It's All About The WHIMSY!

Now this is fabulous!

Have you seen this?

 I received one for Christmas from a dear artsy friend, and it is FABULOUS!

A blank board..

Draw a picture using water and a japanese brush...

moments later...

Poof!  Gone!  Evaporated...

just let it go..

very Zen.

How lovely and more fun than you can possibly imagine!

Some amazing art can result..

A portrait of Miss Maggie by artist Drew Berry

and yes there is an app for that!

Check out Buddha Board, you will not be disappointed.  Of course you may already be enlightened to it's existence, for me a wonderful discovery!  Thank you Morgan...

Happy New Year!

 

Ending the year with a dreadful head cold that thankfully is now fading away....

no New Years Eve revelry for me...

 

A comfy chair, a cup of tea and a little art making to mark the closing of 2011.

 Confession....I was in bed asleep at 9PM!

Beginning 2012 on a much brighter note with TWO

new NME (no more excuses) journals:

This one a much larger format with loads of room to write and create!

And the beginnings of a grand adventure called

"No More Excuses Under the Influence"!

More journaling on a daily basis with an emphasis each month

on an individual artist!

First up is Hundertwasser

Check out this fabulous class on Gina Armfield's blog!

 

http://www.sweetsistergina.typepad.com/

Pieces of a whole and painting BIG

In the beginning...

after a weekend of playtime..

Most of the work on this large canvas was done with finger painting!

 Such fun but my nails will never be clean again!

Pieces of a whole...

and a thank you to Flora Bowley for the inspiration!

 

Now this is ALL about the WHIMSY!!

Painting with Flora Bowley...California Adventure Part 1

Just returned from sunny (?) southern California and a fabulous painting workshop in Malibu!  It rained like crazy...

The fabulous Flora Bowley and our hostess with the mostest Gina Armfield!

Spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean from the windows of the workshop, inspiring!

paint, paint and more paint, a hint of what is to come...

Such a joyful process as we learned mark making, color infusion and letting go on a LARGE canvas, with a little yoga and dancing thrown in for good measure.

adding color layer upon layer..

work in progress

did I mention we worked on two canvases simultaneously?

I returned home with one finished canvas and a work in progress.  Traveling cross country require pulling staples and folding work, both are now restretched and waiting in my studio.

A heartfelt thank you to Flora and Gina for an amazing experience and to all the wonderful artists in this workshop.   

Weekend wandering

A weekend away in the Berkshires of Massachusetts..

lovely long hikes through the woods

great friends, music and food!

What a pleasure to see John Williams conduct the Boston Pops..and a special treat that Morgan Freeman narrated the event!  Such a fabulous time!

Just glorious, the magic of nature!

Edith Wharton's home, The Mount.

A beautiful morning that ended with a Mozart concert at Tanglewood

and a drive home through some rather nasty weather.  

Farmer's Market finds!

What could be more wonderful than a "boot" full of flowers!  I drive a Mini Cooper you know...

Some inspiration for today's daily sketchbook page.

Drive By Post!

The Beauty of the Sea

Rome Point, Rhode Island

Blessings and Bravery

My very talented and lovely "big" sister Judi gifted me with this gorgeous handmade leather bound book some time ago.  Sometimes the sheer beauty of the object makes it so very difficult to open the book and actually write something in it..know what I mean?  Will whatever marks I make in this measure up to it's wonderfulness?   And so it has sat on "display" for quite some time gently calling to me...OPEN ME, Paint in ME!  Write something down PLEASE!

 Yes, I do think books can talk.

Well there's no going back now..

I have finally bravely jumped in!!  Believe me, this was not easy.  

I love the shape and scale of this treasure.  I feel blessed just holding it in my hands.  Thank you so much dear sister for your gift and your inspiration!

Colors of Chihuly

A few images from a recent trip to the Boston MFA for

the Dale Chihuly Exhibit.

Speechless!

Breathtaking!

Wonder!

Awe!

Inspirational!

Really...no words are needed.

Just enjoy the stunning creations!

Chihuly will be at the Boston MFA until August 7th, 2011.

Go, you will not be disappointed!!

IPhone Friday

 Eataly + Cappuccino = Yummy!