Feeling Like Alice...

"Because it feels like I have just woke up

In a world where down is up

And up is a long way from here..."

Lisa Mitchell, Alice in Wonderland

This just about sums up how I've been feeling lately: upside down! Can't seem to get it together no matter what I do. So I painted a girl with her head all messed up; just like me.  ;-) Actually, I do sit with my head tilted like this a lot. Hmmm... could explain a few things. 

Anyway, this is my entry for Paint Party Friday. I was also inspired by the song Alice in Wonderland, by Lisa Mitchell. I've included that as well. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I'm off to visit your blogs now! It may take me a few days but I intend to get to you all. Big HUGS!! 

Journey

"...But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn 

through the sheets of clouds, 

and there was a new voice

which you slowly 

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper 

into the world."

from The Journey, by Mary Oliver

I've been inspired by that poem before in my art. It fell out of a folder as I was trying to clean up my studio. LOVE this particular part! I'm also getting ready for another trip back to Ohio in two weeks to visit my friends again before the weather turns bad. This one will be good timing; my sister's birthday will fall during that week. So I'm really looking forward to seeing her again. 

I was playing with some new watercolors and came up with this. Watercolors are not my thing but I have some in my supplies and and am giving them a try during Jane Davenport's class. I figured what the heck.  :-)

However, I did add acrylics in her face. Couldn't help myself...

Hope you all have a wonderful week! I'm working on something I hope to have finished in time for Paint Party Friday. We shall see...

Circus Girl

I'm back from vacation and slowly getting settled into my routine. I had a fantastic time visiting with my friends and just soaking up all the fun in my hometown. Of course the time went too fast and I was sad to leave (as always). I'm planning another trip in November so that will keep my spirits up.

Katie Kendrick's class has ended and I really enjoyed it! She's a wonderful teacher and I'm eagerly awaiting her book that is coming out in January (I think). This is a mixed media piece I just finished using a background I did from Katie's class.

I'm also taking a class from Jane Davenport called Supplies Me. It's an awesome class. I confess to buying many art supplies and then once I get them home, I'm not quite sure what to do with them... Jane is an admitted art supply hound and she shows you exactly what to do with all of those supplies!

This week we are experimenting with pastels. I've never used them before so I thought I would try Jane's technique and see if I could do a figure in pastels. This girl just popped up. I've had a poem in my head called The Circus Watcher, by Mary Jo Bang and I was thinking about that as I was sketching, so I guess this is my Circus Girl.  ;)

Thank you all for your kind thoughts on my Aunt's passing and on my last painting. They meant very much to me. Big HUG to all of you! I plan on catching up with all of your blogs this week.