Inspiration from Monet

Ode to Monet

My last class from Creative Thursday with Marisa was this past week.  Our assignment was to create something or anything we wanted to.  It was called a wild card project.  We could try any medium and do anything we wanted to.  I wasn't sure what I was going to create, until I stumbled across a picture of me standing in front of Monet's Water Lilies painting in my journal.  My heart stopped and I remembered when I actually stood next to a Monet Water Lily in the Metroplitan Museum of Art two years ago on a wonderful Sunday morning.   It was many years before that when I had the privilege to see the triptych of  "Clouds on the Water Lily Pond" paintings in the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), also in New York City.

For my last project with Creative Thursday I chose to finger paint a Monet Waterlillies painting.  I had actually taken a finger painting workshop at my local Jerry's Artarama a while back with Allen Montague, a finger painting maestro. (You can find him demonstrating on YouTube).  It was fun to learn a new technique on a Friday afternoon. I took lots of notes, I bought the paints and canvas but I never did anything with it after the workshop.  Does this sound familiar?  How many art projects are we going to get to someday!  We collect art stuff and more art stuff!

Monet has truly been my painting inspiration my whole watercolor artistic life (that sounds silly doesn't it?)  I love his choice of colors, his style of impressionistic painting.  I have read as much about Monet as I possibly can and have truly fallen in love with his Waterlilly series of paintings.  In fact, Monet truly was the leader of the impressionistic movement in France.  No one else compared! When I was attending a Vision conference in New York City I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Modern Art.   I saw lots of paintings and unusual photographs that I didn't understand and did not find impressive.  I know that all art is interpreted to individual tastes; so I know someone appreciated the exhibits I saw, I truly did not!

I then stumbled into one room that was filled with Monet's Waterlilies.  In this large room was a series of three large panels of oil paintings depicting Japanese style ponds covered in water lilies.  I truly felt an overwhelming flood of emotions.  I stood in awe! The three canvases were displayed on three separate walls.  Monet had always specified that they be displayed on curved walls so that it would feel like water.   Please believe me when I say I that I sat there for hours in peaceful meditation just feeling the presence of Monet; my favorite artist of all time.  I sketched with my journal, wrote my observations of his techniques and color choices.  If only I could speak to him, watch him with paintbrush in hand, meet him face to face; heck how about study with him...a girl can dream can't she???

Photos courtesy of MoMA website

As I listened to the audio commenting on these wonderful paintings, I learned that Monet completed these paintings in 1920.  He painted these paintings with failing eyesight in the last years of his life. Being an Optician, my heart felt for him with his failing eyesight and his desire to continue painting.  He truly wasn't finished with all he wanted to accomplish.   In fact, his color choices were greatly criticized by others.  That is exactly what I love and am drawn to the most in these paintings; his choice of muted and gentle colors.  I also learned that these three large canvases were stored for over twenty years after his death before they were exhibited in any museum. I can just envision a stuffy room full of Monet's paintings all over and no one tending to these precious treasures. The MoMA acquired all three canvases in 1959 and have remained there ever since.  I urge you to see them if you find yourself in New York City.  I came home with a large poster of that exhibit and it is a reminder for me of that wonderful Sunday morning experience.

So my little finger painting was completed in just a few hours.  I played classical music by Debussy and began the creative process.  It was fun to try something new and it is amazing what your fingers can do with some acrylic paint.  I am used to painting with watercolors, but acrylic was fun and different for me.  So another lesson learned:  Don't be afraid to step out of your creative box! Thank you for the challenge Marisa.  What a wonderful course that was for six weeks.  If she offers it again, please consider taking it, you will not be disappointed.  It is important to be with a community of creatives.

My creative thursday!

So I now have a new addition to my art studio and as I look at it I am reminded of many things:  trying something new is good for you . . . I am still in awe of Monet the man and his work . . . Museums on a Sunday morning are awesome . . . fill your eyes with good art . . . be inspired by others . . .   study your mentors  and learn about them . . . and most of all enjoy your wonderful artistic life.

My new journal came today

Where magic thoughts begin!

