Tagged: AEDM2010

Nov 24

Face

Art Every Day Month – Day 22
I have done many gel transfers over the past few years. Day 22 was my day to struggle with a simple gel transfer. At least I have that over with.

AEDM – Day 23

Working through Faces: All Norah’s
Face

One supply I needed for this online workshop that I forgot to pick up was carbon paper. Hmmm, I remembered having something like that in my file cabinet. Not quite what I needed, but this 1953 sewing tracing paper worked in a pinch.
Carbon Tracing PaperTracing Paper 1953

Face on canvasFace beginning layersFace more layers

Getting there bit by bit and enjoying the process.

My favorite moment this evening was when my man came to join me in the studio.
Live music

He makes my heart melt.

Late this afternoon I began to feel some twinges of seasonal affective disorder. This year I will lean into it, and through open communication, I will lean on my support team. I have learned it is better to suffer with support and love then to suffer alone trying to wish it away.

amanda ∞

comment? Posted in Art Every Day, Relationships
Nov 22

Loving self

Art Every Day Month – Day 21
Canvas prep
Canvas prep for Faces: All Norah’s online workshop. I am ready to learn.

November has always been a stressful month for me. In years past, I struggled with seasonal affective disorder. Last year I was unaffected, and no noticeable signs this year either. I attribute the change to a very proactive stance, progesterone cream, and emotional growth. Nonetheless, November is still stressful. It is that month when I begin preparing for the continuum of celebrating and gathering and gift giving. With family traditions and a daughter’s birthday thrown in there, we are preparing for or celebrating an event until Jan. 2. I love all of these things. I just do not like the preparation, the shift in being.

I will remind you that I am an introvert. Although I do love being with others, my battery is recharged by alone time. It seems to be ultra-charged by creative time, so while being active with art every day may appear to work against the time constraints added by preparations and travel, I am so energized by taking moments to refocus and recharge. What may appear to add more stress by giving me more to do is actually decreasing my stress level because I am taking care of my most self-loving needs.

My favorite book says we should love others as we love ourselves.

Matthew 22:37-39  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  (38)  This is the first and great commandment.  (39)  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

I am limited in my capability to love others fully if I am drained and barely hanging on. Nurturing self, treating self with kindness and respect, is essential in the ability to love others selflessly. By setting proper boundaries for myself and prioritizing my most essential needs, I am really loving others more completely. I am equipping myself with the ability to give from a very full tank.

Because I am married to one who always looks at the other side, I will answer the antagonist retort. There will always be times in life in which we are out of control, in which we are not able to nurture ourselves because our lives have been so drastically smacked with shock that we turn to survival mode. There may be times in every person’s life in which nurturing self is not an option. Corrie Ten Boom immediately comes to mind.

In addition to survival mode, everyone has past wounds. I am intentionally working to heal these wounds, and training myself for that day in the future when I will have no option to nurture self. I am learning to become so in love with who God made me that when that point does occur for me, I will still have love to pour out for others. At all points, I will draw from the strength that sustains me.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

amanda ∞

3 comments Posted in Art Every Day, God's Word, Myself
Nov 20

Moving too fast

Today was a good lesson in patience (which I wasn’t displaying). Not only was I not patient, but I was not intuitive with my work. One word description: enthusiastic.

Art Every Day Month – Day 20
Progression:
(yesterday’s work)
Fabric & encaustic
Today after building layers (quickly)
Layered
After scraping away layers
I don't know
Seems a bit chaotic.

And another learning experience:
Learning curve
This was looking awesome until I painted over with another layer and smeared the splatters beneath.

So am I back to judging myself? No. I’m just listening to myself. I need to slow down and learn how this works. Perhaps I need to refer to Encaustic Workshop just a little bit closer and take my experimentation piece by piece.

I am learning, what I like, what I don’t like, what works…. It’s growth.

And I did come out with a really fun piece that I can’t show you because it’s a gift. I’ll show you later this month.

amanda ∞

comment? Posted in Art Every Day, Encaustic
Nov 19

Play with me

Less than exciting = Art Every Day Month – Day 17:
Gesso time
It was time to gesso some little canvases in preparation for Faces: All Norah’s online workshop. The workshop itself = more than exciting.

AEDM – Day 18 was spent on the art of relationships, a very abstract, yet fruitful, art.

Art Every Day Month – Day 19
Step 1: Prepare my work surface for encaustic time. Clean off the clutter. Plug in my griddle. Open the window and turn on the fan.
Encaustic studio setup
I must really love encaustic painting to open the window with such a chill in the air. I am thankful the fan is pulling air out rather than flooding the room with cold.

