Author: Joy Murray

I first became aware of the music of Dean Brantley Taylor when I was writing a blog called Chronically Inspired, on using the arts to rise above chronic health conditions.  He contacted me about his songwriting, which he carried on in spite of his health concerns — he’s the only musician I know who’s written songs about Chronic Fatigue.    Later he sent me links to work he was doing with his band Mad July.

Marc Blackwell, Dean B Taylor and Juliet Lyon

In December, he told me about a video project and asked if I’d like to do some illustrations for one of the songs on Mad July’s new CD Riding Gravity.  It’s a wonderful collection of music, with a gutsy sound and captivating lyrics. I liked the rocking sound of Never Going Back to the Gravity and I loved the lyrics which Juliet Lyons delivers beautifully.

Gravity and I have always had a contentious relationship, which I curse regularly from whatever patch of ground I happen to fall on.  I am also a daydreamer, and am often on flights of fancy that aren’t earthbound.  Flying through to new worlds and horizons captivated me.

I did a series of watercolors in a 6.5″ X 11″ size to fit the video format.  It took me about 3 months to complete — I was working on other jobs and I’m slow.  Dean was incredibly patient and he put together a smashing video that has now debuted.  You can see it on YouTube:

 I love how he animated things but the paintings themselves are given lots of time for their moment in the spotlight.

If you go to the Mad July Facebook page, comment and share the video, you’ll be entered into a contest to win: The Never Going Back to the Gravity original painting, a Mad July CD or a Mad July album download.  

Remaining paintings from the video are  now for sale at my etsy shop, if you’re interested.   You can also contact me directly at joyzmailbox at gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by and keep flying!

I’m linking this post to my friends at Paint Party Friday where there’s always lots of links for art. 

And thanks to my friends and neighbors at Bridge Meadows who provide me with inspiration and internet.

Spring Mandala

I’ve been away from blogging since January.  I got a paid writing gig — ghosting writing stories for children for a toy company.  The themes of the stories are the values that aren’t taught in school.  It’s a wonderful project and I’ve been enjoying the work.  The great thing about it was that I got the job from a man who reads my blog — so I felt really good about the time and care I take for this blog.

At the same time, I got an opportunity to work with Dean Brantley Taylor of the band Mad July on paintings for a video, which will debut soon.  With the illustration work, the writing work, my work with children at Bridge Meadows, I just didn’t have the creative juice left to keep writing the blog.  It’s good to know when you have reached your limits — if you go too far, the quality of your work suffers and you drain the creative reservoir. 

In the midst of my break from blogging, I got a nasty flu which took almost 5 weeks to fully recover from.  I missed a few deadlines with my writing and illustrating projects, I had to cancel a storytelling gig, but  I’m working with very kind people, and I got back on track as soon as possible.

Flying Turtle — one of my symbols

Turtle in the style of Walter Anderson

I’ve missed blogging but have mostly kept up with reading my favorites.  I dearly love that we have this form of media populated with everyday people.  I’ve always believed that every person has a creative spirit, and I’ve spent a lot of my life trying to help people express themselves.  I believe we need a chorus of all voices in this world.  All these stories and art forms may not clear up the confusion, but they will add to the magic of life on earth — especially mine.

While I’ve been on blogging break, I did keep my journal.  I made a commitment at the beginning of the year to stop resisting and write every morning.  I’ve succeeded in writing every single day this year!  I keep the journal right by my bed and write first thing.  It’s not always coherent, but it sets a creative tone for the day. 

I did a lot of writing on God because I decided to join the Unitarian church

I’ve been illustrating the journal when I get a chance.  I draw in margins in spare moments during the day.  I’m drawing a lot more from imagination than drawing from life.  I sometimes start with drawing an object or person and then just wander off into my imagination.  Most of my journal drawings have been decorative.  I’m enamored of the artist Walter Anderson.  I hope to draw from life a little bit more and illustrate my days better.  Now that it’s Spring, I want to spend more time sketching nature.

But I’m a wanderer.  I’ve noticed in these past busy months I’ve used spiral symbols a lot.  I think I act in spirals — I get an idea, I start, I wander round and round, then wind up somewhere parallel but some distance away from where I started. This  may not make sense to anyone else, but it does to me.  The reward for journal writing is I get to know myself better.  I get to rewrite bad days, soothe scrapes and bruises, celebrate the daily comforts and kindness. 

Thanks so much for reading my posts.

 I’m linking this up to Paint Party Friday, where you can find a lot of everyday artists sharing their spirits.