Goodbye Persist

When I picked "persist" for my word back in January 2012, I truly didn't know how often I would have to use it. I overbooked myself with travels and in the fall, was barely home. Although I was able to teach my art to over 600 people this year all over the United States, it was at times challenging in finding the motivation to come home, pack then leave again immediately. The teaching is always rewarding because I love to see the growth, discovery and excitement in the students no matter what medium I am teaching. Persist helped me make it through a long year of doing what I needed to do but it also awoke the artistic side on what do I really want to do. It has brought a lot of clarity on what matters and how I want to live my life as an artist. So thank you "persist" for being there when I needed you. I will always appreciate what you did for me but today I will be moving on to a new, different adventurous word "forward."

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013 - Happy New Year!



Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

Free Videos

I just did this little video, okay, it's an hour long, I just couldn't help myself. I intended it to be short and sweet but the artistic teacher came out and wanted you to know all the possibilities :D

These are done on playing cards with acrylics and paper die cuts. They all just look so charming when put in a group. I also think they would be fantastic gifts for a visit to a senior center, a cancer wing or your next shower. The reasons are endless as well as the creative possibilities. Have a great time with this and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

To view these, go to http://kellyhoernig.webs.com/freestuffvideos.htm

Holiday Sale

I only have one sale a year and it is finally here YIPPEE, YAHOO, YEAH.
My Holiday Sale starts today December 1 and goes until December 9.
Everything is on sale, all acrylic and colored pencil patterns, my colored pencil of the month club, my steampunk series e-course, both mixed media kits and as always FREE shipping on it all.
For a purchase of $25 you will even receive a handmade card ornament.

So, what are you waiting for, I guess the link will help :)
www.kellyhoernig.com

Shop til you drop, I will be there waiting for you!
Happy Holidays!

Be Thankful

I am thankful every day for the life I lead. I have a great family, a handful of good friends and a very creative job that lets me make art on my time.  How many people can say that? Not many I know and for that it is another blessing I get to share in. I went digging into my photo files for this shot because it captures how I feel. The sun in my face, a smile on my lips and the wonderful season of fall upon us. Doesn't it just make you smile, I sure hope so! So, I ask you this, what are you thankful for today?

Word - Spike

The word for this week is spike.

Its noun meaning - a very large nail; any of various pointed projections.

I was totally intrigued by this version of kale in front of Olive Garden. Not only were the spikes incredible to look at but did you see the gloriously interesting veining on the green leaves. WOW is all I can say. Then there is the gradation of color from the softest rose pink center to the middle winter whites down to the deepest of the greens. Oh yeah, Mother Nature was doing some great palette work on this day!

I couldn't wait to share it with you all and I hope next time you are walking into a store, shop, restaurant or boutique, you do pay attention to the atmosphere around you. You just never know what is in store for your eyes, artistic side and most of all, your inner curiosity!

Unexpected Orange

I stopped by Olive Garden today for the task of taking photos. I love their fall setup because they always have interesting kale varieties mixed in with the seasonal harvest. There were mums of all colors and sizes, kale tight and spiky in appearance, corn stalks mixed with autumn leaves, pansies in every rich color available and then this. Imagine my surprise when I saw these little tomatoes amongst the flora. I thought the orange of the pumpkin and the varied tomato hues was just spectacular. It was a bit cloudy so I can't even think about what it looks like with the sun shining down on its beauty. So, unexpected place for a photo shoot but one I make a trip to every fall season. Where's your favorite stop?

Golden Delight

As the fall season disappears and the cold winter days approach I try to remember the beautiful colors I have experienced over the last few months. The ruby reds, golden yellows, fiery oranges, rustic browns - you know the ones. They are the colors that make you stop in your tracks and just look, I mean really look and see the deliciousness of it all. This is just one of those scenes I am talking about. Although a chill was in the air, the puppies and I were in the garden and this wonderful thing of beauty happened while peeking around a tree. The definition of the black outlining the deep amber hues, perfection to my artistic side. Would it make you stop and take a second look? Oh, I sure hope so!

