What the.............................wait, huh?????

Ahhhh fellow blog readers, it's me again.  Your "not so" constant blogger, the one who only blogs once a month(or less) and then feels like such a slacker.  But hey, I'm gonna do better....honest, I mean, ...wait...huh?? No I won't! Let's face it ,we all know I'll be right back here 2 months from now saying the same thing!!

Anyways, big goings on over here!! Well, big in my world anyway!! So this is what's happening:


1). I spent a week in Ft. Lauderdale FL, at a Creative Worship Intensive with Ray Hughes and Brian and Ramey Whalen.  UH-maze-ing!!!! I can't even begin to tell you of the appointment and the anointing that went on at this conference.  Being an artist for the Kingdom of God has never been more real or more urgent to me!! Artists and worshippers are rising up and doing what God is calling to do!! Then we came back, and at our first Girls Night, out we danced, we praised, we painted, we worshipped with Flags and instruments and it WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! I thank God for letting me see the vision He put in me last year!!!!! And it is only going to grow from Here! I love my Rivers Edge Church Family!!!

   Here is Diana adding to the collaborative!!

                  

2).. Hawaii in June- Now this seems amazing right?  Well, it is!! However, one going to Hawaii would need a bathing suit.  Now.. said bathing suit is currently a smashing number involving a tankini and a skirt.  Well, guess what??  I AIN'T HAVING IT LIKE THAT ANYMORE!!!! Which now means, I gotta get off my lazy butt and change some things.  So this was the plan:  6 weeks ago I went back on Weight Watchers and started the  BodyByVi 90 day challenge.  You can check that out here. So far so good!!! 10 pounds gone a 4 inches too!!! Yup :)

3) Art show in April.  Not just any time in April, but the opening happens to be Good Friday.  Not realizing the date when I agreed to be Heirloom Claremont's April Artist, I figured it will all work out!!  here is the postcard for the show:

The title of the Show is Praises Rise, and I will be doing a body of work that reflects the ways we GET our praises to rise.  Here is a tiny sneak peek!!

Just a little :)

4) Ireland in September.  Now remember ^up there when I talked about Ray Hughes and Brian and Ramey Whalen?? They are an amazing family of worshippers, storytellers, historians, and all around cool, Jesus loving, folks.  So they are organizing a trip to Ireland called the "Worship and Wonder Tour. We're talking all the way around the country, seeing God's beauty and praising Him in every form, along the way.  Sloan travel is heading it up.  Check them out!!

So needless to say, it has been a busy few months, and I cannot wait to see where God takes me next!!!

Things I am loving right now, and the thing I am not

So while I am having such a hard time right now focusing on what I need to do for me..(or just being lazy thoughtful about it....whatever) I am finding myself going from thing to thing to keep me entertained and out of my own head.  So these are the things that are distracting me right now.  Now, not all of them are bad...in fact, a few of them (or more than a few) are really, really good; as it would have to be, in order to keep my attention.  So here are some photos, some art, some tags and some music.  And if you are still interested, I will tell you what is swarming around in my brain everywakingthought  lately...

obsessed with self portraits right now, and telling myself what I need to do

and altering them, and making them into something else

and metal embossing on crosses

and Pinterest- 2nd greatest time suck of all time (right now)

and Aurasma-a cool new bit of technology.  Google it, seriously

and journaling-seriously I have 4 going right now!



But like I said, not all bad.  This is the worship that I can't get enough of. Jonathan David Helser is wrecking me right now. And that's a good thing.



Like I said....wrecked!!!!

and Facebook- 'nuff said

and I don't even know what to say about this-I have never even liked football



So what may you ask, has me all a'bother?  Well, lets just say this:   I know what to do, I know how to work through it and I am trying to the best of my ability...right now.  Not looking for anyone to fix it, I can do that.  Just wanted to get it out of my head and release the power it has on me. 

that's it :)

and seriously, if PIPA and SOPA jack me for using the FB or Pinterest logo, I'm gonna be pissed!

Kindness Mission: I'm in!

