Fun & Encouragement putting a bird on it

We had great fun painting in the Bird, Egg, Nest class yesterday evening. Half of the participants hadn't painted a bird before and their birds turned out great! I love that. We all put birds on it! I should've taken photos. Here is my demo, a sparrow I took a photo of a number of years ago.

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? 

Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Don’t be afraid; 

you are worth more than many sparrows."

Luke 12:6-7 NIV

How I "Put a Bird on It!"

Okay, I just saw the YouTube clip of the second Portlandia show with the "Put a bird on it." My new friend Liz who is taking my "Bird, Egg, Nest" class sent it to me. I laughed my head off. Then I looked around my house and studio. I grew up in Portland and now live in Hillsboro, a suburb of Portland. You can imagine how surprising it was to find I've been putting birds on things for years and didn't realize it until now. Even though the theme of this blog is visual blessings (I realized my last post has a bird on it), there is something to be said for laughter and not taking yourself so seriously.  Also, just last week I got attacked by a bird while shopping in the Fred Meyer garden center. I was innocently checking out the herbs when unbeknownst to me a blackbird flew at the back of my head and began pecking. I started screaming and flailing my arms (wouldn't you?). It came at me three times. No more outside Fred Meyer garden center shopping for this gal. In that spirit, and my love for the idea of birds, I have posted the Portlandia video and then a brief photographic tour of the birds I found on things around my house.

Here are some photos from our back yard:

From the studio:

 This used to be a "sad little tote bag" but not any more :)

"We can see a thousand miracles around us every day. 

What is more supernatural than an egg yolk turning into a chicken?

- S. Parkes Cadman

From the house:

copyright Valerie Sjodin 2011

I want to be a Visionary

"Visionary" copyright Valerie Sjodin 2011

    I've been wanting to combine the various ways I paint for some time now. During the past year and a half I have been making more visual journals instead of paintings. I've loved it as it allows me to explore all sorts of themes, text, and mixed media in a smaller, low-risk way. But I've also missed working on paintings. In addition, a number of people close to me have been encouraging me to paint people again. I used to draw and paint people back when the girls were young children, but then I went back to college, and for about a decade now, I've been focusing on symbolism, cosmic paintings, and exploring mixed media. Now I want to pull it all together. This is my first piece of what I hope to be a series of works, somewhat autobiographical, combining the themes and techniques I've worked with over the years. 

    My daughter was the model for the the young woman. "Be Thou My Vision" is one of my favorite hymns and reflects my desire. The olive branch, dove-like bird, heart are all universal symbols. The swirl or spiral is a personal favorite. The trinity symbol is my favorite symbol of God and this one is taken from an illustration I made for a book written by Imago Dei Ministries. I am drawn to the beauty, nature, and mystery of Celtic art and Christianity. Text and lettering have been important to me since I was a teenager. The writing in the background of the circle was taken from one of my note journals.

"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible."

- Jonathan Swift

What the Woman at the Well left

   In March, during the time I was working on the woman at the well journal, my friend Mary George-Whittle asked Keith and I to come to church with her and Bill. She was giving the homily that day on the woman at the well. I love when things like that happen. God just keeps on giving and sharing to and through people. Mary pointed out something I hadn't thought of even though I had already made the image shown above. She told of the significance of the woman leaving her water jar at the well as she excitedly went to tell her neighbors about Jesus. Mary said, she left "behind that which has troubled her - her sinful life - she has discovered living water - she feels clean for she was forgiven of her sins -she truly experienced the well of God's grace and she goes and proclaims what she has heard and experienced. The Samaritan woman's spirit is enlightened, refreshed and illuminated by Jesus -"

   What am I leaving behind? Even though I have been a believer for many years, I've still needed to leave things I'd been hanging onto: my ideas of how my life should go, what I learned in art school about being a working artist, expectations of others, the remnants of fear... I am beginning to experience afresh Jesus, He is meeting me where I'm at, speaking to my heart, through people, through Scripture, through the new birth of springtime, and through the most loving amazing sacrifice of himself and the resurrection power of God. A humbling mystery. I feel more open than empty, wanting more of Him, His heart, His mind, His boldness.

