IF Just One Woman's Opinion

This Thursday It's all about Playing With Paint, which, in my opinion, Illustration Friday, is the best thing in the world. I've written a long post to go with this journal page twice already this morning (and it's only 5:00 a.m.!), but my computer is infected with an evil virus which keeps deleting stuff, so I'll try again later.

(Later: third time's a charm) Painting is so therapeutic to me that I even keep paints at school, and when I have a particularly stessful day, I get out my brushes and sponges and start my art therapy. My desk and fingers are always covered with paint, and most of the papers I grade have paint splotches on them. My students love to watch a journal page evolve and then find it on my bulletin board the next day. Because they read every word, I have to be careful about what I write! Two of my girls have started their own art journals and one has been drawing doodles for me to use in my work. You will surely see some of her skulls and hearts in one of my collages soon.

This page is the result of one of those stressful days. I sponged two shades of red onto construction paper and made all the border papers using paint, a Sharpie, and my trusty white gel pen, which I always keep handy in my purse. Madame Butterfly was recycled from the prgram Ava thoughtfully brought home from the opera for me to use. (One Powerful Hour Recycling Challenge), and I thought of this Laurel Thatcher Ulrich quote after watching "Dead Poets' Society" with my class yesterday, in preparation for teaching them how to write a character sketch. After the movie, one of my students pointed out that I am somewhat of a rebel, but I thought, "Please! How much of a rebel can I be at 50?" So anyway, this is my tribute to Mr. Keating and divergent thinkers everywhere. Seize the day!