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
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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

My Creative Space

It has looked like this for a few days. This weeks assignment is COLOR. Love it but haven't painted a thing yet. Little guy has what seems to be the flu now. :( So it may be like this for a bit longer.

This was on my Yogi tea last night. Love it. Just what I needed and of course perfect as Strength is my word.

Getting really inspired by this vintage crochet throw. It is making me so happy to look at.

Don't forget to go here if you want to add your Creative Space.

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.

If

Can you believe how many awesome e-courses are out there? Really. I am drooling to take so many.... IF there were buckets of money and time floating around these would be the ones I would take

BLOG LOVE

sketchbook delight

CREATIVE COURAGE with Stephanie Levy

do what you love:the e-course with beth nicholls

And I know there are tons more. What ones are you taking or would you if you could?

Plus, if I could I would love to have some redesigning around this virtual space with these ladies.

freckled nest

I think I better post these to my vision board. :)

And mentioning blogs.... I was super excited to receive this in the mail the other day...

My banner in the newest issue of Artful Blogging!! Woo Hoo! So thankful to among such beautiful creations!

I am actually now working on a new banner. Something more spring like. With all the snow that is falling here (right now actually) lately (oh, every two days or so) I need a bit of spring. Even if only in a blog banner. :)

My Creative Space

Making marks. Working on the floor briefly while my daughter naps. Working from this book. Using all sorts of materials to make marks.... pastels, charcoal, conte pencils, neocolors, pitt pens, graphite. The exercise is to just MAKE MARKS. Experiment with the way the materials work together. So simple right? So fun.

Go here if you want to share your creative space today!

Flowers that my kids "surprised" me with

On 1/20 I turned 38. In the past I was never the type to tell you that "It's my birthday" and I am kinda still not but I have gotten much better about CELEBRATING it. I think it comes from getting older. I know you would think why be happy about getting older? Well, that is just it. I am still here, getting older. CELEBRATE IT!

One of my favorite cards

There were cake, presents, singing, hugs and kisses (the best). I am grateful for it all.

I was given a book. Art from Intuition. It is filled with so MANY fun exercises. A chance to get child like and remember what it was like to be free in your art. I did the above automatic drawing after looking through the book. I can't wait to delve into the book deeper. There are many exercises to do with the kids too. I also picked up this one, and this one which look equally as fun.

The Big Dreams, Small Wonders class is on the last week. I haven't caught up with the exercises just yet but I did manage to add to/finish my vision board for 2011 and beyond. Louise has many, many tools about bringing dreams to fruition and doing it with a sound mind and body. It has been great.

And last but not least Monday 1/31 starts Get Your Paint On. Super excited! Maybe I will see you there.

Listen + a word on messy

I promise I won't keep showing you this piece over and over again. I am done with it now and have moved on but wanted to share why I decided to paint listen across it. I had been contemplating it when I opened my Yogi tea and the message was "The greatest tool you have is to listen". Yes! So of course I decided that it needed that word. And I love it! Is there anything you need to listen to?

After I finished it I was skimming  Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and read this about writing but I am applying it to painting or any art making....
"So go ahead and make big scrawls and mistakes. Use up lots of paper. Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend. What people somehow (inadvertently, I'm sure) forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here-and, by extension, what we're supposed to be writing."

Make messes, marks, mistakes we are supposed to. To find out who we are.

I love receiving these little messages from the universe. We just need to be aware and to listen. For me this is perfect because really I have been a bit stuck creatively so this feels good, like an opening up of some sort. A coming into my own type of thing.

P.S. Check out my side bar....thank you universe! I am signed up for Get your paint on!!

embracing messy

This is where I am with the painting in the hoop. Totally messy, totally fun. I really am having the best time with this. While I don't know about the viability of a canvas in a hoop yet I LOVE that it is round. Must be something with me and circles (wreaths, canvas).

And I LOVE being messy and free with the paint.  It has been awhile since I have embraced messy. It is so freeing. This is something that has come up in my morning pages, for my art to be loose, free... messy.

The colors are making me so happy to work with on these cold January days. I think I will do a tiny bit more and trim the canvas attach the hoop and hang it. I definitely have the itch to make more and with my daughter napping I think I will go start. 

xo

Hoops

I am experimenting over here with paint and paper on stretched canvas in an embroidery hoop. I love the messiness and the colors and textures. Nothing is set in stone of course.

And if the universe thinks it should be so I am going to sign up for the new e-course with Mati Rose and Lisa Congdon. Keeping fingers crossed. Here is the link in case you are interested.

I hope the new year is treating you well so far.
xo

My word

To tell you the truth I didn't even start thinking about my word until just a few days before the new year. With Christmas and all that entailed I sort of forgot about the whole picking a word to set the tone/intention for the new year. I saw a tweet from Ali Edwards mentioning her word so I followed it back to her blog and read this post and decided that yes, I too wanted a word. But which one?

This is my second year picking a word and still it was hard choosing just ONE word when really there are SO many that could be great. Of course this is about picking one. One word to focus on. To be a touchstone throughout the year. And as Ali put it "You live with it. You invite it into your life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities."

A few words rolled around. None stuck. Then I started thinking about what I really want for this year. How I really want to be in this world. Power came but it didn't feel right. Close to that is strength. This feels right. I don't consider myself weak but I want to focus on:

inner strength, mental strength, to strengthen my voice (creative and otherwise), my abilities, my muscles (literal and figuratively)

Strength defined via Merriam-Webster:
       : the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance 
       : legal, logical, or moral force
       : a strong attribute or inherent asset
       : vigor of expression 
       : one regarded as embodying or affording force or firmness  
        
So this is my word. I invite it in!

