Who Inspires me...KRISTIN DUDISH...

Kristin opened my eyes to a huge world of art!!!!  She accepts artists' at all levels, her comments are always kind and ENCOURAGING!  I first read about Kristin, not sure where, but was so impressed with a project she was involved in with Oprah Winfrey.  Kristin started her art business painting murals...
WOW, I freak out at paper that is 5 x 7...WALLS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
Once I started following her blog, I was mesmerized by her talent and wit!  How does she come up with these connections.  My brain tried and I had to laugh at myself...She finds inspiration to put all these things together and at the end - her heart (a favorite found symbol of hers ) is felt in every piece.  Some of her work is serious and others magical.  All of her work is vivid - even the soft pieces.  I love just looking at her portraits - intense but not.
I commented once on a small piece of hers and BAM, next thing I know I receive it in the mail!

Each time I abandon some art at the local bus stop, I am reminded of how I felt receiving her gift.
 She reaches out to all of us that love to create.  I don't have a picture of it, but my step-daughter, a Dairy Vet, has a Dudish hanging in her office of a PI-COW-ASSO.  We all love it!

Kristin and fellow artist Eva, help expose artists' to each others work,  We all draw immense inspiration and encouragement from a site they created for us to gather.  Paint Party Friday - a must visit!  I can't tell you how many times I was down and out about my work; posted there and someone always said something to keep  me going.  Kristin and Eva's willingness to take all the time they do to keep this Party going shows a love of giving to others!  I posted for quite some time and then fell into a super art slump, so I haven't posted much but am always peeking in!  It is from PPF that I found the first three artists I have written about!  I also have many artists that I follow, am inspired by and in awe of their work:
Ayala Art, Ann Hyde and her dog William, Kristin and her girls (both on canvas and in life ) and my Michigan native born soul sister Robin Panzer with her Chigirie hand torn paper art!!! (which we have a treasured piece of her work hanging in our home)
I would have never been exposed to all these amazing artists without Kristin and Eva's dedication to build this community!  Thank you ladies!
So each time I see a heart out in nature I am reminded of Kristin and her ability to find inspiration in everything!  Life is good!

Update on class with Tracy Verdugo...
I am working a lot of hours right now and finding it very hard to make time.   I have pieces started all over the house, literally.  My husband is like, "what happened to you working in your art room, oh I see the table is stacked and you are out of space!  oy."  Good thing he loves me!

hummingbird with blooms

Tracy had us save our paper paint palettes from our first lesson - now to take those palettes and find a painting...

LOBSTER IN PROCESS

REALLLLLLYYYYYY??????










Believe it or not I was able after looking at these for several days to SEE images...
So they both have been started along with my dream catchers... hoping to complete these this week.
This is the most amazing class...sure wish I could be going to the Indiana retreat as originally planned but next year I will get an in-person experience.

Now - to get some time with the canvas...
cheers, 
dana
life is short - go enjoy it!

Week three of who inspires me... Juliette Crane

Juliette Crane's class BLISS... gave me just that, the feeling of BLISS each time I picked up my new found favorite pencil. (General's Sketch & Wash)  She taught me to sketch .  I didn't think I could do that.  I thought each time I wanted to draw something - I had to find something to copy, no way could I just put pencil to paper and come up with something....WRONG!  I CAN!!!
Sitting with my dogs, drinking my coffee in the morning quiet...I sketch...it is a great way to start a day.  I always get up to get ready for work with a smile on my face when I practice this.  It calms the mind and soothes the soul. It brings BLISS!  While taking Juliette's class I developed my character Pearl!  I love her and have sold a couple small paintings of her.  All of my paintings of her carry the title Pearl's Wisdom.   ...she is different every time, yet similar and always wearing pearls.

from my sketch book....






Juliette's class was so inspiring the way she creates her backgrounds and her characters.  Her husband's music always in the background.  Layers and layers and never giving up until you bring out what is inside.  Her book is beautiful and I love just running my hands across the pages.  I try to always pick up anything she is published in talking about how she creates.  I have one of her prints...it inspires me and brings about my dream state...a lovely place to be!

Thank you Juliette for BLISS!

update of my Paint Mojo e-course with Tracy Verdugo:

She has us making Inspiration Bundles...what an amazing exercise in pulling out your creativity...expanding your mind and working freely!

I won't go into the entire exercise...you should take her course and absorb the entire experience - the images I used were hers...and my poem that came from them is completely different than what she pulled out of the same prompts, so interesting so the the different outcomes by each person that looked at the same pictures.




The rooster speaks,
in many languages.
Love Lives Here is his message.
Hearts whirl with soulful touches,
Knowing love is delicate and makes one vulnerable.
Release fear, let loose the heart and mind.
Remember soft petals of he loves me, he loves me (knot).
Stitch together the moments of bliss with those fallen petals.
Pattern the colors of the heart with brightness.
Find a place of solitude to remind yourself...
of the precious golden freshness of life with love.
Tie all these memories in frayed little bundles to be opened
and remembered at a later time.

I so loved doing this and wanted to share some inspiration, so as I often do...I abandoned my art at this bus stop.  I always include a couple bucks and a free coffee from McDonald's.  Not much but this bus stop is used by people that live in low income housing and many have disabilities.  I hope the person that found this the other day in the sub zero temps at least got a smile.  This exercise really made me think and pull things out of I don't know where - the words just came...I loved it but felt I couldn't keep it to myself.  Thank you Tracy Verdugo!
I am still only in week one and week three has started - I need to win the lottery so I can stay home and just soak this all up!!!!
Life is Better with ART!

cheers, dana

Pearl's Wisdom copyright dana strickland, sinderella's studio 2015