Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Merry Christmas!





Been a while since I posted to my blog, not that I haven't painted, just haven't posted.

This is oil on watercolor paper 6"x8".


Friday, November 7, 2014

Progress





Since my stroke there have been lots of adjustments and changes.  Some adjustments have been very very difficult while some have been welcomed.  For such a long time before the stroke I needed and wanted certain changes, unsure as to how to go about making this happen. After the stroke I had absolutely no choice but to make a change in my personal life.  I have always heard of a "silver lining" and have witnessed that in my life many times, the stroke being the most recent silver lining. 

The stroke forced me to completely surrender control for a while,  with that came a serenity and freedom allowing me to just trust the process.  Very suddenly things started happening beyond my control.  I will be the first to admit, when I moved out of the drivers seat and let God handle things, things worked out better than I ever could have imagined. 

Now very shortly I will be on my way to Phase II of my progress.  I am thankful for the opportunity to start a new career and very thankful for my family.

The journal above was an old journal from last year.  I took the entire journal and gessoed it....completely.  In it now contains hopes, dreams and plans for the future symbolizing a new focus and a beautiful serenity.


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

The purse













This piece was made for my daughters birthday.  Ashley is in nursing school and she loves fashion, so I put the two together and made this mixed media piece for her.  This piece is made as I have made past pieces in that I started with watercolor paper covered with dictionary pages from a 1948 dictionary.  The purse was drawn with pencil and outlined with a stabilo pencil,   Acrylic was used for the color.  Hope she likes it.

8x10" mixed media on watercolor paper

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Shalom




Another painting for the grand.  

Acrylic on watercolor paper 22x30".



Teenage mutant ninja turtle




A painting for one of the grandkids.  His favorite, teenage mutant ninja turtles.

8x12" acrylic on watercolor paper



Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Saturday, July 26, 2014

s/p Stroke





My last post was 6/15/14.  The day after that, I had a stroke.  On 6/16/14 I went to bed and woke up almost a week later.  I had difficulty walking, talking and writing.  It has been a long month, alot of changes have happened in the past month.  Today I painted my first painting since the stroke.  It felt awesome to create again, I have thought about it for a month.  Strange thing is while I was having the stroke and after, mentally, I was painting.  I dont know if that makes sense to anyone but it does me. Your mind protects you, and my mind protected me by painting.   The painting above was fairly easy, considering the fact that I have been painting her for a month.






Saturday, June 14, 2014

Friday, June 13, 2014

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Jackson rework








Have been reworking some pieces lately including this one of my grandson, Jackson.  Reworked with acrylics and oils probably 5 or more times.  There are still some adjustments I will make but for the most part I am at a stopping point.  It will be a very long time before I attempt a beach scene again.
  


Sunday, June 8, 2014

Red balloon






A rocking chair sat beside my fathers recliner.   That rocking chair was mine when I was a little girl.  Hour upon hour were spent in this chair rocking beside my father as he sat in his recliner.  Just my dad and I, enjoying our rocking chairs.  Just my dad and I, bonding.  For years I sat beside my father.  We read together, watched football together, watched Hee-Haw, Dolly Parton, Cher and Billy Graham together. 
This was a good time to ask Daddy any questions about life in general that I had on my mind. 
As I got older, I would sit in Daddys chair and rock.  When he got home from work,  I would politely and gladly move over to my little chair. 
When I was sick I would sit in his chair and rock and miraculously I was better.  This little chair may look like just a chair to some, but to me it was my undivided connection with Daddy growing up and will always have a special place in my heart because of what it represents.
This piece was painted for my Dad which died three years ago.  The little chair which holds such special memories for me and a red balloon for his birthday.
Happy Birthday Daddy.

22x30" acrylic/oils/mixed media on watercolor paper





Friday, June 6, 2014

The tutu





The revision is complete!! Yeah!! 
Acrylics on 22x30" watercolor paper
Inspiration for the tutu was Karen Milstein's beautiful little tutu.    Karen is having a sale in her Etsy shop right now, worth checking out!
Inspiration for the mother/ballerina's pose  was found on Pinterest by Katya Grindneva.  Here is a link to her awesome work.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

WIP - a revision







A couple of days ago I posted "A Mothers Love".  After looking at it awhile I decided I wasnt too happy with it, actually I wasnt happy with most of it.  About the only thing I was happy with was the little girls face. So, today I have been working very hard to revise it.  This is what I have come up with......the only thing that stayed intact was the little girls face, everything else was reworked.  Now, the little girl is in her tutu that mom makes her wear, but she has not given up her red and white stripe tights or her converse shoes.  Mom is not exactly pleased at this very moment.  Hopefully tomorrow I will finish this, but I am intentionally leaving everything kinda rough and muted as to highlight the little girl.

Have a good one!






Monday, June 2, 2014

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Angel





To see an angel, you must see another's soul.
To feel an angel, you must touch another's heart.
To hear an angel you must listen to both.
-Unknown



Journal
Acrylics


Thursday, May 22, 2014

Bent








12 x 12" Mixed media on watercolor paper

Inspiration for this piece:










Friday, May 16, 2014

Friday, May 2, 2014

Trust and Believe







Mixed media on 22"x 30" watercolor paper.  This piece was painted with acrylics, shading and dimension added with oil pastels.  The journaling to the right was blurred to keep private.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Jackson




Decided to change my color palette a bit this week using more muted tones. I took this pic of my grandchild a few years back at the beach.  Loved his little shorts almost falling off and have wanted to paint it for a while.   My daughters birthday seemed like the perfect occassion. 

12" x 18" oil on canvas



Saturday, January 11, 2014

What does X look like



I have a milestone birthday coming up on Thursday....the kinda birthday that makes you stop and reflect.  Am I where I want to be in life?  What have I accomplished in life?  What would I change if I could?  What are my goals for the future?


12"x18" watercolor, graphite and ink on hotpressed watercolor paper


Saturday, December 28, 2013

Joy and a Happy Muse








Wishing everyone Joy and a Happy Muse
in 2014



8x10 Mixed Media on Cotton Canvas, digital manipulation




Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Journey





This piece is entitled "The Journey".  Sometimes the journey is a smooth ride.  Sometimes the journey is a bumpy road.  Sometimes the journey takes an unexpected turn.  Sometimes the journey slows to a stop....I consider this time a moment to regroup and reflect as has been my process lately. 
After not having enough time to paint for three months due to a hectic work schedule,  I was finally able to pick up my brushes again.  I have missed and longed to create in my art journal with acrylics, oils and inks.  As with many others, art is an outlet.  Art is my therapy.  Art allows me to express feelings and thoughts....good or bad.  I truly love to paint, put it through photoshop then run it through pixlr for different effects as is the case with the above piece. 
I created the above piece with acrylics, oils, inks and spray paint.  This piece took many different turns with many, many layers.  She ended up with wonky eyes which I am coming to embrace.  The tear was not intended, it came about when I used ink on the eyes then turned it up to get a look at the progress.  The tear just emerged.  

Today I am truly thankful to have the time to create again.

The Journey continues.



Sunday, December 15, 2013

Is it Christmas yet??





A litlle Christmas photoshop for a friend, Lisa Burton.  This is her granddaughter, Presley



Friday, November 15, 2013

The light







Light's all around
From dawn to dusk
From twilight to sunshine again
A ray of hope, A beam of life
Amusing every soul.
Eyes that dare to dream..

                                 - Sudarkodi Nagarethin