I'm in Heaven

The postwoman came to the door today because the mail included a package that was too large for the confines of the mail box. My first thought was that my books I had ordered from an artist book club had arrived. But that wasn't it.

I received a wonderful surprise in the mail today. Some time around Christmas, I commented on the blog Contemplating the Moon about a memory from my childhood and I was chosen as the winner of the book "1000 Artist Journal Pages". I had just checked out a similar book from the library, "1000 ATCs" and was confused at the time thinking that was the book I had won. And the ATC book was a very nice book. But, the journal pages..........I am in heaven. I started my first artist journal yesterday and was feeling quite like I wasn't artist enough to do it. This book has reinforced for me that there is no "wrong" way and that I am free to create however I want. I am so fired up to do today's entry.



Bridgette not only sent me the book as the prize I had won, but included a beautiful 4 x 4 stretched canvas original work of art. I have read so many times in others blogs how sharing and generous this artist community is and had experienced it in so many comments on my blog and well wishes to my email, but this is the first time someone has sent me something so serendipitous - I am deep in my mid-winter grey period and really needed a pick-me-up and this was just the ticket.



Also included in the package was a card with her original artwork on it. Such a wonderful way to start this day - and such a thoughtful gift. Thank you, Bridgette.




I am going to start playing with a two page spread in my art journal and get some of the background started now before my daughter goes to work at noon. I will be in charge of two little girls until bedtime and will not have all the time I would like, so this will be a good jump start on these pages. I feel as though I am writing in run-on sentences this entire post, but I am so energized by this unexpected gift.

And so I am off; don't forget to live in the moment.

Mini Vacation and More Art

Saturday morning DH and I threw some clothes in a bag and headed to the Leelanau Peninsula to stay the weekend with his brother. It was just what the doctor ordered. We spent the first evening on the beach and roasted hot dogs on a bonfire. We told jokes and he and his siblings talked about their remembrances from their childhood. It was an extremely pleasant evening.

On Sunday, we took the hosts out to breakfast and then they dropped me off at my brother's widow's house. She and I talked and cried and had a great visit. Then we walked the beach for awhile before she took me back.

While I was away I drew a few more faces in my face journal. I am quite pleased with two of them. One is a profile and the other is a 15/16 face. I think they really look like people, however, they are somewhat flat. I need to learn about shading to make them more realistic.



Before we left I worked some more on my canvas. I think I like it. I added another couple of layers of paint overlapping the girl and her background.

Current Art

I am currently working on several projects on canvas and am working on several ATC swaps. I find that I work best in large blocks of time. I generally forget to eat or do any of life's "necessities" when I am working.

These two are my first two canvases from my online class with Paulette Insall. The focus is on making organic backgrounds - layer, layer, layer. I am loving the class. If you are thinking about taking a class, this woman is really good at what she does. The class was very reasonably priced and has good quality videos weekly. There is also a chat once a week. The people in the class are friendly and supportive. I have found it to be a wonderful experience.

My "studio" is in serious need of cleaning and rearranging in order that I can find things easily and be more productive. It never stays ordered for long. By its very nature mixed media art is messy and the more you have at hand the more creative you can become. My pet peeve is thinking of just the perfect thing to use at a given moment when working on a project and not being able to put my hands on it quickly.


I am trying to keep an art journal, too. I find it difficult to keep up with it because I am so involved in my daily "written" journal that I started on the first of January. I have not missed a day yet and am determined to get through December 31. I think next year, I will incorporate art into my daily journal so that it is a log and an artistic journey.