Birthday Bouquet

Petunias growing on the deck

branching out

I haven't posted in a while - partly because I've been busy attempting different types of art. Both sketches and watercolor have occupied my time as I have been going through "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" again. I have realized that when I am doing "right sided" activities, I either do not feel pain as much, or else I do not recognize it as much. I am not sure why - I kind of think it is still there, but my left-brain articulation is preoccupied and I don't notice it as much.

I have been to my first quilt show now - I was blown away. There were magnificent works of art there. Only one quilt was hand pieced and hand quilted. The detail work was amazing. In fact, the stitches were so straight and even that I was looking at it and believing it to be machine quilted until I read the notation about it. It was amazing.

Learning Curve

Totally enjoying Kim's stay-cation http://kimklassenstaycation.blogspot.com/ and learning SO MUCH!  I am a little slower than I want to be, but I think I am absorbing more this way - at least I hope so!

I now have a flickr page and have learned to upload to it.  I have seen SO much inspiration!  Even though photography as an art form has never been my thing, I am getting inspired to get some sort of Photo Shop and learn it!  The photos in the flickr pool are amazing!

Also seeing so many amazing "how-to's" I just can't get them all done at once - but I am totally loving it!

My inspiration has taken a different form today:
SOUL BIRTH
no matter what you try to use to bury what is in you,
what MUST COME OUT –
it will not go away
it may not choose to be born in a hostile environment
that would kill it –
but like a wildflower seed waiting for a rainy spring
it will wait,
hold itself in readiness, and then when it is time –
it will burst forth with all the power and energy
that has been building
and it WILL be as it was meant to BE
at this point you cannot hold it back any more
it comes as a baby that must be BORN!
Sharon Gunn McMahon 8/5/2010

Staycation - Thank you Kim, for hosting this!!

Ok, lost the last one, so I'll start again.  I started out as the most PASSIONATE artist.  I planned to BE an artist - to get the degree and have a studio and actually earn a living with ART!!!  Then I had a back-up plan - to teach if my art wasn't quite enough.  So much for plans. I was young and foolish then ;-) but I DID know what I wanted.  I just didn't stick with it... I went to college 1 year and then became a mom and did various other things, but didn't do art.  Later I went to college again and learned CADD and did that... but eventually my body said WHOA - and I couldn't work any more.  So - to maintain my sanity I stayed home, ran kids around to their various appointments and events, and began to create.  First just a little crochet, a little faux painting, then I learned to REALLY knit - not just make placemats ;-) and then I started painting again.  This time I was trying to learn acrylics and watercolors in order to avoid the smell of oils.  My really cool hubby encouraged me to keep going.  After a few fits and starts, I finally decided this summer that I will try challenges and shows and a blog and see what happens.  So far I have had one piece in a special exhibit - which to me is exciting and validates me as a "REAL" artist!

My favorite blogs from my site are:
1. http://irishroseart.typepad.com/irish-rose-art/2010/05/accepted.html
2. http://irishroseart.typepad.com/irish-rose-art/2010/05/amazing-experience.html and the video to #2
3. http://irishroseart.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-from-garden-of-gods.html
My favorite blogs that I follow, other than Mrs. Klassen, of course are:

1.  http://bushelandapeck.typepad.com/
2.  http://swirlygirl.typepad.com/
3.  http://prairiegirlstudio.blogspot.com/
I loved Connie's video and am off to make some journal pages and then figure out how to flickr.  I am so excited about being able to participate in this experience!!