The Mischievous Mommy

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman

I was so excited for this particular collaboration because I felt it represented Theo's wild personality and I was able to maintain his original and spectacular paint strokes. He is really into mixing colors to come up with new combinations and trying out different brushes lately which makes for explosive artwork. 
One of my favorite parts of sharing our collaborative process on social media is reading the never-ending varieties of unique perspectives that explode from the same exact image. I shared Theo's original piece on Facebook and Instagram and was amazed at the wide range of imaginative answers, here are a few:

- A young girl dancing and twirling a ribbon, and a random chick to her right
- A tribal warrior/chief wearing a brown wolf’s head on his head, a purple loincloth/bottoms, and holding a blue/black rattle/stick/cane.
- A skater doing a jump by a palm tree.
- A horse jumping a hedge with a tree in the background
- An elephant on a cliff overlooking a purple fish and a yellow duck. With a tree for some scenery
-  I see a mother, wearing a long skirt and black belt, playing with her daughter in a yellow dress, who is handing her a purple ball. Palm trees in the background.
-  Conductor’s baton about to tap the stand, the deep purple is the audience waiting and the gold in the lower right is shining off the bell of a French Horn.
- Mad Hatter with a purple tea pot and yellow tea cup
- A merman with a trident with a sea creatures swimming below
- A fairy picking a purple flower while Absolem the caterpillar and a fat little yellow bird watch on.



Thank you for taking the time to share your visions and to think the answers above are just a few taken from the many! 


Watch the Timelapse Video:

    We live in a society where we are constantly barraged with the concept that to be successful others must view us that way rather than embracing the value that simply believing in yourself is enough to develop true contentment.

The first feeds into a never-ending toxic need for constant reassurance and the latter is truly accepting yourself and that being enough.

You are the lead in your life story and no one else should be given the power to write your character.

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman
Collaborating with another artist is an extremely delicate balancing act. 

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman



Both of my children are obsessed with cats but while Eve adores the domestic kind Theodore is really into wild cats, you know the ones that could eat you. When I showed him the final painting he began to laugh and proceeded to spend the next hour roaring... non-stop. 

It has been an amazing journey watching Theodore's progress with painting and I am amazed at his ability to mix colors and use very specific paint strokes. Theodore and Eve are so different in their artistic techniques and skills, which keeps me on my toes when collaborating with either of them.

So what did you see in Theodore's original drawing?


Don't forget to watch the TIMELAPSE VIDEO posted below!

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman

Just the two of us, me and my moonlight, Theodore.

I have always maintained that if a person has the desire to create then they already ARE an artist. One of the greatest stumbling blocks to creating is the thing I hear most from those stuck on wishing they could but don't.

The destructive phrase: "But I'm not an artist."

That simple phrase consisting of only 16 letters has stopped this world from seeing millions of countless creations that could have been. That phrase stopped me from taking myself seriously for years until finally, I realized the only competition I have is with myself. We shouldn't be stuck on creating "good" art but rather our OWN art because no one can come close to what we can each individually create.

A Collaboration with my Toddler

by Theodore & Ruth Oosterman


The boy always wished that one day he would have a dog and on the night he saw his first shooting star he whispered this dream out loud. His faith was so strong he threw his favourite red ball as far as he could and told his mother he would not leave that spot until the ball returned with his wish.
The stars heard his earnest call and whispered to the fireflies for them to use their magic to bring the young boy's dream to life. The fireflies gathered together under the moonlit sky where the ball had landed among a pile of white rocks.
As the fireflies circled the shining rocks began to float and dance together melding into the form of a small puppy.
The boy sat for hours, begging his mother for just one more minute for he knew the stars would not let him down. He understood the power of faith under a night's sky and the magic held within the dusky hours that follow a sunset.
A small sound coming from the bushes in the direction the ball had flown caused the boy to catch his breath. Before he even knew what was happening a small ball of white fur came crashing down on him smothering him with wet kisses.
In joyous wonder he realised that sitting in front of him was his new best friend, his wish come true. It had to be the whitest dog he had ever seen, in fact, it almost seemed to the boy as if the wiggling creature in front of him was glowing like a firefly.
And so he named him, Firefly. (Make sure to scroll down to watch the time-lapse video)



I read the story to Eve to get her opinion and she insisted on making a collaboration between her and I about the story. Without seeing the finished collaboration between Theo and I, she created this piece over top of a background I painted. I love how she used perspective by making the house smaller and included the shadow of a little boy in the window waiting. She even added a shooting star, ball and fireflies!

