Siempre - Always

Siempre - Always. This little reverse glass painting of a heart is one of my favorites and it will probably get made into note cards when I find a quality printer with good prices for short runs.

Meanwhile I share my quote for the week which has inspired new work.

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, a singing bird will come." chinese proverb

Already have the design done. Can't wait to start!

The gem show started Jan. 30 and I have not gone yet. It's super for just about everything you could think of - from beads to fossils to - Everything!

Better get there soon.

Mosaic Art Addiction

O.k. I am so addicted to the whole Flickr mosaic artist sites and connecting with other artists! That's what comes of too much studio time. It has been such a blast looking and getting jazzed by all the different styles, colors, projects etc. that I am designing Right Now!

Here is teeny, tiny sample. The first is a heart by Lin Schorr for a community mosaic project and the second is by Lori Desormeaux called Latte Heart Valentine. The links enclosed will take you to a favorite blog that features these mosaics on the first and second pages plus Lin's site. I liked Lin's community mosaics with their themes and now I want to do one too. I posted all of my work and links and got a lot of response :~) The combination of the glass painting and mosaic is not mainstream, so people are asking how I do it. Will post some progress picks soon.

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.

Glass Pin of San Pascual

Here is a custom order for a San Pascual pin for an aspiring chef. It turned out so cute I have made a few more as magnets for those who love to cook. Here is the original painting too. It is a painting that is fun to look at - there are so many details to see. All of the pins are sparkly and vibrant with color. Currently working on a mermaid painting for a mosaic that will also be used for the pins because it is in my playful SOL style of bright colors and images.

All of the pins are packaged in a small clear envelope with matching image papers. The back of the papers inform that the pins are Not Waterproof. Just water resistant.

St. Francis and Risa mini Paintings Mosaics

Wow! The day after Thanksgiving. Feels like any other day and it's back to work. Had a lovely dinner and ate Waay too much. Had highly nutritious coffee and apple pie for breakfast - mmm! those leftovers are tasty!

Starting new reverse glass paintings and pieces - they are small and pretty cute.All of the mini mosaics have gems, stones, beads, glass and often mirror. Size range is 7 - 12 inches. 

Never tire of St. Francis, wildlife & Risa subjects. Risa Star Gazer will be used for some holiday cards and gifts.  As you can tell,  I like Starry Nights and Risa will be gazing up at the brightest star of Christmas.

Hope there are those out there that are reading - leave comments :~)  I know I should work Facebook page, but no time! Will get on there shortly and put something  up!

The Power of LOVE Positivity

I wanted to share a part of Kathy the Crafty Chica's post about The Power of Positivity because it is So True! 

Kathy: Last month when I was at iLoveToCreate headquarters, I noticed happy signs hung up all over the building. This one is my favorite! "LOVE SHINE"   Every time I walked by it, I smiled. Even if I just spilled paint on my new $50 blouse, I'd glance at this message and was reminded me of the good things in life.

I know, I know, it is just a piece of cardboard with a corny saying, but it works for me. I'm not sure who chose to hang up these colorful affirmations, but it's genius. The more we surround ourselves with words and images of things that make us happy, the more the bad things won't seem, well, as bad.

It goes even deeper than the sign. It goes with every action we make, every inflection of our voice, the vibe we carry when we enter a room, even down to our status updates on Facebook or Twitter. Our actions can change people's moods in an instant. We carry a lot of power with how we present ourselves.

If you are in a frumpy mood because you stubbed your toe on the dog dish one morning, and then stomp past the desk guard on your way into work, you have just passed that bad juju on to him and he will pass it to someone else, etc. It's hard to shake the bad stuff, but I've learned if you don't shake it off and let it go, you'll only attract more of it!

Bottom line? Life goes on. Unless you are the President, NOTHING is worth losing sleep or peace over. When I lived at home with my parents and would come to them with what I thought was a life or death situation, they would always tell me, "Be thankful, it could always be worse."

