Running Horse Totem Painted Gourd Art Bowl

This week I have been working on several new gourd art pieces, bowls and ceremonial rattles. This particular gourd bowl began speaking to me before I even sat down at the work table, and I knew that I wanted to bring a horse to life on this earthen canvas. I wanted the Horse itself to a flowing feel of movement to it within its design. 

Since I had created a rich dark background on the bowl itself, I wanted the Horse to be full of Light, a striking contrast. I wanted the colors to feel like the wind and sky, to hold a crisp coolness as if you could feel the wind as you were running with him. 

Running Horse Symbolism: He teaches us the importance of being true to ourselves. You must seize each moment of every day and make it your own. Stand with strength and be determined about your destination and your dreams, and then run towards them. Take the journey and claim your space in the World.

The Running Horse Gourd Art Bowl is SOLD

A Trip to the Gourd Farm brings Creative Inspiration on a Winter Day

I am more than ready for this long dismal winter to be over. This one has been a particularly difficult one on my psyche, challenging me daily to be vibrant amidst a landscape that is like a blanket of brown and grey bleakness. Spring is around the corner and every once in a while Mother Nature will tease us with her sunny warmth. I'm anticipating the new season more than ever, and  looking forward to blossoming life and the dance of colors. A trip to the Gourd Farm yesterday was a definite must, bringing us one step closer to Spring and getting ready for some art shows.

Why make the trip?

I always opt to physically go to the farm to get my gourds instead of ordering them online. Keeping that human connection with the grower and being able to see the process of how the gourds get  from the garden to your studio makes your creation even more meaningful. By supporting local, I can see how the money stays within and supports that family and our community.

When we arrive, we are always first greeted by the guardians of the farm, the dogs. All of them are friendly, and of course if you pet them they are then your constant companions while you are choosing your gourds.

Cleaning of the Gourds
While I have made many trips to the farm, this time I was able to see a part of the production process that I haven't been able to witness before. The farm offers gourds that are cleaned and ready for you, and they do a pretty good job considering the amount of gourds they are working with. Very rarely I will have to do some cleaning, but most times the gourds are ready to work with. This is one of the things that I am most appreciative of with this grower, because cleaning gourds can be the most labor intensive part of doing gourd art.

As I started walking to the pole barn, there were a bunch of gourds in the metal tub getting a bath. I would love to have this set up for gourd cleaning, so effective and time saving.

Choosing of the Gourds

We gather many different types of gourds because we have an array of different artwork that we create with them. We choose large African Bushel, Bushel Basket, and Kettle Gourds for creating our Gourd Art Bowls. In crafting our Ceremonial Rattles we use Apache Dippers, Long and Short Handle Dippers, Goose Neck and Water Jugs. My Folk Art Gourd Dolls are crafted with all sorts of gourds, but I mostly use Chinese Bottle Gourds, Banana Gourds, and Goose Neck Gourds. African Bushel Gourds of a large size are used for our frame drums. Then of course we create pendants and jewelry from the gourds. We use the scraps from all types in doing so, but will also choose some nice Zucca Gourds and Cannon Ball Gourds.
The farm separates their gourds by type making it easy for them and visitors to find what they are looking for.

Walking through the barn looking at all the gourds could be compared to walking through an art supply store and looking at canvas. As you pick them up and check them for thickness and integrity, you begin thinking about what that "specific" gourd could become and all of its possibilities. Whenever I may be feeling a creative block, a walk through the gourd farm can pull me out of it before I leave. By the time we are back in the car for the drive home, I have a  list of themes and ideas for our gourd gathering in the back seat.
Once home I am ready to begin working with them. We grab pencils and start marking what each of them will be so that the cutting, grinding, shaping, and inside cleaning is more efficient. Over the next several weeks it looks as if we have a gourd factory, with various works stations set up to handle their processes.
Now, these two really spoke to me at the farm, although I am not entirely sure what they will become. They are wild cards...and the magic will be revealed later.

The Goodnight Kiss between Mother Sun and Father Moon

Mother Sun and Father Moon share a deep love from a distance. Each spend their days separately, watching over the sky, yet admiring the others Light. They were meant to exist connected yet apart. They are afforded a very small window of time at Dusk when the two can meet, and they cherish each moment they are given.

They long for one another and wish they could be together more, but their love for the Universe and their roles in it is just as great. So they accept the relationship for what it is, making their minutes together even sweeter.
Father Moon is quite sure that after seeing his love for those few moments that his own light shines even deeper and brighter throughout the night. He pays special attention to love struck travelers, and moves in closer to guide their way.
Mother Sun watches over with a special affection for those that feel a loss of love or have a sad heart, inspiring her to shine ever more brightly to console them.
Mother Sun and Father Moon are the first of all "star crossed lovers".

The Peacock Warrior Woman

How She Came to Be

The Peacock Warrior Woman has evolved after many years of nurturing her awareness during her daily meditations sitting underneath the Tree of Life. A family of peafowl were always present when she would visit. During her meditations she would gaze into the eyes of the peacocks feathers while she accessed her higher self. Over time after her prolonged connections with the peafowl, she began absorbing the wisdom of the peacock totem, or their  "medicine" we would say. Grandfather Peacock remains her closest companion to this day as they fill their visits with conversations of Philosophy and Meaning of Life.

  In her enlightened state she carries a balance between masculine and feminine qualities. This  allows her the gifts  of discernment and decisiveness  from the feminine side, while the extraordinary plumage from the masculine side brings an increased connection with her intuition and vision. 