At the very end, I added a clip of Eve showing the finished collaboration to Theodore and his reaction was downright adorable.

Make sure to subscribe on Youtube to catch the latest collaboration!

Bitterness

The Silent Killer




As a child, I recall my first interaction with the stereotypical grumpy old man and the feeling of absolute bewilderment that quickly followed. Good manners and kindness are character traits that are usually drilled into a child's mind, mine being no exception, so why on earth was an adult acting in a manner that would have rewarded me with a time out? As a 5-year-old, life appeared to be teeming with adventures with the seniors having lived them all. I could not wrap my mind around the concept of them being anything but joyful, these humans who had conquered life with tales to tell. Why were so many of them spending their remaining time being mean to those that loved them?

 I simply could not understand.

As a teenager, I witnessed more and more seniors turn dark and the generation a decade or two younger begin mimicking a similar resentment towards life.It was as if bitterness was a disease that had begun trickling down the generations and no one could hold on to their happiness.

As I entered my twenties the paranoia began. Were you infected overnight? I was now witnessing those a decade older than I become darkened by bitterness and resentment, their joy and spark for life had been snuffed out. It was as if they too dreaded the next sunrise and would rather remain hidden amongst the darkness of the night where vices were well hidden. The dark only mirrored their heart in contrast to the daylight which portrayed the true toxicity and progression of the disease raging inside.

Bitterness. Resentment.

Would it happen to me? Would it happen over night?

Somewhere in my late twenties, wedged in between a few hardships life threw at me, raising young children and putting my passions on hold, it happened.

Seemingly overnight, but not actually if I am to be honest.

I had become what I feared, what I loathed. I was resentful and bitter with those who loved me the most despite my flaws. I became impatient, yelling at my children over spilt milk whereas a few years prior I would have simply made a joke and found joy in their little smiles of relief. I was furious with my partner because he left his wet towel on the bed and tied a knot in the bread bag for what seemed the thousandth time, didn't he know the pressure I was under? Little things had become mountains for no valid reason yet somehow I seemed to find numerous other reasons to justify my anger.

How on earth did I get this way?

Why was I allowing such trivial things to become stumbling blocks for the love I had towards my family, friends and my own life? All of a sudden I was that hypocritical human criticising another's mistakes and wagging my finger at the news saying, “What is happening to this world?” as if it had all changed overnight.

Only the world hadn’t, I had.

I had forgotten to make the choice. I forgot one morning and chalked it up to just a bad day, then a week went by and soon enough the choice was just too hard to make. I felt entitled to be angry and upset because the cards life had been dealing me were unfair and overwhelming. I needed a break from making the choice.

The choice to choose happiness.
To choose joy and positivity.

Bitterness exists in each and every single one of us, just waiting, biding it’s time for the moment we stop making the choice. When we weaken our resolve it seizes control of our hearts, souls and minds, beginning to control us like a puppet and before too long we are no longer in control. We become our own worst enemy as our negativity pushes love out of our lives, distances our children from us and causes them to push back. Let us not forget how it also sets fire to our ambitions and goals while whispering in our ear how incompetent and disappointing we are.

 As it all spirals out of control we place the blame on everything and everyone but ourselves because the blindfold over our eyes has tricked us into thinking we are the only ones in pain. That we are entitled to happiness and are the last to blame when really, we are solely to blame.

Take heed, please, I beg of you. Keep your eyes on those around you and remind yourself that bitterness is a disease that no one is immune to, not even the most joyful and passionate. You are not entitled to happiness, I am sorry to break it to you, but you are not. Happiness is earned every day by making the choice to be positive and when you succeed it banishes bitterness to the darkest corners of your soul where one glorious day it will be expunged forever.

