The Art Of Teaching

"I tried to stir the imagination  and

 enthusiasms of students to take risks, 

to do what they were most afraid of doing, 

to widen their horizons of action. " 

~ James Broughton

"The Circle Game"
~~~~~~~~~~~8 x 10" Dbl. Matted Alcohol Ink Collage on Yupo paper~~~~~~~~~~~
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

We had another snow storm and got 6" here in Southern NJ

on Friday, "the first day of Spring". 

By yesterday, Sunday, there was hardly any trace of it though.

I truly hope that's the last we see of it until Christmas time.

I have been getting ready for more Alcohol Ink Classes, Workshops and Drink & Ink events. Enthusiasm is spreading as more and more people discover the magic of alcohol inks. I am enjoying teaching, meeting like minded folks and making lots of new art friends in the process. 

I took my flyers and tiles down to the local high school craft show on Saturday and talked so much I nearly lost my voice. Of course, I ran out of flyers, but next time I'll be more prepared. I sat and inked and let a few others try their hand at it too. It was fun because everyone was quite impressed and amazed with them.

Have you created yet today?

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Have a wonderful day!

X ♥  O

Color Brightens The Day

"The whole world, 

as we experience it visually, 

comes to us through the 

mystic realm of color." 

~ Hans Hofman

"Orange You Glad?"

~~~~~~~8 x 10" Dbl. Matted Alcohol Ink Collage on Yupo paper~~~~~~~

email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

It's another grey day here in Southern NJ, even though the weather forecast originally called for sun. The snow from ten days ago is barely visible now. All that remains are some brownish white clumps here and there, left over from the plowing. Although it's officially Spring, it still looks like winter outside my window.

I've been busy inking, organizing and planning a couple of new art ventures. I will share them with you here when some of the final details are ironed out.

It's still not too late to sign up for this coming week's studio play date!

And be sure to check out my May 9th - Center For The Arts Event!

Space is limited, so don't wait until the last minute.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Happy creating everyone!

X ♥  O

Waiting For Spring

“To be interested in the changing seasons 

 is a happier state of mind than to be 

hopelessly in love with spring.” 

~ George Santayana

"Spring in the Heart"

~~10 x 8" Dbl. Matted Alcohol Ink Collage on Yupo paper~~

email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

Mother nature has been having her way with us here in the Northeast, USA. I'm not complaining though. We, here in southern NJ, have not had much snow this winter compared to some of our northern neighbors. There is about 8 or 9 inches on the ground right now after yesterday's bombardment. It really is quite beautiful and according to the reports, we will be in the 40's and 50's by late next week. I hope they are right, but today I'm going to just savor the beauty of our winter wonderland.

Here are some photos taken yesterday at The Sandarosa.

I saw three bluebirds yesterday. I hope
they come back when it's a little warmer.

Eva, (one of our 20 or so ferals) thinks she wants
to come in, but she looses her nerve if we
invite her. She is a loner and doesn't get along
with the other outside cats (who all have various
shelters). She's been staying on the
screened porch where Jerry set her up with
a cozy warm bed, litter box and food.

Rita's nice 'n toasty with a thick winter coat
and her double layer of blankies.

Several flocks of turkeys and numerous other backyard
birds are cleaning us out of sunflower seeds.

Lots of melting and rain prior to the snow
made for some new little ponds on the property.

 

The snow stared as rain which acted like glue, so the
snow's all stuck to the branches. Very pretty, but
could be hazardous to the trees and electric wires.

 

Jerry's art garden in monotone.

Jerry has a love/hate relationship with the snow
because he gets to play with his favorite farm toy.
It's a 1949 Massey-Harris-Ferguson.

They broke the mold when they made this
machine and when they made the driver.
They just don't make 'em like that anymore!

As always, thanks for your continued friendship and feedback.

Happy creating everyone!

X ♥  O

Raptor Rhapsody

Here is a collage of six hawk paintings

done in the past two weeks.

These paintings were all done on Yupo paper.

Yupo (pronounced You-po), paper is a recyclable, tree-free, synthetic paper which does not absorb water, so the transparent watercolor pigments sit on top of the surface. It is tricky to work on but very forgiving. It can be scrubbed back to the clean surface at any time prior to fixing it with a clear acrylic spray. YAHOO FOR YUPO!

One of the reasons we have so many hummingbirds here at The Sandarosa, is because we also have a healthy colony of Coopers Hawks. The hummingbirds build their nests close to Ms. Cooper's Clan. Too small to be of any interest to a hawk, the crows and other hummingbird predators stay clear or else. It's a very symbiotic relationship.

Ms. Coopers Hawk - Hummingbird Protector 5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85. acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Ms. Coopers Hawk - Hummingbird Protector

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

This is the same painting as the one below,

only without the background.

*I'd love to know, do you like it better with

or without the background?

Regal Red Tail 5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85. acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Regal Red Tail

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted - $85.

acid free, white core mat with a foam core backing in an acetate sleeve

ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

On the home front, the kittens, Opie and Cutie Pye, are now 10 months old! How time flies when they are little!  Opie weighs about 8 lbs. now and looks as large as 15 lb.,Tigger because of all his hair. The boys like to sleep in the little wicker basket. And the petite Ms.Cutie Pye, at only 6lbs.2 oz., prefers the large dog bed. Go figure! ☺

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs and Purrs, 

(And the Kitties)

P.S. Before you leave, please help me out with your opinion * above.

Thanks again!