daily inspiration :: week no.1
| March 5, 2012 | Posted by nancy under LIFE, PHOTO |
I was reminded of a photography series I participated in a few years back called six one way. Each week I collected photos of my daily life and shared three in the Flickr group. I came across those photos and loved seeing bits of our life back then.
Life changes so quickly for a young family and I was inspired to start up my own little photography series called d a i l y inspiration, a look into my inspired life with gratitude mixed in. I have wanted to share more daily life photos lately, but just haven’t made the time to do it. I think this format will help with that.
If you are interested in joining me, just add a link to your photos or post in the comments.
Edit: There is now a group on Flickr for sharing daily inspiration photos. Join me there if you like.
blooming trees
life on the pond
new neighbors moving in
painting progress
| March 4, 2012 | Posted by nancy under CREATE |
I’m heading into the last week of my class with Flora Bowley and this is the progress of my paintings since I last posted. Last week I worked on areas of the paintings that I liked. It could have been colors, shapes, imagery, or a certain mark.
I decided to add new imagery to the first canvas and work with the colors green, blue and purple.
You can’t see it, but there was a triangular shape on the second canvas that I liked and decided to repeat it and I added some new imagery. On the third canvas, I loved the colors in the wing shapes and decided to create a fairy.
Something about creating without knowing what the end result will be is freeing. It’s scary and frustrating as well.
I have experienced all kinds of emotions so far, but this class is teaching me to just try it and not get caught up in the how or what, but in the process.
It’s just paint after all, not rocket science.
Canvas no. 1
Canvas no. 2
Canvas no. 3
blooming with flora
| February 20, 2012 | Posted by nancy under CREATE, STUDIO |
I’m taking Flora Bowley’s: Bloom True e-course where she shares the techniques she uses in her unique style of painting. I have never painted this way before and am loving every minute of the process. The course is 5 weeks long and includes video demonstrations 2 times per week and other activities in between. The pace is slow and giving me the chance to be patient, which is something I’m horrible at.
The photo of the canvas above was taken after 3 layers of paint or 3 painting sessions and drying time between each.
This is the same canvas after adding black and white for value contrast or the 4th layer.
Here is a photo of my second canvas and it is also at the 3rd layer where I alternated warm and cool colors.
Here is the second canvas with the addition of white and black as well.
There is a focus on variation, play and going with the flow so to speak. It is a refreshing way to approach painting. Since I have yet to overcome my fear of perfectionism and doubt when it comes to making art.
Today marked the beginning of week three. I am excited to see where this course takes me and how my paintings will transform.
LEGO village tour
| January 19, 2012 | Posted by nancy under LEARN |
Here’s a peek into The Lego room in it’s current state. When I first shared this room with you it was all organized and sparkly. Since then,we’ve added another table for building and setting up the towns the kids love to play and imagine with. They trade, buy, grow food, sell beer at the tavern, shop at Erin’s lighthouse boutique and lots of other things kids dream up.
It’s their own magical world that is so very real to them. I love that they play and learn this way and they have a space to do it. I don’t think this room will be anything else but The Lego room even though I am known to rearrange and change rooms on a whim. I’m not sure I would have a choice and I don’t think I’d want to.
More photos can be found here.
lego mini-fig
| January 16, 2012 | Posted by nancy under CREATE |
We still have a room dedicated to Lego storage and building. Some days I might find one boy in there playing quietly or singing to himself while building. On others, it can hold a large group, including friends and cousins, playing with the Lego village they’ve built and acting out their own scenarios. I’m going to share more on that once I get some photos of their town.
The lego room now has a proper entrance with it’s own hand-painted mini-figure above the doorway. I actually took one of the canvases from this last painting e-course and painted this cute dude over it. I was not super happy with how the original painting turned out and wanted to put the techniques I learned from the course to the test. I really enjoyed painting this guy and love the background and depth I was able to create. I could have done a better job on the proportions of the eyes and mouth. Which according to the members of this household, including the 5 year old “his eyes and mouth are too small.” Really? Everyone’s a critic. At least they are gaining an eye for design.
Click here to see a video of the painting progression from the wash to the final.
