Wine and Canvas Night...

I finally got to launching a little project that I've been working on for months. 

And who better to launch it with 

but a very dear group of friends that have the most open 

"a r t   h e a r t s".

For a while now... 

(probably since the original Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons course)

I've been working toward offering classes for children & adults. 

In the big picture plan, 

I've had the intention of sharing the joy of artmaking 

with groups of people that may, or may not, 
have had any art background. 

Intentions to teach others how to see...
how to use color...
how to create...
and how connect with their abilities.
An intention of paving a way for others to contribute 
something lovely to the world 
as well as to themselves.

Well, last week, I presented my group 
with a mixed media collage night...
"Wine & Canvas" to be exact.
The wine may have come first, 
but everyone was super excited to get to the canvas.
We did a step by step 
and everyone discovered 
that they truly could!

They truly could...  

c r e a t e...

m a k e   a r t...

c o n n e c t   w i t h   c o l o r...

and have fun.

It was magical!

The j o y was 

immeasurable...

...so grateful to have started this chapter.

The door has opened, and more classes are forming.

Working on video's and lot's of fun stuff to share.

want to know more... send me an email... workshops forming...

Changes in an Art Life...

Have you ever had that feeling that things are about to change? 

That feeling deep in your gut

that you know you are on the pinnacle 

of something shifting?

admission...

"change is hard".

I started out this year with an anticipation of big change.

Pursuing and persisting after it.

Being bold, by taking two courses 

to help navigate the way 

toward a new

a r t   l i f e

Being brave, 

by taking 
one challenging art business course, 

while igniting 
my creative side 

with a 
free & wild 
art journaling class.

I've been on a soul searching journey,

knowing well, that
 a lot of work had to be done
 in preparing to 

redirect and create 
what I really want from this

a r t   l i f e.

I spoke about this incredible soulful business course in my last post...
(Hello Soul Hello Business::  by the notable & wonderful Kelly Rae Roberts & Beth Nichols)

 It is happening...

I can see the pieces 
being reorganized.


...and it is really hard work... who'd think it?

It's kicking my butt,

making me face fears,

and showing me that  
transitioning to 
any new
a r t   l i f e 

takes time, effort, soul, and a whole lotta of work. 
So, this is where I've been at... working on the soul,
 of my... soon to be... new...
a r t   l i f e
In a space of exploring my art style through journaling and painting.
(the best class ever by Christy Tomlinson:: The Art of Wild Abandonment
featuring art journaling with Junelle Jacobson  & Christy Tomlinson) 


In a space of learning, and planning... 
In a space of incredible creativity and fun,
and in a space 
that is pushing so much on the left side of my brain 
that it may actually burst! 
So grateful, for the journaling right brain class 
to keep it all in balance.

...so thank goodness for 

Spring
and all of the change it brings...


the season that reminds us 
to see new blossoms...
that season that teaches us to anticipate
growth and beauty.

(and in case I haven't officially said it, the "new art life" is all about creating a space 

to sell my art paintings, offer workshops, and develop soulful ways to share the gifts I've been given

 to bring creativity, connection, and joyfulness, while inspiring others to see the gifts in themselves .)  

An unofficial vision statement.... hmmmm....

(Note:: the painting at the top is a 36 x 48 acrylic, intuitive- 

prints soon to be available in my etsy shop... 

taking big steps...)

linking up with Jennifer & the artistes at studiojru

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!

Youer than You... Me-er than Me...

“Today you are 

You, 
that is truer than 
true. 
There is no one alive 
who is Youer 
than You.” 

Dr. Seuss

Where to begin... where to start. 
I had no intention of letting so much time pass between blog posts. 
I got to thinking
(upon reading these words from the Dr. Seuss Happy Birthday to You book)
that I was off being ME...
Me-er than Me 
I suppose.


Summer ended, before one could blink...
we quickly rolled into a "new season" 
that's making me think,
what will this season bring, 
a continued uncertainty?
or... perhaps growth, a clear path,
& a door opening for me.
Dr. Seuss is certainly contagious.
I just had to do it!

A few highlights from the past few weeks 
that have kept 
me 
being 
me...

I'm feeling the process of stretching myself into some uncharted territory.

The  b l o o m  piece above 

gives a little sneak peek 
into a style I see developing. 
I am exploring a new way of seeing, a new way of combining elements, 
and a mixture of new mediums. 

This kind of "art play" has been a freeing and joyful experience. 

b l o o m 
gives me a sense

that I am 

opening 

up a bit.
(I'll be posting 2 more pieces this week ~ I'd love your input friends...)

A most exciting thing happened a couple of weeks ago... 
I was featured in the "shared stories" segment of Beth Nicholls blog.
(blush and gush)

I was honored and thrilled to share some thoughts 
on the"doing what you love" space. 
Beth Nicholls has a beautiful way of bringing us to the place 
of seeing our value, and feeling encouraged, 
to do what we love for life.
I've been reading the inspired stories of other artists, 
gathering insight, from many amazing artist interviews,
and planning to fly into another level of growth by 2012 
with the soul sessions e-course being offered 
by the fabulous duo~ Kelly Rae Roberts & Beth Nicholls.
(check it out- sign up's are still available).
Many good things to look forward to!
And a sign of growth ahead...

(grow botanical decoupage plate)

I'll leave you with my heart and some warm coffee 

until the next post!

Linking up with the creatives at StudioJRU~

stop by 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.