Art Every Day Month Wrap-Up

This final day of Art Every Day Month 2012 is bittersweet! I'm ready for a little rest but I so don't want to lose the momentum that's built up over the last month.  Today I'm sharing a self-portrait that will be my new profile picture.  I used the sun and the glowy yellow outline to symbolize being in the light, or being known and understood.  I think this is something I think many of us (especially artists) long for.  As I continue to share more of my art I hope that feeling of being understood and accepted will continue to grow in my life.

Also, if you've visited me here before you might notice that some other elements have had a makeover.  The background image and the tabs in the sidebar are cut from the papers I painted a few days ago.  I may or may not leave them up (It's a bit busy, I know.) but I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the colorful, happy things that have been happening in my studio this month.

I cannot say enough about how participating in Art Every Day Month has energized my creativity.  It's funny...I remember checking it out before and thinking there is absolutely no way I could post every single day for a month.  Well, I came pretty close and I made some new friends along the way!

Finally, finally I am posting more of my own artwork and that feels great.  I was so shy about it for so long (feelings of inferiority and all that nonsense held me back).  Sharing my pieces here has really helped me get over the "fear" of rejection that so often paralyzed me.  Everyone here has been so supportive and encouraging.  Now that I the proverbial hump is behind me, I'm really excited about the coming year of growth and learning.

I will continue to link up once a week at CreativeEveryDay,com..  If you haven't yet checked this site out I would highly recommend it.  There are some amazing people involved and you will find lots of inspiration and support there.

To all of you who stopped by here regulary during this past month, thank you, thank you.  Your visits have been awesome and your comments mean more than I can say.  Please don't be a stranger!

Linking up today with:

Art Every Day Month

The Art of Living

From my art journal this morning...

I found this quote yesterday and it really has me thinking.

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. 

He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. 

To himself, he always appears to be doing both.

François-René de Chateaubriand

It intrigues me...this notion of knitting the pieces of my life so thoroughly together that they become a seamless composition of "labor and leisure".  Is it really possible?   Sometimes it seems too good to be true.

I am so grateful that I'm allowed to pursue what I love.  I have to thank the huz for that...he is such a good guy and he puts up with all my messes and distractions with nary a complaint!  Love you, honey!  Mmmmwah!

Linking up today with:

Art Every Day Month

Play Day

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Being a stay at home mom when my kids were young was a pretty sweet gig.  What other job description includes singing silly songs, dancing, and finger painting?  Actually, I still do those things quite a bit, so I guess my life today is a pretty sweet gig, too.

There just has to be a healthy dose of freedom to play, explore, and try new things in a creative life.  Sometimes we really need to play.  

Today I was energized by the feel of paint on my hands, watching colors blend and seeing blank pages come to life.  I didn't try to "produce" anything or follow a plan.  Here are some of the compositions that came out of it all.  No words on my pages today, just color and form...backgrounds maybe, or elements for collage.

Red, green and purple acrylic layered over white gesso.  

Flower and cardboard cylinder stamps.

Layered phone book pages with thin coats of gesso and turquoise. 

 Orange and purple acrylic stamped flowers, pink circles stamped with bottle cap.

Page coated first with heavy coat of acrylic gel medium 

mixed with gesso, then yellow and orange acrylic.  

Flowers stamped in red and magenta acrylic.

Page coated with purple acrylic mixed with gesso.  Purple acrylic 

dragged across lower right corner with cardboard.  Circles stamped using bubble wrap.

Page coated with thick layer of gel medium and green acrylic.  

Stamped with paisley, flower, and scroll stamps.  

Some areas over-painted with yellow acrylic.

It's hard to believe we've almost made it through November.  What an amazing month of beauty and inspiration this has been.  There's still time for you to take a peek at the wonderful art being shared at Art Every Day Month.  Hats off to Leah Piken Kolidas of CreativeEveryday.com for hosting this event every year.  This was my first year to participate and I'm already looking forward to signing up again next year!  (You might want to put it on your calendar, too!)

I hope you get to play today!  Thanks for stopping by.

Hear my Prayer

Someone I love very dearly is in the hospital.  I can't be with her today so I pray, sketchbook in hand.  Two things she loves are little birds and daisies.

I use bright colors because that's what she loves.  Bright colors make her happy.

