Today marks another year since I lost my daughter to domestic violence. Another year has passed, and it has not gotten any easier. My daughter died at her own father’s hands. Her name was Mariam. All these years, I’ve blamed myself for not being able to save my baby (I know it was impossible in that situation), and I’ve been asking her for forgiveness.
But this year, I did something I haven’t been able to do for so many years. I didn’t see my baby grow up, so I painted a portrait of her as I imagined she would look now. It wasn’t easy—many emotions were involved—but I did it.
This year, I also decided to turn my pain into something positive. In the next few weeks, I will create a Facebook page for domestic violence survivors where we can all heal and see the beauty of the world through art. I will share the group with you when it will go live.
So, I am asking all of you, if you are a domestic violence survivor, to join my group. If you know someone who is, please share it with them.
Remember: Violence is NEVER OK. It’s never OK if someone apologizes after abuse saying, “I’m sorry,” “I’m sorry I was mad,” “I’m sorry, it will never happen again,” “I’m sorry, you know I love you,” or “I’m sorry, but it was your fault, you made me do this.” REMEMBER: It’s not your fault. You DON’T deserve it. You DID NOT make anyone abuse you.
Painting and Photography for Mental HealthIn our fast-paced and often chaotic world, finding moments of tranquility and self-expression has become essential for maintaining our mental well-being. While traditional therapy and mindfulness practices have proven beneficial, there are alternative avenues that can provide solace and healing. Two creative outlets, painting, and photography, have emerged as powerful tools to support mental health, allowing individuals to explore their emotions, enhance self-awareness, and find inner peace.
Painting, a timeless art form, offers a unique opportunity to channel emotions onto canvas. It enables individuals to externalize their inner struggles, hopes, and dreams through colors, shapes, and strokes. Engaging in painting allows one to embrace the present moment, engaging in a meditative process that promotes mindfulness and stress relief. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a novice with a paintbrush, the act of painting itself can be immensely therapeutic, providing a sense of control and a means to express the inexpressible.
Similarly, photography has become increasingly accessible to people through the ubiquity of smartphones and digital cameras. It empowers individuals to capture fleeting moments, freeze emotions, and document their personal journeys. Photography offers a unique perspective on the world, encouraging individuals to slow down, observe their surroundings, and find beauty in the simplest of things. This act of mindfulness, coupled with the ability to express oneself visually, can be immensely empowering and calming, fostering a greater connection with oneself and the world.
Both painting and photography share a common thread: they provide a safe space for self-expression. By engaging in these creative processes, individuals can explore and express their deepest thoughts and emotions without needing words. They allow a non-judgmental exploration of one’s inner landscape, offering a sense of liberation and release. This, in turn, can lead to increased self-awareness, improved emotional well-being, and a renewed sense of purpose. Moreover, painting and photography can serve as a bridge to connect with others. Artistic endeavors often create opportunities for individuals to share their work, seek feedback, and engage in meaningful conversations. By connecting with fellow artists or enthusiasts, individuals can develop a sense of community and support, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance. This connection can be particularly valuable for those who may struggle to articulate their emotions verbally but thrive in creativity. Incorporating painting and photography into our lives is not about creating masterpieces; it is about embracing the process, the journey, and the healing power of self-expression. Whether you paint with vibrant strokes or capture the world through a camera lens, these creative outlets can become potent tools in our mental health toolkit. They offer us the opportunity to be present, discover our inner selves, and connect profoundly with others. So, pick up a brush or grab your camera, and let the therapeutic magic of painting and photography unfold. Your mental well-being will thank you for it.