I just happened to have the day off today and I had decided that this would be a day of self care for me.  A quiet morning at home, reading and knitting, then special tea time with a friend, a hot yoga class and of course a nap would be in there somewhere in my afternoon.   I work full time as an Optician in a very demanding Eyecare practice.   I have to choose my days off carefully;  today happened to be a Jewish Holiday and we were closed, the time off was a gift and I took it gladly!  When I arrived home after running my errands, I saw sticking in my front door was a package.   I was really excited because I thought it might just be a journal I had ordered on Etsy a few short days ago with my birthday money.  I could think of no better gift than this journal.   There it was, beautifully handcrafted and ready for me to begin writing.  My day had just become even more special.

My thoughts began to flood me today and I wanted to share them with you.  I think that we forget sometimes the joy of writing and journaling. How wonderful it feels to have pen in hand and actually handwrite onto a page.   I know that beginning this blog has been a way for me to express what is inside of me, a way to express in a totally different way than writing in my journals.  I have learned to write deeply, share freely those thoughts, work on my computer, how to design a blog and all that goes with that.  I have mentioned before, adding widgets and gadgets, was not a part of my vocabulary.  I didn't even know how to link anyone or anything!  This was a whole new world for me and I am enjoying the entire process.  I have learned though that it is taking an enormous amount of time and energy to keep a blog and be able to do it successfully.  When one thing takes time, something else is always sacrificed.  I realize for me my written word and journals were being slighted.  Life truly is a balance of give and take isn't it???

I do not want to get so involved with the writing of my blog that I forget my love of journaling, my love for drawing and doodling on the page.  When I look back at my older journals and read through them I am amazed to see the messages that come through loud and clear.  Thoughts from my heart and mind from many years ago.  I have journals about weaving, knitting projects, poetry, short stories, a diary of inner thoughts, sketches etc.  This is truly the magic that happens within a paper journal.

A variety of magical pages!

So as my new journal arrived today at just the perfect time I was reminded that I can't wait to begin writing an entry in it today during my self care and self nurturing time.  What better way to take care of myself than writing my inner thoughts and dreams on a brand new page of my beautiful new journal!!  I also decided that this was a good thing to share on my blog with my friends.

Inside the cover!

I encourage you to check out the journals and artwork from Harmony Lenasbunt at www.feedyoursoulart.etsy.com, you will not be disappointed.  I also have a tab at the left side of my blog page and it will take you right to her gorgeous blog.  I want everyone to know about Harmony!  She is so talented and her journals and artwork are to inspire others.  I will treasure my new journal and as soon as it is filled, I will treat myself to another!!

I want to push you a little today ... try journaling.  Or if it has been a long time since you have written down your inner thoughts, revisit it again.  Grab a small notebook, journal, piece of paper, napkin  or whatever you can find to being writing your inner thoughts.  Begin with this...Today I am feeling....

It is that easy.  See where your thoughts take you.  Don't forget to let me know how it turns out.

Thank you for following my small baby blog and I thank you for your comments and words of encouragement to me.  I am having a wonderful time with it, it is growing and I am growing in ways I never dreamed that I would.  Blessings to you and more blessings my friend!

My Creative Space

Do you have a creative space?  I recently was given this wonderful canvas picture for my birthday.  I immediately knew that it would hang somewhere special is my art studio.  I took a look at all the beautiful things in my studio and realized how blessed I am to have a room to call my own! 


As I look through my studio space I see my weaving loom, my yarns, special gifts, paintings, trinkets, treasures, pictures of friends and experiences, beads, my watercolor palette, paintbrushes and so much more.  I realize that this is a room all of my own, no one but me!  That is a pretty awesome feeling.  As we raise our children and go through life doing all the things we must do, we try to fit in our creative time when and if we can.  Our "creative tools" are stuck in boxes, drawers, closets, on our dining room tables, the utility room, anywhere we can stuff our stuff! Does this sound at all familiar to you?  Rooms in the house were for raising our precious children; bedrooms, toy rooms etc.  I will cherish those years forever and I am reminded of how quickly that time in my life passed by,  but now my children are both raised and married with homes of their own. 

All my stuff!

View from my loom

Some of my art book collection

I took over my son's bedroom, probably the day he moved out!  He never seems to forget to remind me of that.  I couldn't wait to get the walls painted and move into my studio. I will always cherish the day when my daddy and I painted the walls together and we were singing Frank Sinatra tunes all day. I began to envision how I wanted it laid out, where all of my art supplies would go and how it would feel to me when it was completed!  I was not disappointed, how awesome it is to have all of my supplies in one special place.  I still get tickled about having a studio and it has been years now. 

