WCAGA DRAW 4 DAYS (Day #2): Beginnings of the fabulous marathon touching my wild woman soul

DRAWING ON TOP OF THE CRETACEOUS. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah for WCAGA! Hallelujah for Further Polycontemporary! Hallelujah for the drawing the SOUL! 

As many of you know, I am Hallelujah Truth, and I consider you, my reader, as fellow pilgrims on the most amazing journey--the cultivation of our BEINGS. I am filled with such gratitude to have the opportunity to be in the company of talented and energetic women in a drawing marathon here in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 

Take a look at just some of the colorful and imaginative beginnings of the drawing marathon: 

 
Drawing in amongst these WCAGA members, I ask myself that persistent question: WHO AM I?

DRAWING ON TOP OF THE CRETACEOUS 2. Here I am drawing on top of a print out of a photo that my Chiboogamoo (aka Tony Martin) took of a Cretaceous outcrop of invertebrate burrows. (photo by Callahan Pope McDonough)

This question leads me to another universal question: DO I UNDERSTAND MYSELF BETTER IN COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS? In this case, what my drawing "is" or "isn't" in relation to these other artists?

I return to the mantra I collected from Natalie Goldberg, "Not good. Not bad. Just is." My art making is my PRACTICE, my lifestyle, my way to anchor myself to this world from my center, my gut. 

DRAWING ON TOP OF THE CRETACEOUS 3. Here is another drawing on top of a print out of a photo that my Chiboogamoo (aka Tony Martin) took of a Cretaceous outcrop of invertebrate burrows. This time, I have drawn Wandjina and Mother Snake on the substrate. I delighted in the presence of the centimeter scale in the way that it invites measurement of physical space. And I want to also invite the question of deep geological time and the layers of stories that accrue in our individual and collective psyches. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

My work feels visceral. At times, my artmaking feels STUCK. So I repeat. Repeat. And repeat again. An artist came up to my table on the first morning of "Draw 4 Days," looked at my work, and announced, "You've done that before. I've seen it." 

I gulped. I felt shamed, and then I realized that we are all working with our own definitions of WHAT ART IS and WHAT DRAWING IS. New, old, artful, pretty, ugly, devoid of colorbook lines...? Great questions!
 

DRAWING ON TOP OF THE CRETACEOUS 3. Another photo that my Chiboogamoo (aka Tony Martin) took of the Montana Cretaceous badlands. I'm in the photo for scale in a post lunch stupor. At the same time, my SOUL is awake and playing. Psychological soul time meets geologic timeI. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

I have continued my love affair with Clarissa Pinkola Estes and am now reading her first book, Women Who Run with the Wolves.  This Jungian analyst and cantadora calls the relationship we have with the soul, the "wild woman," "the river beneath the river," "the light from the abyss," or the "wolf woman."

Well as I prepare to leave for the second day of "Draw 4 Days," I invite the "wild woman" to be present today so that I can sing my song out in the lines that I am called to make. 
 

DRAWING ON TOP OF THE CRETACEOUS 4. Here is another print out of a photo that my Chiboogamoo (aka Tony Martin) took of a Cretaceous outcrop, but here a rabbit has made its home there. I marvel at the layers of our existence. We are part of this deep past standing on the tip of the iceberg of time. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah. SOUL BLOG with me. What stories does your SOUL want to tell? What might you know after you have told that SOUL STORY? Do you agree with me that we are all so much happier and healthier when we are connected to that CENTER PLACE OF BEING?

From the ordinary to the extraordinary with daily creative work: birth, release, connection

THE NEXT GENERATION. As Tony Martin and I, Hallelujah Truth, experience the manifestation of Tony’s writing Dinosaurs Without Bones, we are getting to view the next generation of paleontologists and scientists. It is with such excited energy that this young man engaged with my husband. How thrilling for both of us to see “ichno-dust” in this dinosaur-loving child’s eyes. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)
Hallelujah for living with another CREATIVE! Hallelujah for experiencing the ordinariness of side-by-side crafting of our SOUL WORK and its positive materialization!

I am happily married to a scientist, one whose work is absolutely the manifestation of his SPIRIT! Right now, Tony Martin (a.k.a. Chiboogamoo in this blog), paleontologist, ichnologist, writer, artist, and educator, is relishing the delightful outcome of publishing his third book, Dinosaurs Without Bones (read Publisher's Weekly review here). And I am too! How did this successful outcome happen?

