8 x 6 in.

I had to finish the week out with my "piece de resistance" (sorry but I could not find the proper French accents on my keyboard for "piece") painting of all the halloween monsters. I definitely had fun with this one.

Happy Halloween!!!!

(click here to buy original)

*Edit* Saturday November 1 ~ Our Halloween pumpkins below ~ mine is the tiny one...imagine that! We just go our first substantial rain with lightning, very rare in these parts, and very exciting. We also woke up to, let’s just say, an EXTREMELY unpleasant pet "accident" this morning in my studio... so we’re feeling a bit like these pumpkins. Typically not the best way to start one’s day. But now I’m off to listen to Christine do a book appearance and reading at one of the sweetest book stores in LA ~ I still have hope of eeking some fun out of this Saturday.

Hey, Hey ~ it’s a new podcast!!

The topic of change is in the air...especially as we stand on the verge of such profound change in our country.

click above to listen now

click here to download MP3
Download Instructions
Mac Users option click and Windows users right click on link above to download the file.

Also I mention this in the podcast ~ but I want to repeat it here in the post. I am taking requests for podcast topics, so feel free to either email me requests or leave them in the comments below.

Enjoy ~ and I’ve already got another one lined up next!!

*Edit* Monday November 3 ~ This podcast audio link is down temporarily as I’m doing some final technical work on this blog. It will be back I promise, so please check back in the next day or so.

4 x 4 in.

Title courtesy of Sean. It made me laugh out loud.

Once again, I’m enamored with this image. You know the funny thing with this painting is that the horns on the bird hat happened by accident. When I was painting the hat some of the black paint ended up outside the circular shape and I thought "hmmm...that’s interesting...what can I do with that?" The painting needed a little something and I didn’t know what it was until the paint took it upon itself to add the spice, because honestly I think the horns on the bird hat make this one. Here, here for mistakes!

I got up early today and it’s been such a good Creative Thursday so far ~ one of those days where I’m excited for no special reason. Meaning nothing out of the ordinary has happened for me to feel any different (like I didn’t wake up winning the lottery today ;)) ~ I love days like this because it means I’m enjoying my life just as it is.

My day started by heading to Target first thing this morning, to get our Halloween candy ~ you know we have to get it the day before or we would’ve eaten it all by now. Just running errands early in the day in Los Angeles is enough to make you happy...everyone’s asleep...L.A. is notoriously a late in the day on into the night kind of crowd...which all means minimal to NO traffic in the mornings on the roads or in the stores.

My early morning Target joy, started to spill over into my interactions with the employees and it went something like this

Me:  "How are you today?"
Target employee:   "I’m working"
Me:  as I load my Halloween candy on a conveyor belt :  "I’m working too!" (technically I was working because Target’s design and designers always inspire me ~ I was getting creative ideas left and right.)
Target employee: "You must have a good job"
Me: "Yes I do! I have a great job!"

I’m not entirely sure why I’m telling you all of this today. It’s either because I’ve had two coffees this morning or my Creative Thursday joy is spilling over into this blog. So an especially happy Creative Thursday to you!

Oooh and I almost forgot ~ it’s very exciting!! My friend Sharon Montrose opened her Etsy shop yesterday!! I’m loving this sheep.

(sorry for the laying nicey nicess on so thick today...but it cannot be helped!!;))

(click here to buy original)

4 x 4 in.

Ok, I’m a little enamored with this painting and I’m not entirely sure why.

I think some of the love stems from the fun I’ve been having painting on black backgrounds again. I painted a few black backgrounds when I first started daily painting. In fact my technique used to be to paint a solid background color first and while the paint was still wet, I scratched/sketched my design in the paint. That is how I created this one. It creates a really interesting effect especially when you overlay one paint color on top of another one and in the case of this image, painting white over black. I’m also especially drawn to as much negative space as possible these days.

In a way I’m revisiting a creative time when I had less expectations of how a painting would be received or whether it would even sell. There is something liberating when you create without expectation ~ and when you start to sell your work and/or become more commercial, I think it’s important to find your way back to that time.

Once again that is why Halloween time is especially fun for me, a chance to step out of my usual box.

(click here to buy original)

Polar bears are in pumpkins again...

I know I really scared you in my last post with my "blue bat"  ;)  (thank you for naming the creature IHanna)
So today, some Halloween cuteness for sure ~ these polar bears are turning up every where lately. You can take one home with you if you’d like. They are right here at the shop.

4 x 4 in.

