Feeling Off Balance

Dear Friends,

I’ve been dealing with health issues from a car accident over a year ago…

It affects many aspects of my life.

I have not mentioned it because I want to keep my blog positive.  Yet, I am having a hard time keeping up with my blog and reading your blogs.

Please know I appreciate all your comments and likes on my blog.  I will try to comment on your blogs when I can. 🙂

I may not be posting as often as I need more time to rest.  Thank you for your understanding.

Cheers! 🙂

Letter “C” Is For…

Letter “C” is for color!  Like this continuous still life I did over the weekend:

Each week, I’m inspired by many creative blogging friends!

This week, I’d like to share a COUPLE of them with you… CAN you CHECK out their blogs?

Sharon, is currently creating an alphabet journal – colorful, captivating and clever…  You CAN find Sharon’s cheerful blog:  Make Art Magic Happens

Cheers! 🙂

Just Words?!

I’ve been drawing my own patterns lately for collage papers.

I got the idea from Kara Kramer’s online class, hosted by Carla Sonheim.  You can check out her class at Improv collage

She got me thinking about words…

So I started cutting out JUST words that “spoke to me” from old magazines and junk mail:

It helped to think about words I like AND different lettering “styles.”

Then I created a page of words that I can copy and use in my own artwork:

What WORDS speak to you to write and doodle on a page?!

I have to say that YOU inspire me every day in your art, poetry, photography, blog posts and encouraging comments.  Thank you!

Cheers! 🙂

One “Grape” Fish

I have been singing the song, well, not really THE song (MORE like the first stanza…)  I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” by songwriter, Marvin Gaye all day.

I think this whole grape thing started with Jenna’s post on Friday, Pour The Wine.  If you have not met this talented artist, cook and my friend at The Painted Apron – I do hope you check out her blog!

Here is my one “Grape” Fish:

Wishing you a HAPPY Sunday!

Cheers!  🙂

Celebrating Our Freedom

Red, White and Blue… Today we celebrate our freedom in the United States!

I thought it would be fun to revisit what I posted on my blog in 2016:

Red, White and Cyan?

And 2015:

Happy Independence Day!

Wishing you ALL a day celebrating WHAT and WHO you hold dear!! ❤💙❤

Cheers! 🙂

Running Backwards

Do you remember what it felt like when you ran backwards as a child?  It was fun at first  but then I’d get disoriented and dizzy.  Life reminds me a little of this experience lately…

I’m trying to train a new employee at work which is exciting at first but then starts to feel a bit overwhelming!  And there is my never ending domestic duties!  😉  It is getting more difficult to find time to create art and blog which I totally enjoy!  So I’m starting to feel a bit dizzy…  ;-0

I’m going to have to take a little break.  Just until next Wednesday – when Harold reveals his surprise (see yesterday’s post).

I hope I can catch up with what is going on in your blogs during this time!  🙂

Cheers!  🙂

A Dancing Tree

One of the things I enjoy about blogging is the wonderful friends I make!  One such friend is Sharon Mann!  She inspires me with her amazing talent and her beautiful artwork.  Be sure to check out her blog, if you haven’t done so at:  https://mondaytuesdaywednesday.wordpress.com/

Sharon’s pattern play inspired me to start this doodle – a dancing tree:

Sharon recently posted her own pattern “vocabulary” that she used for her beautiful black and white bird.   This started me thinking about what patterns I often use in my doodles.

I previously posted this “wrap” design on a tree last July, that you can find here and here.

I believe that Nature gave me the idea for my wrap pattern from this Oak tree.  Below is a recent photo of it last Spring:

One day we came home from the lake about 10 years ago and this tree was bent over from a terrible wind storm.  We were heart broken.  We didn’t want to loose it so we applied some tree ointment and wrapped it in special tape from the Nursery.  Amazingly, this tree not only survived but is thriving!

What inspires you to create the patterns in your artwork?  I’d love to know!

Happy Creating!  🙂

A Cup of Good Cheer!

Thank you friends for all your encouragement, support and friendship for my first year of blogging in 2015.  I had almost 350 posts!  WOWZA!

I had so much fun blogging and creating almost daily – And learning from all of you!  I have some new goals for my blog in the new year so stay tuned!

May 2016 stack up to be an AWESOME and creative year for you!

Cheers!  🙂

Hooray, Hooray! Today Is Bird Day!

A blogger friend of mine, Create Art Everyday, created a monthly challenge to create a bird for tomorrow’s post on May 8th.  She had a wonderful tutorial on Monday on how to sketch a bird.  (If you click on her site, it will take you to her post).

I decided on a Scarlet Tanager for my bird:

The photo came from another blogger, Kathy Doremus, who claims she is a backyard bird nerd but I think she is an AMAZING and very GIFTED photographer!  (I found out about Kathy from Create Art Everyday on Monday).

I just love this blogging community!  🙂

I painted my above bird in watercolor with a little white gouache on the wings.  I messed up on getting the background perspective correct on the birdbath but I learned a ton in the process…

I also painted another Scarlet Tanager, splashing around in the birdbath:

This one I did in watercolor and color pencil.  I was trying to create a more painterly approach as I really like how this blogger, Sand Salt Moon, does her watercolors.   She makes it look easy!  🙂

I know we each have our own individual styles in art.  The more I practice, the more my style will emerge.  I just need to keep painting!

Happy Creating!