So Cute!

Once agan - nothing really to do with my art or painting - but what an editing job!! Too cute to pass up - enjoy! This is an ad for Evian water.



or view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSqMpNnqAWA



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Digital Painting

Lynn's Orange Flowers
Digital painting about 6" x 4"

Thank you Skip, Lynn, Christy, and Jerry - for the absolutely beautiful flowers. When I say I am enjoying them - I really mean it. The flowers you sent are GORGEOUS - the colors are astounding and perfect and I wish I could keep them forever. I can't - so this is my second best option. Looking at the colors of these flowers is almost medicinal - it's like getting a shot of some kind of wonderful, energizing, happiness drug. Thank you.


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Elephant Painting

Tonight we met Mark Fangue, the man who actually took this video. The people (Kim and Bruce) we have purchased some of our furniture from in the past recently bought the store they worked at (in San Marcos on furniture row) and it is now called Sacred Space Imports. They will be carrying items from Exotic World Imports and tonight was their opening reception. It is a very cool store to visit if you get a chance. But this video I was not ready for. I knew there was going to be something about elephant painting - I expected a bunch of abstract, smeary colors. I did NOT expect this! Astonishing - amazing - incredible.



If you can't see this in your email - go to my blog by clicking here - or by clicking on the title of this message - it is so worth watching.

You can see more elephant paintings on their web site Exotic World Gifts. The elephant that does this painting is very special. Her name is Hong and she is about 8 years old. It took about 6 months to teach her to paint by rewarding her with sugar cane and bananas. I think he said there are about 8 elephants at this camp that paint. The rest of them just try to eat the paint brushes and have no interest at all. Before she painted Hong would draw in the dirt with a stick and that is what gave them the idea to see if she would paint. Watch how she retraces some of her lines with incredible exactness. She is so sure of her marks. Amazing. There is an attendant that dips the paint brush in the paint and hands it to her. Also the paint brushes have been adapted with a "t" handle so she can grip it and control it better. Hong is the only elephant to paint pictures of other elephants. He also said that the elephants will only paint when they are very calm.
Enjoy!








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Too Cute!

My brother sent this to me and it is just too cute not to share! If you don't see it in your email be sure to visit my blog to check this one out!



Did you watch those hand gestures and eye contact? Don't you wish you knew what she is trying to communicate? It seems to be rather serious business!


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A Little time in the Studio

Well, I disappointed myself today. I have been working hard at my friends house and have been absolutely bone tired. Progress is being made. Her walls are painted, the floor is in and my handyman has started on the built-ins. There is still quite a bit of trim work and details to take care of, and a lot of organization, but it is shaping up beautifully and I sure appreciate the extra income.It makes me happy to see her so happy with everything too. Today I had the day off and I had planned to spend time in the studio painting. So I wasted some time playing computer games, then went to the studio and there sat a big box in the middle of the room. Oh yeah - I have been so busy and distracted I forgot I even ordered the drying rack that I had been wanting for so long. I spent time assembling the drying rack instead of painting. Technically I worked in the studio, right? But I am bummed I didn't paint. Putting together the rack wasn't difficult - but I have to say that the instructions were among the worst I've ever seen. Very confusing, incomplete and time consuming. I also learned an extremely important lesson - I must remember to put paintings in from the bottom up, as I found out by fooling around with dry paintings that they slide off those racks faster then I can blink if I don't watch it! I have been out of the studio for too long - I felt fear and intimidation hovering around me. That old fear of the blank canvas - Oh no! I will no be having that!


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Checking In for Just a Minute

I can see the end of my painting job nearing, and then back into the studio. I am really feeling the loss of my painting and studio time and looking forward to returning.

I have been bone tired - so exhausted about all I can do is sit and stare at the TV for a little bit and go to bed. Thank goodness for my wonderful husband who never complains, and just picks up the slack, brings me dinner and continually encourages me. I am so blessed.

In the meantime check out the following links from one the blogs I follow called
Cre8it Whatever... Whenever blog http://web.me.com/jwesolek/cre8it/Blog/Blog.

The first is a hand made book show - very cool
Santa Fe Book Arts Guild
http://www.santafebag.org/2009rotundasubmissions.html

And then go see what some people can sculpt with just one sheet of paper - amazing.
See what can be done with one sheet of paper http://www.santafebag.org/exhibitsandopportunities.html

Thanks for hanging in there with me - I will be painting again very soon. I am so eager to get back to and finish the Joyful Project as well as get started on the portrait wall in my banos de los muertos - which I do not think I have told you about.

Talk to you again soon.



