This week’s challenge theme is hands. Hands. I can’t believe all the paths this took me down. I started by following the prompt and looked at my own hands. They were just hands to me and I didn’t get far with these thoughts. I noticed my ring finger and the fading mark of my wedding ring, now off for almost three months in my newly-single life. I remembered an episode of Lie To Me where someone noted that the faded ring mark takes about three months to disappear and the person was about 2/3 of the way. I wondered how many people know this and if mine would actually be gone in a couple of weeks…I don’t think completely…
Next, I thought about all the lovely things hands are for. Hugging someone…rubbing someone’s back…holding their hand…caressing their face…giving someone the “thumbs up”…
BUT then I started to think about all the negative things they can be used for. Hands can also hurt. They can be used to hit…slap…grab…show anger…they can leave bruises.
I thought about doing a piece that showed both the great things and the not-so-great things because I’m really working on being open to sharing a piece of art I create that may not be beautiful or cute or pretty. Life isn’t always beautiful, cute or pretty so why should artwork be?
When I saw the image of the “shhhhh”, it struck a cord with me. I really value the ability to express fully. Being hushed is incredibly painful to me. The quote is one William wrote after the death of his sister-in-law and it just spoke to me.
One of the things I love about art is how it can take on many different shapes before it’s complete. This is not where I expected to land but landing I did. Thanks for letting me share.
Bleubeard and ELizabeth says
May 13, 2012 at 8:42 pmI enjoyed reading your thought process and how you came full circle with this challenge. Although I’m apparently quite lucky in the fact I have a very happy life, and my hands have all been very positive, I know there is that other side to art, too. I really enjoyed this.
Michele says
May 14, 2012 at 1:39 amThank you. Yes, there are many aspects to both life and art. While most of my experiences have been positive and I feel truly blessed, I have also had challenges. Art is such a nice way to express those emotions and let them go.
priti.lisa says
May 13, 2012 at 2:06 pmI really enjoyed reading this post and seeing the thought process…
I remember my mom telling me it takes about as long to leave a relationship
as the time you were in it.
I love that poem you chose♥♥♥
Michele says
May 13, 2012 at 2:11 pmThank you. I sure hope it doesn’t take 20+ years to leave LOL. I really enjoyed this challenge. It’s interesting because the ones that come easy are fun and light AND I really feel like I go to some other place and it’s much deeper when I choose to do a challenge that seems hard and like something I don’t want to do…I appreciate those opportunities.
Imgirl/ Kim says
May 13, 2012 at 12:19 pmOh, I just noticed my sad face picture…. how do i change that? I hate sad faces!! LOL
Michele says
May 13, 2012 at 1:58 pmOh, that is sad and I don’t want anyone to have a sad face. It comes up automatically when someone doesn’t have a gravatar attached to their profile. I don’t like the mystery man. I’ll have to see what else I can choose from that hopefully doesn’t have sad faces as an option:)
Imgirl/ Kim says
May 13, 2012 at 12:17 pmI love your post and picture for hands. You are so right about our hands. I didn’t even think about the negative things we use our hands for. This just goes to show you the POWER of our hands and the memories that are imprinted on them.
Great post and submission!!!
Stay encouraged and inspired my friend!
XO
Kim
Michele says
May 13, 2012 at 1:57 pmIt is fascinating what gets imprinted! They are quite powerful. Part of my process I didn’t share was exploring some online about how people use their hands in their body language to illustrate how they are feeling or to emphasize something they are saying. I just love all that. Thanks for stopping by!
Kirstin says
May 13, 2012 at 5:44 amI really liked your process. Great image
(visiting from IA)
Michele says
May 13, 2012 at 1:56 pmThank you. I know we don’t have to share our process but I find it interesting to hear how people land where they land and I find the entire process so interesting so I like to share.