The Artistic Side of Pneumonia

After 5 days of coughing too much and taking cough medicine by guzzling straight from the bottle I made a doctors appointment and found that I do indeed have Pneumonia. Friday I felt "sub-human", but with the help of antibiotics I can finally say I am once again feeling "whole".
I'm not 100% by any means. My energy is lower, I have no appetite and well there is the coughing which is improving ... I think. :)
This weekend was amazing in that I FINALLY got back into my studio! I think it missed me too. I was able to make three background from the "How to Paint a Girl" e-course by Juliette Crane. I had to do it in stages, but it got done and that felt good.

For a long time I have liked Yellow and Grey together

and finally I made that happen, I added the 

Cobalt Teal for some spunk ... if you think it looks drab

then you are not seeing the potential I see :)

This looks very similar to other backgrounds and yet

feels very different to me. I cannot explain it, but I 

feel like my art is changing ... how? Well that is an 

excellent question, but I cannot answer it. Maybe its just 

less forced. I'm not trying to create something out of nothing

because the "nothing" feels like something... or let me

say the blank canvas is not scary, its inviting. 

I cannot seem to pull away from the bright colors, yes a

true child of the 80's, that influence still lives on!

This necklace is created from 11 separate pieces

and is not yet finished. I love "pretty mixed with industrial" 

I have always like it. I love steam-punk too ... these 

jewelry pieces by Susan Lenart Kazmer sold at Michael's spoke to me.

The piece below the flower says: The Earth Laughs in Flowers

The White and pink ribbons were already mine :) 

I hope you are all finding ways to stay creative even when you think you cannot. 

Have a great week!

Inspiration Wednesday

I feel like its been a while since I update my blog, but I've been sick ... the I caught the elusive cold, and I wan't even on the hunt!!

I decided to post pictures from a favorite trip the hubby and I took a couple years ago. These have lots of inspiration and goodness ... (ignore the hair, I no longer look that way). Spring pictures in the middle of winter make me smile, and give me hope! :)

The red hot sunset as we drove through Wisconsin

The Mountains of Virginia and my favorite blue sky with white clouds

as viewed through my camera and through the windshield while going 60mph

The pinky/purple sunsets of North Carolina at my aunts house.

The AMAZING Biltmore Estate in Asheville 

yeah that's me taking a picture of it :)

Dainty flowers in the Biltmore gardens

 The lazy trees protecting my husband from the HOT sun

 Pink!!

A hidden treasure found via my macro camera

 I am not a fan of bees, but I wanted the shot!

 I wish I knew the names of all these flowers, 

These look like pink elephants too me ;)

Narrow pathways

 Posing with Elvis in Nashville ... his body is no more, but his

soul lives on uh-huh!

 Poppies?? I love these

Lake Harriet, Mpls MN

Hibiscus? These remind me of Hawaii 

Pretty!!

I love turtle

Finding your bliss

I hope you find that sweet place where you can day dream and see yourself in the best light possible.

Child of Earth: she does not conform FINISHED

"A Child of Earth does not conform, from the ground she wears a cloak of moss, a pair of wings and a set of horns."

I'm not sure how she came to me, maybe in a dream? Or the place where my imagination is alive and well?
She defined herself and didn't want me to limit her or place her among reality where things are just as they are. Her world and mine dance and sing together ... she showed me that.

In the beginning I thought she would be an angel, or a butterfly

None of that suited her well

She bears no titles, or expectations

Created from all kinds of mediums, she certainly doesn't conform

nor does she need to. 

She is her own, and she is my hero. 

If someone would have told me 6 months ago when I begin painting

that I would be able to create things like this, I would have thought them

 a fool.

I'm not sure what form she will take next, but I'm already getting vibes!

Have your painted your hero? Have you painted your inner critic, the one who fills your head with 

doubt? What would he/she/it look like? 

WIP Progress: Child of Earth Series

I am loving this "Child of Earth"series that came to me ... who would have guessed some vintage music sitting on my painting table would sparked such concept. 

Anyhow this is the second one in the series and the full name and poem have not been created yet, but then again the painting is not yet finished. 

