5/29/10

Tears are a wonderful release of an overburdened soul...

My beloved Arija, draped in natural fabric art created by her daughter, the fabulous India Flint. Arija's blog says she is 1996 years old, so I tried to capture her in what I think she might have looked at 500. Levity aside, she is ancient in wisdom, yet youthful and not aging in her vision. Her beautiful eyes, not mere receptors of things that surround her but a teaching method for those of us who forget to stop, look and listen.


I asked Arija what color are her eyes and she replied "When I am happy and well they are green, sometimes they look black and when I am truly unwell they are a grey-green flecked with pale brown." I would love to gaze into those eyes of hers and say "Hello there, you are my beloved friend who dwells in my heart and I thank you so much for everything you have done for me and what you mean to me."


The almost monochromatic illustration above was actually done with sixteen different colored pencil hues, India ink, graphite pencil and pigment ink. Doesn't that confirm that the most meaningful and worthy entity may appear unassuming but may actually be comprised of multiple layers as opposed to something flashy, flamboyant and comprised of merely few layers and when stripped leaves you with nothing.


That I draped her with India's artistic natural fabric creation, is because Arija has been through so many droughts, fire that ravaged everything her family owned after being displaced by war and rebuilding, of illnesses and most recently a brush with death... Life is not fair, isn't it? Yet Arija is full of celebration for its goodness and not once did I ever hear her hum the victim's melody.


Ah she cries most certainly and says...


"Tears are a wonderful release of an overburdened soul, be it from pain, from sorrow or joy or the exquisite tightness around the heart for that which moves us deeply: light, beauty, character in an old experienced face, a simple blade of grass in the wind... the world is so full of beauty, my eyes keep filling with sheer joy when I look around."


One day I wrote something in my blog that was truly personal. I tried to be obscure as I can be but that did not escape two special people's discerning minds. I am sure others intuit my messages but that time, only two felt it in their hearts. Don't let anybody tell me that my blog friends are all in my mind. It is not true. They are in my heart and I shall carry them with me.






Of this series, I have a few more illustrations. I am excited to share with you an illustration of my wonderful younger sister and ooooh! I am drawing Vanessa. Of course I tried to draw my mother and I failed miserably. I ran out of 9"x12" Bristol boards and need to order more.


I wish everyone a wonderful holiday weekend. I am not ignoring your comments. Thank you very much. I will stop by when you are not looking. Please remember the soldiers who sacrificed their lives and those who are still in harm's way so that we may be free.

47 comments:

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Arija is perfect Ces---I stopped by her blog and saw the magnificent piece of fabric, coveting it in an awful way, I must admit. The work to produce that was amazing. You captured it exquisitely.
It is nice to know I am not the only peson whose eye color changes...I thought something was wrong with me......
Have a good weekend, and believe me, at my house, we deal with our soldiers sacrifices each day DH goes to work. <:(

XXOO!!
Anne

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh Ces...I am loving this series...we all need to cry now and again..cleanses the soul. I went and looked at each post so far..brilliant my friend! Loveing each and every one!
How are ya doing hon?
Hugs and love, Sarah

Bella Sinclair said...

Ohhhhhhh, I am swooning! I am overcome by how beautiful she is, both in your portrait and in flesh and blood. Those gorgeous, deep eyes. And the amazing fabric and all that it stands for! Each new one you post becomes my favorite. I love this! I love Arija!

Deborah said...

Oh Ces, how do you do it? It's as if your heart bursts, overflowing of love and beauty and escapes through your most wonderful hands. The scarf! The intricate layers and shadowing, every squiggle a prayer rising to heaven. I think that my flowers and plants are prayers. Yes yes, Araja, so much beauty around us. You, my Cesalicious, are ever so real, carried in my heart, just on the edge of my soul, that little flutter left of center. I feel you squiggling in there. **kisskiss** Deb

steveroni said...

Ces, I try
to never cry
in public.

But I cannot watch (have to close my eyes, really) when the flag is being carried in a parade, by military, young or old...the tears simply FLOW (gush forth?) if I look. (Pride!)

AND millions gave up their freedom, many their lives, so that we could be free...and live!
God bless them all.

And now for YOU, Ms Ces...why on earth are you so talented? From how many did God steal, just to supply your talents, your enthusiasm, your zest for life, your aches and pain?

steveroni said...

I didn't finish, but it will have to be another time...these tear drops were truly an INSPIRATION for Ces and her so many friends

Ces Adorio said...

Thank you very much dear friends for stopping by. I will be back to respond to your comments. For now, I must take a nap. Later!

illustration poetry said...

hello grande witch, im posting comments for each piece.
(you already made another 3 drawings for this series!!!!)

Ces Adorio said...

...and I want to draw you...

illustration poetry said...

im sorry i missed visiting you, i had a little trip and the day before i fell out of a tree.

im ok now.

Ces Adorio said...

What?!!! A real tree? You fell off a tree? What where you doing up a tree?

illustration poetry said...

i dont know Arija, but you captured her beautifully.

Ces Adorio said...

