Spirit Booster

Collecting proverbs and quotes is a hobby I have been at for many years. Notebooks, journals, sketchbooks, all filled with them. Written in the margins, or organized into pages. Mark Twain, Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, Albert Einstein to name a few. Oprah calls them Spirit Boosters and I think I will too - it fits. Each post I will try to remember to include at least one. This one is from the contemporary author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert:

"There is hardly a more gracious gift that we can offer someone than to accept them fully, to love them almost despite themselves".

That is Risa's gift to me and I am thankful every day for her K9 companionship.

Zebra Gouache Mini

After doing a few miniatures I am addicted! This little zebra needs a fix - did not do a preliminary sketch and the back legs need to be adjusted for hooves!

Practice is so important and I am truly enjoying all the experimentation. The media is gouache, which is an opaque watercolor.

Zoos are a great place to practice study sketches and the San Diego Zoo, CA is one of the finest! It is where I took pictures for this painting.

Sea of Cortez

Although I like to paint, I also get inspiration from other sources. Often it is a combination of colors, textures, sounds, stories etc. all from unlikely sources not even related to what I do. But something clicks in my brain and I enter everything in one of my journal sketchbooks for later.

There is a book called The Girl of the Sea of Cortez by Peter Benchley who's story has haunted my memories for years. The story is a simple one, yet the images conjured up by the story and my imagination have manifested into paintings of mystical mermaids, beings and magical places in the sea.

After only two exhilarating snorkeling experiences I felt drawn to the sea. So I paint and draw through DVDs, books and zoo observation until I can go again!

Here are a few playful seals, and a mysterious mermaid in graphite miniatures - size 3" x 4". There is also a Kelp mermaid and a magical sea turtle in my reverse glass painting albums.

I Have A Dream

Today is Martin Luther King day and I am so inspired by this person. "I have a dream..." is the beginning of such a moving speech. Dreams are what give us goals, direction. Then it simply about making the 'map' to get to our dream goals. Years ago I was given the book Oh The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss. When in doubt I still go back to it for a smile because the content is always relevant to achieving those dreams. So today will be for everyone who has dreams/goals like M.L.King and have the courage to go after them.

Dreams of inspiring others to appreciate nature in all it's forms is personal goal that will continually be reflected in my work through the paintings, mosaics, and folk tales. So with Dr. King's words and yes, Dr. Seuss too, it's off to the studio for me to finish four folk type St.Francis mini mosaics and work on couple of new designs of the Mexican Wolf. These are new images of my wildlife mirror pieces, functional art series. Reverse glass painting, gems, glass and mirror put together in contemporary designs. Anna Hummingbird & Red Tailed Hawk. How I love birds too!

Art and writing

Writing is an activity that I have always enjoyed and yesterday I attended a lecture on publication through the library. Very interesting and it was nice to connect with others of similar interests. It is a goal on my list of things to do - write a children's bilingual book and have it published. It was good to listen to information on the business end of writing - publishing and publishers!

Also have started a new series of mini drawings called ACEO's. Learned of this genre thru ebay and etsy. It means Artist Cards Editions & Originals. They are works no larger than 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. I used to call them tight thumbnails when I did them in my sketchbook, but now it's a new art genre. So now I can actually market all those tight little sketches as ACEO'S. Like these that I did of Risa. I'll cut them out and mount them on illustration board. Artists sell either the originals or make limited prints and sell them as signed editions.

Holidays, Avatar, glass Pins and Mosaics

Hello again! Been out of touch but now that the holiday haze is winding down there is much to tell. Time sped by in a blur. Christmas was spent with my family and so special. for New Years Eve a friend and I went to see the new movie Avatar in 3-D and it was Great! Had a fabulous, beautiful dinner prepared by my very talented gourmet friend, a very cool movie and then some bubbly to drink in 2010 complete with wacky 2010 glasses, sparkly hat and flashing champaign glasses. A perfect evening!

The little glass pins and pendants are a hit and had a few mini mosaic commissions. The Risa mosaics are charming dog lovers and enclosed is one of the commissions for another Aussie with a Risa pose. Risa Star Gazer sold twice! Poses can be repeated, but never duplicated so each little mosaic turns out unique with turquoise gem pieces.

Mantra for 2010 - Live What You Love.