  As I was reading this week I was struck by a Scripture that so aptly reflects what I am experiencing with God and His people. My dear artist friend Anneli Anderson www.studioanneli.com in her book of worship paintings quotes: 

Romans 8:15-17 in the Message

"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. 

It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with childlike "What's next, Papa?" 

God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. 

We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. 

And we know we are going to get what's coming to us - an unbelievable inheritance! 

We go through exactly what Christ goes through. 

If we go through the hard times with him, 

then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!"

I have no idea where this journey will lead, but I know I do not go alone, and I know my destination. 

May God bless you this day with his peace and a sense of his loving presence.

New Vision: Christ at the Center

   Yesterday I was reminded to focus on Jesus and how God loves us. In the sermon, Tom said, "Don't get distracted by doing things for God or like God. Let God touch you and let Him lead. It's not about what you're going through, but what you're going to do." That hit home for me. I'm usually trying to figure out what to do next, wrestling with what to do with my art, how to serve the Lord etc… Later, two women prayed for me, speaking God's words to my heart and mind, a new path, a new way. An easier way really: me letting go of of trying to make things work, and waiting and letting God touch me and lead me. Where will it lead? I have no idea, except I know it leads to Christ, more of Him. He must be my center. I must trust Him. I want to trust Him because more and more I'm experiencing God's loves, and I know He loves you too!

   This blessing, I gave quite awhile ago. This is one side of it. I think it reflects what I am going through now: longing, believing for new vision, Christ at the center, within reach and beyond my expectations, alive with resurrection power and living with us. 

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, 

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird…"

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: 

It would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. 

We are like eggs at present. 

And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. 

We must be hatched or go bad.”                                                                                                

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

Symbolism of the Egg…

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

“The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell.”

            Zora Neale Hurston (American folklorist & writer, 1903-1960)

   The birds are building nests, laying eggs, enthusiastic for life itself. I marvel and am filled with wonder. The egg itself, like the seed, is a symbol of the potential of life. Back in ancient times the egg was a symbol of the universe, of creation, and in some cultures, luck wealth, and health. In Jewish tradition it symbolizes promise. In Christian tradition it is a metaphor for resurrection, immortality, and the trinity. To all it symbolizes birth, I see the egg as a symbol of hope of growth and new life. 

   These paintings of eggs and feathers are from the "Bird, Egg, Nest" workshop I teach. It's so much fun to teach that class because the skills are applicable to so much. Painting an egg is similar to a human head. The feather uses particular linear painting strokes to achieve the "feathery" look, the nest is layered, and builds up texture, and painting the bird relates to painting any object. 

Valerie Sjodin Copyright 2011

   

Birds Calling in a New Season

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

ink lettering, acrylics & open acrylics

  The birds are aflutter with building nests, claiming territory, looking for a place to roost and feed. I love to watch them. This morning, while drinking my morning brew, a robin as large as a squash filled with eggs, hopped along the fence while its mate brought in big clumps of nesting material into the evergreen in the back yard. Juncos, finches, sparrows and hummingbirds, all calling in a new season.

   In the Pacific Northwest springtime weather brings wild fluctuations. It can be stormy and hailing one minute and sparkling sunshine with rainbows the next. I feel like that on the inside; stormy filled with angst and wondering what am I going to do, and then grateful, appreciating the beauty and kindness of God and others. 
   I find myself coming back to the theme of birds, eggs, nest that for me symbolize a number of things: new life, flight, home, hope, birth etc. Also, since my "Bird, Egg, Nest" workshop series is coming right up and I'm focusing on the theme, I will revisit and post new inspiration brought by our feathered friends.
  This triptych painting is one of the most meaningful to me. It has a back story that encourages me to this day and reminds me of God's tender care for us. I use it as the banner for my other blog. I admit I don't post on that site often, but if you would like to read it you can find it as the very first post (Faith-Hope-Love, October 20, 2010) of http://thestorybehindtheart.blogspot.com/ 

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2010

Citrasolv transfer & Watermixable Oils


Psalm 84:3 NLT
"Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and
raises her young at a place near your altar,
O LORD of Heaven's Armies,
my King and my God!"

