Feeding me.

The blast off class ended today. The journey to the moon is well underway. This class was like a valentine to myself. Signing up and taking a class, educating oneself is a form of self nurturing. Feeding your brain, your soul, your body. This class fed the first two and prompted me to feed the last. I have signed up for another 5k next week and best of all I had my first tap dancing lesson yesterday. Could there be anything happier than tap dancing? That is what I thought. Another Valentine to myself.

Need help sometimes.

You know how you go through life? Sometimes it is painless floating, no worries, in synch with the world. Sometimes it is floating with worries eating you up from the inside out. Powerless, waiting for the next "foot to fall". We all need help from time to time. The blast off class is discussing a support crew. I am so fortunate. My crew is overflowing with support. My friends, my family, and more in shining armor waiting in my future.
To the right is the beach lady floating. Does she know what is out there waiting for her? Does she have the support to get through it?
My family always said,"Ask and ye shall receive." I am sure it is biblical in its roots. We also meant we are here for you. I am.

I am a guest blogger!

I have posted photos of us running the 5k last Thanksgiving. I am including the link to read the tale of my first 5k. "The Realist" asked me to be a guest writer for her blog. I am flattered to be asked. Hope you enjoy our writings. (Click on "The Realist")

What you Need to Climb a Mountain, Real or Perceived

Here is a quote my husband presented to me several years ago. It is a good boost. In realizing the author was a mountaineer I can see he knew the importance of being confident and going forward with conviction.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation). There is an elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
-William Hutchinson Murray, Scottish mountaineer, 1913-1996

Moved to Artistree Co-op

Still dragging the fish out of the water. She is now mounted on a 9"x 8" piece of wood that has been covered in imported paper. A piece of plexiglass nailed in place with silver nailheads protects the painting. She will be seen soon at Artistree Co-op at 1600 Edgewater Drive in College Park. I moved some paintings and stationery to the shop yesterday where it shares space with Infusion Tea and Organic Cafe. Drop by for a snack and to see the art, jewelry, pottery, and all sorts of creative things.

Introducing a fellow artist and blogger

I am happy to introduce to you Hannah Klaus Hunter. This talented woman is not only an artist, but an art therapist too. You can follow her blog at http://www.hannahklaushunter.blogspot.com. Hannah lives in Davis, California where she creates paper quilts of varied colors and feelings. She also has a body of work entitled Alchemy and Myths. These incorporate an alchemist's bottle shape, paint, gold paint, text and other collage elements. With my New Orleans roots I especially like Katrina. You can see all of these on her website http://www.thesecondstorystudio.com Another connection I haven't even mentioned to Hannah is that she attended the University of Iowa for undergraduate work. Go Hawkeyes! My husband's roots being in southeastern Iowa and my children considering University of Iowa this is close to my heart. I keep hoping somebody in my family will go to the Writer's Workshop for graduate work. Maybe in my next incarnation I will do that.
The painting pictured here is from my hurricane series. When the Levees Failed is approximately 5"x 7", acrylic paint on paper. (Sold)

Making a habit part of a routine is going to take practice. That is where we are in our blast off class today. IF you read this blog you will know I am inconsistent in posting. I will promise you, shoot I said promise, a woman of my word I now have to do it, I promise I will post three times per week.
I have invited my classmates to send me their blog addresses by commenting on my blog. Stay tuned for web addresses from some very talented artists. This group is spread world-wide and represents many different styles and messages.
Busy day ahead, wish I had wings like the angel to the left, must run to interview with an artists co-op in our fair city, the City Beautiful, Orlando. Tonight is Alive At Five a street party event in Sanford. I think I will go visit the artists I used to spend time with at Gallery on First. By the way there were four of us from the Gallery on First who were chosen to exhibit at the juried ArtistsRegistry.com member show (which closes tomorrow night). There were two awards given to members of this group also, your trusty blog author and Aurore Brunet who won a third place.
Stay tuned and stay fit with http://www.dietsarecrap.blogspot.com, another blog I follow.

Get to the Meat of it

Time to evaluate finances in my blast off class taught by Alyson Stanfield, art marketing coach and all around guru. As in my painting this is like dragging a big fish ashore. Not really pleasant, not really fun, but to get to the meat of it you need to do it.

Reflections through affirmations

This photo may look like the last entry with notebook, etc. I have added a collection of affirmation cards. Positive reflections for daily thoughts. A way to remember all of the things we need to remember to feel confident and ready "to take on the world." Little black cards with swirly illustrations and longhand notes to myself. Ah ha the favorite white gelly roll pen steps in again, that pen always makes it fun.

Albert had a way with words as well as with physics

Alyson Stanfield's blast off class has begun. My eyes are already opening to the enormous job I have ahead if I am going to pursue what I really want. However that makes this more exciting, there is a path and I can follow it. Just need to find it.
Alyson left us with a brilliant quote from Albert Einstein,
"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."
Albert, you had it going on.
Copyrighted Image from Beth Rommel's entry to Art House Co-op's moleskine project 2009

Check

Getting organized for the blastoff class, listening to Preservation at Work, a preserve the Texas Hill Country CD.
*New binder for class notes, hot lime green. Very exciting.
*Small notebook with one of my bright blue birds on the cover. A place for my gratitude journal.
*And an agreement with myself to do this seriously and with real effort. Check.

Where am I going?

A new chapter, a new year, and a new decade. Starting it off right I have signed up for the Blast Off class Alyson Stanfield is offering. It starts tomorrow. My last foray into on-line classes was a great one, a blogging class offered by Alyson and Cynthia Morris. It is time for the next step into my art career. Time to make goals, devise a map, and read and reread the directions so I can get there. It would be nice to know when I get there so must define exactly where I want to go. I have done the thinking, as illustrated by this angel in "Quiet". New year, new year's "aspirations", as gifted photographer, Dianne Poinski prefers to say.
New direction...all right already...go!
"Quiet", acrylic, 16"x 20", sold