art for my soul... step 1

My art shop is on vacation, for how long, I do not know...When it feels right I will re-open it possibly with lots of new artwork.  For now, I am enjoying it closed, a break...we all need a break sometimes.  I will keep my vintage shop open, as I do enjoy the hunt for things to put in it...oh, and treasures for me too.
I started a new mini journal, I love these Strathmore Visual Journals, 90 lb paper for mixed media...works well for me.  I had to create a front and back cover, just can't stand the feeling of a "naked" journal.  So I have a few sketches inside and I learned a new watercolor pencil technique watching Lori's tutorials... (post below)
A new journey I am on, seeking my calm...

inspiration and some creativity

So while I am happy to be home, I am still struggling with finding myself again.  I still worry about Mom and Dad, I am trying to find my old routine (did I have one?) and I was getting a bit hopeless that I would find my artistic spark... I felt the desire to create, I just couldn't get motivated and I was NOT gentle with myself...
While blogging I found a post about this book, Jesus Calling.

 I wish I could remember who's blog, I would thank her.  I picked this book up, it is a devotional book, written as God would talk to you.  I went to the yesterdays date and started reading.  Just like that, I read these words "Accept each day as it comes to you" and I knew it would be my inspiration.  Then I came home and glanced on my art table, two Frozen Charlotte's left in my stash... and then I saw an old vintage metal clip sort of thing... and then I had it back... my creativity took over and I didn't think...I just did...
This is what I came up with...

have you seen my muse?

Edouard Manet’s painting

I know, I know...be gentle with her...she is just hanging back waiting until you sort things out...or is she?
I feel like I want to create, I NEED to create and work out some stress and anxiousness...but what do I make, Do I paint, collage, I know, an assemblage?  See my problem?  I am not  allowing myself to be still enough to listen for her. 
Before I left for Pa. I was in such a happy place in my artwork, I loved doing what I was doing.  I had ideas when I dreamed of being back at my work table, where did they go?  Part of my problem is this, my feelings are all over the place, I have many racing thoughts still, I am trying to find my balance at home... I have stale and stagnate shops, 3 of them... I do want to JUMP in... but I feel as if there is no direction to go.  I might be over thinking this, and MIGHT be adding to much drama...lol...hopefully soon I will report that I sat down and just let myself go in a direction, that felt right for me.  I am looking at a very clean and tidy art table... I don't like it...

ART THERAPY CLASS TODAY

Today was a FABulous day, I painted....Art Therapy with my friend Mary DeSilva as our teacher.  So happy that I found Mary's classes at our local Hobby Lobby.  Facebook is a wonderful thing....that is how I found her you see.
Lets see, this is my forth class so far....as I sit here admiring my four canvas's on my walls.  Today I went with two great friends and Mary had a friend from out of town with her, so I was girlfriend/painting day.  Nothing better....well...maybe if there were drinks served, or CHEESECAKE!
Today we painted flowers, abstract, funky flowers....I love it.  Here is a peek of my finished piece.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT/PAINTING PARTY

I can not begin to tell you how much my girlfriends mean to me as I approach the big 50.  Something changes...well we all know that, don't we.  But a good thing is the relationships you hold close to your heart.  This crew here... are my friends from Shell Oil, my "family" here in Louisiana.  We transferred here with our husbands and early on, Shell had great meetings and luncheons for us to bond....bond we did.  This is our core group of many, but we have tried to get together, although not enough...and we say that all the time.
We try to get together and go to dinner for a girls night out, but this time we incorporated painting, my new love.  Mary is my new friend, she teaches Art Therapy classes and I went to one at Hobby Lobby, remember I told y'all...so she was nice enough and BRAVE enough to come to my house for a house party.  We had a blast, well aside from one...Cindy...she knows who she is.  We will NOT make Cindy paint, ever again....
This is what we painted, and old New Orleans house, this is my finished painting.

Here are some pictures from our fun night.

Bridgette and Joanne

Pat and Cindy

Cindy and Lori

Our teacher Mary

Jill and me

Cindy, the one who was not liking the painting....

Lori and her beautiful plants, lol

 

 We had the best time, it was crowded in my kitchen, and Mary had a hard time checking on us, to many chairs and stuff!!!  Precious memories to me....love you all~

ART THERAPY

I was thrilled to see that my local Hobby Lobby was now offering Art Therapy classes...my ears perked up when I saw my friend post the link on Face book.  I have always wanted to know what it is like to paint and I have so many art friends who do.  I immediately clicked ATTENDING.

Our project image

 So I went minus my friend who was out of town, off I got to Hobby Lobby and who do I see, but my friend Jill.  The teach was so nice and we had the best time.  Mind you, other that paint by number, I am so ignorant at how to paint, and a bit tense when I looked at the big white, blank canvas...
Here is my friend Jill:

And me,

Having so much fun and learning....and chatting...and just thrilled to be there.  The class was to be from 10-12, but we ended up staying until a bit after 2:00, lol.
This is my finished canvas....I did work on it a bit more at home...after buying many NEW art supplies.....

I enjoyed this so much, that I booked the teacher Mary, and she will be coming to my house and teaching 4 of my friends for our next Girls Night Out...I will be sure to post photos of that....