Symbolism and miscellanea . . .

Long post . . .

I hang myself up with symbolism usually. That's the battle with being trite I go through. I know I am, by nature, trite in my work. Either make it too obvious and over the top or incorrectly assume everyone knows what's going on in my weird and busy head and no one gets it and then I just appear strange. Anyway, I am having the most fun, slow fun, but fun exploring the Zetti world and finding my own Zetti forms. Here's today's piece, and yes, by slow I mean it took me almost all day, off and on, to get it all pulled together (some of you prolific folks are probably wondering why the heck it took me so long to make this little piece). I'll tell you about the symbolism after the picture. (you can click on it to see it larger)


copyright by Marsha Jorgensen 1.29.09
5 x 7 collage using a vintage picture, reprinted, carefully trimmed and hand-colored and arranged with eggs and dress using pieces from paperstreet.etsy.com, wings used with a license agreement with Butterfly Utopia, shoes, and hands from the public domain, crown from lisasalteredart.etsy.com, and flowers from Dover clipart. The background is a 100 year old encyclopedia page. The title and trim were originally made.

Symbolism for this piece . . .

• Well, it's probably obvious that she's walking on egg shells meaning that finding balance in life is sometimes a delicate matter.
  
• Her hands use the "om" posture symbolizing self-reflection to find your center of well being, your heart and what it says to you.
  
• She wears red shoes like Dorothy to communicate the importance of home.
  
• "Fig. 43" comes from my age and my figure is very similar to hers!
• The background is an old encyclopedia page about chemistry. As if there is some formula to finding balance.
  
• And, the flowers reflect the balance every woman needs to find to keep everything going for everbody else in her life. For instance, you are about to get too much information, but I was able to finish and scan this piece, upload it, and write about it whilst doing laundry, cleaning the bathroom, washing dishes, and cleaning up after my 17 year old throwing up every 20 min. with the flu. (Yes this part does not go away the older your kids get - they need "mommy" when they are sick. "Shouldn't you take my temperature? What if it's like 106? Shouldn't we call the doctor?" And me saying, "I've been doing this for 17 years now Shawn. I know what the doctor will say and your fever is not 106." "Can I have Dad's laptop so I can go to WebMD because this has to be more than a flu." "Shawn, everyone thinks that when they have the flu. I promise you don't need to consult WebMD. You have MomMD" I'm sure I'll be sleeping nearby so I will wake up and hear him should he need me tonight.)

The miscellanea parts

I'm wondering if any of you are like me . . .

• I am finding that I always like my latest piece the best. Well, not always, but usually. (I didn't like the "let go, hold on" piece I made yesterday) I think that tells me that I am growing, learning, advancing. I HOPE that's the case. I hope I'm not getting worse at this. I find that I can't hardly stand pieces I made after a few days, sometimes after a few hours. I keep hesitating to list anything on etsy because I don't even like most of them anymore. There's a few, like some of the Eva fairies, that I will probably always like. The bad or sad thing is, that no matter how much I like something I made today, I'll probably not like it next week. So, the only "feeling content" for me is in the making and a few minutes or hours later, looking at it and thinking "I made that". In a few days it will be "why the heck did I make THAT?"

I am planning to make some more "Figurative" pieces like the one above . . .

• I don't know that I'll get as lucky with the symbolism with any others. This one just fell together. I think that's my artist voice talking to me or my muse who, by the way, seems to neglect me and make me struggle through most of my pieces . I want a new muse.
  
• And though I so envy the art journalers of the world, for the time being, I'm okay telling the story with just pictures and an explanation now and then that can be ignored by the viewer if they prefer to make up their own story. I got my BFA degree by putting words to pictures and maybe there is some repulsion for me to do that in "my" art now. Maybe I am finally making what my guts want me to make instead of what I think I should be able to make or was required to make. Maybe my art soul is being rebellious. I used to teach calligraphy to adults when I was still in high school. I was the Governor of South Dakota's calligrapher. I should be able to letter things, but that door is sealed shut tight and I cannot get over the fear of trying it again. I would almost rather get a root canal.

I have discovered something about wearing pajamas all day . . .

• (Funny that you brought this up Shellypaints!) For the last few months, I relished living the day in my pajamas and shamefully, not bothering to shower every day. I know. I do. I know what horrific thought this brings to mind. I have gotten lazy. It reminded me of the days when the kids were babies and that was just sometimes the norm, the necessity. There used to be a great commercial for Supercuts I think, that showed a mom and how awful she looked neglecting herself everyday for the sake of the family until she got a new haircut and became a supermodel. Maybe I just need a new "doo".
  
• So living in pj's reminded me of babies and I could justify that art was my baby now. It needed a lot of attention. I could be eccentric and thoroughly enjoy NOT having a boss, or hygiene or fashion protocol, or a schedule to keep up with. I was free. Free to be stinky and ugly and let my body morph into roomy pajama bottom shape.
  
• This week, for some reason, twice I have decided to take a shower, in the morning no less, not at night every other day like I was. And, I have to say, I get more done when I am dressed, (legs shaved, Cha Cha) and ready to go. I think it has been something with this feeling of needing to be ready to go at any moment to take care of my dad. Have to have all of my little ducks in a row (already thinking of a piece to illustrate that).
• So, this is a good thing, as my hubby will tell you. I have learned that I can be creative, maybe more so, if I am dressed and ready to go.

I think that's enough for tonight. I need to blog hop and visit all of my pals and see what they are up to.