Easter Hiatus

 With all the March visitors and the Easter holiday, I have done the bare minimum in my studio. This week's Life Book lesson was a real challenge and went from hate to love many times before its completion.

I've had a couple of uninvited, but interesting visitors. These two Mottled ducks (one a female and one a male) have visited every day for the last week. They've swam, nested, waddled and even mated. Though I love watching them, I am not too keen on housing them for any extended period.

Bought new chairs for the studio as my first class is approaching very quickly.

Had a great Easter holiday with the family. My daughter was not here as she had to work and she was greatly missed. That aside, the meal and company was wonderful. Even my neighbor (82 yrs old) and friend from across the street was able to join us. 

My grandkids enjoyed the pool.

And the littlest enjoyed the Easter gift I got her....

Officially, my Easter hiatus is over. New Life Book lesson is out today and need to get back to work.

Limited Supplies = Limited Creative Options

You all know that I recently moved from Utah to Florida and I could only take with me what would fit in my car. I had to downsize in every area of my life; clothes, sentimentals, technology, and yes, even my art supplies.

I brought the bare minimum of each. Hence, I wear the same clothes more than one day (minus personals, of course).

My entire wardrobe

 I have few sentimental items out in view as my new home has no surface space to display them.

Favorite picture of my sister and I
(when I was about 3yrs old)

Rosaries

Lastly, the art supplies I was able to bring are about 1/3 of what I had accumulated in Utah:

I have struggled with creating art because when you have fewer supplies, you have to find alternative ways to create. I don't have the choice of brushes anymore or the choice of various mediums. I don't have the choices of papers or ephemera. I had to leave a lot behind.

Many people will say that you can create with what you have and though that is true, it is also true (at least for me) that your creative options are limited.

I am saving every catalog that comes in the mail for collage items, every aluminum can to create metallic pieces, etc. and am slowly purchasing things to expand my supplies. The struggle is becoming an obsession. Nothing leaves my hands until I believe there is nothing I can create with it!!!! 

How Great Thou Art

I have had some wonderful visitors this month and I've been busy enjoying them. Though it has left little time for art, I am trying to stay caught up with commitments.

I missed posting on Tuesday, but the other day, I managed to take a snapshot of my art works in progress. Three pieces, and to be honest, I am proud to have gotten them this far along.

Tonight, I was able to finish one of them for Life Book 2016 and I loved every learned step of this one. 'How Great Thou Art'

My Truths; I am an Artist

My Truths:

• I am an artist because mixed media is subjective.
• Current creators of "any" art are artists, no exceptions.
• No longer are artists considered as such strictly due to a mastery of a specific media ( watercolor, oil, etc)
• You needn't be gifted in drawing to be an artist.
• The only requirement of being a mixed media artist is the use of more than one media.

If it weren't for these truths, I would still be working a job I never felt valued for.
I would still feel as though my art was not worthy of showing to anyone.
I would believe to my core that my art has no value and the time I invest in creating it is just wasted time.  I would have given up on my desire to teach and invest in others to develop their artistry.

I believe in these truths.They are what allow me to create art each day and progress in my desire to create more inspiring art for myself and others.

Here are a few pieces from my chronological art journey. Should I have given up on my art three years ago?

September 2013
My first mixed media piece

2014

2014

2014

2015

2015

2016

2016

2016

If I had doubted my truths, I would never have gotten the joy out of creating these paintings. 

Thank you for following my journey and hopefully I have inspired you to create your own art, without any doubt that you, too, are an artist.

T

My Life Book 2016 Update

I signed up for Life Book 2016 back in January and so far I have completed every lesson but one. The one I haven't attempted requires collaging with pictures from magazines. I don't have any since moving to Florida, so I hope to complete that lesson when I can scavage some mags from friends and family.

I am truly loving this class and recommend it to anyone who wants to try different mediums and who needs a little boost in creativity. Sometimes, I find it helpful to see avenues that I never thought of traveling down to boost my own creativity.

Thought I would post what I have painted so far and will update again when I have completed a few more classes.

Some of the teachers challenge you to introspect as you create your own version of their lesson, so some of these can get rather personal. Growth of the soul is a good thing though, right?

T