"unstuck"

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Oil Portrait Lessons

Halo Repair

While I was in Utah this summer, I visited our church history museum to check out one of the latest art exhibits.  It is called "Practicing Charity: Everyday daughters of God", and is filled with inspiring paintings by many talented artists.  A couple of my favorites were "climbing mother" and "Halo Repair" by Brian Kershisnik.

"Climbing mother" reminds me of my younger sisters and friends who have little ones.  Little ones that are dependent on their mom for their needs.  It reminds me of those days when my babies were little, and there just didn't seem to be enough of me to go around.  A mom practices charity as she lovingly cares for her little ones, even when it is physically exhausting!

And, I love "Halo Repair".  It reminds me that we are imperfect children of God, needing constant adjustments to our halos.  The commentary next to the painting read...
"Angels descend from heaven to comfort this woman and to repair her halo.  This whimsically serious painting reminds us that we are not perfected yet and that our halos are in constant need of repair and adjustment.  To be human is to have the faith to remember our immeasurable individual worth and then labor each day to repent, to change, and to trust that we do not labor alone.

Ranunculus painting before and after

Spring~ Original Tulip Painting.

~Her majesty...dressed in pink, getting ready to step out and grace us this spring! Listed in my shop...Original Tulip painting on canvas~

Birds Nest Painting

Meet Matilda~ My cow painting

This is her big debut!  Matilda the cow.  When I went up one weekend this winter to study painting with my friend in Boston, I told her I really wanted to paint a cow, and I wanted her to teach me how to paint more quickly. After the original sketch, I began painting in my typical meticulous way.  After what seemed like only a few seconds, she said, "Move on! Paint a different part!"  She had me flying all over the canvas, and all I could think was, "This is going to be a disaster.  It won't even look like a cow!"...

Free botanical printables~

Painting Classes

Painting on Canvas from a T Shirt

I was commissioned recently to do a painting for a college student.  She found a t shirt that she liked from Old Navy and wanted it reproduced on canvas...

A study in pink

Last year, we celebrated with a party.  It's that time again, and this year we celebrate with a painting!  My New Original Peony Painting debuting  in my Etsy shop!   Happy Monday~hope you all had a great weekend!

I've been busy painting murals...

My friend and neighbor asked me to paint murals in her childrens' bedrooms.  I've completed two of them so far, and am in the middle of finishing up the third.  I really haven't done many murals, and I have never done them for anyone other than family or church.  You may remember this post where I shared a couple that I painted for Walmart's Children's Miracle Network Fundraiser, and another for a church Christmas party.  Anyway, my friend wanted a picket fence in the littlest girl's room. (sorry the lighting was not good for photographing)

Hot off the press! My New Children's Christmas Book!

I can't believe I did it again! Isn't she cute though?

The Christus~

personalized sports paintings

photographs from paris

Vogue & teenage drawings

I’m playing around with Windows Live Writer today~to see if I will use it for future posts.  There are a gazillion other things that I really should be doing, but I have always wanted to try this out.  I think the photo looks good, do you?  Do you have any suggestions for me?
I found this photograph in an old Vogue magazine that I picked up at a yard sale.  For some reason I am really drawn to it…maybe it is the fun hat, the pretty black and white dress, the poised “lady” mirroring women of old, or just the beautiful staging and photography.  Probably all of the above.  And, who wouldn’t want to be enjoying a fancy meal and reading at the same time?
Here is another fun one…

Akiane

Good Monday morning!   I hit a physical and emotional "speed bump" this weekend warning me to slow down!  I spent all day Saturday crafting for my local elementary school's "holiday shop".  (Early in December the kid's do their holiday shopping for parents, siblings, teachers etc. at school by purchasing local crafter's creations).  After a friend encouraged me to do it,  I decided that it sounded like a great opportunity.~and I'm glad she did.  But of course,  I run like crazy to get it all done quickly so I can check it off my "to do" list.  Add that to all of my other responsibilities and things can get pretty intense.  I needed a reminder to slow down!  I love the "speed bump" analogy that I learned about yesterday in this wonderful article here.  It helped me put my life back into perspective.

For those of you who haven't heard about Akiane, I wanted to share a little bit about this amazing young woman.