Remember that you have only one soul, that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one Glory, which is eternal.  If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.

 I can not belive the end of this year is upon us.  Much to fast for all the paintings I wanted to paint.  There were so many blessings this year, one of them was joining the Lodi Community Art Center.  I meet so many beautiful, creative people.  I got a part time job this summer and my Father has recovered from his stroke!  I can't wait for all the blessings that the new year will bring!
This was a painting that I painted over the summer.  It took me four months to finish, Alot longer than I hoped.  But at the end I was happy with it and it went to a very good home.

To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage.

Georgia O'Keeffe

I have been working on this painting of my sister's and I for the last six months.  The plan was I would finish before Christmas.  I have not been painting it for six months, It has been sitting waiting for me for six months.  

Today is my day off from work so, I took my parents out for breakfast.  Spending time with my parents has been on my to do list for the last few months.  I am so greatful to have them so close. I will finish the painting very soon.

Beauty is'nt about having a pretty face.  It's about having a pretty mind, pretty heart, and a pretty soul.

As we are coming to the end of this year. Im thinking there were so many things I did not do.  There are so many ideas in my head and so little time.  The best part about my year is that I made time for friends and family.  I did say "yes" to every invitation and I had a great time.  The challenge for the coming year will be to continue what I'm doing plus add all the things on my list that I want to do.

This painting I have shared with you before except a little different.  I painted the background a different color.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I ended up where I needed to be.

Douglas Adams.

I can't believe this year is almost over!  I still have so much on my to do list.  I did  not have a chance to do.
 My father had a stroke this summer and the doctor said if my father was to wake up from his coma we would probably never see the father we remembered.  Well, my father woke up and the doctor was right, he is not the same person.  I think he is better!  I realized this journey we are on is all about the time we spend with our loved ones. Since my father came home from the hospital I go see him everyday.  There is something so special about my father and I am so grateful he was given a little more time so we can spent together.

I still find each day 

too short for all

 the thoughts I

want to think, all 

the walks I want to

 take, all the books 

I want to read, and 

all the friends I 

want to see. 

John Burrough

This is another one of my florals. 

 It's 20x20 acrylic on canvas. 

I have been painting everyday.  It's what I have been trying to do for a while.

I paint before work, I paint after work.  I paint all weekend long then,  I make jewlery, I clean the house, wash clothes, pickup my daughter from school all that.  I visit with my parents everyday even if it's just for a little while. Never enough time for everything I want to squeeze into my day. But last weekend I spent some time with my friend Clare.  I must admit I had a hard time letting my mind go and relax especially with inspiration everywhere.  But I had a great time with an old friend.  Thanks Clare, I needed that!

You must do the things you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

On September 5th I had my first Art Exhibit! 

 I am beyond excited where I am in my life right now.  I painted all summer and showed a few pieces.  I have many unfinished pieces that I am working on.  I had a huge turn out.  Met many  new beautiful people that came to see my art.  

My daughter Stephanie just finished baking school.  Just in time!  They tasted amazing!

This is one of my pieces I showed that evening.  I had more pieces than space on the wall so I used table easles to display the rest.

"Anything is possible with a little sunshine and a little pink."

Lilly Pulitzer

Pink flower series

I have been teaching art classes for children for many years and this is one of my favorite lessons.  It's so much fun to teach and the children's paintings always look better than mine!

 I started out by covering the background with a solid color.

 I used a chalk to outline the design.

 Paint the vase any color desired.

 Mixed my pretty pinks for my flowers.

Added greens for the leaves.  You can add a backgournd color or leave it just like this.

This world is but a canvas to our imagination.

Henry David Thoreau

House on the left

I started out with an idea, sketched it out.

 Then painted with a pallet knife to give it texture.

filled the whole canvas with color using the knife.

The last step I washed with india Ink.

The difference between who you are and who you want to be... is what you do.Unknown

I really never know what my painting is going to end like.  I usually start with an idea.  I somewhat sketch  it out.  

Then just go for it.

But wait the bigger "longer part other hair was going to be on the other side!  Oh, well.I really don't know why I sketch at all!

