Silhouettes

I've been wanting to try these for a while.  I must admit, I thought that this would be an easy, 1/2 hour project, at most.  It ended up being almost an entire day of cutting and re-cutting each silhouette.  Although it was frustrating at times, I'm glad I stuck it out.  I really like the end result, especially when multiple silhouettes are grouped together.

Here's how I made them:

1. I searched for photographs that would work well, anything that is a profile view or a dynamic action that you would be able to identify easily.

2.  I chose three photographs to work with; Brian and I dancing at our wedding,  Brian and I swing dancing and a photo of me drawing on the beach.   After the photographs were chosen, I photocopied them (multiple times, since I kept re-doing them).

3. Once you have your photocopied photographs, I taped them to black paper.

4. Next, I cut (carefully!) around the figures taped to the black paper.  This was very difficult to do, especially considering how small the figures were.  I may invest in some very small scissors for the next time I do this.  The faces are the most difficult part.  This step took a lot of trial and error.  I probably cut out at least 4 of each of my photographs until I cut one that I liked.

5.  Once your black silhouettes are cut out, simple glue them to a white background.

6. I like these framed in black, so I bought a few cheap frames at the art store.  I think it's nice to have different shapes and sizes. I got a 3x5, 4x6 and a 5x5.

Below, are photos of my finished silhouettes.  There are so many interesting things you could do with this.  I was imagining silhouettes of birds, my cat, trees, flowers, etc.  When I have kids, I'd love to do a yearly silhouette of each of them.  Anyways, give it a try!

Brian and I swing dancing at a wedding a few years ago

Dancing the waltz at our wedding

Drawing on the beach (I added the bird, for more interest)

Kitty and the Silhouettes

Knitting

Last Sunday night, Brian preached at our night service at church.  He gave a beautiful and insightful sermon on family.  I loved his illustration.  Two balls of yarn, knit together to create something beautiful.   Two families, their blessing and their curses, knit together and redeemed by Christ.

Worship him for weaving together our imperfect lives with God’s perfect desire.

“For YOU created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Counting My Blessings

Oops! Late again.

179. Snow

180. an accessible church service

181. an eloquent and humble sermon given by my husband

182. 1st and 2nd graders Sunday school drawings

183. whoopie pies

184. "Bring a Friend to School Day"

185. Brothers and sisters taking care of each other

186. Game nights with friends

187. warm Egyptian chamomile tea

188. unexpected gifts

189. good chats

190. spending my days with sweet, sweet children

191. hugs

192. dates with old friends

193. snow flakes

194. provision

195. God's faithfulness

196. A new child of Christ

197. Cole's smile when I taught him to take pictures with my camera.

198. Rest

199. Fleece

200! Being part of God's family

Pictures: Taken by my friend Cole, who has autism. He was more than delighted to be sneaking around with a camera. He especially enjoyed capturing the backs of people's heads. An older woman at my table made a good point "We have mirrors, we KNOW what our faces look like, but we have no idea what the backs of our heads are like." Thanks, Cole. :)

My Newest Publication

I created a new zine this week for my friend Kristin, who has been suffering from painful and non stop headaches for more than a month.  The nice thing about a zine is that once you make one, you can make photo copies of the original and create endless little books.

I used ink and black watercolors to create the images and simply cut out the text from a printed page.

The text is from one of my favorite devotional books, "Valley of Vision" , a collection of Puritan prayers.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, 

where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. 

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, 

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, 

that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. 

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; 

let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty,

 Thy glory in my valley.

Soli Deo Gloria

New Canvas

I've gained a couple of new art students this week. 

There is much latent excitement found in unopened paint tubes, soft new brushes, a pure white canvas.  Young faces were filled with wonderment when they realize that they are going to use these "real artist" materials for the first time. 

We began violently.  We killed the white in our canvas with blue watery paint.  It's messy now. It's dirty and imperfect.  (Do you know how hard it is to begin painting on a white canvas? It's so perfect. What if you "mess" it up?)  Too late for us.  We've killed the overwhelming mass of nothingness and perfection.  Things can only get better from here. 

We quietly and carefully gather objects from around the house, we create a composition of odds and ends on the kitchen table.  Hmmmm-ing.  Turning that just right.  Moving this a little to the left.  Ok. Ready. 

We sketch.  We lightly glide our chalk over the canvas.  I want them loose.  I want them to pull and push and give and take.  I want them to search and find the line with their chalk, in rapid motion.  Perfectionists, beware! Not for the lighthearted, this.


I think we're all looking forward to our next class.  Bring on the paint.

What's Peeking Through our Blanket of Snow

The clean, white snow provides a beautiful background to show off the intricate and delicate, lifeless leftovers of autumn days gone by. Gentle reminders.

Psalm 51:7 -

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

My prayer today.  My prayer everyday.

Blessings and Papua New Guinea

 Psalm 30: 11-12:  You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

I'm joining the community at "A Holy Experience" in counting 1000 gifts and blessings.

161. a full weekend of friends and family
162. expertly made fire by Grandpa
163. cookies and heart to hearts with old friends
164. stir fry and baked apples with a best friend
165. old movies
166. baptisms
167. new life and new faith
168. cousins
169. Egyptian camomile tea and apple butter
170. Grandma watching her grandchildren and insisting on making all of us hot chocolate
171. rambunctious hockey games
172. a stolen kiss in the cold
173. church family
174. a hurting friend who still smiles and loves and listens
175. quick glances, gentle touches
176. A whole family together, playing and laughing and loving together before some fly across the Pacific to give the gift of God's Word to hurting people.
177. 4 kids full of bravery and courage
178. Grace, grace, grace

Below is the first FULL Swanson Family (Mattson, McKenna and James) photo in a looong time. This is my Mom's side of the family. We got together last night to see my Uncle Eric, Aunt Julie and our cousins Elizabeth, Richard, Robert and Timothy. They are moving to Papua New Guinea next week and we probably won't see them for at least 3 1/2 years. They will be working with Wycliffe Bible Translators. If you think of it, will you pray for them and their transition and safety?


Here are our last family photos before they make their trek across the Pacific.