Another view!

Entering my studio

As I enter my studio there is always a sense of calm, peace and familiarity.  I know that my creative senses begin to emerge and I am totally lost in the moment.  Those moments can turn into hours very quickly.  I enjoy just spending time glancing through my books for inspiration and ideas.  I listen to my music, light my candles and incense and time gets quickly away from me.


I realize now that having a creative space all of my own has enhanced my artwork immensely.  When I had to pull out my art supplies to create something, the effort was more than the time I had to create.  Now that I have my studio, everything is there for me.  My watercolors are ready, the loom is sitting there for me, the books are waiting for me to reach for them.  Most important of all, are the objects hung on the walls, the yarns full of color and texture,  the gifts I have been given by friends, all of the little things I have collected over the past years.  These are the things where my inspiration lies.  I cannot begin to tell you what seeing my special things do for me.  


I am blessed, yes I know it and in so many ways.  I could go on and on in sharing with you the blessings in my life, but this post is about creative space.  I have read many blogs, and magazines about where women are doing their work, I am truly not alone in this quest for privacy and creativity.   I highly recommend the magazine "Where Women Create" published by Stampington  & Company's Somerset Studio.  This was created by a brilliant lady Jo Packham, there is also a website www.wherewomencreate.com.  I encourage you to check it out, it is filled with inspiration and beautiful photos and stories of women who are doing far greater things than I!

Letting the creative light in!

A space for everything creative!

I wanted to share with you my little spot of creative heaven.  If you cannot have a room of your own right now, how about a corner of your own.  There are many ways to turn a small room, closet or corner of your home into a working space.  I used my utility room for years when my guys were little.  There was my loom and yarns right along next to my washer and dryer.  It can be done if you want it badly enough.


I hope you have been inspired by my creative space and that you find a special place to call your very own.  I would love to hear from you and share with me your thoughts and ideas.  Find delight in every day and in all that you see.
Donna

Time for Retreat

405 Queen Elizabeth Avenue

This past weekend was my 53rd birthday getaway.  My husband took me away to Manteo, North Carolina in the Outer Banks.  We stayed in the beautiful Tranquil House Inn, my favorite place to rest and retreat. It sits beautifully on the waterfront surrounded by wooded boardwalks, iron benches and amazing sailboats that sat docked.  The town is quaint, quiet and oh so charming.  Each little shop carries a charm of their own.  My eyes were filled with beautiful colors from plants on the street to the beauty of pottery, paintings, jewelry and art galleries.  I could feel my creative senses in their full awareness!!

Ready for my Birthday weekend!

So many times we let our lives get so filled with what we must do; then when we are home we fill it with the sounds of television and play on our computers, we forget to see the beauty in stillness and quiet. That hurts my heart and I include myself in that statement.  I know I have touched on this subject before, but it keeps returning to my thought process.

This past weekend was truly a gift for me in so many ways.  Of course as I turn another year older, my mind had to settle in to the new year mark and we must sort out any feelings of "getting older" that I needed to.  This year I truly had no problem with the number 53, imagine that!  I am grateful that God has blessed me with a wonderful life.  My children are strong, healthy and self sufficient.  Each one of my boys are now married to wonderful mates, and I have the blessing of being a mom to my wonderful daughter-n-laws.  My husband and I celebrated 33 years of marriage this year and we are both healthy and truly still in love with each other.  That my friends is an accomplishment in this day and time.

So I spent time in retreat this weekend.  Being quiet, sketching, reading, knitting and spending quality time with my husband.  Praying and thinking about my past and how far I had come in this wonderful gift called life.  I took the time with my thoughts about all the things I want to accomplish in the future and thought of the wonderful artwork I wanted to explore!  The list is long but attainable!

A future watercolor!

