Sandy Steen Bartholomew's Blog, page 17
October 8, 2014
Open Studio This Saturday
Saturday and Sunday are the annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival days here in Warner, NH. Pretty leaves to peep at, rides, fried dough, all that good stuff plus crafts, dance performances, parades...
The BeeHive will be having an Open Studio on Saturday from 11-3 (or whenever we feel like it). ;-) And if the weather is nice, we'll be outside creating a new mural on the side of the building.
These are pics of the previous mural created at the Spring Into Warner Arts Festival (2013).
We had so much fun creating it. But now the space has been sanded and painted and it is waiting for a NEW mural!
Jacque will be selling her beautiful crocheted accessories outside. We will be having a Sale inside the studio and maybe Bonnie will do a demo too.
I hope you will come by and visit!
But wait... that's not all...
If you can't make it or are just too far away - you can still be a part of the process. We need contributions, donations... tips... whatever you'd like to call them... to help pay for the construction, upkeep and materials for our community art mural.
There is a PayPal button below with three choices for donations. (You can also do multiples if you'd like to contribute more.)
For a donation of $5 - we will think happy thoughts for you and smile whenever we say your name.
For a donation of $25 - we will draw an object (or creature or tangle) of your choice into the mural. (Be sure to put your choice into the special note box in the shopping cart)
For a donation of $50 - we will draw your name (or someone else's) into the mural. (Be sure to put your choice into the special note box in the shopping cart)
Please note that you will not receive any material object in exchange for your contribution.
I will post photos of the mural though when it is finished and you can see how money really does buy Happiness!
Lilah Bean taking photos of the mural!
Donations for the Mural Happy Thoughts... $5.00 USD Draw this... $25.00 USD Add my name... $50.00 USD
And THANK YOU!
(See, there's a free Happy Thought for you!)
The BeeHive will be having an Open Studio on Saturday from 11-3 (or whenever we feel like it). ;-) And if the weather is nice, we'll be outside creating a new mural on the side of the building.
These are pics of the previous mural created at the Spring Into Warner Arts Festival (2013).
We had so much fun creating it. But now the space has been sanded and painted and it is waiting for a NEW mural!
Jacque will be selling her beautiful crocheted accessories outside. We will be having a Sale inside the studio and maybe Bonnie will do a demo too.
I hope you will come by and visit!
But wait... that's not all...
If you can't make it or are just too far away - you can still be a part of the process. We need contributions, donations... tips... whatever you'd like to call them... to help pay for the construction, upkeep and materials for our community art mural.
There is a PayPal button below with three choices for donations. (You can also do multiples if you'd like to contribute more.)
For a donation of $5 - we will think happy thoughts for you and smile whenever we say your name.
For a donation of $25 - we will draw an object (or creature or tangle) of your choice into the mural. (Be sure to put your choice into the special note box in the shopping cart)
For a donation of $50 - we will draw your name (or someone else's) into the mural. (Be sure to put your choice into the special note box in the shopping cart)
Please note that you will not receive any material object in exchange for your contribution.
I will post photos of the mural though when it is finished and you can see how money really does buy Happiness!
Lilah Bean taking photos of the mural!Donations for the Mural Happy Thoughts... $5.00 USD Draw this... $25.00 USD Add my name... $50.00 USD
And THANK YOU!
(See, there's a free Happy Thought for you!)
October 6, 2014
September Journal Pages
Moving right along! Here are my pages for September for the Journal52 challenge.
Week 35 - Making Time
Sometimes the timing of the prompts seems kind of creepy ... I am struggling with a particular issue and - BAM - THAT is the very topic of the week's prompt. I have a lot of theories and questions about Time, but I was having trouble thinking of what to do for this journal page. Then one night, Lilah and I were reading Harry Potter. When Dumbledore says this line - I got so excited! Exactly what I needed! A time turner! So I snitched the book from Lilah's room and used the illustration of the time turner as my inspiration. I drew it a bit more steam-punked and then drew in the text. Everything is drawn with a Papermate ballpoint pen.
Art © Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 36 - Texture
Maybe it is obvious - I like to draw. But sometimes I push myself to solve the assignment as it was intended. I could have done a drawing of "texture" but seemed only fair to play with real textures...
I took an old drawing from my sketchbook (done in gouache and pencil) and smeared over it all the different texture pastes I had on the shelf, through brass stencils. I used gold mica paint, modeling paste, and pumice paste. I could have done more, probably, but... eh. I keep wanting to go back to the original drawing and work more on that!
Art © Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 37 - Newspaper
This was fun. I had no idea where it was heading... and I have no idea where I ended up! I just started drawing on a classified page - inspired by the words and photos - then painted around stuff. I guess I could have gone either way - drawing a "Hungry Buffalo" OR an "Ugly Bathtub". Ok, I whimped out - I couldn't think of what a buffalo looked like - off the top of my head. "Ugly Bathtub"? That creature I know very well! (I do wonder what exactly the dad is pointing at?)
I used a NoBlot pencil for the drawing and gesso (on newspaper). NoBlot is magic - like Inktense pencil. It writes/draws like a regular graphite pencil, but when wet, it turns blue and becomes permanent. I think it was developed for accountants/bookkeepers. In this case, the pencil was activated by the gesso.
Art © Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 38 - Rhyme Time
I started out thinking I'd do a Dr. Seuss quote. Then realized, I've done a bunch of Seuss quotes already. This one by Bob Dylan struck a chord. ;-) This was a cast-off Gelli print - I probably cleaned the brayer and thought it looked pretty. I never would have intentionally picked these colors to use together. I really like them!
I should have mounted it to a thicker paper first...the very thin paper got a bit wrinkly. The Gelli print was done with acrylic paints. The words and embellishments are paint pens and Bob Dylan.
Art © Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 35 - Making Time
Sometimes the timing of the prompts seems kind of creepy ... I am struggling with a particular issue and - BAM - THAT is the very topic of the week's prompt. I have a lot of theories and questions about Time, but I was having trouble thinking of what to do for this journal page. Then one night, Lilah and I were reading Harry Potter. When Dumbledore says this line - I got so excited! Exactly what I needed! A time turner! So I snitched the book from Lilah's room and used the illustration of the time turner as my inspiration. I drew it a bit more steam-punked and then drew in the text. Everything is drawn with a Papermate ballpoint pen.
Art © Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 36 - Texture
Maybe it is obvious - I like to draw. But sometimes I push myself to solve the assignment as it was intended. I could have done a drawing of "texture" but seemed only fair to play with real textures...
I took an old drawing from my sketchbook (done in gouache and pencil) and smeared over it all the different texture pastes I had on the shelf, through brass stencils. I used gold mica paint, modeling paste, and pumice paste. I could have done more, probably, but... eh. I keep wanting to go back to the original drawing and work more on that!
