MY DAUGHTER GRADUATED!! NEW GRANDBABY!!! MORE...

Hello!! I have been missing in action for a week or more..had a lot of activity going on here....Saturday, May 8th..my 23 year old daughter (SHE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING), graduated from nursing school!! After 3 years of college, and 2 years of nursing school...She is now ready to enter the big, bad real world as a registered nurse. (Of course, she is currently lounging on the beaches of Florida, and going to fun places like MGM Studios, and probably Disney..LOL..) I cannot even begin to tell you all how wonderfully proud I am of her!! She's an amazing person, and I know she will do fantastic in her chosen profession.

The Thursday night before Kim's graduation--on the 6th of May--Nature Boy's youngest daughter, gave birth to his FIFTH grandchild. Mary Ellis was born. This is his youngest daughter, her husband, and her 3 beautiful children. (His oldest daughter has 2 kids). We went to see her in the hospital. Nature Boy got us lost, and we walked about 600 miles to find the baby rooms. It was worth it though!! This has got to be the most beautiful baby EVER!!

I also painted 21 pieces last week. 4 hand-painted journals, some wooden crosses with crows on them, and a bunch of  8 x 8's. I didn't photograph any of them..just painted, painted, painted....BUSY, BUSY week.

Sunday, on Mother's Day, we did the Chattanooga Market--and had a FANTASTIC day. I sold the large painting of the woman with wings, holding a bird!  I love selling large works!! It really makes all the work seem worthwhile! It was a fun day, and SO BUSY! I love being part of all that. I hope you all had a wonderful MOTHER'S DAY!!

So, that was my week--last week. Then Monday, I woke up, and hurt all over..and couldn't breathe through my nose, and had a cold..(A payback I know, for pushing the week before)...so, this week I have been under the weather. I won't complain, or whine, and don't believe in dragging out sicknesses on my blog... so all is GOOD..I am on the mend..and have already painted 4 new paintings this week, and sprayed each with Lysol, so they aren't covered in ICKY germs.LOL...I am ready almost for selling, hopefully 2 days this weekend...

Live Artfully!

BANGING HEAD INTO WALL...WHY? WHY? WHY?

WHYYYYY DO I PROCRASTINATE SO MUCH??? I am painting like crazy today, because I have done NOTHING all week..LOL. I went Tuesday morning, first thing, and had my tooth removed. AHHHH....it felt SO GOOD. Not the actual procedure, but afterwards--I was just plain happy!! That thing has been in my mouth for over a year..maybe 4 years..maybe longer...and it just keeps hurting, hurting, hurting...and NOW it's GONE. Thank God. If I had had it pulled about 3 years ago, I would probably been a happier person..ehhehehe. Anyway--it was an easy thing, no pain at all.  So, after that--Nature Boy and I started to get the things that we have to have for Sunday's Chattanooga Market. We ended up going to a place called Unclaimed Baggage, and I found 18 new journals!! (Ok..so that is something extra--not something that I needed...but, they were CHEAP..heheheh...included in the stack was a few Moleskines, an Anahata Katlin and several heavy-duty sketchbooks) SCORE!!!


Yesterday, we did our trial run on putting our new walls up, and seeing if we had enough room on them...TROUBLE..we ended up with DOUBLE the square inches of available space (more than on the old wire panels), and that's only using one side of them. So, needless to say, I probably need either some huge paintings, or double of what we normally have.

Anyway..that's all that's happening right now...
Live Artfully!!! Back to painting...

Ok..Now, I am tired. Good Night Everyone!!

THIS WEEKEND'S SHOW WAS GREAT!! ALICE IN WONDERLAND!!

Good Morning!! This weekend's show was wonderful! The weather was so nice, the people were abundant, and the money was being spent. The only draw back was that I have a bad tooth, and it gave me a tiny bit of trouble. I am having it fixed today at 8 am, so it won't be troublesome any longer.

THE BEST THING THAT happened though. I came home with a booth full of professional walls. I have had wire walls this past year, and have never been happy with them, because no matter what you do to them, they never look professional. I got an offer for a whole set up, and couldn't pass it up. They are the really nice walls that are covered with a carpet like fabric, and they are dark gray. I love, love love them!! I feel like a real artist now..hehehehe. The above picture are my old walls (many weeks ago--it's an old picture)...yuck!!!LOL

The Chattanooga Market starts this Sunday. My INTENTIONS were to have a HUGE amount of inventory ready. That was before I did the last 5 weeks of selling, including the show this past weekend. I have a pathetic tiny amount of paintings left, so....I will be painting 24/7 around the clock. If ya'll don't hear from me until Monday morning--don't worry..If any one of you are near Chattanooga on a Sunday, you should come by..the Market is great fun--free music, great food and beer (if you drink--which I don't)..and A LOT of art!! It's really a fun day for the family!

We FINALLY went to see Alice in Wonderland last night. It was so magical. I will have to go back and see it again, to get it all. The visuals were AWESOME.

Ok..time to wake Nature Boy up, so he can take me to the dentist.
Live Artfully!!

GOOD MORNING!!! COLOR COLOR COLOR!!

Good Happy Morning!! I SHOULD be working frantically for the two day show that I am doing this weekend. I SHOULD be sealing edges, attaching hanging wires, painting a few more pieces, packing the cooler with snacks, organizing everything, going over my checklist...These are things I SHOULD be doing. Instead, here I am..playing stupid, mind-numbing Facebook games, and blogging....heheheee...

I wanted to show you all what I got in the mail yesterday. It's an awesome addition to my studio, and I love it! I ordered a paint chart from Golden Paints. It is amazing!! It's $9.95, and it's HUGE!! Last week I ordered the COLOR MIXING BIBLE by Ian Sidaway, and now I have this..so maybe I can bring some color and brightness to my paintings...:::snicker::::. Actually, I want to learn to tone down some of my colors to paint more realistically, and I need help. I can NEVER made browns, muted colors and greys work...sigh...Anyway, I recommend hopping over to Golden's site, and making the purchase. It gives you all their colors, and various hues of each one. I LOVE both of these purchases!

Well, I HAVE cut way back on my sugar intake. I can't say honestly that I feel any BETTER. You have to feel bad in the first place, to feel better...I am hating my coffee, because it's no longer sickly sweet and syrupy. I have been replacing cinnamon rolls (one of my many addictions) with fruit, and haven't added extra sugar to anything else. I am watching Dr. Oz daily to keep me health conscience. I suppose next week, I will start walking with Nature Boy, and I am dreading it. I am far too lazy to get out and WALK...but, I need to do it...Please expect daily whining about it though. LOL.

A little update on my father. He was suppose to die on Easter Sunday. They were taking him off of  his heart machine, and off the medications, and they expected him to live only a few hours. Well..that was 12 days ago. When they did take him off the stuff, his heart started beating better than it had in a LONG TIME..LOL..(which somewhat validates my theory that doctors are dangerous for your health..hehehe). I really don't talk about my family on here. My father and I were on non-speaking terms for about 25 years, and the last five, even though, we let go of the past--well, we really haven't developed a relationship..

SHE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING is GRADUATING in 23 days!!! I am SO PROUD and AMAZED!! I am amazed that I am OLD enough to have a daughter that is graduating from college/nursing school..LOL LOL.

Anyway..I am just rambling now, and my finger is going dead from typing. I guess I better get busy, and get ready for tomorrow's art show.
Live Artfully!

A FEW NEW LITTLE PAINTINGS THAT GOT DONE TODAY...FAUX BRIDGES ART SHOW

Lalalalalaalal.........WOOHOOOO. Nature Boy and I have a two-day show this upcoming weekend. We will be at the FAUX BRIDGES ART SHOW in Chattanooga Tennessee on Frasier Ave. (in the parking lot, adjacent to Winder Binder Folk Art Gallery).

These are some fast 8 x 8's that I am doing for my booth. They are all on re-purposed wood, and done in acrylics.
I have to be honest. Today, I did  A LOT. I still managed to take a two hour nap, and fix dinner. I am now puffy, and tired from sitting all day long. But, I am closer to having a ton of these finished. I had decided not to do this show, then decided to do this show....blah, blah, blah...NOW, I am excited to do it, and my outlook is very positive!!
Live Artfully!!

MY DAUGHTER IS 23 TODAY!!!! TWO NEW PAINTINGS TONIGHT..