It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to get away.  What a beautiful place this was and just a few minutes away was the ocean, another retreat place for me.  Walking the beach, hearing the waves roll in, watching the sea gulls....God's world is pretty amazing.  We all have to just take the time to slow down and see it.  My birthday was a beautiful day, my weekend was inspiring and time with my thoughts was immeasurable!  I am ready to return to real life, full of hope and promise for creating some beautiful artwork.  Whether it be with a paintbrush in hand, time in my journal or knitting a lace scarf.  Fall is fast approaching and this is my favorite time of year.  Time to stay home and nest.  Letting your creative spirit retreat and rest is an opportunity to hear what is inside. Try . . . it's amazing!

Sheer Blissfulness!

My Creativity Challenge for Summer

I have just purchased this incredible book entitled

Taking Flight

(Inspiration & Techniques to give your Creative Spirit Wings) 

 by Kelly Rae Roberts  

Now I have had it on my Kindle since April and was enjoying the read; but when I was in Borders last week I ran into the physical copy in the artist section.  It truly leaped out of the shelf and into my hands!!!

As I began to flip through the pages, the colors and photographs were stunning to me.  Now that my friends is something reading on the Kindle can't do for you! (There is a lesson for me, anything about creativity must not be read on an electronic reader, I need visuals!)

I have followed Kelly's blog for quite some time.  You can find her link right here on my blog, please take the time to check it out.  I find her to be delightful, whimsical and inspiring.  When I grow up as an artist,  I want to be just like her!

How incredible it must be to follow your creative dreams,  be able to do what you love all day long, inspire others and make a living at it at the same time!  She has reached so many with her artistic abilities, I love to look at her work.  Not only does she share with us her techniques, she also invites other artists into her book to share their techniques as well.  She promises the book is overflowing with inspiration and the book does not disappoint.

While reading her book this weekend, it came to me that I needed to challenge myself to create something each week for the remaining of summer. I wanted to do an exercise that inspired me from her book.  I have been intrigued with collage techniques for awhile now and wanted to incorporate the technique into my watercolors.

So starting this week, I am going to try to create something magically inspired from Kelly's book.  Along with my Creative Thursday E-course, I feel the creative juices are starting to flow.  I will challenge myself past what I am comfortable with.  

The time I spent taking care two very ill parents was a very difficult period in my life.  It took all of me just to get up in the morning and make it through another day.  My creativity dried up and the desire to be artistic completely went away.  I am sure many artists have experienced this scenario.  I am grateful for the lessons I learned and I now know that we must take the time to nurture our own creative spirit, even during the most difficult of times. 

I recognize that my inner artist now wants to come out and play.

I have been truly inspired and I anticipate where my art journey will take me.  I am grateful that there are artistic ones who are out there writing excellent books and beautiful blogs to inspire us all.  I encourage you to explore the wonderful teachers and instructors that are out there. You just have to be willing to be open and receive what they have to say.  Be willing to try something new and challenging.

I look forward to my first piece inspired by Taking Flight.  Thanks Kelly for inspiring me in such an easy and inviting way! I am sure there will be another blog post soon!

Get back to my fibers and artwork

Finishing my socks

I realize that I haven't been knitting or weaving recently! I recently picked up a pair of socks that I started over six months ago and they still aren't finished.  That makes me sad.  They are full of lace and cables and beautiful, I want to get them finished.  Living a life in balance is hard.  The demands of life with family needs, spousal attention, work and life commitments all take us away from our artistic journey. I want to do these things, but I also want to be a creative individual.

I know for me I always feel better when I can have creative time in each day.  I purposely get up early each morning, to have some type of creative time for myself.  The emails, blogs and facebook have begun to take more and more of my time.  I find that the fiber arts and  painting gets put to the side.  I am not sure how to fix that.  I know all artists struggle with this.  I am not a full time artist and it is not my financial support for life, therefore I don't give it as much importance  or validation.

I have made a commitment to myself this week, to watch less mindless television, to stay away from my social networking "facebook" and concentrate on more creative time with myself.  Can I do it???  I surely hope so.  I don't feel good when I am not allowing my creative spirit to soar!  It has only been a day and the urge to cut the television on is strong.  Hmmmmm something is out of balance here!

I look forward to coming back to myself and my art.  I need that.  Everything in my life is pretty wonderful, so this little area of concern can be fixed.  Living a life in balance is a very hard thing to do, but it can be done.

