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"The proper use of imagination is to give beauty to the world..." Lin Yu-T'ang

Friday, December 31, 2010

Winter Wonderland


"Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true."
~Alfred Lord Tennyson

Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Let It Snow...


“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand-and melting like a snowflake...” 

Francis Bacon Sr.


I posted this picture on Mortal Muses: 9 Muses Musing. Check out some other interpretations, lots of cool pics there!

 

 Merry Christmas,

 

Monday, December 20, 2010

Published in Somerset Studio Magazine!


I am absolutely thrilled to have received my complimentary copy of the Jan/Feb issue of Somerset Studio magazine today and find my artwork on page 113! What an honor to be published in my favorite art magazine! It's a piece called Beauty In The World that I submitted back in August for their Poppy theme. Somerset Studio is published by Stampington & Co. which puts out a slew of beautiful magazines that showcase the most wonderful art. The Jan/Feb issue is absolutely gorgeous with some of the most beautiful art ever. It's such a delight to see such wonderful creativity!



Beauty In The World

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Season's Greetings


I am loving Kim Klassen's Skinny Mini Photoshop class! 
And I am so thankful all that the season reminds me of. My family, my friends old and new, all of the good things in my life as well as the challenges that bring me new skills and new strength. 
Wishing you all the very best this season.


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hang it up Part 2

Previously, I posted some photos of some of my art that is currently in my home for Michelle Ward's Street Team Challenge. I got inspired to do something new. I've been wanting to hang something in my bathroom to spruce it up a bit and I've had roses on my mind, (or rather in my camera and on my computer). I decided to take two pictures I particularly like and add layers and textures to them in photoshop. Here's how they turned out:


I'm really pleased with how they turned out (and my find on the silver frames). They really go quite nicely in my bathroom and I think they're happy in their new home. It really is fun to have things around me that I love and that I have created.




Friday, December 3, 2010

The Old English Village That Saved Me

My husband's favorite Christmas decoration in our home is the little English village I painted 20 years ago. Every Thanksgiving he excitedly puts it up to enjoy every second of its time to be displayed. 


 There's a story behind this little village. The story of how I came into art and how art open me up.


I was waiting for my paperwork to go through the red tape state to become a certified music teacher. It was during the month of December and I knew I wouldn't be able to teach until January. I lived alone at the time and struggled with depression. I needed something to keep myself busy and productive. I thought about what I could do for the month and decided on a whim to go over to a local art store. 

 

The little bare, bisque houses caught my eye and I thought to myself, This is it. The perfect project to keep myself busy and productive and have something at the end of the month to show for it. It became my symbol of survival and resourcefulness. A solace that I would return to anytime I needed something to focus on, something to keep myself busy and creating. Something to remind myself of my aliveness.


 I didn't "know how" to paint at the time. I'd never painted anything before. But while I was at the art store, something whispered to me from deep inside myself and said "Do this." I followed the advice fell in love with painting. It was so natural. So easy. So relaxing.


The time went by so quickly. The month was up before I knew it and I had a beautiful, little village that had grown one little building at a time on my counter top. 


What I had discovered was not the end product. And although I was extremely pleased and surprised at how they had turned out, what I loved was the process and what happened inside myself that made a difference in my life; my outlook, my well being.


I had discovered how to bring to the outside what I knew resided inside. To bring my expression of beauty and joy to physical reality. This is something I was never able to do with music.What a relief and a joy to find some place where I am able to express myself so freely.


The holiday season means something different for each of us. Whether it's a season of fun or meaning or celebration or whether this season has brought a challenge to your door, my wish is for connection to others and to yourself. And for freedom and space to express what resides quietly within the heart.

All the very best.
 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Branches

"Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, 'I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I'm going to snow anyway.'"
~Maya Angelo


I submitted this photo to Echo. This week's prompt is branches.