Catalyst One Hundred and Thirty-One

Catalyst One Hundred and Thirty-One

May 18, 2011, 4:00 am
Filed under: catalyst

 

As always, thank you to all of our visitors and all the encouraging comments you left for us. For those of you who did, thank you for playing along with us.

 

Ok! Here’s catalyst number one hundred and thirty-one:

 

Describe or show yourself at this point in your life.

 

We’re thrilled to have Susannah Conway as this week’s Guest Artist.

 

Here’s a quickie self-bio for Susannah:

 

Susannah Conway is a photographer, writer and the creator of the Unravelling e-courses. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, she is currently hard at work on her first book, to be published in the spring of 2012.

 

Make sure to check out Susannah’s blog and her twitter Registration for the most recent Unravelling class was on May 7th and the next one opens in August.

 

 

 

Here is Susannah’s art with this week’s catalyst. You can click on it to see a larger version and a lot more detail.

 

 

 

Susannah Says:

Spring has arrived here in the UK and it’s not a moment too soon. I’ve just spent the last five months writing my first book, and sent the completed manuscript to my editor on April 1st. Even though I have a whole stack of projects that are needing my attention I feel strangely adrift, as if the book anchored me in my days and now it’s gone I have nothing to hold on to.

 

Right now I am existing in the in-between space, like the blue sky between the blossoms I shot on Polaroid three days after my deadline. I’m wide-open and free, yet also expectant and full of nerves. Will my editor like the book? What’s going to happen in the editing process, when we work together to polish the words? Spring is the perfect metaphor for this process — how the blossom is so full of life and promise (the first draft), to be followed by the ripening in the summer sunshine (the editing), then the harvesting in the autumn (the final book). There is so much to play for, so much good stuff to come, I will take my cue from nature and let everything unfold in its own time.

 

 

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Here are some interpretations of the catalyst from members of our team.

 

Amy:

 

Amy Says:

I had my son take a number of photos as I considered this catalyst. I wanted to do something totally different, in fabric, and there is a half-started self-portrait on my design wall with a “pirate’s eye” in place. But, in the end, this drawing summarizes the “now” of me. It’s not a totally relaxed moment. It’s subtle, but the pose captures the waiting, the watching, and the sense of being alert and a bit on the edge. At the same time, I see in it the desire and gradual move toward acceptance, grace, and peace.

 

 

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Anna:

 

Anna Says:

Who am I now? A Woman – wife and daughter in one, someone who (I hope) found her own path and tries to follow it. My parents are surprised by decisions I made and goals I found for myself, but I feel it is right. So here I am: independent spirit, addicted to creating and finding pleasure in expressing hereself in paper art.

 

 

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Fran:

 

Fran Says:

This is a close-up of a silk scarf I painted. It really depicts me as I am right now: brightly colored, cheerful, confident, flexible and loose with my boundaries.

 

 

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Julie:

 

Julie Says:

This is a quilt that I call “Possibilities.” I wove strips of fabric together and added lots of hand stitching and beading to represent the journey I’ve taken so far. The large yellow square represents something new on the horizon — a door or a portal to a new adventure! I am in the midst of making some changes to my life. Lots of changes! And exciting new possibilities lurk on the horizon!

 

 

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Karen:

 

Karen Says:

It might not be sexy but what I feel more than anything at this moment is so very content. I feel like I am full of peace and joy but I also feel calm. I feel my career, my family, my art, and life in general are exactly where I wish them to be at this moment. And I do not take that for granted for a second. I work out daily. I spend time with my kids. I do all my work and fulfill my obligations. But I also know I am so lucky. And things will change. Tougher times will come. So I celebrate this moment of contentment.

 

 

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Larissa:

 

Larissa Says:

I painted a canvas sheet as part of an inspiration journal in which you can see myself locked in the highest tower of the castle I built watching time goes by while not being able to escape. To create it I transferred a my picture onto canvas and painted my background using stencils, glimmer mists and distress ink. After that I aded some embellishments as paper cutouts, bling and flowers.

 

 

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Opal:

 

Opal Says:

It came to me in a giddy moment. I saw myself as a “fish out of water,” looking beyond the familiar to what might be: the who’s, what’s, and where’s…if only in sporadic deep breaths of curiosity and courage. She is dressed in her shiny best, reflecting the light above, with a bit of seaweed wrapped around her body… ‘Fish’ is quilted with gold thread. Her body was created with fused bits of ‘prom’ fabrics from my stash. Torn strips of cotton, aptly named In The Beginning, create the water. Hand and machine quilted. 18″ x 18″

 

 

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Shelley:

 

Shelley Says:

My life right now is consumed with my family, home, and crafting. I love where I am right now in life. I have embraced the ebb and flow of life and it’s ups and downs. I concentrate my energy on my family and my love to create. These things make me happy! I love to use second hand items in my projects. Here I used a vintage frame and removed the glass. I covered the back piece with canvas and then added other second hand items and some lovely scrapbooking items as well. I wanted to combine my love for family and creating in this piece.

 

 

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Wendela:

 

Wendela Says:

How describe myself at this time of my life…: A mommy… A wife…An artist…A teacher…

 

 

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Now it’s your turn: show us your therapeutic art around “Describe or show yourself at this point in your life.” I urge you to give it a try. It can be any form of art as long as it speaks to you.

 

Leave us comments with your work so we can share in your creative therapy, too. If you don’t have a community or blog where you upload photos, you can upload them on our flickr group.

 

 

Remember, this is not a competition. If your art makes you feel even a bit better at the end, you’ve won.

 

Until next month, enjoy each and every moment.

 

 

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