Braggin' Time

I've got to brag about Asher's painting that got 2nd place in the School ARt Show for the Kindergarten class unbeknownst to me. I just happened to be walking in the school to use the restroom and saw it on the wall!


This is also one of the paintings that I put in the art exhibit with mine this weekend. The other is a self portrait that I will share later.


So I had to get a 3x5 card ready with his name, name of the piece and media and I asked him what he called this painting and he said with a very serious tone "Caterpillar on Table". Makes sense to me :) Be still my heart... the nut doesn't fall too far from the tree ;)  sniff sniff...


Here's all I've done on Roses for the Dead... not too much but it's coming along.

Have a great weekend!

Abstract Sidewalk Art

Asher and I have just discovered the joys of sidewalk paint this past Saturday. We've played around with chalk before but this sidewalk paint, let me tell you! It just knocks sidewalk graffiti up a whole notch or two in my book. From what started as whining from Asher turned out to be the highlight of my day.

You see he just found a birthday present from way back in March that I've been pushing aside. Okay I was hiding it, I admit it. It just seemed like one of those kid things that was gonna be one big mess that I had to clean up then to add insult to injury, a nice scream fest to top it off. No thank you.

But since having found it a few days prior, he's been hounding me to get this stuff out. Now you all know, I'm all for creative play. But this was Saturday and I really hadn't planned on getting out of my robe for most or all of the day. Besides it was like 50 something degrees out there... ick.

But Asher managed to talk me into it. Code for: drove me nuts until I caved. So I annoyingly got my clothes on, all the while telling him that he could do it himself and that I was going to sit inside while he did it. He accepted, just thrilled to try out the new stuff. So I get him set up and show him what to do, it came with a roller and a brush, and I went back inside to do more lounging.

Well I started to feel a twinge of guilt since he is now in school and I really don't spend much time playing like that anymore with him. I looked out the window and he looked so cute slopping the paint and rolling away. Not only that, I started to get a little envious. He painted with abandon. Sloshing paint this way and that. What fun! So I went out there and asked him if I could join in. Happily, he said I could and then proceeded to tell me I could use the brush because he like the roller. Yippee! So it began.

mine is on the left and Asher's is on the right in case you can't tell ;)

Of course he was totally tired of it within 10 minutes, so I thought well I don't want to waste the paint that had already been poured out so I kept painting (about 30 minutes) and came up with what you see here. I still ended up having to clean it all up, but hey, it was well worth it.

Just so you know, it looks much prettier when sidewalk paint is wet. The dog trotted all over it, but it surprisingly dries fast. The cat couldn't care less. It's amazing the color combinations you can create with hot pink, blue and yellow... although it takes a little extra work. Also, I don't think it's gonna come off. Oy!

Paint Party Week 21

Sweet Summer Night

Week 21?! Holy Schzznics! I've missed a few. But I'm back in the saddle again. This is "Sweet Summer Night" another addition to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Sketchbooks project. This went in Kathy's book for the June installment. I just finished it last night, so I'm behind on the project too. Oh, if anyone is interested in seeing a bunch of the sketchbooks in one place, we have a Facebook page called Creative Sistahs. Come on over and like us ;)

School starts next Wednesday yippee!/boohoo - I'm having mixed feelings... Asher, my son, is going to all day Kindergarten but that means I will have more time to get things done. That also means no more snoozing until 10:30ish everyday and staying up until 2:30 am anymore. Ugh, that I won't like. Cause I've grown quite fond of a life of leisure. I can tell you one thing though, I won't be making any of that damn tomato sauce!

Happy PPF! Visit all the Uber-Creative people here ;)

Making kitty proof ornaments for our Christmas Tree

Star for top of Christmas Tree

Here are some pictures from our ornament making session last night. There was a lot of blood, sweat, tears and glitter glue. The star he's working on is for the top of the tree. We are in my very cramped studio. I still haven't gotten the larger room ready to turn into a studio. Actually, I'm taking over the whole upstairs and keeping this yellow room I'm going to call my "Drawing Studio" because I have a drafting table in it that was my dad's. I'll use the other room for mixed media maybe. I'm not sure yet. I don't know yet if it will even work, but we'll see. See my studio pictures here.

apparently it needed more glitter

Tada!

Well it got ugly before it ended but that's life with a four year old. He's in time out as I write this... haha...

We made more ornaments today and used yet even more glitter and put up the ornaments that had dried from last night. They won't win any contests but we had fun and the memories will last a lifetime, but the ornaments may not last the season with the kittens. I'll just have to take more pictures.

I thought no better the day to start this back up again. It may be sporadic, but oh well, it's here today :)

"This Artists Observations of the Day"

Feeling of the day: relieved (I don't have to get out in the cold!)

I'm grateful for: glitter glue

I am wearing: purple and blue

I thought about today: things I can do once the holidays are over (sheepish grin)

I miss: carefree living

Best thing I did today: Put up ornaments on Christmas tree that we made together

Today I visited: ArtsyShark - Own your identity as an artist

Creative Thoughts

I had to brag about my creative kid a little today. Here is his last painting and I'm starting to feel a little threatened. Ha ha, just kidding but wow. I'm even impressed. I'm not totally sure he is doing this on purpose because if I ask him which is his favorite color to make, he answers with the color mud. Oh well. He is having fun and I love it that he interested in expressing himself.

I really shouldn't be surprised though, because being around a preschooler all the time I've learned first hand at how super creative they are. No toys around? No problem... he'll play with what ever is there like a straw or a rock and makes up elaborate stories of their perils along with names and friends. It's hilarious and also very thought provoking. Even as I consider myself a creative person... I feel I have lost a lot of that natural wonder and exploring instinct that he now possesses. I listen intently as he plays and I feel honored when he wants me to join in his creative play. I'm taking notes. I'm determined to get back some of that early childlike wonderment back with him leading the way.

"This Artists Observations of the Day"

Feeling of the day: I feel cold today, but my heart is warm

I'm grateful for: dreams

I thought about today: like minds

I miss: the smell of cut grass

Best thing I did today: play fix the bus with Asher

Today I visited: http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com you should visit her fun, thoughtful and creative blog. She also has a great Etsy shop.

Fun Snowy Monday

Lover's

Today I took Asher up to paint in my studio for the very first time. He was so excited to sit up there with me to work and he squealed with joy. First, I let him get used to the space and table with crayons and paper and just to see if he would lose interest. But he stayed fairly interested, when he did want to get down and start going through my stuff I had to divert his attention while I try to get a little something done myself. I looked everywhere for a cheap set of watercolors in the little ovals and couldn't find one, so I thought how much of a mess could some acrylics be. I started off with giving him an old brush and red, yellow and blue and a couple of directions and off he went! I was pretty impressed for his first time of painting. Look at his form! haha... maybe I have a little Rembrandt in the making here.
He had great fun and now in the future maybe I can get in my studio before 11pm to create some stuff of my own.

Up at the top is what I got done today. I call it "Lovers". I've been in the Valentine's Day mood lately and came up with this little ACEO. It's done with watercolor pencils and ink. I think I'll post it on Etsy when I have a handful of Valentine projects to post at once. I like it when I see other artists post their work in progress, so I did it too.

We got the most beautiful snow today in the form of a "clipper". Giant, fluffy snowflakes falling straight down then turning to a fine snow rather quickly. It didn't last for long, but it was a sight to see for the 30 or so minutes it lasted. This is a view from my kitchen. The roof you see is my greenhouse and further out is our lake. You can see the empty bird feeder on the Black Walnut tree waiting for more seed. Those birds have been hungry this week and looking in my windows as if to say, "Hey lady! Get out here and feed us!"