Happy Memorial Day Weekend! And Inspire me Monday.

What is inspiring me today?  The thought of summer at the beach and being outdoors in the country.  We went to a farm not to long ago and I got some photos of sheep.  So thinking about nature, the beach, fields of sheep has inspired my two new paintings.

Both are not quite finished.  The beach scene needs final touches, I want to add more color in the trees, maybe a little more color in the water.  The photo on the right is an oil painting of a sheep. It's  just at the beginning stage.  I just posted her now because I liked the roughness of the brushstrokes.  I always photo graph my works in progress so if I mess something up I can go back and see what was working.

The sheep painting is all about textures and circular motion.  It's actually a lot of fun to do.

It's been a quiet Memorial Day Weekend.  The kids got to go swimming for the first time this season..  I'm awaiting the arrival of my sister and niece coming up from Houston for a visit.  There should be a lot more excitement going on around here once they come.  I can't believe summer is almost here.  It was sunny and warm today and I loved it.

Hope you have a happy and safe Memorial day!

I'm posting this to "Inspire Me Monday" for the first time.

Blog Brainstorming

I was brainstorming some ideas for a blog post and suddenly it occurred to me, that's my post.  So I'm asking you, how is it that you go about writting your posts?  Do you prepare posts in advance or wing it?

I'm more the wing it type.  I don't like schedules, I keep things free.  When I'm inspired to write I do.  I'm not totally flighty though.  I do try and sit down at the computer early in the morning to write.  Show up and just say what's on my mind.

Then I keep them in draft form for finishing.  I try to wait a day before posting but sometimes I just can't wait and have to post right then.



This month I tried being more proactive in my blog post writing.  

Instead of being "willy nilly"  I wrote down themes and ideas for a series of posts.

This month, I made a "What's to come" post for the month of May.  I liked that very much because it kept me on track.  I had an outline to follow.  I think I'm going to keep this strategy.  It worked out well for me by giving me a starting point to expand on.

I'm a list maker, problem is I make the list and then promptly misplace it. ("Now where did I put that tiny scrap of paper that I had my great idea on?")

There are those categories that are the main stay of my blog.  The topics that I normally blog about such as what is inspiring me, works in progress, how to be more creative....

Keeping a Blog book is a good thing to have.  Just something small that you can keep in a pocket or purse.  Somewhere to keep all of the great ideas you have brewing.  I also keep notes on my iphone which is terrific for those "Eureka" moments.

Tutorials and How to's are always a good post but I rarely do them.  I would like to do more of them but I only want to post things that others are not doing.  I believe most of the readers of this blog know a lot about how to paint and do mixed media art.  But when something comes up that I just learned or I think will help you, I jump to it.

I like to talk about creativity, where it comes from, what inspires me, how to have the time to create.  Those are the things I can never get enough of.  I like to hear about your ideas and how you go about blogging.

Let me know in the comments what ways you are brainstorming ideas for your blog.

While your here why don't you bookmark my blog to your favorites and come back to visit soon.  I'd love to get to know you, leave a comment and I'll be sure to visit your blog or website.

When Are You Coming Home?

Here is one of the works in progress that I'm trying to finish up for my art sale next week.  I thought it was such a cute dog, waiting at the door for his Mom to come home.  A face I usually see on my own dog when he's waiting for my return. The sad look says it all.

Hope you aren't keeping your loved one waiting!  Have a great day!

Saturday Showcase: CelticMoon Craft

It's been quite a long time since I've featured another artist/blogger on my blog but I'm doing a Special Saturday Showcase today so that I can introduce you to CelticMoon Craft.

My friend June is the owner of CelticMoon Craft.  June makes the most beautiful handcrafted Celtic mandalas, Celtic crosses , and plaques.  She hand paints each in vibrant colors and decorates them with beads.  All of her crafts are made from Irish wood.  She uses traditional Celtic knotwork in her paintings.  Much of her designs are inspired from the Celtic illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells.  

Here is just a sampling of her work....

June also has an Ebay Shop where you can bid on her crafts.

I'd love it if you stopped by June's blog and said "Welcome".  She is one of the nicest people in cyberspace and you will be glad to meet her.

I'm a Featured Blogger on PocketChange Lifestyle Blog

I'm more than thrilled.  I was contacted by an online magazine editor saying that he wanted to feature my blog in their "best of the blogs" list this Wednesday.  I'm so excited that my little blog, that I lovingly write to you every week, is now getting it's 15 minutes  1 second of fame.  Well, I'm totally honored and over the moon (pun intended) about it.  If you'd like to read my blurb, click the red button on the right.

