This past Saturday I had the joy of returning to Wellspring Living to teach art once again with the beautiful young women there.  (You can learn more about Wellspring Living and my first experience teaching here.) This time was different as I was the only art teacher leading the group. I had prepared a lesson on painting chevron stripes with flowers and butterflies on top.  In my mind, I had found something "cool."  I carried in my easel and supplies to embark on being the trendy teacher. The environment enveloped me in warmth.  I was greeted with smiles, energy, and uplifting music.  The girls jumped at the chance to help set up and offered their hands for anything we needed. I was overwhelmed by love and by the dedication of the volunteers working with and for the girls.  Two organizers and volunteers joined me specifically for the day.  They were apart of a greater group, a Wellspring Living circle of giving, who had organized the previous art day as well.  These women had abounding love and graciously poured it out on the girls at Wellspring!

Once the girls were seated and ready to paint I brought out my sample.  To my surprise, many of the girls had never heard the word chevron.  Thank goodness I wasn't behind the trend!  But many simply wanted to paint their "own thing."  I bargained that if they would try something new, just mark it out with a pencil, then I would let them paint whatever they wanted on top. Haha! After teaching many times now I should be used this!

I wasn't as cool as I had thought. ; )

The girls caught on quickly to drawing the pattern and were ready to create.  What ensued was pure passion.  It was a bottle of emotion and love that poured out on the canvases.  Paintings for special people in their lives, verses that meant something significant, and carefully chosen colors and scenes.  Some painted the chevron pattern, while others chose their own path.  Either way it was a beautiful example of the power of art.

I witnessed frustration in the creative process and finally triumph and satisfaction in a work that expressed their thoughts and desires.  I was admiring one young lady's finished piece as she began explaining to me the significance of the names painted on the canvas and the person this would be given to.  My heart melted and I was putty in this woman's hand.  We found a shared bond within our family life and she could not stop beaming, but then again neither could I.

Once the painting was complete and everything put away by the generous hands of the tenants of Wellspring, it was time for goodbyes.  I was talking with a girl who had painted with me in May and she announced she was graduating from the program some time in the future and wanted me to attend. I was beyond honored.  I would be able to watch her take a step into the joyous life Wellspring Living has so carefully prepared her and many others to live.

It is a joy to be apart of this organization. You can learn more about Wellspring Living and how you can be involved in their wonderful programs here: wellspringliving.org.

Also, if you are interested in painting chevron stripes, I show a quick step by step here. : )

Painting for children is one of favorite activities!  And paintings that can benefit children, just tops the cake for me.  Ever since I had the privilege of teaching dance in college to foster kids, I have always had so much respect for the men and women who open their homes and their hearts to children placed in such a difficult and confusing situation. DreamWeavers is an organization that supports foster children and families.  They provide love, support, and supplies needed to help give foster kids a sense of normalcy and fun in their lives.  The money they raise allows foster kids to have birthday parties, take dance lessons, or learn how to ride a horse.  So, it was with great joy that I happily painted three pieces for their Night of A Thousand Dreams fundraising event.  The event featured a night of entertainment and silent and live auctions to benefit children in foster care. My painting "Girl Reaching For the Stars" went for a price beyond my expectations (and even beat out autograph pieces from Carrie Underwood and Justin Bieber..hehe!!) What an honor, blessing, and joy I got to share with DreamWeavers that night!! For more information on DreamWeavers of Georgia check out their website at dreamweaversofgeorgia.org.

Today I will finish a rather late Christmas present or a very early birthday present for my mother in law!  It is a three-canvas array of purple flowers and has been a really fun challenge of color shades and detail!

She wanted hydrangeas, but also wanted a long narrow piece.  In order to make a very round flower, narrow, I decided to make the painting a close up shot of the flower-which actually looks like several little flowers put together (I have recently gone through a O’Keeffe phase. Possibly my inspiration?)

In creating the design for the painting, and any painting for that matter I am always challenged to make sure the picture I am painting is truly original.  This is a subject, which can delve deep into legal arguments on copyrights.  If I find a picture of a purple flower, am I allowed to paint it?  What credit is due the photographer?  What if the picture is denoted “free access” can I still feel like the work is all mine?  (I believe there was a similar situation recently with the iconic Obama campaign painting—It was painted from someone else’s photograph.) Well in providing myself peace of mind, and a bit of a compromise, I found a picture online that I liked, and I manipulated it in Photoshop.  UPDATE (7-31-13):  I contacted the photographer of this image, Jennifer McGregor, she has given me the rights to use this image and show you all online.  She gave me great insight from her perspective as a photographer on when artists should and should not use a photographer's work.  She said her photographer friends generally believe a rule of 20%.  You can take up to 20% of an image for painting.  For example, use a sky from one picture, flowers from another, and a tree from another.  Check out her great photos! You might even see me use her work in the future! She has given me full permission to paint several of her beautiful flowers. ; )

Below are some pictures of my painting process step by step from her image to my painting:

This is the original picture, as found online. Right here:  http://www.jenniesphotos.com/images/purple_hydrangea_flower_large_photograph.jpg

The picture after being arranged in photoshop.

The early stages of painting.

The finished product!