Dreama's Daily Paintings and Writings

"Always in Style" SOLD

2012-05-25T21:00:00.012-04:00

"Always in Style"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

Paris

a classic song

fresh flowers

Always in style:)

If video doesn't appear, click here:)

You can view my 2013 Workshop Schedule by clicking here:)
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Junk Drawer Fridays!

2012-05-24T23:00:00.075-04:00

BE PREPARED TO BE AMAZED, TO GAWK IN WONDER, TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD IN CONFUSION, OVER WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE.....:))

Let the Randomness Begin:

I'd Like a To-Go Box Please:

I am always looking for ways to streamline traveling with my paints. I use about 15 colors (give or take an impulse color or two:) and the little box shown below turns out to be the perfect fit. I pack up my colors in a bit of bubble wrap, stick 'em in the bin, pop them into a medium USPS box--and then ship them to wherever I am headed to paint.

Once there, I stand them upright for ease of use during my painting sessions:))

How cute is that??

And at less than $15 bucks, it's a cheap thrill:)) You can have a look at it in Dreama's Art Supply Store.
Click Here
(and yes, Amazon and I are affiliates-- which means, if you happen to make a purchase, I will make a few cents:))

Scoping Things Out:
Somehow, I randomly ended up on the Home Goods site this week doing a style scope of all things. It's just the kind of randomness that caused this Friday thing to happen. It's a test and it's free and fast. Two things we like around here.
And I actually learned something.
Amazing, I know:))))

Now it's your turn to have fun learning about one of my favorite people
....YOU! Just click here.

The Half Empty/Half Full Debate:
I think the answer is clear....we have obviously missed the point--it's not about whether it's half empty or half full....it's what you do with it that matters:))

If video does not appear, click here

Please, Shea It Isn't So:
100% organic Shea Butter. I never knew such a thing existed 'til about a month ago.

My friend Mary gave me some to try. After letting it "melt" on my fingertips and then smoothing it on my skin....I was hooked:)) The moisturizing ability of the organic pure stuff is amazing, let alone all the other things it can do for the skin. To read about it's benefits, click here.
You can get the organic kind like I have by clicking here to contact Mary. I warned Mary I was going to spread the word to my buddies:)))

Don't Jump:

If video does not appear, click here

And there you have it on this holiday week-end.....what to do with 5 extra hours on a cold February day, the final end to the long debate, butter that you wear instead of eat, carry-out for your colors and
a test. Have an awesome week-end you gorgeous thing:))))!

Please Note: If you think someone else would enjoy this type of ridiculous activity, please feel free to share this post:))

If you'd like to check out available workshops for 2013, click here.
If you missed my newsletter that just came out, click to read it here.

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What's New on the Easel?"

2012-05-23T22:54:00.023-04:00

Eddie Pierre.

The summer games have begun....I just didn't realize they would be taking place at my easel:))

Or my studio door....

If video doesn't appear, just click here:))

He arrived just last night, all of 10 weeks old. Big paws, golden eyes

and half a moustache.

Gonna be an interesting summer:))

Tomorrow's a painting day.

It's also Day Two of Cat Olympics

I'll let you know how it goes:)))

In Other News:

The links are complete--those of you interested in my Massachusetts work shop can now sign up:)! To check it out, click here.

My studio makeover --started way back in February during a fit of spring fever--is now ready to share:)) I'll be sharing photos and some of my inspirations in upcoming posts.

The world IS getting smaller! Riana from South Africa is joining me in my next workshop in Kentucky, while some gals from Honduras and Ireland have signed up for 2013 workshops. What a delight:))! Another reason why I love what I do:)))

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE! Just Click to Subscribe:)

Junk Drawer Fridays

2012-05-18T01:00:00.169-04:00

BE PREPARED TO BE AMAZED, TO GAWK IN WONDER, TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD IN CONFUSION, OVER WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE.....:))

Let the Randomness Begin:

Competition:

I have had a favorite brush for several years now. As every artist knows--a good brush is our BFF:)) Artist Barbara Lowry gifted me with a new brand of brushes a few months ago to try on for size and I have to tell you.....my BFF brush should be worried:))

The Rosemary Brush Company based out of jolly old England has a brush that I have been taking out to dinner and spending an inordinate amount of time with....she's the Flat Ivory Short...a perfect size 8 and a fairly cheap date:)) Here's the link if you'd like to check out her friends: Click Here

Music to the Ears:

One word. Pandora. If you haven't signed up for this free service yet, get your buns in motion and do so now:)) Pandora.com allows you to select an artist you love which then creates a station with just that kind of music.

