February 27, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor and gouache


In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.

Norman Vincent Peale

February 26, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor painting

Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles
and adds significance to all that you do. It tones up your
physical vitality and gives warmth to all your personal
relationships. When you associate with enthusiasm long
enough, it grabs you and takes over within you.

Norman Vincent Peale
Positive Thinking Every Day

I am still trying to adjust to February. I always need every minute of every day that I can get my hands on! I feel like I've been cheated out of 2-3 days that I really needed before March starts. My most valuable asset seems to be time. There's always so much I want to do. I'm lucky that way, because I'd hate to have long, empty days with nothing to do.

When I get a little extra time, I am going to learn how to Twitter. hehehe

Alyson Stanfield says I need to Twitter and I respect her advice.

Law of The Garbage Truck

I wish I knew who wrote this, but I received it as an anonymous email from a friend. I want to share it with you! Enjoy!

Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxidriver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

February 25, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor

There will always be problems and challenges to meet, but I no longer use them to postpone my happiness.

Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
The Don't Sweat Affirmations

I really like that one!!! I wake up every morning happy, and by the time I'm on my way in to work, I'm usually all the way up to giddy. hahaha What did I ever do to get such a great life? The whole day is mine for the taking! YAY!!!!

February 24, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" Watercolor & Gouache.

"What could be worse than being born without sight?"
She replied, "Vision is non-negotiable for anyone who wants to
succeed. It is the blueprint on the inside of a leader,
before she ever sees the plan on the outside."

Cathy Hankinson

I used to live in high heels and business suits. Now, the only time I don that apparel is for funerals. I used to love my high heels! The funkier, the better. Seems like a lifetime ago! I look at them now and I can see the artistic quality they possess. The ones that Carrie adored on Sex and the City would have been so fun to make! I'll stick to my flip flops and my small town lake life. It suits me.

February 23, 2009

This little dragonfly is made from spackle and gauze, before painting it with watercolor and gouache. It's a mere 2.5" x 3.5".


You can make the mind give you back anything you want, but remember the mind can give back only what it was first given. So fill your mind with all peaceful experiences possible, then make planned and deliberate excursions to them in memory.

Norman Vincent Peale

February 20, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor painting


When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.

Norman Vincent Peale

That is soooooo true! I believe that with all my heart! That may be one of the reasons I am so happy all the time. hehehe

February 19, 2009

The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.

Pearl Buck

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor painting

February 18, 2009

Do not wait for bad news to make you appreciate your life, and do not take the small miracles for granted. Be deeply grateful for laughter, friendship, beauty, fresh air, and the sun shining through the trees.

From the Don't Sweat Affirmations
by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

These are my favorite shoes of the whole series. In fact, they are currently my desktop image. They just make me happy! 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor.

Today is a special day for me. I moved in with my husband nine years ago today. He has made such a huge difference in my life. He taught me how to really live! He looks at life as a big giant gift, to be experienced with total joy and abandonment! I am a better person because he loves me! Awwwwww!

World Community Arts Day - February 17, 2009

5.5" x 8" watercolor on YES! canvas pad.

If I am I because I am I
And you are you because you are you,
Then I am and you are.
But if I am I because you are you,
And you are you because I am I,
Then I am not and you are not.

Rabbi Mendel

Today is World Community Arts Day! Are you doing anything cool in your community to weave the arts into it?

February 16, 2009

Gladiola Macro 3" x 4" watercolor on Indian handmade paper.

February 13, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor

Although all men share a common destiny, each individual also has to work out his personal salvation for himself. We can help each other find the meaning of life, but in the last analysis, each is responsible for finding himself.
--Thomas Merton

Self Protraits.... I am working on one in the printmaking forum at WetCanvas and several of my friends are working on theirs in the colored pencil forum. It's neat to see everybody's take on themselves. When I showed my husband my work in progress, he could hardly contain his laughter! That's okay! I have never done a self portrait and it is pretty funny!

February 12, 2009

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.--Calvin Coolidge

I did this little 4"x6" watercolor postcard for Arts for Global Development. They have a show featuring postcards depicting women's issues, all done by female artists from around the world. They raise money for great causes. This year the proceeds will go to help support Friends of Orphans in Uganda. I was a part of it last year and it's very rewarding. The have a lot of ways you can help, if you like. Just go to the website and check them out!

February 11, 2009

To accomplish great
things we must
not only act,
but also dream;
not only plan,
but also believe.

Anatole France

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor

February 10, 2009

This is a 6" x 10" watercolor I did over the weekend.

Baby shoes are a 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor.

Do not wait; the time will never be "just right". Start where
you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your
command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

Napoleon Hill

Ooooo, I can be the Queen of Procrastination! I need to sit up and take notice!

Wonderful Art by Alain J. Godbout, February 10, 2009

This wonderful painting was done by the fabulous artist, Alain J. Godbout. I am especially fond of it, because it is a portrait of my husband. Alain gave me his permission to post it here for you to see.

Watercolour 11x15Paper : Strathmore windpower NOT 300gm²Colour : Da Vinci & Holbein

See more of his work here. Thanks, Alain!

February 10, 2009

4" x 8" watercolor and pen on YES! canvas pad.

To thine own self be true; and it shall follow as the
night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.

William Shakespeare

Today have the courage to follow your own inner
voice that you hear in prayer and meditation. Today,
dare to be true to yourself and your own needs,
whether anyone agrees with you or not.

from: Time for Joy, Daily Affirmations
by Ruth Fishel

February 6, 2009

Another 2.5" x 3.5" painting of yesterday's shoes. Of course, the laces have been changed to protect the innocent!

It's amazing what I have been discovering, through the exercises of marketing my art. I have been making signs for 17 years and they generally speak for themselves. After all these years, they seem to pretty much sell by word of mouth and reputation. I would love to be there someday with my art. It is interesting that sign people generally do not group together and help each other. It's a very competetive business. I am finding the opposite to be true with art. The more artists I gather with, the more confidence I seem to gain. We are a real community! I am very thankful for my artist friends.

Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities. -William Bridges

February 5, 2009

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor painting. Are you tired of the shoes yet? I am loving them! They have been so much fun and I can't wait to start on the large versions. Probably the tennies, though. I don't think too many people would want to have these scruffy old brown shoes hanging on their wall. They do look as though someone loved them and wore them often. Maybe they were super comfy!

Choose to spend your mental energy on the positive and watch it create
abundance and happiness in your life and in the lives of those around you.

from The Don't Sweat Affirmations
by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

The negative principal negates. The positive principal creates. The
negative principal doubts. The positive principal believes. The negative
principal accepts defeat. The positive principal goes for victory.

from Positive Thinking Every Day
Norman Vincent Peale

2.5" x 3.5" watercolor

February 3, 2009

"Change your thoughts and you can change your world." -Norman Vincent Peale

I finished the pastel painting I was telling you about yesterday. It's not very good, but I hope to learn a little more every time I try pastels. The photo is of an old farm house in Wisconsin by upnorthtim at wetcanvas.com.

Here is today's little shoe painting. 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor.

February 2, 2009

The mind, ever the willing spirit, will respond to boldness, for boldness,
in effect. is a command to deliver mental resources.

from Positive Thinking Every Day
Norman Vincent Peale

Another little 2.5" x 3.5" pair of shoes. I painted 24 shoe paintings recently, so I'll be posting a lot of shoes here. I also did this little lady Saturday. She is 4" tall. I did a pastel painting Sunday, but it's still a work in progress. I am not experienced in pastels, so it's an adventure and a messy one at that! heehee