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.