Painting Bliss

Doodle a Day May

 

 

I'm an Instagram addict... I have nearly pulled myself from every social network, only visiting my facebook fan page to post my blog posts and that is it. There is no scrolling through peoples business, reading tweets, or whatever time stealing places... except Instagram... because I love the community of artists there and the ability to share my love of photography. '

 

(Prompt Word - Lunar)

 

While sliding down the list of images the other day I noticed that an artist I follow was participating in a little Instagram daily doodle prompt where each day of the month has a prompt word to ignite the creative soul. Of course I inquired and was led to the list and am now participating the best I can with a busy artistic and mommy schedule. I may miss a day here and there but I am attempting to participate as much as possible. I like the way it provokes my thought and how I end up with a piece of art I hadn't planned out in the first place. Also a sweet way to stock the ol' Etsy shop!

 

(Word Prompt - What your Eating)

 

I have thought about offering you a weekly word prompt for some time now... you can take the word in any way you want and create something... it doesn't even have to be visual! You can write a poem or something! The world is your playground! Before I go ahead and jump on that band wagon, what do you think? I am interested in hearing your opinion!

 

So hey, if you like either of those pieces and just know you need them in your life... they are right here!

 

 

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Cloth Paper Scissors - It's Here!

Cloth Paper Scissors - It's Here!

 

 

Being so humble and artistically shy it's not easy for me to share big ta-doo's... but I'm just about jumping out of my skin. I have had some minor publications in Somerset Studio, but I currently have my very first serious spread in the May/June issue of Cloth Paper Scissors!!!

Maybe you remember my sweet mixed media egg owls, maybe you don't... but now you can make one of your very own, for in the current issue I have a how to article complete with step outs and an adjoining article! I am so excited, delighted, and happy to share the news with you!

 

 

 

Opening up the box that I knew contained my complimentary issues was a bit surreal... actually holding, leafing through, and seeing my work on glossy pages next to other talented artists was just mind blowing!! I am so thankful to Cloth Paper Scissors for giving me this opportunity and for being so friendly to work with. The magazine staff was kind and super responsive... they made it so easy! I hope to send them more artwork in the future in hopes of more publications.

Hope you pick up the magazine and have a look see, thank you to you if you do!!

If you love my owls and would like to give one a happy home, you can visit my etsy shop here.

 

 

New to Shop and New Work

 

Yesterday found me scanning, perfecting, and listing a bunch of new work in my Etsy shop! Not to mention (okay I'm mentioning), that I moved a few older pieces into a sale section. I would love to keep them, but I would love even more for them to be enjoyed in someones home.

So take a trip on over to my shop and take a look at all of the new art I have been creating. I have really been working whole heartidly. I feel like I am really coming into myself, and hope it shows in the new work. Thank you and much artistic love! Here is just one of the new pieces available in my shop.

Watermark does not appear on actual piece.

 

"It was Written"

8x8

Watercolor, gel pen, ink, and pencil

(Oh! and LOVE)

 

 

 

Once an original sells I will then offer the image as prints.

Enjoy your Sunday and see you tomorrow!

 

Paintingbliss Etsy Shop

 

91 Years is a Grand Long Time

 

 

My grandmother turns 91 in just a few days. I don't get to see her very often, but had the happy opportunity to do so yesterday. I spent time holding her hand, sharing hugs, and loving smiles. I miss our relationship, the way it used to be. Age is such a horrible thing, she cycles now in her mind and forgets so very easily. She is beautiful, and I love her. We had her favorite cake that my mom made, chocolate cake with homemade whipped cream. I couldn't believe after all the intimate years we shared, that I didn't know that. I'm the type of person that values knowing how someone takes their coffee/tea, I like to know favorites as well. I pride myself in remembering these things so when I can make someones beverage or favorite something for them they will know that I remembered and that I remembered because I love them and it was important to me.

My youngest helped blow out her candles and I made sure to wait until last when gifts were presented. I had painted a piece of art for her. I hadn't given her artwork since I was a child!

When I was young she had a canary named Rudy, he sang all the time... especially to the t.v. when it was on. She always had a love for canaries, so I felt it only right to create one for her.

The words I came up with, came naturally and quickly. I just seemed to know what it should say.

 

 

 

 

This piece will be available via my Etsy shop as prints and note cards in the near future!

 

 

New to the Shop - Valentine's Day Cards

 

 

 

Remember this piece I shared a few weeks back? Well I took a few friends advice and had it made into note cards. I have never had printed note cards in my shop before, so this is a test run.

Depending on how they do, I will definitly will or won't add more.

I think they would be a great anytime card, but with Valentine's Day coming it would be quite opportune to show a friend or significant other how much you love them.

 

 

I am a big supporter of the hand written letter. Don't let writing letters or sending cards become a lost art.

Now for a surprise... whomever was wonderful enough to read to the end of this post has a chance at winning one of these cards. Be the 5th person to leave a comment and I will send you a card!

Happy early Valentines!

