Comfort Zone

18 x 14 Oil on Canvas

As you may have read a few posts back I am undertaking a big push in the organization of my home office and files.  This past weekend I decided to really think about how my office is set up. When I moved into this house I just decided to put my desk in a certain position and never really thought about if I liked it or not.  As I recently thought about it, I really didn't like it. It really didn't work well  and I had been performing a cardinal sin in the world of Feng Shui. Are you ready to hear my sin...my desk faced a wall, oh horrors!   So with the help of my sweet helpful husband I moved the desk where I now have full view of the door. I also look outside onto my pretty little patio which will soon look delightful with my pots of flowers.  (That is after the flower pot fairy shows up) (She has been busy painting and organizing)

It is the next day after my office rearrangement and I am here to tell you it is wonderful. It feels so different! I really feel like I can go out and conquer the world.  Is there something in your home or office that doesn't work well or feel good to you?  I highly suggest you get out of your comfort zone and take a look at what you could do, it's better and cheaper than therapy

Story Time

16 x 12 Oil on Canvas

I thought I would try something different and put a little human on the chair. Not happy with the results, not so much! Back to inanimate objects next time.

Right Move

8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

I had a big discovery in the last couple weeks and it all started with trying to get myself organized.  Let me start at the beginning of the tale.  I'm taking a class from Alyson Stanfield author of a great book every artist should own called I'd Rather Be in the Studio. The name of the class is called Go, Get Organized Now.  Whew, it is quite intense!  One of our assignments was to take all your seperate to do lists and put them all in one spot and Alyson highly recommends using a To Do List on your computer. I'm using the task list that comes with Microsoft Outlook, it  is really groovey, anyhoo...

 My old way of being organized was having seperate lists for the different parts of my life and a big whoppin list stored up in the ole' noggin.   So now my big To Do List is all in one place staring me in the face.  Here's the big discovery--'everything else' came first in my life...before painting. The painting and self promotion was always pushed to the back burner after I got all the other stuff on my To Do List  done.  The really sad part of it all was/is that painting is probably my favorite thing to do and I put it last.  They say awareness is the first part of change. I am so glad I have become aware.  My question to you  is: does your favorite, funest, most enjoyable activity come last?  Hope not.

Flirty Flats

8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

Have you ever had one of those days when you felt like you are just running and running and someone keeps moving the finish line? That is how I felt today and probably the last couple weeks. I have a vision of where I want to go; I feel so far away from it and thus it has left me feeling very frustrated. I spent some time today browsing successful artist's websites and blogs and you know what I found out?  They started out at the start line too, there was a time that they were just beginning and had made their first post.  Who would of thunk it?  It was just the prespective change I needed, it helped me appreciate where I am now and inspired me to keep making those baby steps.  So to get to my imaginary finish line, I will continue to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. 

Wine Time

8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

Well this isn't shoes or doggies or even an interior scene.  What it is suppose to be is a painting of my favorite cocktail.  My friend and fellow art blogger, Kelley MacDonald, invited her fellow art bloggers to a Cocktail Party Challenge.  Her challenge was to paint our favorite cocktail. My first reaction was I don't drink much so there isn't much in the way of cocktail fixing in my house. Then I got an email from my friend Kelley, she was just saying hello and I thought again, well no real fixing at my house, but I do have wine. Boy, before, during, and after painting this glass of wine I could have used a cocktail, it was quite the challenge.  I don't think wine is considered a cocktail so I'm hoping my friend won't throw me out of her challenge-will you Miss Kelley?

Spring Beads

8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

Oh spring has sprung in Texas, thank the Lord! It was 81 degrees the other day, lovely, I even wore sandals. I thought it would be okay if my painting theme for the day was sandals.  Being from Wisconsin I would never even dream of getting the sandals out until at least June 1st, really.  It's the little things in life that make me happy and bright blue skies with warm temps in early March does put a smile on my face.