Who do you Adore?

I have always wanted a little girl, even when I was a little girl.  When I played with dolls, they were only girl babies and I dreamed of having my own little girl one day.  I worried that I might not be able to have my own baby.  I'm adopted and hoped I would be so lucky as to give birth to my own baby.   I'll be honest when I was pregnant I hoped it would be a girl (of course I wanted a healthy baby and would've been happy no matter what).  The day she was born made me feel like the luckiest girl alive.  My dream came true--a little girl entered my life, the one I had been hoping for since forever.



She's now ten, but she's still my baby, and she's my everything.  This is probably why so much of my art is on the girly side and why when I title my paintings, I think of the love I have for my daughter, Isabella.

This recent painting I finished is called "I Adore You" because I know what it feels like to be completely enamored by a sweet little girl.  When I think of the women who can't have babies, like I once worried about, I feel crushed for them.  I hope all my gushing in this post doesn't make anyone feel bad about where they are in their lives.  Not my intention at all.

I just wanted to share this painting and tell you my inspiration behind many of my girly creations. 

Who's that person in your life that you simply adore?

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!

August Break - Flowers and Thoreau

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

~ Thoreau



Enjoy this August day!

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!

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.

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!

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"

Periwinkle Sky - What do YOU Think?

I just finished this painting called "Periwinkle Sky."  I've sold a few paintings with trees and hearts with the words I Love You "engraved" in the trunk.  This time I just decided to put a heart by itself.  I'm wondering what you think of it?  Is this something that someone would consider for their home or just for a child's room?  When I do art shows it seems that people just see my work as paintings for girls' rooms.  I want to branch out from that label and wonder if this just fits for little kids.  Hmmmm....any comments?

I'd love some feedback--it always helps to get another opinion!  Thanks!



Pink Trees in Paris

I just finished and sold this painting titled "Paris Dream" this weekend.  Didn't even get a chance to post on etsy, just on Facebook and a friend of a friend liked it and bought it for her little girl. 

I've never been to Paris but I hope  plan to someday.  My daughter is slowly changing her bedroom to a Paris theme, so that's what inspired me to paint this, but I wanted to add some whimsy so the trees are pink.  Even though it's not perfect, I am happy with it's cheerfulness and color. 

Have any of you been to see the Eiffel Tower yet? 



Big Flowers

I finally finished this painting of flowers--it took me forever.  The roses gave me a hard time--I wanted them to have texture and actually look like roses.  I like it because the flowers and vine of blue berries are larger and it's fun and freeing to do bigger scale things. 

I still haven't named it yet--nothing is popping into my head when I look at it right now.  Any ideas from anyone?  I'd love some !  Really.  I would.  Seriously.

Are you True???

I've done a few paintings/collages with the theme be true to yourself.  This phrase resonates with me because so much of my life up until now, I wasn't true to myself.  I worried, worried, worried what others thought of me and my actions.  I chose to do and say things that wouldn't make people look at me like I was an oddball. I wanted to fit in so badly.

I now wish I had that phrase in my head a lot earlier in life because life is sooooo much better, so much more peaceful when I am doing what is right for me and not worrying how I will appear.  It's definitely a work in progress but I'm getting there.

Do you follow your truth?  Do you have a hard time doing this?  What kinds of things are you afraid to show to the world?  Or are you brave and completely show your true self?

Dance-It Feels so Good

I just finished this painting and posted it on etsy this morning.

 

It reminds me of how fun dancing is even though as I've gotten older I worry about how I look when I'm dancing and don't do it as much.  Oh, I sweat so much too--I know I shouldn't even think of that because it truly feels soooo good to dance.  I saw a quote by Anne Lamott that says something like "dancing is almost always a good decision" (not sure exactly--can't find it on my desk).  Anyway, when you think about it--it really is!  When my daughter was younger we would have dance parties in our living room and it was so fun and exhilirating--I NEED to keep doing that.  It sure forces us to laugh, let go and really be happy!

Paper Star Nights

About five years ago I found this quote on a bulletin board in the waiting room of a doctor's office and just had to copy it down.

"Under paper star nights

we take walks for

ice cream cones

and listen to the songs

of crickets in their

hiding places."

There's just something about the summer night imagery here that makes me feel like ahhhhh.  I picture a dark night, full of stars, walking under big leafy trees with someone I love and hearing those beloved crickets, the only sound around. 

I did a painting/collage with this quote and sold two paintings (but with slightly different backgrounds) right away.  It must have been just as powerful an image to the buyers as to me.  I just finished another one called "Paper Star Nights III" and hope it draws someone else in as well.  