In the rapidly evolving world of digital imaging, new technologies constantly emerge, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer among these advancements. In this blog post, I will explain my thoughts about why digital artists should embrace AI-generated images as a powerful tool to unlock new realms of creativity, expand artistic possibilities, and captivate audiences like never before. Read More
For many years, I thought about sharing this story with you, my readers. But I wasn’t brave enough to do it, and I thought that some people could find it funny or worthless to share. Last year’s events taught me something that only life could teach: if you have something to share that could change the life of even one person for the better, do it. So, this is my story of the Winter Holidays: We had a very close family, and we celebrated the holidays like every family. Everything stopped at age 16, and I never had a Christmas tree after or celebrated any holiday. We lost everything, but we survived. Life was an experiment in survival. The lack of money and food washed away the possibility of a joyful celebration of the winter holidays. My mom and I were able to give my daughter a used book from our home collection (we had only a few left). So we wrapped it in a newspaper at night, so she did not see it, and gifted it to her on Christmas morning. My daughter’s gift to us was a spoon from our kitchen wrapped in newspaper. Christmas celebration was about reading books about people from other countries. They were like reading a fairytale that never became a reality. Now, every year during winter Holidays, I feel like I am in a fairytale story. It’s not about buying expensive decorations or gifts. It’s the fact that “I can celebrate and feel joyful.” Winter holidays are about celebrations, families, hope, and happiness. Today, I went to the store and saw all the winter decorations. Once again, I felt like “I can feel the joy.” This feeling never gets old. Why am I sharing this story today? Please don’t forget about those in need during this joyful season of celebrations, someone who needs our help or a reminder that they are not alone. Below, I have attached a few links you can use to spread hope and a smile. If you don’t want to use those links, please donate $1 at your local grocery store or online. Thank you.
Happy International Women’s Day, ladies! I wish all of you to be happy, strong, and love yourself. I love this day, and I was celebrating this day for as long as I can remember. Whether it was with greeting cards (made by myself or bought from the store), perfume, and flowers, a lot of flowers always were in the house on this day. My favorite flowers were yellow tulips. I still love them. Also, this day was associated with early spring. Today I want to share this day with you. I have news I want to share.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, I painted Frida Kahlo. Frida represents everything that I adore and respect in women. She combined a fantastic talent and beautiful artistic soul with incredible strength. She was a brilliant painter. Frida painted what she felt. She never thought about how to “fit into society,” not in her art and not based on what society believes how a woman should look. “Feet, what do I want them for if I have wings to fly.” She was a feminist, so am I.
I painted Frida many times. But I painted today’s portrait of Frida differently. I painted it in black and white (just like a picture of her that I saw). Look into her eyes, and you will see the beauty and the strength of her soul.
Painted in Adobe Fresco on Apple iPad Pro using Apple pencil.
Frida Kahlo
My other news for today, and I so proud and happy about it: Every year I mentor two girls for one year. During the year, I will build their knowledge in digital imaging. This program is free. The only requirements are: 1: a willing to learn 2: be from immigrant or minority community 3: be from a low-income family 4: have internet access I am doing this by myself, and I don’t have any support, so I can’t provide my students with the internet, iPad, or anything else. I hope one day I will be able to help with these requirements as well. P.S. If any of my readers want to help with anything, please let me know.
Now drum roll, please! I want to introduce my first student for this year – Tiffany Ferguson! She is 9 years old and a very talented girl. She loves working with Adobe Fresco, Adobe Photoshop, and traditional painting. We had our first two classes, and to be honest I am impressed with her progress and willingness to learn! I will be posting our progress every month.
Image by Renee L. Ferguson
Thank you Renee L. Ferguson for the behind the scenes images she took during our classes.
It was a time in my life when my daughter and I were without food. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to work. I wasn’t able to find a job anywhere. I was looking for a job all day and every day. We were able to buy a jar of pickles on sale for 85¢, and a loaf of bread also on sale for $1,07. We sliced pickles very thin to put it on top of a slice of bread. We ate it three times a day. We were happy to afford it and eat every day and to be honest, I love pickles.
It’s the Holiday season again, but this year it’s different than it used to be. The entire world is having to deal with COVID-19 this year. Every single person is affected by it in one or another way. So many people are without work, heat, or food. So many people could not put any food on the table. So many children are hungry. Together, we can help. We can help some families to put a slice of pickles on top of a slice of bread. I have created a few coloring pages for this Holiday Season. You can download them for free and use them in your traditional or digital painting. If you feel that you can spare some money to help the hungry people in Georgia, please donate anything to the Atlanta Foodbank you can (even $1 will be gladly appreciated).
Because of COVID-19 many of us are staying at homes for a period of time. I have created some coloring pages for children ages two and up. Feel free to download them for free. You can print out any of the pages and color them with your children using traditional pencils, or you can download them and use them in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe Fresco on mobile.
I also created some elegant backgrounds you can use in your digital workflow (digital painting, photo compositing, or graphic design). All backgrounds are free of charge, so download them and create something beautiful, and positive.
