Comments on: Self-Portrait http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/ Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9665 Christine Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:46:35 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9665 Yes Beck, art is filled with stories and I loved hearing yours! :-) Yes Beck, art is filled with stories and I loved hearing yours! :-)

]]> By: Beck http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9640 Beck Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:22:24 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9640 Hi Christine, So interesting to hear your story about this picture. Of course, in just gazing at it for a few moments I had already made up a story. That's what art is for, yes? Any way, all I can see in this picture is dancing and flow. Everything about it suggests that to me. The way your head is turned away makes me think that you are graceful and entering into a swirling motion which is also echoed in the stamping and even the brush marks of the paint around the border that you don't like. Thanks for sharing your beauty in all of its forms. : ) Love, Beck Hi Christine,
So interesting to hear your story about this picture. Of course, in just gazing at it for a few moments I had already made up a story. That’s what art is for, yes? Any way, all I can see in this picture is dancing and flow. Everything about it suggests that to me. The way your head is turned away makes me think that you are graceful and entering into a swirling motion which is also echoed in the stamping and even the brush marks of the paint around the border that you don’t like. Thanks for sharing your beauty in all of its forms.
: )

Love,

Beck

]]> By: Sunday Collection: Creativity | Anchors and Masts http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9614 Sunday Collection: Creativity | Anchors and Masts Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:56:35 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9614 [...] in the last week, I’ve revelled in so much beauty. We’ve had Christine’s Self-Portrait; the story of Guns to Guitars at Possible Water; the gift of Church of the Old Mermaids; [...] [...] in the last week, I’ve revelled in so much beauty. We’ve had Christine’s Self-Portrait; the story of Guns to Guitars at Possible Water; the gift of Church of the Old Mermaids; [...]

]]> By: Christine http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9612 Christine Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:49:51 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9612 Thanks everyone for the kind and tender words. It has been a great gift to dig into my personal and ancestral history, I am learning quite a bit about myself on this journey! lucy, thanks for honoring the sacredness of this story, it is indeed a holy thing to go to these vulnerable places and encounter myself and my Self. Suz, I actually don't consider this particular relationship a tragedy, while I was heartbroken at the time I don't think this particular man deserves that kind of weight. My father however was most certainly a tragic figure in my life. I am so delighted you are gathering your tools and creating your art space! I love it!! Sunrise Sister, I agree with you. The InterPlay tools are more about playfully opening up possibilities for story, but they speak to a deeper wisdom that there iare always more layers to reveal. eileen, sounds like we have had some similar journeys, I was fotunate not to have entered into drug or alcoholo addiction -- quite a feat considering my father's alcoholism, but I acted out addictive patterns in other ways. How beautiful that your journey leads you to love your daughter that much more. Thanks everyone for the kind and tender words. It has been a great gift to dig into my personal and ancestral history, I am learning quite a bit about myself on this journey!

lucy, thanks for honoring the sacredness of this story, it is indeed a holy thing to go to these vulnerable places and encounter myself and my Self.

Suz, I actually don’t consider this particular relationship a tragedy, while I was heartbroken at the time I don’t think this particular man deserves that kind of weight. My father however was most certainly a tragic figure in my life. I am so delighted you are gathering your tools and creating your art space! I love it!!

Sunrise Sister, I agree with you. The InterPlay tools are more about playfully opening up possibilities for story, but they speak to a deeper wisdom that there iare always more layers to reveal.

eileen, sounds like we have had some similar journeys, I was fotunate not to have entered into drug or alcoholo addiction — quite a feat considering my father’s alcoholism, but I acted out addictive patterns in other ways. How beautiful that your journey leads you to love your daughter that much more.

]]> By: eileen (the dream) http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9606 eileen (the dream) Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:47:22 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9606 "Hey, 19!" Wow, reading your post transported me back to that time period in my own life, Christine. Some similarities in our stories. At that age and stage, I was dating a man 11 years older than me (the Dad void), was actively romancing my addiction to cocaine, was achieving excellent grades in college, and wore the mask (and clothes) of having it all together (when in fact I was broken - in many ways). Your personal quest to dig deeper is awesome. In my own journey, I have gone back and held that despaired and highly fearful 19 year girl in my arms. And in the now, I hold my sixteen year old daughter in that way ... so she will know that I will love her and be here for her NO MATTER. I am trying to give to her what I never had - it's all God. Thanks for this post, Christine. I am grateful to have connected with you over the past several months! “Hey, 19!”
Wow, reading your post transported me back to that time period in my own life, Christine. Some similarities in our stories. At that age and stage, I was dating a man 11 years older than me (the Dad void), was actively romancing my addiction to cocaine, was achieving excellent grades in college, and wore the mask (and clothes) of having it all together (when in fact I was broken – in many ways).

