“People may know your name, they do not know your story….” saw this quote today and it really spoke to me. Especially the part about taking people’s opinion of you with a grain of salt. Do what’s best for you. Not for everyone else. Yes! It’s taken me many many years but I think I am finally wise enough to know to take people’s opinion of me with a grain of salt. But I do need a reminder every now and then😂

A mixed media page with collage, stenciling with modeling paste, doodling with ink, acrylic paint, washi tape and sewing…

I had most interesting nature art experience today with Shay Wilson Art. We created art with no art supplies except what we can find in the park. I started trying to make a mandala.

But I soon realized that there is so much beauty in the nature around me. All I wanted to do was to accent the beauty with these porcupine looking things I found, to bring attention to nature’s beauty. Here are some of the pieces I found and accented.

Felt like a kid again picking up sticks and leaves and digging with my fingers.

This page is inspired by the childlike experience I had today. May we never lose our childlike wonder… and I promise myself I will do this more often, get out and explore, be a kid again.

It was also amazing to see what the other participants made. I love how we all approach this so differently. The diversity of art was inspiring.

There was a nut house

A nest

A wreath

And a few other zen pieces

Get out there and be a kid again!!!!

Stressful week. Painted her to relief stress. Think she look stressed too😂 she looks like she is trying to tell me something… not sure what it is yet…one day I will hear it… today I will just be thankful for art to help relax and relief stress…

Hello 2019. I am ready for you. I am ready to jump in, go beyond my comfort zone, learn, feel, live, love, laugh. Life is unpredictable. I will make the most of this one precious life I have.

LIVE LOVE LAUGH

As I looked through my art posts for 2018, I realized that this has been a year of branching out for me. I ventured beyond my comfort zone faces, and ventured into figure drawing , figure painting, painting animals, experimenting with colors and even tried painting 2 figures entwined in an embrace. Continued to play in my art journal and fell in love with a new medium pyrography. It has been a good year. Will continue to venture into new unknown territories while building on my faves… color and faces. Thank you all for your encouragement and support. May 2019 be a fruitful year for you too!

Smile. It is good for you. It’s free! And the world needs more of that.

Woke up with a migraine. Decided to do some sketching. It relaxes me. Saw this photo of this adorable old man on Pinterest. He made me smile the whole time I am sketching it.

Migraine gone!!!!

Smile. 😃😃😃

Mistakes, we all make mistakes. Part of growing and learning. But as Bob Ross like to say, they are not mistakes, just happy little accidents. I made one today with the accidental blob of black paint next to her hair. So many people provided suggestions on how to work with this. Thank you! Decided to listen to some of the suggestions, and used it to make a starry night background. You can’t even see the blob now. And it gave her the background she needs. A starry night where she is looking to what the future may hold.

I burned wood!!!! Yes I did! Decided to try a new form of art. Wood burning. Wasn’t easy at first, you can see my progression from the one at the top to the eyes at the bottom. Still a lot to learn but so proud that I made something by burning wood!!! The smell of burning wood is soooooo good!!! Given how much of a klutz I am, hope I don’t burn myself or things around me🤣 now to learn how to shade….

Saw a photo of Meryl Streep and it really intrigued me. The lines on her face, her slight frown,… it’s a face that has a story to tell. As I paint this face, I wonder what her story is, why is she frowning, … and I admire how gracefully she ages. Wonder if I would be so kind to myself when I see lines on my face….

Watercolor painting

Sometimes you just need to start over. And on better paper… I painted the second lady on a weird paper pad from strathmore. Really did not like what I saw and could not fix her. Decided to start over on another paper pad. This time so much better. Sometimes it is good to let it go and start over. Like in art and in life. Watercolor and collage for her blouse.