Santa clause is coming to town

Well I attempted my first portrait.  You can certainly tell it's a first and with no training, but not bad for a self taught first try!  

Silent Night

Tonight's sunset!

I felt very inspired 

Kitty wants to craft!

First bible devotion- Blessings in disguise

I recently bought a new bible that is recommended for artful devotion.  I wanted to share today's.  While reading Psalm 42 on this page, the song blessings was brought to my thoughts. 

 "'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"

The picture represents trials in life or hardships.  In the picture, the person's tears are turned into a water fall bringing a land of beauty and life.  That person can't currently see the blessings, who knows, maybe she never will, but she has to have faith that God is good.

Evening Lake

The painting took many times of redoing to make the front look better.  I love the background though!

Anniversary Gift

I made this painting for my brother and his wife.  My friend Beth did the writing because my handwriting is awful.  (Thanks Bethy!)  I am in love with the cute little female birdy!  Text says, "Near or far, together wherever we are."  A similar version without the writing is available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/listing/465305671/together-or-apart?ref=shop_home_active_5

Autumn wood and hidden field

Not sure where the writing for this post went, but this is available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/listing/240261817/hidden-autumn-field?ref=shop_home_active_10

Bubbling stream

I was really disappointed in this one.  The stream is a little too bright.  It actually looks way better in person.  Got to keep workin!

Update:  I added some blue to the stream.  It looks better, still not my favorite.

Into the Mountains

I took a painting class today online. This was the outcome.  I didn't like it while I was working on it, but now that I am finished and done, this is one of my favorite pieces yet.

This is available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/listing/239551205/midnight-mountain?ref=shop_home_active_9

First Musical Blog- Running Home

For those of you (Hayden) who have been requesting some music, here is a song I wrote last year.  The chords are still a work in progress.  This was also my first time recording anything with my computer so the mic was too close.  I apologize, but just try to keep your sound low.  It seems to help.

I've been trying to put this as a video onto the page, but after two days it wasn't happening, so it is now on youtube.

 I wrote this song last fall when I was in a dark place.  I was struggling with completing my year of teaching while watching my friends move to California or New York in pursuit of incredible dreams.  It was hard watching people chasing their dreams while I felt trapped.  A few months before, some mistakes a friend had made came into light.  She is closer to God now, but I remember her being so scared I would judge her, but that isn't my place.  I struggle enough to tell black and white from gray without having someone else's choices to judge.  This song came from a time when I finally just gave up and gave it all to God.  It's a lot easier when you don't have to worry about writing your own life's story and knowing that "no matter how much we mess up, God will always put us right where he wants up." (Mark Christian)  

Piano buddy

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram you already saw this.  I just couldn't help but repost this cutie.  Since I practice almost everyday, this is our new routine!

Last art class of the year

Well this was probably a month or two ago now, I just hadn't posted it.  I wish I had gotten more classes, but we just never had time.  This is from my final art class.  Clearly, I need to practice more.  I haven't practiced my drawing much lately, but hopefully I can get back into it.  I've been practicing my piano and guitar 30 minutes almost everyday.  I am finding piano much simpler to grasp than finger picking on guitar.  I would like to add drawing and writing to my regiment.  I'll get there eventually!

Important Public Service Announcement

Why was this not taught in school?  For some reason, for years I got confused between the two.  This makes so much sense!  I used this to teach my students this past year and it really helped.  Okay so today's post was not extremely imaginative, but consider it a public service announcement.

Life's Hard Questions

        
  If I were forced to spend the rest of my life in a library, museum, or zoo, I would probably pick the library.  In a museum, not much changes.  Zoo's are fun, but I am sure I would get bored.... or eaten.  Libraries on the other hand, are always full of ever changing adventure.

         All fiction books are written to take you on adventures.  You can go anywhere you dream using a book.  Books can bring relaxation or a sense of adventure.  I am reading a book right now that is just very relaxing.  It is leading me through an average woman's journey through her life.  It isn't very exciting, but books don't always have to be.

         Books create family.  How many of us cry over the deaths of our favorite characters?  Mine was in Harry Potter (spoilers),  When Sirius died.  I sobbed for a good hour.  He was my favorite character.  Finally, Harry had a family, someone to take care of him.  The characters in books are created to mirror human emotions.  I can be sympathetic with what the characters are going though because many times I have gone through the same problems.  At the least I can empathize with their feelings.

