I’m having a giveaway on my FB page. You have to like my page (not the post) and share the post on your FB wall in order to be eligible to win. I’m giving away a 12×12 inch digital print of this painting. Drawing will be March 1st.
If you want to succeed in your life
painting from 2012
(sold right after I finished it)
If you want to succeed in your life, remember this phrase: The past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months; the last sixteen years; or the last fifty years of life, doesn’t mean anything… All that matters is: What are you going to do, right now?
Anthony Robbins
Unless there is loyalty
SOLD!
Prints are available here
The flower series has begun. I’m not going to title each one separately because after doing this job for years now, titling artwork is getting harder to do, not easier. This is going to be an ongoing series for a while, so who knows how many I’ll end up doing in the end. Each will be numbered instead of titled. No 1 and No 2 are available here and here.
Sweet Pea on the back porch
I think I’ve posted this one before, but I love it, so I’m re-posting.
Do you see a butterfly in my paint cup?
Genie
8×12 print available here
Do you see a butterfly in my paint cup?
Kansas sunset taken a couple weeks ago
bubble floating in the water running down my street
How Life Gets the Story, New Art Journal, Hello My Pretty
Hello My Pretty
8×12 print available here
I just started working in a large art journal, and I’m LOVING it. Now the rest of my books feel so small to me. This one measures 21×14 inches when it’s lying open on the table. It’s actually an altered book. I don’t know why I started calling all my books “art journals”, but I’ve put them all under one category, instead of separating them. They’re all the same to me, whether I’m using a brand new book from Blick or a used book from the library. In the end, it’s hard to remember what the book first looked like anyway..was it new or used? I don’t think it’s important.
This one is an old Time Life book, and I left the cover the original title because it makes me stop and think. Life does get the story, doesn’t it? I love the play on words here, now that I’m giving the book a different meaning.
Smile and Permission pages – as I was making these pages, I was flinging pastels, chalk, acrylic paint everywhere. I was in the zone, making art just for me. I didn’t do that for a long time, make art just for myself. I made art only with other people in mind, for the sole purpose of selling it, and I started to feel pretty dead inside after a while. I was detached from my artwork. Painting started to feel like work, the kind of work that makes you dread getting up in the morning.
I spent most of the month of January rediscovering my art journal again, and once I started, I couldn’t stop, and now, I have to make art for myself, nearly every day.
There’s a big difference between doing art for others and doing art for yourself. To be able to let go, and not care, to not have thoughts like, ‘I wonder if this will sell fast.’ or have to worry if anyone will like it. Those kind of thoughts can put a damper on things, and feel stifling. To be able to freely express myself without any care is pure freedom.
Abstract painting, Mark Nepo quote, Work Desk, and Oil painting
Wish Upon the Pink Stars
SOLD!!
Prints available here
Frame does not come with print purchase.
One of my work tables
another work table
I’m still gessoing pages of old books.
It’s such a tedious job.
I can’t wait until I’m done, and creating in these books.
Linking to What’s On Your Work Desk
abstract painting in my art journal
We waste so much energy trying to cover up who we are when beneath every attitude is the want to be loved, and beneath every anger is a wound to be healed and beneath every sadness is the fear that there will not be enough time.
When we hesitate in being direct, we unknowingly slip something on, some added layer of protection that keeps us from feeling the world, and often that thin covering is the beginning of a loneliness which, if not put down, diminishes our chances of joy.
It’s like wearing gloves every time we touch something, and then, forgetting we chose to put them on, we complain that nothing feels quite real. Our challenge each day is not to get dressed to face the world but to unglove ourselves so that the doorknob feels cold and the car handle feels wet and the kiss goodbye feels like the lips of another being, soft and unrepeatable.
Mark Nepo
paint cups in black and white
Watching: Ben Lustenhouwer’s youtube videos about oil painting
Rose, Jars of Paint, Field in Kansas
9×12 digital print of my painting titled Rose
Available for purchase here
Frame is not included in the purchase of this print.
It’s only to give you a visual of what it could look like framed.
You can see me paint Rose later this week, once I get the video edited.
Be sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel, so you don’t miss it.
ps: the roses were handpainted, not collage.
I like how they came out, especially since I did it from my imagination, not a reference photo.
jars of paint
field in Kansas
Good Monday morning to you. xo I had a pretty good weekend. Our taxes are done; what a relief!!!! Whew!! My husband likes to wait until the 15th, or in this case the 17th, and then there’s lots of pressure, and stress. This year, I suggested doing it early, and I spent all morning getting my figures ready from my business, while he gathered together his paperwork. When he found out he had until the 17th, instead of the 15th, he almost backed out of doing it. lol I made gluten free, vegetarian pizza for dinner last night. Soooo good. Had lots of kitty snuggle time, and relaxed. Ahh.
Today I’m watching: Peter Campbell painting portraits in oil
My order from Blick is coming tomorrow, and I bought a lot of oil paint and 60 canvas.
I don’t have a shelf for drying yet, but it’s okay.
I’m a hot mess
Sold
Lay Your Weary Head to Rest No 2
New!
8×10 print is now available here
Frame not included in the purchase.
abstract painting in my art journal
Sharpening stabilo pencils is always challenging. I’m as careful as can be, but I always, and I mean always end up breaking them, and before I know it, the pencil is a little stub. I found a sharpener at Blick that I’m going to try. It’s in my cart, and I’ll be placing an order sometime this week.
The leaves have been coming out on the trees for two weeks now, and my allergies have been going through the roof. My head is so stuffy, and achy. I’m moving in slow motion. My eyes are blurry, itchy, and bloodshot. I’m a hot mess. This year, I’m going to try something new, an herbal pill. The reviews are mixed, as reviews always are. The majority of people say it worked for them, so here’s hoping. I’m waiting for it to come in the mail, hopefully today or tomorrow. I’ve read it takes a week or so to kick in. If it works, I’ll link to it in a future blog post.
I’m off to the studio. Hope you have a great Monday!
Edited at 3:30pm: My allergy pills came in the mail, and I took 1 pill, which is half the dose. I wanted to be sure I’m not allergic to it before taking the whole dosage, but if I can get away with taking only half the dose I will. So far, so good. About an hour later, I am feeling much better. Stuffy head and headache is gone. AlleriClear by Native Remedies is what I’m taking. I do feel a little loopy, but I’m blaming it on all the oxygen I’m able to take in now.
Flowers in her hair, art journal page, magnificent Kansas sunrise
Flowers in her Hair 9×12 print available here
It was 40F this morning when I let Fred out, only warming up to 63F today. Tomorrow promises 75F, but windy again. I’m in the studio today. I’m not really doing much, just bumming around. Not really in work mode, although I finished up an oil painting I’ve been working on all week. I think I’m slowly getting the hang of it. Still not sure I like oils, but it’s still too early to tell. I’m going to give it a chance..at least for the summer.
black and white art journal page
magnificent Kansas sunrise
Sweet Pea turned 3 years old on Thursday. I think she felt the calendar flip over because she never got out of bed the entire day. Turning three was exhausting. Happy Birthday, little Pea!