30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Following the Difficult Muse ~ Day 24

"My muse drags me down many different roads, 

often at the same time." 

~ Colin Poole

"Impetuous Muse"

8 x 24" Alcohol Ink on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

This is another textured substrate, created with tissue paper, acrylic paint and gesso on a gallery wrapped canvas. The painting was done entirely in alcohol inks. It is not at all what I had envisioned. My muse is being very bossy with the abstracts these days and unless I want to get into a knock down, drag out fight, I usually just end up following her lead.

"The muse is born in pain, thrives on it and loves to inflict it."

~ Warren Criswell

I appreciate your generous feedback and friendship. 

Thank you very much!

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Enchantment And Risk ~ Day 23

“The enchanted day is only experienced 

if we ourselves believe 

that anything is possible.” 

~ Mark Donnelly

"Seeking Enchantment"
8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info. 

“To reach only for that which pleasantly enchants you is using the least bit of imagination. Even if it is imagination at all, because of the obvious reality and remaining within your means. The greater depth of imagination is parallel to risk. It goes beyond your comfort zone or haven, or sense of beauty. True enchantment extends beyond what you personally believe suits you and is an exploration of what has not been before.” ~ Criss Jami

Wow, we are 3/4 of the way through the challenge today!

I am still stretching, trying to stay positive, inspired, abstract, loose and surrendering my control to the inks. I am finding it hard to finish a painting in a day lately though. I am painting enough, sometimes two or three in a day, but the trouble is saying that it is done. I want to let them mellow for a day or two so I can tweak (or wreck) them before posting them online. I got up and started painting this morning at 6 am. That painting is on the back burner, so I brought this one to conclusion this afternoon.

Thanks so much for your comments about the quotes, my subjects and your interpretations of my paintings!

 I really can't thank you enough.

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Never Ending Journey ~ Day 22

“Where will my path yet lead me?

This path is stupid,

it goes in spirals, 

perhaps in circles, 

but whichever way it goes, 

I will follow it.”

~ Hermann Hesse

"Journeys Beyond Boundaries"
8 x 8" Alcohol Ink on Cradled Artists' Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“Not too long ago thousands spent their lives as recluses to find spiritual vision in the solitude of nature. Modern man need not become a hermit to achieve this goal, for it is neither ecstasy nor world-estranged mysticism his era demands, but a balance between quantitative and qualitative reality. Modern man, with his reduced capacity for intuitive perception, is unlikely to benefit from the contemplative life of a hermit in the wilderness. But what he can do is to give undivided attention, at times, to a natural phenomenon, observing it in detail, and recalling all the scientific facts about it he may remember. Gradually, however, he must silence his thoughts and, for moments at least, forget all his personal cares and desires, until nothing remains in his soul but awe for the miracle before him. Such efforts are like journeys beyond the boundaries of narrow self-love and, although the process of intuitive awakening is laborious and slow, its rewards are noticeable from the very first. If pursued through the course of years, something will begin to stir in the human soul, a sense of kinship with the forces of life consciousness which rule the world of plants and animals, and with the powers which determine the laws of matter. While analytical intellect may well be called the most precious fruit of the Modern Age, it must not be allowed to rule supreme in matters of cognition. If science is to bring happiness and real progress to the world, it needs the warmth of man's heart just as much as the cold inquisitiveness of his brain.” ~ Franz Winkler

Your comments and friendship help to fuel my voyage. 

Thank you very much.

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Silence is Pure ~ Day 21

“Nothing strengthens authority 

so much as silence.” 

~ Leonardo da Vinci

"Silent Angel"
8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content. The young, brash and impatient, must always break the silence. It is a waste, for silence is pure. Silence is holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking. This is the great paradox.” ~ Nicholas Sparks

Your comments about my paintings, quotes and your amazing interpretations are greatly appreciated. 

I really can't thank you enough.

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Moonlight Magic ~ Day 20

“Dance when the moon sings 

and don't cry about troubles 

that haven't yet come" 

~ Patricia Briggs

"Moonlight Serenade"
10 x 24" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”

~ William W. Purkey

Wow, this has been such a great 30 in 30 challenge! We are 2/3 of the way through it today. Doing this challenge has many perks, especially all the great friends one makes along the way! I really appreciate your feedback and friendship. Thank you so very much!

