Silent Tears

“A Strong Woman knows how to keep her life in line. With tears in her eyes, she still manages to say…I’m Fine!

Inspirational Mixed Media Painting

River of Tears by Eric Clapton

I am the strong woman in this quote. For many years I needed to be strong so I could stay in control. Staying in control was the defense mechanism I created within my soul so I could continue to advocate and care for my disabled son. However, I cried silent tears. I never cried at my mother’s, father’s or son’s funeral because I didn’t allow myself to do so. Again I cried silent tears.

On the outside everyone believed I was a very strong woman. “You are a wonderful mother and a very strong woman, I don’t know how you do it”, I heard. I cried silent tears. I still cry silent tears for the loved ones who passed away. I cry silent tears every day thinking about my son in heaven.

I can relate to Eric Clapton’s song, River of Tears. All of the silent tears I cried for many years are enough to fill a “river of tears.”

I create visual journal pages because the demon inside my soul taught me how to cry silent tears and I am going to get rid it through every page I create in my visual journal. It is my therapy. My subconscious is going to kick this demon out of my soul through my paintings. I am healing with every stroke I make. How refreshing!!

If you are living with something very painful, either mentally or physically, pick up a journal and write. Write your feelings down. Get them out of your head and on paper so you can see them. If you are creative, paint; use a visual journal for the same purpose. Don’t cry silent tears like I did for years; get your feelings out of your mind and on paper. It is the beginning of cleansing your soul from all the demons living there for years. GET THEM OUT!, otherwise you will develop a physical illness like I did.

I have anxiety. However, I am being treated and doing fine. My mind was filled with all my pent up frustrations,fears and pain, it overflowed its cup (so to speak).

Well I need to get off my soap box.

Best wishes dear friends…
Hugs
Jude

FRIENDS

friends

THE STORY OF MY LIFE – ONE DIRECTION

The story of my life is an appropriate song for this blog post and the painting about friends. Ever since I was a young girl I wanted to have friends. However, I was shy and was only comfortable with one friend at a time. When another girl began to compete with our friendship, I always gave up and walked away. That is basically the story of my life.

I wanted to be the girl with a lot of friends but did not know how. I met a young girl back in grade school who, for some reason, clung onto me and never let go. We still see each other periodically and she will never cease to tell me how much she misses me and loves me. I feel the same way. We are totally different in personalities but we are life long friends.

After graduating from high school and I began to attend USO dances during the Vietnam War, I met two life long friends who are very dear to me. Even during a long period of my life when I had no contact with anyone because of my son, they never left me. We reconnected again and I cherish their friendship very much.

During the years taking care of my son I met a very dear friend who also had a special needs child. We needed each other’s friendship through the years for support and socialization. We are still very close and she will always be very important in my life.

Because of Facebook my life changed dramatically. I now have many friends who I communicate with on a regular basis. Many of them are from my high school days when I thought nobody cared. I now know that wasn’t so. I reconnected and I am surrounded by wonderful, compassionate men and woman who care about me and my welfare. I learned a very important lesson and it took 60 some years to realize it. Oh well…I hope to have many more years to enjoy them. LOL

Hugs,
Judy

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!

It’s my birthday today! I want everyone to be happy! Enjoy the video.

Have a great day, I will!!! 🙂

The Best Accessory a Girl Can Own….

CONFIDENCE

Confidence

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

This is my latest painting. It is for sale. If you are interested please contact me with a message.

Have a great day,
Hugs from
Jude

Life Book 2014 – Week 23

Took a few minutes out of my busy day to take the next class waiting for me in Willowing Arts – Life Book 2014.  I hope you like it.

 

Stag

CIRCLE OF LIFE – WRITTEN BY SIR ELTON JOHN

I live in the country and so many days I will find dead deer along the roadside. I really get upset. I realize the deer cross the road without looking. I also realize they can cause a car crash. I am really careful driving through the country roads. Many times I see a few baby deer cross the street ahead of me and I slow down, stop and watch them cross the street. They are so beautiful.

Have a great day and weekend. Hugs from Jude

Confidence

I worked hard on my blog post yesterday. It was very meaningful to me and I hope you all found comfort in my words. We all have family who served in the war and today is the day to remember them.

Today I decided to lighten up somewhat and take away the blah feeling from yesterday. It is a beautiful day here in Pennsylvania and I am heading outside now to take in the day and enjoy sitting on my deck with my husband and dog. Before I go here is what I decided to create today. I found the beginning of a face in an old journal and decided to finish it. I hope you enjoy and hope it puts a smile on your face. I feel better now that I created her. I was thinking about the men in my family who died and served in the war and I needed something to cheer me up. Enjoy!!

