Use Your Imagination

Sometimes things are unexplainable. What makes things happen, why things happen, who makes them happen, and when will they happen. As far as I know, it's all for a reason and it all will make sense eventually. You know, it's like when all of a sudden you feel that light go off in your head. It may not be the answer you are extremely thrilled to hear or one that you will hurry and go tell your family and friends, but certainly it is one that is an eye opener. There have been one too many situations in my life when this very thing has happened to me and I am sure that you all can relate.

This picture...you may wonder what it stands for, but you may also have used your imagination. Honestly you can make of it anything that you want, but to me, it has an extreme importance behind it and one that will forever remain in my mind. Interestingly this did not happen while sitting and thinking about what in the world will I draw, or an assignment that had a due date; the kind you rush to finish at the very end of the grading period because your teacher had just reminded you that things are due in one week. No, no not at all, but rather this was made while sitting in a highly uncomfortable seat sitting next to two complete strangers with a small table in front of me, an incredibly irritating ridiculously small window, and not to mention the untouched package of airline peanuts in my lap. I was hundreds of miles up where the world is nothing but pure spectacular scenery; where birds may not even be able to reach; where the sun beams it's light so clear that you feel you are no more than a few hundred feet away from it; where the clouds look as if they are your pavement; where the colors of the sky are perfectly painted against a blank canvas with no err. I saw this scene and thought of a dear close friend; a friend who I knew would want nothing more than to take a shot of God's marvelous wonder and hidden masterpieces. As I sat and thought of what the expression on his face would be if he were sitting next to me I laughed and pulled out my black ball point pen and my small drawing pad. This drawing had nothing to do with the omnibenevolent watercolor sky, but rather something to do with my friend. I knew how much he enjoyed my black and white artwork and how he enjoyed graphic design, so I threw together a little something like this picture you see above. It did not take me long, and it was not anything that took me a long time to figure out. I just drew and whatever came of it, that would be that.

It was only just recently that I showed this to my friend, and his reaction was just what I had been anticipating for a few months and besides that, I hoped he would like it. To my surprise he loved it. He does not know the story behind this drawing, but now he will. I am happy to hear that my random motivation to draw this while flying on a plane to Georgia came out to your liking. I do give you some credit for my inspiration and I apologize that you could not experience the unforgettable artwork I did that day.

In saying that, I guess my main point is, what inspires you? Is it seeing another person, thing, situation, event, scene, or music? Well, for me it is when I find something near and dear to my heart that I feel the need to express because of it's effect on me. Everyone has something that inspires them, so find something and use your imagination.

All This Hart Can Do is March On

Life comes at you fast I think we can all agree. Such as my dear friend the rose. It's beauty is anticipated for months, then weeks, and then days. Once it begins to bloom it reminds us of how quickly young ones can change and mature; the following day it opens a bit more into its adolescent life where it is just beginning to fully bloom; and by the third day, the rose has completely opened and is beautiful as it knows that any day now it's petals could fall off and it will wither away. It is the process of life.

I have always pondered about the way of life and how people believe it to be silly. To me, life is joy; pure joy. We have known nothing but life, and it is wonderful and mysterious, so how could one call it ugly and pointless? Have you taken the time to look around and see what outstanding creations live among you? Just today as my family and I were starting down the hill of Oakland to begin our six hour journey home, we noticed the scene. It was unlike anything I have seen on that hill for all the many years I have passed by that same gap of trees. There were no clouds, absolutely none. The smog was nonexistent, the marine layer had passed, and the sun was shining down on the city of San Francisco. Never before had I realized how lucky people are on that single hill in Oakland to wake up to that view every morning and sadly most take it for granted. Even in the most "trashy" places in the sunny state of California, I found 10 seconds of utter beauty. It is the process of life.

The life I know is full of hatred and disgust, but in the bad there is always good. Thankfully I am reminded of that every morning as I walk outside my front door with my mom waving goodbye to me and saying, "Have a great day!", and my baby sister calling out, "I wud you Kiki!"; as I walk down the green steps of my mothers entry way, and glance at the new yellow roses immediately to my right. It is everywhere; It is the process of life.

