Alone

Really missing my Mom today. This song always reminds me of her.

Fly Away

I'm experimenting with new mediums. This painting is done with watercolors and gouache. The song is how I feel lately. I guess it came through on the painting...  ;-)

Gray Skies: Journal Page

I've been fighting migraines all week and haven't been able to work in my studio as much as I would like. I've had my art journal at my side, though, and a few of my inks and other supplies (still using up that fabric remnant!). This page emerged today. Not a happy one but they can't all be sunshine!

I'm also anxious to get back to Misty Mawn's workshop. *sigh*  Hopefully the migraines will leave me be for awhile. Enough already!  :(  I hope YOUR weekend is going much better!

Heartfelt: Journal Page

"There are places in the heart that do not yet exist;

suffering has to enter in for them to come to be."

-- Leon Bloy

I've been working in my art journal this week. I started out with doodling hearts and flowers. This emerged. I felt the urge to get out needle and thread! The striped piece in the background is a fabric remnant. Can't sew very well but for a journal spread it'll do. ;-) I see hearts emerging in my journal a lot lately. Not sure why but I'll go with it; very therapeutic. I saved this quote when I came across it a while back. Now I'm glad I did. I used it on another page. Have a great week everybody!

The Past

The Past

by Kay Ryan

Sometimes there's 

suddenly no way

to get from 

one part to 

another, as though

the past were

a frozen lake

breaking up. But 

not from the

top; not because

it's warmer

up here; it's not.

But from underneath

for some reason --

perhaps some heat

trapped on its own

for so long it's 

developed seasons.

I'm taking an awesome workshop with Misty Mawn combining paint, poetry, pastels, sculpting... and that's just in the first week! *sigh* This piece is done with charcoal, pastels and acrylic. I'm having fun experimenting with everything. No expectations when I sit down and sketch; just seeing who or what develops.

Maybe it's because I can't seem to stay warm (I've been bundled up in the house all week fighting off the flu). I thought this looked like a sheet of ice surrounding the face so I went with that. When I found Kay Ryan's poem, it clicked. :)  

This is my entry for Paint Party Friday. I'm sorry I wasn't able to make it around to see every one's work last week. It may take a few days but I will be visiting your blogs this week.  :)

Changing Direction

Mysteries, Yes

by Mary Oliver

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous 

to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the 

mouths of the lambs.

How rivers and stones are forever

 in allegiance with gravity

while we ourselves dream of rising.

How two hands touch and the bonds will

never be broken.

How people come, from delight or the

scars of damage,

to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those

who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say 

"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,

and bow their heads.

I am trying out some new ideas in my paintings. Thus the title of the post; and it fit the painting as well. ;-) For this new year I thought I'd experiment with some different themes and see where those take me. I'm wanting to grow in all areas of my art and I'm also taking some workshops to help with those goals. This is also my entry for Paint Party Friday. It doesn't happen often but I'm a day early! 

Crossroads

"When she was just a girl

She expected the world

But it flew away from her reach

So she ran away in her sleep

And dreamed of para- para- paradise

...Every time she closed her eyes"

from the song Paradise by Coldplay

May all of your dreams come true in 2012! Happy New Year everybody! I love this song. It's been on my mind a lot and was the inspiration for this painting. If you want to listen to it, I've included it below: