Spontaneity and Gesture

"I am motivated to find the essence of my subjects

through spontaneity and gesture.

Viewers can interpret as they wish... 

Thus they become more personally involved 

with what they see before them."
~ S. Flaig

#DrawingEveryday - 7-29-19 • Watercolor and Ink

Make It An Inspired And Productive Summer
Join me for 2019 sketching everyday! 
 

X ♥  O

Give Yourself A Chance

"If you give your Self a chance,

your Self will give you all the chances."

~ Yogi Bhajan

5 x 7" Pen & Ink with Alcohol Ink Sketch on Yupo

"When you let go of fear and resistance, a whole new world opens up. Opportunities for growth and enrichment are all around us. We have to be careful not to over think it,
rather just roll up our selves and dig in."

~Sandy Sandy

8 x 10" Pen & Ink with Alcohol Ink Sketch on Yupo

I'm really enjoying this technique and it's given me a brand new approach to SketchingEveryday.

I will be demonstrating this technique and others this coming weekend on July 21, from 11 -1:00,

at the Bick Art Materials store at t 401 Park Drive in Boston, MA.

Stay Inspired and Productive My Friends
Join me for a summer of sketching everyday! 
 

X ♥  O

Become Who You Are!

"The person who has acquired the habit of study, 

for only one hour every day in twelve months, 

and who keeps to the one thing studied till it is mastered,

will be startled to see the progress made at the end of a year."

~E. G. Bulwer-Lytton

"One of the greatest and simplest tools for learning more and growing is doing more."

~ Washington Irving

7 Tips for a Productive Life

"1. Make a to-do list. ...Give yourself small rewards for completing big tasks. ...

2. Find ways to break up your workday (or night). ..

3. Avoid addictive time-wasting activities. ..

4. Get as much done as early in the day as you can. ..

5. Tackle that really tough to-do first. ... 

6. Showcase your success. ...

7. Tell someone about your goals."

~ Emma Chapman 

Stay Inspired and Productive My Friends
Join me for a summer of sketching everyday! 
 

X ♥  O

Inspiration From Everyday Life

"The MOST important source of inspiration for painting

ideas is our own lives... and what we like the most."

~ Jack Dickerson

Look at this 36" live flower beauty Jerry saved from the trash and brought home

for me to photograph, sketch and paint!  

"One need not travel the world for inspiration.

If one is receptive it meets them half way, everyday."

~ Sandy Sandy

This Sketch is done in my Field Watercolor Journal from the photo I posted above.

"When you do a sketch from life or a photo, don't be

afraid to move things around, use your imagination

and employ some artistic license!" 

~ Sandy Sandy

  This is why people throw out fresh flower wreaths .... They just don't last 🤔 But, I made use of the best looking blooms of these short stemmed beauties and made up several bowl arrangements,

which I photographed and will draw and paint. 

"Opportunity is missed by many people because it is

dressed in overalls and looks like hard work."

~ Unknown

Keeping them safe from flower loving cats in the bathtub. 

Artists - Please feel free to use these as painting reference. 

Stay Inspired My Friends!

X ♥  O

Shine Your Light!

"Those who are at times described as being

“too emotional” or “complicated” are the 

very fabric of what keeps the dream alive 

for a more thoughtful, caring and humane world.  

Never be ashamed to let your feelings, smiles 

and tears shine a light in this world."

~ Marc Chernoff

'Shine On" ~ 5 x 7" Matted Alcohol Ink Painting on Vinyl

 I love working on black substrates but the tiles limit us to a small size. This is one of my first attempts on mat black vinyl. The inks work good on the mat vinyl too. I ordered the 40 pack of glossy 12 x 12" vinyl and it's a great deal.  I'll cut them to various sizes - with 4 x 6"'s I'll get 6 pcs. out of ea. sheet for my studio classes. I'm gonna try it with my students on April 7th! I also ordered some black boards from Blick that I'm going to try too.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Have a really great day!

X ♥  O

Strength Supersedes Struggle

"We grow because we struggle,

we learn and overcome."

~ Robert G. Allen

I am an avid collector of inspirational stories and quotes. Some of these treasures date back as far as high school. The really special ones have been read many times and I think of them often. A few of these pieces have even inspired my art and writing. It has been a while since I reread and posted this one, so I thought it might be a good story to go along with this piece. Many of these scenarios, like the one posted below, are "Author Unknown".

BUTTERFLIES ALWAYS REMIND ME 

OF THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY:

STRUGGLES

An Inspiring Story About How Struggles Strengthen Us

When he was a small boy, he had loved butterflies. Oh, not to net and mount them, but to wonder at them and their habits.

Now a grown man with his first son to be born in a few weeks, he found himself once again fascinated with a cocoon. He had found it at the side of the park path. Somehow the twig had been knocked from the tree and the cocoon had survived undamaged and still woven to the branch.

As he had seen his mother do, he gently protected it by wrapping it in his handkerchief and carried it home. The cocoon found a temporary home in a wide-top mason jar with holes in the lid. The jar was placed on the mantle for easy viewing and protection from their curious cat who would delight in volleying the sticky silk between her paws.

The man watched. His wife's interest lasted only a moment, but he studied the silky envelope. Almost imperceptibly at first, the cocoon moved. He watched more closely and soon the cocoon was trembling with activity. Nothing else happened. The cocoon remained tightly glued to the twig and there was no sign of wings.

