Quote of The Day

Saturday, February 09, 2013

29 faces of February 2013

The five stages of greif are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, depression, acceptance.
For more in depth insight you  can read about it here!

 I'm very familiar with grief having lost both parents in my early thirties, a career to illness, my long term  marriage at forty, all my aunts and uncles by the time I was fourty five plus  four dogs, one eighteen when he passed. 
Except for a time when I lost a dear friendship for a few years I have never experienced the grief of losing someone near and dear who's still alive!!
 Those oh so familiar waves of deep sadness descend like a tsunami of despair knowing things will never again be the same  and there's absolutely nothing you can do to change it!!
Divorce is like a web, it has so many thin threads that affect everything and everyone! The logistics of a breakup are always so difficult, and sad beyond comprehension!!
It's difficult to watch people agonize through  all the disconnections of friends, family,  routines, home  and loss of security. Kids, animals, finances, dreams, all suffer.
 I never expected to feel these waves of grief for an extended family member  when they are still a phone call away.

  I've chosen to stay neutral during this marital breakup,  secretly hoping  the marriage can be repaired, while processing the actuality that it's over!

 It's all so sad.....Thinking about it drains me of energy.
 Even though I know most of the whys, and understand there is an evolution of healing, usually followed by joy, it's still difficult to observe the wounded parties.
I hate to admit as  a loving woman I don't think I'm willing to accept a replacement!
I'm disappointed that I feel this way too!! If only the two could have seen what I saw, how they mirrored each other in all ways! Maybe then they could work on what truly pulled them apart!! Sadly it's not to be, and I am left shaking my head knowing they'll carry all their inclination to their replacements  next relationships!


 On a happy note I received my soft cover copy from Blurb of "One Fish Taco and a Half Order of Guacamole" written by my Paint Party Friday Friend Lynn Cohen.   The above faces for 29 faces were done on the cardboard packaging that I received the book in! It's still a work in progress as I want to add some black to pop the faces and eyes more...plus there's  a girl I didn't show and a secret compartment for another face.  So far I have six faces and will catch up this weekend!!
I loved Lynns book it's a real inspiration to artists who's gremlin tries to defeat them!! You see the evolution of  Lynns sketches over a full year of drawing daily!! Her unique style , her tenacity and  the fact that she NEVER erases a line is  phenomenal to me!! At the end of the book Lynn shares some sage advice on being an artist and following through the way she did!! Thank you Lynn for this lovely body of work, I can't wait to share it with my goddesses!!

Are there character flaws in your life that you feel disappointed in? Please share!

44 comments:

Jez said...

This is such a beautiful, sensitive post, where as always your lovely humanity shines through. Sadly we know the sadness of losing a living loved one, though I have never thought of it in that tender way. And then there is the sadness when a family member goes to live abroad in a distant country, as we have experienced. I am so sorry for your sadness.
Beautiful paintings, and the text to go with them. The whole card/booklet reads like a visual poem. XX

Stephanie Mealor Corder said...

GREAT rendering of the 5 stages of grief- and I love how you illustrated each emotion. Beautiful work!
Happy PPF,
Stephanie

Netty said...

Loving your new heading, so fab for Valentines day.
The girls are terrific with their great expressions. Loving the wonderful colours as well.
Annette x Happy PPF

GlorV1 said...

Great faces! I also love your new heading. Have a great day.

Faye said...

Giggles, I love your drawings very much, especially the She knew... one, the black woman. You are so talented. I am sorry that you are suffering from yet another loss, this marital breakup of someone you love. Your blog serves as an inspiration to us all.

Lynn Cohen said...

Oh my goodness! I never know what to expect when I come here, but today you took my breath away...I am a counselor of marriage and family, so I hear these issues discussed and felt every week in my office; and of course at my age I have experienced most of them myself as well. Such is life! But the hard parts of it for sure. You expressed it well and your drawings/paintings done on the cardboard (smile) are wonderfully done. Hugs to you for all of that!

And then of course, another HUGE HUG for shouting out my book, "One Fish Taco..." I appreciate this so much. May I please copy your words about it for my own blog and/or facebook page?

Thank you Ms Giggles! We will go out and try to have some giggles of our own today!

Victoria said...

