this and that

This post may take me all day to write which sometimes they do. It is 7 a.m. and little noises are coming from my daughter. This is late for her. Nearly another week has gone by. Whew! It has been a swirl of: an anniversary (11 years :)), Mother's Day (happy one to you mama's), t-ball, pre-k registration and PAINTING!

Painting from a photo by Leslie from A Creative Mint

I have been doing more one hour pieces, and lately they have been uh, not so great. BUT I am happy that I am painting consistently. Just DO THE WORK. This seems to be it.

In reference to the top photo and the question on my mind... ARTISTIC STYLE. I feel drawn to paint in many ways, many mediums, many subjects. I like nature, city influences, patterns, country/cottage,homey. I look at the top photo and see a commonality in perhaps the color and paint application. I often wonder how well known artists crank out the same, same and stay inspired. And yet I know these artists are known for their particular thing... Kelly Rae Roberts for girls and words of hope,  Marisa of Creative Thursday for her little characters, Geninne for her watercolor birds. And they are successful and their is art gorgeous. I wonder if their is a trade off between success and creative freedom?

Other things swirling, reading, loving....

*I have recently read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  Please get this if you ever deal with creative blocks. O.K. so everyone get it. :) He has a new book that I just began Do The Work, you can download it for free!

*Art and Soul Radio. I love, love, love listening to these shows! Yes, I think I am a bit addicted. I download them and listen as I am cooking dinner, walking, painting. I have learned so many things from each and every one!

*I am going to open an art shop soon, should I go to Etsy or Big Cartel?

And just to mention, this post was the last saved version I had before Blogger bit the dust for a bit so I don't remember how this post ended. :)

I hope you are enjoying the weekend.
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.

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.

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?

Happy Weekend! I realize it is almost over but it has taken me two days to finish this post. Lately my head + hands + heart have been involved up to my eyeballs in websites, business books, photos, blogs, fonts, colors, etc.. I am FINALLY getting my website up and running. What an experience! On one hand I wish I could hand it off to someone but on the other I am glad I have been learning/doing. I have to admit I am really enjoying the process now.  I feel like it really can be pretty creative.

Things have clicked a bit for me (yes, with the website). And NOW I feel ready to begin. To begin to create surface designs + paintings to submit for licensing (I have already started, and have quite a bit done). To create paintings for sale. To go for those dreams that keep coming. It almost feels like this is my fork in the road. The one where I can turn one way and head down the right path. I can't say that the path will be straight or smooth or fast but really what can we ever say that about? The point is that it just feels right.

I think sometimes as artists we are afraid to say that "Yup, I want and quite frankly, need to create financial streams with my art." Yup, quite frankly I do. There is that bit of "Who do you think you are?" + all that other blah, blah, blah that comes up.

For me to get here, I had to be faced with a different alternative. One that doesn't feel "right". Would it be easier to go that path? Maybe in the short term. Certainly not the long term.

So with the available amount of time and energy I have I will chose to follow the path that feels right.  Wish me luck! :)
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In other news...
A new Art Biz Mama interview is coming on Monday and it is a really great one! :)

And to tie into being a mama and artist here is a recent and really great interview with one of my favorites, Kelly Rae Roberts. She talks to Rice Freeman Zachery on balancing it all. Her career, her art, her family. Enjoy!

Amy from Elemental is giving away $50 gift certificate to her shop. Click here to find out more!

Recently I won a year membership to The Thriving Artist Project.  !
I will share an interview with the founder soon. I have already learned SO much!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! The crocuses have popped up here in NY! The temp may be at freezing but I am hopeful!

xo

 Hi friends. I just wanted to share that I have 4 paper floral wreaths left and they are now selling for just 25.00 (down from 50.00)! Click here to find out more! Thank you to everyone who has been so kind with your lovely comments on the wreaths. They really are a labor of  love and I am not going to be making anymore for quite some time.

Still working on painting. The bottom pick is me trying to do an acrylic transfer as per Beatriz Milhazes.
It should be a fun weekend. What are you up to?

