Tools & Talismans #11 Christine Mason Miller
Painting a feather with watercolor pencils is a quiet and very, very slow exercise. It’s all about layering the colour and the shade — slowly — so that the feather keeps its sense of flight and air; so that it appears like it might just lift up and fly off the paper, when you least expect it.
Medicine Bundle: usually kept by my bed; a tiny reminder to stay connected to spirit; created while in the company of an amazing circle of women last summer.
Headphones: I use these a lot when I am writing if I need to tune out activity in our household (listening to sounds or music from an Ambient iPhone app).
Felt tip pen: my everyday writing instrument of choice! I keep them everywhere.
Necklace: This is Manjushri, Bodhisattva of Wisdom; traditionally invoked by writers for assistance.
Double-sided tape: I LOVE double-sided tape, and keep rolls of it all over the place.
Small heart: a gift from my bestie.
Scissors: these are vintage and not terribly great to use for larger projects, but I love the way they feel in my hands.
Guinea Feather: I also have feathers everywhere, and use them in my work.
Ribbon from India: just because I love it! I keep a big roll of it on my shelf in my studio.
—Christine Mason Miller, author, artist, storyteller and guide
Tools and Talismans is a personal painting project where I’m documenting {in watercolor} the tools and talismans of 100 different women — creators and healers, thinkers and makers, wordsmiths and visionaries. — join me for a year of paintings.
