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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

New Journal Page: New Dreams

Dream
created using Juliana Cole's Extreme Visual Journaling method, for The Three Muses. Wednesday Stamper and Creative Therapy. "Sometimes on the way to our dreams, we get lost and find an even better one." I can't recall where I first read these words, but I've remembered them often.

When I went to college, all set to major in commercial art, I was a teeny tiny fish in a vast ocean of "art majors." My first professor, a Mr. Jan Weber, was not impressed with my daily submissions for Design I. He always had some withering, witty comment about my efforts. I was nowhere near avante-garde enough for him. I didn't wear all black; I didn't wander dazedly into class, reeking of patchouli oil; my hair was clean; I wore L'Air De Temps, for heaven's sake. I was...what's that awful word? perky! Something about my placement of triangles and cylinders infuriated Mr. Weber, but, in my dorm's dimly lit lobby, I'd work all night, trying desperately for something original to present for his approval. I could only imagine so many ways to configure geometric shapes on a 12x16 page, but I gave it everything I had. I made a C-in his class. I only endured one more semester in the art department, through Freehand Drawing I. In May I fled to the counseling department for a barrage of aptitude tests. According to the results, I had aptitude, it seemed, for the ministry, special education, and social work. Since I was enjoying all evils of college life, being a minister was out of the question, and I pretty much flipped a coin between the other two choices. Special education won, and it was during that time that I experienced the single enjoyable artistic endeavor of my entire college career: making a sandpaper alphabet for my Teaching of Reading class. On the back of each index card, I did an illustration for that particular letter of the alphabet. I got the highest grade in my whole class. Finally, somebody appreciated my art! More importantly, though, I found a vocation. I've been a special education teacher for twenty eight years, and I love what I do more every year, I had never considered becoming a teacher before I gave up on my dream of being a commercial artist, but a teacher is who I became, and the reality of that has been a dream come true.

"There are as many different worlds as there are perceivers or Beings or
individuals. You are not here to create one world where everyone is the
same, wanting and getting the same. You are here to be that which you want
to be, while you allow all others to be that which they want to be." Abraham-Hicks

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such power, love it.

Unknown said...

I love this colors. Wat a powerful dream. Great.

Sandy said...

OMG what a vibrant piece. Incredible art. Love the power colors.

Anonymous said...

great image and colors! thanks for participating.

yyam said...

Wow! It's amazing what you did with so few colors. Love the image. Fabulous work!

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

Your journal page is fabulous....it really sings!

Dianne Adams said...

If Mr. Weber could see you now... Your work is beautiful and I enjoyed the story of how you found your vocation!

Terri Kahrs said...

Mr. Weber was w-r-o-n-g! And I'm thrilled that you didn't "give up" your passion. We would be missing wonderful pieces like this one! Hugs, Terri xoxo

Flor Larios Art said...

Vibrant colors! Love it!

Please come to my blog I am having a pendant giveaway. It is one of my wooden pendants with my art in it. Custom made isn't it fun!
Flor

Kim Mailhot said...

Wise Alberta, artist/teacher/human being of such soul-full beauty...Yay for you taking an unknown path and taking it to your dream-life !

I love the edgy, avant-garde, bright and beautiful piece today - so much behind those glasses ! ;)

Happy Wednesday !

Staci Danford said...

What a wonderful, amazing story..
It's hard to believe that someone would have anything negative to say about your art... but I understand that there are people out there who have a particular idea of what they thing art should be... and sometimes the most creative people just don't fit...
Beautiful story, quote, and inspiring piece of art.. That is one of my favorite words...
Staci

Nettie Edwards said...

Alberta, this is a very inspiring story. Thank God you found your calling. it could have so easily gone another way. How many people have their creativity knocked out of them by school and art college? This journal image is bold and vibrant like all your work and, I'm sure, like you x

Connie said...

I LOVE it!!!!!! Amazing, stunning and.....I just love it :-)

Cathy Spivey Mendola said...

Oh Girl! Your art teacher didn't no talent when he saw it! I love your idea of sandpaper alphabets. What a great idea you had. I knew you were a teacher but didn't realize you were a special ed teacher. You are an angel my dear. It takes a big ole heart and a ton of patience. My daughter was able to take a class her senior year in high school that allowed her to be a teaching assistant to the special needs teachers and she fell in love with the kids. She was torn about her major in college. She decided to go with her first instinct and that is pre-vet, but I still think she may end up working with special needs kids one day.
You are to be commended on that choice. Although you are certainly succeeding in the artworld as well!
I am loving your journal pages, they are so rich and full.
Thanks for your comments dear and I hope to be back to art and blogging regularly very soon.
hugs,
cathy

Giggles said...

Wow if he could only see you now!!! Why I ask myself do teachers berate others, it's so discouraging for the fragile new artist! My daughter had the same thing happen. So glad you found an alternate route....but who knows where you'd be today had he fostered your talent....You have such an amazing way composing art, with such a vibrant use of color. I love everything that you put on this blog!!!

Big hugs Giggles

Poetic Artist said...

Such a wonderful post..
Thanks for sharing.
We all have our place, even if others thinks it does not belong. That is why we have to listen to our inner self..Be your self.

June said...

Love the quote and the story .... there is always one fly in the ointment and i am glad you got past that particular fella
hugs June x

LW said...

Fantastic artwork…
I love the colors and enjoyed reading your story.

All of your pages are wonderful; I spent some time looking at
some other work you posted.
I am so glad that you didn’t let MR. Weber completely drain you of something that you
love and do so well.


Louise

Anonymous said...

I have a similar story about why I didn't pursue art. I retired from teaching about three years ago and spent one year trying to find out what to do next. Then I found "art blogs" and now I do art. I love, love this page...sometimes it's not all about "pretty."

Shelly said...

Loved reading your story. Thanks for sharing it! I can share with you the other path - the one I ended up taking. I forced my way through my college's graphic design program and came out of it feeling defeated, burnt out, and like I could just never do serious enough design to please my professors. I spent the next ten years (at least) avoiding art at all costs. If I couldn't create "real art" that would have satisfied my professors, I guess I thought I shouldn't do it at all. One day - when I'd gotten enough time and distance from it all - I realized that art could be whatever I wanted it to be, and I started finding the joy in it again. I still hear the voices of my professors in my head sometimes telling me that I'm not good enough, but thankfully, I've learned to tell them to shut up.

Thanks again for sharing your story. :) Hugs, Shelly

Janet said...

I wonder what Mr Jan Weber would have to say about your art today! I say it's fantastic! I love the bold colors and the graphic look of the woman.

You were meant to be a teacher and even though I'm not in your classroom every day, you're still teaching me about art....right here on your blog.

LivArtNow said...

Love it!! fantastic composition and colours!!!

Linda

Kathy said...

BAM!
Now that is color....just beautiful.

*jean* said...

i love the energy your art is putting out!!! you are really throwing down the towel and saying "I am here"...love this!!

Barbara Hagerty said...

I LOVE this piece!! I love the quote, and I love the story of how you arrived at your vocation! And what I love the most is that you stuck with your talent, nurtured it, and grew it bigger and bigger!! XOXO

Ozstuff said...

This is so powerful and dramatic. The colours are amazing. Wonderful, amazing work.

Amy Wing said...

I love this piece, love your story, and love the Abe-Hicks quote. A perfect entry all around and a delight to read. :)