Yin Yang of Love 2

Yin Yang of Love 2, 12 x 12" oil on canvas, work in progress

I started a second canvas with the same theme as the last, smaller “Yin Yang of Love”. This one is 12 x 12″ and I changed the color scheme up just a bit too. This is still a work in progress, I’m thinking about adding in some lines and swirls in the background too. So, in the end, this one will look quite a bit different from the first version.

The Yin/Yang of Love

Yin/Yang of Love, 8 x 8" oil on canvas board, $50

Here is my latest daily journal painting. I painted this one on Saturday and today I’m starting a larger version of this “sketch”. This image bowled me over on Saturday morning, I HAD to paint it right away. Unfortunately, images don’t always come to me that forcefully. Funny how art imitates life sometimes. There has been quite a bit of turmoil around my house the past couple of days, maybe it’s life imitating art in this case, since the painting was done first. Perhaps I had a premonition of what was coming, actually, barreling towards me. Maybe it’s the largest solar storm in years causing the jump in crazy energy around here. It could just be my pms, or maybe I’m finally hitting menopause! LOL! All I know is I am completely drained of all positive energy right now and I’m having a difficult time staying positive and upbeat, which is somewhat unusual for me. I’m usually the one preaching “you are what you think about”. Anyway, this is where my art comes in, it’s always been my therapy. So, today I’m working on a larger version of this painting which has obviously stirred up some emotions that I need to work out or through or whatever. Peace, love and happiness to all!

Finally! Back to my easel!

I haven’t had much creative time lately. I’ve been working on business stuff, marketing, printing, getting my portfolio together, etc. etc. So, today, I decided that I was getting way too cranky and it was time to get back to painting! I have done several new needlepoint designs and even created my first coloring book since the New Year, but I haven’t broken out the oil paints since last year! The paints on my palette have dried up for crying out loud! So, after scraping off all the dried up paint (what a waste, I hate when I do that!) and squeezing out some different colors for my first daily journal painting of 2012, I decided on the title of my first piece before I even placed a brush in water. Balance. Something I desperately need in my life right now. I really cannot let myself go this long without being creative! I get so cranky and irritable! So, without further ado, here is my newest and first painting of 2012.

Balance, 8 x 8" oil on canvas board, $50

New Needlepoint Designs

I have been working on two new needlepoint designs all week and I do believe they are finished! I have a goal to complete at least 2 designs a month. Here is “Gratitude” and “Mini Love 3″.

Gratitude, 8 x 8" fine art needlepoint canvas

Mini Love 3, 6 x 6" fine art needlepoint canvas

Love, Pass it on, the continued story!

This idea has taken on a life of it’s own. What began as a spin off on the “Free Hugs” idea has become something more. I recently created a coloring book with some of my designs and while I worked on the project I thought, “what could I do with this idea in regards to my Love, pass it on project?” It came in a flash, the idea that I could make a “Love, Pass it on” coloring book. I had already thought about making stickers to hand out for free so, why not a coloring book to go with the stickers? Now, coloring books are not for everyone, granted. Kids LOVE coloring books though, so why not give these out to kids?! My plan is to have as many of these coloring books and stickers printed as I can afford and then take them out to hospitals, grief counselors, homeless shelters, etc. and give them to kids. The goal is to let these kids know there are people who love and care for them. Love heals ALL.

So, that is the current idea/goal for “Love, Pass it on”. I have also added another dimension to the project. I am working with a few poets who will write short verse, haikus, quotes, etc. having to do with the Love, pass it on concept. These poems/verses will be included in the coloring book as well. If you happen to be a poet, interested in collaborating on this project, please contact me!

I submitted my idea to one of the most popular crowd funding websites out there and was quickly rejected. I will NOT let this stop me! If I have to pay for the whole thing myself, then I WILL. If you would like to help with funding, know a printer who would donate the printing, anything at all to help me out, please contact me. As always, I am very grateful to be blessed with the ability to do what I love for a living! I just want to give something back.

Weekly Art Auction

This week I am starting back with my weekly art auction. Every week, one original painting, starting bid of $9.99. You never know what you might find!