The ongoing joke for me and my creations is that even if try to paint something "scary" or "dark", it still comes out cute. So naturally at this time of year I love to make attempts at creating halloween creatures. Here is the first of a few creatures I have planned for this week accompanied by "pearl the spider". There will also be a couple of cute clay creations joining the celebration over here...in a day or so.

(click here to buy original)

for now...

I have been wanting to respond to many of the thoughtful comments that were left last week. To keep this post on the shorter side (but it’s still long), I’m just going to list my responses and additional thoughts in no particular order in a bullet point format. I guess you can consider this somewhat of a manifesto for this blog.

• Honesty should never be an excuse for not being kind.
• In regards to commenting on other blogs, I too go by the philosophy of "if I don’t have anything nice or supportive to say, I don’t say anything at all"
• Unless someone is asking, I do not feel it is my place to offer constructive criticism.
• I do not post my designs at this forum asking for constructive criticism. I am fortunate to have a wonderful circle of creative friends who I can ask that of in person. If I do ask here, you’ll know.
• I am absolutely in support of bloggers who choose to advertise and those who do not.
• There is no right way to blog.
• The point of my last post was simply to ask questions of the blogging community of which I am a part of. And to ask this question of myself and MY own blog.
• I am forever grateful to those in the blogging community who have supported and promoted my work. When I joined the podcasting/blogging community, I first let people know I was here, and then word of mouth, via this amazing internet, took it from there ~ many blogs, especially those in the design community announced my arrival to the internet scene, greatly contributing to me finally making a living with my art. This support will never be forgotten.
• I want to return the support that was and is so generously given to me. This is why you often see me mentioning other artists, authors, businesses here at my own blog.
• Offering genuine kindness, nicey niceness and support should never be underestimated.
• Being a genuine positive voice in the world is the BEST. Who couldn’t use more of that?
• I’ve been accused of being too positive more than once in my life, before I ever even started a blog.
• I plan to continue to being a positive voice in the world, and don’t feel that asking honest questions of myself and others detracts from my solid intention of being an uplifter.
• I was a podcaster before I was a blogger and I realize now more than ever how hearing someone’s tone combined with their with words gives a much better understanding of what they really mean to say.
• This blog has always been an extension of my business.
• This blog always promotes my creations
• I do sell my art through this blog and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate how fantastic it is that I make my living this way.
• I will not present myself in any way that does not feel like "me" just in the hopes that people will buy more of my art.
• This blog is in complete support of the "Creative Thursday" brand that I am building, and included in my brand is my "voice" in which kindness, authenticity, honesty and genuineness are vital.
• I think Amber said it best in her comment when she said "when your blog transforms into one of your creations (which yours has) it is hard to feel fulfilled if you aren’t able to fully express yourself in the same level as you do with your artwork". This is what has happened to me.
• My blog has also become one of my creative expressions.
• This blog will never be a place where I share all of myself.
• This blog has never been a place where I share all the details of my personal life.
• I have always said that it represents the best parts of my life.
• I will not be sharing the lowest of my lows here.
• I will not be sharing  all of my highest highs here either.
• This blog is always just a "glimpse" of my life.
• My life is pretty wonderful, and I expect it to get better and better for as long as I live.
• My life is not perfect, nor will I present it as such, unless I come to define perfection as my life, just as it is, in all of its uncertainty.
• I will always do my best to speak from a secure vs. insecure place
• I will always do my best to speak authentically
• I will continue to speak/write on topics that I feel are relevant to this blog and living the creative life. (If I veer from that I will be sure to let you know).
• I will always be in support of people following and living their dreams.
• There is no right or wrong way to blog.
• Blogging is such a personal individual expression.
• I believe that you can be an authentic blogger even if you are only using your blog as a professional calling card only.
• I do believe in blog etiquette and being considerate.
• I do want people to feel like they can discuss things honestly in the comments at my blog. Whether you agree or disagree with me, I do love hearing your insight, and I always appreciate your willingness to share. I also always ask that if you do leave a comment publicly that you be gracious. If you are mean spirited to me this blog or any other blog or person, which no one ever has, I’m just saying I will delete you ;).
• I believe we are living at a time where people are more intuitive and able to interpret more than what a person is saying or even writing. Meaning that if a person’s actions don’t ultimately line up with what they are proclaiming, we can tell.
• I ask that people just be honest with themselves. And if they have a public forum, I ask that they publicly state their intentions, so that there is no confusion to their audience about who they are.
• I hope that if you meet me in person, you will recognize me as the person you have come to know here at this blog.
• I believe that a person’s true candor always reveals itself over time. 
• If any of my thoughts, especially those I have recently expressed, have caused you to question mine ~ I understand. And if you decide to stay with me on this journey, time will continue to reveal who I truly am as well.
• I am a huge fan of joy and happiness (and cuteness!) that is why my art is what it is. And with that said this blog will probably always err on the side of happiness and being nice.

