White Flowers

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
– e. e. cummings



White Flowers – Acrylic on Canvas

What do you think?  Screaming for color!!!  he he he  I have a very ambitious goal today and tomorrow.  I am going to try to complete eight 4′ x 8′ signs.  I don’t have employees, so I will tackle this task solo.  That means the computer will pretty much be ignored for a couple days …except for my morning blogging. 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

About e. e. cummings

The writer who became known as e. e. cummings was an experimental poet whose idiosyncratic typography complements the music of his poetry; he published more than 900 poems, two novels, and four plays. He was also an accomplished painter. He was born in Massachusetts in 1894 and entered the ambulance corps in World War I but ended up in a detention camp after expressing his pacifist views. He died in 1962. “In Just-” was his most famous poem.  (Check out the link.   It’s a poem about spring.)

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt



Impressionist Rose Garden – Oil Pastel

Here is my little attempt at Impressionism.   It’s oil pastel on black pastel paper.  I thought it was fun, but it is so not me.    For the first 2 years after I started painting again (after a 30 year break) I was trying everything I saw.  I grew in leaps and bounds during that time … and so did my art supply stash! 

About Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was a powerful political figure in her own right, crusading tirelessly for humanist causes. She was born in New York in 1884 and was orphaned young. After Franklin was struck by polio, she acted as his eyes and ears. She was central to the creation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which she considered her crowning achievement, and wrote numerous essays, including a long-running column called “My Day.” She died in 1962.

Hydrangea Macro

“Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do the best.”
– Marva Collins



Hydrangea Macro – 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on Canvas

This is one little bloom on a cluster of blooms.  I am too intimidated to do the cluster, but I had a great time doing this macro.

Here’s another photo I took outside on the hood of my Jeep Wrangler.  he he 

About Marva Collins

American educator Marva Collins pioneered progressive education for disadvantaged children. She was born in Alabama in 1936 and in her 20′s moved to Chicago, where she founded a school for children who were at risk. After one year, every child tested at least five grades higher. Many public schools have successfully implemented her methods. She has appeared on 60 Minutes and Good Morning America and she recieved the National Humanities Medal from President Bush in 2004. She believes every child is a winner until someone convinces him or her too thoroughly otherwise.

Fall Berries – Watercolor

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”
– Michelangelo Buonarroti



Fall Berries – Watercolor

As much as I like these fall colors, I’m ready for an explosion of beautiful fresh spring colors, aren’t you?

My thoughts go out to all the people in Japan, suffering from the effects of the recent tsunami.  It’s headed toward Hawaii and the US west coast.  I hope it loses it’s potency before then.  That is just too scary to fully imagine.

About Michelangelo Buonarroti

Michelangelo Buonarotti, the Renaissance sculptor and painter, is considered one of the world’s greatest artists. He was born in Tuscany in 1475. He apprenticed to a painter at age 13, infuriating his father, who considered art menial work. By age 25, he had sculpted one of his finest works, the Pietà, in St. Peter’s. Working alone, he took four years to paint more than 400 figures on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. He also designed St. Peter’s dome and is perhaps best known for his iconic statue of David. He died in 1564.

Clematis – Oil Pastel

“Make voyages! — Attempt them! — there’s nothing else…”
– Tennessee Williams



Clematis – Oil Pastel

This is done from the same reference that I made the block print from for yesterday’s post.  Isn’t it fun to be able to create anything we want and switch it up any way we want…. within the limits of our skills, anyway.   Like Tennessee Williams said…  “Make voyages! – Attempt them! – There’s nothing else…”

About Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was the pen name of Thomas Lanier Williams, the multiple-award-winning Southern Gothic playwright best known for his plays Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie. He was born in 1911 in Mississippi, where he had a difficult childhood with an abusive father, a smothering mother, and a schizophrenic sister. His emotionally honest plays often feature sensitive souls who don’t fit into a confining culture. He spent most of his adult life in New York City. He died in 1983.

Clematis – Linoleum Block Print & Watercolor

“If you want a place in the sun, you’ve got to put up with a few blisters.”
– Abigail Van Buren



Clematis – Linoleum Block Print & Watercolor

I really do love block printing, but it hurts my hands too much, carving the linoleum.  I had to give it up.  Here are the steps…  Drawing, carving, printing and watercolor.  Kinda fun, eh?

Tomorrow, I’ll show you the oil pastel version of this flower. 

About Abigail Van Buren

Pauline Phillips, better known as Abigail Van Buren, wrote the syndicated “Dear Abby” column for 46 years. She was born in 1918 in Iowa. She had never written professionally when she contacted the San Francisco Chronicle‘s editor and said she could do better than their current advice maven. Her version was an instant success. Her twin sister, Esther Lederer, became an advice columnist under the name Ann Landers. Phillips retired in 2002; her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, took over her column.

Ivy & Star – Watercolor

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.”
– Richard Bach



Ivy & Star – Watercolor
I really enjoyed doing this one.  After I painted the ivy, I added a little gold glittery star, hanging from a red string, just for fun.

