Stretching

As a two-dimensional-artist-turned-three-dimensional-artist, I am coming full circle. It is never wise to get too comfortable so I am stretching myself once again. My new adventure is mixed media, acrylic, encaustic and collage. Not sure what will come of it. I am also renewing my love of the horse in my painting and may soon consider selling, although I don't seem to be as productive a painter as I am a potter. This piece was created in a class with a world renowned equine painter who hovered over my painting, claiming the eye "disturbed" him, grabbed my brush and proceeded to totally screw it up! I managed to fix it but Mr. Painter never came near me again for the rest of the class. Wise move on his part!

The Beckoning of Lovely

As a newly appointed Ambassador of Lovely -- hey, I have the commemorative, limited addition dog tag necklace to prove it -- I wanted to share our Beckoning of Lovely Project with you, yes YOU, because YOU are part of this wonderful universe and YOU can join us in our search for all things lovely. First, you may wish to visit the beginning of the "Beckoning" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVQSZA9zSk to understand the power we can have as strangers coming together to make this a more lovely world. Then, proceed on to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtNGmXkQQpA.

Here we go....

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged. How cool. Artist Extraordinaire mochachild tagged me, and since I think it's a neat idea, I will try to keep this going.

Here are the rules:

~ Link to the person who tagged you

~ Post the rules on your blog

~ Write six random things about yourself

~ Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them

~Let each person know they've been tagged

Some random facts about me...

1. I am a closet nerd and love NPR, especially Science Friday with Ira Flato.

2. Despite my many talents, the one that I wish I had is to be able to sing -- trust me, I really got gypped in that department.

3. I am a writer and have written a book for middle school kids about a girl named Samantha who is a sixth grade loser, something I know from experience!

4. I acted in community theater throughout high school.

5. I am still madly in love with Jon Bon Jovi.

6. I love bugs and snakes...no, REALLY, I do!

Now it is time to pass the torch to:

ArtSnark
dbabcock
debralinker
Thyme2dream
UberArt
Txalteredart

A New Dawn

The morning is hushed, my favorite time before the sun rises over the horizon. No one else is up. This is my time to take stock of my life, what I am grateful for, what I still have concerns about, how far I have come. A new optimism is taking hold, between a new administration in the White House, a new home, my children becoming fine adults before my eyes. I often find myself getting stuck in the sticky wicket of doubt. How do I deserve this? What if I lose it all? It is a constant struggle to lead myself gently back to the knowledge that it is all part of my story, the story that feeds my greater knowledge each day. Most times it is a happy one, sometimes sad, sometimes angry. But always with my greater good as the outcome.

Someone posed a question on Twitter yesterday "If you couldn't be yourself, who would you be?" How do you explain to someone that you are right where you want to be, that if you were someone else, you would be subject to a whole new set of rules set up for someone else, the good, bad and ugly? I mentioned I loved my quiet anonymity and she seemed surprised that I love that part of my life. After all, this was Twitter and weren't we all "peddling our goods" in some fashion? But the quietness is part of what I love about my life. In the quiet is my connection to everything I need, my source. It is where I go for instruction and guidance. And I can think of no other life I would rather live. I have my creativity, my health, my loved ones and beautiful surroundings. And foremost, I have my quiet guidance, always there to place me back on the path. I know of no other life I would rather have.