An Artists Day Off with Horse Totem Wisdom and a Gourd Farm

Sometimes you just need a day off, a chance to get away from the grind...the appointments...and let your mind relax in a different space. This is especially important for an artist. Those outdoor excursions are often just what is needed for a breath of fresh air and inspiration.

A trip to Ghost Creek Gourd Farm

This morning as the coffee was brewing and the dog was impatiently pacing, waiting for a bit of something different, we decided to take a trip to the gourd farm. We were already in need of some new gourd stock for our art. We always prefer picking our own gourds at the farm rather than ordering them. This gives us a chance to envision a piece of art in its raw state before we even get it home. 

Packing our coffee and tea cups, the dog, dog treats, bottles of water, bins for the gourds, and don't forget the boots since it's been raining at the farm...we started out. 

Halfway there we needed to stop at a little farm along the way to say good morning to the horses, who quickly come running to see you when they recognize an animal lovers heart. After  a quick conversation with them and a few dog kisses, we were back on the road to the multitude of gourds waiting for us.

Stopping to say hello to the horses

Horse Totem Reminder

The visit with the horses was timely Horse Totem wisdom for us, reminding us to explore our freedoms and expand our horizons while traveling on our journey.

I spent the rest of the drive sipping my tea and watching the tree silhouettes zipping by, thinking about....well, thinking about everything. Art, Life, Pain, Healing, Joy, and Directions. All these things filled my mind until after awhile, finally, all I thought of was "right now". Quietly my mind became passive and open, like a big huge field lying in front of the horse who is waiting for the signal to 

"Be Free". 

Soon I heard the gravel crunching under the tires as we slowly turned down the road to the farm. Off to the side you could see the fields filled with the year's promise of gourds that are just waiting to be transformed by loving hands.

Gourd Drying in the Field

Gourds waiting to be brought into the Pole Barns

Ghost Creek Gourd Farm

We made our way into the pole barns where Dickie and Linda have bins upon bins lined up and full of cleaned and dried gourds of every imaginable type. With our big reusable bags and empty bins we began choosing gourds for our art...precious supplies for making our frame drums, gourd rattles, bowls, vessels, jewelry, and figurative sculptures. We were assisted greatly by their dogs especially their beautiful male weimaraner who kisses and plays with you with each step you take. 

With bags and bins full, and inspirations brimming to a new level, we loaded back into the car for the trip home.

Gourd Shopping Done

What was my greatest gift of all from the trip?  

"Optimism"

Have a gorgeous day everyone ! And remember, sometimes you just need to take a day off to recharge your batteries :)

(If you are wanting to visit a Gourd Farm in the Southeast, our recommendation is Ghost Creek Gourd Farm.) You can visit their website here

http://www.ghostcreekgourds.com/

They also sell their gourds from their website.

And to see some of our own creations from Gourds you can visit our website at

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/

Seasons of an Artist and Wisdom in a Pumpkin Patch

 

The inspirations that can  influence an artist's work are varied and diverse, but the change of the seasons is usually a common thread between them. Whether their themes are on nature or not, the environment  can lend a hand in their work by color choice or symbolic perspective.

Pumpkins and Gourds posing at the Pumpkin Farm

 

My art does is fact focus on nature, the symbolism of the seasons, animal totem meanings, and how all of these things lend to our emotional and spiritual growth as humans. The arrival of Fall is my most loved season and has been since I was a child. The chill in the air, the comfort of a sweater, the embrace of Mother Nature as she splashes the landscape with fiery passionate colors, and the knowing of how important the need to be grateful for soon a quiet, barren, and introspective time will be creeping over the mountain. Fall wraps around my heart reminding me of tradition and family and a closeness of the spirit.

Brilliant Orange of Nature's Bounty

 

This past weekend we took the day to venture about through Apple Country here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where apple and pumpkin farms and roadside stands are frequent while traveling down the winding roads. A stop at the Cabbage Shack, where yes you guessed it, they sell cabbage. Not the usual run of the mill cabbage that you see in the grocery, but "mountain cabbage" which are large and a rich green with brilliantly full leaves.

At the Cabbage Shack

Mountain Cabbage

Choosing one of them is like choosing one diamond from a mine..they all look wonderful. And while getting a cabbage at The Cabbage Shack may seem like a very mundane chore...to me it is getting a gift from the Earth, a gift that was made specifically for the good of my body. You can feel the nutrients through those leaves and at that moment I am present and in tune with listening to my body, it's needs, and our connection with the Earth. The nurturing of my body is almost a meditation for me.

And soon I am drawn further down the road to the pumpkins and the gourds, for what would Fall be without them? Today everyone is out getting pumpkins. Many tourists have come to our little spot in the mountains for this experience, and the choices are many. I of course have recipes running through my mind, because I couldn't imagine just cutting one up, but need to have a use...so my plan is to roast pumpkin seeds, make a pumpkin seed brittle, and to make a Sausage Pumpkin and Sage Casserole.

Choosing my pumpkins

And as you can see, we both have different likes

And of course, this one needed to find it's home with us

Now you may be thinking I have totally veered off topic here...what does this have to do with the seasons of an artist? Well...everything. Because it is about the art of living, the art of being, and the art of connecting with natural elements. When we have mastered this, we have unlimited inspirations in creating  and it allows us to sit at the canvas with our authentic selves. Our ability to make our mundane chores become a grateful meditation, and our appreciation for life in all forms, brings a wider scoped perspective to our artwork.

