Clyde – April 16, 2009

Clyde – 2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

–Eleanor Roosevelt

In this moment, we are the best we can be.

Today, we can work at loving the best in ourselves and not fearing the worst. We are truly wonderful and growing people with gifts and qualities that make us who we are. No one can make us feel inferior without our consent.

We are in charge of our lives and growth. We have options today. We can choose to have loving, affirming people in our lives.

Today, stick with the winners. You are a winner today and every day.

-Nancy Hull-Mast

Pastel Mill – April 15, 2009

8″ x 10″ watercolor & pen “Pastel Mill”

I believe in living a poetic life, an art full life. Everything we do is part of a large canvas we are creating.

-Maya Angelou

Hope everybody has their taxes behind them, already. Have a great day!

Bubbles – April 14, 2009

2.5″ x 3.5″ “Bubbles” watercolor

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.

-Norman Vincent Peale

The Office Cat – April 13, 2009

4″ x 6″ watercolor & sharpie

I miss having a cat in the sign shop…. not! I loved the company, but they do go wherever they want. When I hand painted all my signs, back in the early 90′s, I’d tell people that it wasn’t a Signs by Beth original, unless there was cat hair in the paint somewhere. I think a cat would have a little too much fun with the moving parts on a plotter now. I do smile at the thought of it, though.

Respond to challenges with perspective and grace, because life isn’t meant to be hassle-free or perfect.

-Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Betsy – April 10, 2009

2.5″ x 3.5″ watercolor & gouache

Use your mind for positive change – a workable solution, a better alternative, or a productive plan – rather than wasting your mental energy criticizing and pointing out faults.

– Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Bahama Fish – April 9, 2009

6.5″ x 10″ watercolor completed. I had posted this one before, but now it’s finished. I just had to look at it for a while, before I knew it wasn’t finished.

Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanent happy spirit.

–Norman Vincent Peale

Tornado Alley – April 8, 2009

“Tornado Alley”
6″ x 8″ Lino cut block print

“I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be doing on this earth, and then simply doing it.”

~ Natalie Goldberg

I really like this quote! I may finally be getting it right!

Whiskey Transfer – April 7, 2009

7″ x 10″ Whiskey Transfer Cottage with Watercolor

This is a fun method I learned. Use an inkjet copy and turn it over on to your watercolor paper. Use whiskey, gin or vodka (isopropyl alcohol won’t work) and brush onto the back of the painting with a stiff brush. You can do all or just a portion of your inkjet image. Then, simply paint it or do pen & ink. It dries fast and is ready to work on right away. Have fun!

Only a few of those who accomplish things in this world are superintellects. However they have one super quality that keeps them going: the I-will-keep-trying attitude, the never-give-up, the stick-with-it, the hang-in-there, the keep-it-going attitude.

–Norman Vincent Peale

Butterfly – April 6, 2009

10″ x 7″ watercolor

The secret of changing one’s personality, regardless of the problem, is to think in new categories, reeducating your thought pattern so that enthusiasm is put into the top-priority category.

–Norman Vincent Peale

Watercolor Fish – April 3, 2009

8″ x 10″ Watercolor

“I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something. Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow.”

– Julia Cameron