inception. It was personal and really only the owner of that totem knew the significance of it. 

It is a simple, quick way to visually remind me of how I want to live. 

How I arrived at my icon  (the compass) was by thinking of a symbol that helped me convey what I kept forgetting.  Since my life purpose statement is...

"I intend to do my best without compromising my values. I will continue to learning, growing, creating and remembering that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be because God is leading me."

I needed symbol that helped me remember that everything is a process  - I can't get from work to home with out traveling inch by inch from one place to the other. I want to be where I'm supposed to be, but when trouble comes, I'm quick to question if I'm really in that place. Self doubt tries to take over. The compass symbol helps me redirect my thoughts.
I chose to print my icon and put it on my daily planner so I can see it everyday. Some people may choose to make it a tattoo, get a piece of jewelry, or get a poster of it.

Related Posts in this Series Meaning Defining your Values Creating your Life Purpose Statement Creating a Life Purpose Icon

With process comes progress 

- be it a journey in learning something new, getting rid of bad habits, finishing a new piece of art work, or driving home from work. It also brings to mind that even if things don't go as planned it's o.k. God is leading my steps and maybe the new journey is way better than the trip I had planned. I chose not to point it directly north because - since I am trying to reach my true north - and it is all a journey it shows me that I haven't arrived, BUT that I am on my way. Helping me not to focus on results, but instead, this helps me focus on the progress - enabling me to celebrate little victories along the way.

What icon/symbol helps you easily remember how you want to live? How would you design it?

Cinderella didn't ask for a Prince

"Cinderella Never Asked For A Prince"

As a kid I always illustrated Cinderella. Thinking back - I never drew the prince. I drew Cinderella, her room, her dress, her carriage, her shoes...
So you know I had to do a piece of Cinderella and this awesome quote.

After reading this quote it reminded me of the at-risk youth I have worked with for many years now. One of the biggest obstacles I have noticed for the females is - understanding that they don't need some one to "complete" them or make them feel "worthy."

When we take the time to grow on our own as an individual, we learn about ourselves, we become strong, find our potential, our voice becomes clearer - we learn that we are just enough as ourselves. We then can enter a relationship as one full part instead of two incomplete parts coming together. 
Imagine a painting done by two toddlers? Now Imagine a painting done by two adults. 
The first is going to be a hot mess, there will be arguing, ignoring, crying, tantrums, etc.. The second example, there will be sharing, discussion, experience.

As Celestine Chua from personalexcellence.com states, "When you view a relationship as something that completes you, you attract other people who have this mindset too, and that leads to a relationship which is rooted in fear and negativity. The latter attracts your soulmate relationship, one that elevates you, makes you a better person, brings you actual bliss and joy."Go, do some growing on your own - alone.

Cinderella didn't go looking for a prince, her presence drew him.

Cinderella was confident in herself, her inner beauty glowed from the inside out. She went into that ball owning it. The prince had no choice but to notice her. She lived how she was supposed to and she attracted what was hers. 

When we know who we are, what our convictions are, have taken the time to grow ourselves, we have full clarity of what we want and only go after what is best for us, we will more likely know exactly who to "Shoo fly shoo" away from our lives without fear that no one else will ever come along. Also, if someone doesn't, SO WHAT? You are too valuable and precious to just be with just anyone.

So the next time you watch the movie or read the story, remember Cinderella really didn't go about looking for a prince. She had plenty of time to learn about herself and know exactly what she wanted and her inner light shone bright. 

You have the power - to choose

"At any time you have the Power to change your story."

Sometimes my artwork is inspired by an image or a quote. This time it was by this quote. I wanted to convey how would I have power to change my story? Through words? choices? decisions...? of all those words "CHOICE" was the one that stood out the most. So I wanted the girl to have many books and stories to choose from. 

Remember those books when we were kids...the one if you chose one option or another you would could change the ending of the book? I think they were "Choose your own Adventure Books." We had the power to change our story in those books by the choices we made - why not in our life story?

In the field I work in, many of the victims go BACK to their abuser up to seven times before they finally CHOOSE to say enough is enough and I'm leaving no matter what. Those seven times could be because they didn't have enough support, money, job, childcare, etc..., but that seventh time (or third, or fifth) could be the one time that they CHOSE to not be a victim anymore and change their story, especially how it's going to end.

