Sunday Sketches and no time...

My schedule allows little time for really creating.  I am a morning person so it is work out or create...currently on the workout path, so when can I art?  I've been taking a paper journal with me everyday now, grabbing my plain #2 pencil and making sure art is part of EVERYDAY!  I have given myself permission to just play - it is not about creating a masterpiece - it is just thinking about it and putting pencil to paper.  No real supplies just something to keep me growing.  It doesn't matter that I am not following a lesson or perfecting a technique - it is about the DOING!  So, crayons highlighters whatever is there - using it and smiling the whole time because NO PRESSURE!

My little bird of mixed whatever was on hand where I was at!  Color therapy - art therapy - call it what you want but it makes you smile!

My alter ego?????

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches!!!!  It is always fun to get up, grab a cup of coffee and explore on Sunday mornings!

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

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!

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

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

LOVE IS . . .

Love is... when your husband takes your art out of the trash - puts it together and hangs it in the
living room!!!




If you have been with me for awhile you will remember that in June of 2011 my husband and I participated in Scrapfest lead by one of our artist friends.  It is an annual event where you run through a scrapyard pick your scraps and create a sculpture. We were part of a team of 5 and it was an incredible experience.  While we were working like madmen in our garage after work every night (we had 2 weeks to complete the task) we generated a lot of onlookers.  I had made a poster for the end of the driveway signifying what we were doing!  Throughout the process I took a lot of pics and we had pieces of metal leftover from cut outs that I used for some of the pics!

When the event ended, my husband and were left with the chaos and some of it I just couldn't toss out.  ( I do have a problem with that )  My plan was to have Mark (the said my husband) rivet the poster to one of the metal cut outs to be hung in the garage in remembrance of the experience.  Somehow, more than a year has gone by and the pieces were still sitting on the landing in the garage. So, a week ago, he asks me what am I doing with this stuff?  Hummmm, well, I thought the plan was blah blah blah but I guess not.  He went back into the house and I stood there staring at my kooky treasures.  I picked it up and took it to the dumpster.  I didn't say a word.  I figured he wouldn't even notice.  I knew he would notice it was gone but assumed he would think I put in the basement or somewhere in my room of art chaos!

Trash day had come and gone - I didn't think another thing of it!  Yesterday I come home from work and hanging on our living room wall is my trash!  You have got to love a guy that understands the depths of your soul!!!!  I never saw it removed from the garbage... or him working to put it together!  XXOO!!!

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches!!!!!  Can't wait to see all the art!

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

Sunday Sketches and life is busy

I feel like it has been forever since I have been in touch with my art!!!  The last few weeks have gotten taken over with medical issues and car issues... as I consider 13 my lucky number - I am really looking forward to next year.  Get all these "issues" taken care of and move on!  On a high note - we do have our vacation planned in the middle of diagnosises and minor surgeries to resolve issues... Both of us - how crazy is that!  So Key West be ready because we will be!!!  I plan on really taking some painting gear and seeing if I can't recapture some of the essence of Sanford Birdsey and my trip in 2008!

Dracu-ella !!!

Just a quick watercolor sketch this morning... feeling very Halloween-ish today!  Thanks to Alexandra for hosting!!!  Be sure to visit as many artists' as you can!

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

more angel eyes for Optometry Giving Sight & SS

Hope you like her Jez!  Please, honestly let me know, I am trying to start a curly haired girl.  Anyways - next up for my mini's for Optometry Giving Sight is the finished Babushka Girl!!!  When I was a kid all the mom's wore babushka's - I even had to wear them when it was chilly outside.  Now I think they are cool and so remind me of the 50's!  Made to ride in a convertible!!!!  There is a no helmet law in Michigan now, I could try it on the Harley... hummmmmmm, NO.

Have a great weekend and enjoy all the stops at Sunday Sketches, thanks Alexandra!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

SS and my angel eyes girls continue

Here is the girl I am currently doing.  She is babushka girl!  I love saying that.  The young girls I work with don't even know what a babushka is!!!!  Anyways she should be fun!  It is a busy weekend for everyone I am sure!  I am sooooooooooooooo looking forward to two days off in a row.  I trust everyone will have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend.

Thanks to Alexandra for hosting Sunday Sketches, can't wait to visit everyone!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls