Magical Mythical Makings Workshop Week 4 Continued

Wow... I am having so much fun in my 3M workshop, I’m in complete ahhhh to be painting amongst such talented artists… Tam at Willowing and friends is an Amazing teacher.  If you want to see some incredible artists or Mermaids... check out

 Willowing and Friends 

I thought I'd post my work in progress to keep you up to date.  Next week is a busy week with lots of medical tests, so I might not get to much painting in ... I'm still having a little trouble with the face area...I want that sweet serene look... the "ohhh I'm so at peace and in my element" look. I also need to do some needed outlining and highlighting... maybe add a couple more fish and whimsical elements like swirls, sea weed or sea flowers...lol. I also need to add another layer of acrylics as some of my watercolor paints and colors have faded into the wood. In some areas it gives it a nice rich contrast and adds to the elements of the painting, but in other areas, the paint blends into the wood and get's lost in the process. I am enjoying the experience of painting on wood verses a canvas or sheet of watercolor paper, I seem to have more control and I'm able to manipulate the paints better...it seems more forgiving which is great for an artist in training. 

I would recommend you give it a whirl, you might like it

I was debating if I was going to keep her arms in the painting or not...as I didn't think they looked quite right...but after much debate, I actually like them...so they're staying. My hubby isn't fond of my dressing  up my Mermaids bosoms...lol...as in my original drawing she was naked on top,  but they were so out there in your face, I thought I'd tone them down a bit compared to my original drawing... 

Maybe next time I'll showcase them a little more.

The smaller disk was a practice piece... I wanted to see how the paints would work with the wood...once I started, I couldn't just let it go undone...lol...besides I was having way too much fun, plus... It had this freedom about it...as it was just a practice piece, it didn't matter what I did to it or if there were mistakes... It turned out quite nice, I actually really like it.

My style seems consistent with my journal pages, but it still needs some tweaks and adjusting as I'm learning what I like and what I don't.... but I am getting there and finding my own rhythm.... I do have to keep telling myself...Picasso didn't learn to paint a masterpiece or walk over night.... practice, practice, practice... is the key to my success...

What a fun journey this is. 

I love everything about painting... It helps me to relax and get lost and be one with my paints and art piece.

Love, hugs & many blessings to everyone!!!!! 

~Enjoy~

♫¸.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫¸.•*¨*•♫.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.  .•*¨*•♫`·.¸.·•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•..•*¨*•.♫`·.¸.·♫•*¨*•. .•*¨*•♫

♫¸.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫¸.•*¨*•♫.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.  .•*¨*•♫`·.¸.·•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•..•*¨*•.♫`·.¸.·♫•*¨*•. .•*¨*•♫

Week 4 of Magical Mystical Makings "Mermaids"

Mythical Being: Mermaids
Master: Marc Chagall
Themes: Transformation, change & growth

Hello everyone, here are my journal pages for this week’s challenge.  I had a slow start this week as I had my chemo therapy on Tuesday and have felt pretty crummy since. My intentions are always good.... I'd love to blog every day, but somehow my energy level doesn't always cooperate nor does my health or migraines.

 This week in my 3M workshop we started our Mermaid on wood project. 

I have to say, I wasn't too excited about utilizing Marc Chagall's style, 

I never even heard of him before receiving our class material, 

or at least I didn't think I had.  

But once I emerged myself in his art I found I kind of liked it... 

I loved that my interpretations didn't have to be perfect... 

which is a difficult task for me as I am such a perfectionist and always want my lines to be clean...

at least when it comes to my paintings. 

This exercise brought me out of my comfort zone 

but I will say, I actually had a lot of fun. 

I was able to completely lose myself in the process.

Almost afraid to post my work for fear of what others would think,

My inner critic wasn't being so nice. 

I finally got up the courage to post my work. 

I'm so glad I did, 

After I received so many wonderful comments from my fellow classmates, 

It was so heartwarming....

I can't tell you how much it meant to hear their words of love and encouragement....

It was truly a humbling experience.

I am my own worst critic.

soooooo 

Today.... I allowed myself to feel good about what I've done... 

Today, I embrace the fact that I love to paint...

Today, 

I learned to believe in myself… to believe in my abilities

And

To believe in my artistic interpretation and creations.

Today I learned to love....

Me

 Thank you everyone for being on this journey with me... 

Thank you all for sharing a part of your life with me… 

We are all creative and artistic in our own way. 

Making our world a better place through the eyes of art brings so much joy to everyone.

I hope my creative endeavors bring love, joy, and beauty into your life.

Love, Hugs and Blessing to everyone.

♫¸.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫¸.•*¨*•♫.·♫•*¨*•. ¸¸(¯`♥´¯).•*¨*•♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.  .•*¨*•♫`·.¸.·•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•♫•*¨*•.♫.•*¨*•..•*¨*•.♫`·.¸.·♫•*¨*•. .•*¨*•♫

This is my work in progress.... Next I need to apply my magical touch
paint...college....pen....love....patients....more love....lol.... 
Stay tuned for my completed masterpiece...lol.. 
Love and Hugs!!!!

Wahooo!!!! Art Journal LOVE Day Party!!!

You have until this Friday, February 18th to enter!

Connie will be closing the give-away at 10pm MST on Friday.

She will be announcing the winners late Sunday!

So hurry and enter for your chance to win some awesome prizes.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

http://www.DirtyFootprints-Studio.com

http://networkedblogs.com/etOzH

Happy Valentine's Day

Every year on Valentines Day 

I try and do something special for others, 

I try to give love to someone who might not otherwise be told they are loved.

Today, 

I handed out Valentines to people I didn't know, 

I mailed them to six people I met on-line around the world, 

I gave them to homeless kids out on the streets in Port Townsend,  

and to elders I've met around my community. 

Tomorrow,  

As I sit in the hospital all day receiving my chemo therapy, 

I'll be handing out Valentines to everyone who comes in to get their treatment;

Hoping to make their day a little bit better,

or to put a smile on their face,

maybe fill their heart with love.

 Today 

I opened my eyes to the love all around me....

I didn't expect or receive cards, 

flowers 

candies 

or other luxuries, 

but what I did receive 

was a heartfelt appreciation, 

compassion, 

hugs, 

and love

from those who's heart I touched.

 I hope I've touched your heart, 

I hope your Valentine's Day has been filled with love.  

Mine has.... 

Love and hugs to you my creative friend!

Week 3 of Magical Mythical Makings "Angels"

ANGELS

Hello everyone, Love and hugs out to all of you {{{xoxo}}}.  My goals this week were to stay on top of my workshop assignments... doing this weeks assignment first and then going back to finish what needs to be done on last weeks when I have extra time. That was going to be my way of staying on task so not to get so over whelmed by being constantly behind and in catch-up mode (not a very creative state of mind, I might add). These past few weeks my intentions and desires have not been my issue, although a white canvas was a little intimidating, but once I got started, it was not what was holding me back…my health was. It wasn’t cooperating with my wants, needs and desires.

"Everyday is going to be different." I kept telling myself each and every morning. I'd wake up with the mindset that today is going to be the day where I feel great and I accomplish everything I set out to do….As always life sets in, and my plans for staying on top of things quickly got hijacked by life forces stronger than my own...another migraine set in and forced me back to bed, that makes 24 days of migraines out of 31 days. As I laid there trying to will my migraine away, trying to create the life I want by meditating on every little detail... I found that what I needed to do was to let go.... I needed to just let everything in my mind stop fighting the pain and see where it wanted to lead me instead of wishing I was someplace else and someone else...I was trying to control every aspect in my life when in reality I have no control at all over anything...

Once I was able to see that, be one with it, and accept the things I cannot change...the migraine seemed to lessen. Now it could be the magnitude of meds, shots and more meds that I took to rid my month long continuous life stopper, pain-in-my a******* or in my case head and a**…lol.... but regardless... it finally started to let up and I was able to at least sit up in bed. I quickly surrounded myself with my journal, crayons, watercolor pencils, and laptop. Listening to Tam’s soothing angelic voice talk me thought my exercise, making me laugh and want to talk back to her when she'd question herself; I found comfort, love and the ability to get lost in my art, forgetting about the pain that consumed my body.    

Drawing my Angels brought about clarity and a sense of comfort and oneness. I felt surrounded by love! For some reason, I found this to be extremely funny because last week my Goddess choice was Katasee... Goddess of all that is, of all things, well-being, and unconditional love and healing.... While creating my journal pages, I came to the conclusion that these were all the things I wanted and needed in myself, my body, my life... right here, right now at that very moment. Realizing I had it…all of it right before my eyes;  I just need to be present enough to see it, feel it, and enjoy it. Peace washed over me; my migraine was no longer sitting in my face no longer the elephant in the room, no longer controlling my every thought, no longer consuming my essence. I was surrounding by a glow of love, art, compassion and healing!

So here you have the start of my Angels. I still need to finish her wings and dress but at least I’ve started. I decided to do the assignment just as Tam was teaching, and then when I put my work on my watercolor canvas I'll make my Angels my own. I've also included the progress on week 2's Goddess painting, I still need to apply the college aspect of the Klimt's style to her gown and halo, but one step at a time.  

Several months ago I was told to paint by a dear friend who recently passed, it was as thought he had an insight into my healing, he was very insistent that I give it a try again. At the time, I remember thinking he was crazy, I hadn't picked up a brush in years, I couldn't see what he did.  Now.... the more I paint, the more I feel his presence and the more I understand. I am so grateful he nudged me back into painting.   Every time I pick up my brush I feel so blessed and thankful. 

ENJOY!