Secluded Surprise

Some Thesaurus words for "hide" - bury, cache, camouflage, cloak, cover, disguise, duck, eclipse, harbor, mask, obscure, plant, protect, reserve, screen, shadow, shelter, shield, squirrel, stash, stifle, suppress, veil, withhold.

I found this little woven birdhouse tucked away into a tree and found myself totally captivated by it's cloaked appearance. I can only imagine a bird building its nest and raising a family in its seclusion. What a wonderful environment don't you think? This adornment was actually in the garden of a retreat center and I found it so charming that I kept taking pictures just hoping to catch the hidden inhabitants. Can't you wait to put one of these in your trees come springtime? I know I will be on the lookout for something so special.

Word - Hide

The word for this week is hide.

Its verb meaning - to put or remain out of sight; to conceal for shelter or protection; to seek protection; to keep secret; to turn away in shame or anger.

Right in plain sight. You have to walk or drive past it to leave or enter the house. And, I never even saw it. This little tiny treasure the size of my hand. Hidden beneath the rich ruby leaves and sparkling red berries of the burning bush. Its enchanted discovery came only as the leaves started falling away due to the harvest season. There it was, a small work of art, just waiting to be seen by someone. I can't imagine the little hatchlings calmly awaiting their next meal or what variety of bird found just the right hiding place. Oh yes, next year I will be keeping a closer eye on this beautiful bush to see just who the inhabitants are. I will keep you posted.

Travel Weary

This year has been a whirlwind of conventions, retreats and travel teaching across the United States and I am weary. I am so thankful for the many, many, many students and their willingness to go on a creative journey while we explored colored pencils and mixed media. I love to challenge myself and am finding so many artists that share that same passion, it is what makes us grow as artists and not become stagnant. I am embarking on almost four months of freedom to play, explore and discover new techniques that will keep pushing my artistic envelope - I cannot wait to get started!

I have many exciting things planned for 2013 already, the most intriguing for me are the online e-courses. I will be joining Life Book as a guest teacher in January 2013, doing my own Steampunk Series at the end of January and I'm also wanting to do a 6 month Discover Your Style & Creativity e-course following that. Continuous learning and the ease of being at home is an added bonus I know I have taken advantage of with many classes throughout the past year. I do hope you will give one a try.

Where to find one you ask? Well, a great resource for finding just what you are looking for online is Creative Clearinghouse. It is a directory of what is coming up and you can search by mediums, teachers or date and there are reviews in case you want to know more. You can't beat a giant source like this at your fingertips! Have I convinced you yet to give one a try, I sure hope so :)

BOO to You!

I bought a couple of halloween rubber stamps this year.
As you can see, I could not resist the charm of this one.

I made this card for you, BOO!

Here's wishing you a safe and Happy Halloween!



Fall Colors

This photo embodies the Fall season for me. The richness of the colors, the yellowing of the leaves and the wonderful rich appearance of all the reaching towers of sunflowers. The large brown button center contains so much visual interest with its texture that I could stare at it for hours. Ahh, but the glorious petals with all the fabulous hues of the season, what else can I say, they are simply luscious. The golden yellow, rich orange and deep brick just make me reach for my paint brushes to capture the moment.

This little beauty stands at just under 5 feet and let me tell you, it is a buzz with bees at any given moment. I can't wait to see the bright yellow gold finches tearing at the center once it turns to seeds. We have sun-flowers all over the front yard this year, some are huge, probably 12-14 feet and towering over miss Venus making it a feast for any pair of eyes that stumble across it. Be on the lookout, the season of color is upon us!

Wonderment

Some Thesaurus words for "peculiar" - abnormal, bent, creepy, curious, extraordinary, freakish, funny, idiosyncratic, kooky, oddball, offbeat, outlandish, quaint, strange, uncommon, unconventional, unusual, wacky, weird, wonderful.

Of course, I love each and every word up above but I think wonderful and oddball are the best descriptions for this Carrion Vine. I wanted to give you a closer look now that the fall weather is starting to turn the leaves a bright yellow hue. From yesterdays photo, you couldn't see all the intricate tendril structure within. Isn't it amazing the discoveries Mother Nature has put on the earth for us to find? I really love her humor and am so glad I stumbled upon this curiosity by random mistake. What peculiarity have you seen lately?

