Understanding Compassion

(Artwork By Kelly Watts 2013)

 

This piece was created on an old book page using Copic Markers, a black sharpee, Washi tape and adhesive lace.

 

This morning my mind was very heavy burdened.  I was thinking about all the people I am currently praying for and trying to understand this compassion inside of me.  I wrote down the following that was upon my heart;

 

A Letter To God

 

Dear Lord; My Most Holy Almighty God; El Sheddai; Abba;

My heart is so full of compassion... it seems that no matter at what stage of life I am in, You reveal a new and different path to show me more ways to use this compassion inside of me.

 

When I was young my heart hurt for things I did not even know what or why, but the pain was very real.

I hurt for people I did not know.

The World Vision commercials were a killer on my heart,

my first real experience in seeing starving children.

My heart cried out, 'Lord! Lord!' before I knew how to pray.

 

The next stages of my life were stepping stones to learning the plan You had for me.  I see now that I had to fall and I had to fall hard and receive many scars that buried deep.  I had to start at the bottom and crawl out of the pit I had fallen into; every handful of dirt another lesson... another drop of water into the sprout that was forming in me.

 

At times I would get close to the top only to battle the grounds of fear, anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness and trauma.  I was lost in the darkness, I could not see; I could not breathe.

Then You pulled me up out of the dirt and breathed in me a new breath of life while shaking the dirt and grime away.

You helped me to stand up again on new ground.

 

You placed me on a new path allowing me to use the lessons taught and to share the comfort You had given me.  You brought me to others who had fallen, who were broken hearted and You said, 'Comfort them'.

 

You gave me knowledge, understanding and wisdom to reach out to the hurting.  You taught me and I listened; You led me and I followed.

 

Though... You still had more to teach me and so You sent me on another mission; one that would take me to the battlefield of my own body, limiting where I could go and what I could do.

Again You said, 'Come' and I went.

Again You brought me those physically hurt and broken hearted and

You said, 'Comfort them' and I do.

 

You taught me to use the compassion inside even through the physical ailments, through the broken heartedness and You said, 'Go'.

 

Now that compassion has sprouted and flourished into a magnificent tree of love and blessings, comfort and healing.

 

I see Your hand of teaching and love over me.

I see the compassion You have given me as a precious treasure.

Thank You Lord, My Abba Father for my gift...

Your compassion growing in me.

 

 

I pray you feel God's love for you today.

Have a very blessed week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journal Swap on Instagram

(Artwork by Artist Kelly Watts 2013)

I am participating in a journal swap through Instagram.  A lovely lady/friend named Sandie has organized 18 ladies to first make their own journals out of watercolor paper... then send it off to each lady to complete a two-page spread in each journal they receive.  All of us will be eventually working in 9 journals.

(Artwork by Artist Kelly Watts 2013)

 

This is my first two-page spread.  I was experimenting with drawing on book pages and these two lovely ladies came forth onto the pages. 

Around the book pages I have journaled the reason I love art journaling so much;  it's an amazing healing process.

 

This project has been so much fun and I really needed to keep myself busy.  Thank you Sandie for organizing the FJSWAP and providing so much fun for all of us ladies participating!

 

Hugs and blessings everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

Words of Life

 

(Artwork by Kelly Watts 2013)

 

I am reading this amazing book called "Soul Detox".  It is regarding the battle of your mind, getting rid of your negative thinking and basically getting rid of anything that is not of God in your life.

Spring cleaning for your soul ~ that definitely describes it.

 

Philippians 4:8 Finally brothers and sisters... whatever is true... noble... right... pure... lovely... admirable...excellent...praiseworthy~ think about such things. (shortened).

 

When we fill our minds up with all the worldly thoughts and things what do we end up with?  A murky soul polluted by the world... a soul that we allowed to become murky.  That is why God tells us to think about things that are good, pure, lovely because that is what we were meant to think on.

 

I am doing a spring cleaning on my soul and I am going to try and get rid of all the things I have allowed to pollute my mind with!

 

I want to live for God.

I want to be a representative of Jesus Christ out to the world.

I want to speak words of love and life... not bitterness and death.

 

I am choosing to get rid of the pollution in my mind.

 

Won't you join me?

 

Many blessings to you my dear friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Glorious Spring

(Artwork by Kelly Watts 2013)

 

I love drawing profiles of a woman's face.  When I am creating a two page spread in my art journal I will often choose to do both sides.

(Artwork by Kelly Watts 2013

 

This year has been such a long winter... with myself not working I am unable to afford my usual Spring getaway (Arizona) and my body is feeling it.

