SIGNING OFF...

Well, we are coming to the end of 2011 and it has been a rewarding year in many ways.  I have loved, and I mean loved, all of you in blogland.  I have appreciated each and every visit my blog has received!  The encouragement, education, inspiration and motivation has been amazing.  My art has grown and so have I as an individual and artist.  As much as I love this little personal space I am signing off for now.

I have some family concerns that need my attention and time.  So, as there are only so many hours in a day somethings gotta give, as they say, and its my blog.  I hope to pop in from time to time and check in on all of you.  I will miss Friday Paint Party's with Eva and Kristin - as well as - Sunday Sketches with Sophia!!!So you may get a shout out from me but for the most part I will not be blogging for awhile.

May all of you have a healthy happy and artful 2012!!!!  Much love and cheers, dana

REMEMBER:  MAKE ART, MAKE FRIENDS - SHARE ART, SHARE SOULS

finally finished for PAINT PARTY FRIDAY...

My, An American Girl..a friend asked me to paint a girl riding a bike - hair blowing in the wind, and she added: oh yes, I like the American Flag!!!  So here is what I am sending her:  An American Girl....

In life's journey always take the Scenic Route

Hope she likes it!  I trust that each and everyone has had a Great Thanksgiving and is looking forward to a happy and safe holiday season!  Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting, especially at such a busy time of year!  It will take me all week, as always, to get through Paint Party Friday but it is always worth it!!!!
cheers, dana
ps We went to the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game and came within 15 ft. of former Defensive-end for the Oakland/ LA Raiders....HOWIE LONG!!!!  My husband lovingly tolerated my craziness over it!!!!

p.s.s. should hit 55 today soooooooooooo one more ride before we put the bikes away for the long winter, it will be chilly but we'll be dressed for it and the sun is out!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE IN BLOGLAND!!!!

Sorry I haven't posted BUT (there is always a but) vacation was FANTASTIC and exhausting!!!  Getting home and catching up with: laundry, grocery shopping, parents, kids and grandkids...oh yes, work!!!  It has been jam packed.  So, this weekend of course lots going on but ready to get back into my art-groove!!!
May all of you and yours have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!!!

                                      RELAX, ENJOY, HUG LOTS AND GIVE THANKS!!!!



make art, make friends - share art, share souls....thanks for stopping by I cherish each visit from my artful blog family!!!!

cheers, dana

Quick post for Paint Party Friday...

I have added a bit to my bicycle girl but will have to finish her when I return from KEY WEST, yes, in caps because I am screaming with excitement.  I never pack in advance but this trip is long over due and I have had my clothes laid out for 3 weeks... ready to go in the morning.

But, in my tiny sketch book that I carry around I have done a couple quickies that I can share, I hope to share some stuff from on the road but we'll see!!!!

First stop is Lauderdale to see my brother in his Hair & Massage Studio, Dean Allen's!!! 

Then Sugarloaf Key for 3 days then onto Key West for 4 days!!!!  Probably posting on facebook alot!!!!  If you care to join our journey!!!

SEE YA WHEN WE GET BACK....be sure to check out all the great work on Paint Party Friday hosted by Kristin and Eva!!!!!!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

HAPPY HALLOWEEN and HAPPY HAUNTING!!!!

I love the colors, the pumpkins, the kids, the costumes...everyone is smiling and has a sugar buzz!!!
My small sketch journal halloween page:

so much fun to create halloween spells....so off to work today and hope that some trick or treaters come by:

we've got candy and hope to take some pics ...yesterday it was a Halloween Canine Cruise my first 5k in 2 years...a struggle with my crapped out knees but I made it and the dogs were great!!!

Some of the runners were realllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy scarrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....
We didn't dress up but will next year...just glad to finish!!!!

My step-daughter Jaimie, her dog Baer, my husband Mark, me and our dog Sophie!!!

so time to climb on my broom and zoooooooooooom off to work!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Thanks to Natasha for hosting this Halloween post!!!!  Trick or Treat!!!
dana

Autumn colors of Michigan for Pink Saturday....

a beautiful fall wedding & we luckily had an Indian Summer weekend !

Before this weekends hauntings begin a few photos that celebrate the colors of fall!!!  Beverly at Pink Saturday's is looking for autumn color....Michigan is a premier state to experience each season and autumn is one filled with color and pungent aromas in the air....take a breath and soak it all in!!!!

