Spooky

Water color
On 4x6 index card

First one from a picture and I will draw from memory tomorrow.

Love to all!

Carving

Love and Life

This week is perfect for roses.

They are used to celebrate love and life.

I will never understand why a life is gone so quickly from this earth, but I stand with the faith it is not for me to understand.

Love is for now and always.
Life on earth is short.
Love Life.

Painting:
Prang Watercolor on 4x6 index card

Another Rose

Another soul has left this earth too soon today. Rest in peace, Aaron Hilden.

A Single Rose

Twenty-one years ago today, a little girl was born. She was gracefully placed into the arms of a loving family and I went home carrying a single rose. This day in history is filled with bittersweet memories and true love of the greatest kind.

At the time, it felt right to keep things personal in order to let me heal.  Over time, however, as I shared this wonderful blessing with family and friends, I have made and kept some of the most amazing friends who, more often than not, have been touched in some way by adoption. 

I'll be happy to share more details with you if you feel you want to know, so feel free to message me about it. But the focus of today's post is the blessing I received in plain clothes while walking the dogs.

I set out prepared to get a picture of a single rose for my art entry today. I leashed the dogs, packed a plastic baggie, rolled up a square foot of black cardstock, slipped my phone in my sweatshirt pocket, and headed out for a walk. The mornings have been misty and cool, and today was just that.


I love roses and have my favorites around the neighborhood.


The first rose was hot pink and had some sweet dew drops clinging to its petals. It was just aside the walk and I felt a little funny at the thought of pulling out the black paper, so I just got the picture and walked away with the dogs. They were happy for some new sniffing areas.

In my mind, I hoped the family at the next place would still be sleeping. I have admired their roses since I moved here a year ago, but they have changed the paint color and their landscape since they moved in a few months ago. There used to be so many different colors and varieties of roses that smelled just as good as they looked. Now, there are only white ones and a few reds left.

Whoa. No, the family was not sleeping - they were tearing out the last of the red rose bushes!
Oh, my heart sank.
I tried not to gawk, but I just couldn't look away. The woman had greeted me, "Good morning," and I said the same. I kept trying to look away, but I was magnetized.  Her husband was asking her questions like, "Are you going to take out all of the roses from the front?"and "Are you putting that yard waste in the garbage can?" and she answered "yes" with emphasis.

Oh, I just couldn't believe it. They were going to be trashed.

We walked a few paces past the house and I just had a feeling. We made an about-face and went back to speak with the woman. Her two kids were there and the boy was helping her fill in bricks where the roses once stood.

"Are you taking out the roses?" I asked. I bet my weird quizzical kind of face was showing.
"Yes, we have so many of them and I wanted to have chairs out here so we can watch the kids play in front. Why, are you interested?"
"Yes," and I put my right hand on my chest, "I've been admiring the roses here since I moved here a year ago."
"Well you can have them if you want them," and she smiled. "I'll be happy to know they have gone to someone who appreciates them."
"Ok, I'll be back in a little while."
"Sounds good!"

The dogs and I walked to the park and I got a couple of shots with the black paper. Then we headed home.

First attempt with black paper.

After cropping the picture, later at home.

After the dogs were home and treated to cookies, I got in my car and drove up the street. I had no idea what size container to bring, but I knew the root ball of the mature rose bush was huge.  The homeowner's name is Kay and she was still digging when I got there. We started chatting right away.

We talked about moving here, the neighborhood, the "patriarch" across the street, and her roses. I told her that even though I had just met her today, I wanted to share the fact that twenty-one years ago, I had a daughter and placed her for adoption. I shared the story of the single rose and how totally blessed I felt as I was about to be given twenty-one roses on her birthday. Kay was moved to share how she and her husband have worked on adoption ministries through their church and hope to adopt one day. She said adoption, and everything related to it, is their heart.

My blessing kept getting bigger.

We talked about my 365 art project, how I waited so long to find work, how I have part-time work now and am looking for more. She talked through some ideas and mentioned something else about her church- Her husband is a musician. I couldn't believe the coincidence. So I shared that I play the saxophone and about teaching music lessons all over Minnesota. And they have been looking for someone to teach their kids piano lessons. Gah.

I asked about their church and she told me it is a Vineyard Church.

