little women...

This morning started out with painting (on the kitchen table!)...

the essentials - good (and not so good) brushes

my palette - usually MUCH messier...

and of course, the whole thing only comes together once i get these little dots on...

I'll post the finished piece in here (or on ETSY) soon. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

xoxo

more marc johns genius...

Goya

I was reading on Francisco de Goya last night - he was born in the 1700's,  was a Spanish painter and basically lived a life of tragedy. He suffered the deaths of several of his children, a complete loss of hearing in mid life and a downward spiral into mental illness in his older age. He lived alone in a house on a hill and eventually began to paint directly onto the plaster walls. He died in the 1820's and some fifty years later, his paintings were transferred from the walls of his house to canvas. Many of his paintings done during this black period, some would say, clearly depict his descent into madness.

I wonder about his family, and whether or not he had any friends...

mmmmm.....chocolate......

This chocolate is the best (if you like dark chocolate), with little pieces of tea leaves in each piece. TO. DIE. FOR.

And I love the simplicity of the packaging & especially the fun little teapot illustration.
For me, simple is best. I don't get a kick out of fancy shmancy photoshop explosions of color & chaos in design. I'm not saying anything colorful is bad graphic design. I'm saying that I value simplicity (in design and in life) over anything else. Especially packaging design.

If you want to try some of this chocolate & be in your own purple haze, go to the Corn Crib, Moncton.
:o)

nuff said

Dr. Seuss

This is still one of my favorite books. Once in a while, when i need to be set on the right path again, I read it.

Sometimes, I may come across as if things are always peachy keen for me. As if everything falls into place, and I greet each day wearing my rainbow cape & sparkling shoes, ready to tackle the world. Well, have i got news for you. Yes, some days are good, but this doesn't mean I am immune from the bad days. There are days when there's little money in the bank, when loved ones are ill, when i really question whether or not I'm on the right path, and days when I want to set fire to all my work files and buy a first class plane ticket to anywhere but here. But I choose to face those days with courage anyway. And strong coffee. Either way, the day is here, right? I can depress about it till I'm blue in the face (or blue in the heart!) - or i can simply accept the day for what it is & carry on. 

I've said it before & I'll say it again - art always helps me through the tumultuous times. Art & music. And if you think about it - difficult periods are often the source of creativity. If all books & songs & paintings were happy, I'm not sure we'd have much of a perspective on life. Happiness & beauty are important to me, but truth is more important, so if something sucks, it sucks. It's better to say it (or write it, or paint it, or play it) than it is to deny it.

...and chances are good that after it's painted, the burden may feel a little lighter.

marc johns

This guy cracks me up. There's nothing like an illustrator with a great sense of humor.
Smile folks!

last night

Here's last nights' work - about 30 minutes worth. That's really all it takes. And obviously, one doesn't need a fancy shmancy art studio. A little space, a few paints, markers, paper, and you're good to go. We usually have far more time than we think - far more ability - far more to offer the world.

For all the artists out there, find a few minutes in the day to paint something or write something or play something on your guitar. Tonight, instead of planting yourself on the couch in front of the TV, sketch something - even if it's small. It may inspire you (or others) to do more. We need more artists & poets & musicians in the world. Don't wait till you have more time. You never will.

life is good

Sometimes in the morning, i take a little walk to the bay near my home & whenever the tide is low (like it was here), my little walk turns into a longer walk on the sand. I think if we all made time for such quiet moments, life would somehow seem less frazzled.

Things are far from perfect in my life, but at least for today, i got off on the right foot & made my day frazzle-free.

little women...

For months now, I've been wanting to set up an ETSY shop to sell some of my artwork. It's finally done, and I've had my first sale! The girl from New York who bought my print will be getting this little watercolor as an added thank you. It was so much fun to do...

A great weekend to all.

anne frank

Yes, i know. You don't hear from me for months, then 2 postings in one day. Call me unpredictable.

I haven't painted much lately, but this morning, i woke up and just NEEDED to paint. You know the feeling. So i started the day with a good coffee & paint brushes in hand. I painted on heavy paper (rather than canvas), & took a few pics along the way.

I seem so pressed for time lately. There are barely enough hours in the day. Maybe this explains my desperate need to quiet my mind this morning & do something that makes me feel grounded again.

So there you have it. Do you make time for yourself when you feel the need? Einstein was once quoted as saying: "Play is the highest form of research". I hope you're all making time now & then for some serious play.

YEAH!

I can't take credit for this nugget of wisdom.

But it made me smile, so I wanted to share. 

doodle time!

I've discovered a new purpose for all those stacks of glossy photo paper I have hanging around the house. SHARPIE DOODLES!!  It's a perfect non intimidating size - 4" x 6" - and the marker glides so smoothly on the photo paper, it's a real treat. So whenever i have a few minutes to spare and i don't feel like painting a masterpiece, I doodle. I could do the dishes, or clean the house, but that's just boring.

I think doodling should be part of the school curriculum - right alongside meditation.

:o)

the old sketchbook...

I sketched this years ago, when i was in PEI for the ECMA's.

Drawings always capture a moment & bring me back to a specific time. I remember details from this evening, when i can hardly remember what i did last week.

monet

I just came from a morning walk on the beach and while there, I was reminded of this quote i love by Claude Monet. There's nothing like a solitary walk at the ocean to give one perspective. It gives me this, and far more.

I think it's fair to say that I am precisely the woman of isolated sand dunes and wide oceans. :o)