I'm so excited to have Cheryl Rainfield on my blog today. She is sharing some of her amazing artwork with us.
This painting I did (in acrylic) as a teen was a self-portrait. To me, I was showing the fear, the terror, the vulnerability and pain and sadness that was from the sexual (and ritual) abuse, that was so much of my experience. It felt like it made up all of me. The not wanting to be there in the abuse, the trying to escape, yet being frozen by fear, and by the threats and control my abusers used on me—all that was, for me, put into that painting. I think I was also showing myself—I was vulnerable, and innocent, and not wanting anything that happened to me; I was not to blame.
I did this drawing in colored pencil on watercolor paper. That there’s
happiness and hope in this drawing is a big thing for me; like my main
character, Kendra, in Scars, I didn’t used to be able to draw happiness
without pain. I also was rarely ever able to use color; most of my artwork
was black and white. So using color and bringing happiness into it was a
great step that reflected my healing and also my increased safety. This drawing to me was about healing and being grounded—having roots,
feeling yourself connected to the earth. It’s also about, for me, following
your dreams, keeping hold of the sense of magic and hope inside you, and
allowing yourself to heal, to grow, to put down roots with people, to allow
yourself to be nurtured and safe and trust people, and to know that you can
have a say in the direction your life goes.
Scars by Cheryl Rainfield Publisher: Westside Books (March 24th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 250 pages Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life. To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more. But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.
Giveaway
Prize:
- 1 winner will receive a signed copy of Scars by Cheryl Rainfield and 2 bookmarks.
Rules:
- You must be at least 13 to enter.
- Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
- Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
- Contest is US ONLY and ends October 5th.
- Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
- The form must be filled out to enter.
Thank you Cheryl for being on my blog today and sharing your personal artwork with us.
My review of SCARS will be posted Saturday.
For more information on Cheryl Rainfield or Scars: Cheryl Rainfield / Twitter / Goodreads
Buy from: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble