#InMyStudio - The Daydreamer...

The Daydreamer... a #wip

Some of my first layers are down...Can't wait to get deeper on this piece...

But I'm already enjoying her.

#InMyStudio...

My Klimt Inspired piece changed radically and this sweetheart appeared...

It's a large canvas and it's so playful... so I can't wait to share more.

Some graphite fun...

My AngelLove was just a little doodle in my notebook.

And The Daydreamer is a painting work in progress.

I'm sooooo loving experimenting with drawing/painting hands -

it's definitely adding to the emotion!

#InMyStudio... healing creative play...

It was back to life and back to reality this week... school started up again and nothing like getting back to all that with a bang.  I'm a bit exhausted but taking a moment today to catch my breath and get back on top of the pile and be ready for next week...  After an extremely long day... carting kids to and from hockey and then cross country and still picking up supplies, I crawled home in the dark, had a little soak in the bath and stole a moment at my easel.... nothing like Art to restore the heart!

She was part of my charcoal drawing, I was playing around with the other day.  I unfortunately don't have the capacity to leave charcoal because of the smudging and mess due to my limited space.  So I started adding layers of paint... just so I can store this piece away.  I'm trying to build up a stock of small pieces that I can share as gifts.

This sweet girl has inspired a new painting for me and I can't wait to start working on that... 

I woke up with her on my heart this morning and have drawn her up!

Maybe I will get some stolen moments this weekend to play.

Have a precious weekend!

#InMyStudio... Hello sweet little darling.

Hello sweet little darling...

Getting a bit lost in graphite play today... was wonderful to write, make marks and get deeply involved in small images.  The idea is to do these quick little exercises daily.  For me, it's getting my eye in to draw exactly what I'm seeing... much harder than you think! It's not something I do enough of - drawing from real life.

Challenged to do it more.

Things I believed then. Things I know now...

I believed then... that I couldn't draw.

I know now that anyone can draw.

I believed then... that waterbabies were real.

I know now how beautifully innocent my daydreams were.

I believed then... that hardwork pays off.

I know now just how true this is.

I believed then... that I would have many babies.

I know now that 2 was enough.

I believed then... that we would be relevant and vital forever.

I know now just how fragile life actually is.

I believed then... that you can only call yourself an artist when you sold your artworks.

I know now that you are what you do and the rest will follow.

I believed then... that who I was would always be more valuable than what I possessed.

I know now that life can be cruel but those who really love, who I am really is more valuable.

I believed then... that wisdom was in my words.

I know now that sometimes true wisdom is in the silence.

I believed then... that words told me something.

I know now that actions speak louder than words ever will.

I believed then... that I didn't have choices.

I know now that my calling has always been up for the taking.

I just had to step up!

#iPhonography - a little creative play

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."- Aristotle

  The thing I try find in myself daily...

"SandCastle"

Author Unknown
From the beach its sandy walls rise,

Its turrets reach up to touch the skies.

A tiny moat dissolves the keep.

Its pavers are strong, though only two inches deep.

Tiny footprints embedded in the sand,

Where once a child there did stand.

Its grace and beauty a short time will last,

Before the sea washes it into the past.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

She can laugh at all the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom;

 And faithful instruction is on her tongue

Prov 31v25+26

#InMyStudio... beautiful creative play!

Oh my goodness - I thought we were finished!

But she keeps calling me back to go deeper, but seriously, I think I'm finished now!  I'm so stoked with her... I am not sure if the photos do her justice but she's so lovely in real life.  She's up #InMyStudio where I can look at her... I have loved her through all of her stages, all the way through!

I've skirted my studio all weekend - partly because I know I have tutorials to watch and I know I should be doing homework more than painting.  And partly because I had some work work to do... and I feel too guilty to paint if I have obligations.

So today I got my trail run behind me and my obligations out of the way - so I could play a bit.  I've been planning this canvas for a while - it's been once again inspired by my Kimt, The Kiss mug.  I'm not keeping it true to the Klimt image - but it's my rendition.  I'm already in love with her and I'm beyond excited about this piece.  Can't wait to continue the journey with her.

 I've finally started writing again in the morning, I had a bit of a break...  mainly from being too tired to wake up so early, but I am getting back into routine and waking up early to steal as many hours as I can... I have so much to fit into each day!  Yikes... But I am loving it... all of it!

Winter time out in our beautiful City... #CapeTown

A beautiful day out in CapeTown - up the mountain, down again.

Sunsets, coffee and dinner!  #MemoryMakingDay

 

#TrialRunning with my girls in this beautiful place...

#InMyStudio - iPhotography with Bob Weil

I signed up for a iPhotography course - it's something Misty has introduced me to and I'm absolutely in love with it.  I know I've only skimmed the surface but I find it exceptionally beautiful.  I love the potential piece of art that comes out and the beautiful storytelling behind it.  And I love the simplicity and the ease of being able to do it on my phone.  Susan Tuttle, an amazing photographer I discovered online, recommended this course over the weekend and it was being offered at a discounted rate... I couldn't resist.

On any course I sign up for - my greatest struggle is making time for the tutorials.  I know that sounds strange to say because it's like saying... I can't make time to go to class or lessons.  But it can be rather a time consuming thing.  I try watch my tutorials while I'm ironing or waiting in the parking lot etc etc.  I've also been so tired and it's been so cold.  I keep trying to wake up early to watch or do homework or sit in bed to watch, but then I fall asleep but I will keep trying... but what I love about this skill and form of art is that when I can't be by my easel but stuck at school waiting for kids etc. - I have something creative to do.  That way, never wasting precious creative time....
Watch this space I will keep you posted as I go...  

#InMyStudio - Back to basics

For the next bit... I'm going back to basics and back to learning.  I will definitely try get some painting in, in between.  But this month I have quite a bit going on.  I have some writing on the cards, classwork (always), work and homework.  I also have a weekend retreat coming up about myths and storytelling, which I'm rather excited about - a friend gifted me this retreat for my 40th... so it's feeling quite special.  And quite in line with this next stage I'm going into.

I found it hard moving back to charcoal - taking on a medium I haven't used for about a year, was so overwhelming.  I can't wait to get to a stage where things don't freak me out so much...  I am finding it happening less and less the more I grow in confidence.  I know this will come the more I practice and learn.