So we are just going to skip right over the part where I apologize for being a bad blogger....a slacker...if you will, and get right to the good stuff!!! Inspired Artist Kelly Rae Roberts has started a movement! Well, we hope it will be a movement, and if everyone participates it will be!! Go check out her blog post Here, where she talks about the Kindness Mission, and get busy!! Here is my photo of the two signs I put up in my local neighborhood Starbucks, in Claremont, CA

It is such a simple, yet inspired idea:  Someone having a bad day, or just a day where they need a little something to keep them going.  This could be it.  This could be what makes their day.  Seeing this sign, tearing off one of the little tabs, for just what they were needing that day.  It's Brilliant!! Mad love!  So besides this beautiful piece of"make my day", what else has been going on?  Well, Journalfest was last week and again, what a fabulous time hanging with my village!! It was my second year, and from what I understand, will be my last.  :( Sad, I know, but our friend Teesha Moore has bigger and better brewing I'm sure.  You can read about her announcements here.  So I am hoping to get to Artfest at the end of March, to get that last "fest" in!  Here are a few samples and pics of my time at Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA.  It was magical as always.  I will miss it, that's for sure!

Docks at Port Townsend

the art of playing

Dear Cynthia

coolest tree ever

path

Path

at the farmers market

Fisheye camera at the docks

again, coolest tree ever

seaweed heart on the sand

fisheye shot while driving

Dockside

show and tell, Lisa Cheney Jorgensen's class

Lisa Cheney Jorgensen's "Savage Mirror" class

For Ronny-I love You-"Drops of Jupiter" Originally posted 10-9-07

This song is dedicated to my friend Ronny. He passed away on Saturday and we are all shocked and devastated. None so much as his wife, Christy, I know. So what do we do now? How do you figure it out? How do you begin the process of not being completely devastated?
I know he loved this song. I remember going with Christy to install a new stereo in Ronny's truck for his birthday, and when he came home, she had this song playing in the stereo. He said he thought this song was so beautiful, it made him want to cry. Ronny, you are beautiful, and we are all crying. We love you and will miss you.

Gathering of Artisans and LINKwithlove

So on my mind this week is....the fact that I will be flying out to Asheville NC on Wednesday to take part in A Gathering of Artisans. I am so excited and cannot wait to see what God will do.  I am taking an all day class on Thursday with Carol Bomer, in her studio in Asheville.  It is a cold wax technique that I have never done, so I am really looking forward to it.   I have done encaustic painting before, but never with cold wax, so, we'll see!!

The rest of the weekend is amazing too.  I will be taking a class with Pattie Ann Hale, and look at the description of the class

"This workshop will take participants on a multi-sensory exploration through the scriptures of John 4. As we engage the scriptures of the woman at the well – her encounter with Jesus and his offer of living water – participants will symbolically and prophetically experience their own journey of encountering Jesus in this way"

Wow.....This is going to be awesome!!

There is also a personal cartography class and a bookbinding class and a journal class that I will be in, so, it's all good stuff!!!!! 
And since I have never been to North Carolina, I am excited to take lots of photos around the area!!. I will post pics once I get back.

Which leads me to what is also on my mind.  Thanks to the lovely blog post by Stella Singleton, I found out about LINKwith love.  this is a site dedicated to spreading the word about using images you find online, without proper credit.  It's about respect, and it is a big deal.  So hop on over and check out all my linky things!! :) And I will see you all next week!!

p.s.  I just had to post this pic becuase it is now my new favorite pic I have taken EVER!!

Blogger+

So this is my first test drive to post to my blog from iPad. I am using Blogger+, and I am anxious to see how it will work. I tried a test blog, and found a little difficulty with uploading pictures. It seems there is an issue with getting the photos I want to post into the right place, so I can then pull them and upload. We'll see!

So I can pull from my blog photo album, and from the IPad photo album too, but if I want to upload from a camera, I will have to load to my Pc, then to ITunes, then into iPad . Hmmmm kind of tedious.
The caption feature also seems to not resize for blog, and there doesn't seem to be a Way to preview the size of the photo in relation to my blog template.

So let's try the link. This should take me to my friend Dana's blogcheck it here
Looks good!!!

So, all in all, looks like the only issue is uploading photos on the go. The whole point of blogging on iPad, is the portability, so I'll have to look for a workaround for the mobile photo uploading .
Happy blogging!!!!

Can you say slacker??