Word - Peculiar

The word for this week is peculiar.

Its adjective meaning - belonging exclusively to one person or group; characteristic, distinctive; queer, odd; eccentric, singular, strange, weird.

I found this vine a couple years ago in the yard and had John place a couple near the house. It is actually called Carrion Vine because of the rank smell it is suppose to emit but thankfully we haven't been able to smell it yet. I loved it because of the peculiarity of the fruit. It gets these baseball size round balls that are made up of little blueberry shapes that turn from green to a deep blue. The qualities are just like blueberries in that they also have that dusty grey coating over each individual berry. They are always tucked in under the vibrant green leaves making it hard to see, but don't worry, I spied them from across the way. I love the way this photo pulls you into the depths of the vine making you root through the leaves until you discover the beauty within.

Ahh Red

Don't you just love the color red? I know I have a special fondness for this luscious hue. It just makes me smile and not every color can do that for me. It makes my heart jump a little, the corners of my mouth start to curl up and well, my creative side just wants a much closer look. These little crab apples are showing off beautifully for me this fall and I couldn't pass them up, I had to share their prettiness with you. So, what does the photo say to you? I hope it says "happy!"

A Bit of Creepy

I was hoping to find a bit of the weird and creepy while at the Junk Bonanza and I did, finally. I was wondering if there would be any art dolls made from antique tins and well, I found only one lady there and her booth was an absolute delight for me. I even had Charlie custom made for me while I shopped. He will have a special place in the studio and I can't wait to find a little hat for him as well. The photographs in the background were quite creepy but that is exactly why I loved them. I know Halloween will give me great opportunity to include these children into my artwork. The roller skate, well, I just couldn't help but be transported back into childhood wearing these little charmers. Had to buy it for the studio also :) As you can see by the past several days, the Junk Bonanza had something for everyone. I do hope if you have time to go to an antique fair close to you that you make the journey. You just never know what discoveries you may come up with. Happy junking!

Fun & Games

I absolutely love, love, love games. I know it stems from those long summer days playing in the screened porch of our neighbors house with every one in the neighborhood joining in. Monopoly, Life or Sorry would last for days and we woke up each day eager to continue where we left off. Clue was one of my favorites but then again I do love solving puzzles and well, the game pieces were also quite clever. After all, who wouldn't want to be shot in the ballroom by Colonel Mustard - oh yes, my imagination was intrigued even as a child. These brought back many memories and I loved what Leslie Mullin did with the Pictionary game board, made a unique purse out of it. How could I have let that one go, right? I would have been kicking my own butt for days for that mistake :)  Hope this is getting your creativity going. If nothing else, making you want to clean out the kids room and send me some cool stuff LOL!

Cards, Games, Stamps Oh My

I love games and flash cards so imagine my surprise, not really, when I came home with quite a wide variety to include in my art. The bingo and lotto cards were paper or cardboard and ranged in the colors of blue, green or black print. Loved the orange stamps and bought all they had. Don't have a clue to what I will actually do with them but strictly bought them for their beautiful color. The library cards were an added bonus. I couldn't help myself and hope there are some great reads to inspire me to do art on them - just imagine, "the curiosity shoppe, edgar allen poe, to kill a mockingbird" oh I do hope I have some great ones! What is your favorite classic? I'll keep my eyes open for the card :)

Illustrations Galore

The one thing I couldn't believe was how many illustrations I was seeing at the Junk Bonanza. There were many different kinds from botanical, birds and even sports in a variety of sizes and shapes. I tried to pick some that I could use for their color and the sizing of the work in general. I imagine myself scanning first to save the images as they are but then cutting them up and including them in my mixed media work. I can't wait to really have fun looking and planning my art around these beautifully illustrated images. These all came from the booth 3 Wren Street and yes, I saved the card because of the nest! You know me so well.

Random Goodies

This is a photograph of my random goodies. I found this great old phone book with adorable ads inside. It will make a great background to some of my canvases. I am also going to let the ad inspire the piece tieing it all in together. The little games pieces will be for my chunky wood items. I want to adhere them to the outside or within the art to add a little 3d dimension. I'm planning on doing collections of them so there may be a "domino" or "scrabble" collection where these little bits are continuous on each and every piece making a darling series or two. The drafted prints in the background will be lovely incorporated into the canvases as a base. I loved the blue/green coloration of the one showing. What would you do with these?

