A Glimpse of my Studio Day

Here is a peak into a day in my life at the studio. On Mondays I have no classes scheduled so it is a full day to devote to my own art (well after taking half of the morning take care of the business end of things.) I was so happy to enter my warm studio. It's been quite chilly here in New Hampshire and the winds whipping made my eyes tears as I walked across the city to get to my building.Right now I'm working on a piece that is just for me (no intentions of selling this one) as I need a big, bright, cheerful piece to hang over my desk at home office. It has been a while since I worked on such a large piece and I really am enjoying the freedom of movement.Before I got started I had to unpack my goodies I bought yesterday at the Michael's in Portland, they were having a clearance sale on many of their Golden products, their fluid paints are my favorite and really add great vibrant color. I almost always work on more than one painting at a time. Today I set a goal of trying to finish a painting from start to finish. Lately I have been getting a ton of inspiration from Alisa Burke. Her is my process.

Start with some patches of golden fluid paints and move the canvas around to create some drips. When dry add some flower shapes with gesso.

Next spray paint and more drying time. By mid day I have added some color to some of the large flowers in the big painting on my easel, created a sketch for the first painting of a series of trees that I have been longing to do, and I am half way done on my goal for today.

Next to collage in some words that I had collected in January and make room for new ones to go up on my flower ephemera holder.

Then add a little more splattering, some more layering of color, and ta da the finished piece! Each month this year I have the goal of setting one day aside to devote to this new practice.

As I was leaving the studio at 6:15 tonight I snapped this one last shot of my easel. It is pure satisfaction having such a productive day of creativity.

Alisa Burke Absolutely Inspiring

I have been playing in the studio, working on loosening up with some drips and splatters as a new element to my style. A couple of years ago, I came across the artist, Alisa Burke, she has a great graffiti painting style. This morning she posted a video on her blog that is just wonderful! She really inspires me.

Meeting Deadlines

I would like to be one of those people who are two steps ahead of the game with projects done way before deadlines, but I have come to accept that I'm not and it's o.k. I love the freedom that working for myself allows. I do not live by a schedule (except for my weekly classes), I manage to keep track of dates and appointments in my head. Names are a whole other story. This week I was working on meeting a deadline for the Cloth, Paper, Scissors Studios Magazine. It's been a goal of mine to start submitting to some publications and it feels super good to have this project completed. It took me three full days of running around, asking for help about converting photo files, moving in my new tables and painting them, and a whole lot of organizing to get the studio ready for the photo shoot. It feels great having the space clutter free, I have the hardest time with my desk and piling papers on it. I am going to really make an effort to keep like this. The paintings that I have been working on for the February show at Lucy's Art Emporium were put on hold and I'm looking forward to spending the next few days finishing them. Here is one of my new favorite embellishments to the studio, it is an Umbra photo holder that can be hung on the wall and it's also magnetic. It's perfect next to my easel to hold bits of ephemera for pieces that are in progress.
Here are my new tables that Brian made and we painted a bold turquoise. They are such a great centerpiece to my studio and are super sturdy compared to my old tables. I just loved the kids reaction when they entered the studio and saw that the new tables were there. There few extra inches we added to the dimesion which really gives alot of extra workspace. Opening my studio to children and sharing my love of art with kids is a real gift. Every day I wake up and get to create a life I love!

Sharing the Joy of the Creative Process

What happens when you allow yourself to engage in your creative process? You.... This was my studio, carefully prepped for my one day workshop, Artful Painting. I designed it to share my creative process and some of the tips and techniques that I use to make my whimsical mixed media paintings. It all starts around color and making mood boards to inspire. Then onto making a couple backgrounds, one painted and one collage. I always work on more than one painting at a time. This group was engaged, they had lots of questions and took notes, and then were ready to jump right in. It's so easy to loose your sense of time when you are creating. Time flew by and we worked a little longer than expected. It is so terrific to be able to facilitate this kind of creative energy and it always inspires me to think of what is on the horizon for new creative endeavors. I would love for you to join me for a creative day too. Below is a coupon for my up coming workshops soon to be posted on my website.