Again, I thank you immensely for responding to my posts here last week. You’ve provoked thought in me and helped me to clarify the direction of my ever evolving blog and voice that I share with the world.

...and now back to the regularly scheduled program of pre-halloween fun!

I’m happy to report that every single one of the calendars that have been ordered so far are on their way to their new homes!

And now it’s time for some R&R as I head into this weekend probably resembling the photo above, as there is often a cat on or a near a lap during said "R&R times".

I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking that in light of the approach of Halloween and dealing with the present instability and uncertainty overwhelming our country at the moment as we approach this upcoming election, some extra fun and lightheartedness might be in order this week. I will go on record as saying I recommend this.  And I plan to start by attending a birthday celebration for my oh so kind former neighbor Erika and by carving a pumpkin(s), which Sean has already started as I type this...and as the aroma of roasted pumpkin seeds (my FAVORITE part of the pumpkin carving!!) wafts over me here at my desk, I realize that enough is enough, the weekend is calling. And with that I wish you a nice weekend too!

4 x 4 in.

Believe it or not, in between writing super lengthy blog posts, I have actually been doing some work over here. In fact, this is a perfect time to give you a head’s up that my 2008 holiday cards have been printed and are on their way to me as I write this!! I plan on releasing them the first week of November. And these little cuties are one of the two card designs I’ve created. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind getting these as presents this year.

Ok, then, I’m sending you more cuteness and joy today. (I couldn’t resist ~ it’s Creative Thursday after all ~ a day for fun and creativity!)
Happy Creative Thursday!

(original is sold)

by special request this image is also available a print now over at the Etsy shop.

 
6 x 6 in.

All this discussing over here has been fantastic. Thanks to everyone for your willingness to share back  ~ your thoughts have spurred more thoughts in me and there will certainly be more posts to follow, but today I thought we could use a little art again. Just a peaceful sentiment in a pretty painting. Some genuine nicey niceness!

I have to say that while it took a fair amount of courage for me to publish both of my last posts, I’m glad I did. I feel free today, and like I stepped further into who I truly am. It’s hard to verbalize, but it feels right.

By the way, Christine has carried on the discussion further in an honest and eloquent post at her blog today.  I actually do know her in person and can say that she is very much the person she presents in her blog. In fact that is how she and I became friends three years ago now. I wanted to meet the person I read about in the blog.

She said in her post, what I was hoping to share and she said it so beautifully that I had to quote her here, as this is my intention too.

"I can explain my intention this way:  if someone is reading my blog, and then we meet in person, I want that person to recognize me face to face.  In other words, I want that person to see the same person in the flesh as they see here in words and pictures.  This is different from the need to feel seen; this is about wanting my blog and my self to be in alignment.  This blog holds me accountable, and that just might be my favorite thing about keeping a blog.  In aiming to write and share authentic stories about my life from a place of integrity..."

Christine Mason Miller

(click here to buy original)

Grab a cup of tea, or coffee, or better yet a glass of wine, as this is a long one.

My last post opened quite an interesting discussion, so interesting in fact that it inspired another one for today. You could say that the change I have spoken about over the last couple of months has finally settled in and I’m feeling myself again but from a completely new vantage point, especially in relation to this blog I keep. Honestly, I’ve had a few things on my mind that I’ve been meaning to share, so here goes.

It wasn’t until I read Ellen’s comment yesterday when she referred to blogs as being too "nicey nicey" that I knew what I wanted to say. Now let me take a moment, following my own advice to make sure this is coming from the "right" place that I spoke about yesterday, otherwise I might be a hypocrite and I definitely don’t want to be that. :)

You see I studied Improv for a solid two years, and one of the main lessons of Improv, and all comedy really, is to state the obvious. Usually the obvious is what’s funny and often times the obvious is what people won’t readily discuss.  This is probably one reason we have that famous saying, "there’s a pink elephant in the room". Since my days of Improv I chose to assimilate this idea of stating the obvious into my every day life. And this is because I find my life is so much easier in the long run when I "state the obvious", mostly because for me it’s just too much work trying to  continuously cover things up, and then remember what needs covering up, and then...you get the idea.

