en en en pt en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ca en en en en ne en en en en en en en en en ca en en en en ne en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ca en en en en ne en en en en en en en en en en en ca en en en en ne en en en en en en en en en ca en en en en ne en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en pt en en en pt pt en en en en en en en en
When my student is beyond excited. When they have that look in their eyes. When I know that something clicked, an alignment occurred with their soul. We are together for an instant in this blissed out moment that feels like the entire universe exhaled an immense and satisfied ‘YES!’
Last week, Jim asked if he could take his picture home to work on. He was so excited to show his parents his work in progress. He’s been in class close to 16 weeks, developing his style; drawing, painting, penciling what he loves- reptiles, lizards and snakes. He is a walking encyclopedia on everything reptile. He is also a connoisseur of morning glories. His enthusiasm is contagious.
Recently, he’s adopted a new tool- Derwent Inktense Ink pencils. He uses an easel, inventing his style of working as he goes- experimenting with different papers, pencils, techniques…and last Thursday- BOOM! Lightning struck and he was hooked. The muse had him by the tail and it was just the coolest thing to witness. He grew exponentially, expanded beyond his old story of his ability and I was able to see THAT MOMENT.
‘Oh wow’ he said to himself, looking at his picture, his hands full of pencils and paintbrushes, ‘I love this. I love this.’
When class was over, as he’s walking out the door, I saw that he also had the case of the studio’s Derwent pencils. Around $150 worth of these amazing things, cradled to his chest.
So I’m like, ‘Er…you’re taking the pencils too?’ A bit hesitant to let these things walk out the door.
His face was absolutely shining, as he said so seriously – “Yes! I promise I’ll be careful with them. I promise! Is it ok if I borrow them, since no one else is using them?’
In that moment, I could see the monetary value of those pencils was absolutely nothing compared to the value that they had to him, this gifted 13-year-old artist who had just discovered an entire world of wonder and awe in a case of pencils. We had discussed the price of him buying the exact set earlier in class that day, so he knew what he was asking.
He didn’t even say thank you or goodbye, (which he does every time, because he’s a polite and gracious kid) he instead just turned and floated toward his mom, clutching the pencils and his drawing.
Is that not connection we’re all longing for? A direct pipeline to joy? This is what is sustainable. Find the things that expand you, that inspire you to become more of who you are. It’s not about ‘Am I ‘good’ at this or any other external marker. It’s about what fulfills you. And that is always an inside job. How do you find a way to let the radiance out? What is it that tickles your fancy, that you do just for the sheer delight of exploration and creativity?
‘Oh wow’ (you overhear your soul say), ‘I love this. I love this.’
And honestly, it feels exactly like the entire universe is exhaling an immense and satisfied ‘YES!’ -through you.
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Tags: #janetbalboa, artist, artwork, authenticity, be who you are, bliss, colored pencil, connection, dewent inktense, discover your passion, fulfillment, inspiration, intention, life as an artist, love what you do, meaning, satisfaction, self discovery, self love, self worth, soul, The muse, who are you, work in progress
Categories Art work, artists, creativity, expression, inspiration, self discovery, self knowledge, technique
I love prismacolor faces!
I think she’s here. Have another layer of white pencil to do- that’s it for her face, I think. It for now anyway.
Excited for background- purples, fuschias, lime greens…
Have these gorgeous tapestry scarves- I photographed them in the airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. So some inspiration for the foliage on black background.
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Tags: #janetbalboa, art healing through art, artwork, being an artist, being present, card decks, change the world, colored pencil technique, consciousness, Divine Mother, Feminine Divine, great mother, healing cards, Hew Len, ho'oponopono, ho'oponopono art, prismacolor markers, prismacolor pencils
Categories Art work, ho'oponopono, portraits, self knowledge, technique
All those pretty, pretty colors…
While I have been an artist all my life, I have only recently come to terms with being OK with not necessarily fitting into the ‘real’ world I  walk out into every day.
I have always resided primarily in the magical world of my inner life. And these two worlds are not overly compatible. The trick has been, to use a biblical phrase, ‘to be in, but not of, this world’. Far easier said than done. It is something we all have to figure out for ourselves anyway, which is why, I suppose, Jesus wasn’t overly busy handing out instruction manuals.
In weaving, it is the warp threads that give the foundation, the anchors over and under which the weaving will happen. What are the warp threads of your life? What anchors you and holds you? What is your foundation? Your comfort?
For me, it is my experience of the unity, the oneness and the sacredness of everything on our planet. While not an overly unique or unusual perspective, it allows me a powerful foundation from which to create. Warp threads are not typically sexy or exciting. But they allow the pattern; the beauty to be.
Most of the time I would much rather focus on the weft, those horizontal threads which make the beautiful patterns, colors and designs. This is where most creatives hang out. In the beautiful colors, often to the exclusion of everything else.
I am slowly learning to appreciate the stability and strength of my foundation threads. I am learning that being strongly rooted in the everyday, ordinary world where money, food, shelter, time and schedules are necessary and essential is actually complementary to my creative process.
The bringing together of these two very different but necessary worlds has been my most difficult lesson. And I am by no means done doing it.
So now that I have reconciled myself to not being ‘normal’, and not ‘fitting in’, paradoxically, I have an extraordinary feeling of arrival. Of finally fitting into my groove. And I know that while I had very little to do with my fortunate arrival here, in this space of belonging, I also know that it could not have occurred without me.
(This is my obnoxiously long response to the prompt: ‘Write a bit about yourself ‘ for my Etsy Shop)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Tags: artwork, beauty, bliss, inspiration, The muse, wisdom
Comments Leave a Comment
Categories creativity, inspiration, self discovery, self knowledge
a rainy day with prismacolors
Janet Balboa, Anam Cara detail, marker and colored pencil, 19″ x 24″ c. 2014
Janet Balboa, Anam Cara detail, marker and colored pencil, 19″ x 24″ c. 2014
Janet Balboa, Anam Cara, marker and colored pencil, 19″ x 24″ c. 2014
A rainy day put to good use. I’m headed out for coffee…and some friendly faces. Bought a new burnisher, colorless. Don’t know if I like it as much as burnishing with a pencil itself, seems to leave   a lot of wax.
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Tags: anam cara, artwork, celtic knotwork, drawing, goddess, inspiration, prismacolor markers, prismacolor pencils, Tree of Life, ygdrassl
Categories celtic knotwork, expression, inspiration, irish, tree of life, work in progress
Ah… now you can see the frogs!
For my friend Bhante Sujatha at Blue Lotus Temple.
The whole thing is prismacolor markers with a few copics and colored pencil.
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Tags: artwork, Bhante Sujatha, Blue Lotus, blue lotus temple, commissions, featured, flowers
Categories Art work, creativity, flowers
Janet Balboa (#janetbalboa) is an artist, writer and teacher living in the Chicago suburbs. Read more
Follow janet balboa on WordPress.com
Follow Blog via Email:
Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
follow me on Instagram
Congratulations Zoë and Ian!!!!
Here are some of the new additions to this Sundays Farmers Market at The Dole, this sunday, 18th, 10-2!
The Far.ers Market Sunday!
Come meet me at The Dole!
#29 Gilded Lilies finished-
4th Friday at The Dole tonight!!! Great Art, artists, fans, community, wine, etc etc. $10 entry/ fun night OUT!!!