Adventures in Pretty

An Artist and Her Flowers

Yesterday I went out into the rain with my scissors and cut some of the spring flowers blooming in the garden. I love fresh flowers-they emit a glow of color that just doesn't come from anything else. Silky, sometimes translucent, shimmery petals. Knowing they won't be with me long-I grabbed my camera to record their sheer exuberance.

This is a great way to start your creative time-pick anything that visually intrigues you. Take as many different photos of it as you can think of. Stretch your imagination and pretend... now how would Georgia O'Keefe see this? Dr. Seuss? a butterfly? a beetle?

Look at your subject so long that your brain ceases its naming habit,"Yup, that thar there you be lookin' at is a tulip" and instead it just start reeling with half grasped impressions, "Little fragments of black dust, archways of red, ripples of golden sunshine, bold pillars of caterpillar green, glowing bits of periwinkle nuggets." Change from composing objects to interesting ways to break up space. Make "bad" pictures-too close, too blurry, backlit, cut in half by the frame. 

So from this:

I got these:

Here are some of my favorites:

Good Friends

Kitchen overtaken by Giant Tulip

 
Peek-a-boo! 

From my garden to yours... Happy Spring!

Spring Inspiration

As sometimes happens, I found myself awake in the middle of the night. So of course I wandered into my studio, sat down, and began painting. When we last left our mailbox caper, the tree had a nest, but no leaves. Which ironically is exactly what is happening outside. Our spring is a month late, and I've seen baby ducks down at Green Lake already, but most of the trees are just beginning to show a hint of green from their tiny, just opening, leaves. Perhaps by putting leaves on the mailbox tree, I can encourage things outside to get going! : )

First I loosely painted in the leaves with orange tones. I wanted hints of color to pop through the final leaves.

I  had fun painting all the leaves. I added the love birds last. I can hear the birds singing right now and it is one of the most optimistic and joyful sounds I know. 

I went to Anthropologie for some inspiration last week. As usual, I asked if I could take photos and was given the green light. It was bright and cheery inside in contrast to the gray drizzle outside. I love all the different bird and butterfly motifs!

On Saturday I taught, The Happy Medium. We incorporated different acrylic mediums to create a mixed media collages. Everyone made amazing pieces which I'll share soon.

Michele Storm who took two classes with me has posted some of her work on her blog. Thanks for sharing Michele!

On Sunday, I did a free demo on Travel Art Journaling. Kym Stromburg was there and shared her take on it on her blog. Thanks Kym!  My friend Jill Berry gave me a great surprise by showing up for my demo too. I figured she'd be exhausted from Artfest, but no! She has a great book coming out at the end of this year. Can't wait to see it.

If I could I'd send you a basket full of your favorite art supplies, 2 weeks free of any commitments, and your favorite dessert! Now doesn't that sound like a good thing? Happy Creating!