Thursday, July 31, 2014

Authentic Truth

She started out as a pencil drawing on 9" x 12" water color paper and that was all she was intended to be.  I even went so far to spray fixative on her so whatever I had drawn could not be removed.  But I couldn't let her go.  I continued to add details and slowly I began to know that she was going to be more.  She was destined to deliver this message.  Not sure why, I'm just going with it and following my gut instinct.  Could be I was needing to express myself and this is how it came out.  I do know it is an important message.  I strive daily, to the best of my ability,  to be my authentic self.  Heck...some days are better than others. (**wink**wink**)  

Anyway, I wanted to show you how she evolved within the past 2 days.  She was just a simple pencil drawing on watercolor paper.
Then I knew she was meant to be more.  I attached the watercolor paper to a gallery wrapped canvas and added soft colors.  The colors were pleasing to me but I felt they needed to be bolder to stand up to the message she was delivering.
I got bold and added more intense colors,  more texture,  defined her features, and I intensified the border. 
As I am writing this, I am realizing that is how our lives are.   I know at many times in my life I have felt like a simple pencil drawing and not, sometimes, I feel bold enough to carry a powerful message.  There has been many changes within me, just like this piece of art.

I hope I'm not freaking anybody out with my metamorphosis comparison.  I am only trying to be authentic in writing what I am feeling.  Just know I'm smiling on the inside because this is stepping out of my comfort zone and when I press publish, I will have to resist the urge to re-write some of this post or to delete it all together.

ADVERTISEMENT:  She will be part of my "Simple Truth/Simple Remiders" series and is on sale at my on-line store.       http://www.teresacash.com/shop/originalart.html

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

2 more pages + YouTube video

I have steadily been finishing up pages for my Create Art with Abandon journal.  Here are 2 more to be added.  These pages begin as left over pain while working on other art.  Whatever paint is left on the brush just gets wiped onto these watercolor pages, dried,  then stowed away until the next. After a while I take them out and put finishing touches on them.
So I was thinking it would be great to put these pages in a You Tube slide show to be available for all to see.  Here's the link for that, I hop you will check it out and let me know what you think.   (Note:  these 2 pages have not been added yet.)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo1aJrSolOM

Monday, July 28, 2014

three pages added

Yesterday there were 3 more pages added to my Create Art with Abandon journal.  These pages begin with left over paint from mine or students brushes, these pages are used to demonstrate a technique or sometimes the reverse side of a stencils will be added, or simply anything else may included.  The pages are dried then stowed away.  After a while I will remove them from my bin and add details to complete it.  After doing this for many pages, I am totally convinced that art can be created with abandon and that each and everyone of us are creative.  Sometimes we may just need a little guidance and/or reassurance.  This is one of the deciding factors for me to teach Create Art with Abandon classes.  If you want you can read more about my mission here  http://www.createartwithabandon.com
For the one below, it was clearly in my heart and mind to include messages of encouragement.  They are speaking to me and the journey I am on.   I've enlarged the photo so you can take a moment to read the messages, do the resonate with you, too?

Friday, July 25, 2014

Today was the day


I previously attended a brief workshop, I've watched videos, I read thru a book by Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, I purchased supplies, and I had made 3 pieces on 8"x8" watercolor paper.  I was ready to jump in to add encaustic to these pieces.  I set up my work station in the kitchen and set forth on my journey to learn.   I emphasize the word learn because that is what I did.  Or, at least, I began to learn.  There is so much more about this wonderful technique and I am up for it.  At this time I did alot of wax on, scraping wax off because I wasn't sure of what I was doing.  It was then I started chanting my mantra in my head "there's no mistakes in art" and I began to relax and play.

Here are the before and after pictures.  Stay tuned for more samples as I keep soaking up more then trying it out.







Monday, July 21, 2014

it is time to let it go

Lately, I have been spending time drawing familiar faces.  It's been exciting to see the final pieces and having them resemble the person I was drawing.  My latest one was a selfie!  Which I found to be quite challenging.  I should have known to stop there.

This week end I decided to tackle an iconic picture of my Mom from 1958 when she was 33 yrs old.  Anyone who was close to my Mother knows this was, by far, one of her favorite pictures of her.  My Mom was beautiful and she loved having her picture taken.

OMGoodness... I have toiled over and reworked  this drawing almost all week end.  I can't seem to figure out what it needs.  I am even embarrassed to show you (so I won't) some of "what I thought" was finished pieces.  On Sunday my husband convinced me to lay the drawing down and do some yard work.  Which I did and found the change of pace was just what I needed.  This morning when I got up, filled with enthusiasm,  I opened my art journal to finally complete Mom's drawing.  After several hours again of reworking her face I have finally decided to call it quits.

