Packing it in

It took a total of 16 horses, each painted differently to fill this box. I'd run out of the regular size so I included 2 mini horse ornaments as well. It doesn't look like much for a years work but it's been a great adventure in design and technique that will continue to inspire other projects to come while my originals rest happily with the family, given as a wedding present and enjoyed each Christmas for generations.

I realize that people don't understand what I do or why I do it, there's never any money in it and we go without a lot but it's important to me and the few other people in my world that "get it" and that's all that really matters, isn't it?

A passion for drawing from the artist's view

As I mentioned before I'd planned to rework some areas of this Iris drawing to make it work better for print media but then I picked up my pencils and nearly 2 hours slipped by before I realized how different that top flower had become from the lower one so I stopped and scanned it here for you before I decide what to do from this point.
I have a real passion for my work and can get easily carried away with it. Often I'll work an image until I destroy it because there are times that I just don't know when to quit.
It's hard to describe what goes on when I draw or paint, there's a sense of moving away from everything around me and sliding into someplace warm and wonderful. It just feels SOOO good that you don't want to stop or leave. You hate to finish your drawing or painting because you don't want that feeling to end.
Overworking a piece is self indulgent,dangerous and lovely all at the same time. No wonder people think that artist's are crazy.
We've just been on an amazing little vacation to a world that they can't even see.

Sights and Sounds

It's sunny with a light breeze,the windows are open and the birds are singing. It would be perfect except for the sound of traffic going by and after a while I won't hear that.
When I'm painting everything else ceases to exist in my world. I'm not sure that all artists work with such intensity and passion but it's as natural for me as breathing.
Being able to do it here, outdoors is a great change of pace. My husband says that people stare as they go by but I really don't care, people have always thought I was weird and they're right but I don't care about that either. There's just this moment and the way I feel as I work, nothing else matters right now.

Money Changes Things

A lot has been said over the years about artists and money. People often ask "do you sell your art?" or say "you could sell that" but the conversation stops when you say "yes" or "I'd like to". Why is that?
Art done well is expensive yet if we think about how much each little thing costs we get jammed up and can't work.
Yes, we need money but when you focus on that it blocks your creativity.
Historically that's why someone else generally handled the money.
People are always telling me what I should do which amazes me because I mind my own business (or lack of business) and would never dream of doing that. It probably explains why a lot of us become hermits. We just want to do the things that feel important and don't want anyone to mess with us.

Hard to believe

That mailbox door is only 6 1/2 by 15 inches and it took 2 solid days and nights work to complete it in time to get it back on the box in time for today's Mail.

Now that I've finished it I'm back to work on that cigar box and a dozen other things around here that need attention- no wonder I can't make a living...

People find it odd that I don't even bother to try to sell most of my work. There just isn't enough money in it to compensate for chunks of your life, heart and soul.

I'd much rather give things to people that I care about than sell them for cheap.

 I imagine this will come as quite a surprise to the mail carrier today...

People are flowers too

I've been painting flowers for 44 years and always said "I don't do people". I'd made occasional attempts at them over the years but didn't begin to take it seriously until this year. On the first two I went on instinct and as I started the third I decided I needed help so I began to watch portrait painting videos on the internet. Rather than helping me the wide assortment of painters and techniques confused me more so I just grabbed my paints and gave it another try.
Finally, it dawned on me that it's all the same thing, the only real difference between flowers is the shape and size of the petals and the only difference between people are the shapes and sizes of the features. Looking at it this way should make things a lot easier from now on.

Perspective

As with everything else in life, it really depends on how you look at things. Some people come in here and all they see is a mess, others find it as exciting as I do that everywhere you look there's something interesting to do or make.

Today's project was a set of place mats and a table runner to match the space themed valances in here. We love it but as you can imagine a lot of people find it a really strange choice for people our age but why be boring at any age? Why not surround yourself with things you enjoy and that make you happy.

Creativity itself depends on being able to look at life a bit differently than most people.

The joy and excitement in my life today was in finding out that one of my friends enjoyed the "pin up kitty" that I had made for her so much that she wanted to make some. This will provide an opportunity to give away all of the stuffed animal patterns to someone who'll get a lot out of them and give me a chance to use the space that getting rid of them will free up for other projects.

The color of everything

I finished the second pink scarf and an earth tone hat so my right hand and arm are done for a while and /I'm back to exploring what I can  and can't do left handed.
As I'm doing that I'm still thinking about color.
I've been so busy creating art for the last 45 years that I never noticed when colors acquired so much baggage. I choose colors that make me happy or suit my mood and not because they support a disease, war or sexual preference.
Does anyone remember when a rainbow was just a rainbow, pink wasn't the theme color for cancer and a yellow ribbon was just something you tied on a package?