Drawing her favorite things helps me feel close to her.  Symbols of nature bring peace and comfort.

So grateful to have this studio as my sanctuary.

 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

Lord, hear my prayer.

Day 29 of Art Every Day Month

More Mandalas and a Little Snow

Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, 

but always be certain that a wider one is still possible.

Pearl Bailey

I have to admit that even though I missed my paints and papers while away from my studio for a few days it was great fun creating the digital flower mandalas I posted yesterday.  I stayed up a little late last night and did a few more.

Each of the elements in these mandalas was digitally cut from the background of this recent art journal entry.  (Read more about this journal page here.)

Since this group of mandalas is more angular, I thought they looked a little like snowflakes, so I created a snow scene just for you!  I hope you like it!

These may be the only snowflakes we see here this year.  Some years we have snow and ice, other years we have zilch.  I'm rooting for at least a little, though.  I wish my friends in snowier regions could package some up and send it to me!

Whatever the weather is where you are, I hope you have a beautiful day!

Linking up today with:

Art Every Day Month

A Funny Little Diversion, Really

Hi, all!  I hope at least some of you are canine lovers as this is the second time this week I'm leading off with a photo of a dog.  This is Edmund.

He's the star of the mandala I put together last night.

Just a funny little diversion, really.

Thanksgiving 2012 was a success and we're headed home today.  I have to admit I miss my paints, scissors and paper bits.  If I were at home I think I'd print this image and doodle embellishments all over it.

I also put these flowers together last night using portions of some recent photos I posted here.  If you're really in need of amusement you can scroll through the last several posts and find the photos I used...sort of a scavenger hunt :-)

I look forward to getting back in the swing of things this week.  It won't be completely normal, though, since Christmas is just around the bend.  I need a few quiet days in the studio before switching gears!

I hope you have a happy, creative weekend!  Happy AEDM!

Linking up today with:

Art Every Day Month

Creativity on the Road

Still visiting with family today.  I have to admit I miss my studio!  It's hard to break with habit, even when it's for the happy reason of spending time with people I love.  I did bring along my journal and a few supplies to keep those creative juices flowing.

The four hour drive to my parents' house gave me plenty of time to doodle a mandala.  It is relaxing to add layer after layer and see what comes of it.  I'd like to do more of these...maybe add a little color here and there.

My mom and I also had a little fun with the watercolor pencils she received for her birthday.

So fun to see her trying something new!   I think she has some untapped abilities.  Check out this cool heart she painted:

Yay, Mom!

I do have a few little blisses to add to my ongoing list today...

Dreamy conversations about the future.

(So looking forward to that year I'm going to live barefoot on a tropical island.) 

Yesterday's road trip.

The old song playing at the rest stop, inspiring a spontaneous dance with the huz.

(I'm actually not going to share with you exactly which song it was since that would reveal what a total goof I am.)

The moment we realized we were not alone (at said rest stop) and shared a good laugh with the lady we saw giggling at us.

My new easy peasy way to prepare asparagus for a crowd.

I'll even share the recipe!

 

Blissfully Easy Asparagus

Place two pounds of asparagus in a low flat dish.

Toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and a little freshly ground pepper.  

Bake in preheated 400 deg. F (205 deg. C) oven for 20 minutes.  

Drizzle with a little basalmic vinegar and serve.

Done!

This is super easy to prepare ahead and pop in the oven just before time to serve.  The original recipe at AllRecipes.com says this serves six but I think that's a lot of asparagus per person.  I'd say it serves at least eight.  Enjoy!

Linking up today with:

Gratitude Friday, Joy Jam, and Art Every Day Month 

I See the Moon

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you”, that would suffice.

Meister Eckhart

It's thanksgiving here in America...a day of coming together, of remembering and celebrating.  We'll have a little extra celebration today as my mom turned seventy-eight years young last week.  Our Thanksgiving pie will have birthday candles on it!

I put together a journal page in her honor and just had to include this vintage picture of the man in the moon.

My mom is all about the moon.

As long as I can remember the moon has held special significance in my family.  To me it is a symbol of the child-like wonder with which my mother approached life as a young mom. I can still hear my dad coming in at night saying, "Ellen, you better come out and see the moon.  It is really something."

