So Noted…

I have discovered two fabulous ways to get one’s creative juices flowing as warm-up exercises in art making.

I learned these ideas from Anita Lehmann in her online class, Translating Landscapes, hosted by Carla Sonheim.

The first idea involves creating marks with a variety of art mediums and tools.  One “natural” tool was a stick!  I had so much fun dipping a stick into ink and “making marks” with it… And using a variety of materials to create this piece:

The second idea was making marks while listening to music.  I created this piece while listening to Eva Cassidy and Natalie Merchant:

I enjoyed both exercises.

So noted, my favorite was the one with the music!

I encourage you to turn up the music and create!

Cheers! 🙂

Sense It

The lake once calm and smooth like glass,

Feels the wind upon its surface,

It hears the rumbling of the clouds,

And its waves turn into white caps…

It tastes the raindrops from above,

And smells a fresh clean scent…

Then it sees the sun peak through the clouds,

And knows that it can rest.

I wrote this poem about the lake when I was 13-years-old.  Sometimes the lake seems sense it before the weather changes.

Cheers! 🙂

Lake Doodlings…

What inspires YOU?

This last weekend I was at the lake…

The weather has been unusually warm which has made the snow melt too quickly.  The lake water is well above normal.

Beaches are now part of the lake…

Perhaps stories around a campfire some day?

The lake was so calm for these photos… beautiful reflections:

I love how the sky reflects on the water…

It gave me time to relax and reflect on my own life.

And create this lake doodle in my art journal…

I’d love to hear what helps YOU relax!

Cheers! 🙂

Imagine I Say…

An evening sunset?

Peeling bark on an old tree?

IMAGINE I say…

I enjoy doing these abstract watercolors – what do you SEE in them?

Cheers! 🙂

Lily Of The Valley

A haiku for you…

Lily white as snow,

Adoring leaves surround you –

Making you the show!

Wishing you a Sunny Sunday to enjoy nature’s beauty around you!

Cheers! 🙂

A Day To Reflect

Some days I just need to slow down and reflect on life…

Yesterday seemed like the perfect day at the lake!  😃

A good morning reflection – so thankful to be alive here at the lake!

An evening boat ride on calm waters:

Just breathe!  Love these cotton ball clouds and calm waters.  Thank you God for this beautiful place to unwind and recharge.

Pink clouds… such an amazing view!

Thank you for this day!  Wow!  God!  Your masterpieces are such a work of art in nature!!

Wishing you a day to relax and enjoy what brings you happiness in life!

Cheers!  🙂

A Garden In My Mind

Some days it is fun to splash watercolors around with my brush.

I did this abstract yesterday in my art journal:

I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular when I painted it.  The colors remind me of summer and a flower garden.

What does it remind you of?

Cheers!  🙂

What Rhymes With Weird?!

Beard!

And since today is Weird Bird Wednesday…

I have a Bearded Hat Fish to help give you a smile!  🙂

Did you know that there really is a Beard Fish?  Of course, it looks nothing like mine!  Lol!

Just thought if you were fishing for some fun, I’d throw this fish into the pond!

Cheers!!

Sunny Sundays

This year I’d like to create more balance in my life.  This may mean something entirely different for you but for me I’d like to have one day a week to slow down, reflect and smell the flowers so to speak!

I have decided this day will be Sunday, so I’m calling it my Sunny Sunday.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

Sunday will be a day for me to read a book, write, go for a walk, take a nap or curl up with our cat on the couch.  It is a day for sunny thoughts too – so my post will be something positive such as a quote, Bible verse or poem with a little art or photograph of nature.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Gal. 5: 22-23

I will be scheduling my post in advance so I can take a day off from blogging too.  I enjoy blogging but I need a day off from the computer.  A day to recharge my own batteries – a day to unplug.

Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy.  Ps. 5:11

May you have a Sunny Sunday and I look forward to catching up with you on Monday!

Cheers!  🙂

P.S. These photos were taken in my backyard in December 2015.  Can you count how many little birds are in the last photo?

Just Scribble

When my life gets a bit stressful, I find creating patterns or scribbles in my art journal calms me:

I created the above with my Prismacolor pencils.

What do you do to relax after a stressful day?

Happy Relaxing!  😊