Another one........I've been busy

A few months back I was out on a noon time walk and stopped to get a closer look at red tip yuccas that grow everywhere here in our area.  They have these funky sort of pods which in my imagination kind of morphed in to the pod shapes you've seen from me lately.  Those shapes really speak to me......so here is yet another installment of the sacred and mysterious pods....

Not yet complete......I think....

acrylic and ink on 16 x 16 canvas board

Ok, I think this is it

But I really value your feedback, so please leave a comment.  Or if you don't want to leave art feedback that is ok, just leave a comment anyway.....I'd sure like to hear from you.....

This one was fun................

This was fun, I've made a few tweaks since this photo was taken earlier today.  Will follow up with the next version.

Today I sat down in the studio and just painted.  Didn't over think.  Didn't ruminate.  Just relaxed and let it flow.  What a pleasure......I'm wanting to get into that grove more often....working on it. 

16 x 16 acrylic on canvas board

Acrylic Abstract ! This Is It For Now

For now I feel a sense of completion with this one.  I'm going to set it aside and see if it talks to me.....

I seem to be on a roll....so started this one.  I'm officially calling it "throw everything at it and see what happens".......not a huge success (in my opinion, but what do I know?).  Tell me what you think.....

Not so sure about this yet....

I may eventually have to give up on this one........new technique that I'm liking.  Maybe I just need to spend some more time with it. Please excuse the not so great photo.  I did it quick with my phone this morning as I left for work. There is quite a glare on it......hate that.

 

and here is how it looked when I started 

Golden Open Acrylic Paint Is Wonderful !!!

At Julie and Chris' urging I purchased a couple of tubes of Golden Open paint and some Open medium.  There is a bit of a learning curve, but I do love this stuff.....

Fun With Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen

Julie and Chris, those two gals run a mighty fine online painting workshop. 

I go through moments of procrastination, challenge, hope, anxiety and joy.  Hard to believe that painting can be such a complete and total emotional roller coaster ride for me.....oh yea, did I mention anger, angst, resignation, more hope and joy......

and then, of course, no post would be complete without a quick pic of the ever wonderful Miss Iris.....check out those teeth !!!!

Prayer Flag #1 - Apifera Farm

Here is my first installment on the prayer flag project.  My grand daughter Iris is here with me today.  I took a day off from work to have some time with her before school starts. First grade came so fast !

Apifera Farm is located in Oregon and Katherine Dunn and Pino the Donkey are the ring leaders of a bunch of wonderful characters and one sweet man.  If you've never been to Apifera Farm you don't know what you're missing.  Find Katherine and Pino here .

You can find out more about the Prayer Flag Project

here.

Where are you headed?

click to enlarge

 H. Cordova

It is my pleasure to introduce Mr. Cordova, I first found him at an art show 11 years ago when I had just moved to New Mexico.

What a charming and talented man. His work echoes pre-historic themes, animal shaman figures, clay earth maidens, pueblo-style masks and so much more, it is hard to quantify in just words.  I love each and every piece I see.  Heck, as I told him this weekend, "jeez, I'd be happy with your castoffs"!

This weekend I was so delighted to have once again found Mr. Cordova on the contemporary art avenue at the Spanish Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I so interested to also learn that he raises quarter horses.  People take interesting roads through life and I am always fascinated to find such rich diversity and genuine sincerity in people I meet at art shows.  

Love his art. Oh yeah, I already said that didn't I?

I bought a great piece for my home and will post that soon.  In the meantime I'll be thinking of the roads Mr. Cordova walks, the interesting glint of discovery in his smile and continue to visualize what my roads might be......how about you?  Which roads are yours?

Mr. Cordova can also be found online here. 

Paula

who'd-a-thought

Who'd - a - thought

a simple word

a moment of notice

could make one feel as 

though there could be

a friend in the world.....

who'd - a - thought

lots of art coming your way

later this weekend

tomorrow is 

Spanish Market in Santa Fe

time out to visit with friends

after that, look out world

Hope your weekend is good

The Prayer Flag Project: How To Join

The Prayer Flag Project: How To Join: "The Prayer Flag Project... Join us, if you'd like. I am looking for artists to participate in this project. The process is simple: Ju..."

The perfect Saturday

Burgers, beers and my honey in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. 

A life of it's own

I love how once I  get started the painting takes on a life of it's own.

I was six once and oh so creative !!!!

What are your earliest memories of creativity?  How old were you?  What was the triggering event, person, whatever?

So this box above originally housed a block of Velveeta cheese (man cave cooking at his finest).  I nearly threw it out.  But as my fingers touched the cardboard it was a flood of memories that met me.  All the way back to probably around six years old.  I remember being at my grandmothers house (I lived with her about 3/4 time) and holding an empty oatmeal box.  You know the one with that cheerful man on the front!  Oh that box was so cool and I can remember thinking that there MUST be some really rockin' thing I could do with that box.  Wow, a blast of memory about creativity......There was  a lot of fertile ground in me back then......

So.  I'm not going to throw this box out.  I don't know if I'll actually do something with it or not, but I do know that it will occupy a special place in my studio as a reminder that I am creative and fertile and full of possibility.

What about you?  I'd love to hear about your creative beginnings.

Oh to be six again!

When was the last time you got such  a cute easter basket.   My granddaughter Iris is six, I think she'll be a happy girl.  A bike bell, butterfly bath fizzie, sunglasses, hello kitty pez, barbie toothbrush, and of course chocolate!  I used tulle instead of that grass that the cat eats and throws up in front of the dinner guests.  Instead there will be glitter everywhere...a reasonable trade off don't you think?

The garden is in full on grow mode.  I noticed barn swallows for the first time yesterday. Even the little lizards are out and around.

How goes it in your world?

The AV PowerShopper

My friend Annette Vallejos makes these really cool little clutches.  There is a place for a cell phone, cards, cash. We've been calling it the PowerShopper. No more dragging the purse around! You can bet I will be logging some serious miles with this little baby!


Back to Annette, she's the most industrious person I know.  Aside from making tons of cool stuff her main focus is jewelry made from colored pencils.  They seem to be pretty popular.  You should go on over to her website and check her out !!

Today is the day to say YES !!!!!

This is the new workshop and I will be saving my pennies to sign up to attend. Hope to see you there!

Watch "Pixels and Paint Promotional Video.mov" on YouTube

Omg, how cool is this!

Watch "Win Online Workshops For Life.mov" on YouTube

Name this painting....

Now for the biggest challenge of all, naming the painting.