Friday, March 12, 2010

Creativity and Dog Training.. . . .

"I have been terrified every day of my life,
but that
has never stopped me from doing
everything
I wanted to do."
Georgia O'Keeffe


Well, I have been absent from here since Monday. I just have had such a crazy two weeks learning to be a Pet Obedience Trainer. It was and is very fun. Lots of really cute dogs, nice "pet parents" and also some pretty wacky and overly excited dogs and pet parents.


You learn alot about people when you are working with them and their pets. There a many different personalities that come out. There are those who want to really listen to what you are teaching them, those who think they already know it all, those who you never hardly hear say a word and those who behave almost worse than their dogs.

Learning to train dogs reminds me alot of being an artist. With dogs and their pet parents you are creating a bond between them, a better pet for everyone to be around and a feeling of accomplishment for yourself and those you teach.

Likewise in art you are creating a bond with people you may not even know who enjoy your work or also creating their own work, you are achieving a feeling of accomplishment with your work and trying something new, and you are becoming a better person even if you don't realize it.

Creativity comes in many forms, and is in everything and every part of our lives. Often we don't ever see it or don't quite look hard enough and miss out on some unbelievable opportunities.

Take this next week to look harder at the people, places and things around you and how they affect your creativity and how you can improve someone's life with what you create or teach them to create.

Until next time, keep on looking. Here are some of my creative endeavors that might inspire you to do something of your own. A little of this a little of that.


I had fun making Mr. Mouse.

Just a little doodle !!!

I made 25 of these for a dinner at my church.

This says " Nature God's Art"
also done in the class on art and spirituality.

This was part of a class I took on art and spirituality.

One of my favorite things to do is to make banners for church occasions.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Christopher Marley........ Bug Artist

I love to watch CBS Sunday Morning, and back in January, they had a fantastic piece on artist Christopher Marley.

His artwork is composed of using real ( but dead) bugs of all kinds and putting them into different patterns. It is absolutely amazing

Below I have listed the title of the piece on CBS and also a link to the show. The link even shows a video of him doing some of his work.

Check it out, it is a great new inspiration for drawing, painting, photography, whatever.He has out books, puzzles ( I have one but haven't put it together yet) and is just so different and unusual.
Have fun checking this interesting young artist out. I took a picture ( sorry it is not the best picture but you get the idea.)of the front of the puzzle box I have, and am giving him full credit for the work.

Beetlemania
Christopher Marley Was Phobic About Bugs; Now He Collects Them for Artwork That Celebrates Their Beauty and Diversity

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/10/sunday/main6078368.shtml




Saturday, March 6, 2010

Celtic knot work. . . . .

I love to draw different kinds of Celtic Knot work.
I usually do it on graph paper and then retrace it using my light box on to better paper. It is rather an intricate process to learn to draw if you really get into it. You can find lots of tutorials on the web if you just Google Celtic Knotwork.
The first two are from a book on Knot work and below that are two that I have constructed.
It is really a fun art form to try.
Happy Saturday.

.


Friday, March 5, 2010

Finally some Art Time

This has been a very busy week, working 8 hour days learning to be a Dog Obedience Trainer for my job at PetsMart.
I just thought I was retired !!
It has been fun though. Lots of different kinds of dogs and "Pet Parents" also. Big dogs, little dogs, frightened dogs and ADHD dogs if that is possible.
Finally this morning, since I have Friday off, I got to do a little art work and relax.
Have a great weekend everyone.



Here are a couple of my " Doodles for the Day"

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Puppy/ Dog Training is so Fun

When I retired from teaching, I took a part time job at PetsMart the big chain pet store. I have fallen in love with my new job.
I am spending this week and next week training to be a Dog Obedience Trainer, and then will do that as part of my job.
This is a picture of my Westie Winston when he was just a puppy. They are so cute.
The only thing that is killing me is the 9 hour days it takes to do this. At my age that is a long day and on top of that part of that 9 hours is 30 minutes over and back home driving.




Monday, March 1, 2010

Zentangle has a blog now !!

I fell in love with the process of Zentangle the minute I first saw it. Now the great people at Zentagle Rick and Maria have put up a blog for all of us addicted to Zentagle to share..
The address is www.zentangle.blogspot.com. Run on over and see it if you are into doodling, messing around with lines and shapes, whatever. It is so much fun.
Here are a few Zentangles I have done.






Sunday, February 28, 2010

Wonderful Watercolor Workshop


In the Kansas City area we have a wonderful place called Powell Gardens. They have beautiful gardens of all kinds, wonderful buildings, even a beautiful chapel for weddings, and best of all have professionals come in and teach classes on all kinds of things from water gardens to watercolor. I took a class there and this is the result.If you live anywhere near Kansas City, Mo. google Powell Gardens and give them a visit.