Step 2: Melt my encaustic medium. Gather tools. Make sure Encaustic Workshop by Patricia Seggebruch is within reach. (I caught the encaustic bug from Trish, and am so excited to be in 2 of her classes in Artfest 2011.) Since I am in the experimentation stage of encaustic painting, rather than investing in the very awesome Encausticbord by Ampersand, my husband cut some wood scraps we had on hand.
IMAG0256

Step 3: Let the experimentation begin.
The first few strokes were so rough. Quick enough, a rhythm developed and the wax began to flow more easily.

Play with me

This little girl seems to want a friend to join her. After embedding the photo in the wax and carving out the words, it was time to try out the pigment stick.
Play with me
I love the creamy feel of the pigment stick on the wax. Using a glove, I rubbed the color in the words and around the edge, then removed the excess with a paper towel.

Next, on to a new texture.
Fabric & encaustic
The fabric is cut from an unused vintage quilt block. Although I’m not sure where this unfinished piece is heading, I’m loving the play time.

So many participants join in for Art Every Day Month, I have not had time to see all that has been created, but being a part of this creative surge really is inspiring.
Here’s just a few other fun creations from around the world for Day 19:

Facets and Fractals

Hartfelt Fabric Art

Sweet Limes

The Quotidian Journal

Love and Peas

Yes~

amanda ∞

4 comments Posted in Art Every Day, Encaustic, Relationships
Nov 17

I heart dachshunds

Okay, you guessed it, my husband did not go for wearing Eau de Summer Sausage last night, so I was left to my imagination.

Late night silliness for Art Every Day Month – Day 15:
dachshund 1

This morning, like every morning, my cuddle-pup joined me for a dip into my favorite book.
Daisy

I especially enjoy her company in the fall and winter. We keep each other warm. Daisy is a sweetie when she is not fighting for a chewy bone or snatching a treat from our other dog. She would be the inspiration for Art Every Day Month – Day 16.

dachshund 2

This next one is a blind contour drawing of a very normal sized dachshund. It turned out so rotund, I just had to add a few details.

dachshund 3

Another shot drawing the same dog, but this time I looked up a bit more.

dachshund 4

Really, I feel I have done little “art” this month. Perhaps I should rename it “Just Playing Around Month” for my own purposes, but this play has been so good for my soul.

Wikipedia says that Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging symbolic elements in a way that influences and affects the senses, emotions, and/or intellect. Generally, art is made with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions.

Could my silliness be art? Fine line. But it has stimulated and affected my senses greatly. I am entering back into the rhythm that I so love, the rhythm of creative expression on a very regular basis. This time it is different though. I am finally able to enter into this place of rhythm with NON JUDGMENT. And in this place, I will rest content.

amanda ∞

comment? Posted in Art Every Day, Art Journal, God's Word
Nov 15

Ol’ Stumpy

Art Every Day Month – Day 14
Bedtime reading
This is my man, reading in bed, and one of the fastest scribbly-sketches I’ve done, and it was so fun to do!

Scott says, “I look all stumpy, and is that a mustache?”
I say, “I said it was fun, not accurate.”

The cat was going to be my model last night, but she wouldn’t behave. She kept attacking the sheets, then just up and ran away.

Tonight I have a plan. I’ll rub summer sausage on Scott’s arm and she’ll want to sit right by his side. Good kitty.

My husband, ol’ stumpy, is my greatest encourager. Whenever I say “if” when referring to my dreams, he always corrects me with “when,” and then he helps me to bring the dreams to life. I don’t know if he’ll go along with the summer sausage idea though.

amanda ∞

comment? Posted in Art Every Day, Art Journal, Relationships
Nov 13

Chaos and bravery

My desk drawer broke. I found this handsome man looking for a solution.

Handyman

He found one! But I have to wait a whole day for the wood glue to dry.

Fixed drawer

So I have one more day before I have to clean up this mess. Really most of the mess on my desk goes elsewhere, but with stuff scattered on my floor, maneuvering is a challenge. Yes, that’s an excuse.

Chaos

I’ve been admiring so many beautiful paintings lately. Jul at Flogging the Muse uses such rich color. Love it! And I am ever an admirer of Leah’s paintings. I see a story in each one. They inspire me to bravery. You see, I’ve never taken a formal drawing or painting class. Most of my art is collage and color. But I do want to learn.

My brave painting today was done quickly. I did not want to dwell on the details, but to just paint without judging my own work. Maybe I should have closed my eyes.