 

However, I have decided today that I might make a smaller trip just to get a way for a bit. 

 

I am REALLY looking forward to summer this year.

 

I hope your Spring is going well my lovely friends.

 

With much love and God bless you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gelli-Plate Prints

So this past week I received an order of small stencils from Balzer Designs and I got out my Gelli-plate and went to town!

 

I am not very good at mixing colors so I am really trying to get out of my comfort zone and work with colors I am not completely comfortable with.

 

I don't think under normal circumstances I would choose to put these two colors together (Mint green and orange/yellow) but I really do like the outcome.

 

The "Chevron" stencil seems to be really big right now...  I am still not completely sold on it though.

 

This "Aboriginal" stencil I adore!  I love the way the colors came out with this stencil and I am really glad I purchased it.

 

When I first used the Gelli-plate I was a little intimidated because I didn't immediately know the outcome... I am not very good with abstract or mixing color (as stated earlier)... so this was all a bit uncomfortable for me.

 

Then... once I got into it... I printed off more and more and more prints. 

 

I now have more prints than I know what to do with!  However, I have tipped some pages into my art journals (See first photo) and they make lovely colorful pages in my journal.

 

Do you have a gelli-plate?  What do you like about it?  What do you not like about it?

 

I like the "Easy" factor.  It is rather simple to use and highly diversified... you can create many different prints with this lovely little invention.  It is also easy to clean up afterwards and that right there sells me on it!

 

Thanks Gelli-Arts!

 

Praying your week is highly colorful and bright, full of sunshine.

 

 

Late Night Doodling

(Art work by Kelly Watts Copyright 2013)

 

This piece was done in my half size moleskin journal.  I am really loving working with the smaller size... It happens to be the exact same size journals given out in the Sketchbook Project ( I did one a few years back).

 

These journals I purchased in a pack of four at Chapters.

 

This piece was made using fine point Micro-pens, a black acrylic paint marker, C5 Copic Marker for grey shading, Copic Black fine point markers, Blush Copic Marker for lips.

 

When I was creating this piece I was thinking about how blessed we are in this life... If we take a moment to look around us... no matter where we are...

no matter what the experience... no matter the Country, town, city etc...

 

God's blessings are all around us.

Today, the sun is shining where I am... if it's not where you are... tomorrow is another day and it might be sunny then.

The birds are here for Spring time, even though there is snow on the ground, the birds bring the sounds of spring to our ears and a contagious smile to my lips.

Although chilly outside I have my big window in my dining room that is filled with sunshine... what a tremendous gift and blessing for me.

 

We are all truly blessed if we open up ourselves to receive those blessings.

 

I pray your week is overflowing with blessings.

 

Much love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talking Heads

 

(Art work by Kelly Watts 2013)

 

The other day I was thinking and thinking too hard.  I had too many thoughts twisting and turning around in my head I could barely think.  I had created a similar journal page that I sent to a lovely penpal once before.

This time I am using it as an entry in my art journal and I have copied the above sheets for people to purchase in my Etsy shop at

www.kellysartjournaling.etsy.com

 

 

This is how mine looks once I have journaled it up with all the words going around in my head.  I love filling in empty spaces with words!

 

This is a great way to vent your feelings don't you think?

 

Well, wishing you a lovely lovely day!

 

Hugs and many blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rest In The Lord

(Artwork by Kelly Watts 2013)

 

I saw a beautiful journal page on Pinterest the other day.  It was like this... there was a lady laying with black flowing hair, looking so peaceful.  She was laying on the grass with flowers all around her too.  I tried to find the artist but when I clicked on the picture it said the artist was no longer available on flickr (where the page came from)

 

So, I decided to draw one myself. 

 

I used my gelli-art plate prints that I had made the other day and used them as pedals around her.

 

I love the look of this lady and the words that I used are so peaceful.

 

"Rest in the Lord and He will renew your strength".

 

I pray this for all of you.

 

Enjoy your week.

Hugs and blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God Give Me Peace

 

I created my own art sticker strips recently and have used them as borders in some of my work.  I really love the look of the borders. 

This piece was done in my moleskin journal.  I had to glue three pages together so that the copic markers didn't bleed through the thin pages, but I am okay with that.

 

I wanted to incorporate a design of some kind and as I was watching tv and doodling this mandala-like design came out.  I do not know much about mandala's but I do not think I am a believer to the extent of what some say they represent.  To me it is a simple design within a circle.

 

God is my peace; God is my love; God is my strength;

God is my life.  If a design within a circle can represent my life with Him, then I am good with that.

