RED HOT POKERS !!!!

A driveway along Rio Grande Blvd.
Albuquerque, NM
Paula's photo - 2007

Some folks here call these fire lilies. I've always known them as Red Hot Pokers. I planted a few last year and then promptly drowned them. This year I started over with three and so far they are looking mighty fine. We'll see.

I always make a point of going down this street to admire this driveway lined with such a fabulous display.

I've been vacationing this week. Well sort of. I took the week off from work and have been enjoying my garden, hanging out at home, puttering about.......my favorite pass time.

Made my first ever abstract painting. My husband isn't wild about it. He wouldn't say he didn't like it, but hey, I can tell. I happen to think it is pretty cool and I felt a lot of satisfaction while making it. Somehow I just felt settled and comfortable when working on it. I'll post it in a day or two for you all to comment on.

Oh and after what must be 2-3 years, I dug out the bag of gourds I've been hoarding. I hope you'll like what I did with them !!!! Stop by tomorrow !!! I'll show you !

acrylic and pen on bristol

4 x 6 postcard - 2007

Sometimes you've just got to fly.

I can't imagine a world without birds, can you? I live in a very arid part of the country however my immediate neighborhood is a bit of an oasis and the birds are abundant.

Once again this year we have a Barn Swallow couple getting things ready for their new family. Hummingbirds are checking out the yard and sipping at the feeder since there aren't an abundance of flowers just yet. The Rosy Finch guys sit on top of the hummingbird feeder, looking perplexed and asking one another how to get to that juicy red nectar.

Summer is upon us. 91 degrees here today.

Get out and get some fresh air and sunshine !!!

MY STUDIO IS IN FULL BLOOM !!

African Violets next to my studio worktable.
Paula ~ New Mexico ~ May 2008

They say it is good to have fresh flowers and/or plants near your workspace. At least I think I heard that some where once......hmmmmmmmm.

Well anyway, 31 years ago I had beautiful African Violets in my new little baby boy's bedroom. That was where the light was best and I was happiest.

I'd not had them again until just this past year.
Why did I wait so long? A very long story.

These are simply beautiful and bring me such joy when I'm at my work table. Just outside the window is what promises to be a bumper crop of Roma tomatoes........hopefully destined to be the best pizza sauce to ever occupy my happy little freezer. I make killer pizza and we love that sauce.

Guess I'm having a bit of a rambling sort of day. It is Friday and I'm thrilled the weekend is here.

We've had a couple of cool rainy days. Just before it rained I'd been out in the garden feeding all my little flower babies. With sunny days this weekend, I'm guessing my garden is going to kick into full speed ahead growing. Thrilling !!!!!!!!

I've more new art to post so check back next week for that.

In the meantime, drop me a comment. I'd love to hear about what's going on in your neck of the woods.

MORE ON "THE ROAD"

Paula's Photo
New Mexico - 2008

I'm 55 years old. More and more these days I find myself reflecting on "the road". What lies in store for me over the coming years. I don't feel older but I sure see it staring back at me in the bathroom mirror. I'm not prepared for retirement. Don't want to end up a "bag lady" out on the street collecting odds and ends, living moment to moment. In the end we all arrive at the same gateway. I guess it's not so much how we got there that matters, but I sure do think about it alot more than I did in previous years.

CROSSES ON THE ROAD OF LIFE

CROSSES ON THE ROAD OF LIFE
Mail art send to Randi Fuerhelm-Watts
4x6 - acrylic and ink on card stock

Imagine yourself floating above the ground.
On a cloudless clear blue-sky kind of day.

Below all you see are green fields,
they stretch on forever.

Breaking the green like a parting of the seas
is a long stretch of highway
and
all around stand crosses.
Like those little mileage dots on the road map.

The crosses are markers on your road of life.

Crosses you bear.
Crosses marking the spot of great personal discovery.
Crosses honoring special moments,
deep agony, joy, pain, sorrow and ecstasy.

Make today the day you acknowledge and honor your crosses.
They all played a part in what got
you to this moment.

Honor yourself today.

ELEMENTS OF LOVE - ll

ANOTHER WORK IN PROGRESS


PEEK # 1 ~ ~ ~
PEEK # 2 ~ TAKING SHAPE

PEEK # 3 ~ GETTING THERE

STILL NOT SURE THIS IS COMPLETE !
STAY TUNED FOR MORE.........

THE ART OF EVERYDAY LIFE

I took this photo along a back road in northern New Mexico. I think near Penasco. It strikes me as wonderful that someone who built this rather ordinary barn would take the time to insert a wagon wheel up near the roof. I think it is lovely if not a bit quirky actually. Imagine the time and trouble it took to get that wheel inserted way up there!!!

Art as a valuable component of life isn't all that unusual ~ if you seize the opportunity to embrace it.

