It's the last day of November!!!  Only one month left in this year.  Where or where did the time go?  The important thing is did I enjoy the process and live each moment to its fullest.  Yes, I believe I did.  Oh, I wasted some and squandered a bit here and there, but overall I have spent this past year doing exactly what makes me happy -- my art, learning Photoshop, sharing information with other artists.  Oh, and of course, time with my family!!!
I have painted some more of my 4 x 4's.  Still haven't done the 12 x 12.  All this color makes me really happy.  I like to sneak in the studio now and then and just look at them.  They are fun and playful and speak to my organic nature.  They remind me of my childhood when I did all kinds of finger painting and crayons.  Yes, that big box of crayons was like gold when I was a youngster.  My favorite colors were worn down to a nub.  Those were magenta, purple, yellow, red, pea green and sapphire blue.  Interesting that those are still my favorites.
So here are four of my little works.

A departure from my journal art


I've been working feverishly the past couple days painting wild colors on 4 x 4 masonite panels.  I like the freedom of movement, and you know what a sucker I am for color!!!!  Haven't decided what to do with them yet.  I'm going to do something similar on a 12 x 12 and will post when that is done.

Collage Workshop


I was fortunate to take a workshop last week-end from Janis Marashlian.  She provided lots of images, papers, accessories, etc. and we put them to work in our collages.  I took pictures of the studio and the marvelous art hanging as well as a few collages of fellow classmates

And finally my piece....  The butterflies all around her head are Janis' idea.  I love my butterfly maiden!!

A Day in Encinitas


Mike and I spent a day in Encinitas visiting the Self Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens (so quiet and beautiful) and window shopping.  Had a nice lunch at Thyme in the Ranch.  A couple pictures below:

 And beautiful koi swimming in the pond fed by a small waterfall

And finally lunch

My First Art Show


Lots of excitement around 
here.  These are some shots of a few of the entries in a recent 
city-sponsored, juried art show.
  My first show and my little women
 (12 x 12) were somewhat
 dwarfed by the large canvases.  It was a fun evening and important
 to me as I wanted to see how the process works.  The venue was Yoga Works, and all 
was done in a professional manner.
  We had the
 usual wine and cheese
 but also two gentlemen playing 
a cello and acoustic guitar.  
And best of all
 I sold my first piece of art - my little woman with the butterflies
 on her shoulder.  That is probably the most exciting part of the
 entire process.  It inspires me to do more on canvas!!  I seem to do most of my art in my journal
 as a journal take up a lot less room than canvas.  I have promised
 myself to dig out that large canvas and do something with it as well.

    
And finally my two little women

Artful Voyage in Mexico

Everywhere onboard ship there was great art.  I love this "crystal ball" which was atop the post of a railing.  Be sure to click on the image to see the magnificent detail.  

The two photos below were of art quite unique.  I had to snap the photos at an angle to avoid the flash bouncing back at me. One of these is silver twisted into all kinds of kitchen utensils. The other houses four ironing boards with collages on top.  I was quite taken with all of these.

Artful Voyage in Mexico with Tim Holtz

Our dinner group consisting of Sherry, myself, Karren, Linda and Lezlei.

Yours truly with Tim and Mario

We had wonderful classes.  A whole new world for me.  Lots of assemblage.  I work at the speed of a turtle, so didn't finish any of my projects.  If you want to see some great samples, look at Sherry's blog.  She has some great photos.    She spent hours in the studio which was set up for us with all kinds of supplies.  We could work there in the off hours.  If you have a chance to do one of Tim's cruises, by all means do so.  There were so many give-aways.  Those plus the instruction and projects were worth the price of the cruise.

Oh, and..... you can have as many desserts as you want, right Sherry????

  

Artful Voyage in Mexico with Tim Holtz

In port at Cabo San Lucas

And

And

Another ship in the harbor

The colors of Mexico

Pork for dinner anyone?

Three Days to Go

Only three days until we cruise with Tim Holtz to the Mexican Riviera.  Seven glorious days to relax and play.  Lots of workshops with Tim and Wendy Vecchi.  Hopefully there will be sunshine uninterrupted.  I'm taking my point and shoot digital and hoping to get some good photos of the colors of Mexico.  I find it interesting that my home is decorated in neutral tones (lots of white and off-white) and yet I use vibrant, wild colors in my art.  Is that indicative of a split personality?  I still have much to pack.  I don't know how anyone can pack ahead of time.  I don't own that many clothes.  I also don't want my clothes wrinkled anymore than can be helped.  So.... I'm always packing at the very last minute.  Oh, but I have my lists!  Invariably, though, I forget something.  The great thing about this cruise is I don't have to bring ANY art supplies with me.  Every last thing is supplied.  I was on Tim's website and looking at pictures of the masses of boxes that were being picked up to deliver to the ship.  Woa!!!!!  That's a lot of play power!  I've got my ATC's ready to go, and I'm excited!!!  

No posts for a week, but I'll have stuff to post when I get home.

Meantime here's my latest portrait.

She's got Betty Davis eyes!!!!   

A while back I did some paper bag art.  Here I've 
just added a transfer of my contemplative woman over 
a paper bag which already had 
some fun graphics on it.