Category: Art

The Crooked Tea Cup – Chatter Art

Posted on by Faith

I take pen to paper and near violently sketch, in order to manage obsessive thoughts and counting. The Etsy painting expresses anxiety building that I needed to manage.

I paint what’s swirling in my head, marching, counting or popping. Art helps manage the symptoms and situation. 

When focused, I’ll express how I feel in bright colors next to black lines, and upside down flowers without uttering a single word.

This painting is 5.5×8.5 inches on watercolor paper, unmounted, signed, sealed

“The Crooked Tea Cup” – Arrows direct the path I should take;  paranoia is her guide.

Please see my Etsy shop for this raw art original.

Faith

A little frustrated and it shows

Posted on by Faith

I intended to keep the colors brighter like always, shockingly bright, but this time darker colors felt right.

The rainbow was given a darker red and a mustard yellow stripe in a midnight blue sky. The clothing of the figures is in plum, dark red, green and blue.

As I worked I realized the high amount of frustration and anger associated with feeling like a freak; feeling broken if not shatteted. Line after line I drew myself shatteted for the last time! I will not do it again.

I felt so hidden behind the lines, even hidden from myself. I’ve described being a multiple like looking into carnival mirrors. It’s hard to know who is who. Well, I may not always know the who but I do know The Way.

I need hope too. I don’t feel hopeless but sometimes I feel like I’m in prison here. I wish I could leave. This isn’t my home anymore. However, I can’t just up and go in the middle of the night – won’t up and go like that. I’ll move somewhere safe, clean. One thing is for sure, there’s no more peace here.

The painting will be in the shop very soon. Check my Etsy.

Faith

Sometimes I Feel Like A Freak

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This is about the stress and pressure from people telling me what I should be doing and me having a hard time finishing projects. Slowly but surely they are being completed, this one too very, very soon. –

Sometimes I feel like a freak but I try to hide it.

I try to blend in.

Say the right things, the right way.

I want to hold my face in the expression allowing emotions of the moment to show, balancing them on my brow and tongue like a real live woman.

I’m not normal. I’m not and the effort it takes to be, exhausts my tired spirit.

Sometimes I feel lost.

I’m lost

as ink scratches on

9×12 pads

roads and hills,

lands of dramatic color and wonder.

With each stroke of the pen to paper you hear the symphony of my madness.

There’s stress in the ink, acrylic and experimental designs. Stress to do it your way.

Change. Spotlight. Museum. Gallery. Gala. Teach. Speak, Lead!

Don’t waste your voice, your voice, your voice, your voice.

The art stops. The freak is seen clearer. And everyone finally goes home.

Faith Magdalene

You can. You will.

Posted on by Faith

I’m pleased to have been able to finish this piece with its color symbolism and Scripture favorites. I like Jonah a lot. It often feels like I’m in the belly of a big fish with no way out just like he was.

I love the original meaning of the rainbow and how it is on God’s thrown as a symbol of peace so I added that to the image.

I know for a fact that hope does not lead to disappointment.

The last part of the image shows three distinct figures, a date and two blue hearts. The black child’s hair is hearts. Of course there are sunflowers. There must always be sunflowers. 🙂

Faith

Chatter – Rip The Heart Out

Posted on by Faith

CONTENT – My cat Joe is dying. Friend always contradicts me. (Changing meds.)

It’s been difficult watching Michael Joseph become weaker and weaker, sleep more and more. It’s tearing me up. I don’t know what to do with the anxiety sometimes.

I’m working on several art projects. I’m successfully working with my CNA. I’m successfully writing letters. I’m holding up my end of things and I’m proud of that. But I’m anxious as I watch my little guy grow weak and cry out in pain. He literally sounded like a cow mooing. It tore through me! My baby Joe Schmoe isn’t well! I can’t take it.

It’s interesting, the very first reaction is to distrust my instincts and listen to others but I’ve thrown that away. I’m his mother. I clean his litter box every day. I brush him every day. I feed him every day and remind him that he’s the mascot of Sundrip so act right little king! lol I hold him. I cuddle him. It’s me he sees day in and day out. We went through the lock down together. I KNOW JOE SCHMOE very well. Seeing him deteriorate is heartbreaking. My God!

Faith

The Deluge – Now in Etsy

Posted on by Faith

The Deluge is complete and is in my Etsy shop. One of the things I point out about the balance. The woman standing has legs and feet that are wound around. Each foot meets a tiger lily, a child and a purple flower in full bloom.

It is haunting in some areas. Those are the areas to leave behind. Those are the areas of the past that I can’t take with me to the future that I am building here. I’m not going to another planet. I’m right here. But some of these things need to swim free because they no longer have a place here.