Word - Junk

The word for this week is junk.

Its noun meaning - old iron, glass, paper, or waste; discarded articles; a shoddy product.

Its verb meaning - discard; scrap.

I had the pleasure of attending my first Live, Love, Junk Retreat this past weekend and have to tell you it was great fun. Not only was the retreat well run with lots of added shopping and dining but it also ran in conjunction with the 7th Annual Junk Bonanza in Shakopee Minnesota. For those of you who know me, you are probably shaking your head wondering what has gotten into me. Well, since discovering mixed media, I am now always looking for a bit of the past to repurpose into my art. So, I went with a mission to find unique small ephemera that I could add to my art and let me tell you, I was not disappointed in the least. There were 150 booths filled with anything you could imagine and some you didn't even know you were looking for. The suitcase above is filled with a collection of my treasures, I can't wait to see what inspiration they bring!

Warm Apple Pie

I spotted these apples from across the yard. The sun was hitting them just right that all I could see in the vast forest of green was a shining spot of red and yellow. I took a brisk little walk across the yard and found the second season of fruit on our new little dwarf apple trees. They were almost perfect in shape and size so all that was left to do, pick it and try it out on the taste buds. What I did not expect was a warm, juicy apple that tasted like a freshly baked apple pie. I had never had an apple from the tree that was sitting in the sun, and believe me, I will be back. Although I must wait until late afternoon so I can once again have that warm apple juice running down my chin. It was amazing!

Thank You!

For everyone who participated in the "FlyTribe" blog hop, thank you, thank you, thank you!! We had over 700 creative people register to be a sponsored recipient for Kelly Rae's Flying Lessons ecourse. You can see the winners and follow up blog here.

If you are wondering about finding online ecourses you can visit FlyTribe members Lori Leissner and Ursula Smith's informative Creative Clearinghouse website doing just that with organization and classes galore!

Of course, I have finally broken the barrier and offered my first ecourse this year with plenty more to follow so take a peek on my website to see what's going on and coming up around my studio! 5 Days, 5 Canvases is still going until September 30, so join the internationally charged class (I can now say that *so PROUD*)and have fun doing 6 mixed media canvases one day at a time.

FlyTribe Anniversary

It has been just over one year since I took the Kelly Rae Roberts course Flying Lessons and became part of the only FlyTribe as we call ourselves. Now, I had been a fan for a while since reading her book Taking Flight by NorthLight years before. This creative woman just seems to ooze inspiration from every pore of her body and it is quite infectious. I was totally in awe of her journey to become an artist and share her talents with the world. The Flying Lessons ecourse takes you on an artistic exploration of what can happen when you dedicate the time, do the work and trust your heart's intuition. It shares step-by-step different ways to achieve your goals, dreams and discover your own ambitions. To give back our FlyTribe raised enough money to help 8 artists lead down the path of possibilities. Kelly Rae generously agreed to match our pledge and this will help 8 more totaling 16 artists whose lives will be forever changed by this ecourse. To be considered for one of these wonderful sponsorships, please follow the guidelines here on the FlyTribe Blog.

I can't tell you the importance of an online community, I have great respect for my group, their trials, tribulations and successes - we have shared, supported and experienced it all with one another. Has it been an easy road, absolutely not. But if you celebrate the smallest of victories and realize it takes baby steps to get you where you are going, it will be an incredible journey. I hope you will join my band of creative sisters in celebrating our one year anniversary together. Thank you ladies for a creative collective I never expected to be a part of!

