Hello Dahlia!

My neighbor grows the most beautiful Dahlia flowers…

She recently gave me a bouquet and I wanted to share them with you!

The colors, shapes and patterns are just dazzling, aren’t they?!

Perhaps you may also enjoy these imaginary flowers that I created in my large handmade journal:

I created them in a variety of art mediums; such as paper collage, ink pens and watercolor crayons.

May ALL these flowers inspire YOU in your art or just brighten your day!

Cheers! 😃

What’s Blooming?

Today’s weird bird is taking time to enjoy Spring’s blossoms:

We have had an unusually cold Spring so we are behind schedule…

Our crabapple tree is just starting to display its glorious bright pink blooms:

And the lilac is filling the air with its heavenly scent:

What’s blooming where you live?

I hope you take time to smell the flowers!

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers to Spring! 🌸

Easter Flowers

I started a watercolor recently that reminded me of colorful Easter eggs:

Then I added some flower doodles to my watercolor with a micron pen:

The flowers were inspired by this bouquet of Easter flowers:

Wishing you a happy Easter!

Cheers! 🙂

First Blooms

The Buttercups are in bloom!!

My husband picked these flowers from the forest near our home.

The arrival of sweet, golden Buttercups must mean Spring is on its way in the Pacific Northwest. Hurrah!

I wrote this haiku to celebrate these first blooms in my art journal:

Golden petals show,

Announcing Spring’s arrival,

A forest treasure.

Next, I added quick mini collages. I enjoy experimenting with color combinations, texture and balance.

I was able to get outside and take two short walks this weekend. My hip is doing great!

I hope you are all staying well.

Cheers! 🙂

Springing Forward

Sunday, we set our clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, giving us an extra hour of light in the evenings. Yay!

According to the Washington Post; 70 countries change their clocks mid year for Daylight Saving Time including most of North America, Europe and parts of South America and New Zealand. China, Japan, India and most countries near the equator don’t fall back or jump ahead.

Today’s weird bird is Springing forward with a bouquet of blooms to give you a smile!

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

Creative Play

Sometimes creative play in an art journal can be quite fulfilling.

I am discovering the joy of adding collage papers and marks without a outcome in mind.

This page I used a greeting card of a Ladybug that someone sent me. I altered it a little with my whole punch:

I had fun exploring funky flower shapes in this one and black and white stems:

My last one is a work in progress. As you can see, it involves BUGS!

I will show my completed page to you next week!

I encourage you to make time for creative play in your art making.

Happy Friday!

Cheers! 🙂

Art Journal Prompts – Part 2

I wanted to show you the page in my art journal that I completed from Monday’s post:

Below is the photo from Monday of my unfinished page Art Journal Prompts:

I enjoyed a trip down “memory lane” and found this photo of me ice skating with my dad when I was almost 5 years old. (Notice the old cars in the background!)

I encourage you to create your own art journal prompts! I hope you share with me what you do!

Cheers! 🙂

Art Journal Prompts

I like to give myself art challenges.

Yesterday, I had a few minutes to experiment in my 9 x 12 inch Canson mixed media art journal.

I started by writing the date and drawing some random shaped boxes on my paper:

Next, I worked quickly so I wouldn’t overthink things.

I added paper collage, doodles and creative prompts to work on later such as a dictionary word and paint sample name:

I will show you my completed journal page later this week! I encourage you to create your own art journal prompts to get your creative juices flowing!

Cheers! 🙂

A Tropical Bird

It feels like winter has arrived in the Pacific Northwest…

So this tropical bird showed up for today’s weird bird:

It was so cold outside that my cat hesitated, not once, but 3-4 times to go outside! Brrr!

Happy Weird Bird Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S. Speaking of tropical, I have decided to take a short blogging “vacation” until the end of November. You will find me snuggling with my cat to stay warm!

A Fresh Bouquet

My neighbor grows beautiful flowers in her yard. She recently brought me this fresh bouquet that brightened my day!

I decided to sit outside and paint it in watercolor.

I had an unexpected visitor who was buzzing with happiness!

I am pleased how this painting turned out and plan to give it to my neighbor as a thank you for her kindness.

Whose day can you brighten with a little unexpected kindness?

Cheers! 🙂