Technicolor Kitty – November 30, 2009

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

– Vincent van Gogh

Technicolor Kitty

Watercolor

5″ x 7″ Greeting Card

Today is my birthday, so my husband and I have a lunch date and an appointment with a flight instructor. ( Oh My! Did she say flight instructor?) Yes, I’m going to learn to fly. Did I mention that my 50’s are my favorite years, so far? Life is a great big gift, just waiting for us to revel in it every day. I hope yours is a good one!

About Vincent van Gogh

The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh worked as an artist for only ten years, but he had a profound and lasting effect on the art world. He was born in 1853 in Zundert. He briefly became a minister but was dismissed for caring too much about his impoverished parishioners. His brother, Theo, was a close friend and supporter. He only sold one painting during his lifetime. He is known for his heavy brushstrokes and strong colors. He died in 1890 of suicide.

Agapanthus – November 27, 2009

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: ‘I’m with you kid. Let’s go.’

– Maya Angelou

Ooooo…. I LOVE that! I hope you U.S. folks had a terrific Thanksgiving!

Agapanthus

5″ x 7″ Acrylic on Ampersand Panel

I did this little painting for the WetCanvas Plant Parade challenge. I know it doesn’t look like the real thing, but it was fun anyway.

About Maya Angelou

American poet and author Maya Angelou is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She was born in St. Louis in 1928 and grew up in rural Arkansas.. Due to her activism, Martin Luther King asked her to take a leadership position in his organization. In 1993, at President Clinton’s request, she wrote and performed a poem at his inauguration. She has also directed films and appeared on television. She teaches at Wake Forest University.

No Thanksgiving Dinner – November 25, 2009

“In every person who comes near you look for what is good and strong; honor that; try to imitate it, and your faults will drop off like dead leaves when their time comes.”

– John Ruskin

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No Thanksgiving Dinner
5″ x 5″ Golden Fluid Acrylic on Ampersand Panel

I’m pretty sure if he could talk, he’d tell you he’s glad he’s not a turkey today. I hope all of you U.S. people have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

About John Ruskin

John Ruskin was an English art critic who influenced the attitude of a whole generation toward art and architecture. He was born in 1819 in London. His career began with an essay defending his friend, artist J.M.W. Turner, from critics.. His book Modern Painters made Turner popular and gave stature to the Pre-Raphaelite movement. He founded the Cambridge Scool of Art in 1858, now known as the Anglia Ruskin University. Leo Tolstoy called him one of those rare men who think with their heart. When Ruskin inherited wealth, he gave most of the money away. He died in 1900.

Zesty Salsa – November 24, 2009

“I am grateful for the ability to keep the small stuff and refrain from worrying about every challenge that comes into my day.”

From the Don’t Sweat Affirmations

Richard Carlson Ph.D.

Zesty Salsa
2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor & Ink

I have noticed that trying to paint something new every day is a little harder for me, when I work with acrylic.

With watercolor, I can sit down to a blank piece of paper & zip something out. With acrylics, I find myself wanting to plan things out, which makes me a little less spontaneous. I think it’s time to do a little organizing in my studio, so I can easily switch from one medium to the next. I want to keep both mediums fresh in my brain, if that’s possible. Any advise on that? I’d love to hear your comments.

I quote from Richard Carlson often, so here is something a little different about him, besides his regular bio. With more than 26 Million Carlson books in print, published in 35 languages in over 130 countries, Dr. Carlson became a worldwide phenomenon. He spoke to enthusiastic audiences around the world and was a popular television and radio personality, having been a guest on Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, NBC, CNN, FOX, PBS, Hardball with Chris Mathews, The O’Riley Factor, and myriad other shows around the world.

Richard Carlson passed away on December 13, 2006

Yummy Yogurt – November 23, 2009

“You will not find poetry anywhere unless you bring some of it with you.”

– Joseph Joubert

Yummy Yogurt
2.5″ x 3.5″ Watercolor & Ink

The second to last card in the alphabet series.

About Joseph Joubert

French essayist Joseph Joubert became famous after his death when his friend, the renowned author Chateaubriand, gathered a selection of essays into the book Collected Thoughts of Mr. Joubert. Joubert was born in 1754 in Périgord. He attended and then taught at a religious college in Toulouse but left in 1778 for Paris, where he became friends with a number of great thinkers of the time. He wrote copiously on such subjects as ethics, politics, theology, and literature. He died in 1824.