Thanks for choosing to be creative!

Easing into the new year

Here in New Hampshire winter has settled in with the icy cold weather and snow. I have been busy keeping the wood stove burning so that although it's cold outside it is toasty warm inside, just the way I like it. Over the holiday break I took a total vacation from the studio. I spent lovely times with friends, took a ski trip to Mad River Glen, my favorite ski area in VT, read Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and started World Without End the sequel to it, and enjoyed just being around the house.

I am taking a cue from my pets that winter is the perfect time to just cuddle up and give my body a little rest. As I start my first week back, I can feel my brain spinning with questions around ideas for this coming new year especially around my creative business. I'm trying to choose a focus to help me expand and grow, but to also stay grounded in a place of balance so that I have time approach what comes my way with grace and peace. So far the questions are there but the answers and actions still are floating around. For now I'm just enjoying the time I have in the moment. Being thankful to be a Mom, nesting in my cozy home, and easing into the new year!

Wishes for good health to approach the new year with ease and grace!

The Best Holiday Gifts

What brought me the most joy this Christmas was the times spent with friends and family. This year was one of the most peaceful and relaxing holidays. Christmas eve was spent with Priscilla's and Megan's family my two dear friends who are as close to me as family. As always Megan's home was warm and inviting and looked like it could have just jumped out of the Better Homes and Garden Magazine. My biggest surprise was that Brian made it back from Long Island. Having a death in the family is never easy. After the services Brian took his mom to his brother's home so she wouldn't be alone. His Mom's spirit is amazing, she wanted Brian to be with Kate and me so she sent him home so he would be with us.

One of the reasons our families have so much fun together is that the kids all get along so well. Megan and I have been friends since high school, our girls have grown up together, and I know that Kate feels like Lexy and Chelsea are like sisters to her.

Tom and Brian are great buds too! Tom's holding my gift from Megan, the Kelly Rae date book. It makes me laugh to think what Kelly Rae's version of a painting of these two men would look like

I also feel so blessed that through Megan, Priscilla and I have become so close. She has such a warm and open heart. I love this picture of Kate, Avery, and Priscilla all piled and cozy in this chair. The evening was perfect and my only wish is that I knew how to use my time on my camera so that I could have gotten a group shot.

On Christmas morning Kate woke up Brian and I, she was ready to open gifts. I really felt like I scaled back my shopping this year, but Kate told me that she was really happy and thought it was an over the top Christmas.

Buddy had fun getting gifts too.

Which of course delighted Brian. After Buddy tore apart his wrapped gift Brian had him working on helping him.

And Abby was blissed out on her cat nip and just took it all in.

The rest of the day was spent playing outside, reading by the fire, calling family members to wish them joy, and enjoying the comfort of home. These are the true blessings of the holiday. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Wishes to You From Creative Spirit Art Studio

Warm wishes for a holiday that will make your heart smile!

Truth be known I spent more time working on decorations for my tiny tree at the studio this year than decorating my home. The gift gained was my tiny tree filled with heartfelt wishes for my awesome students, friends, and all of you who continue to give me support in bringing my dream of a creative career to life.

Over the past three years of this journey I have been blessed with students who share my creative spirit. My days have been filled with many hours of painting time and each time I sell a painting or hear stories of how others relate to my artwork my heart just soars.

Here is my little tree covered with love. I started with some wooden hearts and large circles, then used my Golden soft gel to adhere the papers and prints to cover both sides, added stamped heartfelt wishes, then a coat of UVA sealer, and for some sparkle I added some glass glitter around the edges and beads.

They were a big seller at our holiday open house this year. It really brings me happiness to think of my hand crafted hearts being used as gifts or adorn peoples trees.

The perfect tree topper was a little painting that I created with my friends and their daughters during a workshop I organized, called From the Center of Your Heart during our Labor Day Weekend at the Lake.

Wishes for everyone to fills their hearts with kindness, to be open to the gift of friendship, to believe that the gifts that bring the most cheer can not be purchased at a store, but come from within by sharing time with others.

Love, from the center of my heart Happy Holidays!