Space Issues

Worked on the fish tags. I took this picture last night after seeing my husbands neat and orderly workspace that he set up for the morning. Me, on the other hand, worked in this space!

Heart in the sky

One of the sculptures at the beach.
Blue sky and NO HUMIDITY!! Paradise.
Now I'm off to play with "altering" some photos.

Lotus

I'm back! I'm on vacation. We were in RI for awhile enjoying the peace and quiet and absolutely gorgeous weather. Perfect.
There is an area we pass on our way to Wickford that has lotus flowers. Many people stop by to take pictures and even paint. Most of my mini-vacation was spent behind the camera. I packed art supplies but didn't even take them out. I figure they're packed for next week when we go off to the mountains.

Pre- View

2 more fish tags in progress. I needed to see them on the screen to figure what to do with them. I know I'll add more embellishments to the collage fish...

No Pictures

The Creative Habit: All for the kids.
ok, so the summer has been tough. I don't like summer... and that is putting it mildly.
I work more in the summer, my scheduele changes and I have less time for myself. I am being creative all day long, coming up with creative ideas for the kids. 10 classes a week for 6 weeks.
I spent last night face painting at a carnival and I found myself getting carried away with some of the kids, especially if there wasn't a line. I just wanted to paint. I found myself saying, "let me do one more thing"... and they of course did not mind.
It is hard to squeeze in art for myself. A lot of energy is going out and the well is beginning to dry up. Yes, I need to replenish the well. Inspiration right now is hard to come by. Even using the computer is limited.
I savor any quiet time I have. I try to read before going to bed but I have read and reread the same page now for 4 nights.
Even pictures in the camera are waiting patiently for me.
soon..... this will pass.

Day 200~fish tag sample

I'm playing with some fish tags for another group. They aren't embellished yet. One fish has rhinestones, but nothing else. I haven't punched the hole or cut the corners yet. This is tag book project where they don't have to be the same. Some of mine will be similar but none will be the same. Not sure I will post all of them until I have them sent which is in Sept.
The other 6x6 is my doodle from one night. It turned into a top. One of those times when nothing is planned and whatever comes up, comes up.
What makes you spin?
What spins you?
What churns up the deep waters within?
What makes you spin out of control? Can you spin with Joy?
Spinning around. Seeing it all in a blur and yet still keeping your center..
Maintaining balance. This is a challenge.

Days 184 - 190

One of the things I've been working on is fish tags... not ordinary fish tags, but fish with fashion. I have a couple of ideas...
This is just one I was playing around with - pigma pen and H2o's -but it isn't embellished yet.
The mandala is from last night and this morning. It was a very difficult weekend. My sister-in-law's husband Paul passed away. A gentle soul.
It's been very chaotic here and I sneak in some drawing here and there. This one is called "Going Home"... Which path takes you there?
There are a lot of questions that come to mind when someone passes. This was a beautiful ceremony and I got to see how well loved he was. It is always a reminder to see what is before me and to appreciate what I have. To be grateful for all that there is in life. I awoke this morning appreciating that I was waking up next to my husband.
Appreciate all that you have. Focus on the love surrounds you. .... because it is temporary.

days 182, 183

What hooks you?

Colored in (181)

Last night I went into the back for awhile(needed some space :-) and painted in one of the pen drawings I did on day 176/177
Called "Beej Mantras" they are the seed sounds for each chakra or energy centers in the body.
I don't really like the color for the throat center. That one should be blue, then indigo then purple.
oh well.....

Day 181 God's Eye

I started a handmade journal, covering some pages with paint with the intention of collaging on them. This is the second one. The first one was in January! I like the size of the journal. A nice break from the 6x6 inch format.

178.179, 180 Altered Photos

I worked on some collage (not posted) and I played with some photos I took of Jake, Jessi and Roukin.
A boy and his dog.. Y

175,176,177

Some of what I've been playing with. The 2 black and whites will get some color eventually.
I started a collage today, that I will upload later.
Feeling very restless.

Solstice *Days ..172,173,174

Heart Seeds II
Planting seeds of kindness in the hot summer sun.
Take note how easy it is to do something nice for someone - to smile - to open a door - to be kind.
I think it takes more energy to be mean, nasty, grummpy and it sure saps the energy from you and those around you.
Take a moment to be kind, send goodwill, send out some healing light - loveY kindness.

Thurs. I worked on certificates for yoga.

........up to 172

Much of my creativity lately has been poured into creating a yearbook for the children's center, so I have been photographing and collaging with pictures. Aside from that, maybe "creative movement" is also included as I had to create an hour long yoga class for my last class. It ended up being longer and I tried some new stuff. I enjoyed myself with it :-)
I finally got back to my artroom Monday and started another mandala.
The mandala is HeartSeeds.

Day 166, 167 Begin Again

Allowing the Seed within to come forth and shine. If I don't sit and do the work, the seed may wither and die, it's potential never realized.

Sometimes it takes EXTREME effort to make the first move. But once movement is initiated, once I have begun, then the rest can follow effortlessly because the hardest part is over.

Beginning.

Tending to the seed.

Countless Days 153 -166

I have been very lax in keeping track of what I have been doing on each day. Some days are "hardly anything". Last night I had to force myself to go into the back room instead of going to sleep. I've been watching tv!
What I have been doing: I started a yoga journal with illustrations. (no pictures posted yet),
I have been taking photos. Working on a yearbook for the children's center, taking pictures of them and collaging them.. I also went back to my altered book.
One day after class, I had all this wire thrown on the table and it reminded me of scribble drawings where you find an image within it. I did 2 of them.
The fishy drawing is called "Stage Fright". Sometimes we just need to push forward and do that which frightens us. One never knows what the response will be!

Tag....

The tag, one of 36, for the technique book in Colorerratica group. Can't wait to get back a book.. very cool idea. Everyone chose a color. 5 people with one color, so we will get back a nice rainbow book with techniques on the back. Mine is the background technique using the distress inks.
Going in the mail today..

Altered Poppies

Altered Poppies. These were done a couple of days ago, but never uploaded..

Day 153 ~ Who Am I?

Who Am I? Probably the number 1 question to we all ask ourselves at one time or another. What should I be doing? What is my purpose? And we seek the answers in various place. Outside ourselves, we search for it in the work we do or in the people we relate to and sometimes in the stars.... I have always searched for answers or maybe just for some kind of validation that I am moving in the right direction or that yes, this is where I should be.
So this is another aspect of ME... the seeker, searching for answers and even though I believe the answers are within us, I still need some validation.
I may try this again as I don't really like the way it came out. I like the idea, just not how I did it. I don't like the way the silver paint looks.

Day 150-152

finished up the laundry room today....
yesterday I finished the tags. Completed the back and put some fiber through the hole.
There are things I would still do, but they are moving.... and I get to do it all over again in the new house!