Who knew we would one day be creating our own "radio" stations?? Some favorites of mine that I play in my workshops are....Pink Martini, Yoga, Jim Brickman, John Mayer, Michael Dowdle, and Stacey Kent....just to name a few.

Barking Dogs:

"Because what they say is true - it's easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world." ~Stuart Smalley

My trip to Carolina yielded two more pair of my favorite summer shoes...the amazing Sanuk flip flops that are made from....are you ready for this....soft, squishy YOGA MATS!!

My feet are in hog heaven;)

(You can check them out in my Amazon store..click here:) or at the Sanuk site here)

Fancy Footwork:

I am picturing you dancing along with this...just so you know.

If video does not appear, click here to view

Now I'm smiling at how out of breath you are:))) You should know better than to try something like that at your age:)!

Simply Black and White:

Eddie spent a lot of time on the computer while I was gone.

Found this video for me to share. Of course it's about black and white cats....what else would you expect Eddie to share??

If video does not appear, click here to view

So there you have it. Some ear candy, new dance moves to impress your friends, lots of hair on brushes and cats, and a way to wear your exercise mat 24/7. Feeling exited?? I know I am;)))

Have an awesome week-end dear friend!

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"Red, White and Scented" SOLD

2012-05-16T18:00:00.046-04:00

"Red, White and Scented"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

The second workshop in Cary, North Carolina was wonderful in every way!

From three days of enchanted workshop painting

Talented artists from Texas to Vermont

A wonderful get together for the artists at Lynda's (of Chambers Arts!) home on the lake

Homemade cupcakes extraordinaire

it was a workshop to be remembered:))!!

"Let them eat cupcakes...."

(a Mother's Day treat for everyone at the workshop!)

Lots of flowers from Day One of Workshop II in Cary:))

Artists chattin' it up on Lynda's back porch:))

Lynda, me and Patricia....not sure WHAT Lynda was begging for, but we obviously gave in...we had too....she made us all cupcakes!!

Lots of red striped awnings painted oh so well:)

Hugs and Kisses to Kathy, Carol, Judy, Kittie, Phyllis, Sharon, Brenda, Jean, Christine, Ann, Debbi, Joyce, Sarah, June, Liz, Ishita, Betsy, and Olga for a beautiful workshop experience!!

Here are some fun scenes from each of the Cary, NC workshops!

If video does not appear, click here.

P.S. If it looks like we had a whole lot of fun...you'd be thinkin' right:))

Dreama's 2013 Workshop Schedule--Click to View

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE! Just Click to Subscribe:)

"Always JOY"

2012-05-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

"Always JOY"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

What are you really hungry for?

What is it that you crave?

It's worth the asking.

Like eating a dozen random things when we don't know what we really want

Running around doing a zillion other things because we are unclear on our real desires--

Both things result in full plates and unrequited hungers:))

Rather than filling up on just any old thing

Get really specific and feed only on that:))

P.S. Just finished the second of my two workshops in Cary, NC--more to come!

Click to view my workshop dates for 2013:)

"My Kind of Blue" SOLD

2012-05-10T23:30:00.001-04:00

"My Kind of Blue"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

I am still "broadcasting live" from Cary, North Carolina:)

JuNk DrAwer FriDAy will be back in its usual place next week!

With two workshops back to back-- I have had a good excuse to hang out longer than usual--it has nothing to do with the accommodations. ....

Reports of me being spotted in a hammock

drinking fresh OJ

and sleeping under the stars have been greatly exaggerated.....

If it does look like I might be getting used to the good life ,

then blame it on luscious Lynda of Chambers Art:)))

And here's some of the great reasons I am IN Cary for the week:)!

18 of them to be exact:))!!

Lots of great art from the second day of the workshop!

Musical easels provided lots of paintings in really short order!

A wonderful bunch of loose women who like to...well, those attending, know what it is they like to do, but I can't print it here:))

Some of these gals I will get to see again at the get together Lynda is hosting Saturday evening for the artists:))

Just plain fun--that's all that's goin' on here in Cary, NC!

Thanks to Rita, Betsy, Susan, Jane, Karen, Patricia, Bonnie, Jean, Kristin, Wendy, Norma, Marilyn, Jane, Bari, Jessi, Kathy, Marilyn, and Earlene for sharing, painting so awesomely, and making it a fabulous three days!!

More fun to come as my next Cary Workshop starts in the morning:)!!