Our streets are lined with vivid reds and yellows in every shade...sometimes its mesmorizing to drive thru all this color!!!!!!!!!!

Even the bare trees have color...the golden glow of the sunset lighting them up magically!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds of cheers fill the air every Saturday as we are are proud football state!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blooms have left the lake for another year....the water seems so much clearer in the fall??? curious!

ducks still swimming enjoying the still waters, no swimmers, no boats and NO jet ski's!!!!

and still a bright yellow gerber after two weeks of morning frost!!!  I have not been able to get anything to grow in this spot for 5 years of trying....and this little beauty is still blooming in October!!!!!

Happy Autumn...Happy Colors and Happy Haunting!!!!  Thanks to Beverly for hosting Pink Saturdays.

cheers, dana

Paint Party Friday and my background....

Yep, still in the works...I ended up using a map of Michigan, some acrylics and plan on adding my girl to it.  It needs some more work, I have some writing I plan on doing with tissue paper then using gel medium to adhere to the canvas. I did some words in the background but don't like them so will be covering them up.  I just have her sitting on top the canvas to give you the idea of where I am at.  I still plan on leaving it light so it pops off the canvas and doesn't just blend in.   Hope to have it done this upcoming week because after that on VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Going to the Keys, just taking a sketch book, watercolor pencils, basic watercolor pan paints (like elementary school type), waterbrush, and a pitt pen!!! Won't be doing a painting class, none going on while there and didn't have a structured enough schedule  (I don't like time planned days when on vacation - will have to make a separate trip I guess, yay) to plan a private session.

This past weekend had two of the g-kids overnight. It was great! Bonfire party, then painted pumpkins in the morning!!!! They were soooooooooooo serious. Landon is four and Nolan is 21 months!

We did Halloween cupcakes after that, it doesn't get any better than this!!!

Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting Paint Party Friday!!!  A great place to learn, grow, be inspired and make friends!!!!!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

happy haunting...check out Natasha May's button on my sidebar to join her Halloween Post!!!!



HALLOWEEN COUNT DOWN...

in process...

Busy doing the background for the bicycle girl,  yes...still!!! and a simple little journal page for Halloween!  Posting at Natasha May's Art World...click the button to the right to join in!  Paint Party Friday, tomorrow, will post the background for some suggestions...it needs....something...

cheers, dana

I am using ideas from Violette's book, Journal Bliss and techniques from Jane Lafazio's dvd, from art journaling to art.  Thanks Lady's!

I am still here but life is soooo busy...

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in a couple of weeks....my bicycle girl is still sitting and waiting to be finished.  Last weekend we had a wedding that was a couple hours away AND we had INCREDIBLE weather SO...our first road trip on the Harley's!!!!  We left in the morning with temps in the low 60's and road into the 80's on our way to Lake Michigan!!!!  I am totally addicted to riding now!!!!  A beautiful weekend for an outdoor wedding and what a way to travel!!!!  We did 280 miles and I wish everyone could experience the ride we had!!!!

So, it was a busy week after that and I didn't have a chance to get into my art!!!  Now, for a couple days I have been looking at the bicycle cut-out and avoiding working with it....you know how you had something in your head and now you realize you aren't going to create that!  I start looking at everyone else's art and just figure I should go back to just looking not trying....hogwash!!!  I got a package in the mail that put my head back on!!!!  All the way from Belgium!!!!!

Nathalie Nayer had a giveaway on her blog and I WON!!!  Check out her blog http://nathalienayer.blogspot.com/  She is a new mom and a physician in the ICU - how does she find time and wow...her eye for color is amazing.  I love looking at her work, her sketches capture emotion in little creatures and her abstracts are again AMAZING is the only word I can think of.  I wish that my colors came together like hers - they pop and draw you in!  I try art journaling and always feel like a failure because my pages don't come out awesome...I need to keep in mind that these pages are meant to explore, vent, dream and share myself with myself!!!  So there are no critics, it is not for sale....just jump in and do it!  This book validates that and helps spark the push that I need so many times when trying to do "a painting".  So, today I have some time and AM WORKING ON MY AMERICAN GIRL!!!!  If she doesn't turn out, I will start again.... it is about the doing not masterpiecing!!!!

