My first two EDM' s are on yesterday's blog at the bottom

I forgot to say that my first two "Every Day in May" pictures are at the bottom of my previous blog. Love looking at everyone's.

Will post a new one tomm.

My blog post turned into a journal entry. . . .

I have been struggling with my art the last several weeks. I couldn't come up with anything I liked, couldn't decide what to draw, looked at the work so many others were producing and thought my was not near as good. Just struggling with what I was suppose to be doing. Tonight it hit me.

I am trying too hard. I am trying to be a kind of artist that I am not. I am not at my best when trying to do very realistic drawing and painting. I look at others work and tell myself mine is as artistic as others. Well, I realized it doesn't matter what everyone's work looks like compared to mine, because we were all meant to do what we do best.

For me that has always been more design oriented type works or less realistic type work. That is what I like, that is what I do best, and that is what makes me like my work. I realized I was making "work" out of my producing art and not having any fun at it. I was not enjoying what I thought I should be doing. Soooooo now I am only going to do what pleases me. Who cares how good or not good it is. Who cares if I think someone else can do such and such picture better than I can.

God has given me a great and beautiful gift of my artistic talent. It was given to me to enjoy, to praise Him and to share with others. I am not meant to be doing what someone else does, not suppose to be comparing my work to others. I am to be doing what pleases me and makes my life more enjoyable.

I was going to be part of a my town's first Art Fair in June. It kept bothering me, because I didn't feel my work measured up to what I see at Art Fairs, didn't measure up to what I was sure most of the others work would be like. I was beginning to dread having to mat, package, set up and show off my work. It then hit me, I shouldn't be doing this if I wasn't having fun doing it. I shouldn't feel pressure to do something that was suppose to make me happy but didn't . So, I am not going to do it this year. I may next year, I may in some other Fair, but, I was not ready to do this now.

I have had alot of changes in my life in the past 6 years since my divorce, but, especially in the last six months since I quit teaching. I was married 25 years and then my life was turned upside down. Although it was my choice, it meant huge changes in my life. Going back to teaching, leaving my home, times of separation from my sons, estrangement from friends, my church, and on and on.

Resigning my teaching position last fall threw me into another huge lifestyle change. I have in the last 5 or so months finally found time to produce art for myself, not just to use as teaching examples, and I have had to face some things about my art and myself I wasn't really prepared for. I had people telling me to do this or that, or make my art for this or that, and I realized tonight that all of it is making me very unhappy instead of happy.

I want to paint, draw, sew, crochet, cross stitch, whatever it is because I want to !!! I want to draw what I like, when I want to and because I want to. I don't want to be pressured into doing it for an exhibit or an office wall or anything else for that matter, at least not right now. The time may come when I will want to produce art work to market, but, not yet. I need to find out who I am as an artist and what I love, before I start sharing it with others for monetary or exhibiting reasons.

It really doesn't matter if anybody even reads this post. This post is mostly a journal entry for me, not a post. I didn't start out to have it be that way, but, that is what happened. I think that I just finally had had it and knew I needed to voice what my heart was telling me.

I so love all the new friends I have made in "Blogland" and so admire all the different work I get to see, but, I have now realized we are each different, each talented in our own way, and each meant to do what makes us happy and pleased with our work.

Below is a piece I did starting last night, and finished tonight. This is probably my favorite kind of thing to do. This is where I find joy. So, this is what I am going to continue to do and also continue to find other new areas that make me happy with my art.

I also realized I like doing whimsical instead or more realistic drawings, so, I also am sharing my fish I did yesterday with this post.

I hope anyone that reads this realizes their own joy in their art work. I feel all our many gifts, whatever they may be, art, music, writing, whatever, are all gifts from God.

I am glad I wrote this, I needed to, and in a way it is a prayer of thankfulness to God for the talent He has given me.

Wish me luck. . . . .

Wish me luck. I got a call today, to come interview for an assistant mgr. position at a different PetsMart than the one I work at now. It would mean a little bit of a drive, but, full time, more money, and better benefits. Keep your fingers crossed.
Thanks.

Dog Obedience Training is taking away from my Art Time.

