Snorkeling Anyone?

“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.”
– Orison Swett Marden

Snorkeling Anyone?

4″ x 4″ Watercolor

I did this last summer.  It just seemed that with all the terrible weather we have going on across the country, we could all use a little warmth.  This is a self portrait from 2002, when I was on my weddingmoon, in Ambergris Caye, Belize.  I call it a weddingmoon because we were married there and we had to be there for three days to establish temporary residency, before they could legally perform the marriage ceremony.  It was pure bliss!  Not a single family member in sight.  🙂

About Orison Swett Marden

Orison Swett Marden, the American writer who is considered the forerunner of motivational authors, wrote an average of two books a year from 1894 to 1924. He was born on a New England farm in 1850. During college, he worked in hotel management. He then used his seed money to buy a resort in Rhode Island. Wanting to inspire people as he himself had been inspired by British author Samuel Smiles, he began writing books like You Can, But Will You? and founded Success Magazine. He died in 1924.

Three Tulips

“When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself.”
– Isak Dinesen

Three Tulips

4″ x 6″ Mixed Media

When I painted this, I loaded it with lots of color with watercolor!  It was flat and stripedy.  (yes, I said stripedy… he he)  I came back and brushed on bits of white and pale colored acrylic.  I liked it much better.  No more stripedy!  🙂

About Isak Dinesen

Isak Dinesen was the pen name of Karen Blixen, the Danish author famously portrayed by Meryl Streep in the film of her best-selling memoir, Out of Africa. She was born near Copenhagen in 1885. In 1914, she and her new husband moved to Kenya to run a coffee plantation. She stayed on after divorcing her husband ten years later, living an unusually independent life. Her book of stories, Seven Gothic Tales, sold well, but Out of Africa made her a worldwide success. She died in 1962.

Watercolor Weave

“Striving for perfection is the greatest stopper there is.… It’s your excuse to yourself for not doing anything. Instead, strive for excellence, doing your best.”
– Sir Laurence Olivier

Brilliant!  ❗

Watercolor Weave

4″ x 6″ Weave on 5″ x 7″ Black greeting card

I learned this trick from my friend, Kordelia.  I started with two 4″ x 6″ watercolor paintings that I did a long time ago.  I cut one in 1/2″ vertical strips and the other in 1/2″ horizontal strips.  I wove them, gluing the ends, and then painted a couple layers of  transparent yellow iron oxide Golden Fluid Acrylic on it.  I finished it off with a couple coats of spray varnish, then glued it onto the black greeting card.

I’m going to send it to Kordelia, to brighten her day.  🙂

About Sir Laurence Olivier

The brilliant English actor Laurence Olivier, known for roles in such films as The Entertainer, Rebecca, and Wuthering Heights, was central in founding Britain’s National Theater, and was artistic director there for ten years. He was born in 1907 in Surrey. Not a Method actor, he used external attributes to create a character. He craved performance and was depressed between jobs. He was the first actor to direct his own Oscar-winning performance, in Hamlet. He died in 1989.

Quiet Boat

“Forgiveness is the economy of the heart.…forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.”
– Hannah More

Quiet Boat

4″ x 6″ Acrylic on Canvas

I painted this, then kinda lost interest in it when I got to the water.  I suppose I could have gone on to add reflections, and the like, but I thought not.  🙂

I opted to insert a little troll, that I did on watercolor paper.  No, I didn’t attach it permanently, because I still may do more on the painting.

I hope I at least gave you a laugh this morning!  🙂

About Hannah More

English writer and philanthropist Hannah More, one of the most influential women of her time, is seen as a proto-feminist because she argued for true education for women. She was born near Bristol in 1745. When her long engagement to a local landowner ended badly, he gave her a yearly stipend in apology, which allowed her the freedom to move to London and write plays. She later shifted to philanthropic work and writing popular religious tracts. She died in 1833.

Norwegian Landscape

“Men, like nails, lose their usefulness when they lose direction and begin to bend.”
– Walter Savage Landor

Norwegian Landscape

4″ x 4″ x 2″ Golden Fluid Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This was a fun project!  I have 4 hours in this little painting.  There are layers and layers of acrylic glazes, gradually building up the color.