P.S. What started as some of you leaving your comments on "Paintings allow one to...." has turned into pure poetry! Have a look by clicking here.

Wanna paint with me? Here's my 2013 Workshop Schedule:)) Click Here

"Friends of De-Light" SOLD

2012-05-08T21:00:00.000-04:00

"Friends of De-light"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

Cary, North Carolina is a place of many things.

Sweet girls named Matti that fix a mean smoothie

Matti shared her secret recipe with me:

Apple juice, orange marmalade, homemade strawberry jelly, peppermint, orange juice and a teaspoon of sugar.

And oh yeah, one Caribbean blue umbrella:))

Delicious!

Petals (as in cats, not flowers),

Roses (as in flowers, not cats),

a few Ducks

definitely not in a row:))

And a place for some pretty awesome painters to gather---Chambers Arts!

These are the beautiful paintings created by the 18 artists attending the first of my two Cary, NC workshops.

Lynda Chambers--A loving, creative gal/owner of Chamber Arts!/Mother of Matti/Bonafide Chef

(just to touch on a few of the things about her)

has added so much to make this an incredible workshop experience.

I just wished she could improve on the view from my quarters;)).....

Next post--the artists, the food, the paintings...and who knows what else:))

Cary is a happenin' place!!

To See Where Dreama's Teaching in 2013 --Click Here

"Paintings Allow You to...."

2012-05-07T21:00:00.012-04:00

Paintings Allow You To......

travel without leaving home:)

see the creation of beauty found in the artist's heart

to hope

to be free

to love with abandon….

to be thankful for the memories!

to not realize time and be swept up in a dream...

TO BE YOURSELF AND ENJOY WHAT YOU DO....

Let go and be....

to be taken to a place where your heart feels content

To express, to explore and discover who I really am, what I'm really feeling, and what

my heart is truly whispering to me.

To connect with Spirit and Nature - both within me and outside of me.

Challenge myself to create/ re-create beauty.

To follow my bliss (when I allow myself to let go and simply be, feel, truly see and then manifest it).

feel like I'm playing when I'm really working.

share with the Creator of all that's good and beautiful.

allows me the opportunity to see things deeply, differently. To notice the smallest details that most people miss.

To share the artist's spirit....

Paintings allow me to exhale...♥.

.....to focus on the beautiful

.....to go beyond the surface of things

.....to fall in love with the unlovable

.....find yourself in other things

.....to connect with God

..to be reminded that we are all creative beings

allow me to be happy

Challenge myself to create/ re-create beauty.

to forget about problems

Travel to a different time!

...dream quietly

take the mind on a vacation

To blissfully get lost in time.

To be in awe of the creative process

see the lights sparkling against the shadows... and then I can focus on life's joys more fully!

..connect to hearts.

escape to a higher dimension

impress forever a memory, a moment, of time and place.

...be thankful

make a world out of a moment

Painting shows me my steps in color and form which clearly marks the path towards reaching my goal. This elicits such joy and sometimes frustration within me. It is teaching me to recognize and enjoy my journeys outside of painting because the process is the same. If you keep working towards the goal you will reach it..

bring our thoughts to color

....finish a conversation

to be taken to a place where your heart feels content

be totally happy living in the moment. (I guess that is the zen of painting!)

Dance Naked! (in color like nobody's watchin)

Experience a little more joy

Talk to your soul

to find myself...over and over again

To be transported in mind and spirit.

free-fall into bliss.

Show on the outside how I'm feeling on the inside.

Escape!

To make a passing thought permanent.

to nurture my passion.

Painting allows me to bring to the viewer a souvenir from my secret place....a place where no boundaries exist, a place where my heart can sing and my soul can dance...a place where my mind's eye can direct it's own path....

To know the utter joy of creating what your mind's eye sees

Painting allows me to stop the world for just a little while and catch my breath! It is a small retreat, an escape, a refueling that gives energy to everyday life.

--what do paintings allow you to do/be/have.....??

Please add your voice to the above quotes gathered from friends...it will happily be added to this post:))(Updated May 15 @ 11:30 AM)

P.S. If you're in a hurry or simply don't know how to add your comments to this post, just click here to email me your words and I will be sure to include them.

P.S.S. Always do what makes you feel good:))

P.S.S. Live your life fearlessly:))

"Heaven S(c)ent" SOLD

2012-05-06T21:12:00.029-04:00

"Heaven S(c)ent"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

As much as I kvetch about the little guy, truth is....when he strikes a pose like this...he kind of squeezes my heart:))

We RELISH so many of the same things--

a good nap

sunshine

and the absolutely DIVINE scent of real, old fashioned roses.

