Paint Party Friday AND THE WINNER IS ....

DEB at GECKOSTONE!!!!  Congrats, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.  Please check out Deb's blog AND her etsy shop...beautiful soul soothing works!!!!  I love her little blue lizard with the blue tail she is currently working on....wish we had those here in Michigan!

Thanks to all of you...your comments are ALWAYS INSPIRING!!!!  Just trying to get myself organized and back on track...still.  My artroom is almost back together so that I can work on the bicycle painting!!! Yahoo.   I am also trying to get my workout program back on track...yes, again!!!  So, for Paint Party Friday and little exercise motivation!!! 

couldn't get the pic to turn for some reason...NOW to use them!!!

SO HAPPY PAINT PARTY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!  Will be checking out all the art over the weekend as I am off to work...AND tonight attending a "Cork and Canvas" session!!!!  Painting in acrylics (which I have not done - just a dab here and there in work only) and sipping wine with 5 other people.  My metal artist's friend Stacy will be joining me...what fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting...and Deb send me an email with your info so I can put Taking Flight in the mail to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

Mojo Monday!!!

It's Labor Day so I don't have to work (my husband does though boo-hiss)...that doesn't mean I'm not laboring!!!  Cleaning my artroom (yikes) and mowed the grass.  Anyways finished my sketch for a painting that I have been putting of for almost a year.  Can't believe my friend still wants me to do it...for money no less.  I haven't completely decided how I want to do the background but it is time to get going on this piece.

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!  I can just start to smell our ribs!!!!  In the oven, it is only in the 50's here in Michigan...so much for last weeks heatwave!

Don't forget to leave a comment to have your name entered in the give away!!!! 

 A copy of Kelly Rae Roberts - Taking Flight!!!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!

Sunday Sketches...summers ending....

I keep bopping around and looking at all the great work here in blogland...between Paint Party Fridays and Sunday Sketches....wow, just amazing work and inspiration to be found.  I sometimes get overwhelmed and stop participating because I feel that unless I produce something "worthy" I shouldn't post.  I don't want people to feel they have to compliment work that isn't really good.  I realize that it isn't about creating a masterpiece - IT IS ABOUT THE DOING!!!  So, this morning I was up really really early - long story that I will save you from - just sipping my morning coffee, listening to the rain and GRABBED MY SHARPIES!!!  Pencil doodled and marker doodled my thoughts for the upcoming day. (Thank you Darla, doodling in my mind!!!)  Splashed some blue to convey my soothing mood and am done! 

HAPPY SUNDAY TO EVERYONE....PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO FRIDAY'S POST OR just know that next Friday I am pulling a name out of my favorite coffee cup to receive Kelly Rae Roberts book, Taking Flight.  We all need books to put our hands and eyes on to start our artsy wheels turning!!!  I have been so inspired by her work and all you Friday Sunday artists' that I just want to share some art-time!!!!
Thanks to our Sunday host Sophie - her mushrooms today just crack me up as I wanted to make my helmet look like a mushroom (because that's what it looks like I have on my head when I ride) but couldn't master it...wished I had checked in with her first!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls!

Paint Party Friday and back on track

Well, it has been a couple weeks of busy life choas and no time to paint or post.  Did take a minute to sketch a seen on my deck...my garden is really pots of herbs and flowers to attract hummingbirds.  We have to much sand to really get anything to grow in the ground.  I love flamingo's and have one of my many in a pot of chives.
Makes me smile...so yesterday while watching the big orange ball of sun come up over the tree line, sipping my coffee; I sketched my peaceful deck...later was able to add marker, watercolor and a dab of acrylic...

a "peace" of my garden

So in honor of getting back on track, into the groove and Paint Party Friday ...I would like to give away a  "peace" of  inspiration.  Leave a comment here today or a post I will do Sunday and Monday and this book could be yours...

