SPIRIT GUIDES

 

WHAT ARE SPIRIT GUIDES?

Spirit guides are often described as non-physical entities which accompany us throughout our life while offering comfort and wisdom without controlling our choices. They give us guidance and support and help us grow spiritually and emotionally. Typical spirit guides are ancestral or deceased loved ones, angels and archangels, and spirit animals. Some believe that mythical or divine beings guide us with generosity, compassion, and support during life changing cycles. Others believe in elemental beings such as fairies or cosmic beings that bring to us creativity, harmony, and balance.

I believe in spirit guides in the form of angels and deceased loved ones that come to us in times of need to help us and comfort us when we go through days of indecision and confusion or facing certain trials in our life. I also believe that they do not always present themselves to us as themselves and sometimes show themselves as particular objects from the animal kingdom such as a bird, butterfly, or dragonfly. Maybe a beloved cat or dog, or sometimes in the form of a complete stranger...anything to catch our eye and help us realize we are being watched over and protected. I have heard that anything you see in a pattern of three is no coincidence and should be taken seriously for it is someone who is contacting you to let you know of their guiding protection and their love for you from the other side.

My parents passed way within a year of each other last year and so this year, their death weighs heavy in my thoughts and my heart. I know if either of them was to try and let me know of their presence it would be in the form of a bird. They both loved birds and were always caring for the birds throughout the year, especially during the winter months when food was so scarce for them. My mother had a birdcage hanging above her desk that contained two lovebirds that sang sweet songs to her every day. My father loved the hummingbirds and would always say that spring was not truly upon us until he saw the first bright, red feathers of a cardinal. A red breasted Robin returned every year to make her nest in an empty hanging planter basket that my mother kept especially for her on her front porch. We watched the busy mother bird flying back and forth with food when the baby birds hatched while the father hovered protectively nearby. All too soon the babies would grow strong and fly away to start their own lives, leaving behind a silent, empty nest. At dusk, we would go and sit out of the front porch and listen to the doves cooing to one another. There is a pool where I live and I go in the quiet of the evening to relax and swim. I have noticed a gentle dove that comes and sits on the power line in the parking lot beside the pool. I talk to her (of course when no one else is around) but she only sits in silence and seems content just watch to me. sometimes I wonder, if indeed, this beautiful creature is my mother appearing to me to let me know she is still a part of my life. Maybe?

Your challenge this week is to create what you believe to be your own spirit guide and interpret that image in your artwork. When you post your artwork, if you have a spirt guide story of your own, please share it with us. 

Remember...Hebrews 13:2

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  

MY SPIRIT GUIDE CREATIONS

Thank you for having so much patience with me during the time I was absent! Looking forward to many challenges and seeing all of your amazing artwork!

Artwork created from Miriam's Scraps and Pinterest

QUIRKY VICTORIAN ANIMAL CHARACTERS CHALLENGE

 THE QUEEN OF CREEP IS BACK!

I am so sorry that I have not posted any challenges in such a long time! The summer was so hectic and so many things came up that I did not have time to post anything for you! I am back and in full swing and will be posting weekly challenged from here on out. 

I have missed all of my Dark Artist Friends so much and am looking forward to creating some dark art with you as we did before! 

I collaborated with Mia at http://craftartista.blogspot.com 

and she created these awesome collage sheets for us to use for this challenge!

Choose one or more images from the collage sheets to use in your art this week plus I want you too also create another one with your own images as well. You will be creating two art pieces for this challenge! You can create them with a Spooky Victorian Theme or even a Steampunk Theme or both! Remember that your imagination is your doorway to any world you want to create! Have fun!!!

Here are my Quirky Victorian Animal Character Creations!

Thank you, Mia, for the wonderful collage sheets you created for us. I really enjoyed playing with the images and creating art with them for this challenge. 

Digital art created from Craftartista Quirky Animals Collage Sheets, Art House Whimsey Haunted Houses, Pxaabay, Gecko Galz  Digital Collage Sheet Gothic Victorian Ladies, and Time Flies ATC Sheet.

GYPSY FORTUNETELLER

 

In the past, I told people's fortunes with playing cards but I do not do it anymore because I do not think it is wise to always know what your future holds. Part of the mystery of life is for us to make our own destiny and decide for ourselves what road we will take. We should not allow anything to alter our journey by knowing something that might greatly confuse our instinct of which path to choose. God gave us the life we have and it is up to us to choose wisely so that nothing but good will influence our decisions concerning our future.