Greetings all!! And first off, let me apologize for being such a bad blogger!! Things have been crazy around here since April!! Interior remodel, exterior remodel, blah blah blah.  But I'm back!!
And since I haven't posted any new work here in so long, this post will basically be stuff to look at!
But not before first giving God the glory for the amazing thing that is my life. Thank you Lord, your provision and grace is amazing and appreciated!!
So now, onto the stuff!!

Coming home - 24x32 acrylic and ink (nfs)

Donated piece for Susan G Komen event 16x20 acrylic and ink

My attempt at the masters 12x30 acrylic (nfs)

I heart my life 12x16 acrylic and ink (nfs)

His hands 12x12 arcylic (nfs)

a vision given to a pastor friend of mine 12x16 acrylic (sold)

24x30 acrylic (sold)

Covered by Him 32x32 acrylic and ink (nfs)

Under His shelter 32x64 acrylic and ink (nfs)

Imagination Garden 32x32 acrylic and ink (nfs)

Sacred Heart 16x20 acrylic and ink (sold)

Worship- I painted this during Easter Service Worship (nfs)



And this is what I have been doing for the last 6 months!! Wow, that is a long time!! Anyway, I am very excited about attending "A Gathering of Artisans" at the end of the month.  It is a 4 day retreat to inspire and stir up the artistic gifts that God has given us, and to incorporate in in a setting of worship.  I am beyond thrilled.  It is for all artists: painters, music, drama, dance, film....all of them.  It is being held right outside of Asheville NC, (where I have never been) and I can't wait to see what God does!!!
And then at the end of October, it's back to Port Townsend WA for Journalfest.  Got to be my favorite!!! I can't wait!!! Taking two classes with Juliana Coles, and one with Lisa Cheney Jorgensen, (who I took last year and fell in love with her)  So happy!!
God is good, all the time!!!

Where is my voice, and can it be Crimson? (re blogged from 2008)

So as an artist who has only been around the community for a couple of years, I have been discovering some very important things lately. I have determined, for myself, what is ok and what is not ok, when it comes to an artist's "voice". By voice, I mean their "style", their "look", their "thing". When you hear a friend on the phone, you recognize them for their unique voice I believe it is the same thing in art. Every artist has a voice, and as we become familiar with their work, we come to recognize their "voice" in the work they do.

There has been quite a bit of buzz in the online art community lately about an artist's work vs. their technique. For example, while you can obviously claim your artwork as your own, can you claim the technique it took to get there, as your own? If an artists publishes their technique, in a how to article, is the technique now "out there?" If they teach a class, is the technique fair game? And when does it go from a technique, to infringing on an artists personal "voice?"

I have just recently joined the ranks of marketing and selling my work. In this new forum, there are, obviously, far more "do's and don'ts" than just creating for myself. Are the pieces that I put out for sale uniquely my own "voice"? Well, I think I am still finding my own voice. So far, the only thing I notice that permeates almost all of my work is color. My undying and undeniable love for Golden's Quinacridone Crimson and Nickel Azo Gold. Sometimes together, sometimes alone, but always there.

After talking with an artist to get her views on technique and voice, her response has put this into perspective for me. My summary is this: If an artist works hard to create and develop their own "voice", then published technique or not, their work deserves to keep it's originality, and not compete in an over saturated market of copycat works. (I know the word copycat reeks of third grade tauntings, but it is the word that keeps coming to mind.)

So as I continue to search for my own personal style, I hope you will join me, and maybe be there when my "voice" sings, and is recognized for the first time.

I pledge to be: An Artist For Respect

Follow this link to the Artists For Respect website and read about what this community is all about.  Then spread the word, add the button on YOUR blog, tell YOUR friends, and then tell those you know that are not showing other artists respect, (by sharing class materials, teaching a class, that they just took, to others claiming it as their own) to knock it off.
Come on people, we know what's right and wrong.  If you honestly don't....ask someone, they'll tell you. 

Candles and Stars

This set was inspired by Dr. Buddy Bell, who gave a lecture on how God uses candles and stars to light His world.  I was so inspired by hearing it, that I created these to reflect that.

They showed (and sold) Friday night, and I couldn't be happier with where they are going!!