Out of the Dust
Karen Hesse
And I know now that all the time I was trying to get
out of the dust,
the fact is,
what I am,
I am because of the dust.
And what I am is good enough.
Even for me.
Find Out of the Dust
Song Bird
Brandi Hofer
The repetition of the female portrait was to represent women as a whole, women coming into themselves, a reflection of life and self-discovery: this is what I wanted the portraits to portray. So it was a repetition of an image but each represented a different moment in time. That is why I refer to myself as somewhat of an expressionist — so much of my work depends on my mood and a moment in time. The purpose of the repetition is that I feel no frustration on perfecting a likeness — repeating it allows me to concentrate more on the use of media and expressing myself. And the way individual female viewers connect to the piece makes it a painting of them, a reflection of their “self”. – Brandi Hofer*
Find Song Bird at the Rogue Gallery
Visit Brandi Hofer’s website
An Interesting Woman
Stef Thompson
Photo by Martina Yach
I am an interesting woman because I am a woman of story. I have been created from stories; the stories told to me by others and the stories I tell myself.
Sometimes I am told the story of how I am brave and independent, living a life of travel and adventure…
Sometimes I am told the story of how I am beautiful, with all the right curves…
Sometimes I am told the story of how I will be successful, how I will achieve greatness…
Sometimes I am told the story of how I don’t have to be anything other than myself…
I hold onto these stories because I sometimes falter when it comes to telling my own story…
Read the Full Post on The Well Written Woman
More from Stef Thompson on Dodging Commas
Thankful
Jonny Lang
I’ve gotta take the time to say, that I’m
Thankful, thankful
For every single breath that I take
I’ve gotta be thankful, thankful
More from Jonny Lang
Youtube Post by AfrikiSun
Walkers with the Dawn
Langston Hughes
Photo by Marino González
Being walkers with the dawn and morning,
Walkers with the sun and morning,
We are not afraid of night,
Nor days of gloom,
Nor darkness–
Being walkers with the sun and morning.
More about Langston Hughes
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen
There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.
Winds of Change
Leanne Venier
I strive to tap into the natural creative energy that is shared by and connects all living things and transfer this onto the canvas; my work is intended to be as subtly nourishing and enriching to my viewers as it is to me. — Leanne Venier
Leanne Venier previously worked as an engineer and healing practitioner before focusing on her artistic talents. She is now a full time artist and Color Therapy Consultant. Find her on her website, blog and Facebook.
No Fear Here
Wheelchair Dancer
Photo by StopGap Dance Company
I’d like to paint my life in brush strokes large and strong. In colours loud and fierce. So that wherever I go, all of me goes. A life without fear.
I‘ve been thinking about what you have to give up to get wherever you are. Yes, I’ve been thinking about success. Or what passes for success.
In any field, I imagine — certainly the ones I’ve been in — the aspiring one is told that there is no success without sacrifice. Or pain. Or sweat. I’ve chosen to handle that the only way I knew/know how: by working my ass off. By sweating. Stretching. Rewriting. Practising. Ignoring the pain, the boredom, the resistance, the yearning, the agony and self-doubt. I’ve learned to be what passes for successful by not putting my “self” first, but by striving to exceed (not reach!) the goals that have been put before me.
But what happens if and when a self emerges?
Read the full post at Wheelchair Dancer
Days
The Kinks
Thank you for the days
Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me
I’m thinking of the days
I won’t forget a single day, believe me
More by The Kinks
Youtube Post by 13thfloorhendrix
Healing Quote of the Day
Painting Tulips Photo by Jim Culp
Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something. – Kurt Vonnegut