Sunday Sketches and more from Ivan

Just a journal page... hope to be doing a canvas soon.  I have a painting to do for my granddaughters room and I am trying to muster up the courage to tackle my vision!

I shared the kids books, The one and only Ivan with you in my last post. http://sinderella-studio.blogspot.com/2013/01/yep-i-am-still-alive.html   I think I shall be sharing Ivan's wisdom with you all year.  I believe we all need a little more common sense and humility, kindness would be beneficial too.  Oh, and  less "what's in it for me" would help the world too!  Okay, off my soap box.  Words to think about:
"Humans speak too much.  They chatter like chimps, crowding the world with their noise even when they have nothing to say."  Ivan, the one and only, by Katherine Applegate.  I now look at people spouting negativity and gossip with chimp faces!  I smile and walk away, instead of becoming angry and frustrated.

An artist earlier this year, Joss of  http://soulbrush.blogspot.co.uk,  asked what would your one word be for 2013.  At the time I answered in two words, duct tape.  I happen to be very opinionated and direct  (a bad combo).  So when people ask me what I think - I tell them.  Knowing me I don't know why they ask if they don't want to hear my answer.  They know I will tell them.  So, I chose duct tape.  It is to remind me to process and not really answer.  I then later added glitter!  Because if I take a deep breath and roll my head - then say GLITTER.  I smile and tend to not need the duct tape.  So far I have found these words very useful.  So, you may want to try finding words for yourself!

I pick up Ivan's book and also look at the cover often - helps me to remember there is a soft side to world and we need more of it!  Quiet is good, there doesn't always have to be noise.  What color is your quiet?

Thanks for letting me chatter, hopefully not like a chimp, and stopping by!  Please be sure to visit all the fabulous thoughts and work at Sunday Sketches hosted by Alexandra!

cheers, dana
life is short, make sure you LIVE it

PPF and my first postcard from the swap

Wow , so excited got my first postcard from the Liberate Art Swap... it is beautiful!

                                                           Thank you Kelly Ishmael

The poor postcard got a little beat up in its travels but still a wonderful mix of words and image!

#2 pencil, Ticonderoga, of course! on newspaper!
Jordyn Weiber, hometown hero!  MI- she lives just
a hop, skip and a jump from us!  so proud!

a journal page I am carrying around to finish

All these classes and projects on the table...I have just finally figured out you can have fun with art, everything you do doesn't have to become a painting... a publish-able piece... a masterpiece... a piece to be critiqued.... YOU CAN JUST JOURNAL or doodle or scribble or whatever!!!  Just keep doing because through doing YOU GET BETTER... omg, I think I've heard that before!  So, just sitting around with scraps of paper and my markers/pencils that I keep in my bag.... I just had FUN!!!!  I plan on continuing to do this!!!  It is okay that my mind gets ahead of my writing and I have to fit things in... it's okay if I misspell a word because this is the place to do it.  This is where you generate ideas, thoughts, feelings that develop into the next "real" painting!!!  There is a big smile on my face!!!!

Please be sure to visit all the participants at Paint Party Friday... I have learned so much from many!  So thankful that there is this positive inspiring place!!!  Thanks Alexandra for hosting!  More to come regarding the postcard swap... a blog hop... stay tuned!

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

copyright dana strickland/sinderellastudio 2012

New to me....Creative Tuesdays....

The theme was "spy"....hummmm, 007?  Maxwell Smart? Nancy Drew?  

double agents....

I decided to keep it simple:

Eye Spy!!!

Does anyone remember the game, I spy something....  and you would guess.  The person whose turn it was would let you know if you were getting warm or so far off that you were cold - you'd keep guessing until you "spyied" what they had!

Can't wait to see the other takes on "SPY"....CHECK THEM OUT WITH ME ...click on the Creative Tuesday button!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

Giveaway winner is... & Phoenicopterus, of course!

IN MY HAST TO FINISH THE FLAMINGO....I TOTALLY FORGOT TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY...OMG.  YES, I THINK I AM GETTING MEMORY ISSUES AS I AGE.

  BUT THE WINNER IS NORA CLEMENS-GALLO !!!! 

 HER WORK IS BEAUTIFUL AND I HOPE SHE ENJOYS THIS BOOK!!!

I finally finished my ATC to send to Minnemie!  As, I am sure you read in her interview last week, she grew up in South Africa.  She loves to paint animals of her native country.  Although I am not as skilled at it as she is - for our trade I decided to do a Phoenicopterus!!!!  I am working on a large comissioned painting of a FLAMINGO and discovered in my research that they are native to South Africa too!  Wha-la!!!!  My subject matter for our trade.  Minnemie sent me this incredible elephant which I posted upon receipt and now I am fulfilling my end of the trade! 

Wednesday,  I discovered that she too, is a chocolate lover...I knew we were kindred spirits and this seals the deal...we both are tomboys that are want to be princess's!!!!  She is surrounded by boys...I have 3 brothers, 2 sons, and a boat load of nephews and now 4 grandsons!!!...no girls around early in life but now - 2 step-daughters, 3 neices, a daughter-in-law, 3 granddaughters!!! Talk about princess-ville!  So how could I not do a PINK Flamingo!

So here is my Phoenicopterus:

Hope everyone stops by to see all the Paint Party Friday participants!!!  A great place for inspiration and knowledge!
Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting!!!!!  Can't wait to read about this weeks artist!

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

all works copyright of dana strickland, sinderella's studio

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