Nurturing

So here is a sneak peek of my latest painting.  It is just a sneak peak because I'm not quite sure how to finish it.  I am going to give it some time and space to grow.

The end...and the end

I finally finished this one!  When I started, I had the idea of using balloons to symbolize letting go of.  I originally intended to represent how we need to let go of the things that no longer serve us or that are negative in our lives in order to open up a space for growth and goodness.  As my grandpa grew sicker over these past few weeks, it was clear that the idea of letting go took on a new meaning for me. 

So as I enter into this time in my life when I am forced to let go of him, I am gentle with myself, knowing there is no right or wrong way to let go.

Courage

So this year I beginning on a new adventure that will take a lot of courage.  I am embarking on starting my own business and in doing so following in my mother's footsteps.  The business plan, details and money are not secure, but I have committed my heart.  So here we go!

Refocus

I'm finding the need to refocus. No...not my camera lens (but I have been having focus problems in that areas also). With all of the busy-ness of the school year, I have lost focus on those people that matter the most to me. I am finding that I spend all of my energy on people and things that do not really matter. And guess what? I don't have much energy to give to those that I love the most. So hopefully I can refocus and re-engergize as we head into an even busy time of the year. In fear of getting too mushy, I'll leave it at this: I love that little girl and handsome man.

I feel a little inspiration coming on....

So I've been noticing silhouettes a lot lately and have been meaning to get around to making some of my own. So here is my first attempt. It takes just the right picture to make a good silhouette, so I had to dig up this one from earlier this summer. Now that I'm thinking of it, I'll have to take some pics that will work good for this. So what to do with this now? We'll just have to see...

Moving a little slowly lately

I've been moving a little slowly lately...here are the three pieces I've been working on. This one used to have a yellow background and I decided to paint a landscape in the background instead of just a solid color. She is almost done. No title yet, but she seems quietly hopeful to me. Here is the next painting I've been working - an obvious mother and child. The background is a complete mystery for my right now. I think I will end up patterning a la Gustav Klimt, but I don't want it to look like a complete rip off. And here is the last one. Another mother and child, this time I started with the background so that I wouldn't get stuck, but I seem to be having more problems with the faces. I think the girl looks more grown up than the mother, so I am going to have to work on that one.

3 paintings and 2 days to go until they need to be finished. I was really productive last week, I spent so much time thinking and painting that I think I burned myself out a little bit. So it was back to the studio today for me.

I think I'm in love

Who knew a palette could cause such a stir, but I think I'm in love. So what is so special about this palette? I won't waste your time with super dorky stuff, but just trust me!





I have started my summer painting class at NIU. It is exactly what I thought it would be and yet nothing like I thought it would be. It is a challenge to say the least. I am being stretched farther than I imagined. Here is my first painting "You are Safe". A little 'craftsy' for a 'real' art class, but I'm going with it! This is my second painting...ok, I confess, it is not quite finished. I still have to add some text and do a little touch up. It's for my mama....I planned on having it done a little sooner, but better late than never.And here is number 3. It is in progress. I'm not quite sure where it will go next. It is interesting and exciting to be so enthralled in my artwork...I'm not sure if I have ever been this productive since my undergrad. Every spare minute I go to my studio and paint or work on ideas, prepare panels to paint on, or research ideas. I can't wait to see what happens!