When I first became interested in blogging it was just two and half years ago now. And the reason this interest turned into a passion for this new medium was because it felt like the most honest expression I had come across in a long time, what seemed to me to be a truly authentic slice of people’s lives. In light of all the over-styled lives presented in traditional media, blogs felt like a breath of fresh air, so real and genuine (still edited of course) but with an individuality that was and in many cases still is so refreshing to visit ~ as you get to "know" the people behind them a little more all the time. Blogs provide a glimpse into the lives of people and how it might really be for them day to day. Blogs give us a chance to be inspired by people that feel more "real" than other public personas, ie celebrities in television and film, and those featured in magazines who have an entire crew of people working to make their lives look like what someone else thinks is the "ideal life". Believe me I know, I’ve worked in front of and behind the camera since I’ve been in Hollywood and I had a huge eye opening about what actually goes on behind the scenes to create an image that I once perceived was to some degree real. Nope not the case, well maybe if you had about 20 people obsessing over only you every day. I digress.

Alright I’ve prefaced this enough. What I’m trying to say is that I’m simply no longer willing to ignore the obvious as I see it in much of the blogging world that I follow. Many (not all) blogs, and I narrow this down to the creative/artisan/crafting/design blogging world, are in my opinion losing their individuality. They just don’t feel genuine anymore, let alone honest. And to use Ellen’s phraseology, I agree that many are just feeling too "nicey nicey" ~ and I’m going to go ahead and include my blog in that mix. It goes without saying that in no way or shape or form am I suggesting being rude is or unkind is what needs to happen with the blogging world. Good Lord, no. Of course being nice, supportive, inspiring and uplifting is a wonderful way to be in the world in general let alone the blogging world. And these qualities continue to dominate this blogging niche that I follow and am proud to be a part of.

But there are times, when it feels like too much. It sometimes feels like blogs are no longer being written from a unique perspective, but instead being written as if they are competing to win a popularity contest. Sometimes sweetness is being pushed to the limit and it fees like saccharin, not sugar. Don’t get me wrong, I love sweetness and I love a happy life, I live one, and I love to spread the message of that, but even in a happy creative life there are challenges. And it’s disappointing. It’s disappointing to me that what I thought was a more authentic medium, as it gains popularity is slowly becoming watered down in it’s efforts to gain and keep approval just like all other forms of expression that came before it. This may be because blogging is now also another medium open to advertising, which I think is fantastic. I sincerely think it is great that bloggers can make a living this way. But how can a blogger not be influenced by wanting to keep their traffic numbers in support of their advertisers? I’m just wondering if the number of visitors and comments a blog gets is beginning to define blogs vs simply being creative outlet to freely express yourself?  And you know, I can see how this can happen and does happen all the time in all forms of creative expression. I’m not complaining and I’m not criticizing ~ and of course in line with yesterday’s topic regarding value and pricing, I’m not in any position to say whether anyone is being truly authentic or not. I don’t really know. There’s not a right way or wrong way to blog and there’s room for all kinds of "voices' out there. I’m just observing and saying what I see, expressing what works and no longer works for me. And since it was brought up in yesterday’s comments and has been a regular topic among my blogging friends lately, I’m wondering if you see it too?

The reason I am even calling attention to this at all, is because I am wanting to use this in reference to my own blog. So this is about me, no one else, just me!  I think I’ve fallen into this category of blogs at times, still seeking the approval of others, and as my own traffic and customer base has grown, I’ve found myself caring a bit too much about my own popularity and probably being a little artificially sweet on ocassion, to keep the approval coming. But for me it’s time to let the approval seeking go not just here but everywhere, and this is my public statement saying that I do not want to fall into the category of being an inauthentic voice in the world, not personally or professionally. By looking out into the blogging world, the differences I see are helping me to become more clear about what I want this blog to represent, moving forward from here. All I can say is that I am drawn more and more to blogs who over time are consistently themselves, who don’t seem to be keeping a blog to win popularity. It’s possible that as a reader of my blog, you do feel that my blog voice feels consistent, and I have certainly tried to be this, as it’s always been important to me to make this a genuine, albeit edited slice of my life. But I know there are times when I’m not truly being myself here. You see, my desk while often straightened up,  is also incredibly messy sometimes (as in the photo above, taken just this morning)...especially when I am creating. Straight or messy, not one is right or wrong, good or bad, it’s just how it is, I experience them both. And I don’t want to leave one side out of who I am.

