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

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

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?!?