Organic - New Painting/College

I've been trying to experiment with more "organic" or carefree paintings and collages and here is one I just finished that I ended up really liking.   Also, I've used the color BROWN too (oh no)--hardly ever do that! 

I titled it "Organic" because it just makes me think of going with the flow and the natural world.  I didn't try so hard to be precise and enjoyed layering paint and paper for the background and watching the paint run organically down the picture.  I've probably never used the word "organic" before in my life, so sorry I've said it so much, but that's just the word that popped into mind when I finished this piece. 



Hope some of you out there enjoy it!  

Thanks for visiting today!

What Do You Love to Do?

One of my favorite writers, Patti Digh, recently published the book What I Wish for You and its advice has such a powerful impact on me.  It's a collection of short pieces from other women giving advice to Patti's daughter who's going off to college, but it's advice all of us women can learn from.  I must say I wish I had this great wisdom given to me as a teenager, but it's just as relevant now as a 39-year-old still trying to find my way.

One of the contributors, Lisa Evans, discusses the dreaded question of people asking, "What do you do?"  She states that instead of that question, we should ask people, "What do you LOVE to do?"  I like this one much better.  This question can fill us up with joy just thinking of the things we love to do.

I love to...

* take early morning walks all by myself when the sun is just creeping up and no noise is around except the birds singing and the crickets chirping

* go out to dinner with my best girlfriends in the whole world and laugh too loud and probably annoy everyone around us

* close my eyes while we're on our boat and just feel the breeze

* arrange flowers from my garden into vases around the house

* watch hilarious movies like Dumb and Dumber and Something about Mary over and over

* read a super good book in my sunroom with all the windows open



Taken on my morning walk today--the sun peeking through the trees.

Those are just a few of the things I love to do.  What about you?  What do you really love to do?  I'd love to hear about it!

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August Break - Flowers and Thoreau

"Only that day dawns to which we are awake."

~ Thoreau



Enjoy this August day!

August Break - First Sunflower

This is the first year I decided to plant sunflower seeds and this is the first sweet flower I got just the other day.  Isn't she pretty?



Getting Ready for my Art Show

It's Thursday and I'm trying to wrap everything up for my art show that takes place this Saturday.  I have plans tomorrow so I need to get the bulk of it done today.  Really just finishing price tags for new paintings and attaching the hangers on the back of them, then packing my big totes with the ones I'm going to bring with me.  I wish I could bring them all but there's just no way to fit them in a 12 x 12 outside display area or in our truck. 

Do you have any great tips or ideas for a beautiful art show display?  I've been adding little touches through the year but always look for other artist great ideas.  I know there are many on-line and I've seen some amazing ones -- I'm in awe of the creativity and charm some artists put into their displays -- thank God for them to inspire us all!

(picture of banner I had made the year I started doing art shows)

I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new people Saturday and hoping for good, comfy weather!

August Break - My Two Babies

Here are my two snuggly babies getting cozy on the couch. 

In My Studio - What I'm Painting Right Now

I'm working on a few paintings right now as I'm sure many painters do.  I have to set each one aside for a while and work on something else until I "feel" what I should do next.  Here are a few pics of a girly canvas I'm working on.  This first picture is a start and I had to sit with it overnight to add a few more details.



The next two are with more detail and whimsy added (just two different angled shots of same one).



A few more touches to be added like some depth in the white flower and some light blue and lime green in the little purple leaves on top. 

Not sure what I'll name her yet but it'll come to me (hopefully!).

What do you think so far?  Any comments are always welcome!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Loving Instagram - August Break

Just found Instagram on our ipod touch and I love how I can alter the pictures to look vintage, black and white or any of the other options. 

This is my sweet daughter Isabella who typically DOES NOT like me taking pictures of her, but maybe because it was ipod related she cooperated!

Looking forward to a sunny Sunday here in Wisconsin*

Life Should be a Crazy Ride

Don't know where I found this quote by John Mallow, but I love it!

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely,

in a well preserved body,

but rather to skid in sideways,

totally worn out,

shouting, 'Holy Shit...what a ride!'"

