Learning curve

Do you ever feel awkward? I am trying to learn and in that process I tend to feel awkward when I create something that I thought was going to turn out one way and it kind of doesn't.. AGH.  Another thing I am trying to learn is that Art is an expression not math.  I will not be given a formula with an equation and one correct answer.  (Ha, I know my sister will smile when she reads this because she knows how I am) So I keep on expressing my art and I hope that the awkwardness gets less. Completed another page in my travel journal. I did not want white pages so I rubbed ink on. Then not sure I created some waves on the bottom. I added some pictures to the page. Wanted to add micro beads so tried to create a shell with them?? 

Then so to not add another photo, I drew a sea turtle. Then ended with my journal on the first page. As I look back, I am wondering how to plan a page and not just add things. Any suggestions?? Thank goodness I have more pages in the journal and I will keep going. 

Winter Sunday

It is cold outside and warm inside so what better place to be then surfing blogland. There is so much too see and learn that time just flies by. I am working on lots of projects and have new ones I would like to get to. But then I look at my desk. I love my paper scraps and have shown on previous post how they were all over. However, my desk is small and one of my new year goals was to be more organized. SO today I cleaned out the scraps and the ones I kept I put in a cigar box. Now they are still easy to access but contained in a small area. A good project to have completed today, thankfully. My list of top 5 thankful things today:

1. Cigar boxes
2. Never ending love for scrap paper
3. A warm home
4. A daughter that is growing up
5. Questions that sometimes just need time to answer

Have a great day.

Inspiration_Avenue_Breathe

I have been off a few weeks but tried hard to get an entry together for the Inspiration Avenue weekly challenge. There is a great topic this week. It is something we have done since the day we were born and will do until the last day of our life on this earth. But just like it was posted, there are days I have to tell myself to BREATHE...  I love this theme. Blogland is a wonderful place of inspirations, stories, tips, and positive support. It is a place to travel around and breathe. I also find that any day I can spend walking on the beach is a perfect way to breathe. So my entry to the challenge is a collage of the things that help me BREATHE.. Scraps of paper, my drawing of a vase of flowers, and my belief that if I breathe in beauty, I will exhale love.

A little funny piece

I love the creative mind. You can't force it and if you let it run free you never know where it may take you. These little pieces of paper were just circles and scallops of left over cuts. I was using colored pencils to see what type of shading I could come up with. No purpose just playing and then I started to visualize a flower and leaves. Then had to add the circles for the center pieces. The final addition was some glitter for the center. Silly little piece, but I like it for some reason. Funny.

More pieces

Just created some background pieces. Then wanted to create some unique parts to each. Not sure what I will do with these but I will keep to just have around. Still learning how to make pieces unique.

Put it together

In my art journey, I have learned that I really like putting pieces together. Trying not to judge myself so harshly when it doesn't seem to fit. I guess that is why I love SCRAPS.. Even though I have a tiny desk, I cover a lot of it with scraps.

I love the design of Art. Not sure if that makes any sense but it is the best way to describe what I am learning. I like to see how paint works with ink. I like different types of paper and how it works with different medias. 

My plan today started with thoughts of ART.. and what I did was create lots of layers and pieces.

I did complete a piece I have been working on. Can't show it all right now as it is part of my "Pay it Forward" and I want it to be a surprise. I had fun with gesso today. I tried it with paper and then I added it to the frame. Then I had fun putting the frame together. I will show more another day.

Sunday Life

Feeling very mixed up today. I realize I am a California Kid, I love the sunshine. Today's weather was predicted to be stormy and rainy but God had better plan; it is sunny and beautiful. As for me, feeling pressure from work and financial issues. Emotions are a little edgy. So when I feel like this, I usually put my art and personal expression away. Been doing that for the most part of the last few weeks. I did make some Valentine treats last Sunday but just not feeling myself. Again God has better plan! I LOVE SUNDAYS. I needed a little extra faith today and God took care of that with the beautiful sky and white puff clouds. When He provides beauty, He knows how to do it right! So all that negativity I have been keeping in needs to go. I really need to remember that I can do that through my art expression. I will create something today. I am thankful for so much; Top 5

1. Self reflection and acceptance
2. Puffy White Clouds
3. Peace
4. Art
5. Family

Sunday Beauty

My days are so full of responsibility that I feel like a mouse searching for that piece of cheese in the maze.  And in days like these I fall back into my old habit of not making time for myself or art. However, I did start a project today.  I got a Somerset Life calendar late last year for 2010. I took it apart and have started creating a 2011 calendar with it. I know it is already February but hopefully I will get it done soon. Lots to be thankful for today.

1. Time to rest
2. A sunny day
3. Getting over a cold sooner than expected
4. Opportunity and prayer
5. All Parent hours done in one weekend!!!!

Sunday Rain

I like the winter and colder weather. Ok, let me clarify that I like the winter here. I like the low 30s at night and high 50s in the day. And not always (like during soccer games) but I love rain. It started raining last night and I slept well. This morning it is still raining and the view out my window is different. The leaves and vines are wet. The drops that are hanging on to the bushes are magical. We don't get snow here very often, I can only imagine the beauty it brings. I know the reality of snow and rain when I have to be out in it but from my window, it is pretty cool. My 5 top thankful things.

1. RAIN

2. Family and Sunday lunches
3. Prayer
4. My staff at work; they are hard working and keep on keeping on no matter what craziness is going on
5. Broken seashells and glass in a jar

Inspiration_Avenue_Broken_Pieces

When this week's Challenge at Inspiration Avenue was announced, I had a piece I knew I wanted to do. I have had a long busy week so I tried to finish it today and I hope I make the post time at IA.

The California coastline has some very beautiful places. One beach is very unique, Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. This beach has a very interesting story. In the mid 1900's, they used it as a public dump! Yep, they dumped trash, car parts, and a whole lot of glass jars and bottles. Fast forward over 60 years later, waves and salt water crashing over and over on these items. The ocean has created a shore of tiny glass pieces that are beautiful. Broken pieces that have rolled and turned so they are not sharp and edgy but soft and beautiful.

In my life, I have had some broken moments. And just like the glass pieces, I can be edgy and sharp. But over time I have had waves of not salt water but love wash over me. I am thankful for time to help soften my edges. As in nature, I believe that life has a purpose and given time will provide beauty you may never have guessed.

I started this piece with a picture taken of the beach shore. I collaged torn, punched circles, and strips of paper. For the bottom edge, I added broken pieces of seashells. Then on the corner of the picture I added a few piece of the broken glass I collected from the shore. I added my label and date.