Your personal quest to dig deeper is awesome. In my own journey, I have gone back and held that despaired and highly fearful 19 year girl in my arms. And in the now, I hold my sixteen year old daughter in that way … so she will know that I will love her and be here for her NO MATTER. I am trying to give to her what I never had – it’s all God.

Thanks for this post, Christine. I am grateful to have connected with you over the past several months!

]]> By: Suz http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9593 Suz Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:41:34 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9593 Thank you, Bette! What a kind response! Thank you, Bette! What a kind response!

]]> By: Sunrise Sister http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9590 Sunrise Sister Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:17:59 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9590 Christine, The interplay concept intrigues me. I find it possible to speak to almost anyone using thoughts of interplay (I think) because when one "speaks" there is ALWAYS a response we can give - either to give another comfort or to give continuance to (at least) the conversation or to (at most) the relationship. Generally, the only reason for non-response is the point blank recognition/statement that we do not want to go/or unwilling to go farther in the relationship or we are unwilling to lend an ear (at the least) to someone who needs listening. Christine, The interplay concept intrigues me. I find it possible to speak to almost anyone using thoughts of interplay (I think) because when one “speaks” there is ALWAYS a response we can give – either to give another comfort or to give continuance to (at least) the conversation or to (at most) the relationship. Generally, the only reason for non-response is the point blank recognition/statement that we do not want to go/or unwilling to go farther in the relationship or we are unwilling to lend an ear (at the least) to someone who needs listening.

]]> By: Bette http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9576 Bette Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:51:48 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9576 SUZ..... I have returned to my art studio in the basement again to be productive and to hide away in my 'cave' of sorts. The beautiful darkness of this season has caused me to realize that I am not being productive upstairs. I've taken my new drums, books, AND even my laptop to the basement and now I see that I should have done it months ago. Good luck with your new art supplies and inspiration. May you CREATE WONDERS in your basement-Haven! SUZ….. I have returned to my art studio in the basement again to be productive and to hide away in my ‘cave’ of sorts. The beautiful darkness of this season has caused me to realize that I am not being productive upstairs. I’ve taken my new drums, books, AND even my laptop to the basement and now I see that I should have done it months ago. Good luck with your new art supplies and inspiration. May you CREATE WONDERS in your basement-Haven!

]]> By: Suz http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9574 Suz Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:40:10 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9574 Christine, This fills me with sadness. What a stunning young woman...and what a bright, caring loving adult you have become. It is such a tragedy that you were taken in by this man. I think you heard me mention that the same thing has just happened to my daughter so the agony of thinking someone was waiting for you is so fresh in my mind. I was in much the same place at nineteen. Self-serving father and struggling deeply with my own sense of self worth. How lucky we were to end up with loving husbands and lives that mattered...correcting myself here...how filled with Grace our lives have been. Now on a more shallow level...these are the materials I read about...the transparencies, the pearl paints, the linolium blocks (I used to loved to do these in high school. I must say, I almost DREAM of them. I am getting my own little supply together. I have acrylics and brushes now, and Twinkling H2)'s and next I want to get the tissues and blocks and pearl paints. Somewhere I have the carving tools! I am going to turnt he basement into my little haven. You have been so inspirational! Christine,

This fills me with sadness. What a stunning young woman…and what a bright, caring loving adult you have become. It is such a tragedy that you were taken in by this man. I think you heard me mention that the same thing has just happened to my daughter so the agony of thinking someone was waiting for you is so fresh in my mind.

I was in much the same place at nineteen. Self-serving father and struggling deeply with my own sense of self worth. How lucky we were to end up with loving husbands and lives that mattered…correcting myself here…how filled with Grace our lives have been.

Now on a more shallow level…these are the materials I read about…the transparencies, the pearl paints, the linolium blocks (I used to loved to do these in high school. I must say, I almost DREAM of them. I am getting my own little supply together. I have acrylics and brushes now, and Twinkling H2)’s and next I want to get the tissues and blocks and pearl paints. Somewhere I have the carving tools! I am going to turnt he basement into my little haven.

You have been so inspirational!

]]> By: Bette http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9568 Bette Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:10:02 +0000 http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2007/12/08/self-portrait-2/#comment-9568 Christine, you are a very beautiful woman, inside and out. Thank you for being here for me and for us all. I love your deeply profound art and stories you have presented here. I will try asking myself these questions for things I have issues with in my present life. Christine, you are a very beautiful woman, inside and out. Thank you for being here for me and for us all. I love your deeply profound art and stories you have presented here. I will try asking myself these questions for things I have issues with in my present life.

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