Don't Worry, Be Happy!

"Only one thing has to change for us

to know happiness in our lives;

where we focus our attention."
~ G. Anderson

 

2020 Calendars now available HERE.

Get yours before they sell out!

All sold out as of 1/1/20, thank you!

"What we call the secret of happiness is no more than our willingness to choose it."

~ Leo Buscaglia

X ♥  O

P.S.
My paintings and prints are available for purchase online now at 15% Off.

Be Active, Energetic And Faithful

"When you do a thing,

do it with all your might.

Put your whole soul into it.

Stamp it with your own personality. 

Be active, be energetic and faithful,

and you will accomplish your goals."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

#DrawingEveryday • 8-31-19 • Watercolor Sketch on Cotton Rag

The whole summer of sketching every day 2019 has passed. For 92 days,

from June 1st - August 31st, I drew and painted as part of my daily routine. 

The benefits are immense. The skills of seeing and hand-eye coordination are

developed and refined by daily practice, in my opinion, like no other can.

See my daily attempts in reverse (blog) format on SketchingEveryday.com

"Among all the accomplishments of life,

none are so important as refinement;

it is not, like beauty, a gift of Nature,

and can only be acquired

by cultivation and practice."

~ James Ellis

 

X ♥  O

P.S. I am not done sketching and creating every day though!

I have signed up for another challenge for the next 30 days.

It's called the 30 Day Creative Gathering.

You can find out more about it on facebook here.

Maybe you'd even like to join us!

Be More Than Ready

"Be prepared! All of your gear should be in a state

of readiness so you can concentrate on painting.

Choose your supplies as you would

choose weapons before battle."

~ R. Schmid
~~~

#DrawingEveryday • 8-27-19 • Watercolor and ink on 140lb Coldpress

"Be more than ready. Be present in your discipline.

Remember your gift. Be grateful for your gift

and treat it like a gift. Cherish it, take care of it,
and pass it on."

~ A.D.Smith

Sketch done while waiting with limited supplies.

If you carry reference material and pocket-size supplies,
you'll seldom waste time waiting again!
~~~

This sketch was started at the dentist's office

this morning and was finished at home today.

Supplies Clockwise - paper towels, kneaded eraser, Pentel Aquash Water Brush, soft or 2B pencil, (I forgot my Pigma Micron pen, but a plain ole black ballpoint pen worked just fine), Field Artist Pro travel box, with additional half pans from the Dainayw Watercolor Set (optional), and 
6 x 6" Global Arts WC Journal. The reference is a free image from Pixabay.com

These supplies can be purchased through my Amazon Store here.

"Isn't it amazing how 'lucky' the people are
who put in countless hours of preparation?"

Stay Inspired and Positive My Friends!

See more sunflower paintings here.

 

X ♥  O

Keep Following The Sun

"Keep your face to the sunshine

and you cannot see the shadows. 

It’s what the sunflowers do."

~ Helen Keller

There is nothing that celebrates life quite like the sunflower. It follows the sun's position in the sky like a satellite dish all through the day. Wherever the light is, even if it is dim and obscured by clouds, these flowers will seek out the sunshine. We humans can learn a valuable lesson from the symbolism this flower represents. Even in our darkest hours, we should attempt to make an effort to look for the good things that life offers us every day. Lets try to be more like the sunflower and follow the sun, even on our most overcast days.

The Symbolic Meanings of Sunflowers: 

• Happiness  • Magic  • Good Luck  • Healing  • Focus  • Opitimism  • Faith

• Spirituality • Friendship  • Loyalty  • Strength  • Longevity  • Celebration

“Today, I will strive to be more like the sunflower,

inspired by its strength, charm and sunny disposition.”

~ Sandy Sandy

Stay Inspired and Positive My Friends!

See more sunflower paintings here.

 

X ♥  O

The Art Of Play

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Some people are so serious all the time! Maybe they never really learned how to play, or the skill was just stunted as a kid.  Perhaps they stopped playing at a certain age and were told to "grow up", be serious and stop acting "like a child". The sad part is that these people are missing out on a lot of fun in life. Acting silly once in a while is good for the mental well being and soul of all earthly beings.

