how do you make sense of a crazy world?

hello everyone!

My journal entry from

November 29th, 2016:

*****

I just came back from a beautiful walk.

The sun was shining and as I walked,

it started snowing at the same time.

Part of the sky was dark and cloudy,

ant the other part was blue sky.

So pretty.

The snowflakes falling

looked like little sparkles

or sprinkles in the sky.

It's moments like these

that feel blessed to me.

And i hesitate to say blessed

because it implies there is someone

or something

doing the blessing,

and that's just not what I believe.

It's just that whenever I see something like that,

or hear beautiful music -

even just a single note sometimes,

I feel like my insides turn to mush

and I am somehow weaved in

with the note or the snowflake

or the singing bird and for a moment -

we become one.

I know it sounds corny,

but whenever these moments happen for me,

everything makes sense.

It is no doubt what Eckhart Tolle calls

being in the moment.

It's not that everything makes sense, really,

but more like nothing else exists

outside of my tiny moment

with the snowflakes.

Like the rest of the world comes to a stop

and my moment happens in slow motion -

to make sure i grasp the significance.

It is during times like these

that I am grateful

for my artist heart.

*****

So it's been a rough past few months
for many of us
and as much as I am still saddened
by everything happening in the world,
specifically the hatred
I am reminded every day
that there are still small miracles
all around me and that
I am still the same person.
Only maybe more resilient now.
Maybe more determined
to speak out when it's time
for my voice to be heard.
I still love books.
I still love painting.
And writing.
I love my family
and my friends.
I love connecting with others
around the world (like you!).
These things will never change,
regardless of what is happening
around me.
I hope you are finding 
some sort of peace with it all too.
Especially my American friends.
Regardless of who you voted for,
let's face it,
there's a lot of uncertainty
for a lot of people right now.
Sometimes, having the world around us
shift in strange and unpleasant ways
makes us even more determined
to take our place in it.

On another note,
I did some cards with my acrylic paintings
and ordered them from Vistaprint
during their Black Friday sale (60% off!)
and I got them yesterday.
So exciting!

I like sending a little something extra
to those who buy from my ETSY shop,
so I'm pretty happy with these.

I'll be sending some
in Christmas cards this year as well...

I love the combination of
art and words.
Both are equally important to me.

Big love to every one of you.
xx

sailboat progress and Keith Richards

hi everyone!

Remember the sailboats?

I started them back in June...

you can see the earlier stages here.

I had a wonderful painting session last night

as opposed to the uncertain, doubtful, frustrating session

the previous night. 

:-)

I put on some good music,

lit a nice scented candle,

and played till the wee hours.

Well, not really "wee"...

it was only about 11pm when i stopped

although i probably could have painted till 3am,

but being a designer by day

means i need to get up for work

so 3am is out of the question.

It's times like these i miss not having 

a bajillion bucks in the bank.

These photos are more blue than the actual painting

but i didn't bother adjusting any colors.

I just wanted you all to see the progress...

one more sitting and i suspect it'll be done.

I'll post when it is.

I always know when to stop 

whenever i'm doing a commission.

Painting from a photo is never as daunting to me

as painting from an idea in my head.

My lovely palette of messy colors.

I heard something on the radio this morning

about Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones

and it made me laugh.

I basically just have to look at him

and he makes me laugh.

Kinda like a cartoon character.

He was quoted as saying something like this:

"Sometimes, i forget how to play certain Rolling Stones songs,

but even when i forget,

my fingers always remember."

Considering everything this man has lived through,

i'm surprised he even remembers to breathe. 

Actually, sometimes - i'm not quite sure he IS breathing...

;-)

So right after i heard that quote,

i was inspired to draw Keith...

A quick sketch,

but a drawing nonetheless.

I actually think he's great,

and i love the Rolling Stones too.

We saw them in an outdoor concert here a few years ago

and it was one of the best concerts i've seen.

Anyone who can move the way they do

at their age,

after all they've "experienced"... (wink wink)

leaves me impressed.

Maybe they're just pickled?

but still,

i'm just saying... i love their music.

So here's to you, Keith!

A mini marker drawing,

done with Crayola Pip Squeaks. 

You just can't draw Keith with a smooth pencil...

It just don't seem right... ;-)

xox

sailboats and Brené Brown

hi everyone!

Happy hump day.

Remember the sailboat painting?

I finally continued it last night...

The sailboats aren't all yellow in reality.

At this point, i'm just looking at dark and light

and i'll be adding the color of each boat later.

Initially, i thought i would paint the sky around the white lines (sail posts)

and then i wondered why the hell would i do that

instead of just painting the white lines after the sky is done?!

Duh.

Sometimes, when i'm painting, i get caught up in the moment

and i think my brain ceases to function.

My heart works fine,

but my brain is sometimes a little off.

;-)

I know professional artists who paint from left to right.

Some who paint the front first,

and work their way back.

Some who paint the lighter colors first,

and then the dark.

There's no right or wrong way to paint.

Don't let anyone tell you it needs to be done

a certain way

to qualify as art.

The only way it needs to be done

is your way.

I always look forward to sitting for another few hours with a painting.

I'll post the finished piece on my blog when it's done.

Flora Bowley recently said something that i thought was interesting.

She talked about the importance of just painting

(or journaling, or writing, etc.)

The percentage of time we spend making art

should be higher

than the percentage of time we spend on the computer

looking for inspiration.

We all need inspiration now and then

but more than anything -

we just need to do our own thing,

share it with the world,

and go to our next own thing, right?

I watched a 20 min. video on TED yesterday

that i thought was profound.

Brené Brown, on vulnerability.

You can watch it here.

I believe that being vulnerable

is necessary in art.

In music.

In writing.

In blogging.

If we never risk anything

and keep ourselves safe and protected in our little bubble all the time,

how can that ever be growth?

How can being static ever become the birthplace of creativity?

I believe creativity happens because there is vulnerability.

A little reminder...

for those interested in leaving their names

for my 1st giveaway (scuba girl!)

you can do it here!

Draw happens tonight!

Yay!!

xoxo