this question comes up often...

You know... I hear this question quite often.

Sometimes I get so involved in what I am doing/creating that I don't even realize 

that I have not shared.  

My intention is to be more mindful of that. 

After all, the purpose of this blog is about sharing my creative journey.

Just know that I am in my studio daily, unless I'm with my GRANDkids.

I have several projects started, these the ones I have completed.

       

                                                           

        

My customer, Debbie, requested I create a way for her to give photos as a gift and not just in a frame.  

She shares my belief that precious photos should be displayed and not just stored on a phone or in a box somewhere only looked at occasionally.

The first 3 are fused to 1/4" MDF board - the front stippled using matte varnish- there is a wire for hanging.

The photo below was fused to a 1" wood block.

I created a textured back because it will be sitting in a easel.

                    

Stay tuned for what's to come.

Thank You for all of your support and encouragement.

I couldn't do this without YOU! 

Hey Girl!

Look closer...

these girls are not painted,

instead they are collaged with little pieces of paper.

They were as equally fun to create as they were challenging (at least for me).

I found myself inadvertently reaching for a paintbrush or a piece of chalk.

Yet I continued on.

The inspiration came from me thinking of my friends and what their friendships mean to me.  

I am not a gooey-gushy speaking person.

Heck...I am not even a gooey-gushy speaking GRANDma. (they love me anyway!)

Just know in my heart that I truly do value you.

More than you know.

Thank You for accepting me,  just as I am.

Stand by Me

This is on my easel... I started her yesterday.  

I noticed I was getting hung up on details so I gave it a rest, then stopped..  

This morning when I approached it, again, I checked in with my heart.  

I continued with a free, trusting spirit.  

There is depth to this piece and the message it delivers.

Often when there is a shift, fear will rear itself up and cause you to be afraid to move forward.

No one ever wants to be alone in those times.

It's comforting to know that there are people out there who will Stand By You.

Thank You, FaceBook, for the reminder

I was reminded by FaceBook that it had been a while since I posted something.

I'll admit that my knee jerk reaction was to feel shameful.  

I quickly squelched that thought and replaced it with, 

"I am following my heart and it knows the way".  

Oh so true!

My word for 2017 is BALANCE.  

The intention of this word is a reminder that my life isn't only about my to-do lists.  

I do have them everywhere.

I know my lists serve a purpose, they just aren't the only driving force.

There is much more.

I feel at peace with me, as a person, and me, as an artist, when I quiet my mind enough 

to listen for the next step is, then take that step.

I, also, deeply believe in the quote by Picasso...

"Inspiration exist, but it has to find you working."

My first question to myself is...

"If my knee jerk reaction to FaceBook's reminder was shameful. What button did it push?"

It didn't take me long to uncover this answer.

ABANDON:

(cease to support or look after someone; to desert)

Thank You FaceBook for the reminder

#1. The relationship I have with each and everyone of you is vital to me.

FaceBook provides us this place as a way to stay in touch.

#2. I realize I have been swept away with my to-do lists and haven't been in my studio creating on a daily basis. I was out of balance. DUH! That's the reason I have been feeling like sh*t. I changed that today.

Thank You for all of your support and encouragement.

I couldn't do this without YOU!

listen to the messages

This message seems to be presenting itself to me on a regular basis, lately.

I believe it is time to listen.

Pop-Up show at Potterybarn

I am so looking forward to what this adventure unfolds.

custom art for a special day

Recently I was asked by one of my customers, Debbie,  to make a custom piece of art

that she would be giving as a wedding gift.

Her niece had gotten engaged in France, which was special to her.

My customer, Debbie, wanted a way for them to remember that monumental time in their life.
Thus she asked me to create a piece of art using their photo.

This was taken right after he "popped the question".

Here is finished piece using encaustic wax as my medium.

 Here's what I did:

I got a photo enlargement of the village in the background

Adhered it to my substrate

Applied multiple layers of encaustic wax and fused in between each layer

I got a photo enlargement of the engaged couple and cut it out

Burnished it to the background

Applied multiple layers of encaustic wax and fused in between each layer

Added oil paint in areas for accent and enhancement, fused it

I used PanPastel for the sky, fused it

Applied a layer of encaustic wax medium, fused it

I did a stippling technique for texture for the greenery

Followed by etching areas of the buildings

Oil paint was applied in the crevices, then fused it to close the openings from the etching

Applied a layer of encaustic wax medium, fused it

The piece had to rest for a several days before I could move on to framing

Needless to say... Debbie, my customer, loved the piece.

I do, too!