Simply Sunday Free Journal Prompt

In this shot I had the focus on the heart of the flower, her petals that were about to open and reach out to our world~

I was visiting a friend Jackie's blog yesterday. She had asked the question when is an artist an "artist"? It is quite a lovely post. I had many thoughts swirling around my head as I read this article, but I had to think of when do I really feel like an artist!? What makes an artist an "artist"?

For me I think an artist is when an "artist" or for myself I am totally immersed in my work. It is almost like the "artist" or I am getting ideas, energy and guidance to help me in the act of

creating. Being right in that moment, feeling the paint, creating with the flow.
Just being in the moment~ For me that is when I think an artist is an "artist" or when I am an "artist".

I try not to compare myself to "real" artists if I did I would never grow into the artist I am~ Theresa Huse

So today's journal prompt is for you to "focus on things that matter."

You could just sit down, create and be in the moment. Or you could make a list of things that matter to you that you want to focus on. You might even just focus on sharing time with a loved one. Or spending more focused time with your child. What ever you decide to do today think about it for a moment and focus on things that matter to you~
I hope you can keep your Sunday simple and enjoy all it holds for you!

Ps Congrats Jackie on focusing on you and things that matter to you by taking a new art class! Spread your wings ~

Floral Photography

Just popping in to say hello. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I took these photographs of roses from my garden prior to the heat wave that sent them away~ I thought I would share them with you today~ I also had to let you know that I started some new painting with a twist to my circus series. Totally different style, freer and back to some bold colors. I am stretching myself, experimenting today. I even took some video on my new phone of my painting in progress. When I figure out the details I hope I can post it for you to see! Oh how I love that today's weather is cooling down so I actually can move around, paint, stretch and breathe!

If you never struggle with confidence, you obviously are not stretching yourself far enough. You are not pressing to the edge of your abilities. In other words, the only way to never struggle with confidence is to play it safe. Play it known. Play it in a way that you achieve stability, but lose opportunity.

TIMOTHY URSINY, The Confidence Plan

Vintage Cabaret

Click on the pictures to see larger~
This image isn't the best but it has most of the whole painting in the capture~ I'll have to retake some photos outside when its not so hot!

Vintage Cabaret Performing Arts Circus~ I love viewing vintage photography and how it can inspire you. As artist's we are very visual and that can be a good thing. On occasion I think we can get over whelmed with visual stimulation and you know it is times to step back a bit~
Today I am going to try and organize a few things so I can get to creating again, but wanted to share another Acrylic on paper of my Vintage Circus Series~

"These images in vivid and violent tones have resulted from crystallization of memories of the circus, popular tales or travel." Henri Matisse

Today sharing art inspiration from ~Henri Matisse
Have a creative and wonderful day~

Circus Girl

Sketch
Close up
Full view
The left three images are not color corrected the right three are. I think I can even play around some more and get some interesting changes to the original images.

Hi, I hope this finds you well~ I must admit I haven't been creating or blogging regularly since my blogging break for the wedding and then to get Sammie ready for back to school. So I decided to share with you one of the paintings I was working on prior to my distractions. It is a Circus Girl from my Circus Series that I am working on. Once I photographed it I decided to see if I could alter the colors and exposure a bit and see the differences in the images. *Shown above, click on the image and you can see it larger. I may even try to play with the color a bit more, but for now this is where I left it. School starts tomorrow so with that being said I hope to get a schedule for myself and stir my creative juices to get things flowing again~
Did you find yourself staying creative this summer? Or did you travel or have other distractions? What kind of goals have you set for yourself this fall? I would love to hear~

Summer Loves Big and Small

Seeing a daughter become a beautiful bride and the other daughter a flower girl~
Seeing the joy on Sam's face while she is playing in the spa at night~
Admiring rock sculptures in Sausalito CA.
Capturing nature through my screen door!
Watching our cat explore nature in the late afternoon~
Watching Sammie becoming fearless in her swimming~
and seeing her learn to dive~
Small pieces moving across the board with thought, Sammie competitive already and determined to win~

This week's "Simply Sunday" journal prompt for you is capturing some of your "Summer Loves Big and Small." I have taken some photographs to inspire a journal page based on this journal prompt. I am not sure if I will use image transfers or just chronicle a list with a colorful background and images from elsewhere. I promise to post it when I have created it! These last few weeks prior to school starting are going to be spontaneous for us. One of my daughter's (Jen) called and had some unexpected time off and wanted us to meet her and catch up prior to us being locked down until school holidays. (its a 5 hour drive, uk) So I am writing this early, packing my bags and off for a weeks journey. Who knows what it will bring but isn't that half the fun! I hope that you will be inspired to reflect on what things inspired you or are inspiring you this summer whether they are big or small and journal them! Or chronicle some of the summer loves with photographs and create a blog post. Link up your work right here so we can all see it! Until next week I hope you are able to keep your Sunday Simple and enjoy all it holds for you~
"The essence of pleasure is spontaneity" Germaine Greer

