Grandma likes to play

I am so anxious to get the 'store' set up on my web site to show my new Greetings series. Yesterday I put a code on all of the pieces that are web ready, but working on the computer while I am babysitting Leo, my  grandson is impossible. He loves computers and phones and when I am on either one, HE wants to be on it too. So I avoid using those two items while he is with me.

However the one thing I  CAN do, oddly enough is:  Draw and Paint.  My work table is set to face 'out' into the room and for some reason, he is content, perhaps he thinks I am playing, which of course, in a way I am!

So for this week while both  5 yr. old Lucy and  2.5 yr. old Leo are home  because of a week long school
break,  I will be in 'Grandma mode' sneaking in a little 'playing' along the way.

Something NEW is coming!

Been gone from my blog about a year, long story. Suffice it to say, "Life got in the way."  Everything is good now, change is coming.

I am so excited about my new art style. I am not doing away with the old,  just making room for the new. I am about to launch  a stationery line. No worries, who writes letters anymore?  But.....people DO send cards and notes and gift enclosures, and mine are so neat.

I will attach a sneak preview here and soon I will have a store front on my web page as well as one on Etsy.

You can easily keep in touch with me via Twitter and Face book.

Be back soon!

How to sell your art on the streets of NY

Coming from the Midwest, selling my art for a day or two, meant selling at an Outdoor Art Festival.   This is a big deal. There is a jury process, you have to apply months in advance and the entry fee is usually $100. or upward.  Once you have  been accepted and made this investment and commitment, 'no show' is not an option.  Rain, heat, wind are not factors. The upside is that these Festival's draw huge crowds and the public is ready to buy.

This is my second summer in NY and I assumed the same rules applied here, yet it did seem odd that the street vendors were everywhere, selling anything. After doing some investigating, I have learned  the unique system that NYC has.

Any artist with the desire can set up a table and start to sell, for free.  No obligation.

There are a few rules, but I feel safe by joining other artists at busy locations. They tell me what I need to know, like: don't tack any signs to a tree (stuff like that)  Hmmmm

First and foremost, you must get a Temporary certificate of authority. (sell tax license) It is free but allow 4 to 6 weeks to get it. This certificate MUST be with you when you are selling.

The BEST part?

When it is 94 degrees with 100% humidity you can stay home!  Now what city would ever have THAT kind of weather for 21 days in a row?  I'm just sayin........

Let my designs entertain you.

I have been working on some large abstracts. The designs are compositions of shapes in my head. I call them ‘Continuous designs’, one shape connecting to another visually, yet not a puzzle.

 The small sketches are great, but once enlarged , the adventure begins: The placement of color and texture; and then I see that there obviously needs to be more. Perhaps once the colors are in place the rest will be obvious. Well, yes, but not until many color decisions are removed and added and removed yet again.

I finished this piece late last eve and on last glance, with a frustrated sigh, I knew I was not done. As I drifted off to sleep I asked for help as I often do from God or my Angel or my loving Guides who are now on the other side, maybe my Mom and Dad. (I ask in general from whoever has the time and desire.) Perhaps I just have one ‘Art Guide', If so, I think it is my Dad. 

Upon arising and while the coffee drips I see what needs to be done. Maybe not  all that needs to be done, but a start.

Once the piece is done, I find great enjoyment in it.

 I often think my continuous designs should be on display in Doctor's exam rooms. While sitting on that exam table waiting for the doctor to present himself,  trying to hold that little white sheet around your body, I think it would be entertaining to explore the movements of these shapes rather than think about how cold your feet are.

I will be showing more of these designs in posts to come :  soon!

New York City and its people

I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art last Sunday. I took advantage of the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping in their wonderful gift shop.

While waiting for the train back to Brooklyn, a dark green train pulled in (not the usual silver with large windows) There were 2 conductors on it , one came out on the platform to shout out the next stop. ( I had never seen THAT before)  But more unusual were the people who jumped off the train laughing and smiling with camera's in their hands  turning around to take pictures of the train. Then people like me who were waiting for the train, took out their camera's and took pictures .When the train pulled away everyone had smiles on their faces. They all knew something that I didn't.

When I settled in on the train I had been waiting for, I asked a young man next to me what that was all about. He told me that that train was over 50 years old . At Christmas time they get a few out and make short runs just for the fun of it.

That sounds like a small town event to me,certainly not  my image of New York City.

 That young man and I had a great conversation all the way home. Back in Iowa, I would have gotten into my car and driven home all alone.

One of the really good things about this city is the people!

So THIS is Joy!

Last week I was trying to decipher the difference between 'happiness' and 'joy'.