Wow..all your faces are spectacular..dazzling..and beautiful!!
Victoria

Ayala Art said...

So happy to see you in the challenge!!
Well, so sorry about all the grief you have beenm through. And yes, it is a special kind of pain when you lose someone that is still alive. But there's a time when even that pain diminishes and we learn to move on, or at least along. Tsunami is the right term.
I love all the faces you posted here ♥ What a cool idea to paint on the packaging!

sharon said...

I so love coming here, there is always beautiful wisdom. new headers, I love this one. Your post on loss really hit me as I suffered loss this week a young friend with cystic fibrosis. Art does help the process of healing! Love all your faces. Gorgeous!

Ilona Heimböckel said...

Wow, what an entrance! :-) beautiful banner work!!!
I must admit, I haven't read your post. I am really tired and I just want to say hello!

Have a great week end! Hope everything is well! I still have something I wanted to finish so I move on.

Ilona xx

Kristin said...

Yes, a beautiful post regarding such a difficult matter. And your art here - on cardboard! - are some new favorites for me! Lovely, rich and bold! xoxo

denthe said...

These portraits all radiate such a feeling of sadness and disappointment. It's wonderful if you can use art to express your feelings. Wonderful post!

kat said...

Your colorful faces are just great, full of feeling, it's such a pleasure to visit you here, thanks so much for sharing your great art with us all! xx

Rosie said...

So very beautiful portraits, love your painting.

Have a lovely Sunday

Rosie said...

So very beautiful portraits, love your painting.

Have a lovely Sunday

K J D said...

A really beautiful and moving post...

Karen x

Christine said...

Interesting post Giggles, beautifully illustrated with your faces. I would say you are living a very full life with all it can bring...best wishes to that couple separating, painful just to think about.

janice smith said...

What a beautiful post. I identify with so many of the situations you described. Walking through a divorce with someone close to you is gut-wrenching and there is a wide sphere of grief surrounding it. Your faces are amazing. I avoid faces...I am far too hard on myself about it, really. I think next year I may try to join you guys in posting a face a day. I enjoy seeing what everyone is doing and it might help me get over that "hump". I need to get myself a copy of Lynn's book...it sounds fab! Have a great week. xo - janice

Lucy said...

wow! i echo the words that Jez expressed (so beautifully! )
i've never thought of the grief of losing someone who is still breathing. your words really moved me and made me reflect on many memories. hand and hand with the hauntingly sad pictures... wow! (again) and to share.. of course there are character flaws in my life and myself that (really) disappoint me! Im sure We all have them if were being honest! hey maybe this can be a topic to get me FINALLY writing again! so sorry you're grieving, but boy what you can do with it! miss u and am so happy i popped on over xoxo

Dianne said...

art is a good way to work through all those feelings that life brings us. Even though the eyes of your ladies looked sad, the colors were happy...you are still hanging on to the Positive, and that's a good thing...well done!

Marji said...

What a thoughtful post. I think the artwork that you did to really show the faces, the thoughts, the feelings is remarkable. Very moving.

Lisabella Russo said...

What a beautiful and thoughtful post. I hope it works out. The faces you painted are so beautiful and full of emotion, the feelings really come through.

Anne said...

Beautiful and touching post.
Adore your artwork.

Deborah said...

Simply beautiful...I can't wait to see more of your work!

Ĺ olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Oh, I love the new header! And your faces look beautiful. :)

Ivy said...

Grief takes so many forms, is so very complicated and layered. I think some things we truly never get over but learn to move on. Your faces so perfectly express all of this. And I wanted to say I just LOVE your new blog header, black/pink/yellow is fab! HPPF!

aimee said...

your drawings are beautiful, comforting companions to such difficult circumstances!

Alicia C said...

I really like your new banner! it is wonderful. Nothing in life lasts, that's for sure. I think my worst personal flaw is pure uncontrollable apathy. I would actually be someone worthwhile if I could get more life energy! oh well.

Unknown said...

Your post was so beautifully written, I am going through this at the moment, where two people I love are looking at divorce. And all I can do at this moment in time is listen + not take sides. Your beautiful paintings really illustrated the emotions I am feeling.

Gorgeous xx

Anonymous said...

