Wow, a month has passed already!

So much goes on day to day....work...family...stuff...
Back to painting!

So far just really looking at week one and two with Tracy Verdugo Paint Mojo... totally immersed and wish I didn't have a job that I had to go to.  It would be so amazing to really take this class and be able to give it my full time attention!  Alas, I have bills to pay!
My first dream catcher ended up gifted to a young dreamer, so happy to share it with her as she embarks on a worldly adventure!

Then my second which was to include a face.  I actually incorporated some of my lessons from Juliette Crane, Bliss and Jodi Ohl, grunge.  I committed that when I wasn't able to go to Tracy's retreat in Indiana that I would take the e-course class spending no additional money - using whatever supplies I had on hand and make it work.  So, this second dream catcher is on Yupo paper I had from my class with Jodi Ohl.  It is fun to work on - way different than canvas or watercolor paper.  I used my character face from class with Juliette Crane's Bliss and her finishing layers, fixative, mod podge with some blue added and Dorman;s Wax..  Juliette has a new class Paint Happy - hoping to win a spot in her drawing!!!

So, not exactly the assignment but Tracy said it was okay to be a rebel and not follow the "rules", which there are none!

Then last but not least - my second palette of possibilities - finding the pic within the blob of left over paint!

Crazy how you can find something in what appears to be nothing.  I am still working on my canvas immersion...


Ready to really put some time into that this upcoming week.


Make art.  Be happy, share your world!
cheers,
dana

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

Week two of who inspires me...

Tracey Fletcher King!!!
Art and Illustrations, is what her header says...but she is sooooooo much more.  I have followed her for a few years now and there is not a post I read that doesn't elicit emotion.  Most crack me up, so honest about the reality of everyday life.  Some bring deep joy and fill my soul.  Others, bring tears of sharing her journey.  Not that I have conquered anything of the magnitude she has...be she writes in such a way that you are in her path - feeling what she is going through.  A lover of  her family, chocolate, tea and tea cups, and perfume bottles.  Her colors and composition amaze me!!!

She is a survivor - a pink warrior - an inspiration to all!

Here is a journal page sketch that I loved so much, she scanned it so that I could purchase it.  I will someday own one of her originals...I love this steam tea pot.  Tracey has a story to go with this and I have my own story that made this a must have piece.  I treasure it!
Please visit her blog and meet this amazing woman/teacher.  She is teaching Soul Food 2015...
check it out here and click on the Soul Food 2015 button on her sidebar!.

my inspiration wall

Thank you Tracey for helping me learn some very important life's lessons!  Always move forward, never give up!

Update on current projects:
This is my next piece for the ART for ALS that I am doing with my grandkids, Island Girl.  I am doing a series of faces as well as the S.E.W. go blue series!

mixed media

I used techniques that I learned from a class with Juliette Crane...BLISS.  I sooooo enjoyed her gentle way of teaching and how she creates from within.  Learned about some new supplies too, Dorland's Wax Medium and water soluble oil pastels - true love.  I will talk about her next week!

Now my first week of class with Tracy Verdugo - mind blowing!!!! I have only been working on week ones first video of three... I am taking my time.  With working full time I am not going to short change my experience by "cramming" this artful journey in - I am taking the journey.  I had so much fun making a scratched on foam print and am working to finish that exercise.  I have never done that - didn't have the scratch board so used my craft foam sheets that I have for the grandkids to cut out and paste onto different projects we make.  I have vowed to work with the supplies I have on hand!.

Can't wait to complete this lesson.  I have four prints in the works and it is mesmerizing to see them all develop.  The other artists' in the class are so inspiring and supportive of one another!  The pieces that are being shared put me in awe and motivate me to keep going!

cheers!

dana

go out and MAKE a great day

all work copyright dana strickland, sinderella's studio 2015

TODAY EMBRACING 58 years... and my ART

Hope you read my previous post about Artist Joss Rossiter, Soulbrush.  As I was about to stop painting because of a long list of reasons, oh wait, I think excuses if truth told...anyways - once again she inspired me.  A published interview with her stated that she ONLY started painting at 58... I can't give up my soul-soothing passion now!

