Don't Let The Vines of Life Weigh You Down

I was up really early this morning and was able to finish this piece by lunch.  I am thinking I like getting up at 5:30 am! I created this cutie on 8x10 acrylic paper.  First time for me and I think I like working with it - even better than canvas.  I had a lot of fun with her and enjoyed trying something new.  I was actually very patient with her today.  My trusty ole acrylic paint and layering, one thing I have been getting better at.   My brushes on the other hand are getting pretty bad.  I don't buy expensive ones because I tend to leave them out.  I have yet to learn the task of cleaning out my cup water every time I change a color.  I have to use every brush I can during one painting.  Then when I am done I dump the water and wash the brushes.  Totally lame - I know!

My studio is getting a little messy with all this artwork lately.  So, I guess it is time to tidy up....then work on something new! I have no idea what that will be, but I definitely have the creative bug lately, so enjoy!

Prints are available in my Etsy shop here    Proceeds from my Etsy shop fund kitty rescue. 

The Struggles of an Outsider.

Last night, after coming home from pottery class I really wanted to make art.  I was just going to

draw a practice sketch but then I keep going... Adding colored pencil, then paint and more colored pencil.  There were so many times during this piece that I just wanted to throw her out.  I kept screwing her up and going over it again and again.  I put her up for the night in hopes that in the morning I would figure her out and know what to do.  So, this morning I got out my paint and just started going over anything I didn't like.  At some points I felt I was making her worse, but just really pushed thru and decided she is finished.  She's far from perfect... But, thank goodness folk art is not fine art.  I didn't feel like crying and I only told myself I suck once. So, I can just be happy with getting whatever I need emotionally "out" during the process of creating.   I get compliments on my art from ladies who really like my "style" so I should be happy that, "well, at least I have a style" right?  I struggle and flail as an artist almost every day.  Mostly because I just like to wing it and have no patience.   I am learning how to deal with my critical nature each and every day.   

Prints in my Etsy Shop 

Art Therapy For The Outsider.

One of the first projects we are tackling in Life Journal 2018 is a mixed media Willowing style garden fairy.  For my first attempt and using materials I had never worked with before I decided to just use a small 6x8 piece of watercolor paper.  Watercolor paper I had thought I started painting on the wrong side that is.  Not sure what happened but the minute I tried to blend her face, my paper started to deteriorate.  Um yeah, that's not good.   So, in order to save her, I changed to water color marker.  HAHA Well, if you don't want that to run, you might not want to use water!!! LOL

The follies that were happening today were testing my patience, but I broke thru it. I pulled out the acrylic paint to finish the background and used colored pencil over the water color to make it more vibrant and less grainy from the paper fiasco.  I stepped away from doing too much detail as I was pretty much "over it" a few times.  But I am glad I pushed thru and finished her.  She became very satisfying once I got over all my mistakes and accepted her.  

There turns out to be a lot of meaning in this practice of acceptance for me and I look forward to getting better as the year goes by.

Birds & Flowers Art Journal

I've been having so much fun in my craft room lately.  The time seems to fly by and I am getting better at pushing myself past an hour at a time at the table.  It's kept me away from the computer - which is always a good thing.  I have pushed thru two obstacles in my art and have been able to slowly accept that skill comes over time. I am learning so much in the process.  These birds were inspired by one of my favorite artists. Geninne.  I love her style.  She is so inspiring.

Country Girl Art Journal

I have fond memories growing up in a very small town where you could walk to a farm and feed the cows grass, which was one of my favorite things to do.  It is hard to believe how we had no care in the world back then.  I often walked alone for miles along a gravel road or thru the woods to find peace and quiet and experience nature.  When I was a teenager, I thought I would live in a big city and give all that up.  At that time, I was okay with it.  I found it exciting.  Now, after years of living in a big city, I realize I really miss the small towns, the rolling hills of nothing buts farmland.

If I could afford to buy a mini farm I would do it in a heartbeat.  But, living in Colorado where property prices are pretty high in comparison to other states, it's not a dream that seems achievable.  Besides my husband and I are getting older and the thought of the huge responsibility of taking care of animals and a lot of land is overwhelming.  But,  a girl can dream right?  So, this journal is dedicated to all the lovely things I miss from country life and a way for me to practice sketching things that remind me of "home"