The Dark Horse...

Annie

All time favorite subject, in my worst media: soft pastel.

color me, just color me, and stay outside the lines...

I loved painting this, and of course, I shaved off the years and was very kind...If you can't be good to yourself, who else will?

Really trying to work outside the box on color. Journal page, wake up lyrics..

big thank you's

Thank you so much for joining my blog. We create in silence, and sometimes that's great, but ultimately we want to communicate because, at least I think, art is a form of communication. So we have our zen/peace time when we are working, but what if it doesn't sell, gets no reception, or recognition?

Is that what it's about?

Not always, but nevertheless, our art is speaking. Is it quoting Hawthorne, or explaining the mysteries of the universe? No. It's just us, putting paint to canvas, saying this is where I am today. Do you feel this way? Does this/ do I make sense? Do you see what I see?

Art is a form of communication that is often done in isolation. I am so pleased and honored to have you join my site...I am not alone and you are not alone...very cool.....:)

back to the journal

There will always be something about faces to me...It's like an artist default drawing in my brain. I go there, draw a face, write some words, collage, and I am at my most happy as an artist. This is a self portrait..

Yellow this time

Yellow this time, wanted to experiment with angles here and varying yellows

Purple Tulips against a Raging Sky

I loved adding sky to this as a back drop. I just feel like the tulips are coming right at you.

Grungy, collaged portrait. Have one more like this to finish.

things to do while not sleeping....

I am in the non-sleeping mode. I wake up at 4 am try to read, make coffee, and photograph ridiculous pictures of one of my dogs. I have so many ideas for paintings but this lack of sleep whacks me right in the middle of the day and I lose all steam to paint. I know it will get better soon, it's just a waiting game until the insomnia wind blows on somebody else for awhile. In the meantime, I fall asleep at 10, wake up at 4, start my day, completely run out of gas at 2, and try not to nap. I have ideas for paintings, but feel exhausted all the time. I know this will pass, but it's such a drag...

Rejected

This commission was rejected. I hate commissions. I would rather make NO money than have someone insult my work who knows nothing about art, or is asking me to do something asinine. I'm learning though, man always the hard way, but still a lesson, so a left handed gift.

If you can't take some backhands as an artist, you'll never pick up a brush again. I prefer to work with my own muse, and if it finds an audience, great. If not, keep on going.

Just keep on going....

Perfectionism....and me??

Yes, I like things perfect. I have always admitted the contrary. No, not me, I'm laid back....

I'm full of sh*t. I struggle endlessly with my art because I have an inner critic. Who is it? My mother, father, professor from art school--I don't know. But whoever the entity, he or she is there and they screw everything up.

I don't think you ever make great art until you are free of this. I don't think you're every really happy until you're free of this...

Learning....

Everyone is an artist.

When I listen to good music, and when I make art; hopefully good art, I fear growing older less. These things are constants--they won't leave me. They will be my companions against what I fear most, being alone.

Art and music teach you how to be alone. They are pseudo companions that fill up the space when the hustle-bustle has passed you, and never really was about you.

Art and music teach you to be.

And not just to be, but to be in the moment. For as long as I've lived, there are so many things I still know so little about. But there are few things I do know for sure. Love is the purpose of life, without it I don't know how we'd live, but more importantly, why. Art and music art teach me how to adapt, navigate and negotiate the ups and downs of the journey.

They are with me when times are bad, and good, and these things, creativity itself, make me comfortable with myself...Alone..

Creativity is the walking stick, that I lean upon, on my journey...

Find your creativity, embrace it, and make it part of your daily life...Everyone is creative and everyone is an artist. Find that part of you, and make a new friend....

henry do not disturb...

Art First...butt....

I would put art first, if my butt didn't have a tendency to expand expontentially when I don't run. I'm older; it's not as easy as it used to be. Getting older is a priviledge but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its bumps in the road.

I'd like to try and do another mother and child. I enjoyed doing my Forever Madonna, but I'd like to expand on that somehow. And I want to do another journal page. It's amazing; I'm actually enjoying acrylics again. I must thank Misty Mawn though, her class has help me considerably, and she has such a way of working with them.

My kids were home for the weekend:) Went shopping with daughter-- will remember to pack extra Red Bull next time.