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A Quick Update

It is amazing how fast things can change. There I was going along painting nearly every day, having a good ol' time and wham - everything spins out of control!

I am still working for my friend. I got her office area painted, and now onto the hallways. I really enjoy doing it - but my goodness it is tiring. I appreciate the extra money - I was able to purchase a drying rack for my studio. Something I have wanted for a very long time but I have been too tired to get it out of the box and set it up yet, let alone paint anything to dry on it! LOL.

My daughter found a new apartment and needed help moving over the weekend so the family gathered together and went up on Saturday, packed her up and moved her from L.A to Pasadena. Thank you Lord for my wonderful son in law. What a wonderful help, and such a generous, giving, loving attitude too.

Oh my gosh what a cute little - and I do mean little! place she has found. It is a 12' x 17' studio apartment with a private little patio and itty-bitty garden space, a tiny little kitchenette and a bathroom. TINY!! But no more coo-ca-ra-cha taco trucks, or bell ringing bicyclists selling pork rinds and horchata, but especially no more gangsta's hiding on her car port roof and no more police helicopters with spot lights flying over every night. Her commute to work will go from an hour on the freeway to about 10 minutes by bike...and it is a safe enough area that she can actually go out and jog in the evening, and she can walk to anything she needs if she wants to. Old - but so pretty. It really feels like a vacation cottage. There wasn't any place to park the Uhaul - except on the street and down a ways, so everything had to carried. I think every muscle in my body hates me right now. I ended up staying 2 extra unplanned nights to help with the last few loads in my 4 runner and to help her unpack a bit.

It's great to have family when you need a hand. I grabbed a few pictures of her new place -


This is her entrance to the complex - there are several entrances - but this is the main one


There are a lot of old trees - this twisty old guy is just to the right of her entrance gate



View once you step inside the gate. She lives in the unit under the 2 red chairs and behind the fountain. It is just covered in jasmine - the fragrance is wonderful

We went to The Corner Bakery to grab some lunch and I thought this picture just captured the ambiance of the neighborhood. I love the jacaranda trees in bloom.

This is right outside her apartment and adds such a pleasant sound of water

Thanks for hanging in there with me through all of this. I know I haven't responded to your comments and I feel rude and am behind in absolutely everything. But I want you to know that I appreciate your comments - and they keep me going. Actually - knowing that you guys are out there and bothering to look at my blog keeps me going. I will be setting aside at least one day a week to paint pretty soon - as I am beginning to feel the loss of the creativity. I already know July will be a lost month too, as I will be returning to Toledo for a week or 10 days again.

I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.







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I am back -

I am back from my visit to Ohio to see my Mom. It is really causing me to rethink a lot of things - but I can' t really share much as I am a very slow processor. I am still thinking things through and trying to put feelings into words. That is a hard thing for me. Until I get back to painting I have to share this video with you. It is little baby sleeping piglets reacting to sound. So cute and funny - I just have to share. I am eager to get back to the studio and get back to painting again - hopefully soon too. It's good to be back - enjoy.



or go here to see the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIWf_hc1_TM

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A Post from Nathalie

I have not been painting - obviously, or you would see paintings here. I am heading back to Toledo for 10 days to 2 weeks to see my Mom, and do some work on the house. I haven't seen her in 2 years or so - maybe a little more. I am eager to get back to the Joyful Project, and I will be back - but it may be a few more weeks. I also hope to go back to my regular traditional portrait class again soon. I like the structure, discipline and fellowship of that class. While I have benefited and enjoyed my break from that class, I am missing it now. In the meantime Dominique Eichi, a wonderful artist (whom I have yet to meet in person) had the following video on her blog. It moved me so much, I just have to share it with you. You can find out more and see more videos HERE
The basic concept is these guys recorded street musicians from all over the world and put it together. Beautiful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did - do. I love this-









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Joyful Project Painting

#10
5" x 7"
Acrylic on paper

Yes I painted this a little while back - with the others. I am really dropping the ball I guess, but I am working very hard, earning a few buck and then I can buy some new canvases to paint on - yay! I will be busy completing the work at my friends house - we are making great progress, it is a big, big job. Then we have guest from out of town, then off to Ohio for a week or so to see my mother - who I have not seen in 2 years. Lot's going on right now.
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New Painting - #9 in Joyful Project

#9 Joyful-Joyful Project
5" x 7"
acrylic on paper

...another less than stellar photo because of the reflective nature of the interference color. The central white area has a warmer yellowish tone in real life.. I will try to reshoot these later. I have a temporary part time job helping a friend organize her house and studio and then paint the rooms, so I may not be posting for a while. But hang in there - I will be back soon and be checking in.
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New Painting

