(been playing around with doing messy acrylic faces. this piece reads, ‘begin. leap. take flight’ because it happens in that order (for me)).
“if i were to define myself, i wouldn’t start with race; i wouldn’t start with gender; i wouldn’t start with feminism. i would start with stripping down to what fundamentally informs my life, which is that i’m a seeker on the path.” – bell hooks
these words have been speaking to me all day. they remind me of my sister’s business cards that read, “jennifer valentine…artist. seeker.” so simple of a word…seeker, but so profound. to me, a seeker is a person who looks for the small moments, the important moments, the moments when you are called to say ‘yes!’ in joyful meaning. they are people who understands that not knowing is ok and is often the answer. they are learners, people who celebrate the in-progress parts of themselves. seeker. i like that word.
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you guys are amazing with all your comments on post #508. if i’m being fully present and honest with you, then i would tell you that the reason i’ve held off on doing a give-a-way is because i had a fear that very few people would enter. you all have taken that fear and thrown it out the window. thank you….seriously.
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10 days after returning home from vacation, i think i am finally caught up. there’s nothing i like more than watching a very long to-do list dwindle its way down. in the midst of some very exciting stuff, i am most excited about this: my shipment of 8×8 mattes arrived. i have no idea why it took me this long to offer them, but they are here and i love them. they make the 8×8 prints look so well put together. here’s an example of what they look like.
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found this fully bloomed flower today with the flower next to it blooming soon. made me think about blooming in life and how some us bloom earlier than others. i have always been the late bloomer. always. the thing that struck me about these two flowers was this: the un-bloomed flower is just as exquisitely beautiful as the bloomed one. we are all just perfect the way we are.
These are such unusual mattes…but then your work is unusual so they “fit”.
I love your analogy about the blooming..some being late..I think life is one continuous blooming experience…we open and continue to open slowly throughout.
I very much like this newest piece and the quote is excellent…seeking, being a seeker…I like that.
seeker…i like that word too…
the sunny flower was perfect for today…it’s so, so cold here…
kelly rae, your may 2008 news is super fantastic! (posted in your sidebar.) did you blog about this and i missed it per wintery travels? regardless, just wanted to say: congrats, congrats, congrats!
I love the picture of the flower, sure wish there were flowers blooming here 🙁 We are all perfect though just the way we are.
I am SO a late bloomer: first serious relationship at 26, married at 39, and of course my brand new baby girl 3 weeks shy of my 42nd birthday!
I’ve never felt better about myself, my life, or my art and wouldn’t change a thing!
Kelly Rae:
Because you “really, really do”…I have given you the “You Make My Day” award…visit my blog to read all about it…and thank you for the smiles.
Nancy
What a gorgeous flower photo! Today must be my day to collect “S” words. Serendipity and now Seeker are flitting through my mind.
That picture is so beautiful. When I first looked at it, I thought it was a flower bursting in bloom in a rock crevice . . . until I looked closer and saw the about-to-burst bud right next to it, so intricate. It was this seeing of the almost blooming one that brought a big smile to my face — it really is just as beautiful as the one in full blossom, just as you said!
Thank you for sharing what you did about late blooming. It’s a hard truth for me to accept, when I work so long and hard and intently on parts of myself, to look around and feel like others bloomed while I was still chugging along (am still chugging along), yet they seem to have started after I did. How did that happen? I must be a late bloomer after all. It’s nice to know I’m in such wonderful company — with you.
I love the artwork- so spontaneous and meaningful at the same time!
Hey, I’m a late bloomer too and we are beautiful all tucked away until we’re ready to open up. 🙂
Have a lovely day.
~* Eileen
Oh that flower is GORGEOUS!!!!! And thanks for the word “seeker” today …
I so love your blog, creative and thought proviking and loaded with eye candy that speaks to my soul.
Sometimes I forget all about the “seeker” part…and even the “artist” part…thank you for reminding me of that.
“…the un-bloomed flower is just as exquisitely beautiful as the bloomed one. we are all just perfect the way we are.”
This is a perfect image for something I’m trying to embrace this year. I want to spend less time worrying about what others have created and accomplished and more time focused on my own opportunities. Thanks for this.
Your artwork is so great!! I just found you through another site, and love your work.
rella, you are funny. you must mean the super sized cheeks!
xo
ps-i love that you said ‘jazzed’ – haven’t heard that word in so long. jazzed!
OH MY GGGGGGGGooodness. I am totally jazzed about the 8×8 mats!! This is truly exciting. And I have to say this…your newest piece actually reminds me of you!! do YOU see it?
xo Rella