I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. God puts people in our lives for a reason and sometimes He just has to smack me upside the head. So I told her about how my girl, Laura, leads worship in HER Vineyard church in Chicago and how she served in Mazatlan for a year. The Vineyard Churches are all connected. What an awesome day.

It still gives me chills.

This is not made up. I couldn't have made it up that well. It seriously has me stunned and I am so thankful for having asked about the roses. I have not only twenty-one roses, but new friends, and the promise that God is here with me, always, no matter how bittersweet I had thought the day might be.

The roses have found a home here with me. I have written about blooming where I am planted and I hope I will have treated the roses well enough so they do. With the right care and food, their basic needs will be met, and well, prayers never hurt nobody.

Happy Birthday, dear Laura, Happy Birthday, to you!

Our house with the rose bushes.  The one under the window has no blooms, but it is also a rose bush. I didn't clean up before the shot because I used this as an "imperfect" shot for #themomentschallenge at Daisy Yellow. 

Another "black room" shot in the outdoors.

After cropping. So awesome.

The waves

Canson XL Watercolor paper, Faber Castell Gelatos, watercolor crayons, acrylic paint, and Pitt pen.

Don't give up.

Color bits

Faber Castell Gelatos and water brush on XL Canson watercolor paper.

Pumpkin Smiles

This painting was made with Faber Castell Gelatos, acrylic paint, and ebony pencil.

Thanks, Community SoCal!

Shine over shadow

Thanks, Anna Nalick, for a beautiful song.

Prang Watercolor, Canson XL watercolor paper, and Faber Castell Gelatos.

Happy Blue

This painting comes from my heart. It feels light and fulfilling, just as my day also felt.

I used a fine tipped water-brush withPrang watercolors on Canson XL paper.

Enjoy!

Bees Knees

Prepping for a lesson.

Sleep

This painting was done with Prang watercolor and Teal Shimmerz paint.

I had a headache for most of the day, so I rested today.

Have a great week!

Fish

ATC - Bristol paper
Goldfish
Micron Brown pen

Just practicing line to work on motion :)
Going out to dinner to eat one of the goldfish's relatives...Lobster!

Rays

For this painting, I used a gessoed 4"x6" index card, acrylic paints, and Pitt pens.

It took awhile to get it done and I like the color combo of light sky blue and wispy white. Ttfn :)

Waves

This is interesting to me-

Not long after I created this piece, I was skimming pinterest, just for fun, and I saw a picture that looked a lot like what I did tonight. Upon closer examination, I found it was a mosaic in the picture.

Hmmmm....

Perhaps some ideas are brewing? I've always admired mosaics and maybe the time has come...

Power Outage

Lots of things are being fixed around our town and our neighborhood pays the price by living without power a few hours here and there. You know, they say "you don't know what you got till it's gone," and a power outage is the perfect example.

This time, I actually prepared by getting up in time to make coffee, swirl up a smoothie, and watch an episode of 90210...well, I could have done without the last one, but there it is.

I forgot about the last one and out was the end of a string of very hot days. All of our fans were going and the TV was blaring above them, so just imagine the silence when "poof"- no power.

The silence hurt.

I picked up my phone and searched power outages in the area, knowing I'd just forgotten to plan, but I wanted the timeframe. Unlike the unpredictable stormy nights in the Midwest, I CAN actually plan for these things now. But that day was an exception.

My mind then turned to the obvious- go somewhere else!. Ah, yes. That would take an electric charge on the car whose battery drains on the regular. I know- ask somebody for a jump! Boy- the neighbors planned for it. They HAD gone elsewhere because of the outage.

Well- I wanted today to be good. The second I found out about it, THIS TIME, I got ready. I made sure my phone was charged and that I would not have to open the fridge often. I drank coffee, walked the pooches, and read a book. Oh- and I applied for another job using my phone.

It was a very good day to make art and enjoy the silence, for a change.

Painting:
Prang Watercolor
Pilot Razor fine purple pen
Self-made stencil

Daisy Yellow
Daily Paper Prompt #50
Negative Space

Take Care

Take care of your heart and breathe.