Visit the listing for this card here.  Thank you <3

 

 

Art Journal Adventure

 

 

My studio buddy has been keeping me company as I grab for pens, pencil, and paint. He gets in my way and I get in his all at the same time. We both wouldn't have it any other way.

I have tried multiple times to try and start an art journal and each time I quickly abandoned it. Finally, I just gave up because I had too many other artistic endeavors to pursue. But it has been brought to my attention yet again and this time it feels more like exploration, soul searching, and fun. I'm not putting any pressure on myself either. Cause that's not what art journaling is about.

The universe recently brought me a new friend and she's a wonderful soul! She is the mind behind Loud Nonsense Whispered Truths. She has a crazy amazing and inspiring shop.  I wear one of her hand stamped lockets daily. It reminds me to be present and be where I am at the moment I'm there. When I need it I  open it up, breathe deep, and think the words "be here now".

The beautiful art journal page below was made by Jodi, she makes beautiful art. Lookie see, and notice the quote on the left page... it's me!

 

 

Jodi has inspired me to start my own journal. We are enjoying getting to know each other, friends make the world go round as I said in yesterday's post. This week found me at the used book store, a place I haven't been to since I was a teenager. A whole pile of books later that only cost $2.50 I had taken Jodi's advice and bought some old hard bounds that I wasn't terribly attached to with plans of altering it!

Have a gander at my first two pages! (yay)

 

 

Jodi and I have also agreed to both start a page in a book then send it back and forth until it's full. Then we will probably start another. The wonderful thing is we are going to share these pages on our blogs. We want to encourage you to be brave and perhaps start an art journal yourself. We hope to remind you that even brave confident artists are vulnerable and question themselves every day. I'm looking forward to exploring my self onto the pages of both my journal and the one I swap back and forth between Jodi and I. I am enjoying seeing words in journals, tearing them out, and saving them for my journal. In fact, since the journal is encouraging my less perfect side... it will probably reflect in my actual artwork, changing the way I create. I look forward to the adventure!

 

 

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Words Demand Things From Me

New Work and Publication News

 

Your probably wondering if while I have been writing all these deep and thought provoking posts if whether I have been doing any artwork. The answer is yes! I have made 2 new mixed media watercolor pieces and also been diligently putting together the new works for the upcoming summer Cloth Paper Scissors publication. Truth is I have been sitting quite a bit in my pretty pink chair. Here is one of my new pieces... this one is not for the publication. This is a piece I plan on making into Valentines Day cards, which will be up for purchase in my Etsy shop really soon :)

 

 

Some more exciting news I have yet to share is that I recieved an email notifying me that Carnival in a Cotton Town has been chosen to appear on the Expression pages of Somerset Studio come this March issue!!!! Here is the piece below if you don't quite remember.

 

 

I was very excited to get that email! I always had a feeling even when creating the above piece that it should be sent to Somerset. Glad I trusted my creative gut. I even had some bravery when I recieved the email and asked the person who sent it if they would know how I could be featured in a more prounounced feature in the magazine. She was super nice and sent me another email address of someone who would know. So I took that bravery and emailed that other address. I have yet to hear back, but I have faith that I will. Remember, that it never hurts to ask... and it never hurts to seek out that which you want. What's the worst that can happen, the word no? Well who cares about no, no is just a road block... not the drop off a cliff.

 

 

Dreams Goals and Hopes for 2013

 

Homemade for the Holidays - Orange Magazine Feature

 

 

It's out! It's here! My sweet and whimsical nesting snowmen have been published in Orange Magazine's holiday shop local gift guide! I am so excited and so happy to see them so large on the page! Sharing my happiness with you is such a delight as I have been so eager to see my snow folk in print, and here they are!

 

 

Miss Brenda who is the editor of Orange Magazine is a real sweetie, she had contacted me after seeing my nesting snowmen here on the blog and asked if I would drop them off to be photographed for this feature. I know I told you this all before, but it's just a little recap and I am feeling super blessed to have this opportunity!

 

 

Thank you to Orange Magazine and Brenda for helping me share my artwork with the Hudson Valley N.Y. Thank you and big warm hugs!

You can visit my Etsy shop here and if you are smitten with my snow folk you may make them part of your Christmas/Winter decor by visiting them here.

 

 

Pretty Little Houses for You and Me

 

It's time for holiday shopping and I can't stress enough how very important it is to by local and handmade! Support your local artisans... the people right here who live next door to you, work in your office, or maybe even are a friend of yours! It's the American dream to do what you love and make a success of it... better yet it's the human dream! So support your friendly neighborhood artists!

I have added some new items to the shop and I think they are just so whimsical and darling. These little house blocks were created on cedar blocks found in your local home decor store. With a little of this and a little of that I brought a regular wood block to a fun and decorative home piece.

I hope you like them as much as I do! I think they would look super perched on a window sill, the top of some wanes coating, or any shelf you may have. It's the perfect size for a small gift or to sit aside your computer at the office.

 

 

Also new to the shop are two gallery wrapped canvas pieces!

 

 

 

All of these items are available in my Etsy Shop :)

Make it a handmade holiday!!