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

WOW, DECEMBER.... really???????????

First, I can't believe it has been sooooooooooooooo long since I have posted.   Lots of things going on and the outcomes were all WONDERFUL.  My husband successfully completed radiation treatment, got our numbers back and they are awesome!  I had two minor procedures and all pathology reports were GREAT.  So now back to the daily business and celebrating our health!

I have been viewing art and reading about Flora Bowley.  Her retreat sounds incredible and maybe next year something I will try to do if it's offered.  It's on my want list anyway.    I have always tried to produce art - but my most favorite pieces that I've done were out of emotion and didn't follow the rules that I had in my head.  With all this in mind, a couple weeks ago I decided to start a painting for my grandson Mason's room. 

His mom just said something nautical please.  Mason is three and, of course, adorable. 

 I was going to draw out my tracing paper and transfer my drawing - and start a watercolor.  BRAIN SAID STOP.... expand your comfort zone!  FEEL THE PAINTING...it doesn't need to be neat and tidy.  Read some more Flora... be inspired - just put on the paint...Okay - I hear ya!!!!  So, I had this big canvas that I bought and have stared at all summer!  Here we go!

Step one - big brush (Sanford Birdsey always said BIG BRUSH) randomly stroked some paint on - no need to cover canvas all neat and tidy just throw some paint on.  I used this blue RUSTOLEUM that had kind of thickened and it was fun!!!  It took awhile to dry the paint was so thick.  I just looked at it for a few days thinking of how I wanted to draw my subject on the canvas....read more Flora.... so just took a sponge brush and swirled in an outline with some patchie fill in.  Let it dry and looked at it for a couple days.  I really only paint in the morning before I go to work, so it's not like I have a big block of time.  I am NOT a get it done at night person.  Anyways the process continued like that - threw some more paint on with my hands.  Just sliding my fingers thru the paint and up and down the canvas - it felt so wonderful - like I was putting a part of me into Mason's painting.

I feel like this painting is mine, using the techniques and inspiration from Flora Bowley's book: Brave Intuitive Painting.

the m.a.w. is supposed to look carved into the boat, Mason date of birth -the painting is signed Grams in lower corner

On the cover of the book it states: techniques for uncovering your own unique painting style.  let go. be bold. unfold.  I feel like that is what happened in creating my nautical sock monkey.  I let go, I was bold for me and the painting seemed to unfold right before my very eyes.  You don't look at this and say that is a Flora Bowley painting. 
Although this year has been rocky.... I have learned alot!!! Thanks to my artistic connections thru blogland!!!! Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches... I hope you check everyone out and Alexandra's etsy shop too!
 Hugs to you all! 

Ahoy mating! dana

all work copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012