Oh my, I love all your faces, seems that you have been very busy. Great job!!!

Have a great day!
Nora

Anonymous said...

Oh my, I love all your faces, seems that you have been very busy. Great job!!!

Have a great day!
Nora

SAMARA said...

Hi "Giggles" I now understand why you saw my art as painful when for me it was a past that I celebrate because of a present of strength. These pictures and your words are so incredibly authentic and churned their way right into my heart. The faces so represented your words or the other way around. Your face drawings/paintings are lovely. The style is lovely. Yes, divorce and replacements. I've not been partnered or dated for 10 years - divorced for 20 - dated for 10 and hated it! It was not the way for me. The last 10 years have been joyous, refreshing, enlightening, growthful, freeing for all the reasons you speak of. 56 and no desire to do it again. One must endure the moments of lonliness but beyond that, I, as only one person on this planet, can find no other reason to partner again. So I hear you of those words...I hear you. And I hear the confusions that go along with the process. Giggles, I was a Chaplain and therapist for 30 years...(metaphysical, though trained traditional as a Minister) and this I know. We are always in flux, always growing and suffering and love are two sides of the same coin. In grief we circle and spiral, go back and go forth. And it is all OK. Retreat and repress, talk out and talk straight, avoid and be inappropriate. It's all OK. It's a process of it ALL coming out - it seems like every single moment of our life from birth comes out! (this was not meant to be this type of comment - truly.) It was to say thanks for your comment and to see your lovely work...so Giggles, hang in. You are loved, you are loving. You did nothing that caused this...life is a spiral of growth and growing...for all of us. Peace in the good the bad and the ugly. Lovies, Samara (samaranavi@bell.net) xox

PiaRom said...

All those sweet faces :) I love the colors but some of them look a bit sad...all things that happens are the one that have to be happen...thats my religion ;) Big hug from Conny

Janet said...

You have such a beautiful heart! And I'm so glad you're doing 29 faces. Each one of your paintings is wonderful!

Ilona Heimböckel said...

Hi Giggles!

So interesting to read your post. When I learnt that my sister in law had decided to break the marriage with my brother I felt immense grief! It was a shock to me, as they seemed to be the perfect match. She had told me about her love to my brother only two months earlier. Can you believe it?

It takes character also to stay on together, as long as there is no suffering in the relationship and family!

Ilona

Ileana said...

What a beautiful, raw, creative, and thought-filled post. Thanks for sharing your heart, thoughts and artwork. I really think your ladies show so much feeling in their faces. It makes me remember we are all more alike than different. Joys and sorrows do connect us. That book looks like a treasure. I'll have to check it out.

J C said...

Wonderfully expressive faces. Great insight into the stages of grief. Except...I don't thing the joy ever comes back. Not really. Not deep like it was before.

pauline said...

dearest Sherrie... you know i'm with you on this one, right? Absolutely beautiful - words and artwork. When i saw your banner, my heart skipped a beat! Gorgeous. And i SO hear your pain. Life is hard sometimes. There's just no other way to say it. And other times, it fucking sparkles. Here's to hoping you have more sparkly days than dark ones.. BIG HUGS. xox

Tammie Lee said...

the sadness of your words got my attention
then i realized i had not take your art to heart
so back i went

for some of us change is harder than others
and loss is alive and like waves in the ocean, coming and going
we never know how it will touch us

sending light
~

Meihsia Liu said...

Wow.... these paintings are gorgeous! Love your great post! Thank you for sharing... ^_^

Ginny said...

Your art and your words always touch me on so many levels. It is as though I can hear you speaking directly to me. Thank you for always speaking from the heart.

I love your new banner. So bright and colorful!

Carin said...

Such a beautiful post on such a tough subject! And I love that you have expressed your sadness through painting. It always lifts my spirits and makes me think clearer. xo

JKW said...

This is amazing art for what you are going through. . .your descriptive words tell both the emotion and the story. I find it interesting that you are reaching out by using the cardboard that our friend and artist has produced. Blessings, Janet PPF

Cherie said...

I really enjoyed my visit! So glad you are on the list for the 29 Faces. I'm visiting each blog. This is surely a place I'll visit again. Peace and Blessings to you!

Cherie

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