Art © Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 37 - Newspaper
This was fun. I had no idea where it was heading... and I have no idea where I ended up! I just started drawing on a classified page - inspired by the words and photos - then painted around stuff. I guess I could have gone either way - drawing a "Hungry Buffalo" OR an "Ugly Bathtub". Ok, I whimped out - I couldn't think of what a buffalo looked like - off the top of my head. "Ugly Bathtub"? That creature I know very well! (I do wonder what exactly the dad is pointing at?)
I used a NoBlot pencil for the drawing and gesso (on newspaper). NoBlot is magic - like Inktense pencil. It writes/draws like a regular graphite pencil, but when wet, it turns blue and becomes permanent. I think it was developed for accountants/bookkeepers. In this case, the pencil was activated by the gesso.
Art © Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 38 - Rhyme Time
I started out thinking I'd do a Dr. Seuss quote. Then realized, I've done a bunch of Seuss quotes already. This one by Bob Dylan struck a chord. ;-) This was a cast-off Gelli print - I probably cleaned the brayer and thought it looked pretty. I never would have intentionally picked these colors to use together. I really like them!
I should have mounted it to a thicker paper first...the very thin paper got a bit wrinkly. The Gelli print was done with acrylic paints. The words and embellishments are paint pens and Bob Dylan.
Art © Sandy Steen Bartholomew
September 22, 2014
Birthday Wrap-Up
Sigh. I admit I really enjoyed being, mostly, tech-free for a few days. I've been re-integrating into the real world... the mainland... for a few days now and the island retreat already feels like a dream. Maybe doing this catch-up post will help to make sure it stays fresh in my memory.
Lori (our leader) gave me a quote and some chalk markers and let me draw on the Board!
Aaaah.... the beach was only two blocks from the cottage. Well, we WERE on an island, so there was probably some kind of beach in any direction...
One day was so perfect - sunny and warm - I lay on the sand, writing in my journal. Then, I got distracted by all the beautiful stones (OMG, I love stones).
The stones formed themselves into a spiral and then came right out of the notebook!
Cool.
I could have stayed on the beach all day. But as always happens, my super pale skin started to feel crunchy... and I had to pee.
One evening, we took the nightly wine and cheese party down to the beach and watched the sun set.
I walked downtown every day and wandered through the cool shops...
...and drooled at the amazing colors and woodwork on the cottages.
Another day, we took a field trip to the other side of the island. Edgartown is like a different planet from Oaks Bluff! Like Martha Stewart and Mary Engelbreit - one is all perfect white Captain's mini-mansions with stores selling crazy expensive clothing - and the other is all multi-colored, frosted, tiny Victorian cottages with towers and balconies and shops selling chai lattes and sea glass jewelry. Crazy expensive clothing? Yes, for example, I found myself petting the softest sweatshirt ever. An ordinary gray hoody with hand warmer pockets. But REALLY-REALLY soft. Oooo, I want that - but the tag told me it was a $400 cashmere hoodie. Drat. But, seriously. WHO buys a $400 cashmere sweatshirt?!
And in between field trips, I drew journal pages...
This one shows the contents of the goodie bag that was on my bed. (I did finally open it!) Mismatched colorful socks, cool pen, mug, set of Staedtler fine tipped colored pens, cute post-its, and most importantly, CHOCOLATES!
This one is about thinking. Thoughts Ghosts...
A metaphor for how I have spent this past year. It's a lot of work to clean up a messy spill. It seeps into everything and you can't exactly fly...
I bought a Mr. Sogs bumblebee doll at the craft shop and drew my customized version of him - I want to turn him into a Bumblebat. I love the way the ghost page is "ghosting" through here!
I was so excited to discover a tiny photo printer, like the Polaroid Pogo that I used to take on trips with me, but one that works with my iPhone! It's an LG printer and I had to order it from Korea or somewhere, but it uses the same Zink ink technology as the Pogo, so I can use up my huge stash of paper.
This one can be thought about two different ways... the stories we tell ourselves, that we need to rewrite in order to move on... and also - the stories that I can use to create books.
And, when lying near an ocean, most of the silly things I worry about - seem SO unimportant!
Oh - and that page above was done using the lovely pens from our goodie bags!
And then I have a random page of tags!
Oh yeh - and I did a lot of work too! I spread out all over the dining table, or across the two beds in my room, and wrote out notes on index cards for all the different projects I could think of and added notes from a bunch of sketchbooks and journals...
About 80 index cards!
I discovered - I have a lot of ideas!! And a ton of book ideas. I also started blocking out text and thumbnails for a kids' book I am working on with my daughter.
And then it was time to go home. We were all sad to be leaving.
This heart was on the steps outside.
Onto the ferry...
And then the island disappeared on the horizon.
I'm already thinking that I need to go back next year. If you are also intrigued by this retreat, it was called "If I Just Had Some Time" and this was our colorful, joyful leader, Lori Stone.
In her real life, Lori does web site SEO and content management stuff that helps to keep her left and right brain balanced.
Meanwhile... back in my regularly scheduled life...
I had a great end-of-Birthday-week-Weekend. And Sunday was pure Nirvana. (Is that a paradox or oxymoron or something?) Alex went off to NYC to march with other HS kids to save the environment. And I was very proud of him. Lilah and I went to church, then to Gould Hill Orchard for cider, an apple pie, maple sugar candies, AND a couple of pumpkin whoopie pies. No, we didn't eat them all at once!
At home, we changed back into comfy clothes (pjs!) and started a Lego building frenzy.
Then Bonnie, my Main Minion, stopped by with another, even better, more juicey, cinnamony apple pie! And she found herself wishing she'd brought her glasses so she could build with us.
My mom posted us on Facebook...
The Lego Grand Emporium has three floors, so we still have a lot of work ahead of us. But we built the escalator and display cases and revolving door... the whole first floor. There's even a Lego guy trying on pants in the dressing room!
I can't think of anything that I love that I didn't get to do this week!
Lori (our leader) gave me a quote and some chalk markers and let me draw on the Board!
Aaaah.... the beach was only two blocks from the cottage. Well, we WERE on an island, so there was probably some kind of beach in any direction...
One day was so perfect - sunny and warm - I lay on the sand, writing in my journal. Then, I got distracted by all the beautiful stones (OMG, I love stones).
The stones formed themselves into a spiral and then came right out of the notebook!
Cool.
I could have stayed on the beach all day. But as always happens, my super pale skin started to feel crunchy... and I had to pee.
One evening, we took the nightly wine and cheese party down to the beach and watched the sun set.
I walked downtown every day and wandered through the cool shops...
...and drooled at the amazing colors and woodwork on the cottages.
Another day, we took a field trip to the other side of the island. Edgartown is like a different planet from Oaks Bluff! Like Martha Stewart and Mary Engelbreit - one is all perfect white Captain's mini-mansions with stores selling crazy expensive clothing - and the other is all multi-colored, frosted, tiny Victorian cottages with towers and balconies and shops selling chai lattes and sea glass jewelry. Crazy expensive clothing? Yes, for example, I found myself petting the softest sweatshirt ever. An ordinary gray hoody with hand warmer pockets. But REALLY-REALLY soft. Oooo, I want that - but the tag told me it was a $400 cashmere hoodie. Drat. But, seriously. WHO buys a $400 cashmere sweatshirt?!
