..It's like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks

Here is the cover of my book on tour!

The Sketchbook Project 2011 is under way and my sketchbook is in the mix!  In the midst of several other projects I made the time to get it complete and I'm thankful for the support that got it in the mail to Brooklyn.

Creating this book is not one of my great works but it was a healing book for me to create. Creating for me is always a Spiritual experience and an escape from the world; a respite. For me there is no right or wrong only authentic expression and becoming free in the process. This project focused on my view of living life with Aspergers. Its not always an easy story for me to tell, but the more I embrace it the more others can also. And like all the other stories I am called to share through art.  I did it with carino, a true heart, and in a fun creative way. 

Feliz dia de amor y amistad! aka Happy Valentine's Day

As a Chicana I celebrate holidays and traditions bi-culturally. In Mexico and a few other Latin American countries Saint Valentine's Day is know as Dia de amor y amistad (Day of love and friendship). Its a time to let your Beloveds know you care. Its not uncommon for it to be a day of acts of appreciation for friends. 

 

We have had lots of snow this year and I had a great time playing in it. I made my first snow angelita, enjoyed watching the deer cross the bluff, and discovered icicles in the creek.

cocina corazon

Magicians and Alchemists used the heart symbol for incantations pertaining to matters in love and romance. Various food and drink are also often part of the heart ritual.

The story of Valentine. He is said to be originally a physician who was also s a gastronomist, who made his medicines more palatable by mixing them with herbs, spices, honey, and wine.

heart of hearts

Tribute to the Loteria card El Corazon in the private collection of L.Orta, Austin Tx

Another theory says that the modern drawing of a heart is modeled after the actual human heart because the ancients and even some today, believe that the heart contains all human passions.  The drawing we have come to known as the heart more closely matches that of a cattle heart, which was more readily available to view in past centuries. They modeled it after a cattle heart. However, the resemblance to the cattle heart is still very slight. Some say that the drawing of a modern heart originated because of botched drawings of the human heart by medieval artists after a philosopher inaccurately described the shape. The medieval tradition of courtly love may have reinforced the shape's association with romance.


 

Corazon femme

Here's another theory why the heart shape represents love. Some say that the traditional heart shape actually represents body features of a female, such as the vulva, breasts, or buttocks. The female pelvis is also somewhat heart-shaped. Because the female gives birth to life, this could be the association with the heart-shape and love. Bottom line the female human form is beautiful and we love it!

from the corazon

Since I was a child I sought out and felt a connection to the shape. I find the soft curves inverted triangle an inspiration with various meanings. Culturally the heart is part of the folk art images of my heritage and they show up in my artwork in various ways.

In some cultures a red heart meant love, joy, charity, compassion. Others see it as a symbol of truth or loyalty. Over the next few days I will post some of the ways the corazon has appeared in my life and inspired my art. I will also share some theories about why the shape became a symbol of romantic love.

Toma Mi Corazon 2011 in Austin!

 Si se Puede! 

My corazon for this years silent auction for my Beloved La Pena!

Mixed media on wooden heart. Details of the Austin event below check it out!

Toma Mi Corazon

The 18^th Annual Art Exhibit and Silent Auction Fundraiser

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Preview Party: 4:30 – 6:00 pm

$10 admission (includes admission to silent auction)

Silent Auction: 6:00 – 8:00 pm

$5 admission

Austin, TX – La Peña presents “Toma Mi Corazon” on Saturday, February 6^th, 2010. The 18^th annual art exhibit and silent auction fundraiser will be taking place at their gallery space at 227 Congress Avenue in Downtown Austin. The event kicks off at 4:30 pm with a preview party featuring food, drinks, and live music followed by the silent auction at 6:00 pm. Admission to the preview party is $10, which includes entrance to the silent auction. Admission to the silent auction only is $5.

For eighteen years La Peña has invited everyone to “Take My Heart” as hundreds of wooden hearts given out and decorated by artists, children, and many others. Then they are sold in a silent auction where the proceeds from the heart sales are used help support La Peña’s arts and educational programming. Toma Mi Corazón is not only people’s chance to help support La Peña but also own some unique, original artwork. Many hearts are currently on display at La Peña’s gallery and more will continue to come in as the auction approaches.

La Peña is an interdisciplinary cultural and educational organization dedicated to the enhancement of art in all its forms. La Peña's mission is to support artistic development, provide exposure for emerging local visual artists, musicians, poets and other performing artists, and offer Austin’s visitors and residents the full spectrum of traditional and contemporary Latino art. More information can be found at http://www.lapena-austin.org.

 Feminista Freedom Fighter Femmes!