Reading this makes me want to go out and really hoot it up.  Make some trouble (well as much trouble as a 39-year-old mom can make).  Climb a tree and hang by one arm from it.  Scream at the top of my lungs driving my car with the windows down. 

I know, that doesn't sound too exciting but it forces me to think about the shortness of life and how we often forget to just fly around on a crazy whim and just tear up the town.  Really use this life and this body to "skid in sideways" screaming and singing like there's no tomorrow.

The best I could do for a wild picture was my husband and daughter acting like goons on a 2008 trip to Mexico.  I guess we do need some more crazy in our life, hey?

Have you done any wild, screaming things that have made YOU feel super alive?  Any suggestions?



Flying Lessons

Kelly Rae Roberts has been inspiring me for a few years.  I found one of her canvases at a local boutique in Pewaukee, WI called Harvest Home and was instantly intrigued by her unique style.  I looked on the back of the canvas and found her name, looked her up online and ordered her book immediately. 

Ever since then, I've been so inspired and encouraged by her life and her art.  I even e-mailed her telling her my story of wanting to listen to my "whispers" to begin creating art (since it was a dream of mine since being a little girl).  I was shocked and thrilled that she e-mailed me back.  A woman with a published book actually personally responded to me!!!  I printed that e-mail out and saved it.  She gave me a few suggestions and I took them.  I haven't turned back since.  I have an etsy shop, a blog and do a few local art shows a year--all because she gently suggested I do so.  I would have NEVER done any of those on my own.  So I thank Kelly Rae Roberts for being a huge inspiration to me. 

Now I am taking her on line class Flying Lessons and am thrilled to hear her advice and stories as well as my fellow classmates' advice and stories.  I'm truly grateful that she is willing to share her "secrets to success." 

Another inpsiration that keeps me and my dream alive is this quote from Henry James: 

"It's time to start living the life you've imagined."

August Break - Bright Pink Zinnia

Dream "Getaway" Painting - August Break Photo

"Getaway" new painting on etsy.  I LOVE the Caribbean Sea--this is what inspired me to paint this one. 

Thanks for visiting and perhaps dreaming with me!

Look at that Smile!

Monday morning and I'm continuing with August Break 2011 in which other bloggers share a photo a day, Monday - Friday based on the blog Notes on Unravelling the Heart, by Susannah Conway.

A sweet picture of my daughter Isabella as a chubby little baby (who is now 10).  This is one of my favorite pics of her because she is smiling so big and looks so full of joy. 

 Look at that full-mouth smile!



Shine your Light

Shine your light.

Sing your song.

Show your true, wonderful colors.

Be an original.

Laugh really loud if you feel it inside.

Share your gifts.

Celebrate YOU.

New painting on etsy titled "Shine your Light"

Vintage Bike - Day 5 of August Break 2011

Someone near our neighborhood puts flowers in the basket of this charming pink and white vintage bike and props it up against this white picket fence every year.  It gives me a smile every time I drive past. 

Isn't it sweet?

Feet up in Mexcio - Day 4 of August Break

Lounging on the beach looking at the amazing water in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico in 2008. 

This is the life.  I could get used to this view everyday of my life!

Hand in Hand - Day 3 Photo

My daughter Isabella and husband Shane leaving her dance recital, hand in hand.

August Break - Photo Day 2

My daughter Isabella sound asleep on our 2009 vacation to Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  My little sleeping baby girl.

Ahhhhh....what a rough day.

August Break - Photo a Day

Susannah Conway of the blog Notes on Unravelling the Heart has started August Break 2011 in which other bloggers share a photo a day, Monday - Friday.   Since I love photographs, I'm going to start today and share some of my recent finds!

Recently we spent a week up at my parents' cabin in St. Germain on Lost Lake and I found this photo of my dad as a teenager and just love it.  It's vintage (taken about 1957) and it's my dad, whom we lost four years ago.  It's neat to see him as a young boy feeding a deer, kind of a tender moment.  My dad wasn't an outwardly tender man, so this is a neat side to see of him.   This photo was also taken up north in the same area we go to now which is a great coincidence.

He is missed by many...