First Things

Seeing For A Moment

I thought I was growing wings --

it was a cocoon.

I thought, now is the time to step

into the fire -

it was deep water.

Eschatology is a word I learned

as a child: the study of Last Things;

facing my mirror -- no longer young,

the news -- always of death,

the dogs -- rising from sleep and clamoring

and howling, howling,

nevertheless

I see for a  moment

that's not it: it is

the First Things.

Word after word

floats through the glass.

Towards me.

-- Denise Levertov

I love that poem! I've started a new class called 21 Secrets. It's an art journaling class offered by Dirty Footprints Studios. There are 21 different instructors with 21 different classes. It's pretty overwhelming right now but you have until August to work your way through everything. I chose to start with the abstract class (can you tell?) taught by Connie Hozvicka. It's just a lot of fun working with a BIG canvas! :) So I thought I'd share my first go at playing big. This is on an 18" x 24" sheet of watercolor paper. I usually work in a smaller art journal. This was a stretch for me. Literally. ;)

What I like about journaling is that it's about the PROCESS and not about the PRODUCT. They stress that in these classes, too. So you can play, meditate and let whatever you're feeling just flow onto your page. That's the whole idea. ;)

I'm sure there will be pages from other classes that I'll share throughout the weeks ahead. Next up are  child's play,  poetry themed and self-portrait themed classes. We shall see what develops...