With that in mind, our Theme for this Challenge is Gypsy Fortunetelling but in a good way! I want you to create your own good luck fortune card this week! I know I could use some good luck right now because the reason I have not been able to post challenges weekly is because my laptop has been giving me lots of trouble and I fear it is on the brink of certain doom and complete shut down! It was a real struggle just to get this post written and published! We all know that these past two years have not been my most favorable as far as luck goes so I am willing to try anything to bring the good back in my life! And just for fun...creating a lucky fortune card might be just what I need! Also, a prayer or two wouldn't hurt!

I am going to give you some symbols to use when you design your fortune card that will give you extra luck! The sun, moon, and stars always means good luck or good fortune. The use of a bear or dog means good protection. A tower means you are being watched over and protected. A clover leaf always means good luck! 
A key means something promising will happen soon. A garden or bouquet of flowers means you are surrounded by good friends and happy times. 

I cannot wait to see why you will come up with for your own good luck!

Here is my Good Luck card! 

I hope it helps drive away the negative mishaps in my life and bring me good luck!

Next week we have a special treat! Mia, a new artist to our challenges, has designed a set of Quirky Animals Characters dressed in Victorian clothes for us to use in our artwork! I know you will love what she has designed for us for the next Challenge!

Please bear with me as I know I will have to buy another laptop soon and transfer my files so if I do not post for a week or two, please know I will be back as soon as possible!

Sending many hugs to all and thank you for your patience in this matter!

MR. WIZARD

 

Wizard: one skilled in the powers of magic, a wise man, a sage, sorcerer, magician. This is your Theme this week to create your own mystical Wizard from an Enchanted Kingdom! Think of the Lord of the Rings and Gandolf, Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore! I have created a page with Free Images for you too! Have fun!

Here are my Wizards!!!!

THE WATCHER

 

THE WATCHER...

what is she watching for...

who is she waiting for?

As the water breaks at the shore...

she stands...waiting...watching...

This theme reminded me of Wuthering Heights. 

Heathcliffe and Catherine.

Of the ghosts of the past that stand on the cliff...wander the shore...young lovers...parted by dire circumstance...longing to hope...wanting to see their beloved walking toward them. Only shadows remain. Watching the horizon...waiting for those who never arrive. And yet...she will stand in all eternity to watch forever.

Your challenge this week is to create your own misty cliff scene in which your "Watcher" is waiting. I have also added a page with free images for you to use for your artwork this week! Enjoy...allow your imagination go across space and time to stand and watch alone.

Here is my "Watcher" Creations!

Digital art created from images from Pixabay and Pinterest

QUIRKY CIRCUS CHARACTERS

"WE ARE ALL CLOWNS BALANCING ON THE TIGHTROPE OF LIFE!"

 Who doesn't love the circus? Big fun under the Big Top! The acts are fearless and daring! Trapeze Artists flying high in the air, the Fire Eater, the Sword Swallower, the Lion Tamer...all death-defying feats! And yet, in all of the fun, there is a creepy, quirky, unusual element to the Circus that fascinates us as well! Your challenge this week is to create your own Circus ...may it be creepy, quirky, fun, or comical... just remember.... 

ITS THE GREATSEST SHOW ON THE EARTH!!!

I have posted some Free Images for you to use if you wish! 

Here are my Quirky, Creepy Circus Creations!

Digital art created from DreamFusionPrint Digital Kit Quirky Circus People, Kate's Printable Art Digital Kit Vintage Sky, Images from Pinterest, and Miriam's Digital Kit Scraps

DESPERATE DAPHNE

APOLLO AND DAPHNE

Sculpture:  Gian Lorenzo Bernini

 Daphne, a figure of Greek Mythology, was a virginal Naiad-Nymph, devoted to chastity, and the daughter of the river God, Peneus. She was famous for being incredibly beautiful and loved by the god, Apollo. Apollo was the son of Zeus. It was his job to pull the sun across the sky by his 4-horse chariot every day. He was also the God of music, poetry, and art. 

