A peek inside my sketchbook

My latest sketchbook

While visiting in Providence, Rhode Island

at Squam in the City a few years ago,

I visited the amazing RISD Museum

(Rhode Island School of Design)

Oh my goodness their gift shop

and Art Supply Store was out of this world!

I purchased several accordion watercolor journals

and brought them home!

I have been in love with these little journals,

and am on my last one!

I haven't been able to find them since,

so guess I will try to online shop with the museum

to stock up on a few more!

I am in love with the accordion journals,

they are portable, and you can draw on both sides!!!

I decided to share it with you today,

and let you have a peek inside.

I love to carry a small travel bag at all times,

I only carry this small journal,

a portable watercolor palette,

pencils, micron pens, eraser

and of course a water brush.

I never want to find myself without supplies,

there is so much inspiration out there in the world,

a quick sketch is just a moment away.

I am practicing my sketching skills,

I'm not always good with perspective!

I guess I didn't pay attention enough in art class!

Documenting my favorite OBX destination

Just sketching what I see

Drawing and Sketching are used in so many

parts of my life ...

sometimes it is nice to step away from Zentangle®

which is a very focused and meditative way of drawing.

Even in my Tapestry Weaving journey ...

drawing my cartoons are important,

which then become a woven cloth.

I've been playing with all my watercolors
in a different journal I created
for my friend Mindy Lacefield's
Watercolor Journal Course 
(she is amazing and I'm just relaxing and playing)
I'm learning to just enhance my painting and design skills

That's it for today ...

just a peek inside my sketches.

Wishing you warmth, love, creativity

and above all

peace in your daily walk!

Donna Lee

Quiet Words

Creativity

Every day

is an opportunity

to be creative ~

the canvas is

your mind,

the brushes

and colours

are your thoughts

and feelings,

the panorama is

your story,

the complete

picture is a work

of art called

"my life"

Be careful what

you put on the canvas

of your mind today ~

it matters.

(Innerspace)

I shared this at closing yesterday

with my Zentangle@ Class

and thought it was perfect

to share on my blog post

this last day of October.

Blessings to you always

Donna Lee

What a difference a day makes

One day to the next!

I'm always trying to learn and grow,

some days are better than others!

Each day is a learning experience,

if only I will take the time to observe 

my world around me!

Mornings are the perfect time for me,

I wake up early and I am full of energy.

It is when I can accomplish my best work!

As the day moves on, I find myself

more tired and depleted of energy.
(A feeling most of us experience these days)

Then frustration moves in because

I didn't do what I expected to get done,

and the cycle of "Whoa is Me" sets in.

I could wake up the next day,

and accomplish so much in so little time,

What a difference a day makes

Writing is important to me,

yet putting pen to page,

or even coming to write a blog post,

is sometimes a chore

and I never want that to be.

Writing for me is allowing my very own

heart thoughts to spill onto the page.

Words come one day and then they don't the next,

again, 
What a difference a day makes!

Staying in tune with my mind and heart

allows me to be fully aware of where I am

 in that exact moment.

It certainly can change from day to day.
What a difference a day makes!

When I find myself running at a fast pace,

I am feeling as though I have let myself down.

I am no longer taking the time to enjoy 
what is right in front of me.
That saddens me.

All kinds of thoughts and negative emotions set in.

Do you find that true for your own life?

Each day is a gift.
It is an opportunity to grow a little deeper,
or just remain the same.
The choice is certainly ours to make.
Each day changes something in my own life and in yours!
Recognize those moments when
the shift is happening.
Think about what you need to change or work through
Recognize What a difference a day makes!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Creative Process .

I am always amazed when the Creative Process takes hold.

There are days, sometimes weeks, nothing seems to come,

and there are days when in the studio,

it just overflows and time passes quickly.

The process of play and intuition go hand in hand for me.

The hardest thing for me is blocking out time in the studio,

I mean NON INTERRUPTED time,

it is rare these days.

I have been so blessed to take workshops
with some amazing Artists,
attend soul inspiring retreats,

work on some wonderful e-courses

and with each workshop and each book read,

I learn something new ... I take a creative nugget

and apply it to my own artwork.

We are all in this Creative Process together!

I am grateful for the knowledge and experience

I have gained over the past few years.

Now I am creating my own works,

with my own style and techniques,

choosing a color palette 

and designs that speak 

 I have been creating my own canvas work 

to fill my home,

I felt it was time to hang my own work,

not just the work of artists I have admired over the years.

I have created large canvas works as gifts for others,

each one carrying their own unique style,

feeling proud of my own accomplishments

as an Artist.
It has taken quite sometime for me to
call myself An Artist,
and mean it with confidence!

Creativity is a gift,

time alone to create is a gift,

having my own room to create in is definitely a gift.

How I feel a sense of wonder

whenever I enter the studio,

filled with white lights, art supplies,

and inspiration from others!

I am at home with my brushes,
I have learned to just let them move on the canvas,
letting them dance all by themselves.
I love just letting Creativity flow,
there were so many years I tried to follow
others style perfectly, being afraid
to step out on my own,
Believe me, I don't think that way anymore!

The Process is about letting go,
no judgement and certainly no rules,
that is where my best work happens!

Now I am teaching others through An Artful Spirit,
I am thrilled beyond any measure
to share what I know,
every quarter my Artful Spirit partner Suzan Thompson and I
lead others in day long mini art retreats,
the days are filled with magic and creativity!
You can check out our latest offering here
Our next will be held on February 28, 2015
at the beautiful
Virginia Beach Resort Hotel
I would love to see you there
and you too can learn this
beautiful and meditative painting process!

Sending you blessings, love
and all the creative moments you can find in your life.

Donna Lee

An Artful Spirit number three ...