Thanks Nathalie and all of you that continue to inspire and encourage me!!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

HELP...please from all you paint party friday-er's

okay - so I have been working on my bicycle girl painting...I decided to do a pitt pen outline and was pretty happy with the way she came out THEN...I could not get going on the rest of it and NOW have a muddied up mess...
Should I cut her out and put her on something...should I just start anew...can I and with what theme could I collage around her??????????????????????? 
All your suggestions are appreciated!!!

she's an American Girl

What about cutting her out and putting her on newsprint...then putting some rolled up newspapers in her basket????  I do need to darken her hair a bit...somehow I make everyone blonde...

As always it will take me most of the week to get to visit all...I keep missing a few but keep trying to check in with all!  Thanks to Kristen and Eva for hosting such a helpful and inspiration day of the week!!!!  Be sure to check out all the art at Paint Party Friday!

cheers, dana
ps - I hope the majority suggested cutting her out and doing something because that is what I just did! We'll see what happens!
I know I'm writing this on Thursday but Friday's are my early day at work and I just miss it if I don't get it done early.
p.s.s. check out my new profile pic on facebook!!!!

Accidental art and Paint Party Friday...

While doing a project using spray paint I ended up with a cool piece of artwork!!!!
This is a result of the overspray around my project!  Sweet bonus.

Crazy don't  you think!  Anyways, thanks to Kristen and Eva for hosting paint party friday's....keeps me pushing.  Can't wait to see all of this weeks work!  cheers, dana
short post...late for work!

I am all over the map with my art ...

Okay my special sketch book cover page is still in process:

I changed some of the color and will be adding to it this week again.  It really is a mind clearing thing to do...just keep doodling and painting and coloring and wondering freely!!!  Peaceful!  Thanks Darla for this project!
Then, in the mailbox this week....a dvd...I haven't ordered any art instruction dvd's before, always books.  I am someone who does better if shown hands-on, so I don't know why I haven't done this before.
So, Jane LaFazio's "from art journaling to art".....LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!  This is JUST what I needed to help me get back into mixing color and making puddles so I can do the bicycle painting!!!!  I have this ATC size sketchbook that I have been carrying around and not doing much with...now it is art everyday.  I shall practice a quick and easy something and (how many time can you use and in a sentence, isn't it once??)
and...try to use it as my art AND fitness motivation/journal!!!!  What a combo!!!
Here is my starter page!

I am a pear shape that needs some trimming!!! I mean slimming!!!!  Thanks to Sophia for hosting Sunday Sketches...it takes me all week to get to everyone but I try - I don't want to miss a thing!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

IT'S FRIDAY...

Well, if you haven't visited since last weekend be sure to scroll down to Monday's post and read about last Friday's Cork and Canvas session I went to at Gallery 1212 in Old Town Lansing, MI.  A great night of fun and art!!!  Now onto this Friday and the Paint Party!!!
So, I have been chatting with Darla from Doodling in my Mind.  She has a class project of making Sketch Book Covers.  I love what she is doing so asked for the assignment....she was kind enough to send me a pdf and I have started my homework!!! lol...anyways.  She has incorporated zentangles with creating your theme cover and I have sort of got it going on...sort of...I have been working on it in-between many things but take my journal with me and sketch, color, erase...did I say erase...and invision.  My tangles that I have currently aren't tangly enough but they are truly zen-ful for me.  I totally get sucked into the paper and my brain clears of all the clutter that is reeling around.  It is funny, I am a true believer in coloring to calm the soul.  I used to direct a Jenny Craig center and I would tell my clients when they were struggling to get out a coloring book and crayons - get started...scribble on the page if angry, color outside the lines if it felt good or just color and their focus would be with the page...all outside chatter would quiet.  So, this project does the same thing and I am creating a cover for my sketchbook - all in one.  It is in the works and I am changing the colors that I started to fill in with but am loving the process!!!  Thanks Darla!!!

This sketchbook I am using is special because it has only two sketches in it to date...one or both are part of a project that I will share with you in April 2012...top secret until then...so this will end up on the cover and I plan on taking this book with me on my next artistic journey...November....Key West and painting session(s) on the streets with an artist from the Key West Gallery....I will post more as I firm up the information!!!! Can I scream EXCITED!!!!
Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting such a huge Party each and every Friday!!!!  It takes me all week to get through everyone!!!

cheers, dana
p.s.  I haven't forgotten about my bicycle painting....that I MUST do...but need sit down art-time for that project!