I went to the art store yesterday, I am fortunate to have a Jerry's Artarama just FIVE MINUTES from my house, how cool is that!  I bought myself some artistic treats.  I was looking for a nice set of watercolor pencils and found them.  I was stirred up with excitement as I carried my little bag out of the store and I look forward to quiet time and experimenting with them.

I am trying to finish my socks before fall and they will be a pair of hand knit socks just for me.  They will remind me of  over coming procrastination and getting things accomplished.  My desire is to live my life more creatively and I am giving myself permission to do so!
Blessings

"Serenity"

I was creating this week and was enjoying painting this simple little tree.  As I finished it I was able to take a look at it and the title "Serenity" came to me.  Somehow it seemed to fit perfectly.  It is often hard to work on a piece and then give it the perfect title.

In creating art, sometimes we over do things, over think the process and carry a project too far.  Lately I have been concentrating on knowing when a piece is finished and doesn't need anymore!  That is harder than you think!

Serenity comes in many forms.  A quiet morning with no distractions, the beauty of your  own backyard, the birds singing their melodies, the written word, a quiet bath, a beautiful song, candlelight...I could go on and on.  I have been trying to find Serenity in my life lately. 

I yearn for quiet and am trying hard to not get distracted in the business of life.  Retreating to my studio and painting seems to work for me lately.  I love the quietness when my own inner muse speaks to me.  It is always there with me, I just need to take the time to listen and hear.

So I look at the simpleness of my little tree and remind myself to look for Serenity in all things. I know for me I feel more at peace when stillness is involved.  I truly believe my creative soul is beginning to flourish again, and for that I am grateful.  It has been a while since I have come out to play!!  I welcome the opportunity. 

I invite you to look for the Serenity and stillness in your own life and be grateful when you find it.  Life is one amazing adventure and there is so much out there for us to seek.  

Blessings always to you my friends.

My Creativity Course Challenge

www.creativethursday.com

This has been such a fun week for me.  I recently enrolled in the Creative Thursday E-Course by Marisa Haedike and we began our projects this week.  I had never enrolled in an E Course before, but I was looking for some motivation to come my way and there Marisa was!  I had always followed her blog and enjoyed her posts and her website.  The description of this course truly made my heart leap and I knew it was something I wanted to do.

Each week she would post a video and a "Creative Challenge" that we would each participate in.  You also get to communicate with the other fellow "Creatives" as Marisa calls us.  (I like that)  You can leave comments  for each other on her blog, or post pics on the Flicker Site.  I am already learning more than I thought and it is just week one.  I didn't even know what Flicker was!

This weeks challenge was to create something from Photography or Writing.  I love the writing, so I decided to do something out of my comfort zone, Photography.  I have a great little Nikon Coolpix, but what I don't have is a fancy dancy incredible camera.  I started taking lots of shots of gardens, my own plants, and things in the Outer Banks this past weekend.  I settled on a plant that my four children put together for me for Mother's Day.

I love the colors and the different hues in the Elephant Ear leaves, so I took a picture as you can see.

I took several pictures of the plant, but what I wanted to concentrate on was capturing the beautiful colors and doing something with them.  How would I do that?  I chose watercolors, my favorite medium of all! I got out my paints, paper and brushes and started to blend and see the colors start to come together.  I then even added a little texture medium to the watercolors.  I started to play with the painting, still knowing I was not done with my project yet.

So I got the idea to create a paper weaving with my painting.  I began to cut up the painting in little 1/2" strips.  I learned never to be afraid to do something different with your work, not all watercolor paintings are meant to be framed and hung on the wall!  I began paper weaving and liked what I saw!

I took a step back to observe my work and realized that I had come to where I wanted to be.  What had I learned from this experience???

Visualization

Creative Play

Photography

Project deadlines work!

Inner pride for a job well done

Today I took it just a step further and decided to frame a little extra piece of the weaving.  I then proceeded to write words that spoke to me (don't think you can see in photo)  I began to write the words love, yoga, muse, create, think, awareness, zen

on the strip of weaving.  This will hang in my studio.

So my first week's challenge was fun and as I am finishing my blog entry to share with you, I realized that I did use both mediums Marisa asked us to use, photography and writing, here is my writing in my blog!

Creativity is about exploration, design, and listening to what is inside.  Sometimes it doesn't always work and sometimes you come up with delightful surprises.  To me creativity is all about finding the time to work at what you love and never being afraid to try something "out of my comfort zone".

