A New Workspace

Look what happened to come my way the other day! An antique writing desk and new workspace for me. And so beautiful too. It's so nice to have a real place to work after working at the dining table for the past year. It needed some cleaning up and still needs a bit of TLC to make it sing, and sing I'm sure it will. It's more than a little distressed, which I kind of like, it seems like it has many stories to tell. Lots of beautiful, intricate details on the desk and chair both. I'll be re-finishing it at some point but I will leave it's original cream and gold colors.

Have you ever seen drawers galore like these? I'm sure I can find many pretty things to stash in here...and here...and here...and here...

Huey has found a new favorite place to sleep. Mystery has been curling up on top of the desk. He moved when I went to get the camera however, and now has gotten the point that he must lounge elsewhere.

A Touch Of Nature

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
William Shakespeare

Blooming

I am having so much fun in Flora Bowley's e-course, Bloom True. This is what I have so far on one of three canvases that I've started. There are several layers including a black and white layer and a translucent layer. The value contrast layer really brings the most drama to the painting and changes the painting drastically. I just love what is going on here, the colors and the marks, and can't wait to see where it takes me from here. I'm finding the process thrilling. Here are the other two:

A few things I've learned so far:

• To keep my warm colors separate from my cool colors for now. Really helps maintain the integrity of the colors.
• To use my brushes in an infinite variety of ways.
• Every mark is supposed to be there. :-)
• Not to worry about what happens or what gets covered up.
• To trust the process, to trust myself.
• To rotate my canvas.
• To not become too attached to any image or idea too soon. Give the painting time to emerge.
• Variety, variety, variety. The under painting gives the painting it's depth. :-) (love this one!)
• To enjoy finger painting (I remember thoroughly disliking finger painting in kindergarten!)

Signs of Spring

"Beauty is not caused. It is."

~Emily Dickinson

There are signs of the coming spring all around now. Pink and white blossoms have begun to pop out and the daffodils are beginning to bloom. Spring is lovely with it's burst of new life after a cold, sleepy winter. The flowers and blossoms ready and willing to show their IS-ness. No fuss, no angst, no strife...just Being. Beautiful.

Good Morning

I was up at 6 am this morning (not so atypical for me). The gloomy, rainy, windy weather kept me awake in the wee hours and actually put me in a quiet, reflective mood the way only that kind of weather can. Spending some early morning time searching, reading, looking, listening to what inspires me and enjoying the quiet when no one but me and the cat are up, is a delightful part of my day that I look forward to. After a few moments of jotting things down in my journal, I started my yoga practice and meditated for a few minutes. A walk outside and then a cup of tea, and I was ready to go. Today is day two of Flora Bowley's e-course and I'm so excited after weeks of feeling very nervous. Today was "free play" (my phrase), of just laying down a foundation of warm color mix to work from and so much fun! Watching the warm colors swirl around in a mix of pigment and water made for interesting texture and designs. I won't be documenting the whole process, but here's a peek at what one of my foundations looks like (as likely no one will ever see it after this).

After painting a couple of foundations, I got busy on my History of Women in Art test. Does anyone else get nervous about tests? Oh, my, I was even dreaming about it all the while telling myself, "It's only a test!" Well, here it is early afternoon, and everything is finished, the big things that were on my list anyway. Now I have time to do a little reading for class, do a little record keeping, return a couple of emails and then make dinner. After that will be some nice relaxing time with my family and maybe a glass of wine.

Here's some beautiful music by Kyrstyn Pixton that Flora featured today. Both women are from Portland, OR as am I. Enjoy.

Ordinary Things::Colorful Crystals

"Study a lifetime and you see different colors of the same jewel."

~Richard Bach

Here's today's Ordinary Things. I used my Storm Clouds texture on this image after tweaking the levels a bit. These happy, colorful, little stones brighten my spirits on any day but especially gray days like yesterday and today. Their colors and shapes are all so interesting, not one like another. I have them sitting on a small shelf with a few other ordinary things I especially enjoy that brighten my spirit and help me remember that "it's the little things"...literally!

Have a beautiful, colorful day,