Journal " No One Should Be Like A Caged Bird"

Yesterday I sat down to paint a journal page in which seemed like it had been a long time. I looked through a few images and when I started I thought I would do a  journal page about my daughter's wedding, but as I was painting it was changing and being more about women, relationships and how things can get out of context.

I remember the era my grandma was from. Most women didn't learn to drive, they lived with their husbands, stayed home and raised their families. Although my grandma did do some work, she always made money from home but it wasn't enough to support herself. As I journal this that is part of  the happy part memory. She did have some money for her needs but ultimately she was a caged bird with no choice, no way to emancipate herself from a situation that was ultimately not good for her. Yes she loved her husband but he had issues that were not dealt with. At times he was very cruel to her verbally and down right scary at times. She stood up to that but never left. Luckily she was never hurt.

So what I am trying to say as I journal these thoughts is I am so happy we live in a day and age where we are more educated as women, have the capabilities to make it on our own and have a voice. We can stand up for ourselves and there are places women in need can get help. No one should be like a caged bird.

That is the title of my journal page No one should be like a caged bird and is written next to the image of the young lady. On the top left, but you can't see it in this photograph. Next to her, along side the bird cage I painted in white on the cage to represent the light / escape from being caged. The figure in the white with the bird represents her being freed. At the bottom of the page is a figure with a heart with wings. This represents listening to your heart and having the wings / guts to leave. The photo with the feet in boots with wires represent that even though things can get tangled that there is light there and that you can find a way out. On my page under that a voice says "No escape" yet on the side of my photo where it doesn't show in the photograph I took it says " Find One"

I could write so much more about this subject, but I chose to leave my journal and page as it  is, words unspoken. Luckily today you can speak the unspoken. There is hope you don't have to be imprisoned by any circumstance.

Today I am choosing to share this with my Paint Party Friday Friends as most are women. I hope to create a large painting from some of the concepts of my journal page. When I do, although it may not be right away I promise to share it when done. I know this is more of a somber subject but, as an artist I feel not everything has to be about something that is pretty. This will be a two part post and on Sunday I will have some journal prompt ideas posted for anyone who would like to create a journal page. Today I leave you with a quote I just read for the first time by Maya Angelou and the thought as she so puts, never stand on the grave of your dreams.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou
A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.


But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.


The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still
And his tune is heard on the distant hill for
The caged bird sings of freedom.


The free bird thinks of another breeze
And the trade winds soft through
The sighing trees
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright
Lawn and he names the sky his own.


But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.


The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.