Thanks. You climbed a tree? Or is it one of those tree where you parked your broom?

illustration poetry said...

i was spying on a hot guy, of course grande witch, what else could i do? :D

Ces Adorio said...

You know, I am supposed to take a nap but now that you said you fell off a tree I can't sleep until I get to the bottom of things. BTW, you did say "fell out of a tree"...Hmnnnn...

Ces Adorio said...

I don't believe the hot guy for a second. maybe a hot tamale...but not a hot male.

illustration poetry said...

loooove the scarf too!
the leaves color goes well with her green eyes.

illustration poetry said...

you want to draw me.
ok.

...
what??????????????

Ces Adorio said...

Am I talking to myself. Thanks for the scarf compliment. It's actually more than a scarf.

Ces Adorio said...

YES! I want to draw you.

illustration poetry said...

hot tamale, hehe :D

Ces Adorio said...

What type of tree was it?

illustration poetry said...

ohhhh!!!!!
really??????
oh im so happy happy happy!!!!

Ces Adorio said...

Yes. And I will include a lizard.

illustration poetry said...

i dont know what type of tree it was...

oh but thank you anyway, you want to draw me!!!!!!

i must sleep now, i will visit you later.

i love you grande witch.
thank you.

illustration poetry said...

and a lizard.
yes.

oh, you're so great.

Ces Adorio said...

Goodnight! Sweet dreams. Don't dream of trees :)

illustration poetry said...

thank you grande witch, byebye now.

Ces Adorio said...

Thank you Anne. I know what you mean. I would love to have something like that close to my skin!

Thank you Sarah. Thanks for stopping by. Hope all is well with you.

Thank you Bella. Ah yes. I hope Arija approves. The fabric outweighs any of my silk scarves.

Deborah, that's it. Yes! Yes! because I can only draw when I am happy, even if they are not about happy events. My heart needs to be light, peace reigns on my mind and a lot of solitude.

Oy Oy oy! Steveroni, what nice things to say about me but I don't know, does God steal? Maybe he just thought I needed it because I can't bake bread?

Lisa Holtzman said...

Ah Ces, what a beautiful series. You express your feelings so richly, I can feel them. The illustrations and the quotes from these remarkable women, just beautiful.

Arija said...

My oh my oh my! Everything you do excells everything you have done before. Your inspiration and generosity of soul are beyond belief . . .
the gods obviously were smiling the day you were born.
If one little tear can open the floodgates of so many wonderful creations, what would a river of them do?

Again my dearest Ces, I am utterly humbled and you have captured the soul and feel of India's fabric with its softness and silkiness to perfection!

What an absolute wonder to wake up to . . . thank you . . .

With overflowing love . . . Arija

Dear Fireflies said...

HAHAHAHA....!!! Match.com??! Really?? Can't expect much from sites like those other than bare chested men (some hairy, yikes!!), who probably spend more time under the tanning machine or practicing pick up lines in front of a mirror...

Ackh! I am bad, I'm so sorry....No, just kidding, I'll bet some of them are really nice, huh?? *wink, wink, nod, nod*

Dear Fireflies said...

Oh, I forgot!! Arija looks GORGEOUS!! Those eyes are so deep and mysterious... You gifts never cease to amaze me!

And I'm so glad she visited my blog last night, otherwise I wouldn't have the nerves to say hi first. (Thanks, Arija!) :)

Arija said...

What do you mean that I like it????

I LOVE IT, ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Dear Fireflies said...

Well, you should know, I'm pretty much coming out of the shell now, thanks to my muse... (^___^)

Ces Adorio said...

Alright, I am getting hot. I am getting up now.

Dear Fireflies said...

HAHAHAHA!! That's probably because they can see the wonderful aura oozing out of you, and they must know that you'll be a huge hit there! Hhm. Maybe I should check it out after all... :D :D

Ces Adorio said...

Huh? Amalia, did you send my profile?

Bella Sinclair said...

Spam specials? Maybe they know you like meat.

Dear Fireflies said...

Are you sure there are only two? Last time I checked there were....never mind. Heheheeee... :D

Dear Fireflies said...

And about your profile... Well, never trust a person who tells you they're shy...HAHAHAHA!!

Ces Adorio said...

I am getting up now and I am signing off from my computer until Wednesday at 12:01AM.

Ces Adorio said...

Oh last one: Arija, I am so happy I made you happy. Tsup!

Linda and Michelle said...

My goodness, Ces, I can't let so many days go by without visiting your blog. Your artwork and the accompanying stories are so wonderful. The pen and ink draw me in so completely, as it is a medium I truly love. You are blessed with wonderful friends and family.

Ces Adorio said...

Hah! It won't last long Linda. Thanks for stopping by.

Manon said...

What an incredible piece and lady!! Now I have tears again. I'm playing catchup and have been crying for the last 15 minutes. I love this work of Arja!!

Marie S said...

Arija ia beautiful, Ces. India's fabrics are indeed sumptuous, so gorgeous.
I am sooo glad Arija is better, so glad.
I love how you wrapped this scarf around her. Her daughter's love and protection covers and surrounds her.