Think about it Thursday - Reasons for Marriage

Think about it Thursday is about marriage. A painting series I am doing is an Allegory on Alliance - Marriage & Meaning. So I am curious, what are the reasons for marriage in your mind? Why marry? What is essential in a marriage? Think about it.

Think about it Thursday - Your Nickname

I stayed up until 6 am last night/this morning, got 3 hours of sleep, then went to go pick up another daughter from the airport that is visiting this weekend. Then I slept an hour this afternoon. So it may be Thursday night for you but I think it's really only Thursday morning for me. 

Think about it Thursday is about your nickname. What sorts of nicknames do you have? And how did you get them? Or if you don't have one why is that? Do nicknames change us? 

I have a few nicknames. One my extended family and a few close friends call me - Shan, Shannie, or Shannie Wannie. Then there is one my Uncle Wayne gave me Tai Tai and pretty much he and my Aunt Les are the only ones who call me that. It came from some movie of a woman being very submissive and servant like. Hummm... so not like me, it was given more as a joke but it's one that has stayed. Another one. My middle name is 'Francine Kuu Iini'. When I was young I couldn't say KOO-OO I (the i like in ink) I-knee. So I would say 'Queenie' my shortened version. From that I've always had this underlying queen-thing going on. I had a couple of teen nicknames that weren't necessarily positive, though no one meant to be mean with them, and they never connected with me. 

Mashaide posted that she has several nicknames that she only likes her family to call her. I understand the feeling. I remember one time someone using one of my nicknames, who hadn't previously used it, and it startled me because it felt like an uninvited intrusion. But, then over a short time it became very natural. These nicknames make a special connection with me and the person using them. I think it's changed me in that I feel like I belong in a special place to someone else. That is a good feeling.

Think about it Thursday - Rejection

Blue         oil          2004               approx   20" x  20"

For Think about it Thursday of course I have been thinking about rejection. It's something artist's definitely have to come to terms with in their profession. But I think almost everyone experience's rejection at some point in their lives. So, my question is how do you get over or move on from rejection in your life? What do you think? What do you do? 

Think about it Thursday - Dreams & BYU

2005 

Of course, Think about it Thursday is about dreams. Not the ones that happen in your sleep but the goal kind. I think they are called dreams and not goals because of their nature. They are usually a little more 'out there', difficult, out of our foreseeable path, unknown to others, maybe a little crazy. I think we also call them dreams because we ourselves might not even see how they can be accomplished. I had one of those dreams. 

At 17 I went to BYU. I was ill-prepared for college and didn't do well. Add a boyfriend in there, Allen, and well, I ended up academically suspended. (You really should attend class and finals, you can keep the boyfriend) I have always regretted those choices and I dreamed of going back and doing it right. It was a dream because we lived and planned to stay in California, we had many children and life was just happening. I really saw no way of how that would or could ever happen. 

Well, many things led to others and almost 25 years later I graduated from that same school. (Also, my 19 year old daughter graduated from the same school that same day.) Another one of my dreams was to learn how to paint people and I learned that there. I am totally amazed that all of that even happened and subsequently those dreams have turned into great blessings in my life.

That's a long time to wait for a dream. After that much time, I think that if I didn't have the dream (of returning to school, that school, or of wanting to paint people) I might not have recognized the opportunities and more importantly, taken them. 

So, for Think about it Thursday take the opportunity to search a little for your dreams. Let them surface, at the very least to yourself, and recognize what they are. Even if they're crazy. And if you feel so inclined and bold share them with us.

2005 

Think about it Thursday - Blog Comments

Think about it Thursday. Hummm. I had a conversation with one of my sisters and we started talking about my blog. She said her daughter often goes to my blog but never leaves a comment, not even when I ask for one. Now that got me thinking. 

I understand not wanting to leave comments. Sometimes it's uncomfortable to put myself out there or to 'introduce' myself online. Other times it feels like I am interrupting a conversation already in progress.  Sometimes the conversation's just not worth it or I don't want to invest in long term talking. Some moments, I don't really have anything to say. (I know some of you find that hard to believe.)  I kept thinking about this.

Then I thought about the blogging from the other end. From the 'receiver of comments' side of things. I totally enjoy and am enlightened by my blog-family (even new 'family' members.) When I throw something out there I am excited to hear what other's have to say, what other's think. And since I have a blog and especially since I ask for thoughts I am expecting people (even strangers) to talk back at me. But, the funny thing is, is that they don't stay strangers for long. 