As cohabiting CREATIVES, we witness each other's daily crafting of ideas. In fact, our rituals support the creative process. During the phase of Tony's authoring a book, we both rise in the early morning (between 5:00-6:00 AM). Tea, coffee, juice, vitamins are prepared for consumption, cats attended to, incense and candle lit, and music turned on. Two sacred hours of construction follow before breakfasting. Repeat each day. 

Of course, there are the evenings and devout portions of the weekends dedicated to research and writing for Tony and drawing, painting, and blogging for me. But it is this morning rising together that fills my life with the profound richness of companionship and accomplishment. 

This particular morning, as Tony and I were awaking, we exchanged our deep feelings of appreciation for the connection with others that our creative work brings into our lives. Last night, Tony gave a presentation about Dinosaurs Without Bones at the Telllus Science Museum with an author signing afterward. 
Those in attendance displayed interest in dinosaur ichnology and in Tony. It was important for them to talk with him about their ideas and to learn what he thought. What an honor for Tony and for me as a witness and photographer!

Let me share our journey to Tellus Science Museum with you. Here it is!

THE MANIFESTATION OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS: Ichnologist Tony Martin meets the public to discuss Dinosaurs Without Bones.

TRAVELLING TO TELLUS SCIENCE MUSEUM. Tony Martin and I confronted a traffic challenge leaving our city of Atlanta for Cartersville, Georgia, on a Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. It took us nearly two hours to travel just 48 miles. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

TA DA! SUCCESSFUL ARRIVAL. Despite the rain and traffic, the author of Dinosaurs Without Bones, Tony Martin, and I arrived at the Tellus Science Museum, refreshed and on time! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

DINOSAURS WITHOUT BONES. Upon entering the Tellus Museum, we were delighted to see Dinosaurs Without Bones prominently displayed on the ticket counter. The employees were thrilled to meet the author and his wife! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

BEHIND THE SCENES. The Tellus Science Museum staff was supportive, friendly, and enthusiastic. Everyone treated the author of Dinosaurs Without Bones as if he were a rock star! But then again, we were in a mineral-rich environment inside this institution. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

EARLY BOOK SIGNING. The Tellus Science Museum Director, Jose Santamaria, and Director of Education, Cantey Smith, asked Tony Martin to sign their copies of Dinosaurs Without Bones behind the scenes. How awesome is that? (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

WALKING WITH THE DINOSAURS. As Tony Martin gains momentum presenting Dinosaurs Without Bones to the public, his gait shifts, and he walks differently. There is a joyful spring in his step! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

HOW DID THE DINOSAURS WALK? Striding like a runway model on a tightrope, Tony Martin explains one of his most beloved ichnological topics from Dinosaurs Without Bones—tracks! The audience pulses with fascination that a paleontologist can move so fluidly while explaining a scientific and mathematical concept! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

BEAUTIFUL DINOSAUR TRACK. For his concluding slide, Tony shows a well-defined dinosaur track, and here you can see a toe and claw impression from it. He then enjoys asking the audience what dinosaur trace fossils they would like to see discovered in the future. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

MORE THAN JUST A BOOK SIGNING. For Tony and his wife, Ruth Schowalter (a.k.a. Hallelujah Truth), the Tellus Science Museum book signing of Dinosaurs Without Bones was profound. Book buyers engaged with him from a well of their own curiosity, approaching Tony almost as if they were at church and approaching the altar. But, after all, Tony has created the Church of Ichnology—Substrate, Anatomy, and Behavior—AMEN! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

TWO BOOKS. One Tellus Science Museum member approached Tony and asked him to sign two of his books! How wonderful to see Tony’s book on modern ichnology, Life Traces of the Georgia Coast, alongside Dinosaurs Without Bones! And there was a question: What does this rock reveal? Tony was not sure, but always enjoys the intellectual challenge that comes with people bearing “mystery rocks.” (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

ICHNO-FAN PHOTOS. Some Tony Martin ichno-fans wanted a photo with the author of Dinosaurs Without Bones in front of a giant shark’s jaws, which serves as an exciting frame for such science enthusiasts. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

DINNER CELEBRATION. Hurray for science and for celebrating science with those who support and nurture it! The Tellus Science Museum staff kindly and generously took us out to dinner afterwards. We toasted to Tony Martin’s successful presentation of Dinosaurs Without Bones and cheered for Julian Gray, who is moving on to a new job in Oregon. (photo by obliging waitress)

QUICK RETURN TO ATLANTA. Traffic had subsided by the time we hit the interstate to return to our metro-area Atlanta home in Decatur, Georgia. The rain continued but we arrived speedily and safely to our two-cat home, the Ichno-Cat Art Palace. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee With Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me. I would like to know several things from you: What is your SOUL WORK? Have you felt its manifestation in your life? Does your SOUL WORK connect you with others?

