I’m back!

I needed a break from writing for a while. I will start blogging again at Illustration Friday, starting tomorrow. I’m a little rusty, but hopefully, practice will help!

Thank you wonderful friends, for checking in on me. I want to start my welcome back with a thank you to the lovely Madonna Davidoff for her sweet award! Thank you Madonna (www.madonnaart.com), it looks like you had a fabulous trip!

There are so many lovely blogs out there, I couldn’t think of only (15) to pass it along to, so I ask all my blog friends and you know who you are, to come by and pick up this award!

YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST!

Peace always…:)

Happy New Year! It’s been a year since, I decided to join Illustration Friday (”IF”). I know that there are folks that have been a part of IF for years, and I congratulate them, too!

What’s really a big deal and funny to me about the whole blog thing, is “I absolutely do not like writing!” So, it has been a major feat for me to continue this weekly. Writing to me, is like speaking in public for some folk…incredibly scary! But, last year, (a year-to-date) I decided to take on one fear at a time, and this was one.

Oh, boy, do I have a lot of fears, and after turning 50 years old on January 1. I figured, it will be a lifelong journey to conquer them, one at a time. Now granted I maybe 150 years old by the time I conquer them all, but, hey, I’m trying

The word for IF this week is “resolve” which is close enough to resolutions for me. I’ve already broken one resolution…yes, already…lol! That is to post only new work this year to IF; but oh well…!

This lovely lady, was created under the title of “Comfort Zone”. She is a beautiful tribute to my godmother, “Miss Mamie” who always appeared to me to be comfortable in her own skin and always confident! She was an inspiring influence in my life! She resolved in the early stages of her life to be comfortable in her own skin! Now that’s “resolve!”

Let’s make this year a beginning for positive resolve. Peace.

Both awards were given to me by Nancy (http://nancygronholm.blogspot.com). Thank you, Nancy for your kind thoughts and sentiment. It is a lovely way to end my year!

“This award is given to a blog that invests and believes in PROXIMITY – nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.”

Hello everyone,

I’ve moved my blog to my website!

For those of you who are new to my blog, I participate in Illustration Friday, a place, where a fabulous group of artist participate weekly. Every artist, that’s participating is sent a prompt/theme every Friday. You then illustrate the prompt/theme on your blog and then add your image to Illustration Friday (aka “IF”).

Once again, welcome to the newcomers and welcome back to all my artist friends from Illustration Friday posts!

There have been so many great posts to my blog! I’ve tried to thank everyone. Sometime a girl needs a warm and fuzzy and the internet can’t give that. But this is one of the best renditions of…hugs, peace and love I can give right now.

A Big Thanks to: http://atomicvelvetsigh.blogspot.com/
For starting the love fest!

Big Shout Out and I Love Your Art Blog To:

http://ascenderrisesabove.com/
http://www.danijones.com/
http://dancingelephantstudio.com/
http://www.kathyhareillustration.com/
http://lynettesartblog.blogspot.com/
http://robertabaird.blogspot.com/
http://studiololo.blogspot.com/
http://painteddaisies.blogspot.com/
http://valgalart.blogspot.com/

Much love to all the blogs I visit! Peace & Blessing to you all!

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time in my studio. Yes, I know, I’m an artist, what else am I suppose to be doing? I like people to see where I work, so that they can better appreciate what it is I do and see that there is an actual place of work.

Well the unique part of doing work in my studio is that my studio is also my living area, my dining area, and my study area! So every time, I need to do anything not related to art, let’s say eat, or relax, I need to jump up and put everything away or move things aside or ask for family help in doing some of these things!

It makes life very interesting or very frustration for me, depending or whether or not it’s a full moon! I’m affected by the moon, the seasons, whether I’m awaken from a well-deserved sleep or been rudely awaken! Thus the name of my blog: Mood Swings

Now back to the studio…

This area is where I usually paint. I like to use clip-on lights to surround the easel in addition to lighting from the ceiling. I use daytime lighting. I have a mirror on the right side of my easel, so that I can pull the artwork off the easel and look at it in the mirror to allow me to see any things that appear off that I may not notice while I’m working on it. This doesn’t mean that all my work is perfect, it just means that I may notice something needs to be changed and I’ll change it or I’ll leave it, because it feels right to me!

Next to my easel is a very long table, that I love to work on (much to my family’s dismay!) because I am constantly trying to remove the evidence of my work!

This is where I do my traveling when I can’t actually afford to leave the house! I sometimes relax and look at the hundreds of reference books/images I’ve acquired to give me that inspiration boost that I need after setting up for art or putting my art stuff away!

This is where I work on my computer, and where the life blood comes in, I’m talking projects for money! This is as neat as it ever gets!

So there you have it…you now see where I work and play (they are one and the same)! Over half the work on my website now was created in the areas I’ve shown you! So now you’ve had a visit to my studio.