So, ask me about it when you visit...push me to pick up a serious brush!!!! Make me stop staring at the paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mojo Monday...and Friday nights cork & canvas....

Well Friday my friend, Stacy, and I went to "Cork and Canvas" at the Gallery 1212 in Old Town Lansing!!!  Rebecca our instructor was great along with the 7 other students.  We all had wine (my favorite was the gal that came with the Bell's Oberon - I am a beer girl by nature) anyways - some of them had special glasses - came with wine chilled in buckets....it was grand!  The artwork in Rebecca's gallery is INCREDIBLE, to say the least.  This months featured artist is B. Craig Cossey - his work, I want it all!!!!  A pic of my jazz musician patient, Etienne Charles, was hanging - how exciting!  The most incredible cow watercolor painting....oh I could go on and on....

Rebecca - our leader!!!!

We were shown Rebecca's finished piece and in work in process - given our canvas, pencil, brushes and paint.  We all drew our copy of the original as it was passed around the room.  We were then given some more instruction and blobs of paint - yay!!!

So we could reverse our background colors or follow the example...it was interesting to see what everyone did looking at the same thing...

Sharon and Vicki were seated in front of us...good artists'

So I have never painted in acrylics...I have dabbled them in paintings here and there but not done a whole painting....So, even though it didn't come out great it was a fun night and I should have brushed more and sipped less!!!!  Oh well, next time.  Stacy does not normally paint, she is a sketcher and a graphics artists so she really stepped outside her comfort zone...she really needs to start painting...hers was excellent! 

Stacy, Artist and ScrapFest project creator!!

If you are coming to Lansing anytime soon....come on the first Friday of the month and stop in at Cork and Canvas - Gallery 1212!!!!
Make a great week!!!! and it's Monday so get your MOJO in action!!!!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

IN REMEMBRANCE....

WE SHALL NOT FORGET!!!!

                                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkfokukjVV8

RESPECTFULLY, dana

Paint Party Friday AND THE WINNER IS ....

DEB at GECKOSTONE!!!!  Congrats, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.  Please check out Deb's blog AND her etsy shop...beautiful soul soothing works!!!!  I love her little blue lizard with the blue tail she is currently working on....wish we had those here in Michigan!

Thanks to all of you...your comments are ALWAYS INSPIRING!!!!  Just trying to get myself organized and back on track...still.  My artroom is almost back together so that I can work on the bicycle painting!!! Yahoo.   I am also trying to get my workout program back on track...yes, again!!!  So, for Paint Party Friday and little exercise motivation!!! 

couldn't get the pic to turn for some reason...NOW to use them!!!

SO HAPPY PAINT PARTY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!  Will be checking out all the art over the weekend as I am off to work...AND tonight attending a "Cork and Canvas" session!!!!  Painting in acrylics (which I have not done - just a dab here and there in work only) and sipping wine with 5 other people.  My metal artist's friend Stacy will be joining me...what fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting...and Deb send me an email with your info so I can put Taking Flight in the mail to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

Mojo Monday!!!

It's Labor Day so I don't have to work (my husband does though boo-hiss)...that doesn't mean I'm not laboring!!!  Cleaning my artroom (yikes) and mowed the grass.  Anyways finished my sketch for a painting that I have been putting of for almost a year.  Can't believe my friend still wants me to do it...for money no less.  I haven't completely decided how I want to do the background but it is time to get going on this piece.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!  I can just start to smell our ribs!!!!  In the oven, it is only in the 50's here in Michigan...so much for last weeks heatwave!

Don't forget to leave a comment to have your name entered in the give away!!!! 

 A copy of Kelly Rae Roberts - Taking Flight!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!

Sunday Sketches...summers ending....

I keep bopping around and looking at all the great work here in blogland...between Paint Party Fridays and Sunday Sketches....wow, just amazing work and inspiration to be found.  I sometimes get overwhelmed and stop participating because I feel that unless I produce something "worthy" I shouldn't post.  I don't want people to feel they have to compliment work that isn't really good.  I realize that it isn't about creating a masterpiece - IT IS ABOUT THE DOING!!!  So, this morning I was up really really early - long story that I will save you from - just sipping my morning coffee, listening to the rain and GRABBED MY SHARPIES!!!  Pencil doodled and marker doodled my thoughts for the upcoming day. (Thank you Darla, doodling in my mind!!!)  Splashed some blue to convey my soothing mood and am done! 

