So true

If you have to live with uncertainty, you may as well pursue what you care about deeply.
-Scott Witt

polaroid love

Meet the newest member of our family. The polaroid sx-70. I have been pining for one of these babies for so long. Patiently I have searched at antique malls, estate sales, even ebay. Finally I was able to snag one online.. and it works perfectly. Now all I need to do is properly modify it and begin my formal addiction to the beautiful, ethereal shots it is so famous for.

Art Journal Pages

A look at the new art journal I began last month. I used hand torn watercolor pages primed in gesso as the base. This created an uneven border on all edges-which I like very much. I used acrylics, rubons and gel mediums. I also went through several of my vintage books and cut out sentences that spoke to me, really described my place in life right now. I then spread them on the table and over the course of just a few minutes picked out these four sentences to create a poem. I am not sure what technique (if any) this is, but I did a similar excersize with random words in L.K. Ludwig's class at artfest last year.

I also used part of a mailing label from my favorite artist... Misty Mawn. I had the opportunity to purchase one of her paintings and I kept everything she sent... including the address label off the box, knowing that I would use it for something special someday. I love the look on the woman's face. It seemed to express my emotion so well, so I had to incorporate it somehow. The envelope under my picture holds letters that I have written that are very private. There is more to this journal. Some pages are completed, others in stages, but I will update its progress throughout the coming weeks.

self portrait canvas

A new year. It has inspired me to create in my studio at a rapid pace. I have indulged in many new paints, gels, canvases and papers. Many a day has been spent scouring the local antique stores hoping to score a fantastic find. Painting, encaustics and some interesting art journal pages have unfolded.

I am sharing a canvas that I began in December. I used gel mediums, paint, and wax to create this. I layered paynes gray over gel medium, and the contrasting color is a mixture that I can't quite remember-just an experiment of colors that I liked in contrast. I embedded the feather in wax and covered the entire piece in wax medium. I had fun using some old brushes, scrapers and various tools to mark and create a texture. The text reads "She would overcome her own anguish to realize the depths of her own strength." More art journal pages will follow soon...

Brave

This is my word for the year, my mantra, if you will. Inspired by the post at Ali's blog I have decided to commit to this word. Many other choices swam in my head. Forgive, honesty, love, and growth were just a few. When I thought of the word brave a sort of calm entered me. I knew it was the right one. To be brave in love, brave in sadness and brave in change. I wish for a sense of courage in all of the future challenges of the year. To model a good approach to life for my young daughters. I found the following quote to sum it up best..

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Nelson Mandela

Treasures from Portland

Yesterday I received this beautiful necklace in the mail. It is from my friend, Lulu , a fellow mixed-media artist that I met earlier this year. I first saw Lulu as we both were trying to navigate our way around the grounds at Artfest, lugging our bags of art supplies. We could not find L.K. Ludwig's class, and after a few attempts, finally did. Luckily I was able to sit next to her and I knew immediately that she was a special soul.
Lulu made me feel like I was an artist (at the time I was still very timid) and took a special interest in me. She shared her supplies, her stories, and fresh perspective. I had never met someone so full of light and creativity- so talented and yet so humble.
It was if she was taking me under her wing, sensing my anxiety of my first trip away from my babies-my first trip completely alone. She always found me at mealtime, making a place for me at her table. She invited me to come participate in different outings and art groups in the evenings- all from someone that I had only met hours before.
This type of kindness and inclusion is something that I had not experienced in such a long time. So thank you, my sweet friend, for following your heart and opening your etsy store so that everyone might see what beautiful art you create. The necklace is one that I will always treasure, and be reminded of your talent and story.

Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness fo life- Melody Beattie

I recently read this quote and it made me think about all of the important things that I love. I am so blessed to have been given the gift of two healthy, vibrant and sweet little girls. They make my life so full and happy that I feel like I may burst from emotion that I feel for them.
The love I feel for my bestfriend, my husband, with whom I have had the gift of spending exactly twelve years together with this month. His strength and love has always been a cornerstone for me, although he often doesn't realize that. He is tender and kind, loving and patient, and I am a better person for having known him.
These three people are my core, my loves, and if everything else fell away I know that I could survive. That is what I feel when I think of gratitude, and the fullness that comes from realizing what is important.