And I know it is a day late but wishing you and yours a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bye + Hello

Bye 2010

Looking back on the photos saved on my  hard drive I can hardly believe this year has passed by so quickly!

Celebrating and reflecting today with just less then 9 hrs. to go until 2011 arrives here in NY. Some highlights from 2010...

being published twice, kindergarten, declaring, painting, creating, connecting, nyc, playing, new kitty, lots of snow, crochet, flowers, flowers, flowers

Looking forward to what 2011 will hold.

Happy New Years!!

Here is a little video of my kids sliding into the new year.

xo

Art by Aimee of Artsyville

I have spent the last 2+ days cleaning up and clearing out my art space (in between taking care of sick kiddies). I have plenty I am going to give away via freecycle, a big bag for the garbage and a few unused but maybe someday things to be stored away.

It feels nice and light. With just two more days left of 2010 it felt like the time. Clearing the old to make way for the new.

Today I purchased a couple of doodlemagnets from Artsyville. They will both be in my creative space as inspirations and affirmations. One of them is above. I saw it the other day via FB and I thought GREAT and APPROPRIATE. I love starting out the year with this positive intention.

Here is another great sentiment to begin the new year with. It is from an Outward Bound ad. As someone who tends to tell myself  "No, I can't...." I love the farewell to can't. Hello, can!

I am still pondering a word for the year. Have you picked one? I have a couple of contenders. I will pick one tomorrow and share. If you have one I would love for you to share yours.

Phew

Christmas morning sunrise

Christmas in a list:
cookie baking
a stomach bug
up at 2:30 a.m. 
presents at 4:30 a.m.
worn out family
gorgeous pink and purple sunrise
pure excitement
lots of wonder
games, games and more games
wrapping paper everywhere
where to put it all? the toys that is

Cutie needed a nap from all of the excitement

Our Christmas was truly wonderful. As much as I love it I am happy now that it is all done for another year.
We are clearing away bits of Christmas in between all of the snow, game playing, hot chocolate drinking, book reading and lots of craft activities.

Snow.. the day after Christmas

Now is the time to make a clearing and prepare for the New Year and all that it will hold. I am looking forward to it. How about you?

The Sketchbook Challenge will begin on 1/1 and Big Dreams, Small Wonders will begin on 1/3. Lots of good things happening.

Happy Holidays

Two more days!! Can you believe it?

Now it is about finishing up the wrapping, going to look at the lights tonight, baking cookies for Santa and taking a drive to find some SNOW before the jolly old man arrives!

From our home to yours we send you lots of peace, love and joy. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Challenges + other news

 

Recently I learned of The Sketchbook Challenge and of course I had to sign up for it. And in case you didn't know I LOVE sketchbooks. New ones, old ones, other peoples. I love everything about them. I have several and for this challenge I have purchased a couple of new ones :) In an effort to improve my skills I have been drawing daily anyway so this just adds to the fun.

Here is the info via the site:

The sketchbook challenge is a new project launching on 1/1/2011. Follow along with us as we fill our sketchbooks based on a monthly theme that will be announced on the first of each month.

Each month we'll announce a new theme on this blog and throughout the month we'll be showing you images from our sketchbooks and talking about the intention and inspiration behind them.  Along the way we'll be sharing tips, techniques and tutorials.  We hope that by giving you a peek inside our sketchbooks and showing you how different they all are that we'll inspire you to start keeping a sketchbook of your own.  And of course if you do, we'll want to see some photos of your book too so we've designed a blog badge for you to put on your own blog to show your participation in the project.  You can download the badge here.

We encourage you to post photos of your sketchbook pages on your blog and then post a link in the comment section of the Sketchbook Challenge blog so that others can look at your pages too!  We've also set up a flickr group where you can post photos too.  You'll find the group here.

And that's not all! Thanks to the generosity of some terrific sponsors we'll be doing some givewaways and special shopping offers too!

So pick up your blog badge here, go grab a sketchbook, some pencils, pens, markers or paints and get ready to sketch with us!

Here is the list of the AMAZING artists that will be sketching along:

                                    

Jill Berry 
Sue Bleiweiss
Laura Cater-Woods
Jane Davies 
Jamie Fingal 
Judi Hurwitt
Leslie Tucker Jenison 
Lyric Kinard
Jane LaFazio
Kelli Perkins 
Carol Sloan
Carla Sonheim 
Susan Sorrell
Melanie Testa
Diana Trout
Violette

The second challenge I jumped on I found via Melanie Testa. 30 lines 30 days. She posted it on her blog awhile back and I recently found it. She (and others) have already completed it but I am doing it anyway.

Melanie recommends a ruling pen used with black paint to create 30 line drawing in 30 days. I am not using the ruling pen and have just been working with my Pitt pen.

Here are days 1-7. I am working in my moleskin book and I am not spending alot of time on them. I am really enjoying it.
 

I almost forgot to mention the other news! On my creative dream/life list has been to be published in Artful Blogging. I truly love this magazine. Just beautiful like so many of the other Stampington publications.

And while I wasn't chosen to be featured (I am still shooting for this) my blog banner will be featured in the spring issue of Artful Blogging in the Banners we love section!! I am truly honored and thankful to be included once again in a Stampington publication.