The Conclusion of The 100 Day project 2023

The 2023 100 Day Project has officially come to an end. I wanted to share with you what I experienced during the last 100 days. It's really amazing all that can transpire during that amount of time.

Emotionally the timing of these 100 days was very difficult. It encompassed the anniversary of the date my Mom got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The date we learned it was inoperable. The 7 traumatic weeks leading up to her death. Her death. Her Birthday. Her celebration of life service. The anniversary of the first holiday without her, Easter. My Dad’s 80th Birthday and Mother’s Day.

Beth ForenzJune 6, 2023Comment

The 1/2 way mark in The 100 Day Project

As you probably know, This year’s 100 Day project is dedicated it to my Mom, Diana, with the hashtag #100daysfordiana. I'm creating a 3x4 inch mixed media card every day with the intention of adhering them all to a large 30x40 canvas when I'm done. My purpose for doing this is to process my grief over losing my mom to pancreatic cancer, 5 years ago.

The 100 Day ProjectBeth ForenzApril 13, 2023the 100 day project, grief, loss Comments

The 100 Day Project 2023

My goal is to create a small 3x4” mixed media painting every day, for 100 days, in honor of my mom, Diana.

She was an amazing artist, potter, grandma and gardener, She was my former business partner and best friend. At 71 years old she went from being healthy and active to being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 7 horrible and traumatic weeks later, she was gone and our family was left reeling.

Beth ForenzFebruary 24, 2023Comment

Creative Play

Studies have shown that creative play allows us to be in the moment, much like meditation. Our bodies release endorphins that promote a feeling of well being. Creative play helps us to see and experience things in a new way and helps us to solve problems. It awakens our curiosity. What happens if I mix green with orange? Does watercolor react the same over gesso? What happens when I spray alcohol on it?

Word of the year

For the last 8-10 years I’ve chosen a word of the year. I’ll study the word, use it in my art journals, while looking up bible verses and synonyms for it. In the past, I’ve used words like strength, thrive and brave, For some reason the word abandon just came to me this year. It’s kind of an unusual word when you think about it. It can be used in different ways; like to abandon something, to leave it behind and never return to it or a more pleasant meaning, to do something with complete abandon, with exuberance, which implies a sense of freedom.

Art JournalingBeth ForenzJanuary 9, 2023word of the year, art journaling, mixed media art journal, grief, pet lossComment

The Gift

In 2015 we made a trip to Ethiopia and took our two oldest Ethiopian daughters with us. We were able to connect with World Vision who gladly agreed to facilitate a meeting between us and our sponsored children.

EthiopiaBeth ForenzDecember 29, 2022World Vision, Ethiopia, Book binding Comment

Pen to Paper- Journaling

Art JournalingBeth ForenzDecember 16, 2022art journaling, mixed media art joural, journalComment

What is art journaling and why I do it?

I started art journaling in its most basic form, about 15 years ago. I was boarding a flight to Africa when a friend handed me a travel watercolor set and suggested I paint on the long flight. At first I would journal far more than I’d paint, although, I would paint a few decorative flowers along the edges to brighten the page. Several years later, I found my self home alone for the first time in the 21 years since becoming a parent. We had been homeschooling our 9 children and had reached a point where, because of health reasons, we felt we needed to put the youngest 5 in public school. I suddenly had huge blocks of free time on my hands and no idea what to do to occupy myself.

Beth ForenzDecember 12, 2022art journaling, mixed media art jouralComment

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