And in between field trips, I drew journal pages...
This one shows the contents of the goodie bag that was on my bed. (I did finally open it!) Mismatched colorful socks, cool pen, mug, set of Staedtler fine tipped colored pens, cute post-its, and most importantly, CHOCOLATES!
This one is about thinking. Thoughts Ghosts...
A metaphor for how I have spent this past year. It's a lot of work to clean up a messy spill. It seeps into everything and you can't exactly fly...
I bought a Mr. Sogs bumblebee doll at the craft shop and drew my customized version of him - I want to turn him into a Bumblebat. I love the way the ghost page is "ghosting" through here!
I was so excited to discover a tiny photo printer, like the Polaroid Pogo that I used to take on trips with me, but one that works with my iPhone! It's an LG printer and I had to order it from Korea or somewhere, but it uses the same Zink ink technology as the Pogo, so I can use up my huge stash of paper.
This one can be thought about two different ways... the stories we tell ourselves, that we need to rewrite in order to move on... and also - the stories that I can use to create books.
And, when lying near an ocean, most of the silly things I worry about - seem SO unimportant!
Oh - and that page above was done using the lovely pens from our goodie bags!
And then I have a random page of tags!
Oh yeh - and I did a lot of work too! I spread out all over the dining table, or across the two beds in my room, and wrote out notes on index cards for all the different projects I could think of and added notes from a bunch of sketchbooks and journals...
About 80 index cards!
I discovered - I have a lot of ideas!! And a ton of book ideas. I also started blocking out text and thumbnails for a kids' book I am working on with my daughter.
And then it was time to go home. We were all sad to be leaving.
This heart was on the steps outside.
Onto the ferry...
And then the island disappeared on the horizon.
I'm already thinking that I need to go back next year. If you are also intrigued by this retreat, it was called "If I Just Had Some Time" and this was our colorful, joyful leader, Lori Stone.
In her real life, Lori does web site SEO and content management stuff that helps to keep her left and right brain balanced.
Meanwhile... back in my regularly scheduled life...
I had a great end-of-Birthday-week-Weekend. And Sunday was pure Nirvana. (Is that a paradox or oxymoron or something?) Alex went off to NYC to march with other HS kids to save the environment. And I was very proud of him. Lilah and I went to church, then to Gould Hill Orchard for cider, an apple pie, maple sugar candies, AND a couple of pumpkin whoopie pies. No, we didn't eat them all at once!
At home, we changed back into comfy clothes (pjs!) and started a Lego building frenzy.
Then Bonnie, my Main Minion, stopped by with another, even better, more juicey, cinnamony apple pie! And she found herself wishing she'd brought her glasses so she could build with us.
My mom posted us on Facebook...
The Lego Grand Emporium has three floors, so we still have a lot of work ahead of us. But we built the escalator and display cases and revolving door... the whole first floor. There's even a Lego guy trying on pants in the dressing room!
I can't think of anything that I love that I didn't get to do this week!
September 16, 2014
Birthday Retreat
The ferry ride over to Martha's Vineyard was very relaxing after the stressful drive. And the cloud formations were entertaining. I saw a snail in that bottom section and it made me think- I should work on the Grumpy Snail project!
The house for the retreat is adorable! Each room has it's own charm. And there were little gifts for each of us. I haven't opened mine yet. I'll do it soon... But this was the only wrapped gift I got for my birthday! I'm savoring it.
The town is full of tiny cottages with amazing details like shaped windows and towers and little balconies. And lots of churches. I've never seen a Catholic Church with clapboards!
It's a good thing that tourist season is over and it is safe to stop and stare. I felt I was being watched and looked up...
I WAS being watched!
So now the retreat starts - the work begins! The ladies are an amazing bunch and I am so excited to think of what we may accomplish this week.
I will try to post again later this week, but I am supposed to try to stay off the electronics. So if you don't hear from me, that's a GOOD thing! ;-)
The house for the retreat is adorable! Each room has it's own charm. And there were little gifts for each of us. I haven't opened mine yet. I'll do it soon... But this was the only wrapped gift I got for my birthday! I'm savoring it.
The town is full of tiny cottages with amazing details like shaped windows and towers and little balconies. And lots of churches. I've never seen a Catholic Church with clapboards!
It's a good thing that tourist season is over and it is safe to stop and stare. I felt I was being watched and looked up...
I WAS being watched!
So now the retreat starts - the work begins! The ladies are an amazing bunch and I am so excited to think of what we may accomplish this week.
I will try to post again later this week, but I am supposed to try to stay off the electronics. So if you don't hear from me, that's a GOOD thing! ;-)
Birthday Week Starts
It technically started on Sunday... The kids came with me and my mom to church... then we went to see the movie "The 100 Foot Journey" which made us really hungry... So we went for sushi... Where Lilah told them it was my birthday... And they brought me ice cream with a candle in it while singing and banging on a gong... And then we returned home and crashed on the couch... Exhausted, but happy.
Birthday Day Two was the Real Birthday. But I spent most of it driving in stressful traffic (past Boston) to Falmouth on the Cape. After falling asleep at the hotel, I woke to a grumbling tummy and dragged myself all the way across the street to The Raw Bar for dinner.
Birthday Dinner: huge... HUGE... Lobstah Salad, Clam Chowdah, and Skinny Piña Colada. Oh-yum.
The view.
Later, I decided I really needed a cupcake to make it a real birthday. So I dragged myself back into the car and headed to Starbucks where I found a pumpkin cream cheese pistachio muffin! Good enough!
Jacque had posted this quote on Facebook and it seemed perfect, so I borrowed it. (Thanks Jacque!)
It's so appropriate too since I'm off on this retreat.
And then I altered the Starbucks bag...
Birthday Day Two was the Real Birthday. But I spent most of it driving in stressful traffic (past Boston) to Falmouth on the Cape. After falling asleep at the hotel, I woke to a grumbling tummy and dragged myself all the way across the street to The Raw Bar for dinner.
Birthday Dinner: huge... HUGE... Lobstah Salad, Clam Chowdah, and Skinny Piña Colada. Oh-yum.
The view.
Later, I decided I really needed a cupcake to make it a real birthday. So I dragged myself back into the car and headed to Starbucks where I found a pumpkin cream cheese pistachio muffin! Good enough!
Jacque had posted this quote on Facebook and it seemed perfect, so I borrowed it. (Thanks Jacque!)
It's so appropriate too since I'm off on this retreat.
And then I altered the Starbucks bag...
September 8, 2014
August Journal Pages
August went very quickly, probably because so much happened this month. I worked on most of these Journal52 assignments outside of my studio, often while sitting on a hotel bed, so I kept the materials really simple and pushed myself to concentrate on other aspects.
