gratitude surrounds…

(11×14, canvas board. “gratitude surrounds her”)

i’ve been wanting to introduce more colors to my paintings, more messy, more birdies, more variations to the backgrounds. but boy is it so much lovelier in my head and daydreams than the actual process. this painting was a fight. all day long. struggle, struggle, struggle…until i could see new pieces, new elements being born in my style. i made this piece in mati’s artnest class (layered forest painting). it was the perfect, gentle push to get outside of myself and to play, but also to wrestle with the visions in my head. i still wanted patchwork, brayer, paper, girl elements but i wanted a twist. mati’s class really helped propel me forward in ways that had me toughing it out. and let me just say that claudine’s paints have also really helped me jump outside my color box. i can’t say enough about these paints, their consistency, their colors.

sometimes painting can be downright hard, especially when we are just beginning, finding our style, and then again with each new twist and growth spurt. but i also think it’s for the best, totally necessary, and worth it. thank you, mati rose, my creative soul sister and partner-in-crime, for helping me bust thru!

in other news, lots of goodness swirling around here. there have been friend dates. sunny days. signing up for circus classes (for fitness + strengthening!). creative dreaming about business possibilities on the horizon. painting. working hard. website updates (new website coming soon…working with a really fantastic designer). and finally settling into a bit of a routine now that john is working. i’m really loving my man these days and just can’t get enough of him. feels really good. also planning for more visitors next week and then again in late march. so much abounds. after several several weeks of feeling just a tad detached, stale, and blank, it feels truly wonderful to be inspired again, a bit more enthusiastic, and emotional about life.

more soon.

ps – i’ve added links to the left sidebar for those of you who may be interested in posting your projects from Taking Flight to the flick group, as well as joining in on the coversation over on the Taking Flight discussion group.

pps – thank you to everyone who have sent emails regarding the demdaco line. i’m loving that you guys are seeing these in stores nationwide and telling me about it! i’m thrilled beyond belief that the collection is off to a fantastic start and that i’m in great hands with demdaco. a serious dream come true.