Look around. Where is there art in your life? Allow the door to open, step into those new ruby red slippers and await the wonder that art and life delivers to your awareness each and every moment. Take a moment to tell me about it.....I love hearing from you, sweet blog friends.

Have a great day.

THE ART OF BIRDS INFLIGHT

A happy bird today.

The birds are back. Just like clockwork, the days have warmed, the trees are greening and every morning I have a serenade of birds.

We live in a very arid part of the country. The American Southwest is known for it's hight desert horizons and blazing sunsets. And yes it is beautiful in that way. I love it. However our little neighborhood is like an oasis. Lots of vegetation and trees so the birds are naturally attracted to the area.

Sometime I wish I could freeze them in flight so I can get a better look at how to draw them. Yeah, I know, I could get a book with lots of pictures of birds but somehow there isn't as much joy in that idea. So I'll keep sitting out on my back patio, enjoying the birds.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Recently I did a day on Canyon Road in Santa Fe. Living so close to one of the great art centers in the world just begs a visit on an occasional basis. I had a great time.

In one of the first stops I saw a beautiful painting. One lonely tree with a serene far-off horizon. I thought it was so lovely. By the end of the day, any many galleries later, there was more than a pattern arising. If I saw one "serene lonely tree" painting, I must have seen 50 !!!!!! So much for the ideal of artists not ripping off one another's ideas !

So that said, I decided it was time for me to do the tree thing as well (click on the photo to get a larger image). Mine is kind of tongue-in-cheek and to quote that guy "Bob Ross" that one tree needed A LITTLE FRIEND !!!! My husband gets up at the crack of dawn on Saturday and turns on PBS to watch Bob Ross. Surely you know that guy. My husband is forever imitating Bob Ross by referring to something that needs a little friend. According to my husband, Bob Ross says that a lot.

So anyway, here is my tongue-in-cheek "lonely tree" painting with a couple of little friends. It is a work in progress, not finished yet. I have no idea where this will go. Got any ideas to pass on??????? Sometimes my ideas need "little friends" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'D RATHER BE IN THE STUDIO

I think the title of this book says it all. Of course, I'd rather be in the studio.

I just got this book a few days ago. Being an artist with not much marketing experience (because I haven't bothered), this has helped me to realize that I need to get more proactive about my business.

I'm currently getting the finishing touches on a web page (thanks to dear sweet husband). I've settled on a coordinated design for my business cards and will soon have those ready to go as well. I'm needing some postcards. I would like to avoid the printer route since I don't have a lot in the way of funds to have a run printed. The postcards I find at Office Depot are really inferior quality. I have a really great printer and know they will print nicely if only I can come up with the paper stock. Anyone out there have a resource?

Oh yeah, back to the book. What I particularly like about this book is Alyson's general guidelines for the artist's statement. I've been avoiding that activity and I know I need to do it. I will use the prompts in this book. They will get me off my flabby backside and get writing.

I also like the Conversations Exercise found on page 46. "In a nutshell, the Conversations exercise provides a format for you to engage in a discussion about your art with someone (anyone!). " This really got me to thinking about my art. I'm excited to give this a whirl. I'm wondering SAN and ANNIE ~ maybe you two would be willing participants (I'll write more about this exercise later).

Well...........the day job beckons, so I'm outta here. Have a great day, everyone ! And don't forget to leave a comment !!!!!!! I get lonesome when I don't hear from you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Artist book-a-holic

Do you acquire a lot of books? I call myself a book-a-holic. If you looked at my shelves you wouldn't think that. I've managed to keep the acquisitions at bay. One good way to do that is by using the local library. What a great way to practice abundance!!!! You can pick up a ton of books and it won't cost you a thing!!! Once I donated, oh probably 500 books to the Taos library. For the rest of the time that I lived in that charming community, I'd go to the library and see my donations on the shelves. They've since moved into a new and spiffy location and I've moved away, but back then it was kind of fun.

I love books of most kinds. Presently I'm picking up more and more books related to art. I love to learn about the lives of the great masters, techniques, styles, creativity and art marketing. Sometimes it is refreshing to step back from whatever I'm up-to-my-elbows in and just page through a book. If it doesn't have pictures then my attention span will diminish quickly. I'm a picture kind of gal. Check back soon and I'll clue you in to some of my current faves from the art book shelf.

In the meantime, get out there and have some fun. It's Spring and I don't know about you but it is a beautiful day here in New Mexico !!

ARE ARTISTS MORE HAPPY IN SPRING????

Paula's photo of a garden along
Canyon Road, Santa Fe New Mexico

Everyone one I know.
Everywhere I go.
I hear people going on and on about Spring !

You'd think it was some big, wild and crazy happening !!!

Well folks, NEWS FLASH!!!!! It is!


Imagine the delight in the artist's
mind as images begin
to take on new color,
new vibrancy,
new life.

Moments forever marked
on canvas.

