This site is about my life in the art studio. It includes drawings, paintings, knitting and cross stitch and fun art techniques. I will also include recipes and yoga and book reviews. This is a lifestyle blog with intentional and simple living ideas.
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I really need to complete this painting…maybe that’s my goal to meet by spring.
Self-portrait Acrylic Painting
This is a painting about me and my dog taking a walk in the metro parks. We used to walk there every weekend during the summer and into the autumn season. She is now 13 years old. Our walks are shorter but she still loves them.
I have been painting on a canvas for the past week. Each night instead of journalling in a notebook or in an art book, I took my journalling to a canvas.
Below is the previous journal entries in a 24″x 30″ canvas
Here’s the #6 intuitive Painting from yesterday.
I have been feeling more like myself. In the past few days decisions were made. I’m going to look into buying a home. I live in a townhouse, which I do love, but the neighbors and being on the board has caused toxic relationships to appear. I was happier here when I was not on the board. I had more free time and didn’t know what people were like here. Until now.
Yesterday, was house cleaning day. I started in my closet, took clothes to donation. And shredded papers and took that to recycle bin. In between of that, my art supplies got organized. I am happier to know that going inside a craft store is not needed any time soon. I certainly have own store!
During the evening it was relaxing, exercise and knitting. I fell asleep on the sofa. That felt great. I forgot to write and post this blog. So now it’s morning.
I will be seeing a few clients. And I will be resting maybe cross stitching. I’m glad to have my free time back.
I still want to quit being on the board, but not sure how soon I’ll find a house to buy. Until then I’m going to try to keep my peace.
Happy Day
Caroline
Etsy shop is open. Https://4pawsartstudio.etsy.com
I’m on day 5 of intuitive Painting. I have been journalling my emotions into a canvas daily. I have been under a huge amount of stress from harassing neighbors and now increase of stress being on the HOA board.
Today I have been busy looking at homes. I am planning to sell my home and buy somewhere maybe closer to my sister.
Today was quiet. I slept for most of the day. The exhaustion level is high. As I write this at 9:30 at night, I am ready to sleep again.
This morning my voice was assertive. I told the HOA manager that I am thinking about resigning because of the bullying and not feeling at peace. I am also considering moving. I told her that I don’t want to be bothered by association issues daily. It’s unreasonable.
Here’s the thing most people here about how bad the association is at a condo or townhouse. But have you ever heard about how the board members get harassed and bullied? Probably not. There is nothing we did to cause that other than following the rules.
I’m not sure what decision I will make. Not sure if I want to move. All I know is I want peace and quiet again. That may result in me resigning. Time will tell as they say.
Here’s my journal painting on canvas tonight…
Below is a close up of tonight’s painting.
Below is the series of nights I painted on the same canvas using intuitive painting.
I have things to sort out then I can get back to making my art stronger and focus on my Etsy store.
It has been awhile since I posted about The Creative Cure, by Jacob Nordby. (it’s been a long few weeks, no time to read) I have included chapter 7 and chapter 8 in this post.
Chapter 7 he writes about the creative formula. It was enlightening to read and brought me to a place of “Wow, this is just what I need.”
pick something you want to do, Here is my creative formula: “what would I love to create?”
being an artist who sells art:
imagination: going into the art studio. I can smell the turpentine, paint and hear the brushes on the canvas.
Feelings/intuition: excitement, overjoyed, “in my element”
story: If I make more time to be in the studio, then I can creative more art and can be creative daily.
Actions/results: Finished canvases, more to paint and enjoying the outcome of how my life can change.
Why do we need a creative formula? Because it helps with our dreams. It helps with a plan to make dreams be part of our life (steps to make it happen. And it can help us when we are stuck. it can provide a way to see how we might be sabotaging our dreams.
He explains with this formula, the progress and reality of the dreams happening the action, the resources and people to help and strategies will appear. All because you kept focus on the creative process.
He includes a personal discovery assessment in the book. He writes that writing in a journal daily along with meditation and relaxation and the personal discovery assessment can increase clarity to bring your dreams into reality.
Chapter 8 is a review and recap of the book. It reminds us of what we read about what if…?, socialization, the creative formula and living the life that is nature to you.
I will be taking time to do the personal discovery assessment on my own.
This book was insightful and I can see myself going through it again, taking time to do the exercises and continuing to write daily in a journal.
If you ever find yourself unsure of your creativity and intuition, read this book.
It’s finally Sunday! I’ll be visiting my dad for the afternoon. Once I get home my plan is to paint for a few hours.
Canvases are prepared and ready to go.
I’ll post updates on these paintings.
In the meantime I will be knitting a oversized scarf, that I can use as a shawl. The stitch is huddle stitch. This will not be sold.
Hurdle stitch
Cast on even number of stitches
Row 1- knit
Row 2- knit
Row 3- k1, p1
Row 4-k1, p1
Repeat until size you want.
I’m excited, this week most of the days I will be working from home. I’m considering to transition to work at home permanently. Either I’ll ask the practice I work at for that position or I’ll work for a telehealth company. Time will tell what the decision will be. But I believe I’ll have more painting time and more time to write my book if I work from home.
This morning started out sleeping in, and making the rest of the day leisurely.
Spending the morning in the art studio was a nice welcoming after a major night of excitement, laughter and decision making.
I began this challenge of drawing or painting flowers for the next month. The first painting I began, still needed to be completed. That is what my focus was today.
I began outlining with acrylic markers. If you have not tried acrylic markers, you definitely need to. I have hands that are not steady sometimes, these markers make the little details easier than getting frustrated with a brush.
My next flower painting will take me awhile. Stay tuned…
Today has been humid. My air conditioner does not work. Trust me it’s not a huge deal for me. I don’t like sitting in cold air. But my feet and legs get swollen from the weather.
I spent the good part of the day working. As an art therapist I was able to do some art with my young clients. Then I came home to cook a late lunch/early dinner. It was root vegetables, chicken thighs and a mixed green salad. It was delicious. (It’s sometimes hard being gluten free, soy free and dairy free) I was starving when I got home, and stopping at the restaurants is not an option.
So after eating, I made my way to the upstairs studio.
I started a watercolor painting, but need it to dry to complete it. (I’ll show that one later)
Then I started working on my painting. It’s an abstract flower painting. It’s at the very beginning stages. I paint with bold shapes, let it dry then paint shapes into of shapes and repeat that process until it looks pleasing to my eyes.
Here’s a flower painting, I painted this in the memory of my mother’s death.
I couldn’t stay in the studio for too long. My feet was starting to throb. (I have edema and rheumatoid arthritis) plus my dog was getting hot.
Now I’m downstairs, in a cooler part of the house. It’s looking like a knitting night with feet raised up kinda night.
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