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMBERLY GRACE!!!! I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU for being such a wonderful child!!

Whew...LONGGG week! I have been restless, not sleeping, indecisive...(SORRY DAVID!)..LOL..David is the owner of the art gallery that shows my paintings, and he runs the Saturday Art Till Dark thingie on Saturdays. The week before last I called him, and said we were coming--could NOT get to sleep, and emailed him to tell him we weren't coming...The next Saturday, I called him and said we weren't coming, and then called him to tell him that I WAS coming. I told him also that I would do a show this upcoming weekend, and told him if I called him to tell that I wasn't coming to just hang up on me. LOL. My mind has never been this scattered. I think it's all the healthy changes I am making in my life..hahaha..it's got my hibernating winter body in a whirlwind.

I have started taking vitamins, and eating better, and am slowly giving up my life long substance---sugar. It's a slow, hard process since I have basically lived on it for years. I loveeeeeeeeeeeee sweets. I have an abnormal love of sweets.I am a sugar junkie. I have a problem...LOL.

Anyway--I have been watching the DR. OZ SHOW , and it's really pushing me to improve my living habits. I love, love, love this show. He is so damn adorable (so it certainly doesn't hurt my eyes..hehehe). I already do many of the things..but, I can do more by giving up sugar. I have already given up 90% of white things (rice, potatoes,etc)..and I already eat enough fiber, and use salt substitute, and I don't eat anything fried..etc..blah, blah..blah...he does really cool experiments, and always blows things up..LOL..it's quite interesting..so look it up if you are at home in the afternoon. It comes on here (Central time) at 3, so it should be around there somewhere. I thank God every day that I am super healthy...but, I want to be MORE SO..

Sunday, Nature Boy and I went to the Chattanooga Market Pre-Season meeting, and saw all of our old friends from last year. It was cool..after this long, cold winter to see everyone, and sit outside and get fresh air. We are extremely excited about the Market starting up, and are working to make some new things to test people's response on...

anyway..Live Artfully!

GOOD MORNING!!

Painted this last night while watching TV..It came out fairly easily. I painted it from a picture of one of the members of Cirque Du Soleil, and his face is wonky on the picture....His light bulb was actually on top of his head in the picture, but I ran out of room at the top.
Live Artfully!

RE-DO PAINTING

This is a re-do of a painting that I did late last year. I had decided that I hated it, and was going to paint over it. I put the black over it, and THEN decided that I LIKED IT after all....LOL..so, I tried to wash the black off...this is what happened. NOW--I LOVE IT!! May even keep it for myself. It has so much depth, and interest now.

Not much has been happening here. I am bored out of my ever loving mind.
Live Artfully!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Happy Easter!
I have a very early memory of my grandmother laying me down to take an afternoon nap, and she opened the window to give me some fresh air (I don't think we had an air conditioner)..I was very young..maybe under two years of age.There was a balloon tied to my bedpost...and it went out the window. I remember watching it float off into the sky...so, I painted it today (it's not the best picture in the world, but I'll take better ones later), while watching "The First Five People That You Meet in Heaven"..I thought it was an awesome movie.

I hope you all have a very peaceful Easter.
Live Artfully!

A HORSE IS A HORSE,OF COURSE, OF COURSE...

A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.

Go right to the source and ask the horse
He'll give you the answer that you'll endorse.
He's always on a steady course.
Talk to Mister Ed.

People yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day
But Mr. Ed will never speak unless he has something to say
A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And this one'll talk 'til his voice is hoarse.

You never heard of a talking horse?
Well listen to this: "I'm Mister Ed."
 
Oh..it takes so little to make me laugh at myself....
Live Artfully!!

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY..is all I'm saying...

LOL..sweet dreams..
Live Artfully!

FOUR PAINTINGS DONE TODAY!!

Hello!! Yesterday, I must be fighting a cold, or something because I slept about 20 hours..but today, I managed to get up and paint. I did four paintings..all about 12 x 18 inches/acrylic on wood. 

We sold at the Art Til Dark all day on Saturday, and I guess it just wore me out...that's about all that I have to say. I am going through something (concerning my father) that is really bad right now, but I don't want to drag it through the blog--it's all in God's hands...so..I will just be happy and thankful with being productive today.