Janet Forrest http://www.tatterednworn.wordpress.com
Cat Athena Louise http://www.catathenalouise.com
Stacey Bockness Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com/
Kris Lanae Binsfeld http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/2012/08/19/giving-flight-giving-back/
Renee Burke http://happilyeverafterbyreneeburke.wordpress.com/
Mary Sterk http://www.justmarydesigns.com/
Michelle Reynolds http://www.shellsinthebush.com
Constance Rawlins http://livingwithinyourharvest.com/2012/08/19/fly-tribe-anniversary/
Kelly Hoernig  http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com/
Cindy Jones Lantier http://www.lantier.org/2012/08/the-gift-of-giving/
Kathleen Conard http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html
Claudia Dow http://www.claudiadow.blogspot.com/
Susan M. Walls-Beverly http://susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com/2012/08/flying-lessons-and-art-of-giving-back.html
Linda Barutha http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/giving-back.html
Linda Kinnaman http://lindakaysart.com/blog/2012/08/19/my-dream-journey-one-year-now/
Cheryl Dossey http://www.cheryldossey.com/
Sofia Dabalsa http://sofiadabalsa.blogspot.com
Jill Lambert http://jill-lambert.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html
Sally Rose http://sallyhow2.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-gift-of-flight.html
Ursula Smith http://EasyScraps.com/blog
Deborah Eaton http://www.deborahgeaton.com/blog/
Lori Leissner  http://www.leissnerart.com/2012/08/giving-thanks-giving-back-giving-flight.html
Creative Clearinghouse http://creativeclearinghouse.com/Online-Class-Reviews/blog/Ursula-Creative-Clearinghouse
Lenore Angela http://lenoreangela.blogspot.ca/2012/08/giving-back.html
Katharina Star http://www.blog.katharinastar.com/
Rachél Payne http://wp.me/pWRyw-10P
Sherry Richert Belul  http://www.simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup/gifts
Deborah Velasquez http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com/
Shannon Etnyre http://www.livingwithumami.com/
Live Laugh Love Retreats http://livelaughloveretreats.com/
Kelley Miller Artworks http://kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/
Wini Dougall http://artloveandjoy.blogspot.com/
Carol Bray http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving-back-by-giving-flight.html
Tracy Yarbrough http://chickpeastudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-spirit-of-giving.html
Diane Enright  http://dianeenrightphotography.wordpress.com/
Jamie Burch http://www.dancingdownserendipitystreet.blogspot.com/
Mary Cottingham http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com/
Susan Dietz http://flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com/
Lori Moon Studio http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/fly-tribe-blog-hop-giving-back.html
Kim Hyer http://www.apaperaddict.com
Tina Carlborg http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com/
Catherine Pistone  http://catherinepistone.blogspot.com/
Mary MacIlvain http://maryart.macilvain.com/

Carolyn Chenault http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/the-big-giveaway

Just Magical

Some Thesaurus words for intricate - abstruse, complex, convoluted, difficult, entangled, fancy, involved, labyrinthine, obscure, perplexing, sophisticated, tangled, tortuous, tricky.

This is Queen Anne's lace as it begins to open up to the sun exposing each and every individual blossom. It is truly remarkable and I think all of the words above fit it beautifully. If I had to just pick one though, it would be entangled because I just love the meaning of tangle and confused. I hope the next time you pass one of these amazing weeds, you stop and ponder on its magical appearance and really see all the wonderment it has to offer. I know where I'm taking the muse today...



Word - Intricate

The word for this week is intricate.

Its adjective meaning - having many complexly interrelated parts; complicated; difficult to follow, understand, or solve.

I love, love, love everything about Queen Anne's Lace. Some people call it a weed but I call it summer's snowflake due to the delicate nature and tiny bright white complex flowers that appear on each little stem. This is how it starts out and as it matures, the ball becomes more open allowing the buds to get the sunlight required to bloom. It is simply one of my favorite Mother Nature creations!

Peek A Boo

I have been working with focusing on different distances on my camera and well, this is one of my success photos. I thought the charming pink coneflowers made a nice, interesting canopy for the Venus statue in the background. It is soft and subtle but it is what I love to make you see, really examine the details of what is being presented to you. So, I hope the next time you are out for a walk, you imagine a different perspective on what is in the foreground or the background. It's a fun exercise and I find myself doing it a lot more after this camera adventure.

Daylily Row

John loves daylilies and that is evident because the garden they are in spans the entire length of our driveway and well, that is about 75' long. We have an assortment of blooms from the palest yellow to the most vibrant oranges. I loved this photo it was as if the golden yellow lilies were trumpeting the arrival of me and the puppies to all the other varieties. The vibrant color really shows off against the dense greenery that is so thick you really can't even see the rows anymore. There is some kind of lily blooming from late May up until the later part of August and believe me, it is spectacular bed of color that surprises me each and every day as I drive up towards the house.

