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.