HAPPY SUNDAY TO EVERYONE....PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO FRIDAY'S POST OR just know that next Friday I am pulling a name out of my favorite coffee cup to receive Kelly Rae Roberts book, Taking Flight.  We all need books to put our hands and eyes on to start our artsy wheels turning!!!  I have been so inspired by her work and all you Friday Sunday artists' that I just want to share some art-time!!!!
Thanks to our Sunday host Sophie - her mushrooms today just crack me up as I wanted to make my helmet look like a mushroom (because that's what it looks like I have on my head when I ride) but couldn't master it...wished I had checked in with her first!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls!

Paint Party Friday and back on track

Well, it has been a couple weeks of busy life choas and no time to paint or post.  Did take a minute to sketch a seen on my deck...my garden is really pots of herbs and flowers to attract hummingbirds.  We have to much sand to really get anything to grow in the ground.  I love flamingo's and have one of my many in a pot of chives.
Makes me smile...so yesterday while watching the big orange ball of sun come up over the tree line, sipping my coffee; I sketched my peaceful deck...later was able to add marker, watercolor and a dab of acrylic...

a "peace" of my garden

So in honor of getting back on track, into the groove and Paint Party Friday ...I would like to give away a  "peace" of  inspiration.  Leave a comment here today or a post I will do Sunday and Monday and this book could be yours...

Kelly Rae Roberts, Taking Flight.  It is one of my favorite books to flip through while drinking my morning coffee...so for all us coffee lovers, dreamers, artists at any level....hope you put your name in the cup.  Yes, cup, as my coffee time is my time I am putting all the names into one of my favorite morning cups and next Friday will pull a name and send the book on its way. 
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend for Labor Day and hope you get to Art today!
cheers, dana
thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting Paint Party Friday
P.S. I think my dad really liked his barn...or was it he was afraid to critique?!?

Sunday Sketches and the finished piece...

I love blogland...first a surprise in the mail...Kristin Dudish showed a journal page not too long ago with a snail.  I have a thing for snails and snail mail....so what could be better than opening the mailbox and having a postcard from her with her snail sketchbook painting!!!!  Even my husband was wowed!!!

Then, all the helpful encouraging comments as I work on my Dad's barn painting.  It is done!  I am happy with it and have decided no matter what his comments are...I am still happy with it.  I know he will be to, he just can't help himself but to say something critical.  He thinks it's funny because it ruffles my feathers, not funny!  But I am not going to let it bother me because deep down he is happy I did it!  I should have taken the pic before I framed it because I didn't use museum glass... oh well.

I love the rustic scrappy frame...the birds on the roof are cardinals.  I was quite surprised when my favorite birds (Ray and Tillie) turned out to be the state bird for West Virginia, my Dad's home state.  Speaking of Ray and Tillie...if you have read past post you know that I paint cardinals and they are named after two important people in my life...as I type this Tillie (my ex-mother in law - and ex sounds so tacky) has just passed...she will be meeting up with Ray and celebrating eternity!  It is with sadness that I type but with a smile knowing they are together again.

at my son's wedding...just this past May

Please hug all you love, let them know you care and make a call today to someone you haven't touched base with in awhile!!!!  Hello, goes a long way!!!

dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!!  Thank you Kristin!

visit all the artist at Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia...my heart is with you! This week Heather of Rose Hill Designs is our guest host as Sophia is with family at a most important time, thank you Heather.

all contents copyright dana strickland/sinderella studio 2011



7 random things about me....

I love the smell in the air after a nice full summer rain...worms and steam...makes me want to go out and jump in puddles as I did as a kid (sometimes I still go out and jump in them)

I have trouble throwing things away...I am not a hoarder although my husband may think so!

I still buy coloring books and use them!!!

I have a lipstick fedish.

I love dreaming while awake!

Grandkids and cupcakes go together in this house!

One of my favorite parts of day is when my husband gets home, we cook with wine and chat about our day.  Wine and spices splashing and dashing everywhere!

I am posting these things as Marfi from Incipent Wings has been kind enough to send me a blog award!  I needed to post 7 random things about myself and send the award off to 7 other bloggers....I want everyone to have the award!!!! and will be sending them out!!!  Thanks Marfi!!!!