Finishing Laura's Artistic Sentence...

in art •  6 years ago 

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This coloring was started by Laura Lemons & finished by myself well over 18 months later. It is from a book I gifted her called "Vive, Le Color! Meditation." Here's how Laura had it started....
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It was a weird experience finishing this coloring. I remember vividly thinking how it might be helpful & fun for Laura, the amazing artist and coloring book artist, to try her hand at some actual coloring. Many studies have shown coloring took be therapeutic for depression and anxiety. It was ironic myself the colorist, mailing @lauralemons coloring books. Even more irony after her suicide getting those same books back & finishing one of her colorings from somewhere under 2 years back. I mailed her the books in late 2016/ early 2017.

Her initial choice of colors for this mandala with the red, purple, green, light pink, yellow, & blue are not what I would've chosen. So, I had to adapt my mindset to this palette and I tried to finish it how Laura may have. I have hundreds of colored pencils yet struggled to find matching purple & blue hues. Yet, it all came together in the end. I'm glad I finished it.

I also sent her the book "Leafy Animals" by James Alexander. She started several pieces in here, the most striking to me being the deer and jellyfish....
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I don't think I'll try to complete the jellyfish as I really love it as is. I remember she posted it as a work in progress in the art group I used to run. I may or may not finish the other colorings she started. I only ever committed to the mandala, which she did not share on social media. It was hard on an emotional and artistic level, but an overall cathartic experience. Hope you like it Lemons!! RIP ♡
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Aww! I miss Laura so much! I wish I spent more time talking to her and sharing things with her as you have. We mostly talked business and such. It's a strange feeling to think this time last year she was still here for a little bit longer </3 I hope wherever she is it's the best place ever!

It certainly is strange! She spoke highly of you to me a few times. She thought you rocked! Don't underestimate the connection you two had. ♡ I think laura is on a happy plane somewhere =)

I am so proud of you for finishing what she started. I know it must have been hard for you to have what happened on your mind so much. She really does live in all of us. Even I who only got to know her post-mortem. I like the closure that this brings to all of us who stand united facing the reality of suicide.

You're a great friend. Yeah it is hard but I know she's not in pain so that's a relief