Sharon Tomlinson's Diary of Faces Class

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone has been enjoying the summer so far. For me, it's been nice and slow...sweltering at times in 100+ heat...but other than that - a perfect summer. On the creative side .. I decided I needed something to stretch myself ... and Sharon Tomlinson offered an EIGHTEEN WEEK course called the Diary of Faces - the PERFECT thing for me to keep pushing myself. The first portrait study was an artist named Georgette Chen ... and each of us selected portraits done by this artist to. Here is my interpretation of Ms. Chen's style:

The second week, we are studying a Romanian artist ... and the painting style is so different...very loose .. so I am still working on it ... and will post when I'm done. This class is PERFECT ... and while many of the other students are managing to crank out 2-3 portraits a week .. I am a much slower study ... and I'm taking my time studying the artists each week, their styles .. and then going over Sharon's instructions. I hope all of you are enjoying your summer and doing something creative! Stay cool...and stay creative!

Still Painting My Way Through ...

Woke up this morning could barely breathe ... funny how a cold will sneak up on you and try and ruin your day.

...well I couldn't let this 3-day weekend go to waste .. so I made tea, took medicine...and popped in on Twitter to see what people were walking about. Big mistake ... I gave my opinion on something and boy was I shut down - but then that is what happens when you put your 2 cents into an on-going conversation, LOL. So...backed out of that convo and decided to NOT let my day be derailed by strangers...and focus on my painting for today.

Her name is Melancholy .. and so far ... she is coming along nicely. I hope you all are enjoying this weekend...it's a good one so far for me.

Interpreting Dreams .. and Painting My Way Through It All

Last night, I kept dreaming ... I was busy in the dream ... and every time I went to show my identification - I discovered I'd lost it. Not only had I lost my identification...but my credit cards, ATM cards ... EVERYTHING!! In the dream, I grew more and more exasperated - because I NEEDED those things... and EVERY TIME I came to a point where I needed them - I'd reach for them...and they were gone ... and I'd have to replace them again. Over and over.

So eventually, after waking up thoroughly annoyed due to this dream .. I started thinking about it. Before dropping my son off, it hit me what the dream meant - at least to me. Deep down - I feel as if I have either lost my identity .. or that I am in the process of losing it ... losing ME. I told my 14 yr old about it...and he just looked at me, a little startled, and said "That's deep Mom".

The more I thought about the dream, the more I knew deep down that this is how I'm feeling. The past 3 months, I've just been thinking about so many changes going on in my life. My son transitioning from Jr High to High School in the fall ... I broke up with someone I had been seeing for over a year ... it was not a "messy" break up in the traditional sense, but nonetheless, the conclusion of this relationship left me more determined than ever to never have another long distance relationship; never to date ANYONE EVER AGAIN from my past .... and to CONTINUE with my post-divorce life which involves becoming totally selfish - which is so not me. My sister feels my interpretation of my dream is correct. She feels that all my life - since I was 9 years old - I've taken care of everyone. My little sister, my older brother ... my husband ... my son ... and throughout all of that - I can say I have never been the one to BE taken care of. So now, the planner that I am, I am already preparing for Life After My Son Graduates From High School...and I'm wondering is THIS making me question who I am? Is it the finality of a divorce? Is it the break up of a relationship which I thought would be "it" ... LOL

Sigh ... I can honestly say that I am not sad. I just feel so restless ... like I'm just waiting and waiting for "What's Next". And through it all ... the only constant ... is painting....so I'm painting my way through it ...what ever "IT" is.

The Last Days ....

Where is the time going?...it's already the last weekend in April!!! If I have been scarce, it's because I have been on Mommy Duty full-time with my son on the Lacrosse team for our county. These days I am driving to practices, games and gyms - watching my boy slowly turning into a young man.

..and I'm suddenly realizing that in 4 short years - he'll be out of high school and off into the world of young adulthood. SO while I am still working full time, still painting, still exploring ... I am also making sure to NOT miss the sunset of my time with him where I get to see him 24/7 ... the time will fly by quickly....and I don't plan on missing a thing.

Coffee Grinder In Progress

I decided to bite the bullet and start painting this unique surface. While I don't have a particular design in mind right now ... I DO know the look and colors I want to use.

I used Jo Sonja Background color Primrose to basecoat surface. After I let it dry, I sanded lightly with a piece of Super Film.

When I am working on faux finish effects in my head, I normally play around a bit on my palette. I used Jo Sonja Kleister Medium, instead of regular glaze medium. Kleister Medium has a longer open time than glazing medium.

This is probably the EASIEST of faux finishes to achieve. I took a generous amount of Jo Sonja Kleister Medium and applied to surface. Then, taking the sea sponge, I double loaded Jo Sonja Red Earth and Jo Sonja Yellow Cadium ... and pounced the entire surface, twisting my hand as I pounced, until I achieved the look I wanted.

I love these colors, and love Tuscan colors in the kitchen and for kitchen accessories. You can add more Jo Sonja Cadium Yellow to brighten it up...or more Jo Sonja Red Earth to deepen ... the choice is yours.

Woulda...Shoulda...Coulda....

Ever purchased something and "saved" it for later? When I bought this unique piece from artist and designer Phylis Tilford about 6 years ago ... I fell in love with it - but at the time I fell my painting skills weren't up to par. So I "saved" it for later....then promptly LOST it!!LOL Fast forward to today ... I find it ... and immediately wish I would have purchased at LEAST 2 of these! The craftsmanship of this piece is wonderful. I almost want to believe I can actually use it, as the grinder part is fully functional. So ... woulda, coulda, shoulda ... I only have one of these ... and I am not going to post it on ETSY ... I'm going to have to keep this one. I should have bought two!!...sigh

Wednesday Wanderings

If you have some time today, get a cup of your favorite brew and peruse the artistry and craftsmanship of some wonderful artists around the web. On the New Handmade Collective, there is a wonderful sweepstakes going on - lots of goodies to be had!!

So make sure you CLICK HERE and enter to win. Also, over on the Merry Whatever blog, tons of talented artists are offering up wonderful pieces of art ... with Mother's Day approaching, you'd be giving a very unique and beautiful gift! And last but not least, a new group I came across- Etsy Artists of Color who also offer a fabulous selection of goodies on ETSY.