HELP Please!

OKay. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart- I reeeally need your help.

As some of you who follow me know, I have been commissioned to do an art piece for our new foyer at my church. I know in my heart of hearts that I am not ready for this. I've said it many times to those who asked it of me but they are just sure that I am the one to do the painting. So I said "yes" expecting that God will help me. Trusting Him a lot more than I trust myself. But God will find me working and with your help....

Many of you have seen versions of this piece because I have been practicing for the canvas. This one is on watercolor paper and is about 16 X 20. On Friday I start the 30X40 canvas which, by the way, will also be the largest piece I have ever done. It will take me several days. It will not look exactly like this but this piece holds the essence of what I will try to achieve in the larger piece.

This is where you could be sooo valuable to me. I want you look at this piece and give me your totally honest opinion. I need to see what various reactions will be as this is the way different people from my congregation will view the painting. I know everyone won't like it. YOU DON't HAVE TO to be my friend. What I honestly need is some real critique, real opinions. I have no teacher close, no art student friend - I'm by myself -and I need to bounce this off several someones. Would you please consider commenting and giving me your impressions and opinions, if you are an artist- real suggestions and critiques? You've done it for me before, but I've never needed it as bad as I do now. I would be immeasureably grateful.

By the way, the foyer has been decorated in wood tones, copper, stone elements and has a lot of east light. The decorator person (also a church member) asked that I use some metallics if I could fit them in.

Treasure The Everyday

In honor of the new season, i wanted to do a fall painting. Plus, i had a small box from Golden of sample gels and paste and a new bottle of Gac 200.
(These are all polymers that mix with acrylic paint for different textures and different results.)
All these, and some new acrylics and a museum profile canvas box (10X10)made for a very sweet day yesterday. For the life of me, i wasn't smart enough to photograph it to show you all the fun textures and molded stamps hidden throughout the painting.

So many of you have followed this journey with me of learning to draw and paint. You've seen me

make lots of studies of popular artist and try to re-create, in a more humble version, something of what I saw in theirs. But now, I'm trying to create without looking at anything - painting intuitively, they say... and it's a lot scarier but so rewarding, when after much effort you begin to see something that would actually attract you if someone else painted it. All the studies and all the practice have helped me to begin to make my own stuff. I'll always be a student, but I feel like i'm looking over my safe nest, getting strong enough to take flight. Your encouragement has meant everything....without it, i'm certain i wouldn't have had the courage to keep pushing myself out of the nest.

But if this isn't something that makes you smile, maybe you will enjoy what is playing on my front porch as we speak.

Tres Hermanos

Many of you may remember when I took a day to take photographs of a beautiful herd of longhorns for reference photos. I finally took the time to sit down and draw and paint (watercolor) those bad boys I love so much.

I can't tell you how enjoyable and how terribly frightened at the same time I felt as I painted... two strong emotions fighting within me. One that said, "go on, honey.... you can do it" and one that said, "you'll never be able to capture a good image".

Well, I'd like to tell you that the more positive voice won out. After all, I finished. But actually, the struggle still remains as I view the finished painting. But there is something I won't cheat myself from. I know I am getting closer, so close now I can almost taste it... of getting to the style or standard of painting I have the good taste for.... and truly, that inner voice is the one speaking the loudest.

I'm almost finished with my first, ever art-journal and I think this is my favorite watercolor sketch. You may have seen my photograph -I didn't get the faces quite right. They were quite a challenge for me.

These are children (Maasai children to be exact)in case you couldn't tell - who were actually rounded up by their teacher to sing me a thank you song for giving them suckers. They may look older because even though they had a pure naivete, they also had an old, wizened look to their faces. Their clothes were just that colorful. Sometimes they just tie up t-shirts and rags to make their ensemble. I think because they live in mud houses on dirt among the bush of Africa their eyes long for color. They live a very simplistic life. These children were happy, playful, and joyful without one toy in sight. They were curious as little kittens and very respectful. I loved the Maasai children. I could have spent all day with them just watching them play with their sticks like the real spears of their fathers. I'm so glad I have a photograph, and now a sketch to remember them. I hope to do a painting of this study someday soon now that I learned backgrounds and back-paintings from Mary Ann Beckwith.

The Greek Horse

" In ancient Greece this 3.3cm tall model would have been sold to visitors to the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia on the banks of the river Eurotas at Sparta. Thousands of small figures have been found at the sanctuary which include animals such as stags, dogs, horses as well as models of the goddess herself. They were left behind as offerings to the goddess. "

However, my painting is an offering to the One God.

It truly amazes when I look around and see the many faces of Eve.

Today, I had two girlfriends drop by and one bought a piece of art from me after the other friend had practically sold it to her before she got here. I really appreciated her purchase but I mostly appreciated their encouragement and affirmation that what I was doing had value.

Both of these women are working out of their homes. One has become a very talented photographer and is soaring with her craft. The other is creating beautiful wooden crosses and wooden art plaques that are way beyond classy!

They both understand the need to network and encourage each other. When you work at home there are no peers within your four walls to motivate you, push you higher, or to educate you further. You must do that all for yourself. It was so nice to have real-life girlfriends show up and share their own struggles, joys and interest at building their business at home. And I love selling paintings so that I can keep doing what I truly love.

I wonder how others stay motivated to create their best work whether its done in or outside their homes.

Feeling different?

Normal is not something to aspire to, but it's something
to get away from.- Jodie Foster

It's true that I have always felt a little different from everyone. I hid my oddness for the longest time and tried to meld my mold into the normalcy of others. But secretly, as a young girl I would keep journals, listen to negro spirituals with headphones, learn German with the doors closed, always with a book on my headboard, nightstand and backpack. It was my goal that no one ever know. Because (omg!!) if they ever found out they would say the dreaded words, "You're weird".

It wasn't until I had children who exhibited the "weird" gene that I stood up for it. I fostered it and would fight to help them retain it in their critical world because I valued it so much. It was what made them so very unique from everyone else. DUH!! How was I going to teach them to enjoy the person God created if I kept my own authentic true-self hidden away? So I set her free! Or rather, the unconditional love of my heavenly Father set me free to be the me He intended me to be. I now have the courage not to be normal.

I believe that each of us exhibit within our core the infinitely fascinating, creative qualities of God as He breathed into each of us His own Life. Once we choose to connect with Him, He allows our created uniqueness to provide Life to others. If we never connect with Him, our significant contribution to the world may never be realized or fulfilled.

Dr. Seuss said it this way, "Today you are You that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

So today I blog to the world for the first time my true You and hope I get to meet the Youer in You. But, I warn you, my blog may be weird- but wonderful, endearingly odd at times. But yahooooo, look who created it!!

Passions Of An Odd Chick