The scent of a rose plus one furry gentleman named Eddie, both, on a day like to day, are s(c)ent from heaven:)!

"It's Junk Drawer Friday!"

2012-05-04T10:18:00.001-04:00

be prepared to be amazed, to gawk in wonder, to scratch your head in confusion, over what you will find here.....:))

Let the Randomness Begin:

A Piece of Purple:
So many things blooming at the moment....including my clematis which I LOVE:)) My little lady looks quite happy:))

Couture:

In need of an idea for a last minute headdress for the Derby??? Something that incorporates flowers and is guaranteed to turn heads??

Amazing AND Derby Worthy!

I know.

Like most high fashion looks, not everyone can pull this off.

Cheap Thrills:
One of my favorite studio gadgets:) Intended for house painters to remove dried paint from glass, this scraper is the BOMB for quick and easy cleanup of your palette (even on those big lumps of dried paint:) For about three bucks, you too can have the cleanest palette in town:)) It's made by Stanley and can be purchased at places like Lowe's and Wally World (Walmart for those of you who don't know the lingo;)

Regrets:
When I heard this, all I could think of was all the time he had wasted. If only he had started younger...Click Here:))

Company's Comin':
It has been said that company and fish have at least one thing in common. After three days, they both start to stink.
Eddie Pierre will arrive after my return from Cary, NC (I teach two workshops there, starting this Monday).
It is my sincere hope he does not add credibility to the aforementioned observation.....

If video does not appear, click here:))

Escape:

I have already told you why I leave home to teach. It's how I keep my sanity while living with the likes of Eddie.

If you have an "Eddie" in your life (which may be thinly disguised as your children who have not left home yet even though they are officially old enough to drink, jobs that are running you nuts, nosey neighbors...you name it:)) then you consider this your official invite to run away with me and paint:))

The 2013 Workshop Dates are now online and ready for your perusal....Just click to ~~run away~~ er I mean to go:)!

Shown Above:

13 Reasons to Paint with Me in 2013:))

So there you have it. The color purple, hair olympics, the great chase, the pitfalls of wasting those early years and the offer for THE GREAT ESCAPE. Many things to ponder on this Derby/Cinco de Mayo week-end.

Me?? I'm heading to Cary, NC to ~~escape Eddie~~ teach:)))!

"Slow Down:)"

2012-05-01T11:05:00.003-04:00

"Dreama's Daisies"

Click to View in Dreama's Print Shop

"According to Eric Schmidt, Former CEO of Google, we now generate as much information every two days as was generated from the beginning of time to 2003."

No wonder it sometimes feels overwhelming! Slowing down?? What a concept! One almost feels wasteful.....

".....I looked back over the day. I was, at first thought, inclined to mentally chastise myself. A day “wasted”. Important “lists” left untouched. Time spent with nothing to show for it.

It was then that I started to retrace what the day had been filled with.

A heartfelt letter from a dear friend, bursting with love.

A recognition in faces and words, that something I had done had contributed to their day.

A short ride with my husband, talking about nothing.

A tiredness that was relieved in a nap taken with a soft cover on a overcast day.

Homemade stew, ladled up with wooden dipper into a cherry red mug, followed by homemade chocolate chip cookies.

All interlaced with the picking up and putting down of a book I was meant to read.

And here it was, now 7 PM.

Nothing to show for the day.

Except...

Except...

I felt really peaceful inside.

Really quiet, really calm.

It was then that it came to me

I had done exactly what the day had called for.

I had turned off the noise

I had quelled the need to be doing

I had dropped into simply being.

I had indeed done something

I had said yes to the gift the day had lined up for me.

The gift of

Peace.

The only real waste of the day would have been to have missed the gift:))

Let the day dissolve into peace....

If video doesn't appear, click here to view

P.S. My 2013 Workshop Dates are here....Click to View:))

"Introducing Junk Drawer Fridays"

2012-04-27T21:00:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed the amazing randomness of the lowly junk drawer?? And don't play coy with me...I know you have one. Some people are even known to have MORE than one.

I was a 2 drawer junk girl myself until this very minute when I decided to add a third junk drawer. Right here.
On my blog.
The reason being, I keep having these random ideas, inspirations, good stuff to share that don't necessarily "fit" anywhere.