Not all of our lives are to that point, however, we all have that same POWER to CHOSE -  

• CHOICE between staying at a job you don't like or pursue your dream.
• CHOICE between living  in familiarity where all is comfortable or venturing out to somewhere new 
• CHOICE between living authentically or following what the world says how you have to be.
• CHOICE between focusing on this or that over there
• CHOICE between letting this circumstance kill you or make you stronger
• CHOICE between going thru this door or another door

choice

: the act of choosing : the act of picking or deciding between two or more possibilities

: the opportunity or power to choose between two or more possibilities 

: the opportunity or power to make a decision

: a range of things that can be chosen

I'm not saying that we all have to run out, join a circus, move into an RV and travel, but we do have the power to choose to change how our life's story is going right at this moment by the power of Choice.

GOOD Luck in your adventure!

This print will be available for purchase on my website

Visual Journaling

I am not much of a journalER...When I was a kid, I had a diary, that my brother found and he read one of my entries out loud. I was soooo embarassed that I swore I would never write down my thoughts again.

Well,(more than) a few years ago I read "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. She talked about a good way to start tapping into your creativity was to start every morning with "morning pages." 

These pages are pretty much 3 pages of notebook paper where you just write. They don't have to make sense, no worry about capitalization or punctuation. You could even throw them away after you were done (that last part perked my curiosity). Well, the point of the "morning pages" is to dump thoughts, worries and even my prayers to God onto these pages so my mind could be clear to receive those ideas that are trying to come, but are getting cut off by all the things that are tumbling around in my head. I tried them and I liked doing it. I found that it did help me to be more creative. 

Consistency is a problem for me, so I did not keep up with them.

Well, I did found something similar to the "morning pages."

       It was called "Visual Journaling." 

There is a book, however, I have not read it.
I am loving this way of journaling. It is not only "morning pages" or "brain drain" but it also involves some drawing. These 'visual journaling entries" have even inspired some new artwork ideas for me. What I love most about it is that it is always a surprise what I end up with. So, here are the steps that I follow below...

• 1. When you first wake up, write a page of whatever it is that is in your head.


• 2. I read a chapter in Proverbs or any other bible passages.


• 3.Close my eyes and let my pen move across the paper ( I try not to think about anything specific.)


• 4. I open my eyes and try to see what image or images I can find in my scribbles - just like when you find images in the clouds.


• 4. Take a sharpie and outline your images.


• For me, I am really pleased with the images I am finding.

• You can let these inspire some new artworks. 

•  I hope this helps some of you out there with creativity!

Risk;

                              Risk 

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. – T. S. Eliot"

In life we sometimes have to take risks. Starting a new business, applying for a new job, moving to another city, pursuing your dreams. Like the high dive act, you can feel as if you are diving head first into something you don't know much about. You may feel fear and uncertainty.  However,  if you take a calculated risk, it can teach you about yourself, allow you to conquer your fears, get new ideas, help you find out what you are really capable of if you take the chance.

This is part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series. Each piece of art work will be accompanied by a page with a "positive note" and quote just like the one above.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

Ringleader; Orchestrate your own Life

Ringleader

“We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.” Earl Nightingale

  Just like the ringleader, your run the show of your life by the decisions you make and what you allow and don't allow in your life. Don't let someone else or situations orchestrate your life by relinquishing control of the show to others or to life circumstances. 

This is part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series. Each piece of art work will be accompanied by a page with a "positive note" and quote just like the one above.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

Humor; Just laugh at Yourself

Humor:  Let's take a lesson from the circus clown. 

He or she does silly mistakes, she trips and falls, loses her things, gets chased by a dog, her pants rip, and she spills her water. The Clown knows how to laugh at herself when things are not going right. Sometimes we make a dumb mistakes or our day can seem very serious; stop and make a joke, make someone laugh,nmake yourself laugh.  

Life can seem to be too serious at times. 

Go ahead, clown around and see the humor in life. 

This is part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series. Each piece of art work will be accompanied by a page with a "positive note" and quote just like the one above.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

Be Fearless; Do it scared

“Fearless” is synonymous with courage. 

It is the ability to do something that you know is difficult. Fearless is like the aerial artist practicing and she slips or falls, but her fearlessness is what makes her get back up to do it again.When the aerial artist goes up to do her act, she may feel butterflies in her stomach, a little fear, a little anxiousness, but she goes through with her act anyway because she pushed thru those fears. If you have a dream you want to pursue and you have some fears, it’s absolutely normal. 