I remember my mom's sing-song voice piercing the darkness in the family car.  Gazing through the window at the moon I would hear her say:

I see the moon, the moon sees me.  

God loves the moon and God loves Janice!  

Those sweet words sank deep into my spirit, shaping my beliefs about myself and giving me a sense of belonging in this world. 

A full moon brought my mom such joy that we often planned family vacations to coincide with it's appearance.   On one memorable camping trip we set up our tent very close to Canyon Dam lake so that she could see the full moon reflected on the water.  We didn't actually see much of the moon that night.  A  huge storm blew in and dropped so much rain that the lake rose and water actually came into our tent.  We had to abandon the campsite in the wee hours of the morning and head for a hotel in a nearby town where we stayed for the rest of the week.  Honestly, we had the best vacation ever all because my mom wanted to see the moon on the water.

I am so very grateful that Mother and Daddy passed their sense of wonder about nature on to me.  The endless waxing and waning of the moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the unchanging pattern of the seasons...all teaching me valuable lessons and keeping the constant rhythm to which I move through life.

Thank you, Mother...for everything.  I love you dearly.

Linking up today with

Art Every Day Month and Art Journal Every Day

S is for Speechless

Yep, that's what I was...speechless, when I met this albino Great Dane today.  Apollo is his name and he's 170 pounds of gentle gorgeousness.  Amazingly, he is young and still has some growing to do.

You might also find this big guy to be sensational, striking, and well, maybe a little slobbery!  All this makes him a superb subject for ABC Wednesday since this week's letter is (you guessed it) "S"!  

There is something magical about this enormous creature.  Hanging out with him for a little while was such a treat.  Apollo's owners must be used to getting lots of attention when he's with them.  They patiently answered my questions and let me take lots of photos.

Of course, once I got home I just had to make a journal page in honor of the day I met Apollo.  Just a simple one today.

Isn't he simply stunning in his crown?  I must say, I am quite smitten!

Linking up today with 

ABC Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Art Every Day Month

Welcome to the Party!

Everything is a canvas lately.  Yesterday I was putting together some things for a trunk sale and just had to add a little color (okay, I know it's a lot of color) to the earring cards.  I did these quickly and was really just playing, but maybe there's some potential here...

I haven't posted every day of Art Every Day Month, but I have to say I'm pretty stinkin' proud of myself for keeping up as well as I have and I am really feeling the benefits of making the commitment.  Just showing up in my studio each day, committed to doing something has really heightened my joy and creativity.  I'm starting to feel my playfulness return after some very serious months and that, my friends, is worth gold. Let's hear a big round of applause for Leah Piken Kolidas for hosting this event every November.  It's my first year to participate and already I am looking forward to next November!

I also want to thank you for keeping me so encouraged lately.  Thank you for coming here and having a look, and especially for commenting and letting me know I'm not just talking to myself.  My blog, for the first time ever, feels like home and friends actually come to visit me here!  I wish I could put on some music and serve snacks...really make it a party!

Bless my sisters and few friends who were faithful readers when no one else knew I was here.  You have a place of honor at my party, dear ones.  You encouraged me to find my voice and to start making connections beyond the familiar.  You know who you are :-)

Truth is, I don't really feel ready to put myself out there most days.  I'm really a person that likes to...well, blend.  Being vulnerable makes me feel like I did as a teenager...self-conscious and clumsy!  I don't feel ready, but finally I am willing. 

There's a reason I show you my work in progress...my funny little sketches and experiments. I show you  my process in part to put you at ease.  I don't want you to be afraid to try things and share your experiences.  I want you to really know that you don't have to be Leonardo da Vinci for creativity to flourish or, to borrow a word from my friend Chandra of Juniper Goods, to thrive in you.  

You don't have to impress to inspire.

 The need for approval will thwart true creativity every time.  

This is something that I know.

So relax and be brave!  Try something new today.  No one expects you to be perfect (at least I don't).  Just be willing...to make a mess, to miss the mark, to be less-than impressive.  Begin something...anything!  Welcome to the party!

Nesting

The hardest part of just about any task is beginning it.  I know you know what I'm talking about...the closet that needs to be cleaned out, the note you need to write.  It's no different for me with my art.  Sometimes I have to just sit at my desk...or on the floor...or in the grass outside...and make myself begin something, anything.  Most days the momentum gets going and I suddenly realize I'm in the zone.  

