With Forgiveness, Her Heart Blooms

With Forgiveness, Her Heart Blooms. Original (SOLD).
Prints available in my etsy shop.

"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun." -Katharine Hepburn

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Sometimes a painting takes so many layers before I can pull out the character and find their personality and scene. 

Other times, things fall right into place. But usually that only happens when I'm staying within my comfort zone.

So this painting was a surprise to not only uncover a new style for me, using new techniques, but also to have all of the pieces fit together perfectly by following my instincts.

With Forgiveness, Her Heart Blooms. Original (SOLD).
Prints available in my etsy shop.

When I painted this piece, I'd been painting a lot of owls and girls. 

I was painting a lot, every day, which always helps me know just what supplies and techniques I'm most loving. From there, I can experiment and try new things.

I'd been playing a lot with watercolors and painted pages, so those papers make up the orbs in the sky along with much of her body. Then I added layers of printed tissue papers.

Next I began to define her face. And that's when the character fell into place. I saw her expression in the india ink and oil paint stick marks and once her posture had been defined, her body came into view. 

From there she got her story...  

Travelling lightly, she stops nightly to grow roots, knowing that WITH FORGIVENESS, HER HEART SURVIVES AND BLOOMS.

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ps. Class is in session, but you can still register any time.

Find all of the Details and REGISTER for any of my online classes HERE.

Dream Catcher- a New Painting

Dream Catcher. Original (SOLD).
Prints available in my etsy shop.

"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." -Michelangelo 

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Lately, I just can't stop painting dream catchers and rainbows.

It all started with this patterned tissue paper I picked up at a boutique in Florida. I fell in love with the circular patterns... they reminded me of mandalas.

And from there a series of dream catcher girls was born. 

These days my paintings seem to have so many layers and layers. 

That always happens whenever I am uncovering something new in my artwork and pulling out a deeper part of myself. But with my latest paintings, all of these layers mean trying to find a new character that fits what I intend to express. 

And while I think that means a bear, a lion or a Snooter, I always seem to end up uncovering a dream catcher girl. 

Dream Catcher. Original (SOLD).
Prints available in my etsy shop.

I'm feeling much like a sculptor, carving and etching into paint and layers of inks, papers and oils to get to the face of my character.

At so many stages I feel my character is terrible and so ugly. All I want to do is cover it up completely. But in studying my creative process, I've learned I so often feel this way, especially when I'm about to uncover something new that takes me to another level. 

So I'm moving slow and letting the character come out of the paint.

And when I find it, I know. From there it's like my hands are held back. I cannot make another mark.

That's how this girl got her story...

With determination and faith, she travels the universe, searching for all her heart's desires, knowing she will catch her dreams.

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ps. I'm sending out my newsletter soon-ish with lots of new artwork and a new desktop background for you. 

Sign up here if you'd like to see it in your inbox.

TRUST IN THE MOONLIGHT- a New Painting

Trust In The Moonlight. 11x14" on Canvas Board. Original Available Here.
Prints available in my etsy shop.

"Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain." 

-Joseph Campbell

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I love painting owls because they help me to get back into my comfort zone whenever I get frustrated with creating something new. In that way, I find my creative flow again and start experimenting with new supplies, characters, and techniques.

This is one of the owls I share from start to finish in my new online class HOW TO PAINT AN OWL 2.

For this piece, I really played with layering different art supplies.

I dug deep into my supply closets and pulled out lots of favorite things that I hadn't used in a while... origami papers, oil pastels, and chalk.

From there, I had fun building up all of the colors and layers.

Trust In The Moonlight. 11x14" on Canvas Board. Original Available Here.
Prints available in my etsy shop.

With the moonlight as her guide, she flies, trusting she will find her heart in the in between spaces.

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxo, 

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ps. Register at any time. Payment plans are always welcome

Find all of the Details Here.

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pps. My lovely friend Louise Gale is hosting a new online color workshop. Early bird sale ends June 2, 2013.

Find all of the details here.

CAPTURE THE STARS- a New Owl Painting

Capture the Stars. Original SOLD.
Prints available in my etsy shop.

Lately I've been thinking about keeping everything simple. So I felt inspired to create a simple black and white owl.

This is one of the owl projects I share in HOW TO PAINT AN OWL 2. 

I just love painting on these wood plaques with beveled edges. I usually find them at craft stores in various sizes and add a sawtooth hanger on the back. 

I delight in painting on anything where the painting can curve around the sides and be admired from all angles.  

Capture the Stars. Original SOLD.
Prints available in my etsy shop.

For this painting, I went back to layering some of my favorite art supplies like origami papers, pencils and paint markers.

And from there, this white owl fell into place and got its story...

While flying around the world, experiencing as much as she can, this owl has learned it is possible to CAPTURE THE STARS

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ps. Class is in session. Register at any time and payment plans are always welcome.

Find all of the Details Here.

7 Things That Are Making Me Smile

Happy cats,

showers of flowers,

first sprouts,

perfect espressos,

teabags that resemble owls,

brunch,

and tomato, mozzarella and basil lunches.

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ps. Class is in session... register at any time and payment plans are always welcome.

Find all of the Details Here.

New Artwork From the Class Galleries

Peace In Dreaming. Prints available in my etsy shop.

Well, I was all set to write a post, sharing artwork from my newest online class HOW TO PAINT AN OWL 2. 

And then I found myself browsing our class facebook page and gushing at so many incredible paintings that had been posted by students in all of my classes. 

So, I just had to share those too!

It means more than I can ever express to see all of the artwork created during my classes and to hear just how much you are having fun with it all! Thank YOU!

Here are a few recent pieces from the galleries...

Sandy Box

Sallianne Norelli

Peggy McDevitt

Marti Willis

Linda Clark

Linda Clark

Kelly Heggem

Kelly Gau

Katja Ehrenborg

Katja Ehrenborg

Donna Lange

Donna Lange

CherylAnn Robinson

CherylAnn Robinson

Cherie Richter

Catherine Dennis Harris

Ann-Margaret Arnold

Beverley Dyer

Kay Burnett

Kim Smith

Kim Smith

Thank you for taking chances and for following your hearts!

I am so incredibly grateful to be able to share my artwork and paintings with all of you. 

Thank you, always, for your incredible support and kindness. 

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ps. See more artwork from HOW TO CREATE WHIMSICAL ANIMALS here.

pps. See artwork and read testimonials for my other online classes here.

pps. If you're interested in painting together in person... check out the Sugar and Spice Art Retreat (where I'll be teaching in June 2013 with Mindy Lacefiled and Danielle Daniel) and the Lucky Star Art Camp (where I'll be teaching near Austin, TX in October 2013).