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

Kokopelli and Kokopelli Mana Symbolism Gourd Art Bowl

Kokopelli and Kokopelli Mana Gourd Art Bowl

Stories have swirled for years and years about Kokopelli and sometimes you will hear them about Kokopelli Mana, his counterpart.

Kokopelli has long symbolized fertility, abundance, replenishing, music and dance. Stories abound on "when" you will see him, many say he brings the spring...others say the hump on his back is filled with seeds for planting, or it is filled with songs, and some even say the bag is filled with children whom he gives to young women that have no children.

Whatever his story, I enjoy seeing him depicted with this counterpart, Kokopelli Mana, because of course we ALL have another half in this world.

Kokopelli and Kokopelli Mana Gourd Art Bowl

The Kokopelli & Kokopelli Mana bowl is no longer available, but you can see more of our artwork in our Artfire Studio



She Releases the Weight of the World, a Woman's Evolution and Empowerment, Original Painting

This week I seem to have a theme within my artwork, of Self Preservation. Of course my paintings always correspond with my own life or those around me; this time I find myself focusing on releasing stress and attending to one's personal needs - finding a balance in spirit.

"She Releases the Weight of the World" Original painting by Jeanne Fry

She holds the tapestry of life's worries and responsibilities. As she grows older she realizes how heavy that blanket has become. At one time it may have served as  a security that she could use as a shield to avoid facing her fears. Now she sees that its enormity would and could distract her from living life on her own terms.
She knows that  there are parts of that blanket that are important to her, responsibilities to things that she loves and therefore she  would not allow an unraveling, for those things are all connected. Throwing away the blanket is not an option for her, but HOW she allows that blanket to be prevalent in her life is what she desires to change.   
She sees that she need not carry it at every moment in her day. She decides that she won't allow "it" to make her decisions in her journey, holding her back. She will pick it up and tend to what needs to be tended to each day, and then will set it down and continue letting her authentic spirit evolve.
When she lays it down, she allows any stresses to flow away, giving her time to breathe and come to a grounded and secure place in her own right. She in a sense has drawn a boundary, a boundary that honors and respects her Soul.
The Circle of Life resides above her, a continuum of the Universe, and she has found a way to keep her balance, to have a peace while dancing in the waves of Life and Love.

The Original Painting is available in our Etsy shop here:
She Releases the Weight of the World Artwork on Etsy 

Creating of the Blessing Bowl

This weekend we created the Blessing Bowl. I had very specific intention when I started designing this bowl. After spending the last several weeks (or shall we say months), watching those around us suffering with anxiety and stress over the economy, their jobs, and the usual triggers of worry....I thought of what I could create to be uplifting. Uplifting beyond the work that we usually do that is meant to be empowering.

 

Blessing Bowl created from Gourd by John and Jeanne Fry

So the creating began with a focused cleaning,cutting, sanding, drilling,  and more cleaning  of the Gourd. When it was prepared for it's transformation, careful thought and intention was in place while the design work began. Thoughtful time was spent while hand painting each small design on Gratefulness and Positive thoughts.

Blessing Bowl by John and Jeanne Fry

The initial layers of paint of Burnt Umber and Raw Sienna were done to create an aged look, to symbolize our past - lessons learned, experiences had, stories from our elders, that have helped make us who we are today.

The vibrant colors in the design work contrast the aged look, representing the Present, our Vitality, the Moment.

As I painted through the night, my thoughts were that the bowl would be filled with Affirmations and the things we are Grateful for...a kind of storing place for those times when we feel down or discouraged. I imagined the bowl filled with pieces of happiness, so that when we need that occasional pick me up, we pull one of the meaningful little pieces of paper out to remind us of what we have in life.

My hope is that whoever becomes the keeper of the Blessing Bowl, they fill it full of slips of paper that represent the treasures they hold in their heart.

The above Blessing Bowl is no longer available, but you can view more of our gourd bowls in our Artfire Studio

You can find more of our work on our website at
http://www.consciousartstudios.com/

Owl Totem and it's Symbolic Meaning

Owls have been intriguing humans for years.

This nocturnal bird wears a cloak that symbolizes the Mystery.

 It's amazing eyesight is representative of perception and new visions opening up to you...the ability to be aware of things that others may overlook and to see things in new ways.

Owl wings have a fringe that provides them with silent flight, which is a useful lesson for us, teaching us that sometimes it is best to be silent about our ventures in order to bring the greatest success.

They carry a wisdom of the darkness, of the nocturnal, of the unseen. While some fear this wisdom, truly it affords us a balance of light and dark, a balance of the obvious and the hidden.

Owl totem medicine is extensive and for those who are studying the owl, would benefit from learning about the different types of owls to realize their depth.

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