Violet Eyes

Violet Eyes

This fabric panel was produced from my original mixed media painting.

THE INSPIRATION

The inspiration for this piece came from the title of a song by Jewel, "Violet Eyes." The lyrics to her song did not provide inspiration to the message of my painting.

The message of this painting was inspired by ideas of hope, courage, truth, love, and friendship. It is also my response to overcoming life's challenges and the effects of losses such as the tragic events reported in the news.

VIOLET EYES

She lost her footing in the rain
and slipped
into a pool of mud and jagged rocks.

She could not see
the color of truth
because she was blinded
by the curtain of rain,
lost in the darkness of life.

She could not feel the color of love
because she was shattered; she was broken.

She sang her songs of agony and
danced her way through despair.

The night winds came as friends and brought hope.
The night winds came as friends and brought courage.

Nature’s tears had cleansed her soul.

In the silence of a new day,
she saw
the blessings of
hope.

In the silence of a new day,
she felt
the blessings of
courage.

In the morning of her new day,
she sang songs of truth.

In the morning of her new day,
she sang songs of love.

She could trust again. She could love again.

It was a new day. She called herself “blessed.”

In her new day,
she saw the color of truth, and
she felt the color of love.

She was Violet Eyes.

I'm grateful for my eyes. I hope to always see through violet eyes.

My Mother, My Daughter

My Mother, My Daughter

This fabric panel was produced from my original mixed media painting.

THE INSPIRATION

A mother nurtures hearts and develops wings.

A daughter speaks.  A mother listens, quietly. 

A daughter cries.  A mother opens her arms, willingly.

A daughter hungers.  A mother feeds, nutritiously.

A daughter explores.  A mother watches, safely.

A daughter dreams.  A mother dances.
A daughter sings.  A mother celebrates.
They dance.

They sing.
They elevate one another.
They give love.
They share love.
They are love.

Friends Make Magic Happen

Friends Make Magic Happen

This panel was printed from my original mixed media painting.

THE INSPIRATION

Friendship

This image is a tribute to friends and friendships. I am reminded of the richness of my life each day. Not a day goes by without a friendly visit--a phone call, a note, a package or an e-mail from a friend.

Though years pass without communication, when friends connect again, it's magical. Familiar voices sing, hearts dance and the magic of friendship happens.

Friends make life's journey more exciting.
Friends listen without judgment.
Friends guide gently.
Friends speak the truth.
Friends hold your heart . . . until you can walk again.

See the magic in friendships!

Feathered Friend

 Feathered Friend

 This panel was produced from my original watercolor painting shown below and uploaded into Photoshop to produce a black and white rendering.  Then it was layered over an image of my hand painted paper.

THE INSPIRATION

Bird, Watercolors on Paper, 6" x 9"
© 2009 Fannie Narte

This magical bird kept singing to me. He wouldn't stop singing. Singing all day long . . . sing, sing, sing.

He jokingly sang about the times I played ball and jacks with my friend Julie until she was called home by her mother ringing the cow bell. Julie was so embarrassed. The entire camp knew Julie was not at home.

He sweetly sang about the time I stayed back in study hall while the rest of my classmates went on a field trip to Waipio Valley.

He empathetically sang about the time I fell off my bike and skinned my knee.

He lovingly sang about the time I met my husband.

He caringly sang about the births of my daughters.

His songs validate my life's experiences.

When I wasn't feeling well and couldn't sit to sew or paint, he watchfully sang me to sleep.

I wanted to know what my feathered friend looked like.

So I put him on paper.

Now he won't stop talking to me. Talking all day long.  Talk, talk, talk.

Maybe he'll let me borrow his wings the next time I feel broken . . .

Different Voices, Similar Songs

 Different Voices, Similar Songs

This fabric panel was produced from my original mixed media painting.

we look different from one another on the outside,
but on the inside, we yearn for the same respect,
we hope for kindness to fill the world,
we pray for the safety of our loved ones and our children,
we celebrate accomplishments,
we believe in goodness,
we dream big,
we survive life's challenges,
and we laugh at silly jokes.

we are similar in more ways than we are different.

We all long to be accepted, just as we are . . .

Be True, Be You

 
Be True, Be You

This fabric panel was produced from my original mixed media painting.

THE INSPIRATION

Who are you?  Who do you want to become?

Teenagers, young adults and mature adults spend many dollars and hours finding themselves in clothes, toys, entertainment, shoes, homes, boats, tattoos, etc.  They explore and discover new ways of thinking and doing things that are different from previous generations.

They are the young at heart and the restless.  They are searching the world for something that makes them feel whole, feel accepted, feel understood.  They emulate rock stars and models and businessmen and businesswomen and journalists and politicians hoping to find something, some element, a special character or something magical that will make them feel at "home."

The search for self is good.  Everyone's search is uniquely personal.  It is a part of growing up.  One person's journey is different from another person's journey.  It's supposed to be that way.  If you travel by twos, it's only a temporary trip until one person takes a side road toward his or her path.  But that doesn't mean you cannot travel together any longer if you want to.  You can still travel together on the same road but the way you each see things along the way is one of the many elements that will be different, and that's okay too.  Different is okay.

Being different is what makes each of us special.

Discovering who you are, learning what makes you dance, searching for what makes your music blend with the heartbeat of those around you, and finding your way through mountains and over bridges that make your feet stronger and your vision wider--these are some of the keys that unlock the door to "home."  And when you finally discover that "home" is found within the vessel of your being, and you realize that your travels throughout the world were a necessary step to going "home," then you are able to live with generosity, to offer grace, and to share gratitude.  Your journey will have filled your soul with a magical sense of who you are and a knowledge of what your potential in this world can be, and you live each day to elevate those around you, you celebrate each day dancing your dreams and singing your songs knowing that the abundance you share will be returned in kind, and you feel "at home."

Welcome Home.  Be True, Be You.

A Dozen Roses

 A Dozen Roses

This fabric panel was produced from my original mixed media art quilt--when you click this link, you'll see this quilt in three stages of its creation.

I created this quilt around Valentine's Day and was inspired by ideas of love and the bouquets of roses my husband has given me over the past Valentine's Days we celebrated together. 

This quilt was originally titled "Love You Forever" because that's the message given to me from my husband each time he gives me flowers.  I donated this quilt to the AAQI to help raise funds for Alzheimer's research.  This is my Artist Statement:

"Forgotten history, forgotten memories, forgotten birthdays, forgotten Christmases, forgotten holidays, forgotten . . . but . . . Love You Forever."   ~Fannie Narte

I changed the title from "Love You Forever" to "A Dozen Roses," but the sentiment remains the same--This image is still about "Love."

A Dozen Roses to remind you that I'll "Love You Forever" . . .