Thanks Creative Thursday, can't wait to see what is up for next week!

Painting with my Watercolors

"Blissful"

I just finished framing one of my paintings entitled "Blissful" and I am pretty tickled with it!  I have been studying watercolor paintings for over three years and this is not the easiest medium to work with.  It does take time to get comfortable with it and I believe I have finally crossed over the line from fear into comfortable!


I will never be a traditional watercolor artist who paints faces or barns or houses.  I am definitely more spontaneous than that, I am just allowing the paint to go where it wants to go.  I consider my work to                   be abstract and I love that.  I never know what I will get.


I have had the opportunity to study with some pretty wonderful teachers over the years, through structured courses and workshops.  I think I prefer the workshop setting more than the classroom setting.  In a workshop you get your favorite teacher for two to three days, paint like crazy, fill your notebook with ideas and things you want to remember and off to your homes and studios you go.  When I look back at my photos and notes, I learned so much in a very short time.  


I have also learned with some wonderful watercolor teachers as well.  Each bringing a different approach to the medium and I have been able to learn from all of them.  To let you know just how serious I was about learning to paint, I went to  my teacher's home, every Friday morning at 8:00 am to be to work at my full time job at 10:00am.  I did this routine for months.   She would put a lot of effort in the classes for me and I will always be grateful for my watercolor beginnings.  Thank you Janet!  I then was able to learn from an incredible friend and teacher of mine, Louis Jones,  son of Herb Jones.  An incredible artist in his own right, he shares his gallery with wife Susan, and son Ryan.  What an incredibly talented family that is, and I consider my artistic journey blessed by being able to study with them.  I would go on Wednesday evenings, after working a full day and go to the art gallery where classes were being held.  There he would teach a technique and we would paint for hours under his direction.  If we were lucky enough, he would play his guitar for us while we were painting.  I loved the group setting, but at times that can be intimidating, so many artists on different levels!  Thank you Louis for your encouragement and direction.


Now I feel as if time in my studio is the best teacher of all.  I have learned that you can take the best classes and workshops, travel to learn, buy wonderful art supplies; but if you don't spend time growing with the medium it is worth nothing.  I am my best teacher.  I know what colors stir me.  I know when a painting is worthy of framing and I definitely know what speaks to my creative heart.


I will never be a famous artist, I know that.  I paint because it makes me happy.  Painting calms me during uncertain times and I love sharing it with others.  Watercolor is fun, it is mysterious,  it is frustrating, but all in all a beautiful medium.  Try it sometime, seek out a teacher, buy some supplies and try your hand at it, you will never regret it.  You never know, you might be framing something spectacular.


Hugs and Blessings to you my friends!

Learning something new!

I am really enjoying the blogging experience.  As you can see I have created a new background and added a few design elements into my page.  Before starting this blog, I had only read other people's blogs and enjoyed them.  I always wanted to have my own place where I could go and express what was in my heart and mind, but I was apprehensive about where to begin.  I doubted that I could accomplish it.  With time I have taught myself to write freely and create a place that I enjoy going to.  I have learned to design borders, add gadgets, incorporate pics, multi link myself to my "social networks" (see I am also getting the lingo down!).  The internet can be a scary and intimidating place but it can also be a wonderful place to connect with friends and family.  I  also met many new friends with the same creative interests as mine.

Learning is a good thing and as I soon approach my 53rd birthday,  I have learned that we are never too old to learn something new.  I like that all of my kids have MacBook computers.  They talked me into getting one and I have learned from scratch how to use it.  It is so intuitive and amazing at the same time.  I have jumped in with both feet and I know I haven't scratched the possibilities this computer gives to me.  Every time my son Curt comes to visit, he is showing me something new or fixing something I didn't get quite right!
I know that when I write down my feelings and post something for my blog, it goes out into that big computer world.  I know that I am creating words for myself and I hope that a few of you are enjoying it.    
I will continue to learn and grow through this experience.  So you see creating doesn't always have to be with yarn or paintbrush in hand or spending money on the latest new project!  It can be with writing from the heart.   The written word is magical and enlightening.  I knew English was my favorite subject in school for a reason!!  It wasn't until just now that I figured that out.

May your day be filled with creative blessings today!