The Owl Butterfly: It's Beauty and Strength

Portraying nature and animals in my artwork is a large focus for me. The ability to bring their strengths and lessons to light in a visual way, is yet another confirmation of understanding them. As of late, I am intrigued and attracted to the Winged Ones, symbolically I suppose that the wings are engaging me because of the freedom in life that they represent.

Recently while studying on various animals I came across the Owl Butterfly, yes it's common name is truly Owl Butterfly. He comes from the genus Caligo, meaning darkness, which would be accurate since they do much of their flying at dusk when fewer predators are present.

The beauty of this Owl Butterfly is that his wings look as if they are an owl's eyes, which deceived the predators, thinking that it is something other than what it truly is.

Immediately I began to paint this beauty.

Beginning to paint the Owl Butterfly

Later that evening, after having started at 4am, I completed it.

Owl Butterfly Contemporary Folk Art Painting by Jeanne Fry

The original of this painting is not available, but you can collect prints here in my Fine Art America shop
Owl Butterfly Art Print on Fine Art America 

Fox Totem and it's Meaning

The Fox Totem is often misunderstood. His meaning and symbolism is quite complex.

Fox Totem Gourd Art Bowl by Jeane Fry

The Fox teaches the need and benefits of learning to camouflage in order to walk around unnoticed. This allows you to hear and see things that you might not otherwise be aware of, bringing a better clarity to situations.

 His fur is very thick, making him appear larger than he is, which is another lesson he teaches..the ability to have a larger "presence " in life when needed. It gives the illusion of a greater stature, making adversaries think twice about engaging, that Fox would not be easily overpowered judging by size alone.

 The fox is monogamous, living alone for some months and then in a den, and are comfortable with being alone AND with their partner. He teaches to enjoy one's completeness, to enjoy self, allowing for a comfort level when they are on their own.

 Their hunting style is similar to feline, and they carry great feminine energy.

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/3955972

Why am I an Artist? How Art Makes Us Feel

Why am I an Artist? Well, that could be a pretty complex question, but simply..because of how it makes me feel. Not only how it affects me, but how I see it affects others as well.

I have always believed that Art was Healing. The colors, the subject matter, the shapes, the composition, what it says, and what it doesn't say all lend to the effect on us. As a child at the age of four I received by first piece of Art, a painting of "Faith, Hope, and Charity", the three women...or were they angels..muses? Doesn't matter. I was given this painting in the pediatric ward at the hospital after my surgery, and I still have it to this day. The symbolism is what is important to me, and I realize that the symbolism is what I carry with me to this day, in my own Art and in my own Life.

Cleansing ~ Purity by Jeanne Fry

Much research has been done on the effects of Art in our lives, showing that art has an effect on our  nervous system and brain neurotransmitters. It can help to change our perception and attitude and that color and shape have a therapeutic influence.

Friedrich Schelling, a German philosopher, felt that geometrical forms could influence our emotions (ie. a curved line symbolizing flexibility, a wavy line symbolizing life, and a elliptic horizontal line symbolizing tenderness).

Music has been a large part of my life since the age of four as well, when I began piano studies. Today it's healing force is still strong in my daily life. Dr. Rubinstein, a Russian psychologist, noticed that "minor" chords helped in relaxing muscles, while "major" chords excited them. Instrumental music activates the right cerebral hemisphere of the brain. Today I work on music endeavours with my husband, mostly instrumental music of Native Flute and Piano, but also Guided Imagery Meditations laid over the the Native Flute music. We personally believe that the body has the ability to heal itself when it is in a relaxed state, therefore our focus is to bring that into our music.

I am a strong supporter of the Arts in all modalities, not only for it's pure beauty and intelligence, but for it's physiological effects our mind and body, the freedom it affords the artist, and it's function to use our voice with not only our vocal chords but with our heart and hands.

I began creating a series of painting that I find "Healing', who's intention is to integrate the mind and body as a whole. Three of the paintings are complete, with more in the process.

"Healing" an Original Painting by Jeanne Fry

"Introspection" an Original Painting by Jeanne Fry

"Cleansing ~ Purity" an Original Painting by Jeanne Fry

I created these paintings to be at an affordable price to those that find the symbolism important in their lives.