About Richard Bach

Richard Bach, the American pilot and author, became hugely successful with the publication of the slim novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a spiritual quest about a bird who loved to fly rather than seeing flight as a means to an end. He was born in Illinois in 1936, a descendant of composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He has been an Air Force Reserve pilot, a flight instructor, and a barnstormer; most of his books involve flight either directly or as a metaphor.

Calla Lily

“What is harder than rock, or softer than water? Yet soft water hollows out hard rock. Persevere.”
– Ovid



Calla Lily

I remember this one!  The challenge was to paint from life… no photo.  I am not experienced in this at all.  I’ve tried to do it since then and I really do like it, but I paint mostly from photos.  When I get some time under my belt in an airplane, I want to fly to Indiana and plein air paint with Leslie White. 

Sunday, I flew by myself from McAlester to Eufaula (where I circled around the airport, but did not land) then on to Muskogee and back to McAlester.  I found every airport easily and had a great time.   Two hours of pure joy!  I even took some photos and am going to upload them to Facebook.  All the water (if you go by to look) is Lake Eufaula.  It stretches into 5 counties, although I only covered 3 counties in my flight.    Wheeeee!

About Ovid

Publius Ovidius Naso, the Roman poet known as Ovid, best known for the epic Metamorphoses, is considered one of the greatest poets of Latin literature. He was born in 43 B.C. in what is now Italy. He rose quickly in Roman government and was on track to become a senator when he chose to devote himself to poetry instead. His tale of Pyramus and Thisbe is the source for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Emperor Augustus exiled Ovid from Rome for unknown reasons in 8 A.D.; he died in exile in 17 A.D.

Blue Flower Petals

“Action without study is fatal. Study without action is futile.”
– Mary Ritter Beard



Blue Flower Petals
Acrylic on Canvas

I don’t remember what type of flower this was, but it’s a close up view of a cluster type bloom.  I glazed it afterward with some acrylic medium mixed with blue.  Just something a little different. 

I really enjoyed yesterday’s blog hop.  The best part was getting to know the members of the group a little better.  If you get a chance, click on any of the links from yesterday’s post to see some amazing art.

About Mary Ritter Beard

The American historian and suffragette Mary Ritter Beard was best known for the acclaimed two-volume work, The Rise of American Civilization, which she cowrote with her husband, Charles Beard. She was born in Indiana in 1876. She became a spokeswoman for the importance of women’s history with her books, On Understanding Women and Women as Force in History. She and her husband were controversial, dynamic figures who helped frame the way we view American history. She died in 1958.

Be Your Original Self

“You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.”
–Zig Ziglar



Red Tulips
4″ x 6″ Watercolor & Gouache

My new adventure into Art Licensing has been a real eye opener.  I am learning that much of the art we put out there is being stolen and others are claiming it as their own.  My bubble has officially been burst.  I was always taught that art created by another is not to be copied or stolen.

I am a part of a LinkedIn group called CopyRights – Artist’s Rights.  Together, we are blogging today about examples of how you can be inspired by someone’s work without copying it.   I do have to admit that I am a self taught artist and I have learned so much from watching all of the talented people around me.  The example I am showing you today is part of my learning process.  It has not and never will be for sale, but I want to show you the way I interpreted it in my own way.

I love the original pastel art by Susan Dunker that I found while looking into fauvism.    I had a lovely tulip photo from Marionh from WetCanvas’ Reference Image Library.   The photo is royalty free for use by artists to paint from.  Keep in mind – You cannot sell the photo, but you may sell a painting that uses the photo as reference material.   Also, no copyrighted photos may be uploaded to the Reference Image Library.

Here is my little example.


I mainly played with the color.  I would not feel comfortable selling it as my own.  I am going to show you what I am more likely to do in the next examples.

Both of these were painted from photos by my friend Dewi.  I would have no problem selling either of these paintings as my own.


I hope this clears up some common misconceptions about what is not okay.  I will be updating this post with links to other artists who are participating in our “Be Inspired” blog hop today.  

Here are the links so far:

http://joannezsharpe.blogspot.com/2011/03/find-your-beautiful-voice.htmlhttp://sharynsowellartblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/be-inspired.htmlhttp://embellishmentskids.blogspot.com/2011/03/be-inspired-blog-hop-aaron-christensens.htmlhttp://chrischunart.blogspot.com/2011/03/be-inspired-blog-hop.htmlhttp://www.vickieleastudios.com/art-licensing/so-what-inspires-you-a-discussion-about-originals/http://monicaleestudios.com/blog/http://www.brendapinnick.com/2011/03/02/be-inspired/http://itsmollysmith.blogspot.com/2011/03/be-inspired-designer-blog-hop.htmlhttp://www.droozdoodles.com/2011/03/be-inspired-blog-hop.htmlhttp://phyllisdobbs.info/2011/03/02/creative-inspiration/http://www.jgoode.com/its-about-inspiration-not-duplication/

Hilary Hinton “Zig” Ziglar (born 6 November 1926) is an American author, salesperson, and motivational speaker. He has published over 48 works, including the 2007 book titled God’s Way Is Still the Best Way.^[1]