Week 31 - Friends
Sometimes... well, let's just say that it would be nice to have a really, really good friend.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
But I realize, after making this piece, that I will need to lower my requirements if I want to make more friends! Drawn and inked with Japanese cartooning ink (I can't read the label, but it is lovely and black). And just in case you miss the subtle joke here... the friends are burying the body in the letter "U".
Week 32 - Favorite Foods
The four food groups - Chocolate, popcorn (veggies), cherries, and apple pie. I drew it all with a brush marker and shaded with a gray brush marker. Then I colorized sections with colored pencils.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 33 - Gratitude
The most effective way to learn what you are grateful for? Have a really sucky day and see what floats to the top. I am particularly grateful for the friend who answers the phone. And the one who doesn't say "I told you so." They totally float. ;-)
Papermate ballpoint pen letters and doodles with a smidge of pencil for shading along the edges.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 34 - Alphabetical
This was just plain old fun. I just started drawing, with Papermate ballpoint pen, making it up as I went. I added some pencil shading to the background to give it some more dimension.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 31 - Friends
Sometimes... well, let's just say that it would be nice to have a really, really good friend.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewBut I realize, after making this piece, that I will need to lower my requirements if I want to make more friends! Drawn and inked with Japanese cartooning ink (I can't read the label, but it is lovely and black). And just in case you miss the subtle joke here... the friends are burying the body in the letter "U".
Week 32 - Favorite Foods
The four food groups - Chocolate, popcorn (veggies), cherries, and apple pie. I drew it all with a brush marker and shaded with a gray brush marker. Then I colorized sections with colored pencils.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 33 - Gratitude
The most effective way to learn what you are grateful for? Have a really sucky day and see what floats to the top. I am particularly grateful for the friend who answers the phone. And the one who doesn't say "I told you so." They totally float. ;-)
Papermate ballpoint pen letters and doodles with a smidge of pencil for shading along the edges.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 34 - Alphabetical
This was just plain old fun. I just started drawing, with Papermate ballpoint pen, making it up as I went. I added some pencil shading to the background to give it some more dimension.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewSeptember 7, 2014
July Journal Pages
Hey - why didn't anyone say anything? Looks like in all the excitement of the trip out west, I forgot to post my Journal52 pages for July! Sorry about that - and I'll get August's up here too. I am still quite pleased that I have been keeping up with this. If anyone has ever tried to do something for 21 days to form a new habit (never-mind 52 weeks!) - you'll know what I mean.
Week 27 - Nostalgia
I don't know why, but I really love this photo of me and my brother Dave. It's faded and permanently bonded to the "magnetic" page of the album... but it just seems to sum up my childhood with him. And I like that I am a lot taller than him! (He is now over six feet tall... but I have more hair if that counts for anything?)
I had a scan of the entire album page which I printed out on Sheer Heaven and transferred to mixed media paper. I washed over with muddy acrylics and stamped the coffee rings on. I added color back into the faded picture with colored pencils, glued on photocopies of us, and wrote the text. And ripped the page out of the notebook.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 28 - Technology
I worked on this piece every morning before comic camp classes. Which explains the comic-book styling and the "punchline" in the last "panel". (I'm talking about how Enthusiasm is literally pulling the switch - or has just pulled it - or whatever).
I drew it with a Sharpie pen, scanned it, and added color in Photoshop. It was hard not to over-color it with colored pencils, but I wanted the color to really stand out against the gray.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 29 - Fashion
Yeh, well, I don't have much to say about Fashion. This quote sums it all up perfectly.
"I base my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." Gilda Radner. Drawn with a brush marker.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 30 - Positive Words
I admit I had to look up suggestions on the internet. But once you start listing words that strike a chord, it is very inspiring! The words were drawn with gray markers, then outlined and tangled with a Sharpie pen, and finally, shaded with pencil.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew
Week 27 - Nostalgia
I don't know why, but I really love this photo of me and my brother Dave. It's faded and permanently bonded to the "magnetic" page of the album... but it just seems to sum up my childhood with him. And I like that I am a lot taller than him! (He is now over six feet tall... but I have more hair if that counts for anything?)
I had a scan of the entire album page which I printed out on Sheer Heaven and transferred to mixed media paper. I washed over with muddy acrylics and stamped the coffee rings on. I added color back into the faded picture with colored pencils, glued on photocopies of us, and wrote the text. And ripped the page out of the notebook.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 28 - Technology
I worked on this piece every morning before comic camp classes. Which explains the comic-book styling and the "punchline" in the last "panel". (I'm talking about how Enthusiasm is literally pulling the switch - or has just pulled it - or whatever).
I drew it with a Sharpie pen, scanned it, and added color in Photoshop. It was hard not to over-color it with colored pencils, but I wanted the color to really stand out against the gray.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewWeek 29 - Fashion
Yeh, well, I don't have much to say about Fashion. This quote sums it all up perfectly.
"I base my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." Gilda Radner. Drawn with a brush marker.
© Sandy Steen Bartholomew Week 30 - Positive Words
I admit I had to look up suggestions on the internet. But once you start listing words that strike a chord, it is very inspiring! The words were drawn with gray markers, then outlined and tangled with a Sharpie pen, and finally, shaded with pencil.
© Sandy Steen BartholomewAugust 31, 2014
Nov. 7-10 - Art Swarm at The BeeHive
I have invited a bunch of my favorite teachers to invade my studio for a long weekend of intense art-making.
Join us from November 7th-10th at The BeeHive in Warner, NH for the first ever, Art Swarm
FRIDAY, Nov. 7th
Gelli Lab Class - Daniela Mellen & Bonnie Wright -
The first class in the Art SWARM weekend kicks off with gelatin printing using the Gelli Arts® Gelli Plate. Come play with this fun versatile tool to create mono prints with stencils, tools, masks, paints, and papers. Techniques will be demonstrated during class time and then an open studio will follow in the afternoon. During this time students can work on creating additional prints, learn to make texture tools and experiment with advanced techniques.
Gelli Lab is a chance to create lots of printed papers that will be used in other Art SWARM workshops this weekend.
Additional supplies will be provided that will give students an opportunity to play with new materials.
Small Gelli plates will be available, but students can bring their own larger plates. If you prefer not to share items, bring your own brayers, stencils and masks. (Some supplies will also be available at a discount in the studio shop).
SATURDAY, Nov. 8th ... a day of Book-making!
Portfolio-Palooza-Lisa Heron-
Create a canvas covered portfolio styled book with pockets to hold all your projects from the Art Swarm. Use your Gelli prints for the cover or pages, or add color after construction of the book. Get creative with a ribbon tied closure and colored stitched binding.
Add beads from the Gelli Gems workshop to embellish the book.
Meander Book-Bette Abdu-
This little Meander Book can not only fit inside the Portfolio, but it can hold your Labyrinth (created on Sunday). Another great use for your Gelli prints.
[photos will be added soon.]