 

I have really wanted to use the bright pinks for hair again, I get bored with the 'normal' colors of blonde, brunette, red etc.

 

I hope you enjoy my new piece on God's Peace.

 

Have an amazing weekend!

 

Hugs and many blessings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give Me Wings To Fly

 

 

The other night I drew this picture while waiting for my youngest son to get off of work.  I have been thinking a lot about all the women out there who suffer with Chronic Illnesses.

 

Having Fibromyalgia/Arthritis/Hypermobility of my Joints can be so difficult some days... it would be amazing if I had wings to lift me up and help me to get from one place to another.  Even up and down stairs would be a blessing.

 

People without the disease cannot possibly comprehend the amount of energy expended on doing such small tasks - to us who suffer with this these seemingly small tasks become huge boulders we need to try and move.

 

God gives us strength though; He does give me wings to fly when I really need to accomplish something.  I wait on the Lord and am never disappointed.

 

Many hugs and blessings to you

Have a blessed lovely week.

Sincerely;

 

 

Release

 

 

The thing I love about art journaling, or journaling in particular is that it releases all the pent up stress inside of me and allows me to 'get it out'.  Not to say that I never go back there again, but it does bring a sweet release.

 

This gal I started drawing when my Hubbub surprised me with a moleskin journal.  I don't know about you, but I really love mine.  The flexibility of the journal itself is awesome.  I know the pages are really thin but I simply glue a few pages together to make them stronger.  I don't mind doing this because there are really a lot of pages in the journal itself.

 

 

This is the second half of the page.  I love drawing swirls in the hair because that creates such a delicious space for writing down my thoughts.  I do not usually do a black background, in fact I am thinking this is my first.  I was originally going to use a white gel marker to write in the black space but I decided to forgo that and write in her hair.  I like the black space exactly as it is.

 

Well my Dear Friends... I pray you are blessed with a wonderful week.

 

Hugs and many blessings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Other Side to my Journal Page

 

His grace is sufficient for me!

 

 

May it be for you too!

 

Many hugs and blessings.

 

 

 

 

 

New Journal Pages

 

This week I began a new series of pages for my art journal.  I always want to draw women's faces... I guess it's because it brings out my emotions in seeing the expressions or lack thereof.  In this drawing I was thinking sad thoughts about my FM.  With the cold weather comes the pain that goes to my bones.  Drawing it out helps me to deal with that pain.

 

 

In Etsy I have purchased some art sticker strips from www.florlarios.etsy.com and I have used them for the borders of this page and my last journal pages.  I LOVE them.  However, I have used my last of them:(  I'm so sad.

I may try to make some for myself out of my art.  It is much more fun than using the same washi tape over and over again.

 

 

This turned into a 'thinking through my thoughts page' regarding my son and his new Volkswagan Van... and then about my FM/Chronic Illness site.  I enjoyed the doodling process and all the color.

 

 

I hope you are all having an amazing week.

Hugs and many blessings.

 

 

 

 

Fibromyalgia Support Blog

 

 

Over the past few weeks I have been chatting back and forth to a number of woman who are suffering with Fibromyalgia and/or other chronic illnesses.  This has got me thinking... I have been through so much trying to find help, research ways to help, going to Doctors for help, learning things that help and things that do not help.  My conclusion... as I am trying to find help... is that... I want to help!

 

I want to be a support for others, I want people to have a place to go to find ideas and other suggestions.  Yes, maybe there are already places set up to go to, however, it has been placed heavily upon my heart to try something.

 

I am going to set up a support blog.  I do not exactly know what it will look like yet... but keep it in mind... it is coming. 

 

Please let me know if this would be of interest for you...  I would love to chat with you.

 

Many hugs and blessings to you.

 

 

 

 

LOVE

 

 

 

This was such a cool little experiment!!!  I have no idea what I am doing but boy was this fun!

 

Of coarse I began this piece with reds and using my brayer began spreading the acrylic paint over the page.

 

I bought some (Cheap) inexpensive acrylic paint at Michaels to play around with.  It just so happened that the white was really runny so... I played and played with it some more.  I poured out the word "LOVE" on the page, then took my brayer and gently pushed it up the page!  That's all I did!

 

Isn't this a neat, awesome effect!  I love that my cheap acrylic paint was runny! (imagine my enthusiasm and insert it here:)

 

But did I leave things this way... NO!  Darn it anyway!  I had to go and mess it up and no longer have the original piece that was so cool!!!!

 

I whited it all out with gesso and ended up throwing it out!!!! Don't you just hate it when that happens??? 