Just like the amazing stuff in my junk drawer:)))

So, without further ado, be prepared to be amazed, to gawk in wonder, to scratch your head in confusion, over the random things I will share with you each Friday. Why Fridays??? Because you will probably need the entire week-end to ponder and muse (or be seriously concerned) over what gets trapped in my head and then released on Fridays:)))

Let the Randomness begin:

Eddie has a new cinema hero. He rarely "looks up" to anyone as you know, but I caught him hitting rewind and practicing his French on this, so thought it needed sharing:
If video does not appear, click here

That Old Sun Magic: My favorite product to remove oil paint (even after it's dried) out of my clothes:)) Those who have seen me paint in person always tease me about wearing such nice clothes to paint in. As all artists have come to know--EVENTUALLY YOUR ENTIRE WARDROBE BECOMES A PAINTING OUTFIT:)) An artist friend gifted me with this at a workshop last year and I am still on my first little tub of it.

Those at my Nashville workshop saw me sporting some Magenta oil paint on my silk shirt the last day of the workshop. Sun Magic erased every trace of it:)! To visit their website, click here

A Piece of Pretty:

We all need little spots of beauty. I don't even remember where I bought the little hanging vase below, but it has made me smile more than once:) I had forgotten I had it 'til I cleaned out all those storage tubs ---now it's hanging above my tubby with some clippings of petunias...in purple of course!

On Courage:

It has been said that courage is not an absence of fear. It is feeling the fear and doing it anyway:))

My New Zealand friend, Romiley, shared this video with me this week---it is such a reflection on life itself--through the eyes of an 8 year old girl on her first ski jump--thanks Rom!

(If video does not appear, click here)

Things to Worry About:

Word has it Eddie Pierre is in training for laundry duty. Supposedly, he and his siblings are good (?) at the sorting portion.....sort of.

Word also has it he likes to sleep in....a lot....and DOES NOT like to be disturbed...

So that's it. Ponder on Eddie practicing French, reclaiming your paint clothes, fear vs. courage, small pleasures, and laundry sorting cats. That should keep you busy for awhile:)))

"Extra! Extra! Read All About It!!"

2012-04-23T21:00:00.000-04:00

Some folks wonder why I travel such great distances to teach. Leaving home and hearth for days on end, on the road, sleeping in strange beds, hanging out in airports all alone---when I could in fact just teach local and let folks travel to me.

Obviously........they haven''t met Eddie.

Teaching away is how I how I manage to hang onto what bit of sanity I have left after living with the likes of Eddie Bill.

As if there wasn't an ample amount of bad attitude to go around, the "Eddie Pierre/who's yo daddy" debate did not enhance Eddie's winning disposition....can you say multiple hissy fits?

But finally, in late breaking news today

So I may have just been dumped from the frying pan into the fire. Eddie Pierre is coming to Paris-- to live with Eddie Bill---for the summer??
And Eddie Bill is going to tutor young Eddie Pierre??? Mentor him in how to be a stud muffin??
Badboy 101? Show him the ropes?

Egads!!! Early reports of Eddie Pierre are disconcerting to say the least. He's the largest in the family of six and is already eating out of the big cat bowl, ordering others around and generally acting like a know it all.

And I don't care what the papers say---he not only looks like Eddie Bill---he ACTS like him

Eddie Pierre

Eddie Bill

I know...hard to tell them apart. I think I'm gonna have to file for cat support.

I don't see any other way around it.

In Other News:

Eddie is working on his first feature film. Catman and Robin.

Here he is in costume...

I'm sorta afraid to ask who's playing Robin...

Yeah, like I said--- Folks wonder why I travel out to paint so much.

Obviously

they haven't met Eddie.

Live in Antartica? Want me to come and teach?

No problem.

A girl does what a girl's gotta do.

"In the Company of Friends" SOLD

2012-04-18T21:00:00.091-04:00

"In the Company of Friends"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

From the beautiful facilities of the Nossi College of Art (the dream of one incredible lady, Nossi Vantandoost)

to the 19 artists who gathered

From one rowdy Karen...and others...

who "blew me up" on their phones and used phone apps to "crack the whip"

To the...wait a minute...I know...they look so thoughtful. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving.

I hate to mention the names of who else was rowdy, but hey, I have never minded posting photos....;)

A little taste of musical easels:))

Only the ones who behaved themselves got to be in the group shot. And yes, I did say 19 artists were here. Originally. Hey, how did Karen get in this photo???

Okay, okay---I FORGOT TO TAKE THE PICTURE...almost:))!

Thanks to Joanne, Linda, Maggie, Mary Lou, David, Roger, Kristen, Carol, Ellen, Sarah, Pat, Patti, Susan, Karen, Karen, Debra, Marcia, Christy, and Carol for a wonderful 3 days of painting amongst friends:)!!!