Word - Lush

The word for this week is lush.

Its adjective meaning - having or covered with abundant growth.

I am truly taken aback by the richness of our landscape this year. Because of the calm winter, our plants are unusually big, abundant and the weeds, well, they are just as exuberant. The deep, fertile greenery surrounds this wonderful Venus de Milo giving her a certain air of dignity and grace. She is my favorite of the statues we have throughout the landscape and the fact that the patina looks so great, just makes my creative side jump for joy. It is what I had always imagined and to see a dream reaching reality just makes my heart sing! It is life's little happenings that we really and truly treasure the most, isn't it? What brought you to fulfilled happiness this week? I hope it was an amazing adventure of the everyday!

Sweet Faces

I love these sweet little aging faces. They are reading and sharing stories and it all happens in my front yard. Yes, this little statue sits outside our front porch and I love them. The patina of dirt, sun, and weather has finally made them fit in so you don't notice them until you look. The surprise of them hiding under a crab apple tree is all the more gratifying because not everyone will see them at first glance. I really need to do a painting of this tender moment and what a great title that would be!

Hollyhocks

The sun was hiding behind a cloud when I snapped this photo and it gave me such an enchanting color of salmon pink that I just had to share. I love the details of the center that you can see including the soft lime green center of the flower that supports the butter yellow stamen. The delicate nature of the petals is quite evident with the way they are sheer and transparent along the outer edges. The ruffles distract you from finding individual petals creating a nice round object to marvel at. The soft veining that goes from yellow to the softest of pink eventually fading to oblivion makes you appreciate its amazing detail. I got to this one just in time, it was the only one of the stem that had yet to be eaten by the japanese beetles, those darn bugs.

Word - Nestled

The word for this week is nestled.

Its verb meaning - to settle snugly or comfortable; to press closely and affectionately; cuddle; to settle, shelter, or house as if in a nest.

I love this little statue of the children reading. It is tucked in under a crab apple tree in the front of our house. If it wasn't for the sunlight moving in and out, I would have missed the sweet, tender moment they share. It made me smile seeing parts here and there, others hidden leaving a lot to the imagination. Oh, how I wish I had a pair of these tucked into the woods. What a great discovery that would be when happened upon by accident. Imagine the surprise of the adventurer!

Venus, Shy?

So Venus all the sudden wants to seem shy and demure, what's going on here among the flora and fauna? I loved this shot of her back and couldn't help thinking that it looked like a real person. Does she see something in the darkness? Did she just come from taking a dip in the pond? Really, anything is possible in our yard :)

I just really liked the contrast of the rich darkness in the background giving the coneflowers and daylilies in the foreground a spark of glowing beauty. The scene is almost magical and I can go there anytime I want because it's in my front yard. Where is your special place to visit, daydream and create? Come on, you can tell me, promise I won't tell.

Flight of the Bumble Bee

From reading the title you are now humming the tune, right? I was in the middle of taking this picture when that tune starting running through my brain. That's a normal happening for me, because I love music, but this time it was a little bit more. There were literally a little swarm of bees buzzing back and forth on these 4 foot tall coneflowers we have littered in huge clumps everywhere in the garden. I actually closed my eyes just to hear the sound amplified, it was a gentle hum of excitement and you could feel the energy in the air. Oh yes, I do have a love of these little creatures, but they do so much for my creative inspiration, how can I not?

Palette - Hydrangea

I knew this would be a perfect photo to bring forth a color palette. The faded blue hydrangea will always be remembered in my artistic mind with these soft, muted hues sure to enchant even my moonlight guided muse. So relaxed and soothing, just what I needed in the midst of doing my first ecourse. It is going smoothly, in fact, a little too smooth so the trip to the garden was just what I needed. I think I will do a canvas to commemorate these tattered and worn out hydrangeas but most of all to celebrate the colors of their shabby garden glory.
What has it inspired in you?

Hydrangea Heart?

