In The Art Studio Again

The last month or two has been filled with family losses, Grandma followed by Mom-in-law (yes it is she who was my topic a few blogs down in Cougars from Passion Island - Ms. Joy Nell Puckett Owens, most fondly known as Mom O by me)... and though our hearts are heavy we pick up where life left off. Gradually. For the first time in weeks and weeks and weeks I had an art day in the studio. Yay! It was tough at first to focus and allow myself to let go and play, but little by little my Muse took me by the hand and pulled me in. In the middle of things I gave myself permission to be happy about what I was doing and began to delve into creating. I had signed up for this fabulous online Graffiti Art class by artist Alisa Burke and I missed the entire class due to family responsibilities. Wonderful as Alisa is (not to mention kind and understanding), she is keeping the site open longer and I was able to finish up a project and post it to the website! Yay! A big accomplishment for me! Thank you Alisa for enabling me to get back into creating and teaching me some facinating techniques! I'm still practicing and watching the videos, but I had to share what I've competed so far:

Well, this morning my computer or blogger is not allowing me to post my pictures. Dang! As soon as I figure it out, I'll add them. It may be this evening as I'm off to work here shortly...Happy Artful Day Everyone!!

Lost in Cyber Space

I'm amazed it has been this long since I've blogged. Time has flown past in the last month or two. My life has been topsy turvy with the loss of three important people in my life. Two of them dear women in my family and the third a southern gentleman - all of whom my life has become richer in character because of them.

My art has suffered as I've been on the run - not spending much time in art turf. One thing I've learned along the way is that you need to be selective who you share your art with. Sometimes your Creative Muse gets bruised (or is that your artistic ego?) and then the Inner Critic reemerges and says, "I told you so". Funny how we tend to believe the critics and people who ridicule or belittle our efforts and yet it's much more difficult to accept a compliment. So perhaps my art has suffered in ways because of this too. Intentional or not - let's be kind about our opinions of someone else's work. After all, beauty as in art, is in the eye of the beholder.

I'm telling myself this morning not to be afraid to get my hands dirty again, play with the paint on my fingers if that's what's calling to me, think outside the box and expand the process and don't be confined to the anal "you-are-childish wow-you-finger-paint-woo-that's-so-hard" attitude of others. Hey don't knock it if you haven't tried it! Not only does something as freeing as fingerpainting free your inhibitions, it makes for good therapy too! *smile*

So let's get out our paints, brushes, fingers and whatever else we choose and get on with our creative spirit. I'm yearning to color with crayons this morning - maybe I'll take a pack to work with me...

Happy Artful Day!