quote

“What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress? Imagine that you are a Masterpiece unfolding every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath.” —Thomas Crum

I think these are wonderful words for artists, but imagine if we all lived this way.

Found this picture on FB and thought it worked perfectly with my quote. 

I love you to the moon

Fun little AJ page using gel medium in the inks.  It gives a really glossy texture.  Keeps the texture from being so flat.

quote

So I had this quote but wasn't sure how I wanted to use it.  Discussion on the PAO thread about mediums made me pull out my black gesso.  It gave the piece an almost chalkboard like texture where I could write the quote.  I like the black/white theme with a punch of color in the background.  I was very happy with the final page.

Ocean Pier

Here's a 6x10 watercolor of my favorite childhood pier, sadly no longer there.  I've submitted this for a PAO lottery challenge.  Some lucky winner gets to take all, sure hope it's me!!!

Life's A Beach

Here's the first version of this palm theme.  This is on an  8x10 canvas.  I used watercolor undercoating, acrylics, pan pastels, beads and shells I collected last summer.  Instead of using the Golden molding paste, I used Smart non-shrink wall fix from the hardware store.  It gives a different texture than the Golden molding paste which is smoother.  The wall fix is much rougher.  I like using both of these depending on what texture I an trying to achieve.  In "Palm at Sunset", I wanted a much smoother texture because I was using a smaller base.

Palm at Sunset

This palm is done on wood using shells I collected on the beach.  I used acrylics, pan pastels, Golden's molding paste and beads.  This is a second version on this theme.

quote

"Before you able to draw, you have to learn to see..."  Junelle Jacobsen

I've been running across this same sentiment lately.  I think there is great truth in this statement and can probably be interpreted in many ways.  I think most people can see the literal interpretation but I see more than the obvious when I create art.  I think that you have to feel your art, make it part of yourself.  What does your heart lead you to create.  What do you see that others don't see when you look at something.  I'm always thinking, even if subconsciously, how can I translate that into something artsy.  I look at things with a different eye than I used to.  

Yesterday, I saw a dead butterfly on the payment of a parking lot.  The first thing I thought of was how cool that would be in my art.  I looked at the colors in its wings and the shape and form of the butterfly.  I thought of how I could preserve it for use in art.  If I could have safely transported it home, I would have.  It kind of hurt my feelings to have to leave it.  But my point in this story is that most people would have only seen a dead butterfly.  For me it was art in the purest sense.

I know this is probably rambling, but this quote got me thinking and I just felt like sharing.