water time on Tuesday

I am participating in an art tag swap and the theme is "under the sea".  For inspiration I went to the shores of Lake Michigan yesterday and floated about.  I had a bag of random art stuff along with a journal.  Packed a sandwich and my floaty.    Plopped my butt in the sand, took out my journal, dug through my bag to find out my tools were really random!  oh well, it is an adventure day anyway!  Just did a little sketch - then went out and bobbed around in the water for quite awhile - just soaking up the day!  Came back to my journal - added some colored pencil then some watercolor - using lake water, of course.

I am going to keep going with this - too much fun to just leave as is...then onto my tag project.

So as I was leaving town to head home...I had to get a photo of this incredible house...it is THE perfect Practical Magic house!  Don't you agree???

Once at home the sun was shining through the most beautiful spider web.  A day filled with beauty and inspiration!

cheers, dana

live is short, make sure you LIVE it

all work copyright Sinderella's Studio/ dana strickland 2013

still alive....

Yes, I am still here and now have some time to breath.  I have spent the last few weeks preparing for a Surprise birthday party for my parents.  My dad turned 80 and my mom 79,  their birthdays are on the same day.  They have been divorced for decades but for the last 15 or so years we have been able to celebrate together.  It turned out perfect!  I can't believe it worked out so well.  I only forgot a few minor things to take to the hall as part of the decorations so I was pretty pleased with myself.  I really organized my plan and actually followed my plan - wow - amazing for me.

Don't they look great!!!!  One of my brother's surprised them coming from Florida - they had no idea he was coming to town.  It was just awesome for them!!!

So now that I have had a week to kind of relax - well still going to work everyday so - just deciding to pick up my pencil and whatever notebook or paper is at hand to make myself DRAW...do art everyday in some way!  Keep my spirit soaring!  So here is the last two days of just scrubbin' on the paper!

working on cows for a project I have planned...and then Ray the Cardinal - one of my go to drawings to make me smile!!!!

Will be posting Wednesday regarding the Liberate your Art postcard swap...received my first one and love it!

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches and all the inspiring artists' that participate!  You all keep me believing!!!

cheers, dana

Life is short, make sure you LIVE it!

Sunday Sketches and oh so much more...

I love blogland, I meet the most incredible people.  Please take time to read this post, http://jezartjournal.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-bravest-person-i-know.html -
We all need to be alittle more self-less!!!!  Do be thankful and remember to give to others.  Be inspired and give inspiration.

Simple sketch today.  Started working on my ideas for a canvas that my granddaughters have asked for to hang in their room... is there any greater compliment?  They are 7 and 9 1/2!  pencil on tracing paper.

dancing divas'

Thank you to Jez and Carol for reminding me to stop and smell the flowers.  Thanks to Alexandra for hosting such a place to meet!  Sometimes I feel like I am at that coffee house with her and all the Sunday artists'.

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

monday madness because I missed Sunday Sketches

I was ready but then the days schedule changed and I never got back into the artroom... I am on a mission to be more organized.  My sons will tell you I have had that same mission their whole lives.  My youngest just celebrated his 25th birthday this past weekend and getting ready for my oldest to turn 30.... so I have been working on it for awhile!!! oy.

This weekend I started with put it away - or throw it away.... really forces you to take action.  This shall be my mantra all month so hoping for REAL progress. 

Planning my art time has got to improve as part of this process... So this was my post for yesterday's Sunday Sketches, my apologies to Alexandra for being late!  I want to add a pelican on the railing and haven't had time yet.... so that is on this weeks list of "get it done"!!!



journal page - sugar loaf key 2012



I know that everyone enjoyed their Sunday Sketches hopping and I shall catch up throughout the week!  Happy week everyone, don't forget (although how could you) to get out and vote tomorrow!!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all work copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

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

SS and with my new found vision I continue to....

see what I  have been missing!!!!  My husband and I had a wedding to attend this weekend 200 miles away SO we rode our bikes!!!!  By far my longest ride to date!  AND, the challenge was to fit what I needed in the saddle bags only!!! WOW. I did it!!!!  So, only forgot the hairspray so my hair was alittle flat...  oh well.  The ride up was beautiful, managed a quick shower then off to the ceremony...outdoors for the service in 91 degree heat - pretty sweaty bunch!  Anyways, thanks to Lisa's Wright Brain e-Course I managed to see so much more than what was on the surface.  My husband thought I was nuts when I went out to talk to the carriage driver before the bride and groom were whisked about town.  But look at all I caught:

before I would have just seen these images, NOW I SEE THESE IMAGES

and the horse:

so my Sunday Sketches are just a quickie of the horse - will be doing more this week!-

BECAUSE NOW I LOOK AT THE HORSES EYE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!!!

I plan on really working with this photo...you can see the carriage drivers hand and the people in the horses line of sight...just beautiful!  So thank you Lisa, again!  Even my husband was amazed when I showed him what was there and why I was taking these pics!  Oh, and just alittle something extra:



the tapper for Right Brain Brewery beer!!!



So, yes, I am out of control and loving it!!!!!!!!!!!  I haven't even moved onto the next lesson!!!! yikes, still behind on my Cotton Candy Girls - sooooooo much fun and when combined with Wright Brian e-course...yep, out of control!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, back from a 450 mile weekend and going to chill with my dad!!!!!!!!!  Happy Sunday Sketches, be sure to visit all the artists - great way to spend the day!  Thanks Alexandra for hosting with the mosting!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all art/photos are copyright of sinderella's studio and dana strickland, please do not reproduce.