A Worthy Cause – Rocks Causing Ripples

A Worthy Cause – Rocks Causing Ripples

Finished Painting

We have lift off!

I decided to finally start the painting, so on Sunday afternoon I packed all my paints etc onto the deck and tried to remember how to put the easel together....

Apparently WE figured it out...thanks babe. LOL

Not bad for two nights work! At least 2 or 3 left though.  :)

Splat: on art

I don't remember exactly when i starting doing creative things. I can remember drawing as a child and doing cross stitch in high school. I remember buying painting magazines shortly after that and then the scroll saw came into play when i was in my 20's. I'd find patterns and cut them out, then paint them and give most of the things away as gifts. I still have a few of them kicking around here...and i think i even have some completed ones that never moved. Mental note to self: clean out that storage room (and the freezer and the litter boxes but that is another story)...

I do however, remember my first canvas painting. We had already bought the house that we live in currently and i needed something to hang up in the small bathroom. (Looking around the house now, it's hard to believe that we actually HAD bare walls at one time, but we actually did!) Anyway, it was a painting of a lighthouse on a sandy beach with a run down fence nearby, a few gulls flapping around.  I THINK it's at my grandma's house right now, but honestly I am not all that sure. For a first attempt, I think it was pretty good.

Painting came very easily to me and I suppose in that way I am lucky to have never had to take any courses. I am completely self taught. It is my one true love, next to my husband of course. It doesn't get much better than being out on the deck painting something on a nice day. Why I live in Edmonton, where there is only a handfull of days per summer I can actually DO this, is beyond me. lol

Over the years I have managed a bunch of pretty decent paintings...and I have one in particular that I am sooo proud of, but here's the thing...

I can't just visualize something, draw it up and paint it. I have to have something to go by. And with the way my OCD brain works, i look online like a madwoman until I find a painting that i love and go from there...usually big cats or animals of some sort.

I have also knocked off a Stephen Lyman cabin painting (that is hanging at my mother in law's house). She fell in love with it while visiting one time and I sent it home with her with the instructions that I wanted it back...later on, if you know what i mean. LOL

I once did a 11x14 painting of a longhaired calico cat that oddly enough looks alot like our cat, wicket. It was before we had her. *cues twilight zone music*

I did a particularly lovely one of a tiger...originally by my favorite painter, John Banovich. The painting he did was for a fundraiser and it was tiny - 11x14. I did a 20x24! I only wish I'd have made it even bigger as it's by far my best work to date. I actually haven't finished a painting since that one, as i'm scared it won't look as good. Yep, i'm a freak.

I suppose i just haven't been truly inspired as of yet to take the pics myself and paint them. I have a good friend who is a brilliant photographer and artist herself. She has given me permission to paint something of hers. The problem is there are so many fantastic photos, I can't decide which one to use!

But, i'm hoping to end my 5 year painter's block soon. I have something in mind for our living room that will be so much fun to do! Yes, it's kind of a knock off as well, but i already plan to change it up a bit to suit the space and color theme.

After all, I can't just buy a painting when i can do it myself, now can I? Perhaps forgery is a good racket? LOL No worries, i don't sell them!

...and i did get 40% off the canvas for the new piccie as well! Win! LOL

Thursday's Fluff

Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate

dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense

of balance and your choice of partner.

~ Amy Bloom ~

Babies n such....

Now before anyone panics, i am not having one, but a friend of mine is and while we all wait impatiently, he is officially overdue!!!! I'm hoping that that is not the start of a pattern on his part...

Many suggestions have been made to "hurry" him up:

- doing virtual jumping jacks & lunges...thought that may inspire him...nope
- i put on a scream mask to try and scare him out ...that didn't work either
- tried sending Gator over.....all he did was attack the mailman  lol
- eating spicy vegan tacos....the rest of us will have non spicy chicken ones
- searching for a particular hockey player to send to her so he can "erm" help things along...still looking for him.....hey, Canada is big!

So far nothing, but whenever it does happen I can't think of a better mom! Let's hope it all goes smoothly and quickly for her!
You are woman! I can hear you roaring from here. xxx

One of my favorite photos - baby Wicket and Mini Moosie :)