The weather has taken a toll on those beautiful blue hydrangeas. I have to say though, I think I am in love with the color change. From the rich blues to the paler, greyer version, it looks like a pair of faded blue jeans that have holes and are just so with wear that you will not throw them out. I didn't even notice the shape while snapping the photos, it was only upon the cropping that the color faded heart stood out. It is amazing what you see when you really look, isn't it? I hope you are looking at something wonderful today!

Blue Beauty

We have been graced by blue hydrangeas this year and let me tell you, they are simply beautiful. Now blue is not my favorite color but I was so enticed to see these up close and personal I just had to grab the puppies, my camera and head out into the shade garden. This little bloom was 8" in diameter and demanding your attention as you got closer. I loved the shadows of the late afternoon making this blue beauty even more striking in appearance. I'm so glad I got to spend a couple moments up close and personal because it made me appreciate the colorful efforts of Mother Nature and her magical touch.

Floral Fireworks

I love fireworks and usually make John take me all over the county seeing them night after night. They are simply magical and transport me into childhood with each ignited blossom that appears in the night sky. The oohs and ahhs of the crowd thrill me beyond belief because it is as if I am seeing them for the first time once again. These red monarda remind me so much of fireworks that we have them in several places around the gardens. Their fuzzy tufted tops look like a crazy muppet hairdo but I simply cannot smile when seeing them up close and personal. What's not to love, they are red, wild and delight my inner childish spirit whenever I see them.

Happy Independence Day 2012! I hope you enjoy the holiday with family and friends and do go see the firework show, you won't be disappointed, promise!

Italy in Texas?

The atmosphere at Luca & Leonardo's in The Woodlands Texas hits you the moment you walked through the large doors. You were greeted by a pair of hidden statues and well, I feel in love instantly and couldn't wait to see what the menu offered. The rich aroma, the soft romantic lighting and general appearance of the staff all screamed italy and I wanted a taste. While perusing the menu a wine list and complimentary rosemary bread was placed on the table. The smell of that freshed baked bread, heavenly. Imagine the aroma of steaming hot rosemary married together with yeast and you are there. It was served with tomatoes, roasted garlic and butter - heaven already. I ordered the penne arrabiata and let me tell you, it was fantastic. A bit of spice in the sauce, grilled chicken dipped into the goodness surrounded by penne pasta - what's not to love, right? I will be dreaming of this for a while because it thrilled and captivated all of my senses...

Just Thinking

So today it was dreary with a bit of rain creating a very melancholy mood for myself. It got me thinking about art, life and what matters most. So what is it for you that matters? Me, a happy and comfortable life with laughter, creativity and inspiration not to mention trust, intelligence and independence. I require all of those to keep me going, motivated and to simply enjoy every day. I'm very fortunate to make art as a living and I appreciate that. But I also strive very hard to improve, grow, challenge and learn new and interesting things to keep me discovering more ways of self expression. Living an artful life in my home, studio and in art is important to me fully being in the moment. What would happen if you placed a big vase of leaves on the table, brought in a rock or twig with some interesting berries, and put it out for all to see. What kind of conversation do you think this would create with family and friends? Mine, just that I'm an artist and see things differently, eclectically and well, appreciate beauty in just about everything. I hope you see the every day for what it is, just beautiful!

Enchantment

Have you ever read a book that just transported your whole being somewhere else? Well, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern did just that for me. The book was written with such magical, imaginative details that my head was spinning from start to finish. Not only did I picture each image as she described it but the smells, textures and wondrous tents filled my artistic brain with adventures of discovery and intrigue. I was taken in, experienced the illusionists artistry, and left with a wanting to go and explore this magical event. Here's how the black and white table looked for my book club, it was by far a lovely, enchanted evening for everyone who attended. Thank you ladies for a wonderful night!

Nested Creativity

I love when the robins start collecting items for their nests. You see them looking at everything in a new way. The tall grasses from the pond, the empty husks from last years corn fields, the bit of lint from the dryer - it's all part of their wonderful creations. I love photographing them and they really do get use to me since I try to get there every other day to see what has changed. Are there eggs, baby birds, fledglings or is it empty? This one was abandoned when I peeked inside but I know it was a home for 3 young robins to start their life and I am very thankful to have been there for the experience! Still beautiful from the outside like a creative studio waiting for another inhabitant to occupy its craftsmanship. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? Take a look around you today and see what kind of inspiration awaits!