It’s almost as if a few blogs lead the way in this niche, and we were inspired. So we all started blogging too and then the few blogs that started first became popular over time. And then we naturally looked at them as examples of "how to blog". Nothing wrong with that, and totally understandable as that is typically how anything new gets developed. Someone starts and we follow. And we can’t help but be influenced by what inspires us. Yet without realizing it we start to look the same, until someone veers from the following and something new begins again. It’s what keeps things fresh and exciting. And then there are those who I am coming to admire more and more, the ones who came to know themselves right away, who evolve in the same way I mentioned above, but they manage to always evolve by consistently staying true to who they are. And this is the age old question, "how can you tell?" ~ I don’t really know, but I think you can just tell. I’ve said it a million times before, but I can appreciate any creation and expression when it feels genuine.  And when you seek to become more genuine yourself, the people who have always been this way begin to come into clear focus.

I think that as I become more of a public persona myself via this blog, there has also been and increase in being overly concerned with how I will be perceived. I also have to say that I have a new found respect for anyone who is in the public eye.  And after yesterday, I finally realized that no matter how much care and thought I give to a post or to how I choose to be in the world, someone out there will interpret it the way I intended and someone else out there will not ~ This was a concept I always knew in theory but have just come to understand in practice.

So if you’ve made it this far, let me repeat and let me try to be clear, the main point of this post isn’t about anyone else, it’s about me and my blog. It’s about defining where I’m wanting to go from here. I’ve always been teetering on the sharing more/versus just sharing and focusing on my work but it appears that I’m feeling drawn to expressing my voice here more and more, (as my "thoughts on things" category is getting a lot of use these days!). It does not mean that my tone to this blog, one that I intend to err on the side of genuine, honest, happiness, hope, support and inspiration is going to change ~ imparting those qualities via my art and my writing is still of utmost importance to me. Nor does it mean that I plan to air all my laundry here, dirty or clean in the name of honesty! It just means that I’m opening the door to what’s next, which I believe will include more of my voice via writing and podcasts. To be honest, part of the reason I’ve been slow on the podcasts is for the same reason. I’ve been concerned about how I would be perceived. My following has grown here, and I haven’t felt entirely ready to go along with that expansion yet. But for some reason on the heels of all this change, I finally do.

At the end of the day, I may be able to manipulate my words in a way to present myself in a certain way, but my art cannot be manipulated in the same way. My paintings are what really started this blog, and they will continue to be one of the best representations of me. My true candor is always present in my paintings. The joy that is in them, that’s me. I really am this happy most of the time. The thoughtfulness that is in them, well no need to explain that one really...also me. The honesty that is in them ~ it’s me. And I want to speak freely more often about what feels honest to me. The humor you see in some of them...sometimes... I actually am funny. ;) The love that is in them ~ and that exists for the work that I do, is something I want to continue to share here at my blog. And the message that you too CAN do it ~ follow your creative dreams or any other dreams for that matter ~ that message will never change.

Well that should about cover it for the time being. Now it’s back to business...as usual...but with a slightly new twist.

hi, it’s me ~ the lady who keeps this blog~ :)

After just over two years of keeping this blog and posting hundreds of my creations, I had my first public comment questioning the value of what I create. Normally I would not bring focus to this but because I tend to talk candidly about these subjects on my blog and podcasts, in my continuing effort to encourage others that they too can make a living as a creative, I thought this would be a perfect example to remind all of us of our worth~ that the value we place on ourselves and on what we create is of supreme importance.

To ever be an artist of any kind, and actually sell your creations ~ valuing your work is a decision you will have to make. And if you grow as an artist and a business owner, this is a decision you will continue to make time and time again. As we all know creative work in itself is incredibly subjective ~ and more often than not it’s selling price is in the eye of the beholder. Since it is in the eye of the beholder, the first value that must be placed is your own, and that will directly correlate with the value you place upon yourself, combined with your business intentions ~ each incredibly personal choices.

Valuing myself and my work enough to attach a dollar sign to it has been and continues to be one of the most challenging parts of being in business for myself, especially as an artist. I give great thought to every part of Creative Thursday, and especially the pricing of my creations. I will therefore not use this post to publicly justify my pricing. I will say that it is my intent as an artist to create meaningful, quality creations that I love and that I hope add great value to the world ~ and as a business owner it is my intent to price my products in a way that feels fair, and right with the value I place upon myself and my work. I trust that my loyal following of customers understand this. And to those customers who continue to show their support by enthusiastically purchasing my creations without question, I am endlessly thankful.

Before I sign off, I also want to add that I completely understand that we all place different value on different things, and that is just as it should be. And of course I’m not asking anyone to purchase my work who does not want to, for whatever reason. I also want people to feel like they can comment freely even if they disagree with me. I truly appreciate a willingness to bring up subjects that can be considered "controversial" or "uncomfortable" ~ I know it’s not always easy in a public forum, and I can relate, always feeling slight trepidation every time I post something here that I think is not what everyone might relate to or "want to hear"~ always hoping that it comes across right in this written medium.  I actually do appreciate this particular comment for all the thought it has stirred in me. With that said, however, I do not post and share my work here on this blog ever asking for approval of its worth. And I would ask that if you feel compelled to challenge that publicly you first consider whether that challenge is coming from security or insecurity in yourself. And second I would ask that you give some thought to the kind courage it takes for any person to create or express from their personal selves and share it publicly. Then put yourself in their shoes.