SUNDAY, Nov. 9th
The Tangled Labyrinth-Sadelle Wiltshire -
Labyrinths show up in many social and faith cultures around the world. Some date back as far as 4,000 years or more. The most common form are labyrinths that one walks, as a form of spiritual meditation.
In this workshop, learn how to construct and draw a variety of labyrinth forms for use as a string in your Zentangle Inspired Art. Experience a guided labyrinth meditation using a simple finger labyrinth, and learn to "walk" with tangles that work well to stay with that quiet, centered path you'll be following with your pen. If time allows, we may even walk a local labyrinth as part of the afternoon "Open studio" option.
Gelli Paper Beads, Pendants, Buttons and more! -Sadelle Wiltshire -
Make a unique piece of paper jewelry using your Gelli printed papers and some watercolor paper core. Strong and sturdy, these are perfect for pins, pendants, earrings, buttons. This is a fun and easy way to use up your leftover or "fugly" prints. We'll also use thin strips to make gelli print rolled beads. Great for jewelry, accessories, buttons, trinkets for your handmade books and book closures. No jewelry experience necessary.
MONDAY, Nov. 10th
Sketch-Doodle Stew-Sandy Bartholomew-
Drawing (pun intended) from the art of SketchNotes, Tangling and Doodling - We'll throw it ALL into the pot and see what we can cook up. You'll learn how to get the ideas out of your head and onto your journal page. Even if you think you can't draw.
Using Zentangle as our guide - everything can be broken down into simple steps that build on each other. Whether you want to draw faces, buildings, food, imaginary creatures or interesting words, they all start with simple shapes.
We will use Gelli prints from Friday, and the journal you make on Saturday, as well as practice sheets to build skills and experiment. Sheer Heaven will be used to transfer sketches onto our final pieces.
Black pens will be used for most of the work with some Inktense and paint pens thrown in for color. All materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own coloring materials to use during the Open Studio.
- Details and FAQs -
• When is it?
November 7-10th, 2014. That's Friday morning until Monday afternoon. We'll do stuff in the evenings too. Friday night we'll have a birthday party for Lisa and eat pizza and watch a movie, and probably do some tangling.
• Can I sign up a la carte?
Nope.
You get all these fabulous classes for one insanely low price of $300.
That's 6 classes, basic materials included, plus 4 Open Studios with teachers available to encourage, assist, or hold your hand if necessary.
• But I only want to take Sadelle's class on Labyrinths. I don't care about all the other artsy-fartsy stuff!
Well, fine. There are five spots available for Sunday's workshops (Labyrinths and Gelli Jewels) for $125 for the day. But that's it, so don't even think of asking for more.
• How much is it if I only want to come for one day? Two days? Three days?
One day... $300
Two days... $300
Three days... $300
• Is room and board included?
Nope.
The classes are all in my (very nice) studio on Main Street in Warner. One person with a sleeping bag could camp out in the bear cave (yes, I have a bear cave) and dine on Tootsie Rolls... the rest could stay at a small Inn nearby and more adorable Inns in the next town, plus a wide price range of hotels in Concord, NH (15 minutes on I-89) We will post a list of hotels and restaurants soon.
• I'm coming from far away, but I hate dealing with travel arrangements. Can you book my flights and hotel? Rental car? Pick me up from the airport?
Nope.
But I feel your pain. I hate dealing with that stuff too.
If you would like help, please contact Debbie Lick at Treehouse Travel:
phone: 603-229-7074
email: treehousetravel@gmail.com
If you fly into Manchester, NH, we can arrange for someone to pick you up if you don't want to rent a car.
• What is so great about your studio compared to a fancy-schmancy hotel-retreat?
- we can have a small group without worrying about meeting the hotel's minimums.
- The BeeHive is a very happy, buzzin' studio.
- It is filled with very cool, inspiring art to look at.
- Zentangle everywhere...
- Work areas, slop sink, bathroom, K-cup machine...
- There are windows, so you don't feel like you are in a dark box.
- Good lighting.
- I have lots of "toys" I'll let you play with during Open Studio sessions... like two Accu-cut die-cutter machines with a gazillion dies. They can cut paper, cardboard, thin metal, fabric... (bring stuff you want to cut up).
- test out art materials you want to play with but don't want to shell out money for.
- there's stuff for sale - art materials, books, rubber stamps...
- happy Minions.
- we teachers are here to serve YOU.
- and there are hoola hoops.
• Where is it?
The BeeHive studio is at 19 East Main Street in Warner, NH. It is Exit 8 off I-89, in the middle of town (don't blink, you'll miss it).
• How many students will be there?
The absolute maximum will be 25 students. We want everyone to have enough space and attention.
• Do I get "stuff"?
Sure. We love stuff. You'll get materials for each class, plus some other secret stuff to play with.
• What is it?
It's secret. You have to sign up to find out.
• Sign me up! Where do I click?
Click right here to sign up for the whole Art Swarm:
And click here if you are only coming for Sadelle's Labyrinth class:
(Gelli Jewels is included for free)
NOTE: [The "Labyrinth Only" spots are filled!]
If you are mailing a check, be sure to email me ASAP to hold your spot.
Checks can be sent to:
Beez Ink Studio - Art Swarm
PO Box 359
Warner, NH 03278
Join us from November 7th-10th at The BeeHive in Warner, NH for the first ever, Art SwarmFRIDAY, Nov. 7th
Gelli Lab Class - Daniela Mellen & Bonnie Wright -
The first class in the Art SWARM weekend kicks off with gelatin printing using the Gelli Arts® Gelli Plate. Come play with this fun versatile tool to create mono prints with stencils, tools, masks, paints, and papers. Techniques will be demonstrated during class time and then an open studio will follow in the afternoon. During this time students can work on creating additional prints, learn to make texture tools and experiment with advanced techniques.
Gelli Lab is a chance to create lots of printed papers that will be used in other Art SWARM workshops this weekend.
Additional supplies will be provided that will give students an opportunity to play with new materials.
Small Gelli plates will be available, but students can bring their own larger plates. If you prefer not to share items, bring your own brayers, stencils and masks. (Some supplies will also be available at a discount in the studio shop).
SATURDAY, Nov. 8th ... a day of Book-making!
Portfolio-Palooza-Lisa Heron-
Create a canvas covered portfolio styled book with pockets to hold all your projects from the Art Swarm. Use your Gelli prints for the cover or pages, or add color after construction of the book. Get creative with a ribbon tied closure and colored stitched binding.
Add beads from the Gelli Gems workshop to embellish the book.
Meander Book-Bette Abdu-
This little Meander Book can not only fit inside the Portfolio, but it can hold your Labyrinth (created on Sunday). Another great use for your Gelli prints.
[photos will be added soon.]
SUNDAY, Nov. 9th
The Tangled Labyrinth-Sadelle Wiltshire -
Labyrinths show up in many social and faith cultures around the world. Some date back as far as 4,000 years or more. The most common form are labyrinths that one walks, as a form of spiritual meditation.
