52 WEEKS::My Antonia

At any rate, that is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great.

~ Willa Cather, My Antonia

To be honest, I have struggled (once again) with the beginning of this year's 52 WEEKS project.  And yet, once again, I am finally committing to this project.  I am an avid reader and have always found solace in the words of others...whether that be poetry, plays, or stories of any kind.  The library is where I felt safe and understood. 

Over the past few months as I began researching which authors and books to focus on, I was overwhelmed...but then I stumbled upon a list of 52 favorite lines from books and I was thrilled.  It was a 'Eureka!' moment, for sure and s0 this year's project will focus on the writing of 52 talented authors beginning with Willa Cather. 

As in the past, I kept changing my mind until the paint was put to canvas...just so you know that this isn't easy for me either.  I also wanted to focus on work that was, once again, quite different for me so I will be creating more illustrative pieces this year to push myself out of my comfort zone.  The character I chose to paint has received a slight homage to Star Wars, and in particular, Carrie Fisher in her cute hair style.  My vision is to create storybook characters and images and am nervously stepping off this ledge to begin again this year.

So my hope is that you'll join me in this year's 52 WEEKS project...in whatever you choose to do.  I know (from previous experience) that it does easier as the year progresses...and harder...all at the same time.  ;)

My Ántonia evokes the Nebraska prairie life of Willa Cather's childhood, and commemorates the spirit and courage of immigrant pioneers in America. One of Cather's earliest novels, written in 1918, it is the story of Ántonia Shimerda, who arrives on the Nebraska frontier as part of a family of Bohemian emigrants. Her story is told through the eyes of Jim Burden, a neighbor who will befriend Ántonia, teach her English, and follow the remarkable story of her life.

**To view previous images in this year's 52 WEEKS::Storytellers project, please click here.