What I've Been Up To

I'm taking an online class with Jane Davies called Keys to Dynamic Composition. Even though I'm very busy wrapping things up at work (only 7 more weeks!) ... I've been able to create some practice pieces for the class. Here are a few of my favorite.

Lesson 1: Focus on Shapes (creating Unity and Variety)

Lesson 2: The Abstract Landscape

Focus on Value, Visual Density, and Balance

Lesson 3: The Cruciform

Focus on Texture

Lesson 4: The Grid

Focus on Edges and Repeated Elements

When I'm working on these, I'm happy. Even though the lessons are challenging ... I'm simply happy to be creating art. And looking forward to when I have more time to do that. I'll return to these lessons again in May and delve deeper.

Beauty for a Sickie

I have a cold and DH brought me beautiful flowers. I'm one lucky gal!

 

 

 

Meditating on Color

After two days of grading papers, I treated myself to art time. These were very meditative and soothing.

I started this earlier this week and finished it today.

I guess I have a thing for circles.

I definitely have a thing for the heart shape! This actually reverse color to the original.

DailyGood: 12 Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative Thinking, by Michael Michalko

DailyGood: 12 Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative Thinking, by Michael Michalko

What will you do?

So, what will you "do"? (heavy emphasis on do). I've discovered that when you tell someone you are retiring, their first question is "So, what will you do?" Because it doesn't seem wise to say "whatever" or "nothing" ... I've made a list of things I intend to "do" starting May 1st.

1. Take walks
2. Sun bathe by the pool
3. Learn to swim (once the pool is heated)
4. Visit museums
5. Visit galleries
6. Learn yoga
7. Collect stones
8. Take my camera to the beach
9. Day trips
10. Photography classes
11. Learn photoshop
12. Organize my photos on my *new* laptop
13. Take naps in the sun (i.e., catnaps)
14. Read all the "O" magazines I have laying around
15. Read lots of books
16. Meet friends for coffee or lunch
17. Entertain friends
18. Journal in a coffee shop
19. Serve on the HOA board (somewhere down the road)
20. Write my "life story"
21. Return to geneology - learn more about my father's family
22. Make art - hopefully daily!
23. Organize my art supplies
24. Organize my computer files on my *new* laptop
25. Grow vegetables and flowers
26. Cook new foods
27. Fill up empty photo albums I have collected
28. Fill up art/visual journals
29. Complete the UFOs (unfinished objects of art)
30. Decorate seasonally
31. Teach (on occasion)
32. Read sufi poetry
33. Study buddhism
34. Travel
35. Organize my pantry
36. Visit farmers markets
37. Learn how to make a good cup of coffee!
38. Blog - redesign my blog; learn how to upload slideshows, etc.
39. Start a group focused on "Positive Aging"
40. Make new friends
41. Take more time with old friends
42. Organize my files
43. Take a ceramics class
44. Take online art classes and *do* the work
45. Go to the beach
46. Investigate educational travel
47. Creativity Playdates with friends
48. Art retreats (with friends and alone)
49. Learn to draw (maybe)
50. Just be!

Photo taken somewhere in Italy

In the studio

it pays to get up early!

peace in my heart

fun with paint

 

more fun with paint

my message for today as I prepare my letter of retirement to turn in tomorrow! inspired by donna downey.

wish me luck!

Release

My word for the year is Release. This is the year I will retire ... and be released from the responsibility of full-time employment. This year I will do more art ... and release my mantra of "if only I had more time." This year I will slow down and breathe and release my need to always "achieve" and breathe in "just being."

Creative Doodles

Doodling is the January theme at the Sketchbook challenge. This coincides with the *free* class offered by Traci Bautista through Strathmore Artist Papers - Doodles Unleashed. I love "doodle arting." Last year when I packed my supplies away to prepare for the move, the only supplies handy were markers and oil pastels. I worked in a doodle art book for months. I doodled everywhere I went, including a day spent with DH in the hospital emergency room. All the months that the Muse was boxed away ... doodle art was my major creative expression. 

 

 

And here are ones from Week 1 of the class. I've added a link to the right to my creative doodles.

Welcome 2012!

This year I will try to blog ... because I so enjoy the inspiration I find in this virtual creative community ... and perhaps I can share some inspiration to others.

I am not a blogger

I am not a blogger. I've tried over the past few years. At times, I've posted regularly. Especially when I've been making art that I wanted to share. However, as work eats away at my time, I make less art, and blog even less. I do, however, check in on my inspiration blogs. I fill myself with inspiration for arting ... and then I go to work. It's as though everything I've learned about making time for art has flown right out of my head!

Some day ... soon ... I'll return to writing a blog. I'm not sure what "flavor" it will be ... to share my art ... or talk about the creative process (I'll be teaching a graduate course this summer titled "Innovation and Leadership") ... or simply to share my thoughts.

Perhaps I'll explore the topic of blogging ... since it seems to draw me in and I worry that I don't keep it up. In the meantime, I have 10 more weeks of school. ten . more . weeks . until . summer . break ... time moves at a snail's pace at this time of the year.