Junk mail postcard
Acrylic paint
"Ransom" magazine letters
Shimmerz Paints SpritZ
Shimmerz Paints VibeZ
Shimmerz Paints TextureZ8

Daisy Yellow Prompt #48

Stamping Circles

There is nothing good about procrastinating. I know someone who just posted her thoughts on being a procrastinator and I can relate...but I'll relate tomorrow....

Seriously, she's a relative and we are too much alike for our own good.

While there are areas of my life where I have stopped procrastinating, there are others that have grown rampant and it's time to stop that. This time, my procrastination had cost my sweetie his other love: Ms. Chally.

Next to me, his car is his true love. She is paid in full by his company, but they have called her home. He has to choose another- and others like her are not available this time.

So-
How do I figure in?

My sweetie has taken care of me for this past year while I got my bearings after moving. It's hard not to get caught steeping in regret for not having found a job yet. But he didn't nag- in fact, it's a very loving and low pressure situation.

I'm the one who took my sweet time.

You see, he has the option to buy Ms. Chally, but the income just isn't there. My sweetie's generosity has come to haunt him.

It is the last thing I would have wanted for him. Ugh. I am disgusted with me.
I am a PRO at procrastination, but this is ridiculous.

The only thing to do is take action.

Two jobs have my application as of singe time after ten tonight. It may be a little too late, but I will not stop until I get something.

I love my sweetie and want to do right. I cannot buy back the past, but I can work forward.

I saw a flock of white doves today and can only think of the promise of peace and love that they signify. I'm hoping for an interview and will accept any good vibes, prayers, thoughts and hopes for a positive outcome.

I can only move forward.

Painting:
gessoed cardboard and acrylic paint. I used plastic and metal bottle caps, bases of paintbrushes and pens, plus, a cool seed pod from some kind of birch tree.

Staple

This is a 'Stapled Collage' I put together from scraps on my desk tonight. I went by the prompt from Daisy Yellow's Daily Paper Prompts. I actually made the center piece in response to these kinds of challenges. It says, "Give yourself freedom to try out new things. Don't be so set in your ways that you can't grow," but I don't have a source. Funny- I wasn't looking forward to the 'staple' prompt- go figure- I had fun!

The Sun

This painting was done with Faber Castell Gelatos and black Prang watercolor on Canson XL Mixed Media paper.

I'm using it for the Daisy Yellow Daily Paper Prompt #45, The Sun.

Have a great weekend!

Art Lessons

In our neighborhood, my dogs have friends. More importantly, their girlfriend, Roxy, has people, too. As much as my dogs like to see their girlfriend, I like to see the smiles on the faces of the kids every day.

These kids are some of the most polite ones I've ever met and they make a difference in my day everytime I see them.

Recently, I was invited to attend the younger girl, Ashley's, birthday party. I had to think of a gift to give her- the one that doesn't cost much because I'm not working. But I do have a lot of time, so that is what I gave to her.

I made a journal and, on the inside, it said she can have art lessons with me. I even made a little punch card for her to bring along for the three lessons. It was a simple gift, but I knew she and her family would appreciate the type of gift I gave her.

Ashley and Judy came over today and we did some watercolor painting. We focused on warm and cool colors and helped Ashley make a little chart for her book.

She and her sister are made of smiles. I didn't have a book ready for Judy, I know that I would make one for Judy for next time. To that, Ashley said, "yes- it makes your heart feel special!"

And that, my friends, is the gift that I got today.

She kept my painting and I have hers, so what you see is the picture of us working at the table. Friday will be a new project, and I can't wait to see them tomorrow with their smiles and squeals of delight in seeing the pooches.

How thankful I am!

Before Midnight

Fun circles filled up my day.

There are some things that need to be mailed, so I cannot share them yet, but I feel like I got a lot of art done today.

The biggest piece is the one I am keeping for today. It started out with some of the Shimmerz Spritz I won last week. I don't have a lot of stencils, so I used the frayed ends from a big sheet of sketch paper. These spritzes sure are fine! They helped my page get started with some cool detail (even though the details got painted over...).

Next, I made circles with Prang Watercolor and followed them up with some white acrylic paint. Once the acrylic dried thoroughly, it was easy to draw on them using Pitt pens.

Hope you enjoy!

Getting Sloppy

It's after midnight and I had a whole day to post for Wednesday. Also, Tuesday's post went up Wednesday morning. I will have to be sure to post early during Thursday to get back on track.