"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that."
~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

It is a real experience going from teaching Art to children to teaching dog obedience to dogs and their adult/children pet parents. What fun it is though. Soooo alas my art is suffering some, since I am so tired by the time I get home from work at PetsMart.

This is what has been taking up most of the hours of my days lately. Being a Dog Obedience Trainer. I am very new at it, but, I love it already.

The dog below and to the right is my dog Max. He is a rescue and I am nuts about him. The Westie looking puppy at the bottom is my sisters Westie Raleigh. I had one about ten years ago named Winston.





I am still not very good at putting pictures and words together in my blogs, but, I am sure somewhere down the road I will be better. Meanwhile bear with me. !!

If you have an hour. . . .

If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?
Lord Chesterfield

I had my usual 1/2 hour for lunch at work today. I wish I had an hour, but, alas I don't. Instead of just wasting my time doing nothing, I sat in my car and did this little line drawing.

My new mission is to always have a sketch book with me and pencils and pens, just in case I do have an hour, or half hour of even a few minutes.

Most of you will probably read this Monday, if at all, since it it getting to be late Sunday night.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Earth Day and Muir Woods in California. . . .

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
~John Muir

Zentangle Tree in honor of Earth Day


One of my favorite places is Muir Woods outside of San Francisco, California. Every time we have been to S.F. we have tried to make a trip up to this fantastic place.

Muir Woods is named after the man who spoke the quote written above. Muir Woods is a huge forest of Redwood trees that is just amazing. You can hike for hours and never cease to be amazed with what is around you. Below is a little blurb of history about John Muir and Muir Woods.

"This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world," declared conservationist John Muir when describing the majestic coast redwoods of Muir Woods.

Muir Woods National Monument is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), one of the largest urban national parks in the world. GGNRA was established in 1972 and contains 75,398 acres extend from Tomales Bay in Marin County to San Mateo County in the south, encompassing 59 miles of shoreline - one of the nation’s largest coastal preserves.

“Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike”

John Muir, 1869

John Muir was one of the country’s most famous naturalist and conservationist and Muir Woods, part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is named in his honor. Muir is credited with both the creation of the National Park System and the establishment of the Sierra Club.

If you are ever in this part of California, be sure and take a wonderful adventure and tour Muir Woods. You will not regret it.

Thank you everyone in Blogland. . . .

What a wonderful thing this world of blogging is. Being new to it ( as of about 3 months ago), I cannot begin to tell all that I have learned, shared, seen and all the new artist and otherwise friends I have made.

I love the fact that everyone is just who they are. I have been offered advice on everything from how to blog, set up a blog, art ideas and just plain, honest caring advice. I would especially like to thank Laure at Painted Thoughts Blog and Teri at Teri's Painted Daisies to just name a couple who have helped me tremendously. Also today at Teresa Mallen's blog site I just happen to read her side bar entitled "Keep it Simple" and felt like it was a word from God. Thank you Teresa.

I had hit a roadblock this week in my creativity, and just going to blogland and reading other people's writings, seeing there work, and realizing that we are all seeking the same thing, our own inner peace and happiness, and the ability to share it with others helped so much to get me back on track. ( That and a fantastic, and caring therapist)

Even though I am a retired, 60 year old, art teacher, there is so much I don't know about the real world of art. When I say that I mean in terms of some techniques, exhibiting, products to use and what is out there for the taking.

So I just want to say to everyone who has come to see my blog, left wonderful comments, shared their ideas and work with me a huge Thank You.

Last but not least, I am going to be exhibiting for the first time this June in a small town Art Show. Open air, like an art fair, with works for sale. I have done photography, Watercolor, and pencil and ink. What are your suggestions for displaying my works in terms of covering them, like in acetate or something similar, to protect them? Also any other ideas and suggestions for what to use to display them on. I will be under a Canopy type tent top.

Just sharing a few more pictures I took recently.

Happy Wed. everyone and thanks for being my new artist blog friends.

PS. my youngest son made it safe and sound to Paris yesterday with very few hitches and frustrations. Oh to be young and carefree 25 again. !! Well, maybe.!!