This week’s painting is “Riding the Cosmic Wave”. It is an 8 x 8″ oil painting on canvas board. Part of my Daily Journal Series, though they aren’t daily much anymore! This one was painted on 7/28/11. Click here or on image to go to auction page.

Riding the Cosmic Wave, 8 x 8" oil on canvas board

New Project for the New Year!

Coloring book design #1, markers and crayons!

I’m really excited about the project I’m currently working on! Browsing around Etsy the other day, I came across a coloring book. Coloring book……what an awesome idea for my art! I am planning on 20 pages for the first book. I say first, because I already have ideas for at least 3 collections of coloring book art. It is making me feel like a kid again! I am truly enjoying playing with the markers and the crayons…..and yes, of course I’m coloring all the designs as I go! I hope to have the first book done in mid January and it will be available in BOTH printed AND .pdf formats. That way, you can color with crayons or with Paint on the computer! Personally, I prefer the hands on feeling of crayons and markers, but I’m just old fashioned like that!

UPDATE 1/3/12: My first coloring book is now available in my Etsy shop in both printed and PDF formats! Check it out HERE!

Today’s new work

Winter Day, 8 x 8" oil on canvas board, $50

I started and finished two daily journal paintings today. My daily journal series is an ongoing series of small, quick paintings I create as warm ups to keep the creative juices flowing. Today, it’s feeling a bit like winter coming on, so the color palette is reflecting the weather. COLD! We are expecting snow this weekend here in Albuquerque. Yesterday’s wind storm tore the roof off our neighbor’s large shed, including several layers of the cinder block walls it was attached to. Luckily, our chicken coop right next door wasn’t touched. Poor chickens must have been frightened silly!

Cold Blows In, 8 x 8" oil on canvas board, $50

Thanksgiving etc.

Gratitude, 8 x 8" oil on canvas board, my newest painting created in the days before Thanksgiving 2011, SOLD

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Gratitude. Thankfulness. Other than the idiocy that is Black Friday and a million and one stupid commercials on TV during the Thanksgiving football games, it is the only holiday that doesn’t have relations to the retail world. It is merely and beautifully all about being THANKFUL. The only problem with this idea is that I believe we should be thankful and grateful EVERYDAY. Gratitude and thankfulness are the secret to true happiness as far as I’m concerned. This has been my secret anyway. If you’ve never tried it, you really should. Next time you feel sad, irritated, angry, any negative feeling really, start thinking of the things you are grateful for. I guarantee you will feel better almost instantly.

Now that I’m done with my gratitude rant, I’ll share my Thanksgiving. Aaron and I spent the holiday and weekend with his parents. They own a cabin up in the mountain town of Cloudcroft, New Mexico. My mother in law’s father and brothers built the cabin many years ago and it’s stayed in the family since. Cloudcroft is a small town (pop. 850) high up in the mountains (elev. 9,000′ where the cabin sits at the top of the hill) just east of Alamogordo and White Sands. One of my favorite things about going up there is that we can get several inches of snow and COLD temps (lows in the teens). If you get tired of the cold, just drive 20 minutes down the mountain to Alamogordo and you won’t need more than a light sweatshirt. Beautiful New Mexico! Gotta love it!

This was the first Thanksgiving in a looooong time that all three of our sons were not with us. This was difficult for me, but apparently the boys were all fine. At least I will have two of the boys at home for Christmas!

Now, it’s back to work for the week. Still working on cleaning out my much smaller studio, listed 4 auctions on ebay this week and I will continue to post pieces in my Etsy shop, which by the way, has a sale going on currently. 20% off everything in my shop, just use the coupon code: CYBERSHOP. Hope to get back to some daily painting tomorrow too.

One of the things I am MOST grateful for is that I am blessed to be a full time artist and have many people who have purchased and supported my art over the years. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I hope everyone had a great weekend! Happy holiday season to all and to all a good night!

Cyber Sale!

I keep seeing posts about “Cyber Monday” all over the place, so I decided to hold my own “Cyber Sale” in my Etsy shop. Today through December 19th I am offering 20% off all items in my Etsy shop. Just enter coupon code: CYBERSHOP when checking out and the discount will be automatically figured into your final price. I have several new/old items I will be posting throughout today and this week, so please check back often! Thank you all for your support through the years!