Happy August!! I can’t believe that more than half the year has already flown by. With all of this summer heat, I’m definitely ready for the cooler weather this year.
Dick Blick Art Supplies was hosting a watercolor contest so I thought it was a good opportunity to practice my portrait painting skills. I worked on her for some time and this was my entry into the contest. I named her “Crystal” because of her crystal blue eyes.
I feel I’m getting better but the eyes are still a bit wonky. However, I recently found a better technique to get them more even so I’m working on that at the moment. I love how her hair turned out, it took lots of layers. Overall I was happy with the painting I entered into the contest. There are so many talented artists who entered and inspired me to keep going!
Hope this inspires you to create today, thanks for stopping by!!
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“If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.” ~Unknown
This is the finished 18×24″ flower abstract painting that I’ve been working on. It was painted with radiant colors to brighten the decor in any room. The background has lots of texture and I added splashes of white pearl paint for more interest.
I love the dreaminess of this painting. It reminds me of the aurora borealis lights. What do you think?
Hope this inspires you to create today, thanks for stopping by!!!
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“Let the magic of life remind you of your own miracles.” Shaa Zainol
July 4, 1884, France gifted to the United States the Statue of Liberty for the 100th birthday of our country. What a monumental and inspirational gift she was and still is. She stands for many things but each part is represented by a different element in her design.
Lady Liberty’s torch is a symbol of enlightenment to show us the path to freedom, liberty and justice. The crown which is a halo with rays like the sun are another way for her to enlighten the world. The tablet Lady Liberty holds in her left hand is inscribed with Roman numerals which read July 4, 1776, and represent a book of law. The broken chains and shackle at her feet show she is free from servitude and oppression especially with the recent abolition of slavery in the country at that time.
Lady Liberty stands 305 feet tall, including the pedestal in New York Harbor. From 1892 to 1954 she has greeted more than 12 million immigrants and travelers that entered the United States through the Ellis Island Gateway. She is a inspiring symbol to all of us.
I hope you enjoyed this post today. Wishing you a Happy and Safe 4th of July!
I thought I’d share with you this journal page I created a while ago in my Strathmore 9×12″ Mixed Media Visual Journal. I made this with lots of collaged layers, paint, gelatos and stencils.
The beautiful thing about journaling is it’s a great place to build your artistic confidence. If you don’t know what to create, just look out your window and create what you see. If you say I can’t draw, then start by using a stencil or stamped image. If you’re afraid to start, make random marks on your page and go from there.
There is no right and there is no wrong, only what makes you happy. No one has to see your creation if you don’t want them to. This is your place to be yourself, free from judgement and to create whatever your heart desires. So have some fun!
Hope this inspires you to create, thanks for stopping by!!!
Creating simple pages in a journal can bring so much joy. I’m still working in my Simplest Things Journal which I started as part of Amy Maricle’s Challenge at Mindful Art Studios. I find I’m taking notice more of the wonderful patterns that surround me in my environment that I never saw before.
As most of you know, I’m a huge fan of color, lots and lots of colors. I love playing with paints and creating new colors when they mix. Some don’t go as expected and others are a wonderful surprise. But for me, the color mixing is one of the most fun parts of this art journaling process.
Another great aspect of art journaling is it’s a great way to unwind and destress yourself. You only need a few minutes of time a day to work on the creation of a new page and minimal supplies. So it’s a win win!
Hope this inspires you to create some art!
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“Color is a super power that directly influences the soul.” ~Wassily Kandinsky
With summer fast approaching I thought it would be nice to squeeze in at least 1 more spring art journal layout. I love bunnies and trees and wanted to create something magical with the two.
I started creating lots of layers and used paper doilies for the top of the tree. I found the words “Weaving Magic” that I had cut out from a magazine and saved in my stash and thought it would be perfect for this layout.
I was originally going to add more critters to these pages but I liked the idea of keeping it simple and focusing on the bunny’s wonder of all things magical. What do you think?
I hope this inspires you to create some magic this weekend✨
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“Everything is magical when you see it with your heart.” ~Unknown
The air in our home can be filled with harmful chemicals and pollutants. Even if you take care not to use heavy scented cleaning agents you’re still not safe. The countertops in your kitchen and bathrooms have been known to emit harmful chemicals into the air without you ever noticing. Even installing new flooring, carpets or painting the walls can also pollute the air you breathe.
