Seeing Myself

I'm currently taking an online class on willowing.ning called "Radical Wellness". Many participants are taking the class to eat better and lose weight, but my focus is different. I want to learn to love my body again - this middle-aged body - as it is! Not as it used to be or as it could be, if... - but as it is now. Who know that this would be such a difficult goal.

The journal page above is from one of the exercises for the class. The drawing is only loosely based on a photo of me and then the photo on the left of the piece was taken just a few days ago. I did an image transfer with it, which gives it that more transparent look.

That piece of artwork and my recent visit to the Frida Kahlo exhibit in Atlanta gave me the idea of doing a series of self portraits.

Just to learn to look at myself through my own eyes again - with kindness. To look at my face as a whole and not just notice the pimple on my chin (which magically didn't make it into my drawing...) or the lines around my eyes.

I want to release that critical inner voice that is forever telling me what is wrong with me, what I have to  change, what I "should be" doing.

On a different note, we were supposed to be in Florida (in the Tampa area) right now for a mini vacation, but decided to postpone due to Tropical Storm Andrea. And a good decision that was! We are getting plenty of rain here in Savannah from the storm and will through tomorrow. And now I have plenty of time for making art!

I hope my German readers and friends are not affected by the incredible flooding in parts of Germany. I've been following it on the internet over the last few days and hope that the flood waters will recede soon!

Wishing you all a beautiful Thursday!

❧ Silke