Stephanie's Studio

"Arise" is my ArtPrize 10 entry. It is created using gold and silver leaf, enamel and acrylic paint, a mirror and birch panels. Here are details of the left wing of the horizontal paintings: Here is the right wing, separated from the left by a mounted 12" square mirror: My Artist Statement is as follows: Arise means variously: to emerge, to become apparent, and to get up. In terms of this contemporary polyptych, “Arise” utilizes the language of painting such as, color, mark-making, organic, sacred and geometric forms; to convey the story of Christ’s betrayal, crucifixion, death and reemergence as a Holy Spirit. “Arise” has an installation and sculptural quality created through the incorporation of a dimensional cross-shape, complete with a central color-block story, mirror and painted borders around the edges, forming the frames. These objects have conceptual and symbolic meanings. The vertical color-blocking reiterates the horizontal st...

O is for Open Air I don't know about you, but I find being cooped up, in confined spaces constrains my creativity. Further, just taking a walk--cold, hot, rainy, whatever the weather conditions may be, changes the perspective and sometimes allows new thoughts to come to light, even though you didn't think it was possible. These photographs were taken by my husband Damian, of me working en plein air/open air at the Emily Oaks Nature Center in Skokie, IL. At first I dreaded the idea of working outside, as a part of an open air public event, even though I'd volunteered for it. But gradually, as the morning went on, and the sun brought the surrounding environs to shimmering life, I grew to love it! from www.mscareergirl.com Typing outside is equally refreshing to tired old thoughts. The wind on the face and varied sights, with sounds of the outdoors, easily increases the flow of creative thoughts. You need not go camping to do this, or head to a bucolic...

H is for Help When mired in a creative block, it's hard to see your way clear. You can easily get enveloped in all sorts of negative thoughts: F ear I solation H opelessness D efeat I’d suggest writing your negative, but very real thoughts on a blackboard, if you have one handy, and then erasing them, mindfully, with an eraser. Otherwise, write them out on paper, with a regular pencil, erase them, and toss the entire sheet in the recycling bin, or trash, if you don’t have one. Either symbolic act is not an immediate fix, but doing these sorts of physical activities puts you on a road, cleared of blockages. Reaching out for help is not something we all enjoy. First there is the idea of admitting that we need help. Then there is the daunting task of finding just the right type of help. Our dear friend, the Internet, makes this seem easy and hard, all at the same time. Entanglement by Stephanie Rose Bird Here are some ideas for help with maneuveri...

It has been a long, exceedingly cold, long winter. If I never hear the words polar vortex it will be too soon. The spring in this area was nothing to write home about either. I haven't completely packed away my winter sweaters because they still come in handy from time to time. But alas, Litha has ushered in summer with the longest day of the year, our wonderful solstice yesterday. Today, I celebrated Litha inspired by these: Thinking I was an awesome athlete: I set out in the morning, doing what I've done to celebrate the arrival of summer since my earliest memories...I returned to the water, and it was awesome! Meditative and quiet, I was left feeling connected to nature around me and to my innermost self. My soul felt contented and complete. Summer comes on swiftly with heat and testy storms in the Midwest. With its warmth there also comes the opportunity to delight and to retreat in pure unadulterated joy and the sweet memories this season invokes. Though i...