Blue Moon Dream Board

Blue Moon Dream Board by msartist on Polyvore.com

If you click on the image it will take you to see it up close~

Blue Moon Dream Board~ Welcome 2010~ Happy New Year!

We change a little bit each day whether we notice it or not. Some changes by choice and some changes by nature. 2009 Was full of changes for me and having to come to terms with my choices. I grieved the certainty of a steady income, worried about my future. I decided since I took a leap of faith to quit the corporate life to follow my passion I needed to embrace this change. In following my passion I knew I needed to nurture my passion. Nurturing, growth, dreaming and setting goals are what made 2009 full of changes for me. I learned to let go, to have more faith, that monetary gain isn't always worth what you give up in exchange when it isn't your right path.

For 2010 I have chosen to nurture my passion with more dedication and persistence. I have a set of goals I made and I am going to hold my self accountable to them. I also won't stop dreaming, playing or challenging myself. I am sure you will see the changes also within my blog site, artwork, and what I share with you.

The sure way to predict the future is to invent it~

Live each day as though it was your last~

These are two quotes I received in a fortune cookie. I have taped them to my desk as they were very poignant to me. A reminder to hold fast to my dreams, reinvent myself and live life to the fullest. Those are my goals for the New Year! Welcome 2010 Goodbye 2009.

What are your dreams, goals or thoughts for 2010? Do you have any special events coming in the new year? I do and I can't wait to share the journey with you! ~

I wish you the best year yet! Happy New Year!!

Winter Journal Pages

Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair.
~Minna Thomas Antrim

These journal pages after our trip to South Lake Tahoe that we took this winter. I will be writing about our experiences in the snow and what winter represents to me. I don't live in an area that holds snow on the ground, if it snows by us it is very rare, we get dusted and it melts within hours. I enjoy the snow but as far as all the extra work it entails I don't envy living in it.

What are your favorite parts of winter? Snuggled up on the couch with a fire going? Playing in the snow? Brisk walks and coming inside for a warm cup of tea? Being indoors and having extra time to read a good book? Or having more time indoors for artwork? What invokes winter for you? Journal your favorite parts of winter while having your favorite hot beverage and let me know what you've created~

Snowflakes are kisses from heaven. ~Author Unknown

Baby Its Cold Outside " Snowman"

1st image prior to waxing
The wax looked very yellow against the white. So I added glitter to it. So it shines in the light. I did not wax the whole piece as their is texturing that wouldn't allow for smoothing. I think the wax creates an interest of rain and melting snow~
I might try different lighting to see if I can really capture the shine and post another photo later but until then I am leaving you with one of my favorite winter holiday duets and a winter quote. I hope you are enjoying the season!

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Santa Claus~ Getting in the Spirit of the Holidays

Here is my Santa Claus painting ready for waxing~ I took one of the photographs outdoors and one indoors of the full painting on wood to show you.

I am trying get into the holiday spirit. We have put up our Christmas tree, decorated the fireplace mantle and entry way.

I have been working with holiday paper and making Christmas cards only for a special few~I didn't realize how long that can take! It is the first time I have tried it. Now 15 days until Christmas! Maybe I should of started six months ago!

For me Christmas has always has included being creative whether it be painting, making cards and ornaments or one of my other loves baking! Finding the time to have my kids at my side this time of year to share traditions is truly what makes the holidays special. With only one child left at home each year I try to make it special for her as I have seen first hand how quickly my others have grown up! I hope someday to live by my little granddaughter so she can come under my wing and learn the traditions I love.

What are your favorite traditions? Favorite recipes? Favorite memories? What is your favorite thing to do to give you the spirit of the season? Do leave a comment with your answer~ Sharing is part of season ~

Christmas is a spirit that flows from one heart to another. It is more precious than rubies and better than gold.--Agnes M. Pharo

Santa's Coming Preview*

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. ~WC Jones

I will be posting more pictures of this Santa Claus completed in the upcoming days! I also am working on a easy ornament tutorial for you. It will be posted at MsartistSewCrafty

I will let you know when its ready. I have some links to Christmas projects and a freebie link over there right now! So stop by ~

Winter's Angel

Color inspiration~
Ready to finish~

Process of layering texture and paint~


Above are a few of the process photo's. The angel is a mixed media piece with acrylic paint, pages from a book for her wings, layering of molding paste for her hair and gold leaf highlights through out the painting. I decided to paint her all yellow tones and the background warm orange reds inspired by the colors of the trees. I am going to give her a coating of wax to seal her she is on wood. I had her eyes closed as if she were soaking up the last colors of autumn and the sun to keep her warm through the winter~ The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination~ Ward Elliot Hour

Comic Relief

The above painting was with left over paint and some colored pencil lines done very fast~

Here are some characters that are in a comic book style. I spoke about these in an earlier post that I would share these with you. I did these in my journal just to use different colors, loosen up, work in another style and in one case use spontaneous painting! ( without too much thinking.)

When I have been working on art that is more detailed and thoughtful I need to escape with some comic relief so to speak or at least the freedom to experiment in a more free form. I did these all in the same day and didn't really spend a huge amount of time on them. I hope you find the time to play with color, loosen up in your art journals and look at art forms you might not normally view to find your inspiration!

Colors That Warm My Soul

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. ~ Joseph Addison

I perhaps owe becoming a painter to flowers.~ Claude Monet

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

I am finishing a painting with flowers in it but did them from my memory. It was so in the moment. Next time I will use a photograph or picked flower to look at. It was such a cold day outside today it warmed my soul to remember this day and to look at the vibrant colors of days past. This might just be my next color inspiration. I will be posting the artwork in the next few days.