Finally the shaking became so intense that the man thought the butterfly would die from the struggle. He removed the lid on the jar, took a sharp pen knife from his desk drawer, and carefully made a tiny slit in the side of the cocoon. Almost immediately, one wing appeared and then outstretched the other. The butterfly was free!

It seemed to enjoy its freedom and walked along the edge of the mason jar and along the edge of the mantle. But it didn't fly. At first the man thought the wings needed time to dry, but time passed and still the butterfly did not take off.

The man was worried and called up his neighbor who taught science. He told the neighbor how he had found the cocoon, placed it in the mason jar, and the terrible trembling as the butterfly struggled to get out. When he described how he had carefully made a small slit in the cocoon, the teacher stopped him. "Oh, that is the reason. You see, the struggle is what gives the butterfly the strength to fly."
 
And so it is with us. Sometimes it's the struggles in life that strengthen us the most. ~ Author Unknown

Did you enjoy this story? Have you read it before?

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Have a really great day!

X ♥  O

The (Right) Way

"Grace, or Tao, surrounds us always.
Whenever we are open to it for a moment,
it enters into us."
~ Herman Hesse



Tao |dou; tou| - noun
(in Chinese philosophy) the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order. ORIGIN Chinese, literally ‘(right) way.’

We get caught up in living, "our" way of doing things and sometimes forget
to slow down and ask ourselves what is the "right"way for us.

Are we thinking or doing things in an automatic, rushed, habitual way
instead of savoring our moments by looking inward for joy, meaning and love?

When we are kind to ourselves,
it has a ripple effect and spills out into the lives of others.
While the precepts listed here may seem too idealistic,
perhaps you can find a few concepts that resonate
and inspire you to find more harmony and light in your life.

Miyamoto Musashi describes 21 principles (to strive for) of Tao:
"1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
11. In all things have no preferences.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor.
21. Never stray from the Way.”

Modern science has recently confirmed that our thoughts
actually change the pathways of neurons in our brain.
Habitual reactions to situations shorten those nerve cell connections,
which in turn physically alters and triggers our own unique conception of reality.



Wishing You Much Joy and Many Blessings!
With Love,

Fill Your Life With Love

"If you don't fill your days with love,

you are wasting your life."

~ James Broughton

 

Learn • Love • Create
FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink
Online Workshop Starts September 2016
(Registration Opens in August)

We all come from different places and have unique experiences in life.
That's what makes you - you and me - me, and I think that our art should reflect that.

It's not just about techniques . . .
By sharing my journey, my way and my inspiration, I encourage you to
explore your passions more fully and find your own "love driven" way of creating.

 

Make a written list of everything you love, then let your art express that list.

Sign up for my email list 

and receive FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink ECourse Updates.

Thanks for your friendship.
Happy Spring and Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

 

Message In A Bottle

"Inspiration is a message-in-a-bottle from the distant shore, 

a window into the other world, a tap of the muse's finger, 

the grace of the gods. It comes when you least expect it."

 ~ Phil Cousineau

~~~ 

Inspiration and Desire

with Black Backing

with White Backing

with Beige Backing

"I equate inspiration with desire – 

the desire that moves us to be artists in the first place. 

To attempt to make a painting without this motivation 

is a waste of time."

~ Nita Engle

I am offering these framed, hand painted, one of a kind tiles at a special pre-purchase price of $99.99 until midnight February 3rd, 2016 when the price will go up to $149.99.

 Go here to see more about painting number twelve of my January 2016, 30 Paintings in 30 Days Collection; alcohol ink paintings on black tiles.

"If you don't FEEL enthusiastic, ACT enthusiastic.

Soon, you'll BE enthusiastic." 

~ Frank Bettger

Thanks for following my progress and for your encouragement.
I really appreciate it.

Wishing you a day filled with enthusiasm.

X ♥  O

Inspired By Wine (Day 3)

"The artist must raise the cup 

of his vision aloft to the gods, 

in the high hope that they 

will pour into it the sweet 

mellow wine of inspiration."

~ Paul Brunton

~~~~~~~~~~~Inspired By Wine~~~~~~~~~~ Alcohol Inks on Yupo paper See painting specifications and price here.

~~~~~~~~~~~Inspired By Wine~~~~~~~~~~ Alcohol Inks on Yupo paper See painting specifications and price here.

~~~~~~~~~~~Inspired By Wine~~~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Inks on Yupo paper
See painting specifications and price here.

For me, INSPIRATION is imagination coupled with emotion and enthusiasm. And it usually comes when I least expect it. A fleeting thought, a happy accident, just getting into the painting process, something someone says or does, can all trigger it. Belief and contemplation of a connection to a Higher Power, can also inspire creativity to kick into gear. It usually happens at a time when my critical left brain is tired or distracted because the analytical does not mesh well with the intuitive state. I'll admit, as I've said before, I've always been a very right brained person, so it is easier for me to listen to that side anyway. As Einstein said; "Imagination is more important than knowledge." and without it there can be no inspiration, but that's a subject for another post. For me, being in a relaxed state and getting into the zone are key. I don't drink wine, but a couple of beers can sometimes do the trick!

Be sure to bookmark my Fourth 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge Home Page for history and links to all the 4th -  30 in 30 CHALLENGE information.

One of the highlights of these challenges for me has been meeting some totally amazing and inspiring artists and bloggers! There are so many interesting stories and it's always so great to reconnect with old and make some new online friends! The art and opportunities are so diverse out there, it boggles my mind and broadens my horizons! 

Thanks so very much for your "fb likes", G+'s,

pins, follows, comments and INSPIRATION!

So, I'd really love to know,

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

X ♥  O