Until then, fight the good battle and do not give up, I beg you. It happens overnight and ever so quickly before you know it the fight to gain your old life back will be a thousand times more daunting than it was to just make the daily choice to be happy.

I am still struggling greatly with the choice as I get caught up in my head about what I deserve and am entitled to when really, my happiness is no one's responsibility but my own and therefore my bitterness is to be blamed on no one else but myself. If you are unhappy, make changes for without a course of action you will only spiral further into the darkness. The simple act of taking control of your life by CHOOSING positivity will only lead to happiness and strengthen your willpower to stay joyful. Surround yourself with positive people who strive for similar things and if it is family that is toxic, love them regardless but encourage them from a distance.

Choosing happiness does not banish depression or sadness but it does infuse your life with positivity as you make the conscious choice to look for the good in life. Depression, anger and sadness are all valid emotions that each of us experience in order to fully appreciate the joy in life, however, bitterness does not fall into that category as it is a disease that will ruin your life.

No one is immune.

The Fierceness of Fragility

Dedicated to all my fragile Queens who are the strongest women I know.



They mistook her fragility for weakness only to learn too late it was the calm before the storm. Her fragility gracefully lay upon her head as a crown of strength that was not only made to fly but would allow her to do so miles higher than those who misjudged her. A butterfly may be one of the earth’s most fragile creatures but the journey it embarks on to become its true self is a monumental feat, let alone the height and distance to which it can soar. Fragility is a strength that allows you to accept who you are in order to be true to that self. Only then will you soar.

A Collaboration with my Toddler(s)

by  Eve, Theodore & Ruth Oosterman

The first ever collaboration between the three of us!

MAKE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO TIMELAPSE 

A New Era, A New Normal.

Happy International Woman's Day!

The Creative Rut

One of my go-to methods to climb over a creative rut is to get abstract. Throw out any preconceived ideas, sketches or concepts and go back to the basics.

Feel the paint with your fingers, mix colors you would never think to, use the brush you hate and take the opportunity to truly experiment without allowing self-doubt or self-criticism in the room.

I used to think I had to break down creator's block by force but I've come to realize how unnatural that can be. These walls seem to pop up when your soul thinks it's time for you to grow and of course, always at the most inconvenient of times.

Don't try to push through by forcing it but rather climb over and look at it from the other side, from a different angle. 

Do this by experimenting with a medium or concept unfamiliar to you in order to wiggle out of your safety net of a cocoon and spread those wings. I guarantee you'll no longer see the wall as a stumbling block but rather an opportunity to fly.

Who was the beautiful soul who taught me this valuable lesson? 

My daughter, Eve. 

The Stages of Creating 

Seeing Mistakes as Opportunities

There are stages I go through with every painting that go a little something like this...

1.YES this is going to be awesome, I have an idea and a blank canvas!

2. Shit. A blank canvas... Where do I begin.

3. 30 minutes later...Alright, let's just give 'er and see what happens.

4. Ok so this is turning out differently than the image in my head but let's just roll with it and see what happens.

5. Oh no. I just ruined it. Why did I do that?!?! It is finished now, I can't even look at it. 

6. Binge on junk food or viral videos for varying amounts of time.

7. Glance at the painting... Well, I've already ruined it so why not just have fun.

8. Actually let go of the need to control every paint splatter and truly experience the process.

9. Every mistake is becoming an opportunity, almost finished.

10. Realize that "mistakes" turned your piece into something completely different than you imagined but 10x better because you can now see glimpses of your soul in the paint.

One of the hardest parts for me when creating is feeling discouraged that it is nowhere near what I imagined. I'm learning that it isn't due to a person's inability but rather that their heart took the reins for a bit. A piece made with just your mind is only half finished, you need to mix in some soul for it to truly be complete.

Love your mistakes for it is just your soul trying to convince your mind to let it drive for a while.

CONTEST ENTRIES

What did YOU see?!

Collaborating with one-year-old Theodore

Here are the entries!
(You can find out more about the artists and the stories behind each piece HERE.)