October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As I sit here with a slight cold at home, it made me ponder on the fact that my little cold is a mere molecule of illness compared to some of the battles that many women are currently facing or have had to face in their past.



I have a beautiful friend who last year found out she had breast cancer. She went through surgery and through many series of chemo treatments. Just recently, she went through her last session of chemo and in celebration, her nurse did the "chemo dance" for her. For my dear friend, it was a day to celebrate.



Because of her chemo treatment, many of her supportive friends (such as myself) were unable to visit her because her immune system couldn't be exposed to germs outside of her own sterile environment. Although I've maintained written communication with her throughout her recovery, I wanted to do something for her.



She often shared with me that she really enjoyed looking at my paintings that I post on Facebook during this time. So I thought, while rather than her enjoying other paintings I post, I wanted her to have one of her own. So I painted, "Cindie's Fight". Through our conversations I know that she has had alot of pain, different chemos reacting different ways, tears, the loss of her beautiful thick curly hair, nausea and all the side effects. During all this, she has remained optimistic (as she was before) and has a strong faith that God is watching over her. Observing her go through this trial, all her friends, including myself have found her to be an inspiration. All of us know her story and the many trials she has had to endure before -- and still with this one, she remains strong and determined.



This painting's background depicts the pink that is the symbolic color for breast cancer awareness. The red flowers represent the red dragon chemo that hurt her veins, but at the same time provided her recovery. The falling leaves represent the shedding of body elements, but like the tree that holds the leaves, it rejuvenates new ones and healing. The clouds and rain are the tears, but a the end there is always the promise through the rainbow. The white birds are celebrating the recovery. And the heart is representative of both the love she gives and the love that surrounds her.



I had the painting framed with a beautiful gold frame -- as there is nothing more pure than gold. Needless to say, she was delighted to receive the painting and I was honored to provide her with just a small part of myself to bring her some joy.

Falling Stars

I painted "Falling Stars", because as humans we love the concept of seeing a falling star and making a wish. When I was little, I used to be frightened of falling stars, because I remember a story that was often told at church (I was a Seventh Day Adventist), where there was a period in time when millions of stars were to have fallen from the sky. It was a prophetic symbol of that time on earth was soon to be over. As a child, you don't want the earth to end, because you were just born and enjoy being alive.



So, everytime, I would see a star fall, I would panic in thinking that all the stars were about to fall agian and that the earth would end (funny how religions can affect a child's psyche). Anyways, now as an adult, I love falling stars.



When I moved to Nuevo and I wondered if I had made the right decision. I was looking up at the black sky full of stars above me on the night I first moved here and a star fell. I felt that God was telling me, I was in the right place.



I often ask myself, do the stars dissolve or do they land? I used to think their remnants used to land in some remote place and that is why we could never figure out where they landed. My painting "Falling Stars" depicts the stars landing in the desert.



I put numerous falling stars, because I am a dreamer and I like to wish upon stars!! :)

Don't Fly!

When I was a young girl, I used to walk home from school on a street named 243rd Street. On this street was a house that had many flowers and a berry bush that would attract numerous orange butterflies.



I would stop in front of the house just to watch these beautiful creatures flying from one leaf to another. Eventually, I got brave enough to catch the butterflies and place them on my finger or hand. They would walk up my finger and my hand and would fly off.



I remember while the butterfly was on my finger, I would observe its antennas and its little black tongue. The butterflies had little curly black tongues that I guess they used to take the nectar from the blossoms of this berry bush. I felt while they were on my hand that I possessed a special connection with these little creatures -- as if they trusted that I wouldn't pull their wings off or smash them. (I observed my cousins pull the wings off butterflies on many occasions and thought it was a very cruel behavior to display.)



This memory has always stuck in my mind and I cherish the memory. Often when I see these same butterflies, my mind goes back to that time. Well today, the painting posted on my blog depicts this memory. I don't usually paint people, because it isn't my best artistic technique, but I figured since it was me as a young girl, I wouldn't insult anyone. I like how it turned out and now will be able to look at the memory as often as I wish.

The Beach

For the first 16 years of my life, I grew up near the beach in a little town called Lomita. To this day, I go to the beach as often as I can. When I'm feeling so much stress that I'm going to explode, I either drive myself to San Diego or Oceanside. The beach is my place of centering and where I feel especially close to my creator.



It is there where I can just smell the ocean air (best aroma therapy ever). Although I would prefer an undisturbed beach to reflect, I do love the sounds of the beach environment. Vendors selling their stuff, the smell of food, the laughter of both adults and children.



Above all that, the sounds of the waves rolling back and forth from and to the wet sand has got to be the best sound created. I love to hear the seagulls in the distance. As you walk toward the coves, the sound of the waves hitting the rocks is tremendously soothing.



Since I now don't live near the beach, I collect shells (so does my son in law to give to me) and place them in bowls around my house. I also have collected the smooth round rocks that wash up to the sand from the ocean. When I need to relax, you will often see me sitting on the couch holding and going through my shells and ocean rocks.



Well today I needed to go to the beach, but have alot to do. So because I love art, I went to the beach and I had a place that was my own. I call it "My Beach".

Losing Myself In Paint

Since I was a young girl, I've always loved art. Whether it was working with clay, pencils, pastels, acrylics, construction paper, whatever medium -- I always loved creating. I've always been a very imaginative person. I remember in childhood daydreaming about beautiful things. To this day, those beautiful images continue to float in my head.

In my junior year, I was offered a summer scholarship at the Los Angeles Institute of the Arts, but due to my parents transportation constraints, I was unable to accept it. I've never been formally trained. I just paint what I feel.


My mother is the one who influenced my creativity. She is a wonderful artist. Although she says she only paints by copying off what others do, her art is flawless and beautiful. I've always admired her ability to paint dimension.


Unfortunately, I was born with my eyes crossed and with them being surgically repaired, I have little or no depth perception. My paintings are very non-dimensional. I've always admired anyone who could paint and shade. Although non-dimensional -- I have always gotten complimented on my artistic ability.


Recently, I've taken up painting again. I've been sharing my art with family and friends. I hope with each painting I do, I get better and better. My art has always been inspired by God and most of my art includes either hearts, crosses or both. I love color and positive things. I don't ever paint dark -- always cheerful.