Transformation

My art transformed from a caterpillar to a butterfly when I picked up a pair of scissors and began to cut!

My story began with my sons first grade project an author illustrator study of Eric Carle.

He and I had such fun creating paintings and using a collage approach to make books and posters. Soon after I started teaching and for the next 25 years I taught this very theme. The joy it brought to the children’s faces as their characters came to life from a pile of colorful art cut into patterns.

My cousin…my best friend died suddenly in her sleep; through the pain I cried , I prayed and I asked why?

In deep pray a picture came to my minds eye of Amy! A protective Lion, waves of the ocean overcoming her and tiny purple blue butterflies fluttered around her and in and out of the waves. I saw the Lion step in the water and the waves rose the butterflies were pulled toward the water dappening their wings weighing down their flight. They came to rest in the safety of the lions mane. There they had peace and protection and gained strength to fly once more.

God assured me in more ways than one that Amy was not dead but transformed !

My art had taken a backseat to my family and teaching career for so many years! Put this image of Amy churned in my heart so I began to draw.

One I had never done a portrait before and two I wasn’t sure where to start.

Each time I gazed upon my drawing it fell short then I did what was so natural to me, in teaching about Eric Carle’s illustrations, I picked up a pair of scissors and began to cut.

The picture gained depth and I could feel the waves… turbulence of life …in it!

A short while later I traveled to Kenya and the people I met so touch my heart.

Victoria a young girl from the center/orphanage that I visited gave me a braided bracelet of her making and poured herself into my arms with tears streaming down her face. Despite her difficult background she had the faith of an Angel.

Ivy another adopted me off sorts. She was always by my side making me comfortable! Such strength in one so young.

I returned home but part of my heart will always be there!

I created an image of the National bird of Kenya- Lilac Breasted Rolling bird.

It began as a drawing but next thing I knew it became an interweaving of cut paper in intricate patterns to create feathers. This bird evolved overtime and had a variety of looks and as I cut off a piece and added a new piece of paper to the back depth began to unfold. I captured Renditions of the many phases of the bird image named”God’s Handiwork “.

This piece would have found its way to Victoria in Kenya if was not for Covid striking.

Mail restrictions lifted but in the meantime the Kenyan law had change on Centers like the one where Victoria and Ivy lived and they were being reunited with found caregivers.

My dream is that the art that I create will be an avenue for me to contribute to the building of boarding schools in Kenya. Victoria and Ivy could return to the school. Harvest Blessings Center the group who sponsors the Center and a private school would also be responsible for the new boarding schools some of the children from the center who attended HBC day school simply live to far away to attend now.

One day I decided to take a few more pictures of of the bird when I discover an app that creates special effects.

I printed those pictures and cut images, shapes, and feathers out of them to use in my next piece named, Praying for all to Seek God”. An Angel dedicated to Ivy!

The most recent art I created is called “Refuge”! The background for this piece is a picture of the Angel and the feathers were cut from the images of the bird.

My cutting materials doesn’t end with paper and photos alone but also with fabric, yarn and other materials.

As each of us humans are connected one to the other….in birth, in death and in daily life!

So is my art!