Hello! I’m so glad you’re here for my very first blog post.
The Magic of Hearts
Ever since I was a child, growing up in North Carolina, I’ve been drawn to heart-shaped things. I started collecting hearts without really thinking about it: jewelry, buttons, rocks, artwork, graphic designs… you name it! If it had a heart shape, I was interested.
One of my favorite finds is a large, heart-shaped rock I stumbled upon during a family hike. It’s even a pink color! It’s been a joyful reminder of love ever since.
Of course, a heart is the agreed-upon symbol for love, the bond that ties you to others – a meaning that has always spoken to me. And I have to admit that I really do love love – and speaking from my heart.
The Freedom of Feathers
As for feathers, that’s a whole different story. My husband is from New Mexico, where he introduced me to the beauty and wonder of the Southwest deserts and their rich histories. I’ve been very inspired by the traditions and artwork of the Native Americans of New Mexico, where feathers often represent strength, abundance, and freedom. I love feathers so much and think of them often while I’m creating – they grace the walls and shelves in my art studio in many different forms and remind me to keep things light and free.
Besides all that, I just think they’re beautiful. They’re naturally graceful and fluid – two of the qualities I want to bring into my art and share through this blog.
Bringing Hearts and Feathers Together
I brought these two symbols together when I started doing doodles in a zentangle* style (see definition below). It was fun drawing hearts with lots of swirls, and I decided to add watercolor to a heart doodle as a Valentine’s Day card for my grandson. Wow, that was so neat and very different from the usual simple flowers I painted.
Then I realized the graceful curves in a heart were similar to the swirled edges of a feather. So of course I drew a zentangle feather and I LOVED it. That inspired me to do another one, this time drawing on watercolor paper so I could paint it in. It was so exciting to see that feather come to life on my paper! In fact, it became my signature image, and you can see it in my blog heading.
“One thing led to another,” as they say, and before I knew it I had drawn so many different heart and feather designs that I decided to put them all together as a coloring book. But, that’s a story for another day.
What do hearts and feathers mean to you, or do you have a special symbol that is meaningful and inspires you? Share your thoughts in the comments – I can’t wait to hear your stories!
Next time, I’ll share a story straight from the heart – stay tuned!
Click -> here to sign up to read my next blog post, and get the low down on my never-ending battle to lose weight (and maybe I’m finally winning, or at least I’m winning at laughing about it).
* Unlike casual doodling (often unplanned and spontaneous), Zentangle drawing is a method of creating structured, repetitive patterns to form intricate and meditative designs. It involves drawing simple, deliberate strokes that combine to create beautiful, abstract compositions. Often done in black and white, Zentangle-inspired art encourages creativity, relaxation, and focus. Here is the Zentangle drawing of my feather, before watercolor was added:
How great!! I look forward to following you!
xoxoxoxoxo Thanks Susan. Me too!
Thank you for sharing how Hearts and Feathers became a part of your creative art expression. Love it! Looking forward to more blog posts.
Thank you too, Vicky! I’m excited about what is still to come xoxoxoxo
I enjoyed reading this and gaining a finer understand of you and your art. I like discovering what inspires the expressing of aesthetics in others. I especially appreciate your viewpoint about feathers and I get what you mean about the gracefulness of them. As I read it I realized the feelings of freedom in a bird visibly extends out to the very tips of their feathers. I’d never considered that before. I look forward to your blogs and to viewing your other creations.
That’s really neat, Christine. I’m glad you had that really cool realization! xoxoxoxo
The feather in the picture is cool 🪶
Thank you Dexter. I’m really glad you like it 🙂
I enjoyed finding out more about why you love hearts and feathers so much. And, thank you for bringing willing to share your weight loss journey … that will be inspiring I’m sure.
Thank you Firefly! It will be fun to share that with you, and so much more. By the way, I love your handle 🙂
So nice, Joan! Loved the heart-shaped rock you found. It was meant to be!
Andrea, I agree – that beauty was meant to find a home with me 🙂
Lovely, as I expected it would be, Joan! The only thing missing for me was an example of Zentangle for reality/ You got me curious and interested!
Thank you Tanii. I’ll add an example of a Zentangle drawing at the bottom of that post so you can have more reality on it!
I love this post, and not just as her husband but as an avid appreciator of artists and the creations and aesthetics they add to the world. I encourage you to follow her. She’s a one-in-a-million person. She won’t disappoint or let you down’ I know.
Thank you husband! I appreciate your support, as always. xoxoxoxo
Joan, I love your inspiring story and learning more about you & Fred and how your creativity was sparked & where it has led you so far. For those of you who have not met Joan she is an incredible singer. I too collect hearts (I’m not creative though) and absolutely love your heart rock & feather. Congratulations on losing weight. I’m down 36 1/2 pounds since I saw you last & the last 23 is slow going. You look incredible. 💜
Thank you Wendy! I’m so glad we share a love of hearts and rocks! xoxoxoxoxo That’s awesome on your weight loss. I know what you mean about slow going on the last 23. Yeah, that seems to be the way of it. You are amazing and I hope to see you again soon. 💜🪶
Lovely story my beautiful friend! Love staying connected with you through our love of art 💕💕 please keep sharing!
Thank you sweetie! I feel the same. xoxoxoxo
Beautiful Joan❣️Love your blog communication and your continued create 🎨❣️
Thank you for so artistically sharing ❤️❤️❤️
🎨❣️Thank you Leslie, my beautiful, beautiful friend. I was just thinking about you earlier this week, while organizing my art studio. I thought “How would Leslie set this up?” because I’ve always admired how well you design the spaces around you! ❤️❤️❤️