 

I might try this effect again when I get brave enough and am not so mad at myself for messing with a good thing!  (Thank goodness I took a picture:)

 

Well, live and learn right?

 

We have to learn from our mistakes or we will be stuck in the mud in the middle of nowhere!

 

I pray you are having a fabulous beginning to your week.  As for me, well I am up to my neck in training for my new job!  (Pray for me:) 

 

 

Big ol' hugs and blessings to you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying Something Different

 

 

I decided to get out the old acrylics and dust them off!  I purchased some mixed media paper a while back and thought I would give it ago with acrylics.  Starting out I knew I wanted to add layers and layers of different colors.  Believe it or not this page started out red!

 

 

 

 

Adding texture and outlining everything always makes it 'pop' just a little more.

 

I have wanted to do this drawing for awhile as it was stuck inside my head, it really needed to get out of there! :)

 

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

One of my favorite verses (found in Joshua).

 

I pray you had a fabulous week.

 

Have an amazing weekend!

 

Many, many blessings to you with great big ol' hugs too!

 

 

 

 

Journaling Over The Holidays

 

Over the time that my family was all home from work and school these past few weeks I managed to get a little journaling time in.  This journal page is all about my sister.  Over the top of her head it says "There is always a spark inside of her".  She is the strongest lady I know.  When life hits her hard, she just gets back up and carries on.  She always lands on her feet again and again.

 

I find that many of my poems and journal pages are about her.  She has been a strong influence in my life and I have always longed to be near her.  Right now we live one Province away from each other and do not get to visit often.  I wish that we lived in the same town, it would make life so much more pleasant. 

 

If you have been following my blog you know that she was in a car accident last March of 2012.  A drunk driver hit her.  She is still recovering and the doctors do not know if/when she will be able to return to work.  She has raised/and is in the process of raising 5 kids, her youngest is 8 and her oldest is I think 26.  She has raised each of them mostly as a single mom.  While working full-time she managed to get her Bachelor's degree in Social Work/Criminology (and did I mention she's practically a single Mom?)

 

I am thankful that God gave me her as my sister.

 

Well, I hope you are all having a wonderful week.  May God bless you richly.

 

Hugs and blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Word(s) Of the Year for 2013

"LET GO AND LET GOD"

 

There are so many things that I want to give to God,

Often however, I tend to take them on myself and try

to deal with them on my own.

 

This never works... I should know this by now.

But honestly, I do not seem to get it!

 

 

It's so simple really.... just breathe... just pray...

and give it all to HIM.

 

This year (2013) I am going to focus on doing this.

I have this drawing up in my art room, which is now also my office as I am beginning to work from home.

 

My first time back to work since March of 2012 when my sister got into that horrible car accident.

 

 

I pray that all of you will be able to LET GO AND LET GOD this new year.

 

Happy Happy New Year

Hugs and many blessings to you.



Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas to everyone out here in Blog land.  I have been so busy with art/craft fairs the last couple of weeks that I have been a bad blogger.  I am so sorry for my absence.  I wanted to show you my new nativity ornament, I have been looking for one of these for a long time and finally found it at Carlton Cards in the mall.  I was so excited.  It has become rather difficult to find a Nativity of any kind these days.  Last week we went into three different stores (which normally would carry nativities) and there was NOTHING, NADA, NIL, ZILCH!  I was so depressed.  Everything is santa, snowmen and reindeer, which is fine if you're into that, but my boys have grown up and they are not so much into that anymore.  Now is my time to decorate with things that mean more to me than santa and little kid things. 

There are some amazing Nativities out there, you just have to fork out the big bucks to get them.  This ornament was only $17.95 - perfect for my budget!

I had the best time shopping with my son lastnight.  I rented a scooter so that I would last longer while shopping (I feel old and I get some funny looks because on the outside I look just fine, but on the inside I can barely walk around the mall these days!)  I have gotten to the point where I do not care what people think, I want to spend time with my family and if the only way to do that is to rent a scooter around the mall well then by golly, I'll do it!

So here's wishing you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all and I hope that JESUS finds a special place in your hearts this year!

Many hugs and blessings to you.

A Little Summer Color To Get You Through

 

 

I worked on this journal spread last week and had so much fun

finishing it up on the weekend while Hubbub and son watched

Prometheus!  (Ya, I didn't like that movie!)

 

 

The circles worked perfectly for the verse I wanted to put in there.

 

 

I started with drawing circles and it doodled outward from there!  All on it's own:)

 

I love working with vibrant copic markers for projects such as these.

 

I pray you are all having a wonderful week.

 

Hugs and many blessings