The Wind in my Hair

Lately my painting is leaning toward more abstract in style.  My newest creation is called "The Wind in my Hair," a colorful, girly abstract painting.  I feel so much freer when I'm not trying so hard to make something look real and not blend in with other colors.  That's part of the reason I named it The Wind in my Hair--it feels more like flowing and just feeling, not really "trying" so hard!  Hope you enjoy it!  I think it would look great in a girl's room or in a home where the lady of the house loves sweet pastels.





Cool New Site - Check out my Art

I just set up an account on Imagekind, a site where you download your artwork and they print it and send it to the customer.  What I like about it is customers can see it in different formats, such as framed, matted or even how it will look as a wrapped canvas.  So even if I already sold the original, this site creates a print or canvas and I can sell a few of the same paintings, just not originals anymore.  If you have time, please check it out through the link in the first line!

One of my paintings, Dance II that I sold at an art show is available here, just to show you an example.

Thanks for stopping by!

Be True to Yourself

I was the kind of young girl who liked whatever "the leader" of our group liked.  I hardly EVER stuck up for myself or my true likes or dislikes.  I look back at myself and feel so sad for that girl who just didn't have the confidence to be herself.  Having a daughter of my own I really try to instill confidence and originality in her based on my childhood of being a scared follower.  That's what I guess I was--a scared follower.  I was scared to be outed from the group.  I was scared that if I stuck up for myself, AGAINST the "leader" I would be embarrassed and singled out.  I was scared of not doing what everyone else wanted to do.  I didn't want to stand out for being different.  I hid my true self.

As an adult I now know how important it is to be an original and to be true to what is right for me even if it's totally different than everyone else.  I now like to be an original.  It makes life much more interesting, doesn't it?  One of my new paintings is below and it's a reminder to be true to yourself.  I think it would be perfect for a young girl who's just starting to find her true self.



Dream Big Dreams

I'll admit I'm a daydreamer.  I dream about the Caribbean Sea, those stilted huts in Bora Bora and becoming a successful artist, just to name a few.  I also dream of life being easier financially and health-wise as well. 



I encourage my daughter to dream big dreams and tell her that she can do anything she dreams or wishes.  Hopefully this message will stick with her as she gets older and possibly less confident as she enters her teen years. 

I found this inspiring quote by Gail Devers and think it's perfect for my new butterfly painting and for my daughter who will be ten-years-old next Tuesday.

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

I know some people just aren't dreamers.  They are practical and serious, but I can't live that way. 

I have to dream.  I think we all have to dream.

You Have my Heart

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching--tomorrow is already February!  I just finished this painting and titled it "You Have my Heart" which I think is a great message to the love in your life.  After I finished this painting, I now picture it in a girl's bedroom probably because I have a daughter.  I also think it's important to let our loved ones know how much they mean to us, so a daily reminder through a painting is a great way to do that I think.

I hope this sweet painting finds its way to a little girl's room or in someone's home and displayed where the family can see this loving message.

Fairy Garden - New Painting

I just posted this new painting entitled Fairy Garden on etsy today.  I actually started it months ago and it's just been sitting among a bunch of other unfinished paintings.  Since I'm feeling ready for spring, I thought this colorful one would be a perfect one to finish.  My daughter actually likes it for herself, but we're going to be redoing her room soon and she keeps changing her mind about color choices, so I'll do something else for her when she decides on definite colors.

In other good news, the painting that I posted yesterday, called Girl Power, already sold today!  That has never happened to me--a sale so soon after posting.  Thanks to Lisa in Ohio!

I'm very excited about my future and being an artist.  I recently contacted Bonnie Rose of the blog A Life Unrehearsed and she got back to me a few hours later with some great encouragement.  It's so heartwarming when an artist gets back to me, especially since many of them don't.  You should check out her blog as it's colorful and encouraging.

Lastly, the Packers are playing the Bears today for the spot in the Super Bowl and we're so excited over here.  GO PACKERS!!!

Girl Power

Reach for the stars.  Follow your dreams.  Dream big.  Be an ORIGINAL.  Be true to yourself.  These are just some of the inspirational and IMPORTANT messages I'm trying to convey in my new painting "Girl Power."   

Growing up I was never taught these things.  I was taught to settle down, don't get so loud and excited.  I was even asked why I would want to go to college, when all I really would probably be doing is getting married and having babies.  I want girls to have a different message than those limiting ones, espeically since I have a daughter of my own.  I want her to feel that she has power, the power to be what she wants, the power to follow her dreams and her heart and the power to be true to herself. 

Maybe you know a young girl who you can encourage to be herself and not always worry about what others think.  To listen to her heart.  Help her follow her deepest wishes.