hidden art

Making

| Kelly Barrow @ Faithacre Studio

So, I got some positive and encouraging response to my last post. Positive and encouraging is always a good thing!

I’ve decided to start making the art cards again even though I have a jarful already made. I enjoy the process and it’s a way to add more mindfulness to my day which I struggle with. I’m not great (yet) at sitting and thinking and just “being”. I tend to fill my minutes with activity and to-do’s and making art cards is sort of an in-between thing between the two.

Once a quote is chosen and the basic card designed, it’s all about the paints, paper, messy hands and process – mindless and mindful at the same time. It’s a good activity for me to engage in.

It’s also partly a “product” oriented activity as I’m making something for a purpose – art to share with the world in a small way.

Process and product!

In keeping with my goal to become a zero(ish) waste household this year and to get out of debt, I’ve decided to challenge myself to only use supplies that I have on hand and can re-use and re-purpose from things that show up in my life – mail, packaging materials and the like. I’m going to make do with what I have and purchase nothing. It shouldn’t be a problem. I have a lot of supplies “hoarded” in my studio and I haven’t been working creatively for quite a while.

Hopefully, making the cards will ease me back into art-making!

I’m hopeful that these cards continue to make their way into the world and bless someone’s day…

Hello out there…

| Kelly Barrow @ Faithacre Studio

Greetings faithful “followers” and a big thank you for sharing a smidgeon of my life as an artist…

I have lots and lots and lots of the Langston Hughes art card made and would like to get them out into the world.

If you are so inclined, I would be excited to mail some to you for you to drop around your neighborhood.  No big commitment, no exceedingly high expectations, not another stressful task for your already too-busy life…

…just trust me with you address and I’ll send you an envelope (you will need to check your mail, but you’re probably already doing that).  Then, just drop the cards wherever you are normally going…the store, work, on the sidewalk as you are walking….wherever.

No stress, no hassle…just fun!

Feel free to contact me here and we’ll work out the details.

Peace, love and creativity!

Celebration!

| Kelly Barrow @ Faithacre Studio

As of this moment…1,000 cards have been made!  Over 700 have been sent out into the world.

I didn’t really have a goal like this when I started. Just a vague idea of what I’d like to do.

What next?  I guess I’ll just keep making them.

The offer still stands…if anybody else wants to play, I’ll send you some cards and you can share them in your neighborhood.  Just send me a note at faithacrestudio@gmail.com.

 

A new poem!

| Kelly Barrow @ Faithacre Studio

Greetings and salutations,

I am back….both post-surgery and post-artists’ retreat weekend!

The healing and recovery from my surgery at the beginning of October is going well.  A bit slower than I expected, but progressing nonetheless.

The return from my artists’ retreat at Laity Lodge in the Texas Hill Country brought sadness and excitement.  I’m always reluctant to leave the lodge because it does seem to be a sacred place that closely mimics my idea of what heaven must be like.  You get to hang out with other artists from all over the world…visual artists, writers, poets, musicians, singers, songwriters, actors…did I miss anyone?  Oh, almost forgot…I took about 400 or so cards with me to share and be re-shared when all returned from whence they came – in Texas, New York, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri,and the United Kingdom to name a few.

The featured speaker was a gentleman named Malcolm Guite.   Check this out for more information:   http://www.malcolmguite.com.  He has just released a book of poetry entitled The Singing Bowl and has given me permission to reproduce it on my next series of cards.  I am very excited.  Here it is…

The Singing Bowl

Begin the song exactly where you are,

Remain within the world of which you’re made,

Call nothing common in the earth or air.

Accept it all and let it be for good,

start with the very breath you breathe in now,

This moment’s pulse, this rhythm in your blood.

And listen to it, ringing soft and low.

Stay with the music, words will come in time.

Slow down your breathing.  Keep it deep and slow.

Become an open singing bowl, whose chime

is richness rising out of emptiness,

And timelessness resounding into time.

And when the heart is full of quietness

Begin the song exactly where you are.

malcolm
Malcolm Guite

I’m off to start them right now!