Saturday, October 29, 2011

What is Dada?



This was not intended to be "pretty art." During my thought process, this painting was supposed to be "ugly." I tried really hard to create something using Surrealistic characteristics. At this time, I just can't seem to wrap my brain around it. It was taking a lot of brain power. I decided to explore a bit of Dadaism. In my research, I discovered that Dada was kind of a "Anti-everything" movement...perhaps even "anti-art"?

My dad is dying of lung cancer and last night, I realized, I may never talk with my dad again. My day was filled with tears and sadness. All I could think of was, "Cancer? HOW DARE YOU!?"

This piece started of with a child-like mixed media composition. The sky was painted red because red is the color of love. I love my dad. Red is also a color for grabbing attention. I painted the sun and hills in typically symbolic colors. I used a magic marker to draw in stick figures. One larger was to be the daddy and the smaller figure a girl child. The figures were flying a kite. This was a memory I recalled while working on this piece. When I had that picture the way I wanted it, I ruined it by slopping black randomly over the picture. Black represents cancer. I had to use a hair dryer for this piece. The paint was thick. When it was as dry as I could get it without spending the entire day drying the painting, I painted the words. The mis-spelling of the word cancer serves a dual purpose: One purpose is this entire painting was to have a child's perspective as I feel quite small, helpless and powerless (like a child) today. A small child might spell this word phonetically. The second purpose is  I want to insult cancer with this art.I know that when my daughter finds her name spelled incorrectly, she is insulted.

I see this mixed media art as a bit of a cross of Dadaism with the offensive language and Expressionism with the intense emotional messages both verbal and non-verbal.

**When I first created this blog, I wanted it to only be for happy and positive things. Well, it just so happens that I am a divine being having a human experience. Humans were graced with a full range of emotions. I happen to be the lucky owner of just such a set. This process of my dad's cancer diagnosis and losing my dad has shed a very different light on so many aspects in my life. I think differently about so much. I like this new light. I just wish it hadn't come with such a hefty price tag.


Monday, October 24, 2011

I Wish


I wish....


I wish I had a magic wand.
I wish there was a cure for cancer.
I wish my dad wasn't dying.
I wish he didn't have so much pain.
I wish I could make it better.
I wish I could understand it all.


I wish I could know why God thinks He needs my dad more than I do.





I wish I wouldn't have to fear what it will be like without him when the time comes.





Monday, October 17, 2011

The Beginning

Kelly Mitchell
"The Beginning" 2011
11" x 14"
acrylic on canvas

I don't know what it is. I started out with a poem here. I wanted it to accompany this painting. I saw the words...black and beautiful swimming in the sea of white and the cursor blinked....begging for more words. "Blink! Blink!" In my mind it equaled "More! More!" 

I froze. 

I reminded myself: I can do this. 

I am not afraid of stringing words together with words to express my thoughts. Nevertheless, I pulled my paper journal out from under my keyboard. I opened the covers to a blank page and transferred the words from the screen onto a blue-lined page in my current composition notebook journal. 

My mind is tired. 

I liked where I was headed with that string of words and I want to refine them more before I share them. 

Is that really it? Or am I dealing with a piece of self-doubt? Maybe it is both. Whatever the case, I am going to be a deleter for now and I will share the words soon.

This painting! When I look at it, I feel so happy. I couldn't wait to share it with my loved ones. Right now, it hangs in my dining room. 

Attitude of Gratitude:
  • the smell of fresh-brewed coffee in the morning
  • the howling wind outside my window as I type
  • my health
  • inspirational music
  • sketchbooks

Thursday, October 13, 2011

I'll Take Manhattan....Kansas, That Is!

I have been extremely blessed to have witnessed some very awe-inspiring sunrises. My kids attend schools that require us to drive a short distance from our home and each morning, the sky looks so markedly different from the day before.


On my birthday, the sunrise was the most beautiful pink. When the sight first came into view, I was speechless. I just gasped. Kaitlyn smiled and said, "You see that Mom? That is for you." I couldn't help believing she was right...it was my birthday after all and a sunrise like that really set the day off on the right foot. I went to reach for my camera, but I had left it at home. I was so disappointed. 


I love how in the light similar to the photo I have shared here, any object is perfectly silhouetted. 


I was apprehensive about living in Kansas. People tend to stereotype it. I will say that a lot of Kansas is flat, but where I live, there are rolling hills and rivers and .... really beautiful sunrises.

Ten Things I Love:



  1. sunrises shared with people I love
  2. jingle bells in Kitties' collars
  3. spiced chai lattes
  4. bamboo knitting needles
  5. red pears
  6. seat warmers
  7. amber sunlight
  8. mint
  9. hubby's sweet iced tea
  10. soft, clean sheets
What are you loving .... right this minute?


Thursday, October 6, 2011

...a little graphic, poetry....and a new list of five things for which I am grateful...


  • God's beautiful artistry in Autumn
  • poetry
  • t-shirts
  • quiet time
  • ball point pens


Do you have a list of five things for which you feel grateful?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

A New List of Five


  • A walk in the park with Kaitlyn this morning ... Starbucks in hand. The leaves were so beautiful.
  • short afternoon naps
  • my camera
  • Hubby is cooking dinner tonight
  • text messages

Tuesday, October 4, 2011


I haven't been here in quite a while. I miss it. I crave it. I hear it calling my name...inviting me to come here to reconnect while I disconnect. I have barely taken photos. I have snapped many with my camera phone, but my brain has been so clouded by sadness, busy-ness and depression that I think I almost forgot that I love to capture lovely beautiful of the world around me.

I decided that today would be a great day to start back into a pattern here with a list of five. I used to create these on a daily basis to keep my spirits high. I would look around me and feel grateful for just five little things. It worked like magic.

In this moment, I feel an attitude of gratitude for:


  • watercolors
  • School - I am truly excited about my education. I love what I am investing my time in learning.
  • My children - my wonderful teachers have taught me so very much about life.
  • The recent visit I got to have with my mother. Our time together was beautiful...and the pie I baked was freaking amazing!
  • Amazon.com - I love that I can order a book and get it in a few days.
Thank you FishyFishyFishy for your patience and gentle reminders to come back to the blogosphere. I cannot wait to get to meet your precious little boy!