In this day and age, everything is at a make-or-break moment for all of us. It takes all our will - and 100% enthusiasm and faith - to be that little bit of extra weight to tips the scales in our favor. After a recent stressful week, I found my happy place again. Instead of worrying, I'm back to embracing all the gifts each challenge brings, appreciating each lesson. It is what it is - make it work! The glitter jar is always half full. OK, sometimes 1/4 full, but as long as there is some kind of visible sparkle, everything will always work out.

The power of positivity is endless!

Me Again! While creating all of the pieces for the art show at the gardens I found myself listening to audio books in the paranormal romance genre and just romance. I don't know why -  but they entertained me with their humor, passion, adventure and of course, LOVE - AMOR. 
 I found myself laughing or going "wow" in the late evenings and it jazzed a 'painting passion' so that hours drifted by. During the last month or so TV was not even an option and it was not missed. The stories fueled my creative imagination and time took on a surreal  sort of Einstein quality. My earlier post on Art and Romance was alluding to this feel. It was such a  positive, energizing experience that I am working to keep the momentum going.
There are three pieces in particular that give me such good energy that I keep them right by the drafting and computer tables. The little fruit bat, the kit fox and the red tailed hawk.The  Energy of Positivity is powerful - discover and surround yourself with whatever it takes to work your special creative mojo and then - Just Do It!

My First Art Show

Well my first show is over and I have mixed feelings about it. I felt I needed to do it and am glad I did.

My booth looked wonderful, even though it was a questionable spot at first. A Very Big Thanks to a friend who set it up for me and made it work. His opinion was that I should not have to make a purchase work - "you should get what you pay for". I was too stressed to make an issue out of it at the time. Glad he was there!

All of the mosaics glittered and the pins and postcards looked great. I took my wildlife panels at the last minute and they ended up attracting a lot of attention. I love doing them and hope all of those people who took my card commission one! The javelina and bobcat were crowd pleasers. Painting wildlife and St. Francis pieces is so satisfying!

My parents drove out from San Diego to attend my first show, then drove all the way back two days later!! I am so lucky to have them in my life. I know it cost them much effort. Again I am so very blessed and humbled.

My little kitties, postcards and pendants went very well. I painted and created from the heart what I truly love and it shines in my work. Though I love all of the pieces, some of my favorites are the hawk, bat, kit fox, and Risa pieces. The teeny St. Francis are cute, the flowers on the little kitties glows in the dark and I wear my pins every day. They are little gems in glass. I also sold the lovely Sun piece, one of my magical bats and small kitty mosaics. Let's see those calls for commissions start rolling in!

Kit Fox

Here is a secretive little kit fox peaking out from a mesquite - finished! She is part of my Starry Night series for the upcoming shows. A small piece 9" x 12".  These little foxes have adapted well to urban life as it has encroached on their environment. Being mostly nocturnal they  can be seen scavenging around trash cans, yards etc. It's amazing the way  much of the wildlife has adapted in spite of the often thoughtless human society. Birds, bats, coyotes, squirrels, raptors, bobcats etc. can be seen everywhere. 

New Cards

Well they have arrived - my new postcards! Three designs to sell at the show and one for promotional.

They are 4" x 6" and look so nice! Glossy, heavy card stock. Can't wait to start sending them out!!

I have chosen San Pascual, Virgin De Guadalupe and Persian Angel Gabriel as my designs for sale since they are some of my favorites. 

Here is the Virgin. The other two can be seen in my galleries in the Glass Painting albums!

I scanned the front and back of the promotional one.

My Best Girl Risa

Here is my best girl and Muse - my 24/7 Aussie companion Risa. 

Her cheerful, patient, very intelligent personality and     companionship is one of the reasons I am so grateful that my business keeps me in the studio at home. She is my cheerleader and keeps me on track!  My very  own Dog Star (Sirus).

In the winter when the weather is cooler she comes everywhere with me - she is a fabulous public relations making friends wherever she goes. Her beauty and sweet personality draws the public to her like a magnet. I am the sidekick!

Here she is asking "is it snack time yet??!" (anytime is a good snacktime) and hanging out in "the pit" - a plain dirt work and play area. She loves to lay and sun in the dirt - especially after grooming or cleaning!

Risa will have her own blog or little site very soon - "assoonas" I can make time, get time, get it together, etc..