My Creative Space

what it looked like a couple of days ago. as my daughter slept i ignored the mounds of laundry and when she woke I felt so much better. art really is so good for your soul.

i hope you are having a fantastic week
go here for more creative spaces

Week 3 Painting: GYPO

Thankfully, my son is o.k. He had all the symptoms of the flu but I think since he had the vaccine it didn't turn into anything serious. He is back up and running. :)  I had a couple of hours last night to begin my painting assignment for week 3. The assignment was pick 4 colors from your surroundings/objects to match and include them in your painting. We were to get out of our comfort zone (if we had one). I wanted to steer away from pinks as these seem to appear very often for me. I chose canvas, graphite, kraft paper, yarn and a purple paint swatch. 

I can't say I love these colors together. The first one I did in an effort to be free and play. I wanted the paint to be mushy and smushy. I wish I had just done some color studies and not tried to add in any motifs. I do really like the tan dots.

Then I started this one. Which I will go back into at a later time.

All in all this was a great challenge. I think we pick (and use often) colors that we love because they stir something in us but of course it is great to step out and try something else. Which was what this was all about. After the course ends I am going to plunge back into all the assignments and give them more time.

I hope you all had a great weekend.
xo

In the studio+Love

O.K. so I don't have a "real" studio, one devoted only to art making. It is a very bright room that I share with lots of toys, a cat and a computer.

She loves to be in on the action.

Wishing you all a day filled with LOVE. Happy Valentines Day! We have already had our fare share of chocolate and the thermomter has reached a whopping 55 degrees and the sun is shining! Despite all of the snow it is so great to have a warm day! 

And speaking of LOVE....

this artist

Beautiful, right?

xo

Keep making ART

my scribbled notes made while listening to a podcast.

Recently, not directly, I have been told KEEP MAKING ART. Through podcasts, the e-course, blog posts. Make LOTS of art. Lots of it will SUCK. Keep making it anyway. I guess the old saying... Practice makes perfect can apply here. Commit yourself. Earlier this year I made the decision to really commit to my art and the different twists and turns that can take. It is very easy to start something, get frustrated and give up.



Here is a video that can be applied to all creative acts. Mati and Lisa shared it with us. Maybe you will get some use out of it.What are you committing to?

Painting: Week 2

Week 2 of GYPO is coming to an end.This class is SO great. It is stretching me in so many ways. I just want to paint, paint, paint. If I am not painting or thinking about painting I am looking at other artist's paintings.

This is my painting for week 2 of GYPO. Our assignment this week was to pick another artist's work that we love and be use that for inspiration in whatever way we want. This was VERY challenging for me I have to admit. 

For one there are SO many art works that I LOVE. How do you choose only one? I began with a different inspiration.

Matisse, Vuillard, Nathalie Lete, Bella Foster.See told you, lots of favorites! And this is only a small bit.

I wasn't feeling good about where I was going with this. So I stopped. I will go back into it. I think it has potential.

I ended up going with Susy Pilgrim Waters whose work (on the printouts) I just adore. I am not loving the colors of this mixed media piece on paper but I REALLY had a great time working on it. Love the stenciling, playing with paint, cut paper. Really fun.

The talent in this class is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! So many varied styles. It is great to see. I am so thankful that I am able to be a part of it!

GYPO Painting: Week 1

This is my week 1 painting for GYPO. 8x8 acrylic on canvas. The inspiration for the piece Gee's Bend Quilts.

I have to tell you this was pure bliss for me.

1) I LOVE the Gee's Bend Quilts. They have been in my inspiration file for years!
2) I got to just work with COLOR! LOVE!

So needless to say I am REALLY enjoying the class. So much I am going to make some more similar paintings on the kraft paper (above) that I applied clear gesso to.

An Interview

Awhile back lovely Nutty asked me to do an interview for her new Inspired People series. It is now up and you can read it here! It was a pleasure!

***Day 2 of Get Your Paint On and I love it so much. Inspiration for this weeks painting.... Gee's Bend Quilts. I will share it with you when I am done.