“A little nonsense now and then,

is cherished by the wisest men and women.”

Jerry was thrilled with my surprise birthday gift; his very own website for his yard art.

www.JerrysYardArt.com

Check out his whimsical creations.

“This is the real secret of life;

to be completely engaged with what

you are doing in the here and now.

And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”
~ Alan W. Watts

We all let loose, played and acted a little silly this weekend at the

"Inspired by van Gogh Workshop" here at the studio.

See a slideshow of the event here:

Inspired by Vincent Playshop ~ 5.21.17

"Be silly, be honest, be kind."

~ Emerson

Thanks for stopping by!

X ♥  O

Home For Christmas

They'll be home for Christmas,

If only in my dreams . . .

It's that time of year again when I start really missing

my friends and family that have moved far away.

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick;

even when you're home."

~ Carol Nelson

Hummingbird Feeders make great holiday gifts.

See proven methods on how to attract your own l'il band of buddies here.

Thanks so much for your friendship,

X ♥  O

 

Germ of Happiness

 "Growth itself has the germ 

of happiness." 

~ Pearl S. Buck
~~~

~~~
FEB 6th, 2016 - ALCOHOL INK WORKSHOP - NOW FILLED!

See More About Sandy's 2016 Alcohol Ink Workshops HERE

I've got 3 and four day sessions scheduled and there's a motel 
nearby to accommodate out of town participants!

 

"Unless you try to do something beyond 

what you have already mastered, 

you will never grow." 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The only way that we can live, is if we grow. 
The only way that we can grow is if we change. 
The only way that we can change is if we learn. 
The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. 
And the only way that we can become exposed 
is if we throw ourselves out into the open."
~  C. Joybell

X ♥  O

Happiness Is An Ongoing Journey

"We act as though comfort and luxury 

were the chief requirements in life, 

when all we need to make us really happy 

is something to be enthusiastic about." 

~ Charles Kingsley

"Growing Under Your Feet"
16 x 20" Matted Alcohol Ink on Yupo paper
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

 “Foolish people seek happiness in the distance;
while the wise grow it under their feet.”
~ James Openheim

Simply stated, happiness is when you are not troubled with pain in your body or worry in your mind.  It exists through the harmony created by something to do, something to love and something to hope for.  Learning to accept what is and focusing on the positive, no matter how bad things may seem, is also important. Remember, happiness is not a destination, but an ongoing daily journey.

My younger sister, Gaile, was diagnosed with breast cancer and is scheduled for surgery (Bilateral mastectomy and chemo port) this Thursday. I spoke with her last night and she continues to be positive and happy. She is an inspiration and a testament to what the Dalai Lama said; "It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come." Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers during her challenging ordeal, thank you friends.

There are only two spots left for my May 9th Alcohol Ink Workshop.

Don't miss out. Please sign up today!

"Joy is not in things, it is in us."

~Richard Wagner

X ♥  O

Happiness Is A By-Product ~ Sold

"If you observe a really happy man, you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi desert.  He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.  He will not be striving for it as a goal in itself.  He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living life twenty-four crowded hours of the day." ~ W. Beran Wolfe

"Nature's Voice"
6 x 6" Alcohol Ink on Ceramic Tile w/ display easel
$55.00 - $67.00 Click here for more info. or to purchase

"Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product." 

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Happy creating everyone!

Thanks so much for your friendship,

X ♥  O

Sunflower Spirit ~ Capturing the Essence

"Capture the spirit

and essence of your subject

and show me why it is important to you."

~ Keith Bond

Sunflower Spirit

SOLD

Today's FineArtViews article by Keith Bond was about impersonation and authenticity. It is a subject very close to my heart. Originality in the interpretation of my subject is something I strive for everyday. Keith writes, "Don’t be an impersonator (and slavishly copy a subject from life or from a photo). Be authentic. Be real. Be yourself. Create art that means something to you, so it can also mean something to the viewer." For me, it is the only road to happiness and the key to finding my true inner voice as an artist.

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi desert.  He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.  He will not be striving for it as a goal in itself.  He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living life twenty-four crowded hours of the day." ~ W. Beran Wolfe

Wishing You Many Blessings and Authentic Happiness,

X ♥ O