Skip to main content

"Magic in the Mess", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Magic in the Mess"


It's hard to believe that January is already over and another month has begun.  

What a month January was.  My son got married in December and they announced that they are having a baby boy, due to make his appearance the first part of June.  He will be our first Grandson and we are so excited.  At the same time, my Father-in-Law became extremely ill and recently passed away.  It's so hard to believe he is gone.  My husband still feels like he needs to pick up the phone every week and check on him.  My daughter struggles...every day.  She is a single mom raising my granddaughter on her own.  I worry about my aging parents and I wish we lived closer so we could help more.  I constantly wonder what will happen next and how will we get through it.  I thought things would be easier at this stage of life.  

I guess my point is, there always seems to be some mess, some drama going on in life.  This painting evolved through the messes.  It had several "ugly duckling" stages.  I almost wanted to trash it and start all over again - several times.  Just when I thought it was not salvageable, this butterfly started making it's way into the piece.  Almost as if coming out of its cocoon.  It ended up being one of my favorite paintings, one of my favorite "stories".  Isn't that how life is.  Mess upon mess.  We are not sure if we can salvage the pieces and start all over again.  We feel like giving up and throwing in the towel.  We can't see the magic, only all of the messes.  I urge you to keep on and don't give up, even when you feel like there won't ever be anything more.  Even when you feel like there will never be any magic that comes out of the mess.  There's something there, ready to bloom, ready to burst out of the cocoon.  You just need to have the patience and the fortitude to see what happens next.  There is grace, I promise you.  There will be magic, growth, and beauty that comes from the mess.  

This piece is available.  I'd love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions!  My email is:  



https://www.facebook.com/donnamartinfineart/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Flying Free and Finding My Voice

       Fly Free   I have always been one of those people who is naturally shy.  It may have a little to do with the way we were raised, we were always told that children "are to be seen and not heard".  Growing up in that culture, I've always had trouble expressing what I'm feeling or saying what I wanted to say.  Why would I have anything worth saying?  I always felt that when I finally was able to say something, was anyone really listening?    To add to this, I grew up feeling like I really didn't fit in anywhere, that I was usually the odd one out.  I was the one who got picked last for the team, didn't stand up for myself...I didn't know how, didn't have " permission ".  I couldn't really find my place, or my voice.    I attended Columbine High School for one semester before we moved to a wonderful little small Texas town.  When I first got there, the kids in ...

Have You Danced Lately?

"She Danced"        This is my latest mixed media piece.  The words just seemed perfect for this one.  I was inspired by an artist that teaches "tu tu" painting classes and I really wanted to try and make my own "dress" and add my own unique, personal touches and words.    Anyone who knows me, knows I struggle with words.  When I paint, I feel like I communicate what I can't say.  I get lost in another world and time slips away.    This is how I imagine it is for other artists as well.  I can imagine when dancing, time slips away and the dancer is transported into another world.  This canvas was huge, literally for me.  My brother has been encouraging me to do larger works.  So, because I love him so much and he always knows what's good for me, I took the leap.  This is my second attempt at a 36 X 36 X 1.5 canvas.  My first attempt felt so daunting and I felt so lost.  With t...

"Troyce's Heart", original mixed media painting by Colorado artist, Donna L. Martin

Troyce's Heart            This is an original mixed media piece that was specially created for a little baby boy that will be undergoing heart surgery next month.  He has been through such a rough time already, but he has a strong family and a contagious smile!  His Grandmother wanted me to create something special for his Mom and Dad as they travel this journey.  I was honored when she asked me to do this piece.  Through the years I've always felt close to her, even with all the twists and turns our lives have taken.  She and her family hold a special place in my heart. I have no idea where the inspiration for this piece came from.  Even the colors are nothing like what I had originally planned.  Doug Collins, from Redeemwood provided the small wooden pallet that the heart was constructed on.  It seemed like the perfect special touch for this piece.  There are quite a few layers of paper...