This morning  I was reading  'God calling' ( a daily reading),  As I was closing the book I checked my calendar and discovered that I had read the wrong passage for this day.  I reopened the book to  today's date of Dec.16th and read the title: 'What is joy?'  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

Here is God's explanation of JOY,  from the book,'God Calling'.
 
JOY is the reward of patiently seeing Me in the dull dark days, of trusting when you cannot see.
JOY is as it were your heart's reponse to My smile of recognition of your faithfulness.

Here are some more from other passages in the book:

"The foundation of Happiness is the complete surrender of every moment to God.
The superstructure of Happiness it the JOY of communion with Him."

"Nothing in the day is too small to be part of My scheme. The little stones in a mosaic play a big part. JOY is the cement that  secures the Harmony and Beauty in my mosaic."

So there!  I couldn't have said it better myself!

This is the third from my Fruit of the spirit series.

Peace, now that is a good word. That is something we can do something about!

I know it isn't easy, but if you want peace in your life, get out of  un-peaceful situations.

Do what you have to do. Set boundaries, avoid 'toxic' relationships, attend AlAnon meetings, move out, leave, walk away, pray, pray, pray!

Everyone's home should be their retreat, their haven, a place of peace.  If it isn't, change something. Life is too short not to.

Opps!!  I have to go now, I am falling....... falling...... falling...... off  my             soap box.

Let's talk about JOY

Here is the second painting from my Fruit of the spirit series.

I love this word. It is different from 'Happy.' Happy is a temporary short lived feeling. JOY is deep, a sense of well being, a word of hope and faith. The angel said "I bring you tidings of great JOY! "

I am trying to think of Joyful times in my life. Certainly not when I was out with the girls laughing and having a good time. That would be a happy time. Joyful is more real, like the birth of a child.

This is harder than I thought. I must think on this a bit. If anyone is reading this, I would love to have a conversation about this word, Joy.

Anyway, I am really 'happy' that I painted this series, it makes my feel 'joyful'

Check back for the third in this series.

Fruits of the Spirit

These past 5 months since moving to Brooklyn I have been creating some new works. I love working with oil pastel and acrylics, yet watercolor with pen and ink detail is what I have been doing. I don't really have an explanation other than after I finish a piece I move right on to the next. I find them very interesting, the detail adds a richness to each piece.



I have been working in series, the first series I will be posting is from the Bible. In Galatians, Paul lists the fruits of the spirit. There are 12 but I have completed 3. The first one is Love. The final result wasn't at all what I was aiming for and I was not pleased with it. But, as often happens, it has grown on me and now I can sincerely say that I am proud of it.



The three together (Love, Joy and Peace) make quite a statement on a wall, I know because the originals are framed hanging on mine. To see the other two, continue to check in.



That's it for today.

Time to RETHINK a few things

I have been in Brooklyn for 3 months now. I intended to journal about a Midwesterner's view of the big city. Actually, I have been so preoccupied with this new life style that I feel sort of like a 'New Yorker" already, so I hope I can still write about the new experiences.

First of all, my apologizes go out to ANYONE who may have read my blog entitled, 'Take time for yourself ' dated April 26 '09. A great reminder to myself that you should never preach or tell others what they 'should' do. (Thank you God for the reminder to be humble.)

In that post I said that everyone can take the 1st hr of each day for themselves. Well how about that young mother who needs to get the kids ready for the sitter or for school and still have time for her teeth and hair and hopefully a piece of toast, at least before leaving for work herself ? Sure, she could get up early for that precious 'one hour alone time', but is that wise after only 6 hrs of sleep?

I WAS that mother, how could I have forgotten! Shame on me.

I have a new 'role' in life. I have become a housewife. I have always wanted to be a housewife, but I was that young mother I just talked about instead. Now for the first time in my life I am staying home with the kids. I prepare supper on Mon and Wed. evenings for a a very appreciated son and daughter-in-law. I do the laundry.( the washer and dryer are on my floor and it only makes sense since I am home all day. Besides, I like sorting colors and folding fresh warm clothes. It is civil, it is organized,) I do not have to go to work. I love it. I also love 6:00 P.M. when the kids go back to their home and I am once again a single retired lady. If the kids are crying upstairs, I get to ignore it. I can sleep in on Sat mornings and do anything I desire on Saturdays and Sundays.

About that April post: I said that I did most of my thinking when I walking my dog, Sammie. Well, that was true then, but now the scene has changed a little. Picture this: My sweet little 2 month old Leo is on a harness type thing attached to my tummy (someone out there knows what they are called, but I don't...they do work great no matter what they are called.) O.K. back to the description. Baby is on my tummy, Lucy is either in the stroller, or on her scooter next to me and Sammie (the dog) is on his leash. Sammie wants to smell everything and Lucy wants to keep moving. Streets are tricky. Yes, I am still thinking; but this time is about survival.

I am back to blogging and it feels good.