In this workshop, learn how to construct and draw a variety of labyrinth forms for use as a string in your Zentangle Inspired Art. Experience a guided labyrinth meditation using a simple finger labyrinth, and learn to "walk" with tangles that work well to stay with that quiet, centered path you'll be following with your pen. If time allows, we may even walk a local labyrinth as part of the afternoon "Open studio" option.
Gelli Paper Beads, Pendants, Buttons and more! -Sadelle Wiltshire -
Make a unique piece of paper jewelry using your Gelli printed papers and some watercolor paper core. Strong and sturdy, these are perfect for pins, pendants, earrings, buttons. This is a fun and easy way to use up your leftover or "fugly" prints. We'll also use thin strips to make gelli print rolled beads. Great for jewelry, accessories, buttons, trinkets for your handmade books and book closures. No jewelry experience necessary.
MONDAY, Nov. 10th
Sketch-Doodle Stew-Sandy Bartholomew-
Drawing (pun intended) from the art of SketchNotes, Tangling and Doodling - We'll throw it ALL into the pot and see what we can cook up. You'll learn how to get the ideas out of your head and onto your journal page. Even if you think you can't draw.
Using Zentangle as our guide - everything can be broken down into simple steps that build on each other. Whether you want to draw faces, buildings, food, imaginary creatures or interesting words, they all start with simple shapes.
We will use Gelli prints from Friday, and the journal you make on Saturday, as well as practice sheets to build skills and experiment. Sheer Heaven will be used to transfer sketches onto our final pieces.
Black pens will be used for most of the work with some Inktense and paint pens thrown in for color. All materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own coloring materials to use during the Open Studio.
- Details and FAQs -
• When is it?
November 7-10th, 2014. That's Friday morning until Monday afternoon. We'll do stuff in the evenings too. Friday night we'll have a birthday party for Lisa and eat pizza and watch a movie, and probably do some tangling.
• Can I sign up a la carte?
Nope.
You get all these fabulous classes for one insanely low price of $300.
That's 6 classes, basic materials included, plus 4 Open Studios with teachers available to encourage, assist, or hold your hand if necessary.
• But I only want to take Sadelle's class on Labyrinths. I don't care about all the other artsy-fartsy stuff!
Well, fine. There are five spots available for Sunday's workshops (Labyrinths and Gelli Jewels) for $125 for the day. But that's it, so don't even think of asking for more.
• How much is it if I only want to come for one day? Two days? Three days?
One day... $300
Two days... $300
Three days... $300
• Is room and board included?
Nope.
The classes are all in my (very nice) studio on Main Street in Warner. One person with a sleeping bag could camp out in the bear cave (yes, I have a bear cave) and dine on Tootsie Rolls... the rest could stay at a small Inn nearby and more adorable Inns in the next town, plus a wide price range of hotels in Concord, NH (15 minutes on I-89) We will post a list of hotels and restaurants soon.
• I'm coming from far away, but I hate dealing with travel arrangements. Can you book my flights and hotel? Rental car? Pick me up from the airport?
Nope.
But I feel your pain. I hate dealing with that stuff too.
If you would like help, please contact Debbie Lick at Treehouse Travel:
phone: 603-229-7074
email: treehousetravel@gmail.com
If you fly into Manchester, NH, we can arrange for someone to pick you up if you don't want to rent a car.
• What is so great about your studio compared to a fancy-schmancy hotel-retreat?
- we can have a small group without worrying about meeting the hotel's minimums.
- The BeeHive is a very happy, buzzin' studio.
- It is filled with very cool, inspiring art to look at.
- Zentangle everywhere...
- Work areas, slop sink, bathroom, K-cup machine...
- There are windows, so you don't feel like you are in a dark box.
- Good lighting.
- I have lots of "toys" I'll let you play with during Open Studio sessions... like two Accu-cut die-cutter machines with a gazillion dies. They can cut paper, cardboard, thin metal, fabric... (bring stuff you want to cut up).
- test out art materials you want to play with but don't want to shell out money for.
- there's stuff for sale - art materials, books, rubber stamps...
- happy Minions.
- we teachers are here to serve YOU.
- and there are hoola hoops.
• Where is it?
The BeeHive studio is at 19 East Main Street in Warner, NH. It is Exit 8 off I-89, in the middle of town (don't blink, you'll miss it).
• How many students will be there?
The absolute maximum will be 25 students. We want everyone to have enough space and attention.
• Do I get "stuff"?
Sure. We love stuff. You'll get materials for each class, plus some other secret stuff to play with.
• What is it?
It's secret. You have to sign up to find out.
• Sign me up! Where do I click?
Click right here to sign up for the whole Art Swarm:
And click here if you are only coming for Sadelle's Labyrinth class:
(Gelli Jewels is included for free)
NOTE: [The "Labyrinth Only" spots are filled!]
If you are mailing a check, be sure to email me ASAP to hold your spot.
Checks can be sent to:
Beez Ink Studio - Art Swarm
PO Box 359
Warner, NH 03278
August 28, 2014
Happy 100
Every year we celebrate my Grandma Magda on August 26th, her birthday (or very close to it). We have a little party in the graveyard.
My mom posted a couple of really nice tributes to her mom (my Grandma) on Facebook. And that is my Grandma and my sister in the paintings, which were painted by my Grandma:
We were scarfing down a very delicious chocolate cake from Market Basket (we are so glad to have you back!!!!!) and about to draw in our Holiday Book, when we suddenly realized...
Gramma Magda would have been 100 years old! ONE HUNDRED. Whoa.
Since we ate all of the chocolate cake, we brought her a bunch of unwrapped Hershey's kisses, and laid out our message on the stone. (We later moved it to the ground).
I have to back up a step in the story... when we arrived at the graveyard, and stepped out of the car, Alex and Lilah were teasing each other and for some reason, he threw the frisbee out into the field - except, he wasn't aiming and it flew off into the trees! Oh NO! Another Aerobie lost. :-( We searched and searched, but it is probably up there in the tree tops or off in the dense poison ivy.
While Alex and Mom kept searching, Lilah and I laid out the Kisses. She was really distressed when she realized that there wouldn't be any chocolate left for her to EAT when the letters were complete. I suggested she write "LUV" instead of "LOVE" - it's much more Kiss-efficient.
Ah - perfect!!
But, alas, Alex is the Gramma... er... grammar... police in any language. Especially chocolate.
But he is also an excellent big brother. He spells correctly, but he let his sister have the last Kiss.
I found myself thinking - when I am 100 years old - if I am not still happily alive - I want to know that my kids, grandkids and great-grandchildren are remembering me, telling silly stories about me, and smearing chocolate on my headstone!
As for the frisbee... we could tell Alex felt really bad about that. But Lilah and I decided we'd "manifest" it. We asked any watching spirits - especially our Gramma-Bear (see the bear on the stone?) - to please return the frisbee to the gravestone. We promised to come and check.
So if you happen to be walking through the graveyard, and see a bright orange frisbee sitting on a chocolate-smeared gravestone...
with large pawprints in the dirt....
