Tools & Talismans #9 Kolleen Harrison

Feathers. Feathers keep a bird airborne, help them change direction and hold the wind in their ruffly edges. Painting them brings them down to earth and painting them is a huge challenge.

Part of this series for me has been about learning how to use this watercolor medium and creating challenges for myself that I might not necessarily create on my own. Said another way, these women are sending me their tools and talismans and not thinking about how difficult any of these pieces might be to paint, not the way I would.

I tiptoed around this piece for quite a while and finally dove in to all these feathers and beads.

My journal is my go to for everything, from business ideas to favorite quotes to doodles to sketches for my next t-shirt design to "to do" lists, etc. This beautiful Rosary is the one my sweet Grandma would use daily to say the Rosary and pray. She was holding it on the day she passed away.  It’s extremely sacred and something that instantly can ground me. I wear my Mahabba beads daily to ground me in love and my sweet heart that states "JUST LOVE MORE" is another reminder of what truly matters.

Kolleen Harrison • Yoga Instructor. Spiritual Coach.

---

Tools & 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 Tools & Talismans — I'll be sharing a new painting with you every Wednesday.

I also create commissioned illustrations for people just like you — contact me and we can talk about what you might need for your website, a book cover and etc.