And guess what??I hung out in Nashville a couple of days past the end of the workshop. All work related if anyone needs to know:))

I worked at:

Visiting the home of the History Channel's No. 1 Show--"American Pickers"
Neither Frank, Mike, or Danielle were there so...

I ate out.

I discovered a place where I could get a tan, have my hair done AND eat some bar-b-que--all under one roof so...

I ate out.

(Passed on the hair and tan though).

I visited Leiper's Fork way out in the beautiful countryside of Tennessee.
Home to many country music stars, like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
I didn't see either one of them so...

I ate out.
(At Puckett's Grocery)

I went to the B.B. Kings Blues Club
B.B. wasn't there so...

I ate out.

I finally came home, fearing if I didn't leave the wonderful hospitality of Nashville, that I would end up looking like...well, like the head I saw suspended from Antique Archaeology's ceiling...

I drove home Tuesday and had to break the long drive up so guess what I did??

No. You're wrong. Do you think all I do is eat on these trips???

I stopped at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.

THEN I ate out:)))

Wonder if the above Pig's head comes in a one size fits all??

"All Aglow" SOLD

2012-04-15T19:51:00.007-04:00

"All Aglow"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

Signs it's going to be a good workshop

1. Your name is ON the sign ;)

2. A SHRINE has been built in your honor?

3. They're serving dark lettuce wedges that some would say looked like chocolate:)

Signs that you have a ROWDY bunch on your hands??

to be included in my next post...

Honestly, it was a great time spent amongst friends:)))!

And with no Miracle Grow,

just colors and brushes,

a BUMPER CROP of sunflowers were grown in one day:))

Stay tuned--- more to come on Nashville, American Pickers, Paintings, & Artists!!

P.S. The newly added Paris Workshop for July 2012 is now filled, contact me if you would like to be on the wait list.

"Pink, White and Ed" SOLD

2012-04-13T19:46:00.002-04:00

"Pink, White and Ed"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

Bad boy Ed has been quite contemplative of late.

One could almost think it is the softer, more mellow side of Ed.

Almost.

There's the unfinished business of one Eddie Pierre

part Parisian, part Kentuckian,

half a moustache

Full Blooded Trouble

Contemplative and plotting can look pretty similar

....kind of like Eddie Bill and Eddie Pierre.

The plot thinnens......

"Afterglow" SOLD

2012-04-11T19:00:00.001-04:00

"Afterglow"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

"The Sun Never Says"

Even after all this time

the sun never says to the earth, "You owe Me."

Look what happens with a love like that,

It lights up the Whole Sky.

--Hafiz

P.S. A warm thanks to you, Christine Bart, for sharing your Italy trip photos with me:)) The afterglow title could also be said for the smiles that were plastered on the faces of you and your friends in every photo taken there!! I owe you a print... and so much more:))!

P.S.S. The just added Paris, KY workshop July 16-18,2012, has about 5 spots left:)). Click here to learn more

"For Your Eyes Only"

2012-04-07T16:00:00.003-04:00

"Italian Kisses"

Framed Print

Click to View Framed Price (with or w/o mat )

We have winners!!

Gretchcn Stoudt was one of the winners (Congrats Gretchen!) for my monthly giveaway. She said it was a difficult choice, but she would love a print of "Italian Kisses" as it evokes such wonderful memories of her time spent there:))
Jean Gallo was the other winner and she has selected my book, Let There Be Love. Jean said she had four kitties of her own, so it made the decision especially difficult. A cat painting, or a floral or a landscape. So she settled on the book as the best compromise 'cause it has 'em all:)) Congrats Jean!

For mature audiences only....

Whoa!!!

Hope I didn't cause you to spew too much coffee while viewing the perfect photo of me:) I know, you're hopeful I will make this pic available as a limited edition print;)

FYI--For obvious reasons, the hairdresser responsible for that up-do is now in the witness protection program. After that photo session, I vowed to never go in search of the perfect photo again;)

You know what I am talking about. Our quest to capture our perfect selves for posterity's sake. We get our hair "sculpted" into place , the "just right" outfit with matching jewelry, and then begin posing in ways that look as natural as chimps giving a high tea. Breath sucked in, head tilted, teeth clinched, hands like lobster claws trying to trail "naturally" over the shoulder of someone else who looks to be in pain as well.