ICHNO-CAT ART PALACE INHABITANTS. The author of Dinosaurs Without Bones, Tony Martin, and his wife, Ruth Schowalter, pose in front of shark jaws, creating for them a nostalgia resembling that of a high school prom picture. A wonderful time was had by all! A daily creative practice materializes in the world and creates communion with others. How great is that? (photo by Cantey Smith)

PORTRAIT OF A CREATIVE PILGRIM: Plotting the conclusion of a 3-month goal

PORTRAIT OF A CREATIVE PILGRIM. In my arms (in this image), I embrace components of myself, Wandjina (my animus) and wallaby (my vulnerability). Great Mystery in the form of a woman in a burka hovers over me in the top right corner, always offering a welcoming hand. The snake (fertility, new beginnings, and transformation) embraces the Trinity of Hallelujah, Wandjina, and Wallaby. The flowers celebrate us, the truth! (art by the creative pilgrim, Hallelujah Truth)

In the beginning, there was the declaration of the 3-month Artist Conference Network Goal (ACN)--to create a "new" image every day of the 3 months and to continue working on all of the images until the end of the goal period...and choose a way to present the body of work created during this time frame.

So I began with this image of me, Hallelujah Truth, on mixed media paper 6 inches by 8 inches. For me, the crown I placed on my head in this drawing reminds me of a birthday cake, and in many ways that is what this image represents! A celebration of another "birth" day, another day to create something new!

Pilgrims, each day we have the opportunity to be "born" again to our CREATIVITY, our SOULS. And that is what this particular series of new drawings is all about: BEING PRESENT TO THE NOW!

#REVERB12 (Day 11): What was music to your ears, literally or metaphorically?

SWIMMING IN THE WORDS OF A CANTADORA.  (art by Hallelujah Truth)

#REVERB 12 (Day 11) PROMPT: What was music to your ears in 2012, literally or metaphorically?

Let me introduce you to the MUSIC to my ears for 2012, heart, soul, and entire creative being--the stories of CLARISSA PINKOLA ESTES! You might know her name because of her 1989 bestseller, Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories about the Wild Woman Archetype, which acknowledges the deep knowing that we women have within ourselves. But it wasn't until 2012, that I listened to an extensive body of Dr. Estes work on audio, especially Creative Fire!

CREATIVITY CROUCHING LIKE A CAT

My CREATIVITY has been crouching in a crevice
behind the dishwasher in our over-scheduled household.
Clothed in a Siamese cat body nestled in dust and spider webs,
She patiently waits for the darkness of silent nights to emerge.

Pilgrims, I ask you what your relationship is to your CREATIVITY? I trust mine like I do my MOST BELOVED FELINE. She wanders. She hides. Some times, she bares her teeth and claws and yowls. 

But then there is the PURR. There is the CONSTANCY of feeding at the FOOD BOWL. We sleep together and find ways to play--even if it is as unremarkable as knocking the gel pen off the art table or meowing excitedly at the fresh smell of a hot Kroger rotissiere chicken!

So! I am defining the relationship I have with my creativity as being similar to the one I have with my feline companion. My CREATIVITY is constant, but SHE has the independence of a skilled quadruped evolved for climbing trees and finding clandestine spaces to rejuvenate. 

Although I have not been blogging since December, I have been having my COFFEE WITH HALLELUJAH. Every day, I have done my SOUL WORK--creating a new image in pen on paper. My words have been "crouching behind" my image work, waiting for a time like now to emerge.

The image I am showing here reflects my connection with the energy I find contained in imagery from northwest Australia aboriginal art. Observe the two white ghost like figures, the long neck turtle, the snake, Wandjina, and the kangaroo. These figures have been evolving through my daily drawing practice. I have found it meaningful to merge images from my domestic life such as my feline companion and the ever present spiral--my symbol for journey.

I am so happy that I have spiraled back to this blog to do soul blogging with you sojourners! I ask you FELLOW PILGRIMS out there to write and tell me about the relationship you have with your CREATIVITY.