spring described

magnolia, finally bloomed. two weeks late

this is truly my favorite (and newly arrived) season for these reasons

blooming
magnolias
robins
clothes on the line
food on the grill
green grass
clear days
beginning again
buds
windows open
renewal
light
light
and
more light
+an anniversary :)

what is it that you love about spring?
_______________________________
P.S. A winner was randomly chosen by my husband for the Creativity Boot Camp. I couldn't pick. I wanted you all to attend but in the end Line won! Congrats Line!
And remember if you are still interested you can still sign up. Half of the course fee is going to a great cause.
Click here to learn more.
xo

One hour

I gave myself one hour to create a painting. I listened to a podcast that Carol Marine, a daily painter, did with Melissa from Thriving Artist's Project and felt inspired. Her story is great.  I did this while my daughter was up and playing. I used acrylagouache on a Ampersand board. I had a lot of fun. Giving yourself a time limit is great! It forces you to work fast and not over think everything. I know my bottle is wobbly and shadows aren't really right but I still really like this little painting. My daughter is napping now. I am off to try another one. See you soon. Don't for get to enter to win a spot in Creativity Bootcamp! There is just a couple more days to enter.

Creativity Bootcamp

Are you ready to answer the deeper callings of your creative soul? Are you tired of following the pack and are ready to begin producing your most authentic work? Do you yearn to produce work with full of meaning and brimming with authenticity? Then I have something for YOU!  

From May 15-28, 2011 Maegan Beishline from Life Set to Words is running Creativity Boot Camp:Spring Training.

From Maegan:
CBC: Spring Training is all about artistic exploration…and through that exploration, getting to know yourself as an artist. It is all about doing the work and flexing the creative muscles in an effort to get to the place where you are producing very authentic work…the work of your soul. Each day of the two week course, there will be a different essay on creativity, an activity to go along with that essay, and some ideas for journaling or further thinking. Also, throughout the course, there will be thoughts and inspiration shared by other artists to really dive into the different mediums. 

I was lucky enough to be asked to participate and one of YOU gets a complimentary spot in the course! 
To enter for a chance to win the spot please just leave a comment telling me why you would love to take this course and a way to contact you (blog,website,etc.) so I can get in touch if you win. You have until Friday 4/29/11 to enter.

Here is a sneak peek of some of the soulful goodness you will be treated to!


If you don't win the spot you can still sign up for the course right here. The cost is only $49 and what is so great and a testament to Maegan's big heart is that she is donating half of the course cost to Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans!


Here is the link to the Creativity Boot Camp site and remember just leave a comment by Friday 4/29/11 telling me why you would love to take this course. Good Luck!

Happy

ink and acrylic on paper

Happy weekend + Happy Easter to you all!
xo

Scrap Collages

Another video! I had a tiny bit of fun playing with Movie Maker. Finished pieces below!

Trying

to draw a face.... I was listening to a podcast of Pam Carriker talking about how she draws a face every day! So I felt inspired. Faces have been one of those things... never was able to do it, always felt blocked. Pam says keep doing it over and over again. So I am going to keep trying. It is a good lesson. To all of you that draw faces... my hat goes off to you!

A video

O.K. guys. A video! Ahh! I sound about 100 yrs. old, I think I was trying to talk very quiet (daughter napping), I said "um" about a million times and I hate my voice. But other then all of that it is o.k. See the pics below of the in progress and completed piece that I worked on later that night. And what I meant so say is why don't you give it a try? I really felt so relaxed after.

Forsythia

Forsythia in progress. Have a great weekend everyone.
xo

More daffodils

Daffodils by my son and me. :) I am working on a forsythia one next.

The Thriving Artists Project

Earlier this year I won a year long membership to The Thriving Artist's Project.

It has been so great. I have listened to great interviews by people such as Flora Bowley and Chris Guillebeau. I have asked tons of questions and had them answered. Melissa (the founder) has been very informative and open.  I have learned tons! So please read on as Melissa Dinwiddie, the founder of The Thriving Artist's Project gives the scoop.

1. For everyone who doesn't already know, what is The Thriving Artist's Project?

The Thriving Artists Project is my gift to everyone out there who wants to deprogram themselves of the "starving artist" mentality and learn to thrive. It's an online course built around interviews with artists and creatives of all stripes who make their living from their creative thing. 