       If you really get bored, mystery thrillers will keep you on your toes.  You won't be bored after reading those for a few nights then sleeping in this library.  I am pretty sure all libraries would be spooky at night.  There are just too many places to hide.  That would certainly keep you on your toes!

        I do hope this library has a kitchen though.  Think of all the cookbooks!  I could become the worlds greatest cook!  Gluten free?  No problem, I cooked through 10 of those books a year ago.  On a diet?  Easy, I've read all the books and compiled the facts that were most prominent through out.  In fact, I live in a library!  I have so much time on my hands that I have tested all these theories and created my own.

         Even if I didn't HAVE to live in a library my whole life, I think I could choose to.   I certainly seemed to have convince myself that this would be pretty awesome!  I just hope this library has a piano.

Writing

So far you have seen some of my artwork as I blogged (very slowly) through the new year. I have many pictures that I just haven't added that I need to.  Hopefully, I can add some new writing exercises (also known as short stories) soon.  You may see some of my piano playing and guitar songs added, but we will see!

Coloring Day

Two of my friends gave me a basket full of gifts.  One for each week left in the school year.  This week was a coloring book so I got to color today!

Writing Prompt- Breaking Up With Writer’s Block

It’s time for you and Writer’s Block to part ways. Write a letter breaking up with Writer’s Block, starting out with, “Dear Writer’s Block, it’s not you, it’s me ...”

Dear Writer's Block,

       It's not you, it's me.  Well actually it is you.  Oh my gosh you are so annoying.  All this negativity about me being a bad writer.  I mean a tiny bit of support would be nice!  Everytime I get out a pen, it becomes all about you!  Well I have decided to take back my life.  That's right Writer's block.  We are over!  Take your emptiness and get out.  

Goodbye!

 

My kitty loves to paint!

Picasso type painting

In painting class we studied Picasso.  I wanted to calls this painting From the Sun to the Moon.  It represents opposites.  Hot and cold, happy and mad, sun and moon.  Unfortunately, I should hve switched the hair and face color of the moon! 

Acrylic Painting Trees

My attempt of painting trees using the book.  The weird thing was they had me paint black/ gray.  I think I would have liked it more in green lol

Week 6- Venus on Ice, Mars on Fire

Ok first, no one tell my art teacher I used stick figures!  I know I should hve spent more time on this one.  

Brought to you by the author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.   That is my next read.  This book brings a look at the chemicals and a man and woman's brain when they get stressed. It is an extremely amazing book and I would recommend it to anybody in a relationship or planning on being in the relationship.

Week 5- Gathering Blue

This is the fabulous sequel to The Giver, One of my favorite books.  Gathering Blue includes a different society from the Giver world.  A society devistated by a disaster called the ruin.  It has brought the society back to a survival of the fittest world.  One girl may have the magic to change that.

Antarctic drawings

I am home sick today. I wanted you bring a little happiness into my day, so I decided to draw some cute arctic characters. The first is a cartoon baby Bear, followed by a baby penguin, and lastly is an excitable Norwall.

Super hero drawing class

meet storm. An amazing superhero who can control the weather! Also her little brother mind meld who... well doesn't have any superpowers but thinks he does.

Week 4- Broken Silence

Broken silence was the fourth book that I read for my New Years challenge. It was a great ending to my third book silence, but I would not recommend it for younger audiences. This is clearly written by a girl and is a wonderful chick flick kind of book. The drawing is very rough and very dark. But remember this is only my fourth week.

First drawing class

We had our first drawing class today. We worked on drawing people. Here are two of my best drawings, but I have a long way to go!
-ignore the extra ovals on top of the eyes. 

Week 3- Silence by Natasha Preston

This was an intriguing book.  There are some inappropriate parts, but she is very classy with her writing and nothing is described.  Natasha writes an amazing story hinting details to the truth.  All-in-all I enjoyed this book!

Week 2- The Divine Dance

Shannon Kubiak writes an amazing comparison of life to a stage.  We are all dancers who should be dancing for God, but have gotten lost in the dance for the world.  It's a beautiful read for anyone struggling with family, stress, anxiety,  depression, or life in anyway.

New years resolution week 1

As I work on my drawings this year, my resolution is to read one book a week.  Since New Years was on a Thursday, I needed a quick read.  Here was my first book.