back to school

it is back to school time and hopefully there's some fall weather in store before long! i'm excited to tell you about the online course i'm taking from artist/teacher kelly rae roberts. i've enjoyed kelly's art for a couple of years now so i was super excited to find her offering a course on marketing, publishing, printing and more! having said this i'm staying busy as a bee dividing my time between work + painting + studying + blogging ;) and all the other day to day activities! this is a wonderful busy as i'm learning lots of new ideas and techniques and really finding myself inspired! a good dose of inspiration is a wonderful thing every so often and can be found in a class or a favorite magazine, while taking a walk or listening to music! what inspires YOU? i dropped in to say hi and post a few pix of things i'm currently working on. i'll be back very soon to tell you about my fall art journaling class i'll be teaching locally and about a dear friend of mine who INSPIRES me :) ciao!

'brave girl' 16x20 collage on canvas

'imagine' 10x12 collage on canvas

my window of inspiration...new studio wall art :)

more inspiring words :)

diving in!

i've just shared my blog with my flying lessons 2011 class!!! up to now the only people who've seen my blog are my SO, my sister and one friend (who found it all on her own!)  i didn't want to share it with anyone until it was all lovely and perfect...posts, photographs, sidebars and secret buttons! i'm past that now and am taking a leap! yesterday i imported my very first badges...and created a few of my own....any favorites? :)

more "in progress"

these are smaller canvas/collage works that allow me to explore a completely different direction than the large abstract canvases.

in progress...

do you ever put off sharing something because it's 'in progress', not a completed work? it's kind of like not missing the journey by focusing on the destination. so...here i am to share some works "in progress". they aren't 'finished'..and believe me, they may not resemble what they are now when they are completed. i'm known for layers and layers and layers.... but can't miss enjoying the process.

IF YOU DARE

my oldest son is here to visit for a couple of weeks...needless to say i'm enjoying every minute...and have to share a bit about our time last night. first i must say, he has a passion for music...a true passion. he is mostly self-taught, which i consider to be an advantage at this point. the lyrics he has written are full of truths, fears, dreams and beauty. (can you tell i'm his MOM? lol)  he wants this dream...he wants this to be his reality. he is committing time, practicing and even stepping out on a limb now and then. he has played and sang at 'open calls', in FRONT of people. i never thought i'd see him conquer that fear. passion will do that to you. passion will allow you to confront your fears, to climb over mountains, to knock on door after door after door....because you know what is IN you, what you are capable of...what can really happen IF YOU DARE. so i find myself encouraging him last night ...almost to the point of nagging...because i so want him to believe in himself. fact is, he does.what _I_ am learning is that i need to practice encouraging and nurturing MY dreams and inspirations like i do those of not only my sons, but every other person i know! why not listen to my own doubts and fears and come back with wise and wonderful words to build up my creative spirit. i believe self-love and self-confidence is something many artists have difficulty practicing. i'm glad that i see it...and i'm committing myself to being an encourager to self :)

magic fingers ;)

all smiles