Six more weeks

Oh boy, I'm neglecting this blog so bad! I was laid off late last year and started a new position early January so I've been making art and just posting on Instagram. I just got this blogspot app so hopefully it will make posting much more easy! I'm off today so I thought I'd try this out and make a blog post today. I'll be surprised if I get any comments as I'm sure I've lost a lot of followers due to my neglect! But today is a new day! :))

I got a pot of daffodils at Trader Joes and thought I'd try this on a journal page.  Going across the fold seemed easier and I need to use more of my journal space! I noticed that many of books have blank left hand pages! 

I like to use my phone's camera to check my values. It's a tool I use a lot! Gosh what did I do all those years ago?! LOL!

I painted in most of the page but it looked boring to me

So I added some more color throughout and around the edges, etc... this is what I ended up with-

I am pleased with this and tried not to overwork the paper around the pot. For me I'll go crazy with the shadows and creases and it'll take away from the simplicity of the flowers. And I really TRY not to overwork flowers. The paper in this journal is good quality drawing paper but def not watercolor paper so there aren't too many layers you can paint before the paper starts to degrade. Here are some other things I've been noodling around with, the past week or so. The weather is a recurring theme... LOL-

Have an awesome day! Hope it's warm where you are because it's coooold and windy here in NY!

Art on Saturday

We were snowbound today (I'm putting it lightly).  I would say we got about 4-5 inches, so enough to pretend:) I baked, painted, watched THREE movies and generally lolled about. I just got finished walking the dog and I have to say its so refreshing outside! I love the first 24 hours or so after snowfall. Its exquisitely pristine out there! Everything will go grey soon but for now it's perfection.  

In Nov'09, we moved back to NY after living in Florida for 6 years. The weather there was glorious for the most part but I sure did miss the seasons the first few years down there. But I did eventually get used to it and so much so that if it dipped below 80 I was looking for a sweater. No kidding!

Having been back I must say that I really cherish the changes of the season and enjoy all the little things that come along with that. I totally enjoy how much my son loves the cold weather. I hope I never take the changes of the seasons for granted again. I guess once a northerner, always a northerner. At least for me, that is!

I started a meditation routine this week. I used to do it every evening for a year or so but that ended in Florida. I've decided I really need it and was going to stop procrastinating! I'm not making any fuss at all. That's what trips me up and keeps me stalling. 'Oh, I have to have this and I have to have that. I need a cushion, what if I get cold? I'll need a light blanket. I don't have a bell, where's my mat..' you get the idea, I could go on and on. So I just sat down on the sofa, put my hands on my knees and just meditated for 15 minutes. It was fantastic! I did it every morning and I have got to tell you that I am calmer. Not entirely , for sure but it has actually made me stop and consider two or three times through the week, related to my temper. That is a HUGE improvement and happened to take me by surprise. I am a complete and total seat-of- my- pants gal, particularly with my moods and feelings. So I am grateful for that today. Namaste ;)