Month: February 2009

"Rediscovery" – Winner of the 2009 Hearts with Hope Art Contest for the Domestic Violence Project

“Rediscovery” by BZTAT
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Wood
36″ X 40″

In addition to being an artist, I also have a career as a Professional Clinical Counselor. I work primarily with children and adolescents who are survivors of emotional trauma, so I have known a number of children who have witnessed domestic violence. Recently, The Domestic Violence Project of Stark County held an art contest to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence. I feel very honored that my entry entitled “Rediscovery” was selected as the winner of that contest among several other beautiful works of art.

As a therapist, I have seen many children haunted by the pain of violence within their homes. These children seem to lose their innocence as they live in fear for their own and for their family’s safety. I am often surprised, however, to see these children draw and paint and let their spirits be free, showing that their souls are still filled with wonder, despite the trepidation that they may have about their lives.

Rediscovering and exploring that wonder is the most gratifying part of being a therapist. Expressing that kind of wonder through an artistic language is the most gratifying part of being an artist.

In “Rediscovery”, a child with somewhat pensive eyes stares out of the canvas, wondering what is ahead of him. A background of fire represents the violence that has been a part of his past. Breaking through the surface in the form of a dove is his spirit of wonder, finding a ribbon of hope, and sailing into a heart that represents healing and support. Supportive hands of caring people release the spirit into the unknown. The white picket fence represents the challenge of finding “normalcy” in what has been an abnormal world of fear for the child.

We do not know the resolution of the child’s dilemma of finding hope in the face of fear. We do, however, recognize that the child can recover and rediscover what is true to his spirit. It is our challenge to find ways to guide and support that truth into being.

I have made other artworks that incorporate my discoveries as a therapist into my artistic expressions in recent years. It is interesting how the two separate career paths of my life have begun to merge over time. As much as I enjoy painting pet portraits and other whimsical work, works such as this one are the ones that make me feel the most complete as an artist. I look forward to more to come.

An interesting side note: Other than a collaborative work that I did last year with students, this is the first time in my entire artistic career that I have painted a human face. Much more comfortable painting the visage of a cat or dog, it was something new for me to paint a person! The face was modeled from a digital photograph that I made last summer as a custom portrait of a child.

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

“Rediscovery” will be featured in a live auction at the “Hearts with Hope” Dinner and Auction for the Domestic Violence Project on March 13, 2009.

Art Adventures Studios
Buy Artwork and Gifts by BZTAT
Art Adventures Studios, located in downtown Canton, OH
near Second April Galerie and the historic Onesto Hotel.

Oscar The Cat: Next in the Twitter Critter Series


From Brewskie Butt, official spokescat of Art Adventures Studios…


“Oscar the Cat” by BZTAT

Hi Everybody! It’s the Brew! I thought I would share a painting that my person, BZTAT, has been working on. This is a picture of everybody’s best pal among the Twitter Critters, Oscar! We moved Oscar up the list of those critters who have portraits in process, because Oscar has fallen ill this week, and I wanted to give a special shout out to him.

I met Oscar (known on Twitter as @OscarTheCat) early in my days on Twitter, but it wasn’t until one fateful night that we became best pals. Someone nominated us both for one of those crazy Twitter popularity contests that they have, and he and I both got kinda silly with it. By the end of the night, we were in first and second place! Our friendship was cemented.

Oscar is one cool cat! he is always encouraging other cats and other critters by passing out *nosetaps*, and he has developed a special website just for Cats Who Twitter! Oscar wrote about me on his first “Blogger Tuesday” feature! He also has a blog called The Furry Tripod, so named because of his being a three-pawd cat. He lives with a slightly irreverent younger cat named Henry (known on Twitter as @Quadpawd), to whom he is trying to teach manners and the finer ways of being a cat. It’s a big job, but he takes it in stride.

Oscar developed some kidney problems last week that gave his person quite a scare. I and all of his Twitter pals have been sending well wishes all week. Last night, we posted a Get Well card, and well over 50 folks have already signed it! You can sign the card here, if you like. The posting page only displays the last 25 comments made, but we have saved all of them for Oscar to see.

My person, BZTAT is working on a whole series of photos, drawings and paintings of different critters who blog on Twitter. For those who don’t know, Twitter is a micro-blogging site where you can converse with others around the world in short meaningful statements. Did you know that there were hundreds and thousands of animals who post on Twitter? There are cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, chinchillas, parrots–even a hermit crab! Each one puts up a small photo called an avatar on their Twitter page, and BZTAT finds these avatars to be very inspiring. Some of the critters have given her permission to use their avatars as points of departure for artwork. Oscar’s portrait is the second Twitter Critter artwork that she has completed.

I hope that all our well wishes help Oscar feel better. We love ya pal! Hope you have a Brew-ti-ful day!

The Brew

Life is an Adventure!

Art Adventures Studios
Buy Artwork and Gifts by BZTAT
Art Adventures Studios, located in downtown Canton, OH
near Second April Galerie and the historic Onesto Hotel.