Perfectionism was getting the best of me, I was wanting my drawing to be really, really good.  I know why, too.  It's because of the sentiment behind the photo.  Even though I am 61 yrs. old the little girl inside me was wanting to do a good job for my Mother.   When in actuality, if my Mom was alive and saw it she would say, "Teresa Ann, you did a great job and I look so pretty!" (that's just what Mom's do)

A facebook friend of mine, Suzanne McRae,  asked a question "Who do you pray to when you have lost something and need help finding it? St. Anthony... anyone else?"  Maybe that is my answer.  I'll ask St. Anthony to help me find my mojo for drawing my Mother.

What I know for sure...when creating art and it truly isn't fun anymore I have found it is time to let it go.  Which is what I am doing with this piece.  I have sprayed fixative on it so I will not be able to rework it.  Yet it will be one I to try again once I gain more experience.

OH, I almost forgot to show you the drawing I did of my Mother.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

it is me

I have been dedicating time to draw more faces.  I continue to be surprised that I can even do this!!!  This is the motivating drive behind Create Art with Abandon.   I want to encourage others to let their creative spirit out to play and uncover your creative talents.  WE ARE ALL CREATIVE!   You absolutely never know what is there inside you  until you give it a chance to come out.  I am filled with gratitude that I took the chance to travel this creative path.  I am learning more and more about myself, everyday.  I continue to be thirsty for more. It  was in August 2011 that I drew my first face that ignited my spark.

Yesterday afternoon, I took my pencil and drawing journal, turned on some music, lit some incense, sat in the chair in my studio, and started drawing myself.  I had thought about drawing myself many times but could not muster up the courage.  This was the day I chose to overcome resistance and just do it.     Sometimes it wasn't easy looking at all my wrinkles and darkness under my eyes.  Yet it was me.  I knew my take on it was personal so I asked my husband for his opinion, after all he does see me all the time.   He hesitated, then began his remarks.  Naturally he was right, just don't tell him!  :-)  I proceeded to erase one whole side of my face to begin again.

It's funny because as I write this post and look at my drawing I still see things I could change but I won't.  I delcare it done.  I recall the self talk thru this process and it makes me smile.  
                                                  After all...it is me!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

a family that creates art together...has fun together

I visited my sister, Bonnie,  this weekend in Indiana and decided to gather some of my family together to Create Art with Abandon.  I immediately was able to fill five seats around the table.  They were all ready to be relaxed, hang out with family, and create art.   I enjoyed listening to the remarks and seeing the puzzled looks on their faces after each layer was applied to the canvas.  I know they were wondering how in the heck anything worthwhile would come from the "mess" they saw on their canvas.  With a little reassurance and chanting the mantra "there is no mistakes in art" each person began to to see their piece of art coming to life.  This is the part of teaching Creating Art with Abandon classes that fills me with such joy.  When each person realizes, from deep within, that they are creative.  It touches my heart even more when it's family.  Just look at the awesome pieces they created.  

            
                                            
      

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Family Time = Creating Art with Abandon


Karen was searching for something she and her family could do together.  Looks like she scored on this one!!  Create Art with Abandon was just the right thing.  Just look at those smiles on those faces.  Next scroll down to take a look at the art created.  BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ART!  We even remarked how each piece had a different style.  When you create art with abandon it comes from within out onto the canvas.  I am honored to have the priviledge to witness this time and time again.

We had a really good time!  Karen had taken a class previously and knew this is what she wanted her family to do together.  As you can see, her husband and son joined us and they didn't seem to be there by force.  I will admit that I was a little anxious about having men in the class yet when we began we were creating art with abandon, there was no differentiating between male & female.  A good lesson for me to learn.

Thanks Karen, Brian, Zach,Kate, and Olivia for sallowing me to share family time with you.  It was fun!   I look forward to creating art with you again.