Another season of change

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

At times I flounder about what I should be doing now. The school I taught at closed almost two years ago. Since then, I needed some time for restoration. I want to hear God, but I get in the way sometimes. I want to see results, have that sense of accomplishment. It has been a time of letting go, of being rather than doing, dealing with disappointment, turning 50 and knowing life is short. Living life in the present, being present, resting in God's presence. That is what I need. I came across this prayer in the Celtic Daily Prayer book that reflects the longing of my heart right now, and put it in my visual prayer journal.

This is another season of change: our daughter and son-in-law moved to Kenya last week in hopes of starting a fish farm business (Ushindi Foods) and bringing protein to orphaned children. We visited our son and grandsons who live in another state last week, loving, wanting to encourage and help around the house. Our youngest is finishing college soon and love is in the air. Where did the time go? So fast. Here is the visual blessing I sent them off with:

Valerie Sjodin copyright 2011

We are the Woman at the Well

copyright Valerie Sjodin 2011

    I love this story (John 4 in the Holy Bible). It always speaks to me, reminding me of God's love for each one of us and how He seeks us out, right where we're at.

    This page was actually my first page, but I forgot to put it at the beginning of the Woman at the Well series I posted. But I suppose it also fits here too because the Lord is drawing me closer and wants to be close to us all the time. 

     I painted over the original background because I didn't like it and then painted a plastic doilie with gold paint and pressed it onto the "sun" part of the page. I made a stencil of a woman carrying water and traced it onto a shaving cream painted paper. After I glued the figure onto the page I outlined it with gold and black pens. Then I coated the whole page with matte medium. After drawing the letters with chalk I used a black Pitt pen to outline the letters and added paint to the inside and border.

We are the Woman at the Well part 8

copyright Valerie Sjodin 2011

My Prayer based on Ephesians 3:15-20 NLT

"O Gracious God,

Creator of everything in heaven and on earth,

I pray that from your glorious, unlimited resources You will give me

mighty inner strength through Your Holy Spirit.

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in my heart as I learn to trust You more.

May I truly know and grow into Your marvelous love.

And may I have the power to understand how long, how high, 

and how deep Your love really is.

May I experience the love of Christ,

even though I will never fully understand it.

Then I will be filled with the fullness of life and power

 that comes from You God.

Now to you O God, be all glory!

By Your mighty power at work within me You are able to accomplish

infinitely more that I even dare ask or hope.

Amen."

We are the Woman at the Well…part 7

copyright Valerie Sjodin 2011

"Why did Christ call the grace of the Spirit water?

 Because by water all things subsist; because water brings forth grass and living things; 

because the water of the showers comes down from heaven… 

because it comes down in one form but works in many forms… 

It becomes white in the lily, red in the rose, 

purple in the violets and hyacinths, 

different and varied in each species. 

It is one thing in a palm tree, 

yet another in a vine, and yet in all things."

~ Cyril of Alexandria

    I began this page with a few watery strokes of blue & turquoise Golden fluid acrylics dragged across the  top and spraying it with a spray bottle, and tilting it up to dry in drips down the page. Then I applied Citrasolv transfers of the palm, rose and violets. I thought the look clashed a bit too much with my other pages in the journal, so I loosely outlined the plants with a Faber Castell Pitt pen. Then I painted the lower background and plants with fluid acrylics. The top pattern was done by making a gel transfer from a painted shaving cream paper by putting four or more coats o gloss gel medium on top, letting it dry between coats, getting it wet, rubbing of the back paper, and then gluing it onto the page. Because the paper is just the craft paper in a roll, it was pretty fragile, but I like how the transparency looks.