And so it begins...

A few things in the "art life" are aligning themselves...

I am finding that they are happening in 

"groups."
Groups of events...
Groups of people...
c o n n e c t i o n s...

A couple of years ago,
I dared myself to 
b e l i e v e 
I dared myself to face
f e a r
and I dared myself to 
s t e p  o u t...

Stepping out sure looks pretty in a group!

there's comfort in a group,
there's beauty in a group,
and there's fearlessness in a group
I love the connection that art brings! 

Here's one group of lovelies...

Rebecca Klier

Kelly Warren

Sandi Volpe

Dani Keith

Cindi Silverstein

Suzanna Leigh

now showing through the end of the month at LEDE Gallery
To see everyone's work up close and personal, take a peek at
LEDE on Facebook. The SHOP button links to everyone's work.

The other "moon & star" alignment 
involves another group of lovelies...
from the original 101010 project. 
A few month's ago, I hosted a series of artist's interviews 
that had to do with a group of creatives, pursuing their artistic dreams. 
The originator of this fabulous project, Robin Norgren,
compiled a book, based on interviews with over 40 creative women
(including me!!!! woo hooo! I am officially published)
sharing their thoughts on running a creative business.
Spark and Inspire is one amazing collaboration, 
and I am humbled and honored to be part of Robin's vision.

I will be posting a GIVEAWAY in December 
for a PDF COPY of Robin's lovely collaboration! 
The book is available now thru amazon, 
and makes for a wonderful gift.


Along with the PDF giveaway... there will be a  little goody from me 
to celebrate fearless women taking flight!

Stay in the loop by checking back!

Starting to feel 

art emerge.

Soul Work...

Did you ever 
spend time 
working on your 

soul...

Your every day... 

I am here 
because...

I am gifted with

 and love to do this...

because...
soul???

That's where I have been the past few weeks. 

Under a construction of sorts~ 

unearthing,

turning the dirt over,

and digging deep

into the  

w h y 's  the w h o 's and the w h a t 's 

of what I am doing 

in this creative world.

This  s o u l  searching journey 

began at a most relevant time 

for me and my art.

I have been so ready to "grow" my art, 

and am now engaged in 

looking at that process 

from the inside out... 

from the c e n t e r... 

starting with my very own  

w h y?

Can you imagine what this world would be like, 

if more people were looking 

inward 

as part of their business strategy???

And that is why,

 two of the biggest hearts in the creative world

formed this 

r e v o l u t i o n a r y

e-course... Hello Soul Hello Business.

Two notable women, whom I highly admire...

Kelly Rae Roberts & Beth Nicholls,

collaborated and co-created this 

10 week e-course, designed for creative businesses.

Kelly Rae is best known as an artist, author, and possibilitarian- 

(and I do believe, she could add a list of many, many more of credits to her name, 

after only being 3 weeks into this course. Take a look at her story!).

Beth Nichols is known as an artist, entrepreneur, 

and creator of DoWhat You Love artist retreats-

(I'd highly recommend reading her ABOUT ME tab on her website, as it will 

make one's jaw drop to know the ground she's covered in her young life.).

Learning from these two beautiful women, (and an online group of 300) 

has been making changes inside of me on a daily basis.

I am loving... every seed that is being planted, 

fertilized and cultivated through this process.

I am loving... that my paintings are starting out differently...

I am loving... that dots are being connected,

and I am loving...

that something 

soul-FULL 

is happening!

I came across a most appropriate quote....

"Change your mind 

to want what reflects

the You that you are becoming

rather than the You 

that you have been."

~Talyaa Liera

...linking up with the creatives at Studio JRU~ Sneak Peek Fridays.

If you ever wanted to read a story about a creative who is working from her soul, 

check out this week's story featuring... Beyond Words Designs~ Stephanie

And to see some creative blogs with heART... linking up with 

flytribe for valentines day

Seeing the Magic

“Children see magic 

because 

they look for it.” 

- Christopher Moore

Yesterday, I had a lovely opportunity to spend 

a couple hours with my dear friend's grandkids.

We had been talking about 

a painting day for a long time. 

Not only do I have a love for the watercolor medium,

 but I really enjoy introducing children to 

"real"watercolor for the first time. 

It's kind of like...

 taking friend's to Disneyland for the very first time,

and seeing the look on their faces 

when they get off of Space Mountain.

...p r i c e l e s s ...

So, as I am trying to impart some art knowledge, 

and create a fun, playful, experience for the girls,

several thoughts come flooding into my soul....

... children seem to approach painting

u n i n h i b i t e d  

with

w i l d   a b a n d o n

and 

w i t h o u t  r e s e r v a t i o n.

This is my 

t a k e   a w a y, 

every time I work with children.

And it was a 

l i g h t b u l b   m o m e n t 

for me 

when I realized 

that this is the very same thing 

I seem to be striving for 

every time 

I put a brush to paper or canvas.

Perhaps that is why I am loving the concept of intuitive painting

that I learned from Flora Bowley's class. 

Perhaps that is why I love watercolor, 

as it forces me to not be 

so in control of every part of the process...

...and perhaps 

this little painting experience

was timed just right, 

for me to be open 

and anticipate 

*magic!

* I am sooo excited to be participating in an online 

ecourse that starts tomorrow called 

hellosoulbusiness

Another fabulous course taught by the one and only
KellyRae Roberts & Beth Nicholls.

I'll be posting about my experiences in the coming weeks- promise.

Check out the website-
there's still time to join the huge community of creatives!

I'm feeling the magic coming!

and...
...a special thank-you 
to 3 sweet creative little girls
for letting me share 
their beautiful 
artwork above. 

