Fun stuff coming up...

I just signed up to take Danita's Mixed Media From the Heart e-course! Oh boy! I am so excited about this course. I am hoping that it will get the ball rolling for me to get some new paintings in the works. It is not that I am in a funk, it is just that I am always finding so many other things are more important to take care of than creating these days. I think having the kids home from school for the summer is part of it. I see them getting antsy or bored and then the pool, library or local trampoline park sounds like more fun than seeing their sad faces or hearing them ask to watch tv!

Danita is such an inspiration. She is a mom and a very successful mixed media artist. Her etsy shop is jam packed full of fun whimsical art. I can relate to her art because she has that whimsical style and childlike subject matter which I tend to focus mine on as well. I do hope to learn some of her tips and tricks on painting faces and more background techniques.

I'll keep you updated on how it is going as I journey through this course. I am so excited to get started. I believe there is still room in the class... so join us if you would like!

Happy painting!

Fine Art Prints Now In The Shop!

Summer has started off with a bang! I have been so busy with kids and life that I haven't had the opportunity to add to my shop in a while. Well, today I was able to carve out some time to make it happen. I am excited to now have a few new fine art prints for sale in my shop.

Come and get a closer look here and check out what else is in store!

And psst... I am working on two more to add in the next day or so... so check back! 

Organizing Frenzy...

Having the kids home from school for the summer has brought up a few tasks that I have let fall to the wayside. They have a "game closet" that went from organized to complete catch-all disaster. It used to be something that you could walk in to. So, I have begun my quest to organize their things, closets, clothes, etc. That closet looks amazing, I must say.

This has created a domino effect on other areas in my life. I have big plans for their clothes next because they have grown out of many of the ones still residing in their drawers. (And my son doesn't seem to want to stop wearing some of his old favorites which can only be stopped by banishing them to the goodwill pile)

But before I get to that, the other day I looked over at my art desk and gasped. "That is what must come next!" I told myself. How else am I going to get moving on getting more stuff in my etsy shop with a desk like that? I should have taken a before photo, but that would only be very embarrassing for me to post. I did however take after photos because I am so delighted with the outcome of my organizing frenzy.

And viola!!...

This is my little artsy alcove. All organized and labeled.

This wooden 18 drawer shelf is brand new (to me). I just purchased it from a fantastic shop called The Embellished House. One of my favorite little antique shops near by. They had a warehouse sale the other day and I got the shelf for only $37.50! What a bargain!!

So to let you in on my labeling secret... I follow a blog by Cathe Holden. She is so talented and generous. I downloaded all my labels from her site which really cut down on the time it would have taken for me to create my own. I knew I wanted something a bit fancy and these were just the right look. Click on her name for the link if you are interested as well.

This little table is at the end of my art desk for those times that the kiddos want to take part in creating as well... which is most of the time.

I am a little late on the spring cleaning, but summer seems to afford me more time to get it done in. 

Now I can enjoy that space again!!

Like Mother, Like Daughter...

My daughter Nola's school put on an Art Fair towards the end of the school year this year that I was rather impressed with. It was quite a well organized event. Each classroom had art displayed outside along with a 'gallery' like display of framed art from each student in the cafeteria. It worked as a fundraiser for the school since you could purchase your child's framed art at the end of the show.

Now, I knew that my Nola was a wonderful artist prior to this event. She has always been very interested in what I am doing, tries her hand at it all and talks about becoming an art teacher when she grows up. But she really wow'd me with her pieces that she had created at school! I have to show them off because I am such a proud mama! I think that these are amazing for a kindergartener!

This is a drawing of another student in her class. They were working on portraits and told to draw their partner (model). 

This is the piece they framed of hers for the gallery. 

They were shown Van Gogh's Starry Night and told to create their own version.

I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. It is so fun for me to share my art with her and see her eyes light up. I feel the same when she comes home with her art from school. I am learning so much from her as well. So often I try to channel my inner child and create from that place of free spiritedness.

She is already an amazing art teacher!!