Oil, acrylic, pastel.
It matters not.

Inspiration has found a new birth,
and it be SPRING.

PAINTING, LAYERS OF PAPER, MORE PAINT, MORE PAPER, WHERE DOES IT ALL END????

I think I may put those wings back into it though.
I liked them.

I'm sure you've never put yourself through this,
have you?????

WHAT WAS I THINKING !!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, this painting is officially stalking me.
It started out like this............

I actually liked the windows with the washed out words.
I had a lot of fun working on the wings, painting on the acrylic and
glazing and working on the details.......yes, I really did like those wings.

But then when I stood back and looked at it, I was horrified !

What is that big blob of glazed white in the middle?
What? You're asking me?
How in world do I answer a question like that !

Even I don't know .....

I'm still not sure where this is going,
I guess I'll have to wait,
just like all of you.

Stay tuned !

OIL PAINTINGS, GALLERYS, SANTA FE

Ground Zero. Santa Fe ~ the "big kids" art world.

Amazing how I can walk out my little suburban house, get in my car and in less than one hour be at Ground Zero for the art world.

Yesterday my husband and I did just that.

A day spent on Canyon Road in Santa Fe can be simply amazing.


Some of the pieces are not particularly my cup of tea but one has to admit that the technical expertise, the feeling, the light, the sheer awesome beauty of truly wonderful art is an experience that rivals many others.

Artists like Ed Mell, Betsy Bauer, Melinda Hall, Robert Daughters.

In the end I come home over stimulated. Unable to sleep. Images swimming through my brain.
If I could rub the magic lantern and ask the genie for three wishes, I think that "being able to paint like the big kids" would be one of the three.

I'm sure they all started out somewhere just like me.

CREATIVITY, PAINTING, ACRYLICS AND HAIRCUTS

Lately, feeling in a bit of a rut. Looking at the work of other painters, acrylic, encaustic, collage. It is easy to see other's work as "creative" and then look at my own and see "less than".

My husband is such a champion for me. He's my lover, my mentor, my coach, my best friend and business partner. He said things that truly hit my heart and reminded me that painting is what I do, I am unique, I have a passion for painting and there is nothing wrong with digressing down the encaustic road.

And to Annie who commented yesterday, you are absolutely right! I do always paint straight from my heart.

I'm going to go ahead and take the encaustic workshop. What a great opportunity to meet some new people, try some new moves out on my brain and get a breath of fresh air.

"Breath of fresh air" ~ ha !! Reminds me of a man I once worked for who called it "blowing off the stink" !!!!!!!!!!!!

So what does all this have to do with a haircut? Yesterday by the time I got off work at 4pm , I was desperate to get rid of what felt like my dowdy haircut. I took a leap of faith (every haircut is, really) and stopped at one of those $10 clip joints at the shopping center. Wow, I got a really cut haircut! Layers, whispy and light. Like a burst of new energy and creativity.

Feels wonderful and I'm ready to get back in the studio and paint !!!!!!!

I hope your day is great and, Annie thanks for the reality check. Smooch

Oh and I hate making posts without an image, so here is a little eye candy !!!!

Paula's Photo

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Cuba, New Mexico
2007

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

How many of you artists out there stick to just one style. Say for instance, all birds, all abstract, portraits only, landscapes only?

I struggle with wanting to visit around with different techniques and styles. But if I do this, is it at the expense of professional branding? The majority of my art revolves around mixed media on canvas. Recently I've become aware of an encaustic workshop and would love to learn this technique.

From a business standpoint I understand how important it is to focus on the product, the branding, the marketing. Staying clear in the eye of your audience. What does that do to creativity though? Being someone who is always curious about the creative process yet needing to stay marketable, where is the balance achieved? Is there ever a balance?

Ideas? Suggestions? Thoughts on the matter? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET

CESTANDREA AND MISS DOODLE MAKE MY DAY

I was thrilled to learn that I was the lucky winner in the drawing over at Cest Andrea !

So running home every day to check my mail box and finally it arrived ! I received the most wonderful earrings (an image that holds much significance for me) and a Miss Doodle painting which now graces my desk !!!!

Thank you so much for such a lovely gift. This means so very much to me!

Thanks again.

DOES YOUR ART REFLECT YOUR LIFE?

Plaza Dog Turns 55
12 x 12 x 2 gallery wrap canvas
mixed media
$250

Does your art reflect your life? Do you employ stream of conscience technique in your creative lineup?

This piece was a fascinating process for me. I started out just laying down paper, paint, ink, and once finished I stepped back and thought, oh my gosh, this says so much.

I have never thought of my work as self illuminating.

Lately I've been just sitting down and letting myself wander. The results are interesting and quite unpredictable.

What is your process like? I'd really like to know how you go about your work, your art, your life ~ what drives creativity? What motivates us to do what we do? Whether it is painting, writing, or cooking..................