A circle of female power

I have worked with paper figures for some time. They are fun to work with, do not take that long, and I am quite crazy about all the options there are, to use all kinds of paper and cardboard in the process: magazines, advertisements, postcards, newspapers, books, copies and more.

I saw a similar figure in Pamela Hasting's book; “Paper Doll Inspiration”, where slightly primitive figures were put together and connected. I loved the idea, and felt like doing something similar. I decided to make a chain of my ancestors. In the beginning I wanted them all, but they were thinned out over time. It took a long time to find photos and select paper and photos out for the collage.

In my universe, it often becomes a profound shamanistic approach, and the whole process was sensitive and brought realizations and memories with it. During the process, I felt that I came close to the women I decend from, and the different images and symbols, told me stories about my relationship with them, as well as about the life and the connection we have had together.

I switched out several times, and also painted over a single time.

On the front of the figures, there is a picture of the face of my female relations, smiling and beautiful. It makes me proud to know what amazing women have raised me, loved me, shaped me and who are my heritage and ballast.

On the back there is a childhood picture. It is beautiful to experience both the child and the woman, and feel how they live in me, for better or worse. We were all just little children, and totally innocent from the start. We were just born into a world not designed to express the power and wisdom of women.

A common word that I can feel is for all five of them is; “Survivor”. These are proud, upright, beautiful, intelligent, wise women who survived and who express beauty, wisdom and power.

When I felt the 5 figures were finished, I tied them together. Considered who should hold each other's hands. Also considering whether to add my two daughters and my granddaughter? Decided to wait. This is my background, my DNA, my female allies. Maybe my girls even do this work one day?

When they were bound together, I lit a candle in their midst, and blew sage over them, one by one, along with a little blessing. Felt a longing in the heart. How would it feel to stand with them in a physical circle? To feel the unity and the common power?

My mom is dead and my sister is not talking to my dad's family so it remains a dream and longing. However, it felt powerful and genuine to gather them with light and blessing.

Here they are: 

This is my Mother, Eva: Artist, black sheep of the family, intuitive, loner, spiritual beautyful woman. I never stop missing and longing for her.  

This is anty Mette: fierce like the cold winther snow, clear like crystal, sharp, but loving. When I was little, she took care of me, often with som rough love, but present and with chokolate cake!

Funnt thing to see me and my sisters backside of the dolls, little girls, with grandma in the middle. 

My beautyful sister Heidi: artist, mother, loner, stargazer. I love her, but she is hard to come close to. 

This is me, Ann. Artist, spiritual, loner. The five diamonds came to me in a dream. 

Grandma Gudrun: Storyteller, surviver, strong wise woman. I adore her. 

New paintings. Will I get finished on time?

Good evening!

I just realized that it has been a very long time since I wrote something on this blog. Shame on me ;-)

Tonight I thought I could show you some paintings I am working on. It is somehow a funny process, because they need to be finished by next week, and I don´t know if I can make it. I am participating in a exhibition, and had to come up with titles and size before I had actuallly painted the painting. That´s because of the deadline for printing the shows program....

Well, I normally don´t get stressed out that easily, but this is putting quite some pressure on my creativity ;-) I named them: The Magic of the Night, Primordial Force and Transformation. I had the themes in my head and most of the motive, but the painting keep taking me places that wasn´t planned.

Like this one: The Magic of the Night:

 It is still not finished. I need much more trees and flowers and stuff. I loved the way these two rascals turned out! Still need more midnight magic though ;-)

The second painting is different. In danish it is called Urkraft, and I acually don´t know how to translate that word. Google suggests "Primordial Force". It´s all about nature, ergi, energy, sensuality and so on ;-) Very much not finished. I´m painting in a nice white stag in there.

The last painting is also very different. It´s called Transformation because it is going to be about uniting man and beast. I am very much into Jung, so in my imagination, the unity of man and beast will create transformtion and make ud able to reach for the stars.

Time for bed. I will keep on posting my progress with these painting, and please cross your fingers. I need some luck if I am going to finish these paintings on time ;-)

Visionary art

This is a painting I made for one of the exercises from the book

I am currently reading "Garden of the Soul - making Sacred and Shamanic Art" by Faith Nolton.
From Amazon:

"Gardens of the Soul explores the different ways sacred art can expand awareness and nourish the soul. Through her paintings and writings Faith Nolton shares the creative processes of sacred art — both the inner journeying work and the practical art techniques. She weaves together her own shamanic practice and spirit conversations with her skills as a painter and poet. Her paintings uniquely reflect a world of mystery and nourish the soul."

Each chapter is ended with a exercise, for the reader to explore the theme futher on ones own. 
I always find it easier to learn something new, if the context is a bit systematic. 

It was fun making the tree, but it isn't good enough. It was stupid to glue those flower-rhinestones on, and the leaves on the tree is a bit funny-looking. I used Interference paint from Golden, but it is hard to see from a photo. It has a beautiful shine from different angles. 

I tried to come up with a tree, that represents the Universe. How everything's connected, and that the tree lives in a physical world, but its lifeforce is universal and transcendental. Like we all are. 

I like the background. It was a lot of mess with water, acrylics and salt! 

Down below is the tree from the book that Faith Nolton made. I really like the book, because it takes you through some exercises that unleashes the creativity within. I never realized, that the artform I love, has a lot of similarities to visionary art. 

Making shamanic rattles out of the dog' chewing bone :-)

I am trying for the third time to make some shamanic rattles. This is the second time I use dog chewing bones (rawhide). The rattle becomes very sturdy and hard and has a nice loud sound.  I discovered the technique because I didn't have anything else to make the rattle with. I went to the vet and bought several dog bones :-) Now I am looking for some nice hide again. Deer perhaps. But for now it is dog's bone... 

These two will be a gift for my husband. They came out a bit small, but I think it will be okay in the end. The handles comes from an old plum tree in our garden. We moved from house to house with that tree, but it didn't make the last move. My husband have given me fruittrees several times as a special gift. I think this particular tree was a gift for a wedding day... I like the idea of giving something back. The tree didn't make it, but it can become a musical instrument instead.