Day 4 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Today was a wee bit easier...ok...who am I kidding.

As tonights painting took me a while to complete, the lighting is quite poor...but guess what...its done!!

I will be right back here tomorrow for Day 5.

Until next time,

Day 3 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Hi Blogfriends,

I hope todays post finds you very well.  Today was back to wotk for me, and after being on break for nearly two weeks, I was exhausted...by 10am.  Re-entry is always so hard for me....sigh.

Anywho, my day 3 is a little one today, but its complete. 

Somedays, I hum right along in my studio, and some days every single thing I do is a struggle...everything.  Today was one of those days of struggle, but I shall keep going with this.

Also in my studio, I have been seriously stalling on this guy...a 30 x 30 that has been sitting, empty on my easel for a few days.  That voice that constantly spews all of the negative at me wonders why in the world I would ever start such a big canvas when I know that a canvas scares me..why, it shouts...

Well, today I had a conversation with said nasty voice, then, I slapped my leftover paint on this puppy and walked away, feeling large and in charge about it!!

I think I will name this next series of paintings Conversations.

Randon...but I am the only person on this earth that finds extreme joy in peeling paint off of my palette.....or, is that another stalling tactic I have developed?

See you right here tomorrow with Day 4!

Until next time,

Day 2...Done!

Hello blogfriends,

I wish I could say that todays painting session was sunshine and unicorns...completely opposite unfortunately...sigh.

Today, absolutely nothing went right...colors were dull, and my flow was all gone.  I struggled every step of the way on this.  But, I guess good or bad, I painted, and with that, day 2 is a wrap.

See you tomorrow for hopefully a better day 3.

Until next time,

Beginnings...

Happy New Year blogfriends!

I always get so excited at the start of a new year.  Today is a clean slate and I just love the possibilities that each new day holds!!

I joined Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge to begin my new year and here is Day 1 of the challenge.

The entire premise for this is to just get you in your studio to build a habit...I'm game for that!!

I also created a journal page documenting my word for the year..

It is nice to play in my journal again!

I think I have done all of this because I have been stalling on tackling this guy...

A 30x30 and if you know me, I was once terrified of working on canvas!!  I did gesso it and put some scribbles!!!  

I will see you all tight back here for Day 2 tomorrow!

Until next time,

Brave Girl Work...

Good Morning Blog Friends!

I am hoping today finds you very well.

Although I have been quiet here in blog land, I have been showing up daily in my studio.

I finally have myself a bit of a studio space...well, more like a studio wall/gallery/shared space.  I have finally put on my brave girl pants and have put my work out there!  Although the learning curve has been quite steep, I am quite proud of my little space.

I literally have just been enjoying the process of playing in paint.

...that kind of takes the pressure off...right?  So, if you ever find yourself downtown Wake Forest, NC...stop by Ollie's on Main Street and check out my work.

This past weekend was the annual Art of the Carolina's sponsored by Jerrysartarama.  It was a blast as always.  I demoed a variety of things...but had the most fun reconnecting with my art friends that I only see once a year at the show.

....and I met Lorraine Bell!!!! 

Joe and I goofing off as he paints with Matisse paints...he is amazing!

Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight??

Thanks for being here...

Until next time,

Wandering...and Lost.

Good Morning blog friends.  When I sat to write this post, I was reminded of a stamp I have from Tim Holtz...Not All Who Wander Are Lost.  Lately, I have been feeling opposite.

My mom passed away on May 19th...and I have just been lost.  When I returned home from her service, I honestly thought I would find all of the comfort I needed in my studio....nope...dry!  For days, I would show up...and nothing.

I tried...and hated everything.

So....I started gutting my studio...

I cleared things out for weeks on end.  

When my mom was in the hospital last, I was just in awe at how amazing her nurses were.  I spent two weeks there with my mom before she passed away, and I thought that they deserved something very special for how they genuinely cared for and about my mom...

I have not made a quilt in 11 years...yes...11, when my daughter was born.  So, I switched my studio around to make space again for this guy...

...and 1st nurse quilt is almost done...I have a few more nurse quilts and 2 for her oncologists.  They were all just amazing!

I still need to put the borders on it, but...I'm quite happy with my first attempt!!

I still have space for my painting and journaling...

Seee...nothing!!!  I will keep at it though.

Until next time,

Sights from the Studio...

Good Morning Blogfriends.

Hope you guys have had a great day so far.  Around here, we have been gifted with a snow day...my plan, make the day count in the studio.

It seems all I have been doing lately is prep work...I taught a class of 36 last week at the Art Museum in Raleigh...i think I prepped and packed for one solid week!  The class was amazing, and, this was the only photo I took...I had the best intentions...

This past Thursday, I taught a workshop for the lovelies over at Jerry's in Raleigh...

It was a ton of fun just watching them create!

They did all sorts of cool things...

My favorite part...

Totally covered in paint!!!

As you may imagine...my studio is trashed beyond recognition... With this gift of a free day from work, I shall begin the massive clean up and begin prepping for several workshops I have coming...

As for my own painting...well, thats been very limited...

I have been goofing around on this canvas...

...and watching it do what it wants to do...

Until next time,