*Edit* Monday, October 20 ~ this is turning into such an interesting discussion, via the comments ~ so I have to also say thank you to Amy for beginning it with her initial comment, and let you know that I will be back with more thoughts related to this subject and a whole other one that was opened as a result of this, but in the meantime I am responding via the comments below and thanks to everyone so far for graciously chiming in.

*Edit* also on Monday, later today :) ~ Just in case you don’t read through all the lengthy comments below ~ I wanted to respond here about the use of my words "insecurity and security" in my last paragraph above. It seems that it is being misunderstood and it is important to me clear this one up, as it seems to be calling Amy’s character into question and that was nor is ever my intent to call ANYONE’s personal character to the table on this blog ~ I should have been more clear in my statement. When I said "you" in the "you feel compelled to challenge..." ~  I meant this in general for all of us posting in the blog world, and I include myself in the "us" because I do ask this of myself every time I hit publish. It is very important to me that my words here or on any other blog come from a secure place in me. If it ever does not read that way, I’m truly sorry. It is entirely clear to me now more than ever just how much everything, not just pricing :), is left open to interpretation.  So in an attempt to be clearer, I am not calling any one person or Amy insecure. I am just asking all of us, myself included, to think clearly about our intentions before we hit publish on our own blog and especially on anyone elses. How it is interpreted beyond that is out of our control but if we feel solid and secure in our intentions that is always what matters.

It’s official ~ the calendars are here!! You can get all the details and purchase yours over at the shop .
Enjoy! and happy creative thursday to you!~
(And thank you for all the calendar love already. I have to say that I was so excited to release them, that I listed them as soon as Etsy "time" turned into Thursday, at midnight EST last night. I guess a little excitement cannot be helped when you release a project that is literally an entire year in the making!)

Things are busy over here this week. I began my work week on Sunday with a list that filled a whole page of a legal pad. It actually did wonders for me to get it all out of my head on one sheet of paper. Of all my time management solutions I’ve tried this year in my continuing attempt to keep some balance, the simplicity of a legal pad may be working best. It’s seems to be just the perfect size for me to make lists, and notes for a week at a time. Any time I lose focus, I just grab the pad to remind myself of what’s next.

And on the list ~ some blog re-designing, as you can see...months later I’m still re-working this new blog little by little...along with some other things I’ve been meaning to share.

First ~ the image above is by the awesome Sharon Montrose. And I wanted to spread the word about this special project she is working on, photographing dogs in their homes. Inspired too by seeing inside so many great homes featured here in the blogging world, Sharon decided to photograph one of her dogs Squeak in her own home. Then as she said on her blog "I enjoyed that project so much, I’ve been inspired to continue with it." So she’s officially on the hunt for dog owners with photogenic homes here in Los Angeles. You can get all the details here. It looks like Lulu and her/our home will be one of the willing participants, and we’re really excited, having long been a fan of Sharon’s work.

And speaking of Sharon, this is also a prefect opportunity for me to pass on the "Arte Y Pico Award" that was so graciously given to me in August of this year.

In the words of the Award Designer:
"The Arte y Pico Award has arisen from the daily visits that I make to many blogs which nourish and enrich me with creativity. In them, I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain and enrich me day to day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few."

I am to choose 5, and here they are. 5 artist bloggers who inspire me. Since I know we all have a lot on our "plates" these days, if you are one of the bloggers I’ve selected, there’s no pressure to pass this on, only if you feel inspired to. Thank you to all of you for sharing yourself and your creations with all of us. And thank you again to Liz for passing the award on to me!

Sharon Montrose
Cathy Nichols
Orange You Lucky ~ Helen Dardik
Amber Dusick
Sarah Jane Studios

The 2009 calendars will be released over at my Etsy shop!

5 x 5 in.

Trust your own wisdom.

inspired by my always compelling conversation with Christine over lunch yesterday~

have a happy weekend ~

(click here to buy original)

Welcome to my home. Ok, it’s really "corners of my home", but everyone on the internet uses that phraseology and I wanted to be different. :)

We’re officially celebrating our 1 year anniversary in our house this month, and along with that almost every day this week we have been celebrating the fact that we are NOT moving. Our move from one year ago was so mentally and physically exhausting that it is still too fresh in our memory. And now we are so excited as we feel as if we have been granted all this extra "time" this season just because we’re not moving. Going up and down 36 uneven outdoor steps up the side of a hill  (we lived in Laurel Canyon), 100 or so times over one week, carrying large bins of stuff, is an experience that one does not forget easily.