This painting had some humble beginnings that is for sure. I just wasn't sure where she wanted to go.

I originally wanted her to wear a cape, but she really wanted to be more covered. I also thought "bird" wings would be fantastic, but after the green cloak butterfly wings were more fitting. 

I liked the wings, but I thought of the "Lunesta" commercial and so I completely changed the background hoping that would help. I liked the new color, but the wings had to be changed. I don't have a picture when there were monarch wings, but I hated those the most.

Finally I tapped into what being a  true mixed-media artist is, and remembered this awesome paper I had. Instantly I was happy ... 

I wanted some of the blue in there and then added  Adirondack Alcohol inks on the blue/white to mute it. I've played around with the inks before and when applied on the paint the ink pretty much stays within the bounds of it so I don't run the risk of it bleeding over the rest of my work. I also use black India ink which seems to be a barrier for the Adirondack inks too. 

After adding some trees and getting the desired look of the wings I felt something was missing. 

  

The addition of some blonde hair made her really come to life ... There is still work to be done, but I am loving this so far. I hope its good to love your own work, because I am loving how this is developing. I feel like I have grown so much artistically in the last few weeks. Yes, weeks ... I'm so much more open to the process and less on the product. Don't get me wrong, I love the finished piece too, but I am much more engaged in the present when I work and I think that shows.

There is still work to do, but she has really come to life this week. 

Just for fun, here is a picture of my two Italian Greyhounds Luigi (the blue)

and Tulip (red/white)

Enjoying the bed I made them this afternoon. They have another doughnut bed that they 

fight over, but they liked this one so much they laid in it together which NEVER happens :)

 Thanks mom for making our new bed, we like it!

I hope you are having a good, creative weekend!

WIP Sneak Peek, Child of Earth Series

Here is the second painting in a series I am doing called Child of Earth.  This is a Work In Progress ... a long ways to go.

I'm thinking she would look fantastic with Monarch butterfly wings and birch tree branches for antenna's!! I think some blond hair peaking out would be fun too ... I think she is going to be in a field of birches ... my favorite tree!

Photos are so hard because they never do the painting justice ... ahh well. :)

Let me know what you think!

My Artistic Journey

Wow it's been a while since I have updated ... I wouldn't say I was lazy, but my priorities have taken me in different directions.

As you may or may not know my word for the year is Style.  Its not related to my fashion sense, but rather my artistic style. I currently feel like I don't have one ... but I know I really do, its hiding in the recesses of my being and it needs to be revealed!

One of the ways I'm attempting to uncover this is by reading "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron

I am apart of a Facebook group working through the book and while we are not meeting in person its great to have the virtual support, be able to share our thoughts and have accountability. I'm not sure if I could work my way though it all on my own :)   

Another adventure I am taking on is designing my mom and her fiance's wedding invitations. I'm a bit anxious about this because this is a bit out of my element. I do have some ideas so when one is finalized it will be sent off to the printer.  Oh and they are getting married the end of April!! YIKES!!!  What a journey I'm on!

What helped you find your artistic style?

What kinds of adventures are you taking?

STYLE, my word for 2012

With the start of a new year comes new ambitions, aspirations and dreams ... thus after reading about people choosing a word for the year I too chose a word :

After really committing myself to painting and finding that I do have some talent for it (not to mention loving it), I want to find MY style.

So this word has been a big topic for me but, "What is Style?"

In all honesty I'm not sure exactly how to define it in terms of art

It seems that it can be cute and quaint

Style Can be LOUD

Or subtle enough to keep your lips sealed 

It might even make you ponder

We could probably talk about it all day

But I'm chomping at the bit

Before it slips between my fingers

I need to get a grip, find my true artistic self

So before the year is over I can say:

I GOT STYLE!

I am really working on stretching myself and identifying what is in my heart and soul that needs to get out. I'm   starting to read "The Artist's Way" and am also taking a couple of classes this year ... I feel very strongly that this is the year I define/grow artistically and never again put this part of my life on the back burner.  Woot-Woot for 2012 and for Style!

What are YOUR plans for the coming year? Do you have a word?