Now, back to my never-leaves-a-comment niece. Since I actually know her I was so disappointed that she didn't, doesn't, leave comments. She is bright, articulate, funny, sweet, thoughtful. She is someone I would especially love to hear what she thinks. So, Niece of mine that never-leaves-a-comment on my blog or anyone else's. For whatever reason you don't leave comments it's okay that you don't but I would love it if sometimes you did. 

Blogging - posts and comments - is a new way of life. For me, I am enriched from my little blog-family circles and I end up getting more than I give. Is it the same for you? Think about it.

Think about it Thursday -

You might have noticed I'm not exactly a morning person so all my posts usually end up later in the day. If this were my husband's blog you'd have something at 4 in the morning instead of 4 in the afternoon. How do people so off schedule from each other get married? But, that's not the Think about it Thursday topic - though it could be interesting. No, it's about art of course.

Art and the economy. So, in this economic climate (bad) why would there be any art market at all? Why would people still spend money on art? Should they? Would their reasons for buying art change? Does it change the reasoning of the market at all? Would you be more or less inclined to buy art now? As an emerging artist in the art market this is on my mind. Think about it.

Think about it Thursday - #5 Wrath

  

For Think about it Thursday I am posting a painting (not done yet) that I am donating to Kansas City Artist Coalition's (KCAC) Annual Fundraiser. It is part of the 7 Deadly Sins Series (or I might name the series Vice) #5 Wrath. I kinda like Vice #5 Wrath for a title, it's a little shorter, though 7 Deadly Sins is more well known. (Vices - Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride) I've made 2 of the masks for the series already - Wrath & Pride. I am going to do a series of Virtues next. Okay, I am wandering.

Anyway, I've added symbolism in this painting but I wanted to hear what you think about wrath and what symbolism you see. Think about it.

Think About It Thursday - What's Your Passion?

Think About It Thursday is a Question - What is your passion? Not the kissy, kissy kind. (Though that's loads of fun!) But the kind that makes you want to hurry up with other things so that you can get to it. And when you are working on it, it doesn't feel like work at all. You are excited. You have ideas. You loose track of time. You're in some enlightened zone somewhere. That kind of passion. Where you'd do whatever it is just for the sake of doing it.

Mine is to be creative. I HAVE TO BE CREATIVE. I loose sleep being creative. I forget to eat needing to be creative. I forget I have time commitments in the midst of being creative. I love when my day (and long nights) when they revolve around being creative. I can't not be creative. I've done so many things over the years just to get that creative fix. I love the rush. Did I mention my passion is being creative? Yeah, I'm a little bit of a junkie.

What's your passion? Think about it.

Think about it Thursday - Self Portraits

Self Portraits - artists do them frequently. I have done a few. This one is colored pencil of me when I was a baby, not to be confused with one I did as a baby. (That would be talent!) Many portraits are a traditional head and shoulders view. Many aren't. They add things to represent more of what the person is like. 

So, if you were doing a self-portrait today what would it look like? Would you do only your face or your whole body?  What would you be doing? Where would you be? What would be its mood? Would you add other elements? Things? Special objects? Would you add text? Would you add textural objects? What would you make it out of? These are just a few questions to get your mind going. If you're so inclined make one.

If you had to capture you at this given time what would you do? You would be leaving a piece of your  history. Think about it.

Think About It Thursday - Greenwich Workshop - A Fundraiser

James Christensen Print for fundraiser for Jennifer Mosher

Greenwich Workshop is sponsoring a fundraiser for an artist, Jennifer Mosher. She is battling cancer and you can read her story here. I don't personally know her nor have I seen her work but I can feel for the situation she is in. 

Thinking about something is the start of feeling things. And feeling a thing is the start of actions. And action is the start of making a difference in lives. I am not saying that you need to donate to Jennifer specifically. But, I think that after reading about her you will think something and have a feeling to do something. All I am saying is make an opportunity to do what you feel, whatever that is.

Make some kind of difference - think about it.

Think About It Thursday - Women Allegory

Think About It Thursday will be a post that has something for you to think about and comment on. I like to hear what other people see and think. It has been interesting to me to have people comment on my paintings and see what they are thinking. Perry Family posted some great concepts in the comments a couple of days ago for the Boyfriend's painting. Today is your chance. I had some specific thoughts on this painting. But, other people who have seen it come up with entirely different things. Let me know what you think. This isn't a quiz so let 'er go. 

sorry the image isn't good, i'll do better next time