Contemplation

Contemplation~ When I did this journal page I was thinking simplicity. I have been using a lot of layers and wanted to just make something not as complex. I think she looks like I am feeling right now, wondering, contemplating how things will turn out. Whether to leave her page as is or layer my written word and a floral paper down to change it completely. I decided to wait. I set her aside for the moment. You'll be surprised when you see what I created next. I was inspired by reading about the sale of some comic book art. I remember when I was a kid living in the city and my brother and I would walk into the comic book store and read them for hours. Always amazed by the art in them. I am not saying I did comic book worthy art, not at all but I allowed myself the freedom to explore with color and in a style I don't normally do. I will post more on that after I take the pictures and upload them. I am just exploring my art trying to find my own voice and embrace my own style~ That is what I am wishing for ~ Until next time, I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by my art world.

What do you wish to embrace? Here is a link to help you find out @ Jamie Ridler Studios

Faerie Autumn

Fairies are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature. ~Lynn Holland

A rustle in the wind reminds us a fairy is near. ~Author Unknown

Faerie Autumn ~ I learned several things when doing this journal page. Sometimes having a little more patience will take you a long way. When you start something in the early evening maybe you shouldn't expect to finish it. Be able to find that stopping point and wait until later. It is just fine that I made mistakes and it didn't turn out quite as I had planned. I actually used the blow dryer to speed up drying but was putting on so many layers and the house was cold so they weren't completely drying. Hence I tore a layer of paint..oops....I was able to cover it up somewhat I don't think you can really tell. Another disappointment was I misspelled faire/faerie. I know it is just my journal but I was really hoping to be able to photograph her for a card of some sort. Maybe I will continue with my plans but I won't work on this page any longer. Sometimes you just have a love / hate relationship with your work but at least I learned a few lessons on the way~

When the student is ready, the master appears. ~Buddhist Proverb

Gypsy Life

Back to painting after a week of being out of town! Sometimes it is good just to drop things and help family when needed and that I did. I wanted to share the progress of a mixed media piece I am working on. I call it Gypsy Life. I wasn't quite sure of what I was going to put on this until I started looking through some old dictionary and misc. storage for artwork. I found the page gypsy and tore it out with the definition and put it to either side of her head. I used pencil, colored pencil, paint misc. papers, stamps and fabrics. I decided to walk away from it for the night and look at the painting tomorrow with fresh eyes. At that point to see which direction or finishing touches I will have for it. I have painted every day since I got back! I missed it. I have a journal page to show you in my next post. So hope to see you soon! ~ Theresa

Full Frost Moon Dream Board

What do you want to bring to life in this final part of the year? Is it time to breathe some fresh energy into your 2009 goals and intentions? Is it time for completion and clearing? Are you already starting to cast forward into 2010? What will you dream of under the Full Frost Moon?

These are some of the questions that Jamie Ridler asked at Jamie Ridler Studios. I made a full frost moon dream board at Polyvore to renew some fresh energy into my 2009 goal and intentions. I put a journal in my picture to represent my journal and list of things to accomplish.~ I don't want to just have the list in a journal. I want to complete the intentions on my list. I want to be able to stay focused, be original, creative and sell my creations. Soon I will be opening an Etsy shop. I have had this on my list but now is the time to finalize the intention! I also need to focus on being happy and healthy and not letting the past drag me down. ~ I have to draw on my faith and be secure that I am following the right path and my dreams will be a reality that fall into place. I want to be ready for a new year full of beginnings and happiness. There are lots of firsts coming in 2010~ I will share those with you later! Thanks for stopping by~ Theresa

Dia De La Muerte

Together Forever~
Love is journey not a destination~
Devotion ~ Cherish~
Together Forever In Memories~

El Dia de los Muertos

The Mexican holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints Day which occurs on November 1st and

November 2nd All Souls Day.

These two paintings were done in acrylic paints, mixed media and then covered in wax. It was hard to get a photograph to really capture the image as you see them in person. If you want to know more about the holiday visit wikpedia they have the entire history and articles that will make you have a greater understanding of these two days that are celebrated in many parts of the world. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of Dia De La Muerte.

Trick or Treat

Halloween Party by msartist on Polyvore.com

I was invited to this Halloween party and when I arrived I was scared out of my wits. It was a surreal sight of ghosts and spirits. I didn't dare stay! I chose to get out of there as quick as I could. Breathless and nerves rattled I jumped into my car to get away. But there was no bargaining I felt the powers after me.........

Bargaining with Dark Forces by msartist on Polyvore.com

The forces unknown to me took control I couldn't even steer my car. I knew I couldn't get out in time. I saw a bright light. I followed it...............

I did not feel the same. I felt like I had been transformed into a spirit being.

Ghosts and Witches by msartist on Polyvore.com

I am at peace now and am forever at your callings~ I was a good person in life so no matter whose dark forces reach for me I feel protected by some spirit greater than mine.

I wish you a safe and Happy Halloween~ (Digital art done at Ployvore)

Happy Halloween ~

Halloween is often associated with the colors black and orange with symbols such as pumpkins, witches and ghosts! I wish you a happy Halloween. Drop back by and see a mixed media piece I did for Dia De La Muerta ( Day of the Dead! -All Souls Day )

Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October’s days. ~Author Unknown

As spirits roam the neighborhoods at night,Let loose upon the Earth till it be light...~Nicholas Gordon, poemsforfree.com