And while my art always revolves around nature and empowerment, it does change during this season...bringing a different color palette and a different view of ourselves as humans during this season. A deeper richness comes forth, and because I personally resonate with this time of year...my work will come from a deeper place within me. Since Autumn arrived it has reflected this different tone...

Artwork by Jeanne Fry

Happy Fall everyone and I hope you resonate with the magic of the season.
Namaste



If you are interested in seeing more of my current artwork you can find it in my Artfire Studio here

Original Painting Greeting Cards on Artfire

Original Paintings on Artfire

Choices in our Directions as Artists

Like the ebb and flow of time, so goes our directions as artists. Life experiences and a continual fine tuning of our philosophies, creates more possibilities to explore within our creativity.

We have studied the growth of our Art over the years, reflecting back over the changes from the beginning until now. Trying to stay conscious that our Art is speaking not only to us, but to those who collect it, we have made choices on where to currently expend our creative energies.

For example, over the years we only sold Original paintings, and did not dabble in offering prints of those works. But we have found that certain pieces deserve the opportunity to be offered in that way, in order to reach more people who resonate with the work. So now, specific Paintings and Photography that is meaningful to us, are offered in a new forum for our collectors through Fine Art America. Here you can choose to collect some of those works, in different sizes, on archival papers, on stretched canvas, matted, framed...all a choice for you. Each week I will add more to the collection and hope that it widens the scope of possibilities.

http://jean-fry.fineartamerica.com

Our jewelry has also made a transition, not only from being solely created from gemstones, but now offering more mediums with clay, bone, and glass beads. But probably our biggest change is venturing in the use of one of our favorite Natural materials...the Gourd.

The Gourd is designed and cut, painted with layers of hue to enhance it's richness, and then embellished with a complimenting bead work. Each pendant is hung on long soft leather cord that can be adjusted in length.

What we love most about the Gourd jewelry, is the ability to offer our Gourd design, Painting, and Bead work...all in one piece. It also allows us to utilize more of the gourd, instead of wasting small pieces.

So, this new evolutionary period will produce...more Paintings, Prints, and Photography...a larger line of jewelry including more natural materials....a new line of Art Doll sculptures that will be revealed soon...a larger line of Gourd Rattles, Drums, and Cedar Flutes that utilizes a blend of contemporary yet still natural persona...and some things will be discontinued.

We will be choosing more galleries to show in, that will allow us to more time to spend on our Storytelling Performances  and Workshops, and hope that you enjoy the transition along with us.

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/

The Long Corridor ~ First Painting in the Extracting the Raw Series

Extracting the Raw ~ A Woman's Journey from Pain to Promise

The first painting created for the series is called the Long Corridor. It is a memory I carry from the age of 4, with the fear and anticipation of being taken to the Operating Room for my amputation surgery. The waves of water that carry me there are the emotions that I held, but did not share with any other person.

Childhood is left behind those doors, for when I emerge, the challenges that lie ahead require a more serious spirit.



Turning the Pages with Anticipation

The beginning of 2011 is just mere hours away. Deciding how to welcome it in is probably just as important as how we live it. As I let the slide show run through my mind of the year's progress, I think of how events unfolded and my perceptions of those events. Some of those memories are beautiful and happy, and others sad and weary. Though I choose not to let the more negative ones weigh on me, clouding my judgement, because it's all about the journey isn't it? These are the things that make us who we are. Life is messy. Life is unpredictable. And, Life is the ultimate schoolroom. How we perceive the event, decides who we are.

I accept that I cannot control the things around me, but I can control how I react to those things. I strive for my dreams and have the ultimate faith that my dreams will be realized. How I get there...that is part of the story that keeps me sitting on the edge of my seat, turning the pages with anticipation. 

My wish for myself and those around me is that we create a beautiful story together, and that as the pages turn we feel fulfilled, supported, inspired, joyful, and complete. That our wants and needs  are always met by the infinite energy of the Universe, and that we have fun getting there on the journey.

Namaste

The Best Part of Being an Artist

Waking up at 4am this morning, is my prodding to write before I start my day. Sometimes it may be a poem, a short story, a blog post, or part of the book that I am writing that seems as if it is taking forever. I love this part of the day, when everything is quiet and you feel as if you are all alone in the universe, except for the gentle stirrings of life nearby..the birds rustling in the trees, a lone car going down the road. This morning the rain is the only thing that is awake, gently pattering on the roof and bringing a chill to the mountain.

As I make my tea, I think about the creations I am going to work on today in getting ready for this weekend's show. And although most everyday is filled with the passion of Art which I dearly love, I know that I work harder and longer every day than I did when I worked  the typical 9-5. The difference with doing something you are in love with and just working the "job"...I don't get burned out. The creative flow is continual, which makes me yearn for more hours in the day. But if asked, "What is your favorite part of being an artist?" my reply would be sharing it, watching and listening to those that view it. I love to stand off to the side and watch and listen to how people engage with it, what is makes them feel, what it makes them remember. A silent conversation that  goes on between us, a part of my soul communicating with a part of yours.

When I create my art dolls, I want them to speak to you, to tell you their own story. Their facial expressions are what people connect with.

It doesn't matter, man or woman, young or old, I am connecting with you on the most vulnerable level of me.

And while I am focused on the visual aspects, John's  primary medium is through his Native Flute music which is so absolutely beautiful. The biggest joy, playing music for the children and watching their smiles.

These are the things that connect us as humans, the stories, the laughter, the understanding of one another. This is what lets me know that it is indeed possible to be at peace with one another and leave our baggage and separatism at the door. This is why I love being an artist.

http://www.consciousartstudios.com/