Just capturing a photo moment

Each and every time Suzan and I

create another 

Artful Spirit Workshop

I am thrilled beyond measure

at the results of it all!

I have to say "pinch me please"

for the experience.

Yes there is so much pre-planning

to get to this point,

but so worth the effort put in to it!

I get so excited to see a student

who thinks they can't do it,

actually playing with art,

no judgement, no one better than the other,

no planning

just fun and happy play . . .

magic begins to happen!

 The student who walked in that morning

is not the same when they walked out

carrying their bag full of goodies

and art stuff

THEY CREATED!

Here are some of my moments collected

from this past Saturday's workshop ...

happy creative moments

were had by all! 

I obviously can't post them all!

Beginning with painted papers

Just starting the first creative exercise

Had to click a pic of me and my daughter n law Lauren

Hilary taking a shot for Instagram

Yes ... Instagram ... sharing painted papers

Shelly beginning her soulful collage

Marty just beginning to find special images for her collage 

These collages took a lot of thought and time to work through

Lunch in the restaurant with a view overlooking the Chesapeake Bay

My Best Friend in Life for over 33 years!  Her first Artful Spirit

Did anyone need a paintbrush? 

Playing with watercolors and affirmations 

Heather carefully playing with her watercolors
(Happy Birthday girl)

Love seeing all the concentration happening here 

Sharing our work together 

A Taste of Zentangle
Four tangles taught ... different perspectives

Bright colors and words EVERYWHERE

Coming together to admire our work and take lots of pictures

Collage work complete ... beautiful!

Demonstration of a Zentangle tile

Having fun with rubber cement and images

Simplicity is a state of mind

Elementary Art Teacher hard at play

Toni concentrating and wearing Suzan's art shirt 

YES I would say fun was had by all!

 We are planning these events

Quarterly

and each and every time

we try to come up with new and exciting workshops!

Come on along and join us won't you!

Next one will be April 5, 2014

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

9:00 am to 5:00pm

see you there!

Last Tuesday ...

Let's sit awhile and share a cup together

Yes today is my last Tuesday

of being 55 years old.

So I say ... on to another year!

I guess we all get a bit reflective 

when birthday time

rolls around,

I am truly no different than you!

I have just sat and reflected on how

wonderful the past year has been for me.

How I found myself creatively:

My Artistic Soul woke up

My Artwork truly took flight on its own

An Artful Spirit was launched

I now have facilitated two art workshops

Poetry and Writing became

a lifestyle for me

My Poetry was published

I have read my poems out loud to a crowd
I purchased a new awesome camera
Photography became a new passion

I have fallen in love with

the Art of Zentangle

I made a commitment 

to try and live creatively

each and every day

and I have!

So I say on to 56!!

I look forward to what will

be in store for me

for Donna Lee

is still a little girl at heart

loving her life

I step forward into another year 

full of promise

soon approaching grandmotherhood

something totally new to experience!

Life is such an incredible journey

each and every day.

I love the woman I have become,

it's taken many years and experiences

to get to this very spot.

But I am finally here!

So on this last day of being fifty five,

I embrace what lies ahead

bringing with me

life lessons learned.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

An Artful Spirit filled day

Suzan and I ready for the day

Our second Artful Spirit Workshop

was incredible once again!

What a great day we had at the 

Virginia Beach Resort Hotel

this past Saturday.

Eight of us in attendance

ready for a fun filled

creative experience!

The Room was filled with bright light,

large work tables, dark chocolate almonds

and inspiration everywhere!

We started with our first journal exercise...

setting our intention for the day,

along with some meditative breathing,

 we then began with a Zen Circle exercise,

set the pace for the entire day together!

We read quotes about the importance

of journaling,

read children's story books,

and played with paint

(which is why we all came right???)

So much time spent on playing,

letting go, creating and enjoying the process.

Next workshop was to learn collage,

working with papers and gel medium,

the table was filled with whatever they wanted to choose,

each participant created a collage cover

for their journals

(when asked... it seemed to be one of the favorite sessions!)

(Oops ... my toes are missing!)

Time for a break ... after hours of creating

We all had lunch together

in a "circular" table

at the restaurant over looking 

the Chesapeake Bay.

Good conversation, brainstorming,

laughter and friendships being established.

As we gathered back for the second half of the day

we shifted gears ...

watercolor and doodling, 

we truly just got to play with

all kinds of watercolor sets and paints,

create fun things,

all the while incorporating these techniques

into our art journals.

I think they had fun, what do you think?

We then shifted our watercolor techniques

to creating a Zendala for their journal

(now you know I would have to get that in there!!!!)

We started in the center of a full journal page,

and began to work from the center out

they could finish their work at home

and watercolor later.

I had pre-painted 5 x 7 watercolor cards

for each participant

and let them choose which one spoke to them

to take home and play with.

We then chose another,

started the center design and

we did a round robin,

where each participant drew

part of the Zendala design

for their classmate,

what a treasure we all had when we were finished!

A small piece of new friendships formed that day.

(when asked again ... this was the favorite session)

We ended the last session with

creating an art board collage

using 6 x 6 aqua board

yet another keepsake of the day

We ended with photos, hugs and more laughter!

Sending out peace and love and light to our classmate

that had to leave early ...

When I think of what living an Artful Spirited life means ...

I think of living with a creative heart, mindfulness, 

soul searching every moment,

letting go of expectations and perfections, 

living with curiosity,

finding happiness in all things,

 seeking out moments to be artful and creative,

but most of all living with a 

sense of wonder and amazement,

it is an awesome way to see the world around you!

What a wonderful workshop we had,

one I won't forget for a long time.

We are already forming ideas

for Artful Spirit #3,

it just keeps getting better and better.