I started with a canvas that I had primed with black gesso.  I drew the lines in with a watercolor pencil.

Then, I painted the pieces in with Golden transparent yellow iron oxide mixed with a dab of titanium white.

The last two are the midway point,  after 2 hours….

I hope you enjoyed seeing the process.  🙂

About Walter Savage Landor

Walter Savage Landor, the tempestuous but brilliant English writer, is known as a romantic poet but achieved fame with Imaginary Conversations, consisting of nearly 150 dialogues between historical figures. He was born in 1775 in England. He was suspended from Oxford for shooting a gun in his room. After he bought and renovated a ruined abbey in Wales, he moved to Italy, where he left his family to return to England. He spent his last years in Italy with Robert Browning and his wife and died in 1864.

Lone Tree

“Discontent is the first step in progress. No one knows what is in him till he tries, and many would never try if they were not forced to.”
– Basil Maturin

Lone Tree

4″ x 6″ Acrylic on Canvas

I started with a black gessoed canvas, then painted this with layers and layers of glazes with Golden Fluid Acrylics.  This is more of the style I learned at my Don Tiller workshop in Port Townsend, WA last November.  I have so much fun painting with acrylics, since learning  Don’s wonderful techniques.  I’ll always be grateful that I was able to attend his workshop.

About Basil Maturin

British cleric Basil Maturin, renowned for his oratory skill, was ordained as an Anglican but later converted to Catholicism. He was born in 1847 in Ireland. He ministered in Philadelphia before returning to England in 1888 to resolve his conflict about his religious identity. He died on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915. He was observed giving last rites as the ship sank, looking pale but calm.

Lionfish

“Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.”
—Sue Atchley Ebaugh

Lionfish

4″ x 6″ Watercolor

This was a fun little watercolor to do.  Mike Beckett, over at WetCanvas is an amazing photographer!  This is one of his photos, from the WDE last weekend.

I looked up Sue Atchley Ebaugh, but couldn’t really find out anything about her.  She has some great quotes out there, but no bio, that I could find anyway.

Quilted Love

“When I do things without any explanation, but just with spontaneity…I can be sure that I am right.”
– Federico Fellini

Quilted Love

5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Sharpie

This is another Valentine.  This has just been so much fun.  I really do think it’s time to try some more quilting with paint.  🙂

About Federico Fellini

Famed Italian director Federico Fellini is known for the dreamlike logic and rich symbolism in Oscar- winning films like La Strada, La Dolce Vita, 8 ½, and Amarcord. His films often featured his wife, actress Giulietta Masina, and his onscreen alter-ego, actor Marcello Mastroiann. He was born in 1920 in Rimini. After he’d begun his film career, he opened a store named the Funny Face Shop, where he sold his drawings and artwork from other filmmakers. His 1993 funeral was attended by thousands of fans.

Wiener Dog Love

“You must lose a fly to catch a trout.”
—George Herbert Mead

Wiener Dog Love

5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Sharpie

Another Valentine for you.  I just love the expressions that dogs get on their faces.  What is this one saying to you?  Comment and tell me what you think.  🙂

George Herbert Mead (1863-1931), American philosopher and social theorist, is often classed with William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and John Dewey as one of the most significant figures in classical American pragmatism. Dewey referred to Mead as “a seminal mind of the very first order” (Dewey, 1932, xl). Yet by the middle of the twentieth-century, Mead’s prestige was greatest outside of professional philosophical circles. He is considered by many to be the father of the school of Symbolic Interactionism in sociology and social psychology, although he did not use this nomenclature.   more…

Patches

“We each need to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly.”
– Shakti Gawain

Patches

5″ x 7″ Watercolor & Sharpie

I did this one for Valentines Day, but he kinda fits in with any old day.  I really enjoyed “sewing” him together.  🙂

About Shakti Gawain

American New Age author Shakti Gawain was born in 1948. Raised by atheists who taught her to question everything, she went through an existential crisis after a romantic breakup, which led her on a pilgrimage to India. Her experiences inspired the book Creative Visualization, which became an international best seller. She has been featured in Time magazine and has appeared on such shows as Oprah, Good Morning Americav and The Larry King Show. She currently lives in California with her husband Jim Burns.