Luckily there is a simple solution. Certain houseplants are quite efficient air purifiers. Plus they bring lots of good vibes to your home. The next big question is how many plants do you need? The answer is you only need about two (10-12 inch potted) plants per every 100 square feet of space. For example a 13×15 foot room is 195 square feet so you would need 4 small plants to clean the air in that room. Below is a list of some of the best purifying plants for your home.
21 Air Purifying Plants:
Aloe Vera
Bamboo Palm
Boston Fern
Chinese Evergreen
Dragon Tree
English Ivy
Ficus
Fittonia Frankie
Flamingo Lily
Golden Pothos
Lady Palm
Lemon Button Fern
Mass Cane / Corn Plant
Parlor Palm
Peace Lilly
Philodendron
Red-Edged Dracaena
Rubber Tree
Snake Plant / Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Spider Plant
Wax Begonia
Each of these magnificent natural air purifiers requires different care and lighting so keep that in mind when choosing a plant for your home. Also having living plants in your space has shown to be quite therapeutic in relieving stress, boosting your productivity and overall well being. So add some happiness and good vibes to your home!
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“We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.” ~Jenny Uglow
Sometimes the greatest joy comes from the smallest and simplest of things. In filling my Simplest Things Journal which I started as part of Amy Maricle’s Challenge at Mindful Art Studios I’m finding so much joy and freedom as I create different designs with simple marks.
There are different steps in my process. For some of these I’ll start by creating small tiles, in varying sizes that I stash away until I’m ready to use them. Other pages will begin with a watercolor wash in the journal and then I go from. Really it comes down to doing what makes you happy at that moment and I honor that.
If you’re going through any kind of stress or you just need a break this is ideal and so beneficial for your heart and soul. You can check out online classes, YouTube videos or simply pick up a pen and get some paper and start playing. You’ll be amazed at how good it feels. The best part is you don’t need a big block of time, a few minutes a day is all you need!
Hope this inspires you to create some art!
Thanks for stopping by!!!
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“Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet.” ~Paul Klee
Who doesn’t like a good cup of coffee? In the United States it’s the number 1 beverage we consume. On average, a person drinks 3 cups of coffee per day or 1,095 cups a year. That’s a lot of coffee! Most think that coffee is safe and somewhat healthy to drink. But there’s so much more you don’t know even know about. After you read this, you may not look at your morning cup of Joe the same way.
Coffee used to be grown in the shade where the plants thrived. However, because of it’s popularity it’s now grown for mass production and as a result it’s the most intensively sprayed crop in the world. The crops require large amounts of fertilizer, pesticide and fungicide which make coffee toxic for consumers and also those who work and live in areas where coffee is produced.
Endosulfan is a pesticide that’s commonly used to combat a coffee consuming bug called a cherry borer. This pesticide is toxic to most animals and can affect the central nervous system, kidneys, liver and reproductive organs. Plus it’ has even been responsible for human death. That in itself is scary but wait there’s more…
Triadimefon is a copper based fungicide that’s only slightly toxic to birds and little is known of the toxicity to humans. But it’s suspected it may cause reproductive problems and even hyperactivity.
Chlorpyrifos is yet another chemical that can be found in your morning coffee. This is a pesticide that affects the central nervous system, can cause birth defects and even in some cases has caused death in humans. The EPA has been working on getting this highly toxic chemical out of our food supply but some things still have it.
With every cup of coffee you drink, you’re ingesting these chemicals. So if you can’t start your day with a cup of coffee, opt for organic. It may not be completely free of chemicals but it is far better than conventionally grown coffee.
Hope this didn’t scare you too much but it should be an eye opener so you can make better decisions about your health.
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“A healthy outside starts from the inside.” ~Robert Urich
This past week I joined Laly Mille a very talented artist from France for a free online workshop. It was absolutely wonderful as we created this journal spread together. I find Laly’s art mesmerizing with the lovely colors and dreamy romantic layers that pull you into each painting.
This butterfly spread took several layers but it was worth the wait. Originally I wanted the angels to be fully visible but then I thought angels are rarely seen but you know that they’re there. So I covered them a little, making them much softer and I liked how they turned out. I love pretty much the entire spread but my favorite part I think is the twinkling fairy lights, they look magical ✨ What’s your favorite part?
I highly recommend you hop over to Laly Mille’s site and revel in the beauty of her art at LalyMille.com. She also offers online courses which are available on her site.
Hope this inspires you to create some art!
Thanks for stopping by!!!
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“I dream of the painting and then I paint my dream.” ~Vincent Van Gogh
Flowing Waters Art 