I have followed Joss and am always inspired by her talent and humor!  I have a piece of her work, a treasured print on our living room wall!  Makes me smile each morning when I come down the steps, it is the first thing I see!  Bright colors to keep dark days away!

Joss Rossiter, Soulbrush

I hope you take a minute to click on the pic and enlarge so you can feel all that this piece offers the viewer.

So, I am back and getting my studio room organized as I start an e-course from another artist that I follow.  Tracy Verdugo.  I am sure many of you are super familiar with her name and work.  I purchased her book Paint Mojo and had signed up for her retreat in Indiana this year.  Circumstances changed and I was not going to be able to attend...I decided don't bail, sign up for the e-course!  Woot Woot, birthday gift to myself and it starts tomorrow!  Perfect timing!
My morning sketch of a Tracy Verdugo inspired elephant. . .

Tracy inspired ellie

Now a piece I am currently working on, almost done - needs to have one more layer of wax and then be mounted on aged wood!  This piece is going to be part of an ART for ALS day.  My grandkids and I are going to have an event in honor of their grandfather that passed way to early as a result of this horrible disease.  We are pumped and creating!

S.E.W. - Go Blue series, Pelican

Here is who I love to paint with most, my fellow ART for ALS contributors...from left to right...
Cameron, Landon,  Nolan, Cloee in back....and solo is the Mason man.




There is my update.  Can't wait to get the Paint Mojo going and continue creating!  I plan on each week sharing an artist that has been a soulful inspiration to me...next week Tracey Flethcer King! and more on my first week of class with Tracy Verdugo!

cheers, 
dana
copyright dana strickland, sinderella's studio 2015

Juliette Crane's BLISS course is exactly that!

Still don't have my supplies together or my work space cleared off BUT I am still participating!  Journals are buried - so I grabbed a piece of paper that I was paying bills from to do this mornings quick painting sketch.  I am doing a small block painting for one of my nephews and he wants a fox - good thing Juliette's characters included a fox!  I am working my way thru a video each morning...haven't figured out how to post on the facebook page or in the photo gallery - but I will have some time next weekend to try and figure all that out!

I can't explain how doing this morning exercise helps to start the day in a positive way.  You kind of get sucked into this peaceful place and your mind stops thinking life - and relaxes!  Then jump in the shower and go forward with a clear head!  This is therapy at its finest! (sort of like riding my Harley).

So here is my little fox:

journal page not in a journal, lol 

So, now the block piece I am sending to my great nephew Max...

What does the FOX say???

Hope he likes it, now to finish his brother's peacock! 

Thanks Juliette Crane for giving me BLISS !!!!

life is short, make sure you LIVE it!

dana

back to blogging

I have been absent for quite some time and am hoping to get back into my artful zone.  My last post was of a painting that I did for my granddaughters and one I am most proud of!  It is difficult to find time to run, paint and blog with a full work schedule outside the home.  Last year wasn't my best and since December I have made true committment to myself physically and mentally to get back to being me.  Happy to say I am feeling great.

We have some very serious illness with close friends and family members that reminds you that life is short.   Do what makes you happy - because that in turn makes others happy too.  Celebrate the small things!  Be with the ones you love!

That in mind I will be posting the pics from the Liberate Your Art postcard swap of 2014, some scribbles and babbles about life and...want to share this:

Tracy Verdugo is an inspiration and I love love love her work.  I recently picked up the spring copy of Somerset Apprentice and she has a great how to article - I have her upcoming book on pre-order and have signed up for her retreat in Newburgh, Indiana 2015.  Now she is about to offer her first e-course, yes, I am on the mailing list to get the info! Visit her blog - check out her amazing work, and her inspirational mindset!

http://artoftracyverdugo.blogspot.com/

Off to put some paint on a canvas!  before jumping into the shower for work! 

Make a great day!  If you work on making your day, you will surely make someone else's.
cheers, dana,

Intuitive Painting

I have been reading - searching online - viewing art - dreaming of putting paint on the canvas - and then just starring at it. . .  for most of last year.  The age old dilemma of my work isn't that good so why do it?