This is Chloe, she is a 20"x 20" acrylic on canvas.  I'm just having fun with paints.

I paint because it brings me joy.

There are always Flowers for those that want to see them.

This is an abstract I just finished.  I thought I was done when it only had four red spots then, I went crazy and added more.  It is what it is.

We can't all be princesses, Someone has to clap when I go by.

 This is a painting I painted earlier this year.  It was later displayed at the Lodi Art gallery for all to enjoy.

"Do more of what makes you happy"

I don't know who wrote that but, it totally makes sense.

I have been teaching painting classes for a year and a half.  Because of the work schedule I had I could only teach these classes once a month.  I will be starting after school classes next month.  Totally make me happy to be able to teach children and adults as well to get their inner artist out.

 Today we started by covering the canvas board with a background color.  The vases were done in any shape desired.  We used a limited pallet. Blues, browns,and yellows. We added a table.

 We then painted the brown centers and added the petals.  The brushes were not cleaned between colors so the brown and yellow colors blended nicely. 

They all did such a great job!Tomorrow we paint pairs, and that is my favorite fruit to paint.

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you : I am here to live out loud."

Emile Zola

Last year I painted a picture of my three sisters and I

and I want to paint another one of us. But, instead I painted a picture of a family and now it inspired me to paint a painting of my family!

So, now that I finished I can start with my family.

"The only person you should try to be better than....is the person you were yesterday."

This is an old painting, it's titled "pink". The girl with pink hair.  She is one of the first faces I painted since I started painting again.  I can see the difference between then and how I paint now. I still have so far to go.

 I am working on balancing my day between jewelry and painting and cleaning and cooking... and spending time with friends and family.  Oh, and planning lessons and teaching.  I know I will figure it out and I will let you know how that is working out.

It's a beautiful day

This is my story.  

When I was growing up my father with a third grade education and a field worker invested in real estate.

My parents owned 27 rentals. At 16 I was the bookkeeper. I always wanted to follow in my fathers footsteps.  But, God had other plans for me.  I got married to someone who did not share the same dreams and having tenants and fixing rentals was not something he wanted to do with me.  So we bought our starter home with a cottage in the back and twenty-six years later we are still in our starter home.

We live in this cozy three bedroom home with one bathroom and one television.

I am sure my kids will have many stories to share with their children of the tiny quarters they lived in.

We rented the cottage for many years and after we lost our tenants last year, we decided to keep the cottage and turn it into my studio!  

It's a huge project but, I will be able to paint and make jewelry without having to pick-up and put away!

I am so happy my husband is a big supported of my new dreams.

"This world is but a canvas to our imagination"

Henri David Thoreau

Summer Classes Schedule for Canvas Painting

Canvas painting class has been a joy.  At the end of class students have a beautiful painting.

Here is a sample from past classes.

 Sunflower class

In this class students learned about the sunflower and every sunflower was their own creation.

Pumpkin class

In  this class students learned blending techniques and created beautiful pumpkins.

Tree class.  

In this class the students learned different techniques which they can use when creating other paintings.

A work of Art is above all an adventure of the mind.
Eugene Lonesco

Giraffes Painting Class

I have a cute little six year old artist in my class.  

She amazes me.

 So, we put our pictures together and I took a picture.  One was painted by me and one by a six year old!

A New Beginning

I did not mean to be gone so long.

I lost my job in November, And I must tell I went through something I had never experienced before. I stayed in bed and hid from the world.  One Sunday I went to Mass and tried to get out without being noticed but, someone saw me and called out to me. So I stopped said "hello" and she asked If I could possibly  help out at the school with a mosaic project in January.  I said, yes.  I felt a happiness and could not wait to do that. I helped that day and again.  It brought "Life" back into my Life.

So, I started painting.  I have joined the local Art Center and "Lola" is showing there. I also entered two other paintings into a juried Art Show and they both made it in!  I am busy painting. Next month will be a busy month for the Gallery so I'm trying to finish up as much as I can.

I will post later everything I have been working on.