Cloth Paper Scissors - January/February 2009 - (Page 41) 5. the add details 1. My favorite background layers include maps, personal letters, favorite book pages, dictionary and thesaurus pages, and personal documents such as marriage licenses and birth certificates. focus on the subject 1. 2. Though I’ve long considered Gina my creative muse (art shown on page 36), I usually reserve her image for personal and family artwork. But when a friend in Frederick, Maryland, asked me to create a piece for her shop called “The Muse,” I couldn’t envision it without the inspiration of Gina’s sweet, mischievous face. Through the process of visual journaling, I explored “the muse” to determine the symbolic words and images I’d use to narrate her story. A map of Frederick was covered with multiple layers of paint and collage, but remains visible to the close observer. A wash of color makes reference to the well-known clustered spires of the Frederick skyline. The Muse looks on from her seat in the sky, celebrating creativity in all of its glorious forms. Whether through painting, sewing, cooking, gardening, parenting, singing, or caretaking, she encourages us to express ourselves without judgment or fear. Gina embraced herself wholly and completely. And through her example, I’ve once again felt the childlike joy and wonder of living fearlessly. muse • • • 3. 2. 3. C P S
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