Somehow, when the photos first come back, we actually think they LOOK nice! Then the years pass, and they become great fodder for....well, posts like this;))

What usually becomes a favored photo of ourselves or a loved one, are the candid shots taken of you just being you and me just being me. Maybe no make-up, maybe a little bulge showing somewhere in it. Maybe even some un-sculpted hair-dos.

As a general rule, that all goes pretty much unnoticed because what we see is a face full of love, smiles, and hope--the REAL person. Which is much more perfect than the "PERFECT" person in the other photo.

So here's the deal. We can't, nor do we wish, to "pose" our creative work to be perfect, anymore than we do ourselves. A mission to create "the perfect" work of art can end up with a stilted, unnatural something that looks nothing like the vision in our hearts.

Art and Fear makes this point so well in the tale of the professor who place his students into Group A and Group B at the beginning of the semester, with the directions that Group A would be graded on one piece of sculpture (they only had to produce one). Group B would be graded on quantity--no matter how it looked, the more pieces, the higher the grade.

Well, Group A hovered, labored, and worried over their one piece, trying to produce the perfect work (kind of like the labor involved for me to look that Awesome in the above photo;)). Group B, with great gusto, just began making piece after piece, not focusing on perfection, but just showing up and doing the work.

Guess which group produced the best quality pieces??

You know it....Group B!
Which serves to remind us all--
B(e) yourself in all things--that is what will delight and bring JOY to yourself and those around you!

Forget perfect, BE real instead;)))

P.S. If you care for me, please do not share this post. I have a reputation to maintain--I could quickly be dubbed as a Bob Ross look alike.

I know that is what you were thinking. I wasn't born yesterday, as can be proven by the afore shown hair-do and shoulder pads;))
If, on the other hand, you believe all of Eddie's trash talk, then share it with everyone.
I'm not afraid. I lived through the 80's fashion derailment. After that, there is not much of anything left
to fear.

P.S.S. For those of you not afraid of big hair and painting with me, due to much whining of those who do not want to wait 'til 2013--I am adding one 3-Day workshop in Paris, KY , July 16-18, 2012.
You are getting the scoop here first:)) Click here for the info:))

And speaking of silly photos...here's Ed

"Momma's Best" SOLD

2012-04-02T21:00:00.004-04:00

"Momma's Best"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

SOLD

Happy to go and happy to be home again:)!

It was a picture perfect week -- great weather (the locals kept trying to tell us how much it rains, but personally, I think they are trying to discourage us landlubbers from moving to the island;))

A great location to paint in, all kinds of new, amazing artists/people to meet, dozens of completed paintings, new inspirations to paint--

What's left to say.

We came, we saw, we painted, we laughed.

We're going back!!!

Cary and Sieb (our awesome hosts for the workshop) opened their home to us for the evening allowing for some great social time!

Which inspired MORE GREAT ART!!

Which in turn inspired.....ahem....more eating;))

As in snarfing down fresh home baked bread by Cary (some of which was "no knead" bread but we felt like we did "need" it....along with REAL BUTTER, of course:))

Along with maybe a glass of wine.

And some salad and pasta.

And a berrry wonderful dessert with ICE CREAM.

Now that I rehearse it all---when did they have time to crank out all those paintings???

Lovely artists, inside and out:)

The smiles say it best.

We had a marvelous time!

Thanks to each of the warm, giving, talented artists who made my week on Whidbey Island one to smile about:)

Sometimes a movie just says it best:))

If video does not appear, click here to view!

Silvia, Gloria, Barb, Linda, Jacquie, Pat, Christy, Cici, Anna, Helen, David, Kerrie, Bente, Laura, Sue, Christine, JoAnne, and Faye...I love you guys!!!

P.S. My monthly winners have been drawn via Random.org--better check your email--it may be you:))!

"On the Island" SOLD

2012-03-31T21:00:00.006-04:00

"On the Island"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

SOLD

Look how cute my little home away from home was at the Whidbey Island workshop!

It was STUFFED with art books of every shape, size and description...had an amazing coffee maker (see the red Nespresso) ...

Soft cotton sheets and cookies in the cookie jar..er at least there were cookies in that cookie jar

(...sorry Cary!)

Just next door was Cary Jurriaan's studio (my host for this workshop and amazing artist herself!)

LOVE her collection of palettes!

All kinds of artists from Robert Johnson to Carol Marine have left a colorful palette and signed it for Cary to hang in her studio.

I was tickled to be added to the wall:)))

Just a few of the palettes!

From creamy, dreamy, hand spun yarn

to a ton of fun little tiles that reminded me of a certain black and white someone

Whidbey Island was a visual feast!

