Lesson 5 and at the half way mark . . .

Wow, it's been a busy week or art, b-day celebration, reading and a new online class starting up with SuziBlu. The pictures posted are the 5th lesson in Julie Prichard's Layer of Love class. The object was to find a picture as inspiration and use the colors to create our piece. Well, my inspiration was a bit lighter in color, but I love the richness of the purples and golden colors my finished painting turned out to have. By the fifth lesson I can tell I am getting more comfortable with the process and can't wait to use these pages in a journal at the end of class. Julie is starting a journal class in September, I think I may just have to take a stab at that one, too! Yesterday I saw the Body Works exhibit in Balboa Park and it was fascinating! A fun day of lunch at the Prado for Linda's B-day and then an afternoon at an excellent museum exhibit. Last night was the Affirmation Card exchange group and after that - home to bed, it was a full day! My days are filled with art and at night I find myself dreaming of colors and shading and mastering technique. I am visiting with my mom and sister next week, but will be home in time to take another Karen O'Brien class at Stamping Details - I love her classes, can't wait to show you what we do in there!

Adding a little fiber art to my summer. . .

I mentioned a few posts back that I am also working on KC Willis' Collage Camp piece. Well, I am not quite done, but am posting what I have done so far. A few more additions to this and I will be able to call it complete. This was a fun project and I would like to work on this on a smaller scale and put some into a book form. I also signed up for a clay working class online and will post my pictures from that class when it has dried a bit more. Oh, and did I mention I also signed up for a face sketching/poetry journal class online, also? Okay, now you see how obsessive I get when I find something I like. I couldn't just buy one pair of cute shoes, I'd have to buy them in 3 or four different colors! I'm not the only one am I?!!! This creative spurt is keeping me up until after midnight these days. It is nice that these are the long days of summer . . .

The painting continues . . .

Today I am posting lesson 3 and 4 from Julie's class and I am loving this! I feel like I am learning so much and I love the way Julie has structured her class. I can see the progress I am making from my first attempts to just working through the 4th lesson. I am learning to trust my intuition and to find my way with the paint. That is a good feeling.
Speaking of good feelings, I have been lucky enough to work with a couple of groups of women this week and I am loving the sense of art community. I do like my alone time to create, but there is something fun about being with other people and chatting about the process. Ahhh, life is good.

Again, with the painting, lesson 2 .

This is my painting from Julie's online painting class, lesson number 2: The Old Sea Calls to Me. I love the blues and greens, and I have to say, the colors are richer in person than the scanned image is portraying. I am learning a lot about layering and blending and creating interest in my pages, and I am loving it! I can't wait to work my way through all 9 lessons. Yup, you are going to have to see all nine! The next one is in golds and browns, loving the rich colors we are using and learning how to age my work.
Today is a very quiet 4th of July here in town, Happy Birthday America! J is on a long hike. I am trusting he is where he wants to be on the trail at this time. I am looking forward to hearing from him stating that he has completed his hike and is on his way home. I am doing painting lessons, finishing up some pieces in the art room that are waiting for final touches and making ribs and potato salad for our dinner! A pretty darn good day I would say!

Take a little red, a little blue . . .

I have been excited about an online painting class that Julie Prichard is offering in her land of Lost Luggage! Today I took the plunge and did my first lesson and created a couple of fun pages! I was nervous to start, but it is not hard and it is actually very fun! Julie is a great teacher! this is my first attempt to do a painting class online and I like it! The class is still open for registration, so head on over to http://www.landoflostluggage.typepad.com and see what all the hoopla is about! I can't wait for the journaling class that starts this fall!
I also am doing an online class with KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch and I am almost done with my first piece for her Collage Camp. I will get that wrapped up and post a picture in the next couple of days! My summer vaction is definitely off to a good start!

Little bits and pieces . . .

The piece I am sharing today was made with little bits and pieces I've picked up over time. When I thought about the words bits and pieces I was reminded of life and how the little bits and pieces of our days become our lives. Some of the pieces on this doll were given to me, likewise the wisdom given to me by my mom. Some were picked up off the ground, like things learned through the school of hard knocks. Some were bought to be used one day, similar to good times shared with those we love which carry us through the tougher times we have to face later.
When I first made this doll, I liked her. Then I looked at her and thought she looked too much like a robotic type warrior. Then I looked at her some more, and I softened to the way she is. Now when I pass her on the wall, she makes me smile. Thinking today about the bits and pieces and how they come together to create our lives.

Sunday morning reflections . . .

Settling back into the comfort of sitting here with my blog and letting a few ideas "spill on to the paper." I realized that I am resistant to being here when I find I haven't been creating and don't have new pictures to share everyday about my current project. I want to move beyond that and post new things when they happen, but give myself permission to come here when it may just be my words that I am creating with on any given day. I find myself wanting to take a time out with all the competition I have been imposing on myself in the creation process and allow myself the joy of just being in the process once again. I have missed that. I don't want to be justifying what I have been making or not making, and I want to honor my walk on my own path of discovery and achievement. And I want to stay connected with anyone who finds themselves on this page on any given day and wants to share where they are on their journey. It's the connection I crave, not the competition. Already my heart feels lighter for having shared this and I am happier for having been here today.