Whew-ee!

It's amazing how time gets away from us when we're not paying attention or making an effort to use it more productively. It's been nearly a year since I've posted anything, and it sure doesn't seem like it's been that long. So. Here I am.
I've had a lot of speed bumps in the past year, and it's been one of those times in life where for several months, things don't seem to get back to their usual rhythms. For the last couple of weeks, I've been trying to get my house back in ordered, life organized and sorted out, and back to a point where I don't feel like I'm constantly just trying to catch up. I've also been thinking a lot about what I'd like to do this next year, projects to work on, and where I'd like to be artistically by next December.
I'm really serious about getting a portfolio together, which means lots of time dedicated to artwork. And I also need to get back on track creatively. I hate how when I leave art alone too long, it feels so difficult to come back to it. It always feels like I'm not sure where to pick up, my skills are rusty, and that I'm creatively stuck. Luckily I have a couple of half finished projects to complete, as well as a couple of new things to help get me rolling. I'm trying to sort out whether I want to keep a sketchbook daily, I need to art journal all the time, or if I need smaller, time limited, and restricted projects everyday. I'm thinking it's the latter to start with. Among other things, it's also my goal to do more than one blog post every year. Sheesh.
 Today I'm thinking about what I want my daily project to be and how I'm going to implement it.
So...let the fun begin!

Letter Love

So, I'm taking Joanne Sharpe's Letter Love 101 online course that started the first of this month. I'm truly enjoying the lettering exercises, and trying out some new materials. Here are some pics from the first few exercises...

I've been away....

Well, last year finished off fairly uneventfully, and art-making-wise, very unproductively. In Novemeber I found myself making several outside commitments that kept taking me away from the process of starting my business up and doing any kind of art. I even put journaling on the back burner. First there were a couple of family things I needed to take care, then, the holidays, then vacation...and now I've been helping an organization I volunteer with plan a major annual event that's had me tied up most days.
I came to the conclusion that I had to get back to at least making time for art a couple of hours a day, and start drawing firmer boundaries for my time and work, and quit dedicating myself to any negative things that have been taking up my time and energy. I started reading Julia Cameron's "The Sound of Paper", which I love, and also "The Artist's Way". Slowly, I've started back into doing feeds my soul and makes me happy...only I've found that after this past creative break I haven't quite figured out where to start. I decided to take Joanne Sharpe's "Letter Love 101" and Jane Davenport's "Draw Happy".
In the next few weeks I'll be posting the projects I've been working on in the courses and such. Yay for making stuff!

First Fall Snow...

I've been a little behind in my posting this week, mainly because I've been staying at my mom's to help her out while she recovers from surgery. I feel a little art deprived, but actually, I think a bit of a break was good for my full-to-the-brim brain. It's been nice to be in the mountains and away from all the distractions (and frustrations) of home.
Mid-week, we had our first major snow storm move through. Wednesday was spent mostly indoors, except for a couple of trips to let the dogs out to play and shovel the snow. All in all we got about 14" of snow during Wednesday, and woke up to a bright (and cold) Thursday.
I forgot how quiet the snow makes everything, and it was really beautiful.
So, here's some snow inspiring photos from this week!

Illustration Friday: Scattered

This is the piece I made for this week's Illustration Friday topic!

Blog Tour

I finally got my art work space cleaned up and organized enough to use today. Very exciting, since the past two weeks I've barely gotten away from my computer to do a small hands on project, let alone a day long one. Temporarily my work time has been consumed with website and blog building, and working on getting the particulars figured out for my online store. It feels good to be art-working today, and something I really needed to make time for.
I decided to do a short post, since I'm waiting for gel medium on today's collage to dry.
Last night I became completely absorbed checking out artist blogs. I forget that there are so many people out there making fantastic art. I also finally stumbled on to Illustration Friday. From there I began looking at MokeyWorks Illustration, which was like ending my evening with a red velvet cupcake...delightfully and yummy food for my brain! I love his bear illustrations, and think that I've got to have a Mr. Pink Pantone Color Card t-shirt. I also looked at The Sketchbook Project, which is, completely awesome. I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to participate now, or wait to see if they're going to put one together for 2013.
I get so inspired and excited by all of the opportunities out there to share art with others and by the artists doing what they love and making a living at it. And it's just another reminder that I'm on the right path.
Photos of this week,s projects and today's collage coming up in the next couple of days!
Cheers and happy weekend!

OBX 2011

"The open road is beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself."

-William Least Heatmoon

I thought I'd share some photos from my latest adventure in the Outer Banks of North Carolina...


Gulls on the beach at Kill Devil Hills

Rocky lounging on the porch
of the beach house


Manteo, NC

Sunset on the Sound





















Sunrise at Kill Devil Hills


View from the Century of Flight Monument


The Wright Brothers National Memorial

Jennette's Pier, Nags Head, NC



Our last couple of days at the beach...cool, cloudy and stormy