Think,think

Do you ever think about what you think about?  Our thoughts are powerful.  I met with a group of friends last night, and after taco salads we talked about The me I want to be. a book by John Ortberg. Great book.   
Our thinking can make life a joy or a pain.  We get to pick our thoughts.  But we can drift into thoughts that are more like a crock pot of irritations and grumblings, doing a slow simmer.  Pull the plug, dump out the contents and replace with some grateful, creative thoughts and see how much better you feel.  Do you like my log photo?  We noticed it alongside a hiking trail.  Makes you just want to go ahead and smile.

Egret at Hilton Head

I've always enjoyed painting birds, you can't help but admire their ability to take flight without having to get to the airport & all that stuff that we must do in order to get off the ground.  This egret is done in oil on a wrapped canvas, so I left some margin with abstract water.
This bird is from Hilton Head, a resort Island in South Carolina, which is about 6 hrs from where we live.  It has become a favorite vacation spot.  I enjoy getting to the ocean, to see if it's still there.
Yesterday while on the lake, my husband found a hugh grey feather from some water bird.  I can't pass up a good feather and sometimes use them in my art work.
I've started a flamingo painting & hope to finish it soon.  It's hot all across the USA, being in the water is the only sure thing, unless you wanted to live indoors.  Have to get outdoors, experience nature... it feeds your soul.

Pink & Beige card

I enjoyed making this card.  I like the soft colors
I used a stamp to make the background paper.  The
flower was cut from fabric that had been coated
with white glue.  The ribbon is paper craft ribbon.
White glue works well, if I just use it sparingly.
When will I get back to painting? 
I am still collecting objects for my collage.  The theme
of the collage is Isreal.  We traveled there a few years back.  I'm so glad we had the chance to go.
Life is good...look for the goodness & beauty.  You will find it!

Morning Poem

The morning light calls to me, it begins with a whisper, just a faint light creeping,

calling. A single bird begins the chorus that will greet those who listen and wait for the dawn. 

Reluctent to go forth into the day and leave my place of quiet, but the light breaks out and the coffee is gone.  I remember the thrist of my garden and am anxious to save those delicate colors from the coming heat.

There is no stopping the sun now as it leaps and plays across the woods.  It's full of joy and sings it's song, chasing the dampness, calling the birds, calling to me, it's a new day.

           I hope you enjoy this poem I wrote this morning, the magnolia is from my yard.

Broken Eggs

I really had fun painting these eggs.  The subtle changes in color were the result of many brush strokes and much blending. 

People say a artist doesn't reach his best until he is first broken by some of the realities of life.  So they say, the beauty comes out of the broken heart.  I remember some of my classmates in art school who skipped class because they said they had to get out and live life before they could really paint.  I thought that was pretty funny myself.  Since I had paid my tuition, I planned to show up and learn the craft.  Turns out there was plenty of time to "live life" after I graduated.  I am thinking of getting some chickens to raise so I can have some yard chicken eggs.  I don't know much about chickens, so I'd have to study up on it.  Could be fun!

The Iris seems to do well in Georgia,  my neighbor always has an abundance of them.  I had to paint them.  I had fun with the background, it was done with a white glaze over wet paint, which gives you a nice soft look.  I painted this right after a trip to Europe,  where I saw a lot of impressionistic paintings done with similar edges.  Gauguin especially does this.

I donated a couple of my butterfly painting for a Humane Society fund raiser, and felt good about that.

My little terrier came from the same shelter, she is now 15 years old and a little deaf and confused, so we have to keep an eye on her, which we are happy to do.  I'm going to switch gears and work on a collage for awhile.  I'll be on a hunt to find just the right elements.

Violet grapes card

Here is another card.  Made a key lime pie this AM for our supper.  If you have never made one, take a look at a recipe, you'll see it is one of the easiest pies to make.  It only takes 15 minutes in the oven, which makes it great for summer cooking.

This card was made with a small watercolor painting of mine.