I had some practical plans for this afternoon; paperwork and the like, but then I looked at my brand new, totally blank journal (a larger one this time – 9″ x 12″) and here I am… hands covered with paint and nothing practical accomplished.

 

But so what?  I have been feeling such unrest inside, a need to let things out, loosen up, play more.  This feeling has as much to do with my life as it has to do with my art…  an insistent nudge to get away from precision and just allow things to happen as they will.  Be freer, give myself permission to explore and enjoy.

 

Can you tell how much I’m pining for Spring?  To see fresh green shoots break through the tired remnants of snow… to hear the sounds of the creatures waking from their winter sleep… to watch the bluster of March clear the sand from the roads… to see the sun rise earlier in the morning and set later in the day… to wash clean to dreary dregs of winter. 

 

I’m sure I’m not the only one.  Happy Thursday!

 

(p.s. Have you visited my new etsy shop?)

It’s been one of those weeks… and I feel like I’ve had one foot in the twilight zone.  There’s been such a surreal aura around me – weird synchronicities and strange happenings, but somehow I have managed to hold on to my calm center.

Perhaps all the turmoil has stirred up some creativity, because I’ve started a new painting that I hope to finish by the end of the weekend.  The story is evolving… two friends, a secret, who knows?  I guess I’ll have some idea by the time it’s all finished.  I’ll simply let instinct and intuition guide the way.

Here’s what’s I’ve been hearing in my head as I’ve been painting:

Make new friends but keep the old,

One is silver and the other is gold.

 

– from the Girl Scout song 

 

2/21 – here’s some progress on the painting, which I worked on yesterday.

 

 

 

I still need to do the background and finish up the detail work on the figures and the foreground, both of which are still rough.  The flowers in the foreground are collaged from paper napkins, a technique I first learned about from my friend Lenna Andrews and more recently was reminded of by Sharon Tomlinson’s  article in Cloth Paper Scissors. I’m going to need to paint them in, but I really love the fine layer they add!

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2/22

I did a bit more today… I layered on some decorative papers for background texture, and then painted over them.  I also did some more detail work on the figures. Now it’s time to let it sit while I ponder the rest of the background.

 

I have finally taken the plunge and opened an etsy shop, and I am so excited about being able to offer my art directly to you!  I am starting off with smaller original mixed media paintings.  In the future, I plan to add larger works and prints.  I hope you’ll stop by and see my new little shop of beauties, and then let me know what you think!