A work in progress - pt1

Hey there folks,
So life has begun to hit this Blog. 

As much as I want to say I've been able to push on through and get a fresh new painting done this week for you all to see, I just got back from a long trip up in Northern California helping my Aunt and Uncles clear out my Grandparent's old house and arrived home today... While I have the idea for the painting in my head I have not yet had the time to get it out.  I do how ever have some reflection form the reading I've done this week and a nice lead up to the painting that shall be posted next week :)

As it turns out I'm quite the sentimental old fool in many ways; mostly when it comes to my family and parting ways.  I've reached the point in my "lessons" where we're now really focusing in on forgiveness and letting things go from the past, looking forward only to the future or even more so staying only in the present.  While this does sound like a nice way to live and I can see how it would be freeing in a lot of ways, I really do love the nostalgic way of living.  There's nothing I love more than getting together with old friends and taking a nice looking back at where we've come.  Or going through old note books, once started journals (of which I have quite a few) and seeing the journey that I've been on thus far.  I do understand that letting go of the past does not mean that you can't also be nostalgic and I'm sure I'll find that lovely balancing point as I continue my journey through this course and other material that I'll run across, this idea is just now really sinking in for me.  Although I am learning to let go of the bad, forgiving those that I feel hurt by, most of which would have no idea I'd even have these feels, and that has brought a wonderful newness to my daily life to be sure!  Anyway, as I said before I have no painting this week but here is an image of where I do my work, the grill I melt my paint on and the piece of wood I'll be painting this coming week...
 

To share. To reflect. To love.

I am the light of the world. 
That is my only function.
That is why I am here.

I LOVE this idea. 

To be a light upon the world.  To be a blessing, if you will, on everyone.  At first glance this seems like it would be a limiting idea, saying that it's your only function.  But I find this statement very freeing.  To be open and loving.  Sharing your light being your only true responsibility.  To lead by example, shining through the fog of the ego to a new you and helping others to see through as well.  The more I've been studying the more I see the truth in the fact that in order to get you have to give.  Just as Edith Wharton says "There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."  To share light you are not only bringing it in but also reflecting it from those whom you are bringing it to.

As I was meditating on this idea the image of a small child holding a candle came to me.  I realize that this is a pretty obvious way to interrupt this passage but I'm finding that sometimes that's the way it works.  The obvious does not always mean that it's not the right way to go artistically.  I feel that I have a tendency to reject ideas because they don't feel original enough, but this image is exactly what I felt when I read this.  A light shinning through.  Puncturing the darkness, the fog that blocks us all from moving forward.  Being as a child, with that innocence.  Open and ready to learn.  No prejudgments on anyone or anything.  Ready to more forward.

To see more art I've done go here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jkalty

Guidance from within...

This weeks inspiration comes from a passage that stood out to me: "You must experience guidance from within."

I'm a little over 50 lesson in to my workbook in A Course of Miracles and I've been doing a lot of meditation. So when I ran across this line while doing some reading it really hit a cord. Just reading this phrase makes me feel calm, centered, in control. Ready to take on life, as Joseph Campbell would say "follow my bliss". To trust that inner voice, that Jiminy Cricket (going a little Disney on ya).

This painting is a tad abstract. Focused more on texture, building up the exterior but still being able to see what's underneath. Using this as a reminder that guidance may be deep and covered but it's there. You can see it if you try, work at listening, sitting still, being open.

To see more art I've done go here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jkalty

Only the time you take is voluntary.

Hello Internet.
First time blogger, long time user...

I was recently inspired to create this Blog and to start up my artistic journey again pretty much in the same day. I have been an avid reader/student of A Course In Miracles since my birthday in June (funny how those things tend to kick start new habits) and after spending sometime within it's pages I have really felt a different in my life. A calmness that I have never known before. An inner peace if you will. The funny thing about that is within the first month of me doing the workbook I had to leave my job and the church I once called home, yet through these lessons I have found peace with that situation almost instantly.

So now here I am. Stepping out into an artistic freedom I have never allowed myself before. Living off of bit jobs while I build up my creative strength. This is one step in that direction. The plan is to post a picture of one painting I do weekly that has been inspired by my readings and course work. While I may not always explain my art I do hope you enjoy it. I look forward to taking this journey for as long as this road leads.

"Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists." - ACIM