Latest Paintings

The Road Less Traveled

It's been a month since I have posted.  I need to do it more.  I have been working my way through "the Artist's Way" that my sister Pat sent me for my birthday.  It suggested "Morning Pages".  This is a place to dump what is in your head first thing in the morning in order to proceed with a clear mind.  Mine seem to be "Mourning Pages".  I will commit to write in my blog more but I need to be careful about being too personal since the whole world can read it. 

I have kept very busy since I arrived in Las Vegas and my soul has suffered.  I know that I am different from my freinds.  I have always taken the road less traveled but I am convinced that it is not a choice but who I am.  I need lots of alone contemplative time in order to stay balanced.  I do this while I am reading or painting.  I feel very alone, insecure and scared in the middle of chaos and clammer.  Even, laughter and merrymaking.  I am happy for those that can enjoy that but I can take it in small doses.  My twelve step program tells me that the answer to whirling dervishes is to let them whirl.  To me that means "detach". 

I have decided to pare down my activities and give myself more painting and alone time.  I set up my painting room yesterday.  I moved all of my painting clutter and my jewelry clutter to that room and organized it.  Now my home is a clutter free zone and my room is just for me.  I have my paints, my favorite candle, my chair, my books and from time to time, my dogs.   This makes Me happy.

Colorful Red Rock

Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert

Excercise in Flowing water

I painted this as an excercse from Art Academy Live.  It was supposed to be one color but I couldn't resist adding a little blue to the water.

Reflections

This is definitely a day for reflection.  I was sick yesterday and today I am just resting.  I woke up Thursday with a huge coldsore and by Friday I was feeling really badly.  The whole left side of my face hurt.  I hear that there will be a cure soon.  I can only hope.  These are miserable.  Whine, Whine!!  This painting is one that I did when I want ed to practice reflection.  I did it with the help of Art Acadamy Live.com


Yesterday was a big day for my DH and I.  We decided that he would Retire. After 15 months of looking for a job, he is retiring early.  Since the unemployment ran out we have no choice.  This actually gives me relief.  I do not like in between situations.  Now we will have a fixed income and I will know what I am dealing with.  Now we just need a loan Modification on the house and I will really relax!  In the meantime, I will create art.

My Inner Child

This is how I feel today.  I must have been about 6 in this photo.  I have been trying to be creative but, the pressure of DH not having a job, the mortgage mess, and not knowing what the future holds (do we ever?) has unnerved my muse.  I have a few things drawn so I will try later today.

Deep in Thought

This morning I am deep in thought.  Having lived in Indianapolis for 6 years, I am a Colts fan!  We lost the Super Bowl but it's still all good.  I am happy for the New Orleans fans and team.  They deserve the win!  It signals a new start for the city and the state.  They certainly are due for that.  What a game!

Valentines Day Jewelry

My New Adventure in Jewelry

BFF's Charlie and Maggie

Ahhh!  BFF's  I can't even believe how easy this transition has been.  Such love!  All three have or have had kennel cough but that's to be expected since Charlie can out of the Pet Shelter.  They are all better now and it  didn't last longer than a day. 

Turquoise! The Color for 2010.

The color for 2010 in fashion is Turquoise!  Now it must be time to paint something turquoise.  This is all I could find in the paintings I've done.  More turquoise to come.

My new blog for Everyday Matters

I have started an additional blog for drawing and painting.  Being a member of Everday Matters has really helped me to practice drawing.  Now all I have to do is practice my handwriting which no one can read.  http://startingoverbynorena.blogspot.com/
startingoverbynorena.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year!!!!! Welcome Charlie!!!

What a year 2009 has been.  DH has been looking for a job for 14 months, we have been waiting for Wells Fargo to help us with our mortgage for 13 months, we rescued our dog Charlie, and we are still standing!

Watercolor Collage Cards

Trying a Portrait-Lexi

This was done in sepia as a first attempt. Now, I will paint it in color and hopefully better. If you know who this is, then I did okay.

Coastal Showers

This is a painting I did today with the help of Peter Obrian from Art Academy live. Peter was generous enough to send the the original drawing which I worked from. I will do it again and hopefully not make the mistakes I see now that it's done. Thanks Peter.

PostCards From The Pumpkin Patch

These are 4 x 6 Paintings mounted on Greeting Card Stock with envelopes. They are for sale for $6.00 ea..

The life of a Red Hatter

I'm just back from The Red Hat Convention in Laughlin, NV. I'm exhausted but I had a good time. From left to right this is me, JoAnna and Erin.

Rocks and Rivers

These paintings are ones I did today for my attempt at Rocks and Rivers and Granulation.

Somewhere It's Snowing. See the soft drifting down

Florals

My Week - Exhaustion has set in!

Monday bowling and out to lunch with K and N, Tuesday PAN with my friends, Wednesday Bunco and birthday party with more friends, Thursday Red Hat Party, Friday Birthday luncheon with even more friends (some of these Friends overlap). Now it's Saturday and I am going to paint! Thanks to all my friends I had a great week full of fun and food.

Pear and Pair of pairs

I am practicing glazing on these pears. I think the 2 pears need more paint!

She sells Seashells...

I painted this for my monthly challenge for WCW. I think I see changes that need to be made.

My Commission is finished!

My commission is finished! I have learned so much doing this painting. !. You can never plan too much. Glazing is the key to value for me. If other tell me that it's good, believe them.

Desert Iris

This painting involved painting, spraying & dripping. I sprayed yellow and red to make the orange.

Red Hat Cake

Here it is, The Cake! It tasted better than it looked.

What a Week!

This week is almost over. Some of it was nerve wracking and some was a lot of fun. Monday we layed low and rested. Tuesday was Jim's surgery and it went very well. He was calmer than I was. PJ sat with me while the surgery was going on. Thank you PJ! I brought Jim home that afternoon. Wednesday I stayed with Jim. Thursday was Erins birthday and we had a party at the Claimjumper. Then we went to play cards at Mary Ann's clubhouse. I love hand and foot. Friday was the Red Hat Party at Marian's house. I made a hat cake which fell over in the car but it tasted good. We swam in her pool, eat a wonderful lunch and played Spoons. Great party Marian aand Nikki! Tonight Jim and I are subbing at Cafe and I am taking Spanokapita sp? Today I bake and rest. Who say's that retirement is boring? I am having the best time of my life with the best friends I have ever had!

Fire and Ice

...and who say's that Las Vegas isn't beautiful! Just HOT! 115 today.

Ice and Fire

Not my best but interesting

Midwestern Farm

Today this just rolled off of my palette

My Muse Has Left The building

I would love to show a painting right now but I can't seem to paint anything worth showing. I'm having an artist block! Too much going' on in my head. Surgery in 2 days...I'm nervous...I am so grateful that my friends PJ and Marian are going to sit with Jim while I'm in the op room. My painting is waiting for me and I have ideas that I want to paint. That's what I will do as I get better.

Jim's Jewelry

This is what Jim has been up to! I have listed everything on Ebay and we will see how it goes. Our EBay address is:

http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/river_glorious_watercolors