Wide Open Spaces - A Little Piece of Me

Last night I had a wonderful date night with my husband. We can talk for hours and never get tired, I love it!! On the drive home he told me that every time he hears the Dixie Chicks song, "Wide Open Spaces" he thinks of me. I so appreciate him telling me this because I think it is a wonderful example of what I am discovering about myself, and something he recognized about me a long time ago...

I need to be free! I need wide open spaces - not just physically but emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

There is a verse in the Bible that says: "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Gen. 1:27).

This says that God created all of us in His image, but I feel like that is especially true with me on another level --- I believe God is the Great Creator, the Greatest Artist there ever was, and that he created everything we see and when God created me he gave me a Creative Spirit, an Artist within, just like Him!

I am so thankful for this gift and for the first time in my life I'm trying my best to let this sweet, innocent, creative person inside me out - I'm setting her free. I'm learning that to do this I need freedom, I need space, I need to be surrounded by nature, I need to breathe fresh air, I need to feel the sun on my face, I need to splash in the rain, I need WIDE OPEN SPACES. And when it comes to my relationships with the people I love, I need freedom there too - freedom to be who I am, freedom to explore, freedom to follow my heart and freedom to surround myself with people who encourage and want what's best for me.

I am a person who likes and needs alone time, time by myself to think, to breathe, to feel, to create. I need wide open spaces emotionally to help me process life and then be able to fully re-engage with the world/people around me.

I love wide open spaces! I need wide open spaces! And I am so grateful that I have a God who walks with me, as a friend, in those spaces!

Here are the lyrics to the song if you aren't familiar with it...

"Wide Open Spaces"

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

[Chorus:]
She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the high stakes

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!"
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leaving my girl"
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks know

[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes

Peacock Fun Fact

This little friend wanders around our neighborhood from time to time. I was reading up about peacocks and I came across this Fun Fact and, as an artist, I really appreciate it:

Peacocks see a deeper, more complex range of colors than humans can perceive!

Wow, I wish I could be a peacock for a day so I could see the world like they do - fascinating.

Onions

My second watercolor ever. The teacher called it Beautiful!!! I'm really liking this new medium -- can't wait to paint some more!

Potatoes

This is my very first watercolor painting ever!!

I'm taking a watercolor class and our homework this week was to do a value study of brown potatoes, using only Burnt Umber (dark brown color). Our teacher asked us to over-simplify the values, so the potatoes don't look too realistic but I think they came out alright. We will see what the teacher/class has to say tomorrow.

I love the challenge of trying a new medium. It can feel overwhelming at times but it's exciting to think about art and how to express something using tools I've never used before. So far I really like watercolor and I can see myself pursuing it further. I'll post more of my projects as I do them each week, so stay tuned...

Value Studies & Valentine's Day

A value study I did based on a painting by Lucian Freud -- pencil.

Value study of apples - pencil.

Valentine's Day sign I made to hang outside our house - acrylic on wood

"Find Your Voice"

Mixed Media piece: acrylic, oil pastels, pen and ink

First Painting of 2011

I've been on a long hiatus from my art due to several months of health issues, surgery to have my gallbladder removed and a general lack of inspiration. But, I'm thankful to have started 2011 off with a bang and my first painting of the year!

I think this is going to be a big year of decisions for me and I am excited to see where my journey takes me.

Happy New Year!

Sketchbook Bag

I've been wanting a little bag/pouch to carry my sketchbook and pens/pencils in so that it's easy to transport wherever I go. After looking around and not finding anything I liked, I decided to make my own. And the best party....it was free because I used stuff I already had at home.

Side #1:

Side #2:

Inside:

GREAT Article!!

This is a wonderful article by Anne Lammott (she's also a great author) about finding the time in our day to be creative, take a stroll through nature, do whatever it is that gives us life -- and how it's not easy, but we have to fight for these moments. This is how we live a life that is satisfying, full of beauty and how to bring peace and happiness into our lives!!!

Click here:
http://www.sunset.com/travel/anne-lamott-how-to-find-time-00418000067331/

A Few Meaningful Quotes

I hope these speak to you, encourage you, brighten your day - like they did mine...


"Life can be like a roller coaster...
And just when you think you've had enough, and your ready to get off the ride and take the calm, easy merry-go round...
You change your mind, throw your hands in the air and ride the roller coaster all over again.
That's exhilaration...that's living a bit on the edge...that's being ALIVE."
--Stacey Charter


"This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life."
--unkown


"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others."
--Pericles