We had a rainy day here and most of it was spent listening to "Acoustic Cafe" on Slacker Radio with rain drops in between songs. It has been refreshing to feel the moisture, hear thunder, and see lightning. One weather report even mentioned a funnel cloud with no touchdown, thankfully.

For painting, it has been nice to use index cards again. The 4x6 size is just right to get done interesting things going on without the overwhelming white page threat. Lately, I've just wanted to get paint on paper, no matter what. The doodles have been fun over top of the paint, too. Nothing too serious and everything about play.

This one started with gesso, then some blue and hot pink paint. Eventually, blue won and I used the back of a paintbrush to scrape through the color. Finally, the white circles were painted. The white paint has a gloss to it, while the other is matte finish. I like the contrast of finishes.

I doodled while we watched Wednesday TV- I listened mostly, and played Viggle games to get points for free stuff, and talked with my sweetie. Fun night :)

Have a great day!

More circles

10.9.13

In Circles

Lately, the circle has become a go-to shape. It has helped me work on specific brush strokes and is just as therapeutic a the hearts have been in the past. I'm not done with hearts, but I feel like the circle of the year is coming to a close, so maybe this is why the shift in shapes.

Hope you enjoy them, too!

Doing the Work

I'm just tired out.
Pooped.
It was just a volunteer position, but it was hot outside.
I worked like it was my job.
I worked hard.
I did the things asked of me and invented ways to make things run smoothly.
No biggie, that's just how I work.

I got home and crashed.
Walked the dogs and ate some dinner.
Even cruised done FB and others.

I just wanted to go to sleep.

But the art called.
It has me accountable- I've promised art every day and have delivered.
I cannot say it's all perfect, but it is mine and also my promise.
To whom?
To me. I'm keeping my word.

The art speaks.

Painting:
Index card, 4"x6"
Gesso
Acrylic paint
Sharpie Black Marker
Pitt Pen, Black (F)

Make a List

This is a Daisy Yellow Prompt.

It was just supposed to be to create a list, but I make so many lists, I made a list of the things I'd actually LIKE to make a list about.

So, I used a fake passport I got in Napa, California in 2007, and I painted all over it. The pages look like real passport pages, so they have fine lines and intricate printings like our US dollars have.

I used acrylic paints on it sometime last spring and I re-found the "passport" a couple of days ago. It was fun to alter it further. I found some really kitschy print in Real Simple Magazine. I just like the quality of the paper in that magazine! It's not too glossy and it's great to work with in mixed media.

I used a purple Pilot pen for the made-up font, a little Faber Castell Gelato and acrylic for additional color.

Fun times!

Less than

There are less than one hundred days left in this year, which also means I have made greater than two hundred sixty-five posts to this blog so far.

It is all there. Proof in the postings.

So why do I feel like it's just begun every day?

I wouldn't have dreamed a project like this could happen, although I have a great deal of patience, but it still feels like I started it yesterday.

Strange.
Maybe it's just today.
This is just how I feel today.
Less Than.

Some Days

Some days make you feel like catching up with a friend over cups and cups of coffee -

just dumping out spent grounds that have been kept inside waiting to be shared with the waiting and listening soul-cup.

The questions keep coming and the cups are filled with answers from the act of brewing-
and stewing and
dew-ing.

Some days are just like that.
Served up with spoony smiles-
and happy tears of heavy cream.
Some days like that will come.

Painting:
Canson XL watercolor paper
Prang watercolor
Pitt pen, (B)

Paint. Nuff said.

Whew!
Just made it!

Spritzing

Yesterday, I received a package filled with acrylic Shimmerz paints. I won a contest on instagram and have been playing with the new toys ever since!

I am just getting used to them right now, so I am not sure how I am going to incorporate these new paints into my work, but I just love the fine glittery finish they give. Maybe that is enough for now, I mean, just being happy with the process.

The final products I created today aren't the absolute best I have done, but one he's to begin to get anywhere, right? I did have fun making giant doodles and that is what matters.

I tried to get a good shot of the shimmery surfaces I created, but the light didn't help with that much. There will be more experimenting in that department, as well- Never learn unless the practice is done....

I'm a great lecture person for me....

Have a great day!