This rose represents my grandmother Louise who passed away last July. She was the most optimistic woman I have ever met. Her life was like a rose (a red one considering that was her favorite color). At the end of her life she gave it all for that one last petal to stay on it's stem to see one more day of light. Boy, she did a fantastic job, she never gave up, instead our dear dear Lord took her from her misery and strife. She had been holding on so long, that her last petal withered before it fell; Grandma Louise did not give up. During the last few weeks of her life, I created this picture in hope that she would be able to see my art, to see what I made for her and give her hope that she could conquer again. When I was told that my grandmother would not be able to see anything I could show her because of how sedated she was, I put down my pen. I could not keep creating the rose that was only meant for her eyes to see because dear Grandma could not see. My last encounter with Grandma Hart was a sight I will never forget and one that I cannot bear to relive by sharing with you, but when I saw her, I took my pen and began to draw. I couldn't give up on her and had to let her see it. Before I was able to visit her and show her one last time, she passed...
It is the process of life.

Today this picture is finished and here is how it turned out. All This Hart Can Do is March On is complete and shows how life, even in the bad leaves an everlasting effect of beauty on someones heart.

I love you Gramma, we will march on...

My Life Verse

Very few times in my life have I been compelled to draw something with words written on a piece of art. I feel that the best way to express yourself is without word; silence. In this case, this it is my life verse and without this very reference written on it, I is as if I am hiding the truth behind my drawing.
James 1 talks about perseverance, trials, temptations, and fighting the fight. Personally, it is a difficult read the first time through because it appears to contradict all that I have learned in my Bible school classes or Sunday gatherings. When I read further and deeper into the verses, the Lord's mighty words become the story of my life; His words become my strive to fulfill my duties in my temporary home.
My Life Verse was created Summer of 2008. I began drawing it when I found out my grandmother Louise was ill. This verse was given to me as an assignment from a friend in the beginning of June. I read it. "Ehhh that's cool I guess." Finishing the read for a second time, "Okay okay I can see how it may apply..." Third time, "Wow, thats totally true! I never thought of it that way before. And the fourth time, "Dang, Josh you are good, no no JESUS you are good. Shooot how did you know?!" Well the first book of James had everything to do with what I was feeling and scary thing is my friend did not even know; weird.

It is strange to me how every time I reread these verses (James 1:1-19) I feel a relief off of my shoulders as if God is telling me, "Kirsten, this is my plan for you, you can do it, I know you can make it through, just trust in me and let me lead the way...". His words are comforting in my times of need, and I recommend to anyone who needs some comfort, that he/she reads these verses.

Actually just recently I gave a presentation in front of my Philosophy and Apologetics class on James 1 and it was a little depressing. That's probably what you get when the audience you are speaking to are teens who are extremely tired, teens who have listend to about 20 of these things already, teens who don't really give a care about what you are saying because its only nine in the morning, and teens who honestly...well who am I kidding they are TEENS! That should say enough in itself. I loved every minute of it, and all I wanted was for them to come to some knowledge of the fact that doing the right thing is actually worth it. Hard to believe? I know. It was worth it, my teacher liked it!

[This piece is simply a ball point pen (black); a.k.a my favorite and most preferred tool.]

Clochard dans la Nuit

Black and White: my favorite. Color is beautiful, and I will be the first to admit that. I love colorful objects and scenery and cannot get over the beauty of nature and its breathtaking color, but I feel that black and white is all that is necessary in accomplishing art. I do not need different shades and tones of this and that to create a piece of art, all I need is the most basic "colors"; black and white.

Whatever the object is I am drawing or face I am mimicking, I can express the picture in the same way as color does with something as simple as a black pen. Beauty does not need color such as the night sky which contains the aesthetic scene of a black sea with a silver moon and white shining stars. It is all beauty to me.

In saying all this I am proud to announce the first official piece of Blondes With Rubies.This kind of project is different from my previous black and white pieces. Can you guess what it is? The beautiful cat of the jungle is done in Scratch point. It was my first time trying it out, and turned out well I do have to say so myself. When I think of this picture originally being a blank sheet of black Scratch point paper, it amazes me. The other students in my class did a fabulous job as well. We had a variety of animals to choose from including: alligators, iguanas, birds, monkeys, squirrels, the ever famous cheetah, grizzly bears, and plenty more.

It took me a total of 5 weeks to fully complete; a 20+ hour project. It was worth it! The actual picture looks much better, but this is about as good as you can get when taking a photo of it and posting it on the internet. :)