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

PPF and more on our vacation...

I was so happy that I actually took out my journal on this trip... I always say I am going to paint or sketch or or or.... when we take vacation.  We get where we are going and this feeling of intimidation sets in and I don't want anyone peeking over my shoulder because they may "judge" what I am doing.  My husband doesn't count... he is a fair critic but once in awhile hurts my feelings alittle.  He is an engineer and doesn't get some of my painting from emotions.  Anyways... since my trip to Key West in 2008 and painting freely on the streets - be it not so good - in that environment (after a couple days ) I allowed myself to go with the flow... and on occassion have forced myself to do the same thing out and about at home.  This vacation I just felt so free.... I sat out on our little porch with passerby's and just keep sketching and having fun!  One morning on the beach with Hurrican Sandy winds wiping up the ocean - put on a jacket and set out with my pencils and so it went!  FABULOUS!!!!
So along with the craziness of Key West Fantasy Fest... I sketched this bird in keeping with the spirit of the island!

Fantasy Bird of Key West

Watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils and pitt pen!  sorry this pic is so bad - too much sand in my camera lens - it died and I just couldn't get a good one on my tab.

Today is also Dia de Los Muertos!  Please remember those you've lost and celebrate them!

Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting such a wonderful place in our crazy world!  Paint ON!!!

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

all work copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

happy halloween!!!!

Will fresh back from a much needed vacation. I tried posting but could not figure out my tablet to get it done! So today joining in with Natasha May's Art World Halloween Party! Love her spooky girls!... So Mark and I were at the biggest Halloween Party ever for vacation, FANTASY FEST IN KEY WEST Florida!!! WOW, WOW, and OMG, OMG is all we kept saying!!! I have some crazy pictures on my facebook page and that was the mild stuff! I felt amazingly free and creative while there... hummmmm, need to go more often! Here is my Fantasy Fest inspired girl:



Fantasy Fest Girl



Bewitched!

                                                       

                                                    

 

and then to be in the spirit I sketched out "bewitched" on a journal page that I used          to clean brushes off... I love her!

                        and one of the street partiers really fits here as soon will be the day of the dead to be celebrated:

So HAPPY HAUNTING - STAY SAFE BUT HAVE FUN! Thanks to Natasha for hosting our trick or treat!

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

all work copyright Dana Strickland/Sinderells'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.

SUNDAY SKETCHES...

GOOD MORNING SUNDAY SKETCHES!!!  Well, I posted this journal page about 10 days ago - in process, then done but not - didn't really like it SO (and this is one of the things I LOVE ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST - you can throw it away, start over or just keep messing around with what you've got) I followed Darlene's suggestion from A Dancing Mango...

flight to freedom...

added color to the wings - glitter - and words that fit the journey.  I am at least satisfied enough to now turn the page and move on!!!  Thanks to Sophia (her dad still in our thoughts) for hosting Sunday Sketches, this site has had the BIGGEST impact on my motivation to keep striving to get better!!!  I love all the work that shows up here - a truly talented group of people that encourage and inspire!

I am also working on something new using watercolor canvas - not sure I like how the canvas takes the paint but here is the start...

I hope to have this completed by Friday - or will post its progress - for the kick off of Paint Party Friday hosted by Kristin Dudish and Eva (both Sunday Sketches participants) - check it out, should be fun!

For those of you that just stop in on Sunday's, I'd like to share a re-posting of my most recent depiction of "Spilling Over" for the March Sketchbook Challenge... this is another site that makes me think and stretch!

Democracy spilling over worldwide

I feel for all people fighting for human rights... I also am watching in shock with all that is happening in Japan.  People everywhere with struggles I can't imagine.  I am truly blessed and grateful.
Be sure to MAKE ART - MAKE FRIENDS / SHARE ART - SHARE SOULS this week!!!  Send someone you haven't talked to in awhile a piece you create... the idea is miles of smiles across our country!
cheers, dana