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Silent Poetry ~ Day 19

"In a picture, it should be possible to  

discover new things every time you see it. 

You can look at a picture for a week 

and never think of it again. 

But you can also look at a picture for 

a second and think of it all your life." 

~ Joan Miro

"Like Words of Poems"
7 x 5" Alcohol Ink on Canvas Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

About ten years ago, I did a couple of months (about 30 or 40 pieces) of acrylic paintings which mostly now hang in my home. At the end of that exploration, I did a bunch of poured acrylic abstract pieces in various sizes then set them aside.  They have a lot of texture. Now I am gessoing over them and painting them in alcohol inks and obtaining an interesting 3D effect. I started with a few small ones and think they are visually appealing. It's hard to tell in the photo, but in person, they have a real "in your face" personality, especially for such small pieces.

I really appreciate your feedback and friendship. 

Thank you very much!

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Finding The Way ~ Day 18

“The real voyage of discovery consists 

not in seeking new landscapes, 

but in having new eyes.” 

~ Marcel Proust

"Mystic Substance of Life"
~~~~~~~~~~8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Gallery Wrapped Canvas~~~~~~~~~~
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

Lately I have been feeling the need to make a shift towards self discovery. After being inspired by so much creativity online and having several painting play dates with a local artist friend, I decided to give mixed media a try. This textured substrate was created with tissue paper, acrylic paint and gesso on a gallery wrapped canvas. The painting was done entirely in alcohol inks. It went through quite a few versions before I called it quits.

I still can't decide on the orientation of his piece. For that reason, this painting will have my Signature, Date, Thumbprint, Painting ID and Title on the back to allow it to be hung in any direction.

I'd love to know, which way do you like it best?

A.

B.

C.

D.

"Invention and discovery emanate from being able to try seemingly wild possibilities and work in the unknown; to be comfortable being wrong before being right; to live in the world as a keen observer, with an openness to experiences and ideas." ~ Peter Sims

I really appreciate your feedback and friendship. 

Thank you very much!

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Face Trouble With Courage ~ Day 17

“To live greatly, we must develop the 

capacity to face trouble with courage, 

disappointment with cheerfulness 

and triumph with humility.” 

~ Thomas S. Monson

"Between A Rock and A Hard Place"
8 x 10" dbl. Matted Alcohol Ink on Yupo paper
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“You'll never find your limits until you've gone too far.” 
~ Aron Ralston

“What you perceive as a failure today

may actually be a crucial step towards the

success you seek. Never give up.”

~ Richelle E. Goodrich

I often hear people say that I am lucky to be so talented, but in truth, I don't believe in it. If it is real, I don't think I have been endowed with talent at all. What I do believe in is aptitude, a burning desire and endless hours of practice, trial and error and hard work. I have been experimenting and testing my boundaries with these abstracts and often end up going too far. It hasn't been easy, but painting is my passion and I don't think I'll ever give it up. Although it can be frustrating, I've been doing this long enough to know that failures are merely the stepping stones and lessons which lead to future successes.

Do you believe in talent? Do you think struggle is something all or most artists go through, even after many years of practice?

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback

and friendship very much.

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Listen To The Heartbeat ~ Day 16

"You carry Mother Earth within you. 

She is not outside of you. 

Mother Earth is not just your environment. 

In that insight of inter-being, it is possible 

to have real communication with the Earth, 

which is the highest form of prayer."

~ Thich Nhat Han

"Heartbeat Of The Earth"
  8 x 20" Alcohol Ink on Gessoed Hardboard
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

"Mothers, teach your children this. Teach your children that Wisdom is in pieces everywhere. Some of the Wisdom is in the trees, some of the Wisdom is with the animals. Some of the Wisdom is with the planets, stars, moons and the sun. Some of the Wisdom flows with the waters. Some of the Wisdom was with our ancestors. Some of the Wisdom is in our minds. All of the Wisdom is from the Spirit of God." ~ Esther Davis-Thompson

X ♥  O