Crossing Paths

“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” Kurt Vonnegut

Morning Glow, watercolor by Julie Beal, Nov. 2015

Multitudes of people have come and gone in my life, especially since I was a teacher for 35 years. Some have had a great impact on me, sometimes in ways that changed my perceptions of what I thought was the way things should be, and they opened up my eyes to the way things ARE in this life.

For them, I am eternally grateful, because I believe it has made me a better, more compassionate person.

In my journey into the world of creating art, I have met people who have truly made this adventure memorable and helped to build my confidence to just let myself go and create.

Thank you to my KSU instructors, Shannon Hines, Julie Friedman, and Charisse Harris, for everything...your expertise, your guidance, your support, and your friendship.

And thank you for helping my soul to grow.

After the Cruise, Acrylic on Canvas by Julie Beal, Nov. 2015

Retirement

Retirement.

It seems to me that as my 35 year teaching career has come to a close, it's not the"end" of anything. Teaching has been one amazing and fulfilling adventure in which I was blessed to be able to reach and positively impact young people, helping them to realize success and self-worth despite some of the most defeating circumstances of their young lives. But that journey doesn't have to end. It just changes. 

And new adventures begin. 

I spent most of the summer working on my yard, which had been sorely neglected for a few years. We KNOW what weeds and little, easily removed sprouted maple seedlings do in a few years! Trust me...they are NOT so easy to remove, as they have developed into mini trees snaking their roots deep into the earth.

I cleared out the raised beds I built probably 10 years ago, but I did not plant them since it was so late in the planting season and I would have had to refill them with soil. Too much work for recovering from surgery for torn cartilage in my knee. The nice thing is that they will be ready for next year.

I decided to take advantage of late-season plant sales in pots, as well as patio furniture deals. And there is where Katie and I sat on the first day of the 2015-2016 school year, sipping coffee in the sunshine,  listening to the chirping of the birds, and loving freedom.

Miss Katie, loving her chair

       This fall, starting at the beginning of September, I decided to enroll in two undergraduate studio art classes at Kent State University. Through the KSU Continuing Education Senior Guest Program, I was able to participate in the classes for free, without credit or grades. 

I took Drawing I and 2D Composition, both with the most wonderful instructors from whom I learned a great deal. It was really hard work, and I know I refined my fine motor skills through especially my drawing assignments. The most important thing, though, is I developed both an understanding of the fundamentals of design and composition and the confidence to challenge myself with my painting. You can see my work at my art blog that I created as an art student.

My new adventure in art is now to conduct private home painting parties. I had so much fun trying this with my family at Thanksgiving, and it truly blends my love of teaching with my love of painting. We will see where it goes.

The final result of my painting-on-the-spot demonstration

My wonderful sister, nieces, and beautiful mom

Our final AMAZING paintings, each as unique as us individual artists!

The journey continues!

Simple Things

Watercolor pencil by Julie Beal, October. 2015

Simple things mean a lot to me.
Some things only children can see
Simple things, like horses running free
And easy acceptance of life.

Simple things never compromise.

All things have a rhythm I can't realize.
I feel content in my freedom,
And I feel my freedom is right.

I never want to stop being a child.
I want to see the flowers growing wild on the hillside,
To see the sun rise in the morning...
Sunlight growing, filling the skies.

Simple things of the earth don't die.
They just grow and change as time goes by.
There are no questions without answers.
I've found my answer to life is living...
The secret of living is life.

~by Carole King

"My Life Has Been a Tapestry..."

      

Ever since I really became involved in fiber arts as a knitter and spinner, it seemed that weaving would be the next thing to follow. I am always interested in any process that takes yarn, fabric, fibers, and turns them into something beautiful and useful. 

I have always been fascinated by the process of weaving since I began knitting and spinning in 2008 and 2009. However, the formal way of weaving just didn't suit what I wanted to do...that is to weave outside the box. Recently while searching online for a wooden winding tool for yarn, I came across a weaver in California who wove pieces that took my breath away...first of all, because they were so beautiful, and secondly, because they represented the style I had been searching for to weave.

The style is called SAORI. "SA" of SAORI has the same meaning as the first syllable of the word "SAI" which is found in Zen vocabulary.  It means everything has its own individual dignity.  And the "ORI" means weaving. 

SAORI is a contemporary hand weaving program founded by a Japanese lady, Misao Jo about 40 years ago, in which everyone can express oneself freely regardless of age, gender, disability or intellectual aptitude.  In SAORI, people can enjoy hand weaving as an art form not only as a hand craft. In the past 40 years, SAORI has been introduced all over Japan, and there are more than 40,000 SAORI weavers in Japan only.  SAORI has also been introduced overseas, in more than 40 countries. SAORI is now practiced across Japan, other countries in Asia, Middle East, North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Australia and Africa at nearly one thousand institutions including special education schools, sheltered workshops, high schools, adult education centers, and rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities.  

                "All flowers are beautiful, even though each individual flower            is different in form and color.  Because of this difference, "all are good".  Because everything has the same life, life cannot be measured by a yardstick.  It is this individuality that makes everything meaningful and the uniqueness of each thread that creates the tapestry of life."

                                                                                          

                                      Misao Jo, Founder of SAORI

I love this and all it stands for. This is what I have been looking for. 
This is what I want to explore.

And here is my first journey into Saori weaving.