As for art, I got absolutely nothing done today.  But I always have a few things up my sleeve for "show and tell".

On my walk this morning, I met two friends who greet me everyday at their door...

My Flowers are draped in the most fabulous colors

Greenery is making a big splash for attention as well....

I like to pay attention to the elders, many may pass by and never give a second look at.  I notice them.

Back home, my table is full of life, waiting to be chosen as a model for a painting.

And my poor sewing machine and fabrics have been waiting too.  Maybe soon they will have a chance to dance.

What's waiting for you on your craft table or in your studio?   Today, take a few minutes to notice the beauty found in small places.

Inspired By Everyday Images

How are you today?   I hope all is well and the sun is shining in your part of the world.

My son came home from school with this for me, for Mother's Day. It is a teeny little plant about 3 inches tall.  Made my day, especially that it was so tiny and my little boy noticed it and chose it for me.  He knows I'm not the over the top, gotta have a huge bouquet, kinda person.  A tiny, peach fuzzy plant is totally my style.

This is a watercolor that I made last week.  I was going to add more to the painting but after framing it in floral patterns, it seemed just right.

The Muse by Denise Mulligan

 I was at Michael's on Tuesday and couldn't help but take more photos to manipulate on my favorite photo editing site. ....

When you blow up the photo all of the different colors shine through.  You never realize how many colors are in the crystals like, yellows, violet, aquas, blues, greens and even orange and red show up.

These feathers were in the package.  I made the label show through and the effect came out really wild.  When you photograph pieces that have interest it's amazing what you can do with the photos later on.

I wanted to buy these white feathers but I didn't have to because I think the photo is even more wonderful with the layer of plastic and the label showing through.

I could spend hours roaming craft stores the isles of beads and all things that sparkle.

My kids absolutely groan when I just want to make " a quick stop" at Michael's.

I liked the yellow contrasting against the dark blues and violet.

A photo a little out of focus is more intriguing sometimes.

Pops of color, especially in the children's isle.

I adore peacock feathers.  Again the plastic wrapping makes for a beautiful effect.

All  of these photos are great fodder to inspire more artwork.  I love playing with the textures and colors on my camera.  Makes for some interesting images.

Do you like playing with photography as well as paint?  You can make amazing images from the cheapest of cameras with all of the photo editing sites available now.

I would love if you would leave a comment so that I can get to know you.  Leave your website or blog address so that I can visit you too.

See you here again soon!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

In celebration of Mexican heritage, today, I would like to look at a famous Mexican painter.   Mexico's jewel, Frida Kahlo.

Frida Kahlo is an artist that I've loved since my early twenties.

Her work and life inspired me to be a painter.  

“I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.

” 
― Frida Kahlo

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” 

― Frida Kahlo

Yes, my passionate friend, I am here.  I have experienced those feelings of  being flawed.  Most times, I felt like I was off kilter compared to my less emotional friends.  I wondered why I felt things so intensely.  I've never understood how anyone could walk outside and not notice the cool, lush forage, the glowing sunsets or a gentle crescent moon rising in the twilight.  I've never understood those that treat an animal or insect as a thing without the ability to feel pain.

I'm drawn to her uniqueness as a person and her ability to remain herself in a world that wanted to snuff out the individual.  She was a woman who explored her deepest feelings rather than being ashamed of them.

Her  expressiveness on canvas was her invitation to come closer.  Seeing her work taught me that painting was an experience.  Expressing your most personal feelings is what will form the most moving art work.  

Fight back against those who would rather you stay in your place and mind your own business.  Rebel against a society who wants you to hide.  Show them how brave you are in your expression. Pour your heartbreak or delight onto the canvas.  Never be afraid of being who you are and being human and flawed.

She let her pride and pain spill out on the page of her journals. I love all the scratched out words and images that fill her diary.

Her paintings made me feel like I shouldn't even be looking at these paintings; they're so personal.  But she wanted us to see them.  Be a witness to the beauty and the ugliness of our human lives.  How fragile we are in our bodies and emotions.

All of the above photos via Google Images

 I did a little sketch of Frida this morning in my journal.  I used pencil and water soluble oil pastels.  It's not a great likeness of her, but, I like the overall feeling of it.    

Frida by Denise Mulligan

Frida is one of those people I wish that I could have known.  I envision us swilling a strong Margarita together, and toasting enthusiastically, "Viva la Mexico!"




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