Day 29 of 30 in 30....

Hello Blog Friends!!
I am literally trying to make it to Friday.  This week as been long and grueling. 

Simple colors and lots of marks makes this painting feel right.
Hope that you have a creative day.
Until next time,
Ophelia

Day 14 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days...

Good Morning Blog Friends!
I often find that when I try a new color palette...or even the simple addition of a color that I don't often use, I use it over and over and over again...

I did that again this morning, and will probably do it again tomorrow as I am simply loving the moodiness of these colors together.
See you tomorrow, right here for day 15!
Until next time,
Ophelia

30 in 30...

Day 7...
Some days I feel like it won't come together in time for me to head out the door for work.

8x8 Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

So, I end up simply going with it...learning to let it all go and just enjoy the process.

Hope you have a great day.

Until next time,

Ophelia

Something Opened Up...

Good Morning Blogfriends,
I hope that your week is off to a great start.
We are expecting snow this week, and that means - snow days from school!!  I secretly have my fingers crossed as I need some studio time!!

Speaking of studio time, things have been heating up....in a good way!!!  I have painted non stop for the last few week to get ready for something, but first I have a bit of a confession.  Last year this time - MLK holiday - I met with the owner of The Little Art Gallery.  I took in my portfolio and a few paintings, and she really liked my work.  She asked me to comeback in a few weeks with larger paintings.... I left, and was quite excited about the possibility of having my work hanging in the same space as some of the artists that I consider to be Hero's in this area.  I got home excited to paint, and then something happened....I replayed our conversation and she said---LARGE PAINTINGS!!  Now, this is a girl, that stepped into the art world by way of art journals, and I was quite comfortable painting on a 9x12 art journal page.  I was terrified of a canvas, so I treated them like a 9x12 journal page, thus I painted on 9x12 or smaller canvas.  So, I did what I would usually do in the face of fear....I bailed!!!  Cancelled the meeting and buried her business card somewhere deep, and life carried on...

At the end of last year, I am not sure of what opened up in my, but I called her back, she remembered me, and to my extreme excitement, invited me back...yesterday, exactly one year later.  This time, I showed up with 5- yes, 5 large paintings...

I held my breath as she looked them all over.....and I'm talking I seriously held my breath.

I worked hard...for weeks and weeks I painted - every morning before work and for at least 5-6 hours after work each day.

She loved them!!!!  My knees trembled and I felt quite light headed...possibly the breath holding, but what a relief!!!  She kept all 5 to hang in the gallery!!!!

What I am most grateful for in this experience is the gift of a second chance....and seeing again that fear - which is so very real for me with my art - did not hold me back.  

I guess I say all of this to simply say - just push through.  Go for it.  Show up every single day and do what you love.  For me, its playing in paint.  Enjoying the process of playing in paint... and when I let me self know when approaching every canvas that I am only planning to enjoy the process, it takes a bit of the pressure away.

Thanks for listening!

Until next time,

Opheila

Absolutely Honored!!

Happy Monday Blog Friends,
I hope that your day is off to an amazing start.  We had a bit of snow this weekend, so my week begins with a 2 hour delay for school :).

I used every ounce of the delay to work in my studio, and started this painting.

I want to share some exciting news with you!!!!

I was selected to be a member of Donna Downey's Artist Gang for 2018!!!  

Since I fell into the world of art journaling, I have crushed on Donna.  I made the trek to her studio about 5 years ago and met her.  She truly inspired me to want to keep going at this crazy thing that we call art....so I did!!!

To be selected as a part of this group is truly an honor for me...and a bit scary!!!

Around the studio, I have been busy cleaning up and clearing out.  Probably not the best time to GUT my studio, but it was a necessary evil!

I found these...sigh...around 110 or so Caran d' Ache Supracolor Soft colored pencils... mostly unused!  Double sigh...

I am letting them go for $100, or at this point, simply make me an offer.  So much has to go to get my space in order...so very much!!  Head over to Instagram @opheliasartstudio to keep up with what is being decluttered, or visit my etsy shop where I have some mystery boxes and watercolor packages left for grabs.

As I was clearing out drawers and shelves, and boxes and bags in my studio, I uncovered some paints that used to be my favorites.  They however became covered by new toys that made their way into the studio, and were simply forgotten.  I gave them a go and made this hand painted greeting card that is not a part of the greeting card bundles available on my etsy shop as well.

Thank you for being here, to listen to me ramble....

Enjoy your day,

Until next time,

Ophelia

100 Day Challenge...

Good morning blog friends!!!

I decided a few weeks ago that I would to the 100 day challenge.  I wanted to do 100 abstract paintings.  I figured doing anything for 100 days would have to make me better, right?

I am having such a great time doing this!!

Its simply 100 days of practice for me.

I get to experiment and well, paint.

I also had the pleasure of being a guest on Jerrysartarama Facebook Live.

I had such a blast, and I was honestly so pleased with the response.  If you know me at all, you know I was a WRECK!

https://www.facebook.com/JerrysArtarama/videos/10154841145559247/

With the close of school for this year, my not so little one is ready for his next adventure.

He is ready...

I am not so sure that I am...my studio keeps me busy though.

Until next time,

Happy Tuesday!!

Good morning blog friends,

Hoping this day finds you well and off to an amazing start to your Tuesday!!

Lots of great things have been happening around here, and it seems there is loads more to come with such busy weeks ahead!!

This past Saturday was prom.  Senior prom for us...which makes it bittersweet.  My son with his childhood friend Julianne.

Looking at this makes my heart so happy as all four of them have been friends since they were 2 years old!!  I am just so excited for what lies ahead for them!!

In the studio, I have been having a blast on canvas...yes...canvas!!!

If you know me, then you know my struggle with canvas has been real!!  Lately, its been loads of fun!!

Making marks, adding color and simply playing around...

Learning to let go and just play has not come easy for me.  What I have learned is that it takes time, and lots and lots of ugly work to truly see the magic!!

Have a great day everyone!!

Until next time,

Abstract Boot Camp

Hello blog friends and happy Monday.  I post today...on the road...on my phone.  I headed out this morning, to my parents for a week, but spent an incredible weekend being 100% distracted with paint.

I attended a workshop this weekend at Jerrys, and what an amzing time it was.  The only things that I knew I wanted from the weekend workshop was to be completely distracted from daily life, and to use up some paint....and thats exactly what happened!

I just played around...wanting to use some of the paint that sits on my shelf.

It dawned on my that it has been quite some time since I have actually painted something...not like a demo or teaching a class, but painted for me...for the pure pleasure of painting.

I pulled out my biggest brushes, inks, and anything else that I could get my hands on...and simply lost myself.

And it was GREAT!

Until next time,