Friday, February 25, 2011

Morning Sketch No. 12


"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over ... it became a butterfly."

Hans Christian Andersen

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Morning Sketch No. 11


"Remember ... you are never fully dressed without a smile."

Little Orphan Annie

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Morning Sketch No. 10


"I want to sing like birds sing not worrying who hears or what they think."

Rumi

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Thank You ... Gloria Vanderbilt!






This is one of my very favorite books ... it is the first "real" book I ever bought! Forty years have passed now and it's cover is torn and tattered ... but, even today, when I hold it in my hands ... it can still transport me back to a magical time in my life!

In 1970, when this book was published, I was a 19 year old aspiring artist. The year before, 1969, Gloria Vanderbilt and her wildly colorful collages of Elizabethan ladies ... made out of bits of tinfoil, paper doilies, gingham and pen and ink ... were introduced to the world on The Johnny Carson Show! Somewhere out in West Texas ... I was watching ... in utter amazement ... and became a lifelong admirer of Gloria Vanderbilt and her art!

Over the next decade, her artwork evolved into fabrics, paper products, sheets, china, housewares and more books ... a mini empire! She became a "rock star" of the art/design world! Her artistic journey was well publicized over the years in magazines and newspapers ... and her generous spirit shared it all ... the good, the bad and the ugly ... she was a real person living an artistic life. Today, she might be more recognizable as the mother of CNN's Anderson Cooper ... but for over forty years ... her own artistic star has been blazing across the sky!

Now in her 80's ... it appears that star is still going strong! I recently read online, that she visits her studio daily to create the wildly colorful, spirit lifting collages that she is still known for today ... and much, much more! Her artistic life will always amaze and inspire me! After a lifetime of following her star ... I am so very grateful for this opportunity to finally say ... thank you, Gloria Vanderbilt!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Morning Sketch No.9


"Be kind and just to everybody;
rise in the morning with the lark,
and whistle in the evening with the blackbird;
and in time you may be a painter."

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Morning Sketch No. 8


"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Lewis Carroll

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Process


The Process: ... early morning ... around 5:30 or 6:00am ... set timer ... one hour ... choose an inspiration journal ... stand up ... stretch ... sit down ... begin ... slowly turn the pages ... doodle ... smile at old friends ... doodle ... quiet ... no music ... listen to the morning ... doodle ... find new friends ... doodle ... sip tea ... breathe ... doodle ... doodle ... doodle ... sip tea ... laugh out loud ... left hand ... right hand ... doodle ... doodle ... open eyes ... close eyes ... celebrate ... admire ... wonder ... sip more tea ... hug Lizzie ... wet watercolors ... paint ... doodle ... doodle ... doodle ... BING! ... timer goes off ... breathe ... snap photo .... post on blog .... smile ... be grateful ... greet the day!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Postcards!


I love postcards! There is a stack on my desk ... ready to go at all times! My stack of postcards came from many places ... bookstores, museums, drugstores and favorite little shops! But ... several times a year I will also print one from my own work. "Cooper" was an original acrylic painting. His funny ... sweet ... expression ... has made him my perfect "Goodwill Ambassador" to carry smiles through the mail!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Morning Sketch No. 6


"I've discovered the secret of life, a lot of hard work, a lot of sense of humor, a lot of joy and a whole lot of 'tra la la'!"

Kay Thompson
"Eloise"

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Lizzie




Yesterday you could almost smell Spring in the air! After three very warm days, filled with sunshine and blue skies, we were getting used to spending our days in the sun! Today ... it has been a very different story. A cold front blew in last night bringing snow and dropping temperatures below freezing which has made this an inside kind of day. As I sat in my studio this afternoon listening to Lizzie chase rabbits in her sleep ... I could not help but wonder ... is she dreaming about Spring too?