So, since we are celebrating our home so much over here, I thought it might be fun to finally share a glimpse inside with you, also since I promised them to you last year, I wanted to make good on my promise.

Believe it or not I’m actually somewhat of a private person ~ can you have a blog and a podcast and still be private? I think so. And I’m probably private mostly in regards to my personal life. I don’t really carry on here too much about my personal life, because this blog has been focused mostly on my work combined with moments when I feel like standing on my soapbox and sharing ideas with you. So either I’m opening up to you more, or since seeing other people’s real homes is one of my favorite things about the blogging world (thanks to all of you who share your homes by the way!), I thought you might enjoy seeing more of my home. And selfishly it’s really just an excuse for me to appreciate my house even more, something as I mentioned, we’ve been doing  a lot lately ~ Because while it was a stretch for us to make this move last year, it has worked out better than we could have hoped in so many ways.

So welcome to my home, as each week I’ll open the door a little further for a glimpse into my world.

Beautiful zinnias that I picked up at the farmer’s market this past weekend. Located directly in front of me on my desk, I can clearly see now how the color influenced the flowers in yesterday’s painting.

And since I’m on the topic of books, I have another great one for you today,"The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. First Michael told me about this one, then Christine, and then there comes a point when something keeps coming up, and I finally listen. I’m glad I did. It’s one of the reasons I’ve felt particularly dedicated to my work over the last couple of weeks.

This book will be the "kick in the pants" you need if you’ve been sitting on the fence about this creative life, and if you are already living the creative life it will "kick you in the pants" to stay focused, keep going, and just do your WORK. It will a also provide some much needed understanding about what it really means to be an artist of any discipline.  A little stronger tone, than my usual soft, encouraging approach of choice, sometimes a direct and to the point message is just what you need to hear, (except from Suze Orman, who screams at you). Steven won’t scream at you, but he will no longer let you have ANY excuses as to why you’re not doing the creative work you were meant to do!!!!!!!

Speaking of creative work, I’m out for the rest of the day to go and paint with Outi...more new creations.

have a happy Wednesday ~

8 x 8 in.

This one is dedicated to families, especially those of you out there who are part of families with 4 children, of which both Sean and my mom are members ~ And to the parents, how you do it, I don’t know! But I admire you immensely :)

"Family Tree" is a painting full of spirit and hope for now and the future, because I was listening to this great conversation while I was painting it. And yes I am still willing to express this sentiment even though I manage to tune into the news on occasion. There is a bigger picture happening... But, you see ~ the news is totally missing conversations like this, so I feel it is my duty to fill in the gaps. Oh, who am I kidding I felt like this subject matter was too inspiring not to share here on my blog because it relates to probably most of you who visit here regularly. And this is also exactly how my "planned" work schedule on certain days gets tossed aside, albeit joyfully tossed aside, because I get so inspired I have to stop everything and write a blog post.  Today, this happened because I tuned into Oprah’s interview with author Daniel Pink and now I will spend at least an hour agonizing over this blog post and whether I can convey EVERYTHING this conversation inspired in me, as concisely as possible ~ a challenge for me when my brain feels like it is spilling over with ideas. (The interview and many others are all available as podcasts at her website, just search under her Soul Series Radio Program ~which by the way, Oprah’s Soul Series, is nothing less than AMAZING ~ especially if you are one of the "thinkers" like me.)

Have you heard of this book? "A Whole New Mind ~ Why Right-Brainers will rule the Future"

I haven’t read it yet, but just after listening to Daniel talk to Oprah, I’m completely convinced that it is finally "my time" in the world ~that it’s "our time" ~ all of us,  who felt slightly out of the ordinary or simply in the minority with our passion for creativity, and aptitude for out of the box thinking and innovative ideas. Daniel is suggesting that this kind of right brain thinking, and way of being will thrive now and into the future ~ and so much of what he’s saying, makes complete sense. If I understand his theory correctly, it’s that we are living in an abundant time, where most of our needs are met, where many of us have more freedoms than we ever had in the past, and since we are no longer solely focused on survival, space has been created for more of us to ask why we are here. And the process of answering this question ultimately leads to us wanting to have more meaning and connection in our lives, to live a life that that is meaningful. And this is where art, design, storytelling, and empathy to name a few will continue to become more vital in our conscious evolution. 