To see my available paintings, please visit my Artfire Studio

Our music offerings are collected by many massage therapists and yoga practitioners for their relaxing attributes.

Guided Meditation and Native Flute CD by John and Jeanne Fry

Instrumental Native Flute CD by John Fry "Tribal Journey"

Our Music available in our Artfire Studio

Day of the Dead Painting 2011

This year to celebrate Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos),I created a new original painting named Madame Dragonfly.

It was important to me to integrate the Dragonflies into the painting, for their symbolism of Light and Transformation. It is the carrying on and honoring of the beauty that was exuded in life, that now transitions into that next place that is the intention of focus.

She herself is a dragonfly, Madame Dragonfly, as you can see by her wings. She is  surrounded by 4 small dragonflies that on close inspection will show that they thmeselves are dragonfly skeletons. She emminates beauty and vibrance in both worlds.

The painting is not available any longer, please stay tuned for this year's featured Day of the Dead painting in our Artfire Studio

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/



Gourd Rattles hold Music, Art, and Spirituality

Rattles have long been used in Ceremony by many Indigenous Peoples, and still are to this day. They are a tool used in spiritual ceremony, but are also used for percussion in Music along with being works of Art.

Our Rattles are created from Gourds. Most have wood handles that are wrapped with leather, but some are one entire Gourd. We fill them with a combination of little noisemakers, dried beans, beads, small gemstone chips...each having their own distinct sound. Many times we try to match the sound to that of the Art that was painted on the Gourd.

This video allows you to listen to your Rattles

We do custom Rattles for our collectors as well.

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/NativeFluteCDsandInstruments.html



My Attraction to the Tree of Life

I have created many versions of the Tree of Life over the years, and keep going back to it again and again in my painting. It's importance to me in my art has been strong because it's philosophy represents the connectedness of all living things, and that we are all related.

The Tree of Life has had symbolism in many cultures and religions; Norse mythology, India, Judaism,Turkic Mythology,Buddhism, Baha'i Faith, Chinese mythology, Christianity,  and Egyptian culture.

It  represents our human connection with the physical world of nature, the connection of the heavens and the underworld, the connection of good and evil, and the cycle of life. It's vast symbolism encompassed in the Tree is simple yet complex.

My attraction reminds me always, that there is something bigger than myself, a complex woven system that ties us all together.

The Source, an Original Painting by Jeanne Fry

"Love Hangs On", an original painting by Jeanne Fry

My "Love Hangs On" painting is available in my Artfire Studio here
Love Hangs On Painting available on Artfire

Meditation Tree and Original Painting by Jeanne Fry
Prints available at

The original of this painting is not available any longer, but prints are here
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/meditation-tree-jean-fry.html

Fantastical Tree of Life by Jeanne Fry

The original of the "Fantastical Tree of Life" is not available any longer, but prints and greeting cards of it are available here in my Fine Art America shop
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/fantastical-tree-of-life-jean-fry.html







Owl Totem and the Mystery

Owl Totem and the Mystery

Owls have intrigued us two-legged for many years, primarily because they are a nocturnal bird. They see in the night what we do not see, and they hear in the night what we do not hear. They carry a wisdom that is primarily unknown to us, that of the Mystery.

They are aware of the Shadows, the things that exist that we are not aware of, and  the things we do not understand. Studying the Owl Totem, helps us learn to be conscious of our surroundings, and the motivations of others. It helps us reveal secrets.

The Great Horned Owl looks as if he has ears, although they are truly tufts of feathers. Symbolically he seems to be able to hear, what we can not.

Their flight is silent, helping them in their hunt, and is a good reminder to us that when we are "seeking", it may be best to be silent and observant in order for the answers to come to light.

                         

Night Vision Painting by Jeanne Fry

Night Vision Gourd Sculpture by Jeanne Fry
Inspired by the Original Painting



   Prints are available of my original painting on Fine Art America

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/night-vision-jean-fry.html

To see more of my available artwork you can visit my Artfire Studio