Color, stacking, color, stacking....

I love color - lots and lots of color :)  This is why I admire artists such as Flora Bowley, Christy Tomlinson and Donna Downey.  They always use tons of color in their work and it just flows and works together.  They have inspired me to just let me paint and not have to...well, THINK about it - just let the work flow out of my hands.

So now I am really into creating pieces that I can have all sorts of different variations lined up or STACKED on my canvas...The above are my bird houses...love, love, love creating this piece.  So much freakin' fun.

Below are my doors...just cut up some paper and started painting and adding texture and embellishments, etc.  So much fun - and I just love the way they turned out.  Look at all of the colors and textures...you never see the same thing twice.

I have both pieces now hanging up in my kitchen/dining room area - they just make me so happy and so...calm when I look at them.  Also makes me want to get back into the studio and create another piece...can't wait!

Have a great rest of the week!!

She soared...

Wow...what a week.

Lots of ups and downs this week at work, at home and even at school for Brady.  I had found my inner peace a couple of months ago - it was so amazing.  Just one day I felt at peace and had clarity.  I knew what I wanted out of life and how I was going to get there.  I knew what I wanted for my family, for my boys.  And I felt...at peace.  So nice...so comforting.

And then BAM! My inner peace has been challenged by these bumps in the road in this thing called life :)  The stresses of work + keeping a home, well, a HOME + having a special needs child that needs our attention not only at home but at school too + having another child that we need to spread our love to as well+ having time for each other + having time to spend by ourselves to regain our own sanity...it can get downright overwhelming!  But...that's when I look at what we DO have vs. what we don't have... we have a beautiful home (that seems to be getting smaller but we make due...have to, right??), we are making new friends in this small community, we laugh...we laugh a lot....that is so important. ( I firmly believe humor in a relationship is vital - it gets you through the toughest of situations.)  I have my Mom who supports me and has the same passion as I do when it comes to art - I love that and I immediately calm myself when she is around.   And our kids...what would we do without kids...they make us laugh and cry...and every single day help me realize how sweet life truly is.

I was inspired to make this piece over the weekend - I had sketched her out last week and was going to make her for a friend's little girl...but things changed...I started wanted her all to myself :)  Oh well - that's why I buy canvases by the bulk LOL

I wanted to make something that reminded me to stay inspired...to stay brave...to listen to my heart and keep that inner peace INTACT. :)

 When it was finished I (as I always do) picked it apart...too pinky, her bust is too big (LOL) too much this, not enough that...

But then I started adding the words that I had in my mind to include on this piece...

 ...and you know what...I loved it.  I loved everything about it.  And it also rejuvenated my inner peace and my dreams...for myself and for my family.