Be fearless and do it scared anyway.

 This is part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series. Each piece of art work will be accompanied by a page with a "positive note" and quote just like the one above.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

Be Flexible; Adapt

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.  ~Victor Frankl

The contortionist adapts so well in her tight spot becuase she is so flexible. Life is going to bring many changes and challenges.  By being flexible you have the ability to change yourself and methods when challenges come up. Lack of flexibility may result in you missing out in opportunities, events, and people that you could have enjoyed and helped you to grow to achieve your goals.

 This is part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series. Each piece of art work will be accompanied by a page with a "positive note" and quote just like the one above.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

Beauty

"Beauty  is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical." Sophia Loren.

 Beauty means something different to every person. What you think may be beautiful could be not so attractive to someone else. 

So embrace your features for what they are and not for what society has tried to make you think it should be.

 This is part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series. Each piece of art work will be accompanied by a page with a "positive note" and quote just like the one above.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

From broken to whole

As you know, I have been working on my book to give away to each female youth that leaves from our program. 
These girls are considered adults at 18 and move out on their own or go back to their families, another program, or back to their old environment. 
I wanted to give them something that continues to encourage them and motivate them even after they leave. Encourage them that they have the power and capabilities to become a teacher, business owner, nurse, MMA fighter, stay at home mom...many of these girls don't believe in themselves. It saddens me when you hear a girl think that all she thinks she can become is a "dancer" - Air quotes.
Or that she will be moving in with her "boyfriend" after she leaves the program. These girls need to believe that they can become more than what their environment is telling them that they can become.

As I was researching Circus characters I found this movie...It is so perfect. It is exactly what I imagine when I see some of these kids. It is only 20 minuets long but very encouraging.

                  The Butterfly Circus

Balance

Just like the high wire act, we need to have balance. You want to distribute your energies evenly and keep moving. Lean too far to one side or to the other and you can fall over. 

Balance is not always easy, especially in a life where we have to balance so many things; family, work, finances, our health. Take time every day to ask yourself, 

 "Am I leaning too far to one side or to the other?"

This is a part of the "Life is a Circus...Life Lessons from the Greatest Show on Earth" Series.

This will be part of a book that I am hoping to complete to give away to each female youth who leaves our emergency shelter.

Points of references and Strength

   

"We are like tea bags - we don't know our own strength 

            until we're in hot water."   Sister Busche

A few years ago, I had a fellow face painting friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was so nonchalant about it...

"Hey Margie, by the way I can't do this party next week, can you do it - because I'll be in the hospital for surgery. I have breast cancer." 

When she said that -  I was like, "Holy Crap...isn't that a big deal, aren't you upset, why are you working right now, why are you acting like you're going in for a massage? But she was all about business and behaved like this "breast cancer" wasn't going to mess with her face painting business or her life. 
After talking with her, I thought about how life can throw - cast - hurl - fling at us some crappy situations and the strength that we have to muster up to get through them - BUT it also made me think about  past negative circumstances and how I did make it through and how it made me stronger.
I didn't like it, it wasn't easy, but after my crappy situation passed - 

I was much stronger, smarter, better informed, and it gave me a point of reference for my future fights!  

When the next circumstance came around I already had the knowledge, 'If I made it through that, I can make through this." It literally gave me strength -  Mental strength to block out negativity, physical strength to push myself when I didn't feel like it, spiritual strength to believe that my faith is evidence of the things I hope for. 

"Point of Reference: an indicator that orients you generally; information or experience that you already have that helps you to understand or deal with a new  situation."  www.macmillandictionary.com

It was evident that my face painting friend had her "point of reference" that helped her be strong through this and she was able to handle her news with grace and not freak out. 

"Was there ever a time that was haard for you, but you were able to make it through becuase you had a point of reference to help put your situation in perspective?"

Comment Below

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in honor to these women who have been through so much I painted a new painting called "Strength" and I re-painted the watercolor version I did last year. 
Prints of both of these are available for sale on my website and the originals will be available at The Gallery on The Edge. 
Part of the proceeds from these artworks will go to Scooters4Hooters.

Progress Photos of "Sing"

I just finished a large piece last night called, "Sing." I personally really like this one. I love Green! I once painted my work area "center stage green" and black and white. It was beautiful....anyway.....