Lady GaGa – Born This Way

This young girl is showing her confidence and Born This Way is a suitable song to match this painting.

The best accessory a girl can own is confidence!

The Story of My Life

Lesson 11 “B” from Life Book 2014 was an assignment to create a tree of life. I changed it up a bit and I call it, “The Story of my Life”. Hence, the great song from One Direction, The Story of My Life is part of this blog.

It is not what I create, it is what my creation portrays. I never will claim to be a great artist. I am totally self taught. I will continue to learn and practice to improve my skills. However, it is not what I am painting; it is way more than the acrylic paint, stencils, oil pastels, etc. It is what I am saying within the piece which is the most meaningful to me. Each design I create is an inspiration either with words, poems or quotes.

The Story of my Life

The left side of the tree represents who I was before my journey. The right side of the tree is who I became after my journey. Jason taught me so much and this tree represents “The Story of my Life” and how taking care of a special child changed me through the journey.

In case you cannot read the words, the left side states: No faith, tense, insecurity, panic, frustration, fear, doubt and self-doubt. The right side of the tree states: spirituality, honor, belief, creative, love, trust, love myself and respect.

I hope you are inspired by this painting. It is my gift to you from deep in my heart my dear friends.

HUGS
Jude

Life Book 2014 – Week 10 – Respect Yourself

Halo – Beyonce

My creation for Life Book 2014 – Week Ten. RESPECT YOURSELF

This painting inspires love, respect, trust, believe in yourself and your relationship with your significant other and GOD.

Enjoy!!
HUGS
Jude

Life Book 2014 – Week Seven

Now that my book is finished and production will start in May, I am finding some time to play in my studio. This is week seven of Life Book 2014. It was a great class. However, it was out of my comfort zone. I gave it a try anyway since I promised myself I will do all classes provided this year.

The first picture is the front page which is filled entirely with collage papers and water color crayons, ink pen and and oil pastels. The middle of the page is a book which opens and shows a pop-up. You will see the pop-up on the second picture.

Jane Davenport taught this wonderful class and her sample is absolutely beautiful, nothing like mine. I now know I do not like pop-ups of any kind. My work is more simplified in style. Her original example was much different than this. It was a drawing of a sun, lady and beautiful eyes. I decided not to attempt her version and did my own design.  I am working on faces but have not perfected it yet.

I am missing my visual journal pages. I have been so busy I haven’t worked in my journal book for several months. This is where I do my best work. However, this is a class and just maybe, I will learn some new skills I will love.

Take care friends…and have a great weekend.

Jude

LIFE BOOK 2014 – WEEK SIX – PART ONE – NEGATIVE SPACES

Life Book 2014
Week Six
Part One

Prince

Happy Sunday WordPress friends and beyond. I devoted my entire day creating in my studio. When I am in my studio the whole world can crash around me but I am so focused, I would not notice. I started the day watching the video from Tamara Laporte who was teaching this lesson. My entire attitude can change just watching her bubbly personality. It is addicting in a good way:)

The first part of this lesson was devoted to negative spaces. This is something I know nothing about. If I have a canvas in front of me or paper I feel the need to cover the entire surface. I really needed to concentrate and control my urge to do so in this lesson. Surprisingly I really like it. I hope you do?? It is vibrant, simple, balanced and quite lovely if I should say so myself. I am sorry for my boldness but I don’t often express my feelings so bluntly. I am very critical of my designs. However, I really like it and I am not apologizing, so that is what I have to say about it!!

I was never a fan of Prince but I heard this song on the radio while driving in the car one day. I made a mental note to download it to add to my collection. I cannot hear the words. I hope they aren’t vulgar. If so, I am sorry for that. I just like the song for its tune. It has a great beat.

March is now here and another snow storm is predicted for tonight and all day tomorrow here in Pennsylvania. Yesterday they were forecasting 6-10 inches. My husband just advised me, after checking his weather app, they changed their original prediction to 4-6 inches. I have a cousin who is studying to be a meterorologist so I have faith he will keep me up to date. I feel sorry for him because he always gets blamed for a wrong forecast. We all know how a storm can change its direction so quickly…don’t blame the meterorologist okay!!

Time to say goodbye for now. I will check back in some time this week.

Jude