Answer - because it makes ME HAPPY!!!!

So, with my book by Flora Bowleybraveintuitiveyou.com , I started  a large canvas for my granddaughters room - at the request of my daughter-in-law.  Dipping my fingers in the paint and with my new huge Sharpie marker that my husband had put in my Xmas stocking wrote the word Sisters on the canvas.  There, I started!  Then questioning myself I stared at it for quite awhile.  More inspiration and courage please.  Tracy Verdugo artoftracyverdugo.blogspot.com, more intuitive pushes.  I had no idea she started her work with words painted on the canvas.  Painted some more - put on my music, my art shirt my husband gave me, my fingerless gloves  my sister-in-law made me and my Harley bandanna!  Kooky but it works, puts me in a different place and the paint starts to flow.  Again, alittle stuck...sign up for Journal Soup with Kate Crane,
thekathrynwheel.blogspot.com, ahhhhh more paint goes down.  FINISHED. 

sharing across the pond. . .

for that matter, around the world!  That is what I love about this artful blogging community.  For the last five years I have been learning about blogging and working on my art interests.  Sometimes I have obsessively blogged and then been MIA countless times.  Whether I am consistent or not this community still encourages and supports.  I wish the world could be like that!  Just imagine if everyone was supportive and encouraging...makes you wonder.

Anyways, in my meetings of artists', Joss has been a cosmic bond.  We share the same birth month - we are Aquarians (that does explain alot).  We are both mature - well, numerically anyway.  AND we both have a love of art.  She is an accomplished artist - showing and selling her passionate pieces of her soul.  Which leads us to the name of her blog, Soulbrush!

I am fortunate enough to have a piece of her work!  I am in search for the perfect frame!

She also has shared a piece of her spirit with me when my spirits were down and needed a hug.  So I wanted to say thank you and celebrate her new studio with some light!  Sent it across the waters to let her know that she reaches many!

your soul and your brush reach across the pond

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

all works copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2013

Under the Sea swap complete!

Clare Lloyd received the tags I sent for my part in the swap.  So I will share them with you now!

I had "chicken of the sea" - a fortune telling mermaid and swimmers!  These were really fun to do!

                         this was an extra chicken of the sea I did...I was cracking myself up!!!!
For any of you that aren't in the states, chicken of the sea is a brand of canned tuna here.

Not much but hope it makes you smile.  Thanks to Kirstin McCulloch for hosting the tag swap!!!

Also sending a piece across the pond to Soulbrush! So, once it has arrived I will share!

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

copyright 2013 dana strickland - sinderella's studio

YEP, I AM STILL ALIVE...

Too much to explain as to my absence so I won't.  I think I have things in order to give some consistency to my poor little blog.  I miss soooooooooooo much all the friends, encouragement and inspiration I get when visiting! 
So. for 2013 here is how I will start:
I purchased a book for one of our grandson's, Jackson.  He just turned 9 before Christmas.  The book is, I am the One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Patricia Castelao.  It was a recommended book by the stores staff in the 8 - 12 yr old section.  As Jackson is an excellent reader and loves elephants (there was a baby elephant with a gorilla on the cover) I decided to pick it up.  I got home and read the first few pages just to get a sense of it and found myself totally submerged in the pages!  I read the whole book, laughing and crying all the way through.  EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.   I am buying a copy for all of our childrens' households.  The lessons in this book are wonderful!

My quote today that I am sharing - food for thought as we live in this choatic world is:

"Humans waste words.  They toss them like banana peels and leave them to rot.  Everyone knows the peels are the best part."

Seriously, think about that!

Sharing my reading inspired sock monkey - mainly painted with my fingers!!!!  It was liberating to just dip and paint like Ivan!

I love books!!!!  Be a reader!!!!

Have a great day and rest of the week.  Life is short, make sure you LIVE it!!!!
cheers, dana

all work copyright Sinderella's Studio/dana strickland 2013

PPF and my mini Angel Eyes series continues...