Tight Rope Walker - Circus Series

I created the Tight Rope Walker not too long after the Juggler. It is part of my Circus series. I am trying to create them with more of a vintage feel~ I have another one done and can't wait to share it with you. The next circus painting might be my favorite so far. And prior to my spark of creativity fizzling out I managed to sketch out a rough draft for a new one. This week has been a challenge for me, whether it is the end of summer blues or just the settling back to a routine from seeing all my lovely family whom I miss dearly. I have felt a little off track. I think it's very interesting that I came to posting my Tight Rope Walker today as she seems to be challenged by juggling too many things while on the high wire. I can relate to trying to balance on a high wire, but it is balancing life for me and my feelings~ Does that ever happen to you? What things do you do to get your mind to slow down and keep your feelings in check? Does it ever affect your creativity? What do you do to re-spark your creativity when you begin to feel down?
I would love to hear your thoughts~
Today with a slow start and feeling a bit like the Tight Rope Walker I will walk that fine line, keep my head up, feelings in check and look for my spark.
The word "happiness" would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.--Carl Jung

30 Journals 30 Days & Me

Connie at Dirty Footprints Studio had been interviewing well-known art journalers 30 Journals 30 days~ Connie asked other art journalers to share their own interviews on their blogs in order to widen the reach of the project beyond the 30 featured artists. A big Thank you to Connie for inspiring!


--How long have you been Art Journaling?

It has been about one & a half years, but a year of almost daily. I took a class from Paulette Insall & Suzi Blu that jump started my journaling. I was searching for a way to get back to my art and my creative self.


--How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?

Art journaling has allowed me to refocus my life and put attention to my creative calling this is what I wanted to put back into my life, but until the loss of my mom I hadn't done that. It was always "someday." But after her unexpected stroke & death it made me reevaluate my purpose. Since then journaling has given me healing, seeing my art grow, allowed me to experiment with technique and color, practice drawing, write and create daily. It has also allowed me to do pages and not worry about making mistakes or having to like everything I create. From those pages I learn from them or the process and often push myself to see if I can change a page into something that I like. Often I use journal pages I like for a starting point for some canvas or art work or on wood. On my blog I started a weekly Sunday post with free journal prompts. I was inspired to give back to my art journaling friends and followers. I recently added Mr. Linky for those who want to share their journal work from those prompts~ I welcome all levels to share. Journaling along with blogging has allowed me to connect with people from all over and build friendships and a sense of belonging in the art & journaling community.

--What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?
I love using different size journals from mole skine to larger mixed media by Canson.
(The mixed media journals allows me to use more paint, texture and collage elements as they can absorb more moisture. ) My favorite materials are acrylic paint, prisma pencils,collage/ magazine elements, ephemera, I could go on. I love Matte Medium and Molding Paste.

--Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?
Anahata Katkin
Teesha Moore
Kelly Kilmer
Geninne Zatkis
Mary Freeman
Too many to list~



--What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?
Don't get overwhelmed when starting out by comparing what you are creating to what someone online or otherwise is creating. Start creating and watch your journal art /journal writing grow and evolve. Take a class online or at a local collage. Visit blogs, look at books, You Tube and Flickr sharing sites for inspiration but remain true to your own voice as you are creating and give yourself time to grow. Experiment and play~



--Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!
My blog's
Msartisttheresahuse.blogspot.com * your here now!
MsartistSewCrafty.blogspot.com
Facebook & Facebook Fan Page
Networked blogs
Twitter
Flickr
Flickr Journal Pages Set
Delicious

You'll find me at some ning sites and other places to view see my resource page at the top of the blog. I also have a journal page video from 09 at the bottom of the blog if you wish to view it~




--Short Bio.
I am a believer in making your dreams come true even if the journey down the path isn't the way you planned things and people sometimes don't take you seriously or understand. I try not to worry how long it will take for my dreams to come true, as I try to live and build on those dreams daily~It all started with me taking a leap of faith. Rebuilding my life with art. I love nature and when things are hard for me I take time out to go outdoors, feel the wind and sun on my face and watch natures blessings. My favorite places are the beach or mountains by a river. Nature is where I love to regroup. I love mixed media art, art journaling, photography, crafts and scrapbooking. I love learning any type of art and am always up for new challenges~
I cherish my family, friends and my online communities & friends~

Peace Offering

"Simple Sunday" Journal prompt ~ Peace Offering
Why hello, yes it has been too long~ So I am giving you a peace offering of sorts. I originally took this image because we had been picking strawberries from our small summer garden. Sammie with her cute swim suit, hot pink sandals and holding the strawberries~ it was the colors and summer feeling that made me want to capture the moment. But what I realized when I went to altering the image was that I was drawn to a more deeper meaning, seeing her hands reached out and the peace signs on her swim suit; it just rang "Peace Offering."

With all my heart I wanted to find the deeper meaning of those words. By definition I found 1. something given to an adversary in the hope of procuring or maintaining peace 2. (Non-Christian Religions / Judaism) Judaism a sacrificial meal shared between the offerer and Jehovah to intensify the union between them.

In Buddhist Culture making offerings is a very common practice. Every offering has a specific meaning, for example offering light is to dispel the darkness of one's ignorance, or offering incense to increase one's ethical behavior. Offering is considered a good training against greed and attachment. In Jewish culture their is a peace offering for Shavuot.

I could go on and on because what I found out was those two words"Peace Offering" have been used in many contexts for centuries and the references in history vast. So I give you these two words as your journal prompt for this week to search out the meaning and how it relates to you by your religious beliefs or otherwise. Journal a time when you made a peace offering and why~ Create a work of art, journal page or writing that speaks to those two words.
"Eternal Inner Peace has to be cultivated daily." ~Delphine-Gay de Girardin