...it's ours!
My mom posted a couple of really nice tributes to her mom (my Grandma) on Facebook. And that is my Grandma and my sister in the paintings, which were painted by my Grandma:
We were scarfing down a very delicious chocolate cake from Market Basket (we are so glad to have you back!!!!!) and about to draw in our Holiday Book, when we suddenly realized...
Gramma Magda would have been 100 years old! ONE HUNDRED. Whoa.
Since we ate all of the chocolate cake, we brought her a bunch of unwrapped Hershey's kisses, and laid out our message on the stone. (We later moved it to the ground).
I have to back up a step in the story... when we arrived at the graveyard, and stepped out of the car, Alex and Lilah were teasing each other and for some reason, he threw the frisbee out into the field - except, he wasn't aiming and it flew off into the trees! Oh NO! Another Aerobie lost. :-( We searched and searched, but it is probably up there in the tree tops or off in the dense poison ivy.
While Alex and Mom kept searching, Lilah and I laid out the Kisses. She was really distressed when she realized that there wouldn't be any chocolate left for her to EAT when the letters were complete. I suggested she write "LUV" instead of "LOVE" - it's much more Kiss-efficient.
Ah - perfect!!
But, alas, Alex is the Gramma... er... grammar... police in any language. Especially chocolate.
But he is also an excellent big brother. He spells correctly, but he let his sister have the last Kiss.
I found myself thinking - when I am 100 years old - if I am not still happily alive - I want to know that my kids, grandkids and great-grandchildren are remembering me, telling silly stories about me, and smearing chocolate on my headstone!
As for the frisbee... we could tell Alex felt really bad about that. But Lilah and I decided we'd "manifest" it. We asked any watching spirits - especially our Gramma-Bear (see the bear on the stone?) - to please return the frisbee to the gravestone. We promised to come and check.
So if you happen to be walking through the graveyard, and see a bright orange frisbee sitting on a chocolate-smeared gravestone...
with large pawprints in the dirt....
...it's ours!
Two Kinds of Power
I keep getting flashes (re-runs?) in my head from that cartoon from my childhood Super Friends
... "Wonder Twin Power - ACTIVATE!"
(she says): "Form of... an eagle!"
(he says): "Form of... a bucket of water!"
Seriously? You can turn into anything, ANYTHING, just by touching two rings together. And you choose a bucket of water?! Well, that is a kind of power.
I've been reading through a lot of Martha Beck books lately and power comes up in many ways - I like the references to Magic and the Universe. But the two kinds of "power" I am finally starting to understand are:
1. Power - as in "don't give away your power"
and
2. Power - as in energy, power that keeps things running
Power #1
This first one had been leaving me baffled and seemed like a trendy catch-phrase. The knee-jerk response being "well, ok, but how do I NOT give it away?"
I am listening to Finding Your Way in a Wild New World: Reclaim Your True Nature to Create the Life You Want
while I work and I love the concepts, but admit I don't really "get" how it works in real life. As I listened to her explain the concept of problem solving by using imagination and metaphors - I realized that THAT is how I work. Completely unrelated things, ideas, quotes... come together in my head in an effort to explain something... and POOF... the explanation becomes the solution.
Years ago, I read a quote in Douglas Adams' book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
that went something like - "The best way to really understand something is to explain it to someone else." So true! And Martha Beck takes it a step further... to determine if you have a real problem (vs. an imagined problem)... can you explain the dilemma to your cat in a way that makes them understand why it is a real problem?
So last night, my daughter was trying to express her frustration about being told not to give away her power. New classful of kids at school, new teachers, recess, brothers... eeegh... power flying everywhere!
Lilah - "If a person does something mean or annoying and I get really-really angry... how am I supposed to stay calm and not yell!?"
Yes, good point. We've all been there. Power be damned, we want to punch something sometimes, right?
Me - "So, yelling at this person - that's giving away your power?"
Lilah - "Yes. I'm supposed to keep my power. That is just all dumb and makes no sense!"
She is obviously really frustrated.
My brain starts pulling in strange metaphors and a light clicks on in my head (that's a metaphor too, isn't it?).
Me - "Let's say that your Power is a stack of Donuts - chocolate glazed and some maple glazed too. There's a person in front of you who upsets you - do you give them the donuts... or walk away?"
Lilah - stares at me. I see she "gets it". Then: "But Donuts are really-really bad for you - maybe it would be better to give them to that person and they'd get sick?"
Smart-ass!
Moral of the story: Don't give away your Donuts.
Power #2
This one has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am very-very introverted. That is quite different from being shy. I can do all kinds of brave or extroverted-looking things... like going out to lunch with friends, holding a meeting, even teaching in front of a crowd. But I pay the price the next day. Sometimes for the next WEEK. I just want to sleep. I have nothing to give. And if the situation is negative, antagonistic, or physically painful, I can get physically ill or suffer other autonomic responses (like a fever or shakes). I describe it as my "social hangover".
It was about a year ago, when I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
, that I learned this is actually very common for other introverts too. (If you are introverted or know someone who is - read it!!).
The past few weeks have been one event after another... a fabulous trip with my family (but 7 days, 24 hours a day WITH constant companionship), catching up on work and email, meetings, meetings, meetings... and not all of these were welcome or happy events. Let's just say that I was exhausted. My power had run way... way... way... down.
One morning Lilah woke me up after another night of (4am) nightmares. I had been so completely exhausted that I had allowed her to sleep on the floor next to my bed. She was bouncy and ready for the day. I was... not. She asked me if I was angry at her? I apologized for being so grumpy and explained a little about the introvert-thing. And as I always seem to do - my brain searched for the metaphor to explain the puzzle.
Me: "I am like an iPad. If I am ON and running Apps, they drain Power and the Battery symbol turns red. If I'm in Sleep mode, the Battery can last for days."
Lilah: "Some Apps use more Power - that's why you tell me to close anything I'm not actually playing with..."
Me: "Yes! We can listen to stories in iTunes all day without using up all the Power, but an hour of Clumsy Ninja and..."
Lilah: "....we have to Recharge the Battery!"
Me: "Exactly. I've been running a lot of different Apps lately - some good, some bad - but now I need to Recharge."
She told me to go take a long, hot shower (one way I recharge) and she would draw me a picture.
She drew four pictures...
Those are my BAD Apps. Her App Icons are more expressive than mere titles could be, but I will try to label them. She explained that these are programs that we might do or someone might do to us: Yelling, Sad, Arguments (I love the gestures!), Broken Heart, Angry, Despair (Crying Your Eyes Out).
And these GOOD Apps are: Happy, Brain, Computer, Hugs, Kisses (nice lips!), Creating Art, Love, Good Dreams, Gardening (that's my big weed bucket and me on my knees pulling a weed!), Exercise, Sleep (my bed has round headboard and footboard with cheetah print fabric, those are not chocolate chip cookies!), Reading, Shower.
Lilah understood that both Good Apps and Bad Apps can use Power at different rates. And some activities Drain it really fast and some use very little or actually help replenish it. So she made two more charts of Apps...