One of the things artists lack is role models -- the pervasive idea out there is that artists can't possibly make money, even that they shouldn't make money from their art! I've brought together real-life stories from people who prove this idea wrong, and I've combined it with lessons, a member forum, and monthly coaching calls, to inspire creative people and help empower them to turn their gifts into a thriving business.

2. Can you share with us your background and why you started The Thriving Artist's Project?

I've been a working artist for over 15 years, but it took years of trial and error for me to figure out how to make a real living from my art. At some point I realized that even when I was paying all my bills from my art, I had limiting beliefs that kept me from achieving the kind of thriving success I really wanted. In fact, the "glass ceiling" that I'd installed over my own head kept me from even allowing myself to envision the kind of success that I was capable of!

In 2010 I went through a series of personal crises, and decided that it was time to bust that old thinking for good. I set out to talk with artists who were living their own thriving lives, to learn their secrets, to inspire myself and other artists to go after our dreams in a big way too.

Most artists are really lacking in business skills and knowledge, so I decided to include lessons in business and marketing basics, to provide a basic "tool set" that any business person would need, but from the unique perspective of an artist. In addition, I wanted to include a community element -- artists so frequently work in isolation, and having other people to support and encourage you is so important! I created a safe online space for members to interact, and also do monthly Q&A/Coaching calls, plus periodic seminars with guest experts, to keep everyone inspired and motivated and moving forward toward their dreams and goals.

3. I know you believe that "thriving" can mean a few different things. Can you share a few ways in which an artist can THRIVE?

Such a great question, Dana! The definition of thriving is going to be different for everyone, but there are some fundamentals. It certainly includes having the resources -- financial and otherwise -- to sustain yourself, but it's more than that. Thriving means being connected with your creativity; being in alignment with your true, authentic self; knowing your unique gifts and being able to share them with the world. It means being empowered to make the kind of impact you yearn for. It means tapping into the source of your energy and power, and channeling it to accomplish your deepest desires.

4. If anyone wants to join The Thriving Artist's Project how can they sign up?

Head on over to http://thrivingartistsproject.com. You can read lots more info there, and even sign up for a free sneak peek inside to see if it's right for you. To sign up, just click the "join" button and I'll see you inside!

Thank you Melissa for your time. Here is to THRIVING!

Thanks for the great questions, Dana! 

xo

Melissa

It is barely spring here. Little bits of color are popping up here and there. I took a few minutes to draw some daffodils with my kids markers and pencils. :)

Back and Forth

Back and forth. With the computer and hands on creating. Creating textile designs requires alot of computer work. Scanning, reducing colors, cleaning up the design, drawing, putting it into repeat. It is alot of necessary computer work. And I do enjoy it but it HAS to balance with the hand painting, drawing, cutting etc. for me. I need the back and forth of the two. The computer lacks alot. At the same time you can do so much with it. So when I am doing something in Photoshop and I get that yuck feeling I know it is time to stop. Get the paints out, the pencils, the paper. I started making a little cut paper collage. It definitely brings satisfaction that the computer can never replace. It may be the same way an email can never replace a real face to face conversation or phone call. Back to painting, drawing, etc.
xo

A huge THANK YOU for all of your support and kind words about my website (and please, critical feedback is appreciated and welcome). It can be scary putting yourself out there but I have come to a place that I don't have that need for the external approval so much. Of course, it will never go away completely. We all want to be liked, and not everyone will like us. Be o.k. with it. I have gotten to a place where I am creating from within, rather from without. Not (well, trying not) to compare myself to others and be so concerned with whatever they are doing. And it feels good. This quote comes to mind " I am not interested so much in what I do with my hands or words as what I do with my heart. I want to live from the inside out, not from the outside in."- Hugh Prahter Isn't that great?

Celebrating!

Today I am celebrating! My website is DONE! Except for a few tweaks anyway (need to get that favicon figured out). It feels huge and monumental for me + a bit scary! I created it all in Wordpress using a great highly customizable theme that you don't need to know a lick of html or css to use! After many attempts it feels so great to say I did it.  So it isn't fancy but I don't need it to be. If you have a second could you pop in and let me know your thoughts? For now I am going to keep my blog here on blogger. You will notice if you are here out of a reader that I formatted the blog to look similar to the website. Need to figure out the header, a bit blurry but I will get there.

This is all I have been working on in between starting a part time job and taking care of my family. I haven't been making art (need to), I haven't been out blog hopping. I miss it and you! I will be back soon now that I am done! I hope your week is going great and I am glad that so many of enjoyed the interview with Amy!
xo