Well, I wanted to show you my progress pics from this "Sing". I couldn't decide what colors I wanted so I posted a quick sketch on line and asked everyone to vote on which combination was better. It was fun letting my Facebook friends decide. Then I started the painting at the Gallery On the Edge one night. From there I was working on it here and there for a couple of weeks. I got stuck when I started procrastinating on the lettering. I finally moved past it with the help of my husband and daughter who helped me pick a nice font. Now it is for sale on my web store.

Enjoy the pics!!!!

TA DAaaa!!!!

Breast cancer and New Art

Hello,

As most of you know, I have some of my artwork for sale at Artistree in College park in Orlando. Well, Artistree in the past years has always donated items for Scooters for Hooters' auction. Their event is coming up on March 23. here is their link for those who are note familiar with with this organization.

Scooters 4 Hooters.

I also wanted to share with you the work I was going to donate for the auction. I went through different ideas, when I finally settled on this one. I wanted to show how beautiful these women are even after all they have been through, especially the short hair. I felt I couldn't really capture all they are and feel with just a drawing so I added the words around her - like the "glow" around graffiti art. I hope you enjoy and I'll have this one available in print on my website soon.

Update and Art Show

I know I have disappeared for a while - I have been working on... 
1st- Myself.
2nd- Preparing for an art show.
I turned 40 last year in March and I had some goals set for this year. 
At first, I did really well, exercised, ate well, worked on not complaining, did some art work...but then my job went crazy and it sucked up every second of my life, I was not managing my stress, and the eating went down the drain - I almost quit my job.
It wasn't all bad because I was forced to look at my life and how I didn't put myself first and really start to work on my thoughts. 
It has been about 3 months and with consistency, making some changes, taking time everyday to at least take 15 - 30 minutes to myself, some yoga, journaling  and Breathing....I have been able to clear my head and mentally prepare myself to work on getting ready for an art show.
So My FIRST art show will be February 16 & 17 at the Art Expo in Altamonte Springs, Fl.
I have several pieces (they are on my website for sale) that will be in the show and also - during Christmas I made the cutest little box for my niece. 
My husband liked it so -  he suggested that I sell those too.
Hopefully, this year I will be able to add a web page on my site where I can make these for gifts. 
So far I have 4 that I made and I get new ideas everyday for another one. 
I'll post the pictures of my box - I added music "Fur Elise" to it

Below is a picture of my niece's box....

My Artwork "Ballerina Dreams" on top.

Her personality!

Personalized

Progress Pics of "Vulnerable"

Sometimes people are curious to see the progress photos of art work... so here are some pics of my latest work called "Vulnerable."

I called it "Vulnerable" because when you are an artist and you begin to put your art for the world to see I feel like...

I am letting myself be vulnerable, putting my heart out there. 

Vulnerable to whatever, people's opinions, criticism, and if you  know me - you know I hate that ;)

I mean my art can be very personal sometimes, letting people know what I am feeling or what I like.

I wonder do other artists feel this way? 

Here are my progress photos.

I started out sketching it, she originally was going to have a "Skull Candy" like face, but then I changed my mind.

This one was the final sketch in pencil. I forgot to get a picture of the inking part. I usde pen and ink to draw the outlines.

Here I started the watercolors. 

Here are some shots of the finished drawing/painting.

Hope you like.

Stories about the boys pt 1

Thanks for all the nice comments and emails regarding my last post!

Since now you know why I am taking selling my art a little more serious, I thought I would share some of the stories of some of the boys who have lived with us or live with us. 
Due to confidentiality, I can't say any names.

We had one boy who would thank me and be so happy after we made him dinner and when we would go grocery shopping- Yes, this is true, a huge thank you for food.

I guess he really took care of himself and his little sister and rarely had someone cook for him. So whenever we had a family meal, he would be so thankful.

Yeah, this kid wasn't perfect, he lied a lot - (because he liked to smoke cigarettes and do drugs when he got stressed out about the tiniest little thing and of course you can't do that in our house) but he was always genuinely thankful for anything we bought him (clothes, candy, a movie, a nice pen). 

His thankfulness was a great help to to me to see past his behaviors. He lived with us for about 1 1/2 years.

Don't get me wrong - these boys want to make me pull my hair out when they call me every 5 minutes and ask me the same question 100 times, but my prayer everyday is "God, please I pray we made some kind of difference."

First art work for sale - "Pulled in Many Different Ways"