be still

Being still and finding time to listen and think seems to be a fading art in a world bent on going faster and faster.

playing...doing something just for the fun of it

Art journals allow me to attempt smaller scale projects--one page at a time, and give me the chance to experiment with different techniques and mediums.  Here I tried out laying down a patterned tissue paper with Mod Podge and then drawing on top of it with a fine tip Sharpie and a white Pitt artist pen.  Sometimes I let a page sit for a few days before I decide whether I want to come back and add to it or just leave it as it is.

When I'm not happy with the results, I simply paint over the page or cover it with another image or paper and start over.  It's good practice for me since I'm concentrating on resisting perfectionism in my life.  One art journal blogger says not to think to much, don't make it difficult...just have fun with it and if you don't like the results, cover it up and start again.  Having recently read The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, this is a good way to practice for me.

magnolia blossoms

This pen and ink and colored pencil drawing was inspired by a sprig of magnolia blossoms that a friend brought to work last week--exquisite in color and form.

cyclamen

One of my most favorite plants...the mottled heart-shaped leaves, the petals like wings. This is a small painting, painted for the sheer pleasure of it.

water lilies

I love the pale colors and calm of water lilies. This was my first attempt and I'll be trying again because I didn't quite capture what I wanted to, but I did enjoy the exercise. I especially liked the way the upper lily pad turned out, although it's not quite as clear in this image. I painted this on a sheet of 11 x 15 Strathmore paper, quite a bit larger than I'm used to painting.

Magnolia

I bought a couple of used watercolor books online and have been trying out different techniques. With this one, I used a series of washes and focused on painting the negative space around the blossom and leaves.

I seem to paint a lot of flowers and leaves. I think I'll attempt something different next time. And I want to practice loosening up, painting less precisely.

gerbera daisies

I painted four small floral paintings for my friend, Deb, this past year. We had worked on her yard together over the summer and so I painted some of her favorite flowers for her. She loved these gerberas.

miniature african violet

This little painting was painted a number of years ago, I can't even remember when. It was one of those rare moments in the middle of everyday life, when the desire to paint overcame my compulsion to complete my to-do list. I hadn't painted in years and was very, very happy with the way this little painting turned out. The buds, the stems, the faint leaves in the background, the colors...I'm still enjoying this one.

magnolia bud and blossom

Every spring I especially enjoy the magnolia trees in bloom. The flowers themselves are actually quite large and the trees are a beautiful sight since the blossoms appear before the leaves creating a stunning display.

cyclamen bloom

My friend, Deb, gave me a cyclamen plant this past fall. It's a plant I've loved for a long time. The way the buds form on these long curvaceous stems and how the petals open, twist, and turn up like wings is amazing. The leaves are no less beautiful, heart-shaped and mottled with varying shades of green.

I sat at the kitchen table one afternoon and painted it, trying to capture some of its grace.