On Line Art Groups I love

Most of you who know me, know that my medical issues keep me home-bound a lot . Being a part of an online art group has helped open my world and kept my sanity. Doing art helps me deal with my pain, depression, and immobility.  It get's me out of my head, keeps me focused on what's important in my life, helps keeps my mind working, my hands creating,  and it encourages me to be the best that I can be. 

Here you will find some of my on-line communities and current events. I hope you'll check them out, join in and start creating some art of your own. 

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POsT CaRd mAiL ArT SwAP GrOuP

Over at There's A Little Goddess In All Of Us

Hosted by

Carol Desjarlais

 Once a month we send out Post Cards to each other, 

wonderful, unique art we have made by hand.

These are just a few of our recent  topics/challenges.

Each month we create something using the style or our interpretations of the posted artist. 

We can use whatever medium we choose, 

it just has to be mailable. 

(My postal workers love me and my art.)

I switch it up... 

I love to collage so I do this a lot...

 sometimes I paint, 

(Watercolors)

some months I'm feeling more like drawing in ink,

Last month, I challenged myself, 

I used a new medium I've never tried, 

Pastels... 

I really liked how smooth they felt across the page, 

and how easy they were to blend,

but a little more difficult to seal for safe mailing.

I can't wait to use them again!

Our challenge this month is

 "Famous Women In History"

Maya Angelo

http://mayaangelou.com/

Check back soon to see what I've come up with... I'm thinking another collage is due!

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 I'm doing a Journal Paint and Pass with a group of ladies there, 

It's starting this month, I'm so excited!!!!

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This is one of my video's I've produced for the tag art group I use to host over at Roses On Our Table.  At the time there were about 100 of us in the group from all over the world and all walks of life. I had been hostessing the group for about a year and loved it, but life got in the way and I had to resign... The one thing I miss most is being surround but the most amazing artists and the most beautiful, loving, caring and compassionate woman around. I've had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful souls on line and in person.. Being a part of this group had brought me so much love and joy into my life,  every day was a true inspiration. If you're looking for a compassionate group to join, Zinna and everyone will welcome you with open arms. If you check them out, please tell them I said Hello and that I miss them all....

I have a couple more videos to complete and post, check back soon for an update.

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 Art Abandonment

 Is a group designed to encourage random acts of art, left in various locations around the globe. The idea is that folks can make something and leave it for a lucky unsuspecting person to find. Artists can then post locations and photos of abandoned goodies…and finders can let everyone know that they are the lucky finder! O' sweet abandon!

So leave some art. Leave a contact email for the finder…

and if you get notified share the message with our group on Facebook.

Here's an intro page for a full explanation of Art Abandonment

Here are a few items I have left in a variety of place from 

Vancouver Washington to Portage Glacier Alaska.

 

The reason why I abandon my art... You never know who's day needs to be brightened, letting someone find a little work of art may give them an ounce of hope, a ray of light... it may let them know that they are loved, that there are good people in this some times dark world... To those who may be overwhelmed by life's events and may need a little something that says someone cares.... Finding an abandoned piece of art can be life changing.... 

It makes me feel good to make another person smile. 

Hopefully my art will do that.

Time to abandon some more art !

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These are some of my little joys in life, 

I hope I've made you smile, 

peaked your interest and introduced you to some creative adventures....

 

~Enjoy~

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

PROJECTS I'VE DONE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Kona

Our Giant Schnauzer... I painted these pictures for my son Zac for his 24th Birthday.

Zac and Kona had a special bond, they grew up together... Both paintings are done in watercolor.

If you would like me to paint one of your furry family favorites, 

send me an email .

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Santa's Little Angel Elf  

Watercolor 11-2011

Hero's Among Us

I did an exchange with some ladies on Willowing.ning

Collage, Pen and Ink, Watercolor

Mail Art ~Postcards ~ ATC's & Current Projects

I've had a lot of down time these past few weeks which has been great for making art. I use my art as a form of mental, spiritual and physical therapy. Even when I'm feeling my worst, I try to do something that makes my heart sing and others smile. Some days all I can do is cut...I've found that having a pair of scissors in every room (bathrooms) helps me to keep my mind off less pleasant things...ie: pain.

I cut up old magazines, broken discarded books, brochures, or other interesting items I find around town or given to me for my many collage projects. I have friends sending me old magazines from the late 1800's from around the world.  Currently I'm looking for anything Victorian, so if you have any to spare, please send them my way... especially anything with flowers.

 I believe that by bringing art into your life whether it's something your doing with your hands, listening to music, playing music, baking, putting your hands in the soil of your garden, or maybe even looking at others art,  seeing art in person, or in a magazine, out at a park or garden, museums, or art gallery's is very healing. It helps us connect to each other, helps us see life outside our self.

On days when I can't go any where, or don't feel much like doing anything...if I pick up one of my artistic magazines or books, I drift off to another place, sort of a mini artist date with myself. A sense of peace washes over me and I get lost in the art either by the act of doing or by the visual of seeing or listening. Cutting for my collages brings me up close and personal with each piece I cut. I've learned so many new things about the art of our world just by cutting up old discarded magazines...  All of which help ease my pain, make my day much brighter, and bring sunshine and warmth into my soul. It helps me to forget about my illness, my aches and pains and see the beauty of our world in a different light. There are even several different forms of therapy utilizing art as their source of healing world wide.

I challenge you to give it a try. spend one hour a day or even a week doing something artistic, something that you love, or something that brings a smile to your face and peace to your heart. Tell me how it makes you feel. Maybe there's something that you've always wanted to try, or something that you use to do in your old life... the one before marriage, kids, mortgages and bills... Maybe it's just allowing yourself to get lost in a CD, or hot bath or with a book that you've always wanted to read but have never found the time.  You can even get in an artist date by looking at someone's blog that gives you inspiration... like mine :)

My point is... do something, anything, as long as it makes your heart sing. Let yourself become a beginner again... let your spirit feel like a child filled with wonder and curiosity. You will be amazed at how it makes you feel. Share your story with me of your artistic adventure/artist date and I will send you one of my post cards...Give art a try!

Sharing my art with you brings happiness to my heart, mind and soul.  

Until next time, happy creating!

~Enjoy~

~♥~

ATC's I've created for my healing art group  here in Port Townsend

Flower Series

Postcards I've created for my Mail Art group 

from around the world

yes... they are going out tomorrow ladies...lol

 

Journal pages