Live Artfully!

PAINTING FINISHED TONIGHT...OLD McDONALD HAD A FARM...EIEIOOOOOOO

 12 x 18 acrylic on wood

Finished this painting tonight. It made me want to sing "Old McDonald"...I am happy with it, and after I finished it, I drew a tiny spider web on his hat, complete with a dangling spider...

It's been a long day...off to bed.
Live Artfully!!

 Well..I didn't go to bed. An hour ago, I posted the redneck man painting on Facebook. Then I went in my art room, and painted this. It is also 12 x 18 acrylic on wood. I don't know what has gotten into me. Four paintings in a day is a lot, even for me.  This one just came out. Earlier today, I was looking at journal blogs, and I saw a woman very similar to this one--I wish I could tell you whose blog it was. Hers was so serene and beautiful, and she stuck in my head...but, this is how mine came out..

I also revised the other two today..I wasn't happy with them, and changed them around a bit. Ok..NOW, I am going to bed.
Live Artfully!!

TWO NEW PAINTINGS!! ONE HOUR!

Both paintings are 12 x 18 inches.

Good Happy Morning Everyone!! The day is beautiful. I got up before noon today, and painted these two paintings during the Gilmore Girls (I am telling you--It's been what?--3 years of watching the Gilmore Girls almost EVERY day, and I am just so free when they are on.) I literally painted these two paintings in ONE HOUR. Sure, they are not great, but, I was just doing warm-ups to loosen up, since I haven't painted in a week. I took time out early this week to read the last book of the Harry Potter series. I think I am going to reread them all...and then I want to go to Orlando, and go to the Hogwarts thing that they are opening up down there. I am such a child at heart.

A word of advice...Don't let your husband near your art with a sander...lol..I had Nature Boy sand this painting that I had messed up on, and it came back looking very lovely and enticing to me..so I gave him another..except this one had already been varnished...WELL...can we spell D-E-S-T-R-O-Y??? LOL..it mutilated it..and he's asking..."ummm..can you FIX this?"...LOL ... oh well..

On April 17-18, There are two art shows in Chattanooga Tennessee coming on the weekend of April 17-18. There's this huge fine art show called Four Bridges, and a better, smaller show called Faux Bridges. I am doing the Faux Bridges show. It's on Frasier Avenue at Winder Binder gallery, in case any of you that are nearby want to come and see us there!

Anyway..Need to run..got to go "to town"..

Live Artfully!

TWO COLORS PLUS WHITE PAINTING

I was watching Harry Potter (which I seem to do at least once a week), and painted this lady on an dictionary page, which was mounted on wood (6 x 6 inches). (I had glued the paper to the wood some time last week). I painted her using ONLY two colors plus white. I used Burnt Sienna, and Prussian Blue and white. I  did it using my simple face technique..which I am going to do in a tutorial for you all.
I am passing away at the boredom here. If any of you are out there, and having fun, please think of me.
Live Artfully!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS

In case you don't know, Michael W. Smith is a contemporary gospel singer. He's amazing..LOL..quite a difference from the Bollywood belly-dancing that I showed you last.
Live Artfully!

SKETCHBOOK MADNESS!! MY LITTLE MOLESKINE!!

Something else that I have started this week. I have started to fill my little Moleskine journal this week. Drawing is something that I haven't done much of this past year, and it felt good to do some fast sketches. I hope to continue this little book every day. It's small enough to fit in my purse, so maybe I can think to take it with me, and sketch things I see.
Live Artfully!

FINALLY..AFTER NOT DOING IT FOR A YEAR..SOME ART JOURNALING!!

I had a BLAST doing these! I choose a book, started gluing random stuff, then just painted, and peeled, and scribbled my little heart out..It was fun, and relaxing....though I will have to admit, that I did stare at the book for about an hour, before I did anything. I am really going for a ballistic/devil-may-care abstract look..so, it's working a bit. Just praticing loosening up. On the second picture..see the blue face? I painted that..LOL..it kinda amazed me..because I REALLY like the one eye..heheheh. VERY PROUD of that one eye. If you want to print these pages out..cut them up, keep them, line your birdcages with them..whatever..feel free to take them.
LIVE ARTFULLY!