Fresco from Pompeii

Apollo had been mocking the God of Love, Eros, (Cupid). Apollo has recently been victorious over Python, a Earth dragon, piercing his body with 1,000 arrows. He told Eros that his godly talents were useless when compared to his own. 

"Impudent boy, what are you doing with a man's weapons? That one is suited to my shoulders, since I can hit wild beasts with a certainty, and wound my enemies... you should be intent on stirring the concealed fires of love with your burning brand, not laying claim to my glories"

Artist:  Peiro del Polloaiolo

Eros retaliated by firing two arrows, a gold arrow that struck Apollo and made him fall madly in love with Daphne and a lead arrow that made Daphne hate Apollo.  

Daphne dedicated herself to perpetual virginity, never wanting a man in her life. Her father knew that her beauty would make it impossible to prevent suitors from coming to her.

Artist: Veronese San Diego

One day Apollo is walking in the woods and spots Daphne up ahead in a clearing. within an instant, he falls madly in love with her. He quickly rushs toward her, calling out her name, but she immediately flees.

Daphne did not know who was pursuing her and runs ahead of Apollo, even after he reminds her that "All acknowledge me king, in all of the lands! My father is Jupiter!" He begs her to stop but she continued to ignore him.

Artist: Battista Tiepolo

 He closes in at full speed and grabs her, but she manages to escape him and quickens her pace. They are soon insight of her father's waters, Exhausted, overcome by the efforts of her escape, and sensing that she is about to be caught, she yells to her father for help.

"Help me father! If your streams have divine powers, change me and destroy this beauty that pleases too well."

No sooner than the cry left her mouth, she felt a heavy numbness seize her limbs. Thin bark closed over her breast, her hair turned into leaves, her arms into branches. Her feet were stuck in slow growing roots. Her face was lost in the canopy. She had become a Laurel Tree. Apollo cried out in complete heartbreak.

Artist:  Gustav Klimt

Even in this state, Apollo could not help but love her. He touched the trunk f the tree and could feel her heartbeat. He tried to kiss the bark but it shrank away from him. In spite of her insistence that he leave, Apollo wowed to honor her forever.

"We kiss before we burn. You shall be treasured forever as my now precious tree."

He made a crown of her branches to wear upon his head. 

Artist: John Willams Waterhouse

Incidentally, a laurel wreath worn upon one's head would signify victory, triumph, and achievement Laurel would adorn he heads of royals and the champions of game and battle for years to come.

Yes, you guessed it! Your challenge this week is to create a art piece from this epic tale of love and heartbreak! You can create this from any point of view...Gothic, Romantic, Comedic. 

Remember, there is no specific way to create this so just relax and let your imagination and creative spirit do all of the work! I cannot wait to see why you will come up with!

I have posted a Page of Free Images for you to use in your artwork!

Here is my 

Desperate Daphne Creation!

I will not lie!! This was a challenge! I constructed the tree bark, piece by piece, the same with the tree limbs, the vines, leaves, roots....it took all day! Very time consuming but worth working on it! I finally thought I was finished but then I got the idea to fill the forest with animals because I did not want Daphne to be alone!

Digital art created from Itkupilli's Woodland Creatures Digital Kit, Wikipedia, Pixabay, and Miriam's Digital Kit Scraps

MY HAIR LOOKS LIKE A BIRD'S NEST

 THE NESTING

A tangled wisp here and there where tiny branches are interwoven and secure.

I wear it proud, where comb nor brush can smooth away the knotted frays. 

My feathered friends do not mind the mass of unkempt chaos as they tuck themselves in at night, tired from flight.

For my hair is just a home where the creatures of the air come to stay.

I shall keep it just this way, until my days are short and the nest is nothing but gray.

This is your theme for this week! 

Spring is officially here and the birds have come back to sing their sweet songs of celebration! But beware...they are looking for a place to build their nests. I happened, perchance, to find one in my own hair this morning!

I have posted a page of Free Images for you to use in your artwork this week. I cannot wait to see your Bird Nest creations!!

Digital art created from images from Pinterest and Pixabay, Miriam's Digital Kit Scraps, Gecko Galz Digital Collage Sheets Nature's Sketchbook, Sentimental Celluloids ATC Set, Inspiration Songs ATC Collection, Bird Brained ATC Set, and Signs of Yesterday ATC Set