5 Days, 5 Canvases Intro

Click on this text to view the class introduction video.

For more information on this ecourse, please visit this link to my website.

Word - Contemplation

The word for this week is contemplation.

Its verb meaning - to view or consider with continued attention; intend.

This is a statue of a boy and girl but my focus was on the coy, bashful girl contemplating the weight of the world or maybe just giving those wonderful spring phlox all her attention. Either way, it made me wonder what she was thinking with her hand up under her chin giving something a bit of serious thought. When was the last time you were so lost in thought that the world around you just happened to disappear for the briefest of seconds? Me, almost everyday. I am an artist after all and it is my job to give even the slightest inkling a second or two. You just never know when the next best idea will come out and find you! I do hope you take the time to daydream about something wonderful if even for a split second or two. Enjoy the serendipitous moment!

A Field of Poppies

The flaming orange caught my eye. You couldn't help it really, it was almost ablaze with the sun catching the vibrancy just right. I drove around the block just to see it again wishing I had my camera with me. Why is it I never have it when I need it? So I noted the time and went back the next day and guess what, they were just as beautiful as I had thought they were. There was a huge patch of these luscious poppies just wanting their turn to be photographed. I loved the way the sun caught each petal and made it illuminating. This shot I fell in love with. Not only because they are all facing the same way. Nope, it's the proportion of that tiny little stem holding up these voluminous blossoms. Did you see them? Were you thinking the same thing? I love natural surprises and this for sure is one to remember!

Stacked!

I wanted to share my latest Colored Pencil of the Month Club project with you entitled "Stacked!" I love white clematis and we only have one that took so it is really special to me. Not only are the blooms fantastic but they are as large as a small dinner plate. This one grows next to a tree and I actually have to stand on my tiptoes to view its bright treasures. I wish I could take credit for the composition but well, it actually was growing like that so I took advantage of Mother Nature's design skills and added a few of my little artistic touches to make it into an art piece. It was a lot of fun to render will all the white and off white values tinted with blue and green. But my favorite has to be that it is framed with deep, dark loveliness giving all the dimension needed to show off those wonderful blossoms. I hope you check them out, you won't be disappointed!

Mosaic Cardinal?

This lovely plant stick was on my mom's deck and well, I just couldn't resist the beautiful mosaic colors of his breast. Could you imagine if this was a real bird? Wouldn't you just stop and stare? I know I would. I would probably have my mouth hanging open too, just because of the wonderful color palette. I don't know how she does it but my mom always has so many reflective things in her garden oasis that I can be kept busy photographing for hours. Thanks mom for the endless inspiration!

Morning Light

I woke up early this morning, and if you know me, you would realize this is a rare thing. Oh, I love the moonlight and usually the only time I see early morning is if I hadn't went to bed the night before. So yeah, this is very strange for me. I could not believe the beautiful glow of the morning sun coming up over the horizon all fresh and bright, I mean really bright. It was making the nature around our yard wake up in an intense luminous light that my artistic side just could not pass up. So I grabbed the puppies and the camera and went for a walk in the wet, dewy grass. The shadows and extreme brightness of these green oak leaves just couldn't get overlooked. Everywhere I went in the yard the chartreuse green was awakening my color senses thrilling them beyond belief. Who knew nature was just as mesmerizing in the wee hours of the days? What a great way to start the day!

Illuminate

The afternoon sunlight was flooding this pink iris with such illumination I just had to share it with you. Can you see all the delicate ruffles at the top? I can get lost tracing them back and forth wanting to take a ride on their curly edges and see where they lead. The top of the flower is so captivating for my artistic eye that I barely glance at the lovely flowing lower petals. It must be the radiance of the sunlight casting all those lovely shades of fuchsia, orange, pink and vermilion - oh yes, it is surely a color palette feast for the eyes.

Capture the moments, just one a day and see how your world opens up. Sparkle, illuminate and create magic in your every day - you deserve it!