(okay, I didn't just consume the cookies with my eyes...I snorkeled them down. Good thing they only weigh luggage at the airport...just sayin')

And that all happened before the workshop began...

As the paintings started accumulating (and 5 days painting produced an amazing stack of work!)

Well, it just kept getting more and more amazing.

I nearly had to put my eyes on a diet from "over-eating"..;)

Is there a visual over-eaters anonymous 12 step program??

Just wonderin'.

Stay Tuned:

More to come on the Whidbey Island workshop and announcement of my monthly giveaway winners!!

Eddie Bill Update

Workshops 2013 Schedule

"A Cup of Goodness"

2012-03-27T21:00:00.077-04:00

"A Cup of Goodness"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

SOLD

I LOVE

combining things I love:))

Like painting and writing.

Islands and teaching.

Books and flowers:))

Dreams and real life:))

Sometimes

it just feels like your cup is running over with goodness:))

Lots of art and artists from the Whidbey Island Workshop:)!!

Sneak Preview:

Can't look at this group and NOT smile:))))!

Next time--the art, the artists, and more!!

As for Eddie....

Photo by Phyllis

He's still waiting.

"Balcony of Blooms" SOLD

2012-03-25T21:00:00.046-04:00

"Balcony of Blooms"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

Workshop morning goodness.

(Can you tell that Cary Jurriaans of WFAS is an artist as well as the hostess for wonderful workshops year round??:))

Look what a colorful spread--pretty enough to paint

...but we ATE it instead;))

However.....the artists did manage to get around to painting:)!

18 beautiful paintings from the first day of the Widbey Island Fine Art Workshop:)))!

My home sweet home for almost a week!! Loaded with tons of art books, superb coffee, and an incredible view out my window. Great for morning quiet time before starting the workshop day:)))

Some bunny should have told me how magical this place would be. Then I would have packed more clothes and just moved here;)))

More to come on the fun times and great art being made on Whidbey Island:)!!

Meanwhile, back in Kentucky....somebody was caught looking out the window, waiting for someone special...

Either me or the Edster bunny.

Not sure which.

"Bad to the Bone?"

2012-03-19T23:00:00.000-04:00

Just as I am getting ready to head out of town to teach a workshop in Langley, WA, bits and pieces of news are starting to trickle in concerning the potential Eddie offspring. (in case you missed last week's news headliner, you can read it here.)

Photos posted, videos "leaked".

The new cat, AKA Eddie Bill Jr., evidently has already picked himself a theme song.

(Click Here if video does not appear)

Bad to the bone.

No news flash there. If he's related to Eddie, what else would one expect??

Until more definitive info comes in, photos are all we can go on...and it's NOT looking good!

Eddie

Ed Jr.???

I am out the door on Wednesday, headin' to Whidbey Island. Hopefully,when I return, the results will be in.

Eddie.
Big Brother Cat or Cat in Big Trouble??

In Other News:

It's almost time to do my drawing for my free monthly give-away:)) (Jan AND Feb) to be exact:)) Make sure, if you haven't yet, to sign up for my newsletter/blog posts to get your name in the proverbial hat.

You can do so by clicking here and signing up in the box on the top right of my blog:))

I will be giving away to the winners, their choice of one of my petite art prints OR a digital download of my book, The Artist's Toolbox:)) OR a soft cover version of my other book, Let There Be Love.
It's fun to share:))))))!

2013 Workshop Schedule is coming:)) and will be released first in my newsletter (another reason to make sure you are signed up:))

"Oh!" SOLD

2012-03-16T20:53:00.021-04:00

"Oh!"

8 x 8in oil on museum quality panel

$350

Many things can elicit that "Oh!" response.
The magical time when evening envelopes day and street lights begin to glow...Oh!

Places so divine that our mind immediately responds with its own remembered romance.....Oh!

The unexpected glimpse of starry nights sprinkled with falling stars....Oh!

Oh is our moment of awe. Our moment of delight.

Today I had at least two "Oh" moments:))

I will share one with you.

It was the discovery of a heavenly new scent.

Appropriately named....

"Oh (Lola!)"

P.S. What the heck, I probably should not leave you hanging on what the second "Oh!" was about. It was an Oh moment of another variety.

Remember me mentioning to you about getting some new water based oil colors to try out? Got all the colors laid out, proceeded to paint.....then realized....ahem....I HAD FORGOTTEN TO ORDER WHITE PAINT.

uh-oh;))

Had any "Oh!" moments lately???