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2014: a year to deep•en

1/9/2014

6 Comments

 
Picture•traveling dreamer• 2014 (30x30 acrylic on canvas)
I loved having a 'word of the year' in 2013: it was a filter through which I ran many choices, a reminder of my intent, and a way to focus. Looking back I felt like I had indeed 'unleashed' creatively speaking.

For 2014, I was excited to pick another word-nudge, and 'deepen' emerged unbeckoned. I recognized a desire to anchor the unleashed creativity to a deeper part of myself.



The first finished piece in 2014 is called 'traveling dreamer' :  a personita journeying  in a colorful dream world.

The background for this piece came out of an amazing class I took at the "Call of the Wild Soul" retreat in Petaluma last November. The talented artist who taught it had been one of my art heroes: Tracy Verdugo . She is, in real life, as bright and beautiful as she appeared in her social media: but she is also humble and genuine. 
The process and the experience of the class were inspiring, but my painting itself was ... meh! Looking at in in the last couple of months, I realized that, although a good exercise, I needed to make the painting my own. I needed to go deeper if I wanted to bring it out. Even though I didn't love what I had, I was kind of afraid I would obliterate the play I had created at the retreat, so I hesitated. But the other day I got brave, and deepened, and this little personita came out to reward the risk I took. 

I am now sure that 'deepen' is an excellent word to challenge myself in 2014. Scary-good.
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symbols
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add a little color
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full color
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end of workshop look
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Digital Art

9/15/2013

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I have discovered a new toy in somebody else's computer (>wink<) ... a bamboo tablet that does not get along with my Mac, but DOES let me play... These are some of the Personitas I created while learning what it can do... I am thrilled with the results... Somebody said "Holiday Sale" inventory?
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July MIA

8/1/2013

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OK, so this is a new low!
ZERO blog posts in July.
But, as always, context is very important in Understanding (and Justifying). 

So check out this equation: 
Prfct PDX Smmr Wthr + Rd Trps & Adventrrrrs + Wdding Celebs & Berry Pckn' = Zero Blog Posts in July
It is as true as the summer day is long, I swear!

So we move on, and conveniently today is August First. 
New Month... new attitude? 
We'll see.

And, although it did not show up in the aforementioned equation, PAINTING has been a part of July.
Here are some pieces to prove it!
Enjoy
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Beach Baby

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bedtime

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Summer

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Portland Girls on Bikes

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On the easel

6/10/2013

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Let it Free
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Personitas

5/31/2013

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She's done!

5/20/2013

11 Comments

 
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I am fast learning about consistency in social media... Having a blog, a FB page, an etsy shop all take time and attention. If I don't feed said outlets news of my creative adventures, 
it feels like I virtually disappear 
... and I am adventuring alone.

Alone = Comfortable
*and always has*

As I have admitted in earlier posts, being vulnerable and 'exposed' is NOT my cup of tea. I read Brene Brown and sigh with admiration. Oh, the courage! And then I close and lock the door to my studio to create in peaceful isolation and comfort.

So I know that we teach what we ourselves need to learn, and I continue to learn that the journey has twists and turns, peaks and valleys, swampy bits and freezing snow. And then I gather myself, and resurface 
to thaw in your presence,
 my friends and fellow creatives.

I offer you a sampling of what's been keeping me sane in the studio!


If you care to open up to me and share a comment, I'd love to hear from you!
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On the Easel: A progress report.

4/28/2013

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Girl with Butterflies in her hair. Acrylic on board.
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Sometimes I find  myself trying to do e v e r y t h i n g. At once. So the blogging falls behind, because, amongst the things that get accomplished --like planting an all-too-early-garden & training for dragon boat races-- are NOT finishing paintings...

So here's some evidence that art-things are still moving along! And I am excited to say, that my 'end of the month' report will contain another milestone! Keep tuned in, and I will keep you posted!
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What do YOU need today?

4/19/2013

4 Comments

 
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I've been thinking about hopelessness and dispair in the last couple of hours. Reading my FB feed it is hard to avoid impassioned posts about injustice and pain; devastating acts of one human against others. At home and abroad. We are victims and we are perpetrators.

 So I came into my studio looking to work through some of the feelings using form and color. Listening to music softly enough to also hear the incessant Portland rain, I saw this little figure emerge. Serious, intent stare, and holding a balloon with the word hope. 'Here. Give what you need to get,' she seemed to say.

I guess this could be an expanded version of the golden rule. Not so much about how I want to be treated, but more about what I want to experience in the world. What do you need today?

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A slow day at the office is a busy day in the studio...

4/17/2013

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The Snow Child and the Bug Kid take turns on the easel.
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Mr. 5 o'clock

3/30/2013

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Mr. 5 o'clock was my husband when

I was 5 years old.
 
I talked to him perched on my mom's old sewing machine tucked in the back of the kitchen by the window. He worked at the office and was frequently late for dinner, but he was a kind man.



                                             Mr. 5 o'clock 
                             Mixed-media on board 7X7

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beliefs

3/22/2013

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she believed she could,
so she did
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On the Easel

3/20/2013

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Recycled old canvas. Started out an abandoned project. Black and white with lots of texture on one third of it... This is what we have so far. The snow child has come to visit.

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Almost a year has passed...

3/16/2013

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... since my darling had a birthday...
Always close to his heart are the aspen groves of his childhood which we visited here together...
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On the easel

3/2/2013

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The art lab is open. 

This week is all about going wild 
with backgrounds and then taming 
them with images and a unifying color.

Wee Creature Acrylic on Board.
12 X 24

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Completed Project

2/25/2013

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A certain someone special had 

a certain special birthday an 
undisclosed amount of time ago... and here is a peek of her b-day painting...

As soon as I get the ok, I shall add 

a full picture of the painting and 
her new momma.

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On the Easel

2/9/2013

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Art Journal Page
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Detail from the art journal page. Bug Kids.

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There has been a lot of activity in the studio this week. Still feels like we are working things out and working things through. The top pics are from a mixed media journal page. It is still in progress

To the left is a mixed media painting on canvas. Also in progress and currently not feeling quite on track.

Not pictured, but very much receiving attention are three new misfit dolls and a post-card series of Strawberry shortcake pieces for my baby niece, due to arrive in the next couple of weeks!

Lastly, there was a play date with my friend Judy which I will chronicle in an upcoming post!

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On the Easel

1/29/2013

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Mixed-media on cardboard.

















"As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round." ~ Ben Hogan, American pro golfer.



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On the Easel

1/20/2013

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I decided that the next step in "unleashing" this year, will involve FINISHING things that I start.

This little painting happened this afternoon. and it was already gifted...

Practice completing: check!

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On the Easel

1/9/2013

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My favorite blogs include a very healthy amount of images. Things big and small that help chronicle the day-to-day lives of their authors.

I intend to chronicle my creative journey this year by posting a sampling of what is currently on my easel.

Of the many active projects I now have, she is one of my favorites. I started drawing her in Uruguay a few weeks ago, and it's now found her way to the studio.


Drawing on Canson paper sketched with Prismacolors.

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