The beginning of a brave act

Although she is rough, I am rather fond of her because she represents a step forward. I don’t want to allow what I lack to keep me from gaining what I desire. I can’t gain experience unless I’m willing go in to uncharted territory.

Bravery

Art Every Day Month – Day 13: Bravery

To better my skills, I’ve decided to take one of Sharon Tomlinson’s online workshops. I’m wavering between Faces in Technicolor and Faces: All Norah’s. Anyone with experiential advice? Anyone want to step into bravery with me?

amanda ∞

2 comments Posted in Art Every Day, Art Journal
Nov 12

Another bedtime kitty

The little known horse kitty, Art Every Day Month – Day 11, once again drawn in bed just moments before I fell sound asleep. I’m rather fond of him. He makes me giggle.

kitty 4

Today for AEDM Day 12, a friend and I leafed through some very interesting ephemera. Both of us are fortunate to have a huge stash that has been passed down in our families.
EphemeraMore ephemera
After pulling our favorite pages, we then cut them to fit into our Remains of the Day journals. The next step will be to sew some pages together and then create signatures. I cannot wait to sew paper. And I also have an urge to go thread shopping. Giddy.

Tomorrow is a happy day. We are getting a much faster internet connection. Until then, my internet sporadically runs between adequate and slow. Right now it would be slow. Don’t have the energy to fight. Going to read a good book. Good night, moon.

amanda ∞

3 comments Posted in Art Every Day
Nov 10

Drawing Cats

I started this blog post on July 1. ‘Bout time I finished it, eh?

It arrived in the mail! My signed copy of  Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists by Carla Sonheim. I was so fortunate to have Carla as a teacher at Artfest this spring.

And that is as far as the blog post went. But last night, after a very busy day of work and a lovely dinner with my homeschool moms, I was exhausted and still hadn’t created any art! I remembered Carla’s awesome book and took the opportunity to do her first exercise: drawing cats in bed. Well, it was actually drawing a cat in bed. This simple sketch was the last thing I saw before I fell asleep. It’s officially my Day 9 Art.
kitty 1 This is the “I’m hungry. Wake up and feed me” stare down that our cat often gives. And yes, her tail really is that short.

Today has been another very busy work day. My husband and I run a video production company, he being the amazing videographer and I, his business manager. Today was one of planning and meetings, keeping our business goals and focus on track. My mind is fried.

Being a creative entrepreneur himself, my husband and business partner is extremely supportive of me having a creative break each day. Maybe it’s because I get grouchy without it. So here are a couple more kitties, very silly little things:
kitty 2

This long-bodied kitty with the bulbous tale I’ve named the dachshund kitty. And the one below just somehow turned into “kitty owl.” Kitty owls are great mousers with a playful side.
kitty 3

And that silliness concludes Art Every Day Month – Day 10.

amanda ∞

1 comment Posted in Art Every Day
Nov 05

Jammin’

My husband bought a bass guitar to add to our family of instruments. I fell in love. I call it mine, but haven’t told the family yet.
My new instrument
Although we are not a musically gifted family, music is part of each of us. Among our instruments include the accordion, violin, electric & acoustic guitar, bass, drum set, piano, trumpet and flute. Our family favorite to play right now would be this:

My daughter rocks on the accordion.

But, back to Art Every Day Month, today is day 5, and what a creative and artistic day it’s been. The morning started with our creativity class at Veronica’s Voice. I lead a class once a month that engages the right side of the brain as we focus on nurturing and appreciation. Today we painted on rocks that my husband collected from the Flint Hills of Kansas. Here is some of the beautiful pieces created:
Student work: Love, growth, peaceStudent work: Lean on meStudent work: recoveryStudent work: FamilyStudent work: He is the vineStudent work: God is still in controlStudent work: God is LOVEStudent work: freedomStudent work: first day at Veronica's VoiceStudent work: dramaStudent work: celebration of selfStudent work: celebrating 30 days clean!Student work: position in the heavenliesStudent work: thankful for family
Each of these rocks carries a beautiful story of thankfulness and appreciation.

My first Remains of the Day journal cover was completed today as well. I just love the free hand stitching on the sewing machine. Today seemed to be a swirly day as many circular patterns appeared.
Free hand swirly-doodles
Words seemed to flow easily, penned with a needle and thread.
Free hand MEOW
Can you see my signature?
Free hand signature
Complete with a vintage ribbon tie.
The ROD cover complete

amanda ∞

1 comment Posted in Art Every Day, VERONICA's Voice
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