simple inspiration idea

I love doing these little inspiration exercises. 

Simply choose a color and take as many pictures as you want. 

I find that it helps me notice simple things and motivates me to be creative in a different way. The above photo took all of 15 minutes and all items where found in my house. 

How simple and fun is that?

making art from the heart

The start of a class.

The table is set with a canvas and all the tools needed to create something special.

a few of the final paintings

creative. paper. paint.

I am always blessed when I teach a class. Each person that came to paint, also had something deep inside that they wanted to say. Some shared stories that brought tears, some just painted what they felt. 

My students come to learn from me, but in the end, I learn from them too.

Thank YOU!

the making of a tree painting

 

The start of a painting.

This one turned out completely different then what I had planned.

Funny how that happens. This was going to have a small poem smack dab in the middle... something about "brilliant hues and believing"

I save little bits of paper, much like a magpie and used gel medium to randomly glue the papers down onto the canvas.

Then I thought, less words might be better. I love using tracing paper to play with ideas.

 

A tree sprouted.

For a long time I had a white tree and swing. But it looked to unfinished. 

I painted the background quite a few times with blue and then with green just to make the Dr. Seuss looking tree stand out.

 

The final painting. 

I love how the base of the tree has so much color and energy, 

sending it up into the sky!

creative retreat!

This year we (my creative sisters) made our retreat happen again! 

We traveled to beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado, nestled in foothills of the mountains.

Every year I look forward to this time to relax and reflect on my own creative journey and share in theirs. These women are nurturing, strong and honest. We spend our time talking about our strengths and weakness. It helps to see what others see of you. We are either deep in thought or tearful or laughing. We fill our hearts and share our hopes. 

One of my creative sisters is a NIA instructor, and we had the luxury of a private class. What a moving experience, literally and soulfully! 

Next year it maybe in Sante Fe or the Oregon coast.

Doesn't matter where as long as we make it happen!

xo to my creative sisters

creative class

I had the honor of teaching a mixed media class in my studio.

A wonderful group of creative women! 

 Each one brought a wonderful and unique approach to the class.

Creative and eager to learn and play.

Pure joy in helping them find their voice.

Happy to see finished masterpieces.

After the group left, I felt like the end of a wonderful party with friends. 
The kind you don't want to end.

I gathered up the bits scraps and washed the brushes.

Chocolate, wine and creating art. 

What could be better?

painting an owl

 I start with a Masonite board 10x10. Glue strips of beautiful paper from Thailand and India onto the board. I like to make smaller sketches in my idea notebook. That is where "witan" my owl was born. I scan the sketch and enlarge it to fit my canvas. Then I found a page in an old dictionary (found book in the dumpster) that had the definition of wise, how fitting?  Put my sketch on a light table so I could trace onto the dictionary page.

At this point the background had to much going on, so I used orange and brown to tone it all down. Cut out my little "witan" owl and used matte medium to glue him down. 

Now the fun part begins! okay, it's all fun.

Using acrylics and watercolor pencils I add colors that speak to me. 

My sweet little owl is ready to fly.

creative aprons

I needed some cute and festive aprons for my upcoming mixed media class. 

I did not want to shell out a ton of money for an apron that will just get messy. 

But I did want them to be cute and fun to wear 

and protect my students from paint.

I found some nice cotton towels at the dollar store and had my a-ha moment. 

Why not make my own fancy aprons?

First I sewed some rick-rack across the top for added embellishment.

(I am not a person that can sew very well, enough said)

 I got this old sewing machine at a estate sale!

I ironed the corners in at a right angle to give the apron a bit more shape. 

Then attached the ribbon to fit around the neck.

 Sewed it all together and made some waist ties.

 I mixed matched the ties on purpose. 

I LOVE this look! I had some of the fabric yo-yos from my grandma 

and little felt balls for the center, hand-sewed for the final touch.

Not bad for $6 plus a little gumption and 

odds and ends from my stash of ribbons.

want to be more creative?

Perhaps that's a dumb question. But it's a intriguing question.

I've been reading the book Imagine by Jonah Lehrer, which is amazing! He talks about the science of changing your environment to stimulate creativity. It could be travel or visiting a city or eating at a new restaurant. The change in scene makes your brain react differently. Which in short, makes new connections, new solutions to your creative projects. 

I always feel it is easier to stay in my studio. Who wants to pull along a trunk of paper and paints? I decided to test this out. My first outing was as my local farmer's market. Easy to bring a sketchbook and pencils. I found it so fun to listen to people chatting and watching the colorful display of the people walking by with their produce. Another benefit, no computer or emails. A time to focus and let the creative mind doodle.

The next place to try this creative theory out... my backyard. Of course the weather was absolutely perfect and quiet. At least so I thought. My yard was filled with critters and their sounds. Birds fluttering, flying and nibbling out of the feeder. A squirrel that ate acorns high in an oak tree, dropping the nuts at random. After a while, my loud friends became part of my art and I welcomed their quirky sounds.

My last place: a school of music. While my son took his piano lesson. I sat in the hall and heard beautiful music coming from instruments to voices. For some this would cause a lack of focus, but for me the creative ideas were flowing, just like the sounds of music.

Try a new place to work, your "creativeness" might surprise you!

how to paint a patchwork balloon

 It all starts with a sketch. A simple idea. A balloon made out of a quilt.

The first layer is the sky and bold colors of the balloon.  

Just the beginning. 

Sometimes along the way, my tools look better then my painting. 

So I snap a picture of my palette.

 I used a white gel pen to put in the stitches, so it looks like it's embroidered. 

Metallic gold & silver ink just disappeared.

 What to do for the basket? 

The use of tracing paper is a great way to figure out 

placement and if you even like what you've done.

This girl and her stars never made it to the final painting.

What if I cut the words out of the basket?

It looks like a weave of a basket now.

nice!

I opt to use a girl with a telescope painted 

on dictionary page first and then cut out. 

Nothing is glued down yet.

 I feel that the balloon needs some dictionary paper patches, 

so it goes together with our girl and basket.

They sky needs more moodiness. 

 I love this picture. It shows my tracing paper with the green hills and to the far right is my second girl. She never made the cut. This shows just how much thought and decisions go into each part.

The finished painting!

The sky is darker and more linear. 

The hills are richer in color.

What do you think?

creative planter ideas

I love coming up with 
new and creative ways to grow plants. 

An easy way to dress up a plant pot. Just wrap with a burlap sack.
You could even tie it with a jute string.

A seashell makes a nice little home for tiny succulents.

Old books with the middles cut out, waterproofed and ready to plant.

Baby heads that have been discarded, a conversation starter for sure.

I saw this idea in my own neighborhood, but didn't get a picture snapped.
Fern at Life on the balcony shared her inspiration.

These are my mom's old "clean-the-chicken-coop" boots.
This looks lovely planted with trailing sweet peas and marigolds.

Look around, you can plant just about anything... in anything!