Sometimes life circumstances set us aside, and we find ourselves holed up at home: Caring for the sick Helping family Battling illness Managing home-improvement projects ________ (insert your reason here) Our normal running around turns into staying put. I’ve been thinking a lot about how what cocoons us also creates opportunities for art. "Chrysalis" by …
The Great Affair Mixed Media by JoDee Luna
https://youtube.com/shorts/bFn623mXBGU The Great Affair is a mixed media portrait that encourages adventure and travel. I created the feature video above and was moved by a comment left on my Instagram post: So beautiful! It made me think about the way we, as artists, can travel far, all around the world even, through books and creating …
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Are you a crossover creative?
Are you passionate about your art form; and yet, have another one calling to you? If so, you might be a crossover creative. Crossover A point or place of crossing from one side to the other. The process of achieving success in a different field or style. Perhaps you’re a writer who longs to dabble …
Planting Seeds of Hope
Hope grows in the most unlikely of places, searching out souls huddled in darkened corners of despair. I know, I’ve been there, and hope found me. So, I want to plant seeds of hope: Hope made possible by the gift of God’s grace. The surety of His trustworthy nature. His promise to never leave or …
Do you ever feel insignificant?
Insignificance: to small or unimportant to be worth consideration. Without power or influence. Have you ever struggled with insignificance? Felt too unimportant to be worth consideration? Wondered why what means so much to you means so little to others? What is it in the human soul that longs to be loved, to be heard, to …
Welcome Home
Welcome Home is a mixed media oil portrait. https://youtu.be/wuAQAUxwCuk The project began as a collage of photos from my husband and my trip to Maine. Originally, I titled the artwork "Art and Soul" after the trendy art gallery photo I'd taken under her eye. But as I painted her, something surprising happened. The compulsion to …
The Seven Virtues
I came across the seven virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 during the Covid 19 pandemic. They seemed like the perfect antidote for the social unrest and animosity happening, even among families and friends as people divided over issues. These virtues stirred my heart, and I found myself longing for character traits that had eternal …
Isaiah’s Portrait, Oil on Canvas
This is one of my most challenging and yet rewarding paintings. What a privilege to capture the essence of this amazing boy. Here's a short video that shows my process: https://youtu.be/lRnMpfDswTY
Pretend Until you Are
One of the Twelve-Step recovery slogans that empowers me to become the person and artist I dream of being is... “Act as if!” Simply put, emotional health often results when you practice a particular character trait you want to possess. Even if you feel quite the opposite, shaking in your shoes, you “act as if” …