That's how it works for me most of the time.  I don't do a lot of preliminary drawings for my jewelry pieces.  My collage works tend to be rather random and spontaneous.  I like being surprised.  I like to let a piece tell me what it wants to be.  

I am happiest when my art and my life are one and the same.  Lately I crave simplicity and order.  This desire is showing up in my collage pieces.  I increasingly find myself reaching for a pen or a paintbrush, instead of hunting through cluttered boxes of ephemera to alter and layer.  

Instead of stencils and stamps I look for everyday items to use as tools.  An empty toilet paper roll dipped in paint makes a great blobby circle.

For me, Fall is a season of decluttering...of simplifying and appreciating organic and simple things.  It is a time of preparation and making space.  Fall is my season for nesting.

Linking up with 

Art Every Day Month, Paint Party Friday, and Find a Friend Friday

Ripples

To be honest, I was a little under the weather on Friday, so things were pretty quiet in my studio.  I did play a little bit with some photos, though.  I think the ripply frame below is pretty fun...it kind of reminds me of the rippling affect we have on each other when we put those positive vibes out into the world...they multiply and travel farther than we realize. 

It's a day late, but here's my Friday list of the little blisses that helped make life sweet this week:

A couch that is big enough for snuggling.  

The Steve Tyrell Station on Pandora.

Hot showers on cold mornings.

$$$ found in my coat pocket when I pulled it out of storage.

Grapefruit.

Keeping my bliss list-in-progress posted in the kitchen.  

(Love that it catches my attention now and again.)  

What's on your bliss list?  Why not share and start a few ripples of your own?

Linking today with Liv Lane's Little Bliss List.

Check out Liv's beautiful blog and click on the links to enjoy other bloggers' bliss lists.  

Also linking to Art Every Day Month...so much inspiration there!

Gratitude Multiplied

She who reconciles the ill-matched threads of her life 

and weaves them gratefully into a single cloth - It is she who drives the loudmouths

 from the hall and clears it for a different celebration.

Rainer Maria Rilke

Just so you know, this is one of my favorite quotes of all time.  

Leafing through my amazing twenty-five cent vintage poetry book yesterday I found this image of a lovely lady, waiting patiently to be added to my art journal.  She looks like a girl who has reconciled the ill-matched threads of her life, don't you think?  I don't know that she looks grateful, but she definitely looks peaceful, even though it appears that a cockatoo is about to land on her face.

And here she is in her new surroundings...woven cloth and all.

The background is made of strips of recycled sari silk.  Did you know if you coat both sides of a piece of fabric with watered down gel medium you can cut and use it like paper in a collage? It's not an exact science, but I'd say about a 50/50 ratio of water to gel medium should do the trick.  Lay wet fabric on parchment or wax paper so it will pull up easily when dry.

I prefer using silk because it is very lightweight and smooth, allowing it to accept paint easily.  It really feels and cuts a lot like paper.

The rest of the page came together very quickly.  I like the way that blue haze surrounding our girl makes her look kind-of glowy... like gratitude is just oozing from her pores.  No wonder the loudmouths are clearing out.  They never had a chance against all those peaceful, grateful vibes.

I wrote in this post a few days ago that gratitude is a game changer.  A grateful life is alive with hope and possibilities.  Gratitude washes away strife, leaving peace in its place.

Today I'm thinking about how our gratitude affects others.  If you express your joy over something or tell me about a blessing in your life we both benefit.  Your gratitude brings you greater peace and contentment while it helps me recognize my own joys and blessings.  

Gratitude Expressed = Gratitude Multiplied

I have an entire circle of friends sharing their thoughts about gratitude and being thankful today and we're linked up in a blog circle.  If you follow the link provided in each post you will visit a dozen or so blogs from around the world and end up right where you started...here!  That's a lot of gratitude multiplied!

Today I'm linking to Laly Mille, an amazing mixed media artist from France.  She shares her beautiful artwork and sweet insights on her blog, Lalyblue.  Please take a moment to check out what Laly has to say about gratitude and see her stunning paintings and assemblage art!  Enjoy! 

Also linking up all of November with :

Art Every Day Month