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| Marilyn Monroe drawing and digital enhancements, Art by Dayna Winters. |
As well intended as I might
be, when illness strikes the most well laid plans go right out the window. It’s
been a long time since I’ve added anything to the blog, as I’ve been dealing
with ongoing health issues. Some days I’m so drained, I can’t even get up out
of my own way. Other days, I have barely enough energy to make it through the
day. There’s nothing more frustrating than having ambitions of any kind, and the
inability (temporary or otherwise) to act on them.
I’m grateful that I’m feeling
good now: Enough so that I can take some time to enjoy creating art again. It’s
funny for anyone who knows me, it’s as if art has become a gauge indicating
whether I’m healthy or not. If I’m not working on something or planning a
project, or even just contemplating the next thing I want to do artistically,
those closest to me know something is amiss. For now, I’m just glad to have a
little energy to do something I enjoy. And I truly enjoy doing the 29 Faces Challenge!
I was hoping to have my first
face drawing done for 29 Faces on Sept 1, but I’m often operating off limited
energy and need to pace myself. I actually started another image prior to this
depiction of Marilyn, but I wasn’t at all satisfied with the direction it was
taking. And, I briefly reflected on what it meant to put the sketch aside
because I didn’t like it. I thought about abandoned projects, especially in the
realm of art. How many artists have
canned a project because, in their perspective, the work was not what they
envisioned? How many people would have found that same piece remarkable? (No
worries, I know I’m rambling here ;) What
future ideas, musings, and inspirations might have the creation of the image
provoked, now only to be stifled?
So it’s early Thursday
morning, I’m on my second cup of coffee, and I’m not quite on full power just
yet. Before I decided to post my first image for the month, I also made copies
of it digitally so I could play around with it. Sometimes there’s nothing more
relaxing than playing with different colors and using digital transitions to
change the effects of an existing image. As I shuffle through the various
effects I could try, it’s not unlike a meditation where you are completely
relaxed and turning your mind from the potential chaos of the day. I think it’s
okay to let the brain rest (some of my friends may actually find the fact that
I just wrote those words hard to believe ;D), and to just enjoy whatever simple
process I’m engaging in at the time, not at all unlike practicing mindful
awareness.
To me, art is meditation. Art
is perhaps trance-like, at least in some ways. I’ve updated the quote of the
day (you’ll find it to the right edge of this page), and it rings true to the
idea that art and trance-like states are connected:
“True inspiration overrides all fears. When you are inspired, you enter a trance state and can accomplish things that you may never have felt capable of doing.” - Bernie Siegel
I totally agree. When
you are inspired, it is an ecstatic experience where all you can think about
doing is acting on the inspiration, following through on the ideas and
epiphanies that come to you, and where the artist seemingly loses him or
herself in the act of creation. To that end, it’s even easy to suggest that bringing
an artistic creation into being can be a spiritual experience and a step toward
self-discovery.
On that note, I’m
happy to present you with another of my renditions of Marilyn Monroe. I am
quite happy with the way the piece turned out. I also love the splash of color
I added with a few digital tweaks. For anyone interested in knowing what photo editing
software I used to created the different perspectives of Marilyn, I use the
free app befunky. I like the different
effects the app offers, in addition to the fact that it allows you to add
unique frames, text, overlays, and special effects to the artwork you create. Befunky
is compatible with Android and iOS devices, and you can use the online version
of the editor/collage maker as
well.
A final note: Please
feel free to comment! I love interacting
with other artists, art enthusiasts, book lovers, and people who appreciate all
things creative! Love and light!
--Dayna Winters