So much going on but in my artworld...Kat's Liberate Your Art postcard swap has been sooooooo much fun!  I will be participating in her blog hop Sept. 13th so stay tuned to see all the beautiful art that flew around the world!

Then, I did a second girl for my Angel Eyes series - proceeds go to Optometry Giving Sight!  I decided to post my second girl on fb with an explanation and price - SOLD !!!!  I am only asking $7.50 as these are only 4 x 6 ish pieces - matted.  (plus postage please)... Anyway, I really like her - as I do the first one so am thinking of just doing it again instead of waiting until I have all 5 done!  Maybe I'll do 10 if it keeps working!  "Believe" is totally opposite of "we are the world" - hope you like her!

Please be sure to visit all the artists' at PPF!!!!  It does take about the whole week to get through everyone!  I always miss more than I want to but that darn job thing!  Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting!

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

PPF and a cause...

By day I am an Optician... by night I am secretly a caped crusader, I mean a random painter!  Really by early morn.  I am not a night person.  So I create between 5:30 am and 8:30 if I haven't gone on a morning bike ride or put in a walk/ run session.  I really don't have a lot of free time to be in my artroom creating.  I wish I was more disciplined but it is what it is.  When I get home from work it is about 7:30 pm and I have absolutely NO creative juices flowing.  On a day off I am usually found running around like a chicken with my head cut off and if I could ever get it all together I may, just may, get better.  That is why I keep plugging away at it!  If we weren't saving to take our annual Key West trip I would so be signing up for:
Flora Bowley's online class  -OMG- brave intuitive you!!!
or hopping on a plane to England for Lisa Wright's one day class at Highgate House, Creaton on Oct. 20th  http://thewrightbrainstuff.blogspot.co.uk/p/playing-with-your-inner-artist-one-day.html

or... the list goes on!!!!  If you have the means, do it!  Life is short, shorter than you may think!

I am currently doing a few little paintings to sell between $7.50 and $10 - all proceeds going to the organization Optometry Giving Sight.  Some wonderful people go to third world countries and give eye exams & glasses to individuals that would not have otherwise!  They have built labs to make glasses, trained opticians and provided vision for thousands!!!!  Let me know if  you see one you like over the next few weeks or if you can share a post that may bring in a donation - please let me know!

Today is the start of Angel Eyes!!!  No. 1, we are the world!

She is obviously a result of my class with Natasha May, a somewhat Cotton Candy Girl.  I just had to do the glasses!!!
Thank you to Kristin and Eva for hosting our Friday get together PPF - a place to see, be inspired, and encourage others!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all works copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

Sunday Sketches...memories...and thanks....

People we love grow old,
we watch them lose some of their spark.
At first we refuse to see they are aging,
sometimes frustrated with their change of person.


Ray (who we lost a few years ago) & Tillie (at 95 has just been
diagnosed with a serious medical issue)  Thank you from the
bottom of my heart - you mean sooooo much to me



We soon realize the fading is real,

and our towers of strength are becoming weak.

It's sad and scary for us and them,

realizing our losses and them that endings are near.

Look up and remember there are those who wait for them.

Loving arms open with wings in hand.

With heavy heart we eventually say good-bye,

and on their memories, lessons, and love we rely.

with love and respect, dana

You may have seen this before on my blog, it is a painting I did in honor of Ray & Tillie's, what would have been 75th anniversary last year. Ray had passed a few years earlier.

please visit the wonderful artist at Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia at Blue Chair Diary

all works copyright dana strickland - sinderella studio 2011





Mixed Media with a message...

Here she is all matted and framed ready to go to the Silent Auction!  I trust her message and motivation will be well received!  Here's to women everywhere that take a leap of faith - believe in themselves - climb the ladder and reach for their dreams!  Supporters, mentors and cheerleaders along the way - but never looking for hand outs - just looking for the opportunity to achieve through hard work, dedication and passion. 
All that said it is Nurses' Week - I appreciate and admire those that serve others with these same qualities I've just mentioned!
Hug a Nurse today - they deserve our thanks!
Cheers, dana