What She Gives to the World

 The Peacock Warrior Woman is now a Guide, a Guide for those who are on their spiritual journey of reclaiming their inner spirit. The search to find the pieces of ourselves that we have lost or given away over the years is her primary focus, for she herself knows  the feeling of waking up and feeling as if something is missing. She "gifts" one of her feathers to those who are seeking, to help them connect with their own higher selves during meditation, to heighten their skills of awareness, and to access their intuition in a strong and consistent manner. 

The original Contemporary Folk painting of "The Peacock Warrior Woman" was created by Jeanne Fry. It is listed for sale in our Etsy shop where you can also see more photos and learn about the dimensions.

SOLD

The Wishing Tree Symbolism of Hope and Dreams

The "Wishing Tree" is always here for you. It stands tall and strong with a glow of purity and wisdom. Swirls of healing colors climb through its trunk, welcoming its visitors, inviting one to sit and make a wish. Each white leaf represents a guardian who is there to help. Offshoots of leaf stars peak through the tree, these for the wishing of "big" dreams.

When one desires to make a wish they choose a leaf and that guardian helps bring it to fruition. The only thing that the Wishing Tree asks in return is that you sit and tell it a story...your story. The Tree loves to listen and will keep the strictest confidence. 

The "Wishing Tree" is always here for you. It's right in the middle of your dreams.

Luna Moth - Her Gift and Symbolism

The Luna Moth (Polyphemus Moth - Antheraea Polypehmus)  may be considered one of the most Spiritual and Mystical of animal totems. To meet one is a special gift, for when she is in her adult moth stage she only lives for approximately one week. While living through their adult moth life they do not eat, for they have no mouth. One might say that their purpose is to reproduce, but I say it is to Love. They are born, they transform, they love, they die, and then are again reborn. Their cycles are short, as are our years while we are here.
We are reminded to make the most of our moments and to Live and Love to the fullest. It is an appreciation for the simple magic of existence, and to explore it with excitement.

Luna Moth Art Print https://jean-fry.pixels.com/products/moth-study-jean-fry-art-print.html

 She is most often seen in the evenings, attracted to the moon and to light. She speaks of our connection to the Feminine, our inner spirit, trust in ourselves and our intuition. We learn of the importance in finding the balance between light and dark, the seen and the unseen.

She is a reminder that when all is said and done, our Healing, Authenticity, and Sense of Love are the ultimate journey.

Luna Moth - Her Gift and Symbolism Art Print https://jean-fry.pixels.com/products/the-luna-moth-journey-of-faith-and-love-jean-fry-art-print.html

I brought the beauty of the Luna Moth into one of my new paintings, titled "The Symbolic Journey of Faith and Love". It was created in an Art Nouveau style, bringing the White Butterflies, Dragonfly, and Luna Moths into the Mandala design.

Luna Moth Weekender Tote Bag https://jean-fry.pixels.com/products/moth-study-jean-fry-weekender-totebag.html

Luna Moth Study Artwork Coffee Mug https://jean-fry.pixels.com/products/moth-study-jean-fry-coffee-mug.html

Luna Moth Gift and Symbolism Artwork Coffee Mug https://jean-fry.pixels.com/products/the-luna-moth-journey-of-faith-and-love-jean-fry-coffee-mug.html 

 

The Luna Moth is one of my favorite totems. Isn't it grand that such a small piece of beauty, can make us gasp in delight like when we were children?

The Spirit of the Luna Moth is captured in this Handmade Gourd Art Bowl with Dried Grass Lacing. It was created using a beautiful gourd from one of our local gourd farms, the cleaned and cut into its shape. Using leather acrylics, the background of the gourd was painted in blended shades of browns with hints of mint green and beige running through it. - See more at: http://jeannefryart.indiemade.com/product/luna-moth-painted-gourd-art-bowl-dried-grass-lacing-earthy-decor-jeanne-fry#sthash.NyaYdDyG.dpuf

Dream Weekend Art Sale in January in Conscious Art Studios Artfire Shop

Happy Cold Blustery Weekend everyone ! It is frigidly cold and blustery today, too cold to go out. So, while staying warm and cozy indoors, we're offering an Art Sale for this Martin Luther King weekend. We have been adding lots of new artwork to the studio over the past few weeks, so this weekend would be a perfect time to collect some beautiful art. 

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we have been creating lots of new Glass Art Print Pendants and Necklaces, Glass Art Earrings, and Symbolic Gourd Pendants. These handmade necklaces are rich, colorful, and meaningful. 

The glass art pendants and necklaces are available in many shapes; round, rectangular, and triangular. Some are set in metal while some just glass themselves. The metals come in silver, copper, and bronze finishes, with complimentary chains.

You can take a peak at them here

We have some new Gourd Jewelry added to the studio as well. These earthy pendants are embellished with gemstone, wood, and glass beads. They add a wonderful uniqueness to the wardrobe with their earth element elegance.

 You can see them here

Soon we are going to have to make another trip to the Gourd Farm, our supplies are beginning to get low. We have been crafting some new Gourd Art Bowls and I really love how they have been coming out. We have many gourd bowls throughout our house. I tend to collect lots of little things, and of course all little treasures need a home. I use my gourd bowls to store my gemstones and feathers. I keep one on my desk for paperclips, binder clips, and tape rolls. I have others that hold my pencils and markers. And I have a large one that I keep on the mantle that holds little index cards with written affirmations on them. When I need a little uplifting, I pull one out and keep it with me for the day.

"The Old Ways" Gourd Art Bowl by John and Jeanne Fry

And of course, our Artfire Shop is full of original paintings, greeting cards, original bookmarks, native flute music, art dolls, and lots of inspirational and symbolic art. We try and create the things that make our spirits sing.

Deer Totem Original Painting by Jeanne Fry

If you are staying in on this chilly winter weekend, grab a cup of coffee or cocoa and have a visit in our studio. Stay warm and enjoy our Dream Weekend Art Sale.