Quick journal page

I love Jason Mraz. Do you?

Earlier today I read his blog post (this one) and the words "Lean into the discomfort" stayed in my head. While I was suffering in the dentist's chair those words were running through my mind like a mantra. I guess they helped a bit, so I wrote them under this quick painting in my journal. Art journals are perfect for keeping little memories like this...

From a photo

Sharon wrote in the comments that she knew who I painted yesterday. I thought it might be interesting to show the photo of my daughter that inspired me. I started playing today with some blind contours in my sketch book. Isn't the resemblance remarkable? Just joking. This was the best of several.

Then I experimented with conte crayon (I have only one color). I never used them before... So much fun! I love things that you can smoosh (pastels, graphite, this crayon).

Here is the painting from yesterday, I added it so that I can have them all on one place (in one post).

 And finally a color explosion portrait. None of them really look like Hana, but I can't tire of her face, so it's just plain fun for me to try and recreate it with art materials.  

And just for something random - this flower made me extra happy today. I planted the seeds two years ago, and several times a few leaves would show up and then wilt and dry. I couldn't believe when I saw the flower this morning! So close to the ground, still only two weak leaves behind it; but obviously fighting so hard to survive. I hope my morning glory makes it this time...

Journal page

I proclaimed this week to be an art journaling week, which in my case simply means that I will paint in a journal, not on a canvas. Painting in a journal means more play, more experiments, more relaxing... Here I painted looking at a lovely photo, but even in a journal was not brave enough to make the darks really dark, and lights really light. Maybe next time. Maybe tomorrow.

New Protectors

As my previous set of angels are sold and they left an empty space on our walls (that's where they live before they find a new home), I spent busy days painting some new faces to grace our hallway.

I was so happy to see all three of them together, outside of my little studio, in full California sunshine that I did a rare thing - allowed my daughter to take a picture of me with them...

And then I realized that she continuously snapped more pictures (like me gazing at my paintings like they are newborns), so I got shy and ran away. She took pictures of me running away too... giggling all the way. 

  Here are some close up pictures.

 Many different textures, this is one of them.

 "Gratitude is the fairest blossom that springs from the soul." - Henry Ward Beecher

Happy weekend!

Beautiful SunDay

Fixed :-)

On my easel

Can you guess why is her face painted black?

This is an unfinished painting. The faces have some color thrown on, just the beginning stages. On the one on the left I worked for a long time. I painted layers, looked at her, painted some more, looked again... and when I thought she is almost done I noticed that her eyes are so out of line that it was ridicules. How could I have looked at her for so long and not seen that? I couldn't believe it. I realized that there is no simple way out, so I just grabbed a jar of black gesso and eased my frustration. Tomorrow I start again...

Speaking of eyes that are not in line, guess who's work I've been privileged to look at today? No need to guess, you read it on the photo. I spent hours here trying to soak in every brush stroke and line and color I could. Amazing! Amazing is also the man that took a day off work to spend it with me, and who thought that I would love to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary by going to a museum. Such a smart man. A definite keeper...

Show your colors 3 & 4

Last week I mentioned that I want to paint another bird with a colorful tail. 

Well, I painted not one - but two birds on 24"x24" canvases.

I enjoyed every long, curvy stroke and I went over them many times.

There was something very soothing and therapeutic in it.

For now this series is over. I think some new angel/protectors are brewing in my head...

Both paintings are available for sale. Inquire by email if interested.

Blue

I'm so glad you enjoyed my photo-collage. I think Marja said it so well "When we hold our eyes open and look around, what beautifuls we can see." Exactly. l think that following many blogs over the years opened my eyes to so much beauty that I didn't recognize before.

 Maybe you noticed a snipped of a new painting. It's teal and blue and purple cascading over a 20"x34" canvas. Maybe I'll revisit it in the following weeks, but right now it feels finished to me. A lot of yummy details that just don't translate well on the screen. Next painting will have red, gold and black and just tiny hints of blue...

Around me...

Bird with tentacles?

I've spent many enjoyable hours painting this huge, colorful bird (30"x30"). The moment I finished this canvas I wanted to start a new one and I can't stop thinking about it. I guess the only way to get it out of my system is to paint another one... So I'm predicting a new chaos of colors, textures and shapes in the nearest future. I hope you'll find the time to paint whatever your soul needs this weekend.