(another beginning of one of my intuitive paintings)

...linking up with Jennifer and the creatives at studiojru -feel free 

to take a peek to see what everyone has been up to!

Speaking of J O Y ...

is the simplest 

form 

of gratitude. 

~Karl Barth

And it is with that same

spirit of 

j o y

 that I am posting 

these "almost finished" pieces.

Last post, I spoke of navigating some uncharted territory-

exploring a new ways of seeing, 

combining elements,

and mixing new mediums. 

I do consider myself an "explorer" here.

Being much more comfortable with watercolor...

I am voyaging down a road less traveled, 

trying to find my own place, 

my own thumbprint, 

my own mark 

in this fascinating and freeing 

world of mixed media.

So, what is missing 

are some words...

I've been pondering what statement or what word, 

belongs on each of piece...

and if there even 

needs to be anything.

Secretly, I've been holding off completing...

as I am going to be at 

Flora Bowley's

 Bloom True workshop 

this weekend.

(If you aren't familiar with Flora's work- check out the links above- 

I am amazed by her color, the freedom expressed, and organic nature of her pieces.)

I've been anticipating this for most of the year-

I am giddy with excitement.

I anticipate

so much inspiration,

so much learning,

and perhaps discovery of a new mark

after this experience.

And along the way... I know those words will come.

(I'll post after the weekend, and share some inspiration from Flora's Workshop!

I am humbled and grateful to have this opportunity... 

have a create-full weekend friends!

Linking up at Studio JRU for a sneak peek Friday~ 

check out what the other lovelies have been up to.)

Singing in the woods...

Use what talents you possess:

the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there 

except those that sang best.

Henry Van Dyke

I always like to start my posts out with a quote that speaks to me..

Words that pertain to what part of the path I'm on...

Words that pertain to the joyful part of the process

or even the angst.

Well... lately I've been feeling really, um... well, in a nutshell... all over the place!

I call it artistic A.D.D.

I feel like I'm jumping from one thing to the next.

Going down several creative path's at once...

trying to find my market, while trying to really find my creative voice...

That creative voice has a lot to say-

(sometimes I think it's more like a creative 

f l a s h m o b

rather than a voice!)

A lot of activity, alot to take in, a lot of energy, 

 a lot of dancing, a lot of people watching, 

waiting for the big finish!

do you ever feel like this?

Not quite sure when the big finish will be, 

or even what it will end up ever looking like... 

but one thing I know for sure,

is that I have

faith

that something good is down the road...

and that I must be still and listen...

and that the woods will continue to have many beautiful sounds,

because of that diverse and wonderful group of artists 

who are patiently using their talents.

 

my latest project... birdie houses! 

Having fun decoupaging these lovely home decor items 

in both botanical and shabby chic style. 

I began creating them for a dear friends wedding, as table decor. 

Since their debut on etsy (www.twig2neststudio.etsy.com), 

I've been getting orders for them to be personalized 

with couple's names, and wedding dates. 

Lot's of possibilities for them.

 

  my favorite felt bird seems to like them too...

and below... the beginning of a couple of mixed media paintings. 

I'm trying something new here friends... 

 more about that next post!

I've missed linking up with Jennifer and the creatives at Studio JRU for a bit. 

(ahhh... the days of summer!)

But today, I'm back in the zone...click the link below 

to see what everyone has been up to.

How does your garden grow...?

I cultivate my garden, 

and my garden 

cultivates me.  

~Robert Brault

(a little watercolor sketch of veggies~ beets or radishes... hmmm?)

It's funny, but I tend to think of working in my garden,

and the whole, bird building it's nest from pieces of straw and twig,

as the metaphor for my personal art process.

Kind of like a "life verse" of sorts... 

my "life metaphor". 

I've always gravitate towards the organic nature of art...

whether it be my subject matter, 

the materials I am working with,

or the kind of classes I like to take.

(And these days, I am sure lusting after a Flora Bowley workshop big time!)

The concept of planting seeds,

the cultivating process,

the growth... 

the end result...

it all fits together most artistically to me.

Maybe that's why I find...
 that I keep posting several areas of the art that I am developing in...

 decoupage... watercolor... oil and mixed media. 
(Rather than focusing on one solid part of this garden- like the tomatoes- 
they seem to be a lot easier to grow).


Maybe that's why some of my art pieces are just little exercises, 
and other's are more finished.


Maybe I am being shaped through this process 
(by the weeds, as well as the water and the soil).
The weeds, being those pesky things 
that get in the way of "creating"...


The more I turn the soil,
 I am starting to see how this process 
"is cultivating me".


What's growing in your "art" garden this week? 

finishing off~ with a grateful

s h o u t   o u t...

to a fellow creative, with a most beautiful line of 

delicate, sweet, elegant and tender jewelry pieces.

I had the pleasure of creating an updated logo for 

Amy Friend 
of 
Cypress Sun Jewelry.

I was honored to be able to collaborate together 

to update her identity, 

that reflects the elegance and simplicity of her most lovely designs.

I am proud to say I own the pieces above.

Major love people.... major love!

and... a  g r a t e f u l shout out 

to another wonderfully creative artist...

that I am so fortunate to know from 

the Kelly Rae flying lessons ecourse last year~

Elizabeth Gonzalez

a lovely ceramic and mixed media artist with a whimsical style.

I am so happy to have received one of her prints 

from her anniversary blog giveaway.

(I have a little secret... to own a piece of art from each of my "fellow flying artistic friends"... 

I have started my collection, and have been adding to it, as I can afford 

or as I was blessed to win~ it just makes me smile!)

grateful!

Hanging out with Jennifer and other creatives at STUDIOJRU

Click the link to take a peek at what everyone has been up to this week.