FTC Regulations – Bloggers Read On

FTC REGULATIONS AFFECT INTERNET AFFILIATE RELATIONSHIPS, ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS

Cheryl Hodgson has up to date information regarding how this affects bloggers on her blog, http://brandaideblog.com, BRANDAIDE™ — The Blog: “Where Selection Meets Protection”

I have been adding a little disclaimer sentence to the bottom of all my recent blog posts, because I like to talk up the products and websites I like.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Licorice – November 19, 2009

“Ruin and recovering are both from within.”
– Epictetus

Licorice
5″ x 7″ Golden Fluid Acrylic on Gessoed Aquabord

It was fun to just play with the colorful shapes of this candy. I did it for the Different Strokes challenge on WetCanvas. This is the first time I have done the monthly challenge from the acrylics forum. I’m starting to really enjoy acrylics! I just can’t wait to see what flows from my brush next! ~big grin~

About Epictetus

Epictetus, the Roman-era Stoic philosopher, lived a very ascetic life, believing that happiness came from living “according to the will of nature” and that free will comes from how we respond to circumstances. He was born in 55 AD in what is now Turkey and spent most of his life in Rome. He spent his youth as a slave and became crippled due to his master’s harsh treatment. He was later exiled to Greece, where he founded a school and wrote his most famed work, The Discourses. He died in 135.

For the FTC: I am not receiving anything in return for my endorsements of products or websites in this blog post.

Morning Meadows – November 19, 2009

Developing the patience and discipline to quiet my mind is a great accomplishment.
My inner wisdom bubbles up in periods of quiet contemplation.

from The Don’t Sweat Affirmations
by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Morning Meadows
5″ x 5″ Golden Fluid Acrylic
on Black Gessoed Ampersand Aquabord

I did this little painting in my motel room on the morning of the second day of the Don Tiller workshop. It just flowed! I really enjoyed the workshop a lot!!! I guess maybe you could tell. *grin*

Richard Carlson, Ph.D. (5-16-61 to 12-13-06) was considered to be one of the foremost experts on happiness and stress reduction in the United States and around the world. As the author of thirty popular books including the runaway bestseller, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all Small Stuff, he showed millions of people how not to let the small things in life get the best of them.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff made publishing history as the USA Today’s #1 bestselling book for two consecutive years. The title spent over one hundred consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and is considered one of the fastest selling books of all time. In 2004,

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff was voted one of the top ten most read books in the past decade! Richard is one of the few authors in history to have two different titles at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list at the same time: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, in soft cover and Don’t Worry, Make Money, in hardcover.

For the FCC: I am receiving no money or product for saying nice things about the people or products in this blog post.

Pumpkin Hill – November 18, 2009

“No one can really pull you up very high — you lose your grip on the rope. But on your own two feet you can climb mountains.”

– Louis Brandeis

I just got back from Washington last night. It was the BEST trip!!

I really loved my Don Tiller workshop! These photos are from the first day. We laid our blank canvases on the floor and Don drew a chalk line through them. Our plan was to make a connection series. We weren’t sitting next to the people next to us in the series, so not all of it worked as a connection, but every bit of it worked as a learning experience. Mine is 4th from the left. It’s a 9″ x 12″ panel, but it is teeny, between the larger ones.

Pumpkin Hill
9″ x 12″ Golden Fluid Acrylic
on Ampersand Gessobord

The humble beginnings. This was just so much fun. I was so impressed with Don Tiller. He was a great teacher and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have studied with him. (Oh yeah…. I am his number one fan! **big grin**)

 

About Louis Brandeis

American judge Louis Brandeis was the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, and one of the most influential Justices in the history of the Court. He was born in Kentucky in 1856 to Czech-born parents. He graduated from high school at age 14 and later became head of his class at Harvard Law School. As a Justice, many of his decisions created greater protections for individual rights of privacy and free speech. He died in 1941. Brandeis University was named in his honor.

For the FCC: I am not being paid by any of the people or products mentioned in this blog post. I just like them.

Float my Boat – November 11, 2009

“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

– Carlos Castaneda

Float my Boat

5″ x 7″ Atelier Interactive Acrylic
on Black Gessoed Ampersand Aquabord Panel

This is my last post until the 18th. I am leaving to go to Port Townsend, Washington for Don Tiller’s acrylic workshop. (I am so excited.) Then I’ll take a ferry over to Whidbey Island, to spend a few days with my little sister. Have a good week and I’ll see you when I get back. Happy Veteran’s Day to all of our veterans!

About Carlos Castaneda

Carlos Castaneda, the Peruvian-born new age writer, is known for his book series about his apprenticeship with Don Juan Matus, the Toltec shaman, including A Separate Reality and Journey to Ixtlan. The books are about the nature of perception and include many hallucinatory experiences. It is unknown how much of his writing was factual. He wrote the first three books as an anthropology student at UCLA, and they quickly gained cult success. He was born in 1925 and died in 1998.

For the FCC: I do not receive anything from the manufacturers or suppliers of products mentioned in today’s blog post. I just tell you what I like.