It’s a Good Day

This painting was even more simple before it’s final brush strokes. The Good Day fmayoung woman at first stood at the top of a hill and with courage looked down at what could be if only she had the courage to take the first few steps. This version, the final, shows her at the bottom of the hill in a flowery meadow, walking about the landscape of a Grand Artist.

When I first tried to upload the painting, the original version, I had the hardest time in the world getting the colors to translate. The grass was never yellow, there wasn’t that much white in the sky and there was more blue for certain. I couldn’t get it the colors to translate. I liked the painting though so I sat it aside.  Continue reading “It’s a Good Day”

Purify

Purify = SOLDIts difficult for me to post art therapy pieces here but awhile ago I decided I would. It’s still had though. This piece is art expressing multiple personality disorder. It is a painting showing the need for one of the figures to feel pure or relieved of her burden. The painting shows all the movement, the light, dark, play, rest and chaos inside my head.

In the painting called ‘Purify’ you’ll see hidden people, hidden faces and layer upon layer of color. Sprouting or perhaps bursting forth from the woman’s face is a large white flower. A body rests over her forehead and lays over her eye. The arm leads to the main figure in the middle who is almost in a state of mental rest. With her eyes closed it is as if she’s blocked out the worries of the world and taken a rest. The taller figure beside her is an odd little girl who wears another little girl in a red dress. She creates the Odd Girl’s eyes, nose and hair bow. There are faceless figures and one figure in a box. There are swirls, strikes, smearing and of course flowers. Continue reading “Purify”

Pamela – Ugly Girl

Pamela with Flowers - Ugly Girl CollectionI started this piece in 2010 but didn’t finish it until this 2014. I couldn’t figure out exactly where to go with it so I put it up. I pulled it out and returned it to a sleeve at least three times until one day it hit me, I know what to do.

Please let me first explain why she’s in the Ugly Girl Collection and why her name is Pamela.

This young girl, like my other Ugly Girls, is different. She’s not visually appealing. No one wants to be her. They look at her inquisitively, maybe even with fascination but they also pity her. That is the idea behind the collection, to paint those little girls thought to be ugly, the little girls who hear about their blotchy skin like Pamela has or have adults and children alike point out this and that imperfection within ear shot. Pamela used to hear the giggles, used to see the pointed fingers, but no more. She is strong within herself, but most of all she is kind. Continue reading “Pamela – Ugly Girl”

Suppose I Could Fly Version Three

Suppose I Could Fly V3

It’s a brutal war to fight one’s mind and body, but that is what I do with chronic pain and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My body fights to keep going. I feel as if I’m losing that battle. My mind fights itself. I sometimes wish to wave the white flag.

But what if, suppose I could overcome some small part of this turmoil? Suppose I could learn even more coping skills, even more ways to overcome and have a better quality of life? Suppose I could.

This painting is the third and final piece from a series called Suppose I Could Fly. She’s a young girl with dreadlocks looking straight forward. Her eyes are tired but she’s determined to pull through. She holds on to the flowers beside her with strength and a vow, she will continue on, she will let her inner self fly.

Continue reading “Suppose I Could Fly Version Three”

Sweet Anna Bell – Ugly Girl

Sweet Anna Bell - Ugly GirlShe’s been a long time coming. I don’t know why it took so long to finish her but, here she is. I present to you, ‘Sweet Anna Bell – Ugly Girl.’

Scribbled on the back of the paper she’s painted on dated June 10, 2013, I wrote:

She’s tall, skinny and lanky. She’s wearing second hand clothes and second hand shoes. She knows she’s ugly. She doesn’t need to be reminded, yet they do, as if somehow it’ll change things. Sweet Anna Bell – Ugly Girl.

Verbal abuse is what that is and what this sweet child holds the bruises of. But notice this, her eyes look up, not down in shame. If you look at them closer you’ll notice hope shining. She holds her head up. She hopes. The edges of her mouth turn up in a slight smile. She hopes. Continue reading “Sweet Anna Bell – Ugly Girl”

Sunflowers in the Sea

Sunflowers in the Sea fma

A striking 9 x 6 sketchbook piece shows a little girl with green, yellow and orange washing over her. The blue sea flows right across her heart. Abstract fish swim around her head. In black ink I’ve drawn one large sunflower that disappears off the page, one that stands low beside her and one that crosses below her chin. The merging of hues comes to an abrupt stop leaving white space interrupted only by her small legs.

Art Title: Sunflowers in the Sea
Art by: Faith Magdalene Austin
Medium: Acrylic paint, ink on 6 x 9 sketchbook paper, raw art, unsealed

Please see my Etsy shop for purchase details.

My Sister’s Keeper

My Sisters Keeper - SOLD

I couldn’t decide how to display the painting in this entry. There’s so much to it that I worried I’d leave out an important detail. The reason I like this painting is because of the details. The children are the focus of the painting but each raindrop of color, each stream rains with importance to the whole of the painting. It was a very emotional piece to paint.

I wanted one child struggling and being lead but I wanted the leader to also show her weariness. Together they’d walk as sister’s and friends holding on … holding on. This is not about their suffering but their triumph. My Sister’s Keeper is about partnership, friendship and dedication.   Continue reading “My Sister’s Keeper”

That Young Girl

Young Girl fma

Title: That Young Girl
Art by: F. Magdalene Austin
6×8 canvas board, acrylic and ink painting, original SOLD

She’s washed in color, draped in it. Her sad eyes look out at the viewer not for assistance but to offer it, to offer and explanation. This painting is in expression of life with Lupus and Fibromyalgia. Continue reading “That Young Girl”

Willow – Handmade African-American Rag Doll

Willow by F.MagAustin The Willow doll is 18 inches and full of sweet joy. She’s handmade and lovely. Willow is wearing a printed green dress that shows her love for nature. Her apron if filled with wildflowers picked by her own two hands. Curly-q tree branches were dipped in purple, pink and white to create wild flowers. She’s got a bouquet of lavender that fits perfectly in her apron. From the sweet smile on her face and the dimples she shows, you can tell that Willow is happiest when she’s surrounded by nature.

Also on the handmade rag doll are little blue Mary Jane shoes, a small straw hat with two ribbons and soft brown, textured yarn for hair.
If you can’t tell, I truly enjoyed making her and had a blast adding tiny little details. Continue reading “Willow – Handmade African-American Rag Doll”

Marabelle Black Americana Handmade Art Doll

Marabelle - SOLD“Marabella the Lovely One” is quiet and shy. She spends her mornings picking wild flowers and sitting under shade trees watching the birds. She sits tall and perfect in her little red checked dress with buttons and cream colored bloomers. She’s got rag ribbons in her black hair which can be worn very short or extended in areas for a more shaggy yet adorable look. Her shoes are black with white laces created with fabric paint. Her eyes are full of feeling, wide and open as she takes in all the beauty around her.

Doll stats: 18 inches, hand made, hand painted features, solid black skin with blue eye shadow and long eye lashes. Her features have been hand painted, her hair was sewn in strand by strand. Marabelle is proud to be made of 90% recycled materials. A small signature appears on her bum with the number 33. Marabella is doll number 33 in the Charlene Doll Collection. Continue reading “Marabelle Black Americana Handmade Art Doll”