There is a huge shift in consciousness happening, I mean hello, books titled  "A NEW Earth" and "A Whole NEW Mind", just to name a few ~ There is no doubt and you’d really have to be living under a rock not to notice it. When I tune into this idea, I never lose hope about the present or the future. Just look at the blogging world for one. So much of the blogging world embodies the perfect example of what Daniel is suggesting. I would venture to say that the most well known bloggers are Right-Brainers who are especially willing to start what Daniel calls "contagious conversations".

In his opinion starting and continuing what he calls "contagious conversation" creates change in the world. And being a person that loves nothing more than being engaged in these kinds of conversations, I’m more inspired than ever to keep creating and to keep what I hope will be "contagious conversation" going on here at my blog...to follow my Right-Brain intuition and never doubt it again, at least not for today. Maybe it really is MY time. Maybe it YOUR time too. Are you feeling like it might be?

(original is sold)

This one is also available as a print at Etsy, as I know a few people who have been hoping for a print featuring a family of 6.

I released these three animal friends today, also completed for a special project. If you did have your heart set on a "Lewis the lion", here’s one more! Lewis and Panda are 8 x 8 in. and Baby Elephant is 5 x 7 in.

I’m busy working on more "new" creations to share with you, so I am keeping my post(s) brief, and heading right back to work. Hope you had a happy weekend!

(click here to buy originals)

You see, "they say"....(here I go with my "they say" quotes) :) whoever "they" are, "they" certainly say a lot don’t "they"? But this one I’ve found to be true, so I guess I will officially include myself among the "they".  You will often find clues as to what work will make you happy as an adult in what you loved to do as a child.

And here’s proof! This is a tiny calendar I found recently while going through my trunk of sentimental keepsakes. Can you believe I did this? My guess is, since believe it or not there is no year on this calendar, that I probably made this when I was 10. This is its actual size. Each month is hand painted and lettered on a long TINY strip of paper and then accordion folded. I told you I was obsessed with tiny drawing... :) And you can also see that my subject matter bares a striking to resemblance to what it is now, bunnies, birds, trees, flowers, snowmen, turkeys and pumpkins!

I’m thrilled to have discovered this especially since I am now making calendars as an adult. I’ve been waiting to share this image with you once I was ready to announce my 2009 calendar ~ which I’m excited to report was sent off to the printers yesterday and should be ready in the next two weeks!!!!! So, for those of you who have been asking ~ YES there will absolutely be the second annual Creative Thursday calendar for 2009!! And I can’t wait to share it with you.

have a great weekend!

6 x 6 in.

The dinosaur’s name is Dion, by the way.

This painting is a good opportunity for me to emphasize why it’s important to buy handmade, the obvious of course to support other artists following a dream! And the other is because it will inspire you.

Explaining the inspiration to this painting is also a really good excuse for me to gush about another favorite Etsy seller, MadebyHank. You see I came across this seller via the Poppytalk Handmade market, which if you want even more inspiration just sign on to Jan’s weekly email newsletter. They are so gorgeously designed, you get inspiration just by clicking open on the email. I digress. So, I found this kelly green tote in Jan’s newsletter and I instantly fell in love. I had a feeling that it must be mine for the autumn, but as it turns out that particular one was sold ~ so I did what any good customer on Etsy does, I asked if by any chance the seller had another one ~ and that is how I came to know Katie and MadebyHank.

Turns out Katie had some of this fantastic green fabric left and she said she would be happy to make me another one!! (Another reason to buy handmade, the awesome personal customer service). And so my green bag arrived and attached to the handle was this adorable little dinosaur tag. I completely admired the creativity behind the hand made tag and the choice to include a dinosaur toy in a purse purchase ~ and I fell in love with the dinosaur too. I knew he had to make an appearance in a painting. Besides, I have never painted a dinosaur before ~ how can that be?

My bag is the BEST, especially the pretty floral fabric inside ~ you know how I’m a fan of surprise fabric inside the bag and then my other favorite part is the little hook inside for your keys! Thank you Katie!

(click here to buy original)

I think you’re going to like these!

This idea is one I’ve been meaning to put together. A gathering of tiny creatures and friends shall we say. To kick off some new additions to the large prints category, I’ve decided to put all of my favorite characters in one place, and in two different color palettes. So if you’ve ever had a hard time deciding among characters or which prints to choose, now they’re all here together!

I printed these out today and I have to say I LOVE them. I might need a set for myself.

You can find them both over at my Etsy shop.

Enjoy! ~ and happy October!!