Wednesday, July 9, 2014

gratitude

Gratitude is the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself; it is a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation.  
“First, the prac­tice of grat­i­tude can increase hap­pi­ness lev­els by around 25%. Sec­ond, this is not hard to achieve — a few hours spent writ­ing a grat­i­tude jour­nal over 3 weeks can cre­ate an effect that lasts 6 months if not more. Third, that cul­ti­vat­ing grat­i­tude brings other health effects, such as longer and bet­ter qual­ity sleep time." ~ Psychologist Robert Emmon                             
"Develop an attitude of gratitude and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation" ~ Brian Tracy                                                                     
I implemented the practice of gratitude a little over a month ago.  What I discovered is my  outlook on life has positively increased.  I realize I unconsciously look & see the good things instead of dwelling on the not so good.  My focus is looking at the brighter side even in times that may appear to be not the best.  Have you ever heard this saying or one similar, "what you think about, you bring about?"  If I think about the things I am grateful for, it stands to reason that I will acquire more things to be grateful for.  Right?  I do believe that to be true.
Helping people bring the best of themselves is an integral part of my creative journey.  I enjoy writing in my special journal and I thought you would too so I made some extras.  Each mini journal is  3.25" x 4.5", there are 14 lines on each side of a page to write your  gratitudes, with a total of 160 pages.   What a start of a new way of life.  I have placed them in my on-line store if you want to purchase one. http://teresacash.com/shop/gratitudejournals.html

 They are extremely affordable with a low shipping cost.





Tuesday, July 8, 2014

my mantra

I wanted to share this with you.  
It has been my driving force.
I am defining my artistic voice.
On those days when I start to second guess myself,  this quote keeps me on track.


Sunday, July 6, 2014

I am one happy chick

I feel so happy, relieved, excited, energized, empowered, fearless, artistic, etc.  all rolled into one.   WHY?  You may ask.  Today I overcame a big, big hurdle in my creative journey.  This may not seem so big to some people but to me it was huge!

Three months ago I was feeling the urge to paint on a big canvas.  The largest I had ever painted was in a moleskin journal.  This size, 24" x 36",  I had never tackled before.  I bought all sized of canvases knowing that eventually I would take the step forward.  I, also, prodded  myself along by putting a blank canvas on my wall in the Living Room.  It was like a sticky note reminding me of something to do.
I am more than happy to announce...              I did it!  I did it!  I did it!

I'm  going to hang another blank canvas!



Friday, July 4, 2014

fireworks and joint compound

For those of you who have been following my creative journey this may be a little redundant yet I feel a snippet of my story is important to re-tell.  Why?  Because there are many people sitting on the sidelines believing they "are not creative", this is what I believed, too.    I am here to tell you that is not the truth.  You are creative!  Always have been, always will be.  You simply need to begin to let your creative spirit out to play.

February, three years ago, on my 58th birthday, was a time of awakening for me.  I knew there was more to life then the daily routine of getting up, going to work, coming home, making supper, going to bed, etc. etc. etc.  You know what I'm talking about.  I didn't dislike my life, I just knew there was something more.   That thought remained in my mind/heart for three months, not knowing what to do about it.  Then one day in August I held a pencil in my hand with paper on my desk and I drew a face-this face. ---->
I was so frickin' excited!  
It was in that moment I knew I was creative!!!

Since that time I have been, and still am, on a creative journey to discover who I am artistically.  At first, I had to squeeze time into my task oriented schedule.  Because it was important to me I was able to do that.  I'm trying all sorts of new techniques and I am finding that within each technique there is something that makes me squeal with excitement.  My biggest obstacle I am forever faced with is FEAR.  Fear of this or fear of that!  The more I am aware of this the more determination is sparked to achieve my dream in spite of it.  I heard the saying, "give me a slow beginner and I'll show you a winner".    Well...that's me!  A slow beginner.  My life has changed.  Now that I am expressing myself creatively, I am enjoying life on a whole new level.  I feel more alive from the inside out. 

Back in April I posted about the urge to paint big, yet I was intimidated (fear in disguise).   I pulled out a blank canvas that measures 24" x 36" and hung it on my Living Room wall until I could muster up the courage to begin.  
Feel free to click this link to read more.  http://www.asmilemaker.com/2014/04/yes-i-can-do-that.html  

Fast forward three months to July. (remember I confessed to being a slow beginner!) Today I brought the blank canvas up to my studio  and sat it on my easel to begin painting it.   I decided for my first large canvas will use a lesson from Donna Downey's 48 Weeks class as my inspiration.  It's the fourth of July and the fireworks and joint compound are flying in my studio followed by lots of oo's and ah's.  Note to self:  next time put a tarp or some protective covering on the floor!  :-)  I immediately felt the satisfaction of overcoming a fear by simply beginning.



Here's what I did so far.
I began by mixing gesso with Golden Fluid medium Payne's Gray.  Using more gesso at the top and less toward the bottom.  After that was dry I applied joint compound with a spatula to create clouds.  I allowed the  joint compound to dry a little before brushing more gesso in a circular motion over the joint compound.   As I sit here looking at the painting I feel perfectionism (this is a form of fear) creeping in.   It's time to haul this baby back into the Living Room to dry. 

I sure hope you will stay tuned and be a witness to the progression of this piece.  It will be exciting to have you celebrate with me overcoming fear and creating my first large canvas.
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