Kelly Rae Roberts, Taking Flight.  It is one of my favorite books to flip through while drinking my morning coffee...so for all us coffee lovers, dreamers, artists at any level....hope you put your name in the cup.  Yes, cup, as my coffee time is my time I am putting all the names into one of my favorite morning cups and next Friday will pull a name and send the book on its way. 
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend for Labor Day and hope you get to Art today!
cheers, dana
thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting Paint Party Friday
P.S. I think my dad really liked his barn...or was it he was afraid to critique?!?

Sunday Sketches and the finished piece...

I love blogland...first a surprise in the mail...Kristin Dudish showed a journal page not too long ago with a snail.  I have a thing for snails and snail mail....so what could be better than opening the mailbox and having a postcard from her with her snail sketchbook painting!!!!  Even my husband was wowed!!!

Then, all the helpful encouraging comments as I work on my Dad's barn painting.  It is done!  I am happy with it and have decided no matter what his comments are...I am still happy with it.  I know he will be to, he just can't help himself but to say something critical.  He thinks it's funny because it ruffles my feathers, not funny!  But I am not going to let it bother me because deep down he is happy I did it!  I should have taken the pic before I framed it because I didn't use museum glass... oh well.

I love the rustic scrappy frame...the birds on the roof are cardinals.  I was quite surprised when my favorite birds (Ray and Tillie) turned out to be the state bird for West Virginia, my Dad's home state.  Speaking of Ray and Tillie...if you have read past post you know that I paint cardinals and they are named after two important people in my life...as I type this Tillie (my ex-mother in law - and ex sounds so tacky) has just passed...she will be meeting up with Ray and celebrating eternity!  It is with sadness that I type but with a smile knowing they are together again.

at my son's wedding...just this past May

Please hug all you love, let them know you care and make a call today to someone you haven't touched base with in awhile!!!!  Hello, goes a long way!!!

dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!!  Thank you Kristin!

visit all the artist at Sunday Sketches hosted by Sophia...my heart is with you! This week Heather of Rose Hill Designs is our guest host as Sophia is with family at a most important time, thank you Heather.

all contents copyright dana strickland/sinderella studio 2011



7 random things about me....

I love the smell in the air after a nice full summer rain...worms and steam...makes me want to go out and jump in puddles as I did as a kid (sometimes I still go out and jump in them)

I have trouble throwing things away...I am not a hoarder although my husband may think so!

I still buy coloring books and use them!!!

I have a lipstick fedish.

I love dreaming while awake!

Grandkids and cupcakes go together in this house!

One of my favorite parts of day is when my husband gets home, we cook with wine and chat about our day.  Wine and spices splashing and dashing everywhere!

I am posting these things as Marfi from Incipent Wings has been kind enough to send me a blog award!  I needed to post 7 random things about myself and send the award off to 7 other bloggers....I want everyone to have the award!!!! and will be sending them out!!!  Thanks Marfi!!!!

the barn....

I am pretty happy with the way the barn came out BUT know my dad will be critical that my background is not dark like the photo I shared with you last week.   How to get that hazing deep green...help...or should I just leave it bright and clean....after all this all about the roof-line of the barn.

Please let me know what you think I can do to add to this painting.  Matting will do alot to pull it in...I just keep looking at it and thinking of the Mark Mehaffey lecture I went to ...he would say this is seed catalog work...but I like it!!!
Also must share this mornings sunrise photo...it looks like the moon!

I love sitting out on the deck in the morning drinking my coffee...I love summer!!!!

Thanks to Sophia for hosting Sunday Sketches and all the wonderful art that we share each week!!!!


Also, please check back tomorrow.  I received a blog award from Marfi at Incipient Wings...she is so magically whimsical!  Anyways, I have to share 7 random things about myself - yikes - and sending the award onto 7 others! 

Remember:  make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!

cheers, dana
now off to watch my daughter-in-law and granddaughter get baptized...and grandson's 2nd b-day!

all contents copyright dana strickland/sinderella studio