If you visit my Etsy it’s worded better 🙂 You may also purchase through PayPal. Please see appropriate email address on the contact me area.

Thank you for listening,

Faith

The Southeastern Blue Bird

Posted on by Faith

“The Southeastern Blue Bird Learns A New Song” is a folk art original painting by Faith Austin. At 6.5×4.5 inches it’s miniature stature delights you with her song as she sits on a stick in the forest.

The song is new; it’s the song her father once sang. The young Blue Bird has yet to master it but she will, before the day ends.

This whimsical, folkart piece includes faux blue and orange features, music notes, flowers, branch, acrylic on paper, ink, water, wind and hope. She is signed, sealed and unmounted.

Etsy You can find me there.

Faith

Face It: The Advocate

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Many years ago I painted with a computer program. I painted stroke by stroke instead of with filters, making each line very personal. I printed off postcard art and offered it under my name, Sundrip. It was many years and many experiences ago.

Recently I found a stack of the post cards in an old box and began doodling on them. The Advocate came about, so did the idea to continue to mark up, up cycle and alter my own art piece.

I’ve created a section in my shop called Face It. You’ll find just a few original postcards offered for a short time and the altered Face It pieces. The piece that’s in there now is called The Advocate. It’s different from the original in that the colors are deeper, the walls are fuller and if they could talk, they’d have a lot to say.

Here’s the original postcard art from 2007.

Introducing The Advocate in 2024

The Advocate

A figure stands on a purple platform looking down. Purple is used to advocate for domestic violence, Dementia / Alzheimers, Fibromyalgia, Lupus and other systemic illnesses. The platform symbolizes the person’s difficulties that he or she must face. Who will speak?

The postcard is original art by me but there will be many altered Face It Postcard Series pieces. Each will be a one of a kind.

Etsy is where you’ll find me 🙂

Faith

Yes, again. Sundrip Mascot.

Posted on by Faith

I slowly recognized the symptoms then had to humbly admit I’d need assistance from friends during this time. I reassured them I’m not contagious. It’s long covid aka resident evil.

My mind was – heavy – and slow. The fatigue was crushing. The rash popped up as did covid mouth and covid toes. But the symptoms most worrisome are psychological issues associated with covid-19. I could tell my brain wasn’t working right but I’m in a different position now.

I’m in a better position now because I partly know what to expect. I can anticipate it and so can my friends. The other thing is this. I know I trust my God 100%. I trust him and his elders.

So if the elders tell me something isn’t real, I’ll readily accept it. I’ll forcefully accept their word and act on it, in opposition to what my own dilutional, psychotic brain has created.

I’ve still got the camera in my bedroom watching me at night.

I don’t remember a thing at times. Time is just gone, a lot of time. I’m on the camera acting normally but I don’t remember those hours at all. The time is gone.

Dfferent topic – –

A few years ago I purchased a pair of black shoes which were the first pair of shoes after the amputation. Well, I never really got the right side to stretch correctly so they sat in the closet unused, until now.

I’m going back to Dr Martens for the black pair of shoes like my tan ones. I need to free gift someone in order to justify such a purchase. Lol. I absolutely love the person who is taking them. They couldn’t go to a better person! Now I wait a few weeks for money and I’ll go back for the black. I’ve got a pair of solid black chuck tailors to give away, too. Size 9.

Black heal. That’s a water mark on the shoe. It’s not permanent.

I’m finished with tie up shoes. The amputated side, the stump, changes a lot making tie ups uncomfortable. I’m keeping the white and black converse 🙂

So, my lips are on fire. I’m so tired I can’t see straight. I’m going to bed now.

Something significant happened today. I don’t remember what it was.

I noticed in bed I don’t stretch out. I have to force myself to stretch out. It’s quite a challenge.

I’ve been working on several projects, some personal and some for the shop.

Good thing I have Joe for advice and constructive criticism.

Though sometimes he sleeps on the job.

Speaking oof sleep. I really should go to bed. I feel like I could sleep.

Thanks for listening (?)

Faith

Fatigue Post Covid

Posted on by Faith

I’ve struggled to rebound from covid. I’m physically tired and somewhat depressed.

I was encouraged to talk to the sisters at the Hall who recently had psychosis with covid-19 and are having a harder time rebounding. It’s not just me. I’m not alone in this experience.

I think every time I smell that chemical smell again I’m afraid I’m going to get sick.

I’m sleeping but not well. The fatigue is crushing right now, so much so that I worry leaving the apartment for fear of being so tired I can’t get myself back in the apartment because I’m so tired. After hearing myself say that I realize I’m not making excuses about fatigue. I’m flat out fatigued and I’m battling it.