The Apps that use up a lot of Power are: Angry, Crying, Computer, Bad Dreams, Arguments, Weeding, Driving (that's a steering wheel and pedals), Exercise, Broken Heart. Oh-yes, these things are all really exhausting!!
But there is a bright side...
These Apps don't use very much Power and feel really good: Happy, Creating Art, Brain, Awake, Good Dreams, Sleeping, Love, Hugs, and Kisses.
I'm loving this concept of explaining an idea to someone and having them explain it back to me. We each add our own metaphors and understandings and the whole thing becomes so clear. There are still things that my daughter can't seem to explain to me (nightmares for one) but knowing that we are creating symbols and pictures and metaphors that create a new kind of communication is exciting and fills us with hope. Anything can be puzzled-out with the right metaphor and imagination. (Thank you Martha Beck.)
And here is one more fabulous drawing Lilah made last week in response to a comic sent to her by Mia Bonet. I posted both, with transcripts, on the ZTforKids.com page.
... "Wonder Twin Power - ACTIVATE!"(she says): "Form of... an eagle!"
(he says): "Form of... a bucket of water!"
Seriously? You can turn into anything, ANYTHING, just by touching two rings together. And you choose a bucket of water?! Well, that is a kind of power.
I've been reading through a lot of Martha Beck books lately and power comes up in many ways - I like the references to Magic and the Universe. But the two kinds of "power" I am finally starting to understand are:
1. Power - as in "don't give away your power"
and
2. Power - as in energy, power that keeps things running
Power #1
This first one had been leaving me baffled and seemed like a trendy catch-phrase. The knee-jerk response being "well, ok, but how do I NOT give it away?"
I am listening to Finding Your Way in a Wild New World: Reclaim Your True Nature to Create the Life You Want
while I work and I love the concepts, but admit I don't really "get" how it works in real life. As I listened to her explain the concept of problem solving by using imagination and metaphors - I realized that THAT is how I work. Completely unrelated things, ideas, quotes... come together in my head in an effort to explain something... and POOF... the explanation becomes the solution.Years ago, I read a quote in Douglas Adams' book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
that went something like - "The best way to really understand something is to explain it to someone else." So true! And Martha Beck takes it a step further... to determine if you have a real problem (vs. an imagined problem)... can you explain the dilemma to your cat in a way that makes them understand why it is a real problem?So last night, my daughter was trying to express her frustration about being told not to give away her power. New classful of kids at school, new teachers, recess, brothers... eeegh... power flying everywhere!
Lilah - "If a person does something mean or annoying and I get really-really angry... how am I supposed to stay calm and not yell!?"
Yes, good point. We've all been there. Power be damned, we want to punch something sometimes, right?
Me - "So, yelling at this person - that's giving away your power?"
Lilah - "Yes. I'm supposed to keep my power. That is just all dumb and makes no sense!"
She is obviously really frustrated.
My brain starts pulling in strange metaphors and a light clicks on in my head (that's a metaphor too, isn't it?).
Me - "Let's say that your Power is a stack of Donuts - chocolate glazed and some maple glazed too. There's a person in front of you who upsets you - do you give them the donuts... or walk away?"
Lilah - stares at me. I see she "gets it". Then: "But Donuts are really-really bad for you - maybe it would be better to give them to that person and they'd get sick?"
Smart-ass!
Moral of the story: Don't give away your Donuts.
Power #2
This one has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am very-very introverted. That is quite different from being shy. I can do all kinds of brave or extroverted-looking things... like going out to lunch with friends, holding a meeting, even teaching in front of a crowd. But I pay the price the next day. Sometimes for the next WEEK. I just want to sleep. I have nothing to give. And if the situation is negative, antagonistic, or physically painful, I can get physically ill or suffer other autonomic responses (like a fever or shakes). I describe it as my "social hangover".
It was about a year ago, when I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
, that I learned this is actually very common for other introverts too. (If you are introverted or know someone who is - read it!!).The past few weeks have been one event after another... a fabulous trip with my family (but 7 days, 24 hours a day WITH constant companionship), catching up on work and email, meetings, meetings, meetings... and not all of these were welcome or happy events. Let's just say that I was exhausted. My power had run way... way... way... down.
One morning Lilah woke me up after another night of (4am) nightmares. I had been so completely exhausted that I had allowed her to sleep on the floor next to my bed. She was bouncy and ready for the day. I was... not. She asked me if I was angry at her? I apologized for being so grumpy and explained a little about the introvert-thing. And as I always seem to do - my brain searched for the metaphor to explain the puzzle.
Me: "I am like an iPad. If I am ON and running Apps, they drain Power and the Battery symbol turns red. If I'm in Sleep mode, the Battery can last for days."
Lilah: "Some Apps use more Power - that's why you tell me to close anything I'm not actually playing with..."
Me: "Yes! We can listen to stories in iTunes all day without using up all the Power, but an hour of Clumsy Ninja and..."
Lilah: "....we have to Recharge the Battery!"
Me: "Exactly. I've been running a lot of different Apps lately - some good, some bad - but now I need to Recharge."
She told me to go take a long, hot shower (one way I recharge) and she would draw me a picture.
She drew four pictures...
Those are my BAD Apps. Her App Icons are more expressive than mere titles could be, but I will try to label them. She explained that these are programs that we might do or someone might do to us: Yelling, Sad, Arguments (I love the gestures!), Broken Heart, Angry, Despair (Crying Your Eyes Out).
And these GOOD Apps are: Happy, Brain, Computer, Hugs, Kisses (nice lips!), Creating Art, Love, Good Dreams, Gardening (that's my big weed bucket and me on my knees pulling a weed!), Exercise, Sleep (my bed has round headboard and footboard with cheetah print fabric, those are not chocolate chip cookies!), Reading, Shower.
Lilah understood that both Good Apps and Bad Apps can use Power at different rates. And some activities Drain it really fast and some use very little or actually help replenish it. So she made two more charts of Apps...
The Apps that use up a lot of Power are: Angry, Crying, Computer, Bad Dreams, Arguments, Weeding, Driving (that's a steering wheel and pedals), Exercise, Broken Heart. Oh-yes, these things are all really exhausting!!
But there is a bright side...
These Apps don't use very much Power and feel really good: Happy, Creating Art, Brain, Awake, Good Dreams, Sleeping, Love, Hugs, and Kisses.
I'm loving this concept of explaining an idea to someone and having them explain it back to me. We each add our own metaphors and understandings and the whole thing becomes so clear. There are still things that my daughter can't seem to explain to me (nightmares for one) but knowing that we are creating symbols and pictures and metaphors that create a new kind of communication is exciting and fills us with hope. Anything can be puzzled-out with the right metaphor and imagination. (Thank you Martha Beck.)
And here is one more fabulous drawing Lilah made last week in response to a comic sent to her by Mia Bonet. I posted both, with transcripts, on the ZTforKids.com page.
