I want to introduce you to some special kids. These are some of the kids from Casa Shalom Orphanage in Guatemala City, Guatemala. My husband and I support this orphanage and sponsor 2 kids from there. My husband has been to the orphanage 3 x now and is known as "Blue Eyes". Blue eyes are uncommon in Central America so the kids named him that. Unfortunately I have not had the privilege of going and meeting these precious angels. It makes me sad that I have not been able to go with my husband but am believing that one day I will. I want to feel like I have a connection to these children like he does but it's not the same when you have not met them. So I've been thinking a lot about what inspires my art. I want my art to mean something and I want it to be an expression of me. But I want it to reflect the Glory of the Lord As well as inspire others. So I got to looking at these precious kids and was feeling led to portray them in my art somehow. I'm not sure how yet but I will be using these precious orphans as inspiration. Little do they know how they inspire others. The depth of the their souls seen in their eyes is mesmerizing. The joy on their face is pure and the questions in their expressions will one day be answered. All these children want is love and Casa Shalom is giving that to them. I don't know what will happen when I put my brush to canvas or pen to paper. I will just let the Lord guide my hands. And we will see what comes of these pictures. I pray that my art will say a thousand words. To God Be The Glory for He Is Risen! 

Expectations

Watercolor Paint with Ink Sketch Outline

No Border Stamp/Distressed Ink on watercolor paper

Happy March!
March brings hopes and expectations of warmer temps, flowers, birds, and a glimpse of the seasons to come. (At least in the South that is). Believe it or not my daffodils have bloomed. It is a welcome sight after a colorless, cold winter. I am not a fan of Winter at all. Summer is actually my favorite time of the year but Spring comes in a close second. I think because of the beautiful colors, smells and sounds that accompany us during that time. It opens my eyes to new beginnings. God never ceases to amaze me. Every year the grass turns green again, flowers bloom and activity is buzzing everywhere. As an artist I welcome these. As I sit at my art table I can look out the window and be inspired by the freshly bloomed daffodils and robins scurrying around. The winter months are hard for me with the fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. I do what I can, when I can. February was particularly busy for me and I paid the price. I try to keep positive but it is hard when life seems to STOP instantly in its tracks due to illness. I try to use my illness as something that propels me forward and give me inspiration. I have to confess that I don't always do that. It is easier said than done. So this month I am focusing on the future and the beautiful things to come. Then I will use them as inspiration. So I've been experimenting with different paints, inks  and techniques. Don't be afraid to play around with different types of paints, inks, pencils and papers. Mix the paints, add water, ink your edges. Whatever you do, do it with Expectation. Expect that something creative and unique will come out of your experiment. That is all a part of creating. Take watercolors for instance.  I love to watch the water and paint spread, run and change shape along with the intensity of color it deposits.  Completely UNEXPECTED results may happen and that is ok. Those are what I call Happy Accidents. But no matter what the mediums and canvas I choose may give me, I learn to understand it a little better every time.  I hope you like these different examples and try your hand at creating something as things around us begin to bloom and shine. Have great EXPECTATIONS from yourself and your art and as always Happy Painting!

Life and Art can be messy

Ah Sunday. The day of rest. A day to rest from the prior week of life and a day to rest and prepare for the week of life ahead. It is kind of a bittersweet day. One thing I know for sure is that we do not rest enough in life. We do not take the time to quiet our bodies and minds. And when we don't do that Life can get messy. Emotionally, Mentally and Physically. For me when life gets like this I like to slip away to my table and create something. My table is something like a place of refuge for me. A bit of a sanctuary if you will. It is not the table itself and nor the space it is within, it is the mindset that it puts me in when I sit down to it. My table is placed in front of a window that allows me to see my front yard and street. It is a way for my mind to wander to new avenues. The window can take me places that quiet the things in my mind and my house that keep screaming, "Pay attention to me".  This then prepares me to be able to create.  I am a messy artist, it's a fact. I try to keep all my art goodies nice and neat but before long I've got several different paints and brushes out, stamps piled up and papers scattered in front of me. I credit this to not knowing what I want to do when I start a project. So my desk goes from being neat and tidy to looking like it was hit by a tornado. Then you will find by the time I am finished with my project my hands are covered with whatever medium I had been using. Paint, Ink, Mod Podge, or all three, LOL.  But this is my happy place. I feel most like myself when I am creating art. It is who I am. Ever since a young age I loved doing all kinds of art. I spent many class periods a day in art class in high school. It was where I felt I belonged. It was where I wanted to be. I just loved creating things. But there is always something that comes up in life that takes us away from the things we love. In my case it was practicing my art. From having a career to getting married to starting a family to financial struggles to illness struggles. These are things that can rob you of your joy and passions, and keep you from using your gifts and talents. In the end they ultimately can keep you from feeling fulfilled and finding your purpose in life. So I was tired of feeling like I've missed my purpose or that I wasn't feeling fulfilled or better yet fulfilling God's plan for me. God gave me my gifts and talents so surely He meant for me to use them. So last year I began working with ink and rubber stamps.  Then I began to turn my art into greeting cards. I was amazed that I had not yet really discovered this awesome way to express yourself through art. Stamping is addicting. There are so many cool stamps and inks out there. I get excited about that kind of thing. But not only was I creating art but I was also using it to reach out to people. It was a win, win situation. So I began making more and more time for my art and began painting again. Then I realized that I enjoyed sharing my art with other people and started teaching them in small groups for a small class fee. It has become a passion of mine again that I just want to share with the world. You see life got messy for many years for me and I allowed it to steal my passion for art. But instead I use the messes of life to propel me into my art now. It is my escape. So messy can be a good thing sometimes. So I encourage you to take a look at your life. Is it messy right now? Maybe you need to get to "Your Table" and get messy creating to help you through your messy time in life. Whatever your passion may be embrace it. I promise you will feel purpose and fulfillment again. 
Be Happy and Create!