#8 in Joyful Project
8" x 5"
Acrylic on Paper

We had a really nice Easter, and hope you did too. It's good to get back to painting. I feel like I have been spinning my wheels - not getting anywhere and having trouble focusing. Working on the garden, and still working on my website. I started reorganizing all of my photos on my computer and got interrupted so many times that now I can't find where I filed half of them. Seems like I have taken steps backward instead of forward. Well, I have several paintings from today and some in progress. They are all small, but I put so much thought into them that they take almost as long as if I were painting large. Then I feel guilty for painting so small - even though I like painting small - I seem to think I should be painting large. Ugh - I am driving myself nuts! Then I look at them and think - what the heck? I am not sure if I like these or not - or if it is just this restless place I am in right now. The colors seem more garish than joyful...again. I think I will go sit in a chair and stare into space. I have been pretty good a that these past few days. Geesh, I just re-read my last few posts and I see I have been a real downer for a while now. Yuck, that has gotta change! Until tomorrow...another shot of San Diego springtime.




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Happy Easter

Just wanted to say Happy Easter everyone! This is an older painting from a while back - seems rather Easter-ish.

I am taking a few days off to spend with the family - y'all enjoy your family time too.

Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday, and Happy Passover to my Jewish friends - "see ya" next week.


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New Painting - Untitled 7

Untitled 7
Joyful-Joyful Project
7" x 7"
acrylic on paper

This painting is my favorite of the four - at least it is today. Here is another taste of San Diego Springtime. My wonderful husband drove me on and off the freeway trying to get around to all of the ramps so I could take pictures. Truth is - he loves this interchange too and was his idea to go drive by it.


I have a couple of videos on my "Genius" blog that are worth taking a look at. One of them is Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid explaining our voluntary taxes that will leave you laughing, or crying - or just plain speechless -

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New Painting - Untitled 6

Untitled 6
Joyful-Joyful Project
7" x 7"
Acrylic on paper

Here is another that I painted ahead. I really like this one too. Boy, am I glad I did paint ahead too. I seem to be having a hard time getting a grip and getting things done! I am very, very eager to get back in the studio - but I also have to get the garden - which I have completely neglected - built up, planted and growing again. We have been enjoying fresh from the garden salad but I never replanted and now we are all out. We are expanding our garden space too. Building raised bed frames and tucking them in where ever we can find a little sun - which is not a very easy task since we "live in a hole." I am putting my name on the waiting list for the few community gardens around here - but they are all a 2-3 year wait!

I don't even really want to bring up the web site - I am on the verge of hiring someone! I got all my photos together and then spent hours saving them for the web - or so I thought! I did something very wrong becasue now they are so blurry you can't even make out what some of them are! I will get it - it just takes so darn much time - even though I love learning - once again this seem s like an unreasonabley huge learning curve. This is truly a love/hate project - today the hate is winning!

Oh - and I wanted to share some San Diego spring time with you. Every year there is an expressway interchange that is unbelievably gorgeous! The ice plant is so brilliant it almost hurts your eyes. So enjoy - I will just post one of these each day this week I think.




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New Painting - Untitled 5

Untitled 5
Joyful-Joyful Project
7" x 7"
Acyclic/Collage on paper



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New Painting - Untitled 4

Untitled 4 (Joyful Project)
7" x 7"
Acrylic on paper

I have painted ahead a little bit today - I have about 4 done or nearly done in this same "family." I am getting closer....; D Yay. The colors aren't quite what I want - still a little harsh. I think there has to be a balance between bright and intense and soft and light. The energy I want is pretty much there. I haven't found it yet - but I confess I am finally having a great time doing these now and they are getting easier in a way - "freer" maybe, or not quite so stressful - oh heck - I don't know the exact right words - maybe "funner" is it.
Hopefully working ahead a bit will allow me a little extra time to work on my web site - that thing is a mess! and I have let it slide for way too long.

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Daily Painting - Untitled 3

Untitled 3 (Joyful-Joyful Project)
8" x 10"
mixed media/acrylic on paper

I am really questioning my good sense tonight - this is a HORRIBLE photo of this painting. "The Dog Stealer" got home from about 10 days of travel today, and I burned up all the daylight hanging out with him. I did this painting early this morning before he got home and I promised myself I'd get it posted today, so I used my flash (horrors!) to take this and get it posted. I will re-shoot and replace it later. So I kept my promised to myself, and that is good I guess. It also does help me to "see" my paintings in a different light - and now I am not so sure this is finished. But I do have to say it is a bit closer to that "Joyful" thing I am going for.

Today - 4/1/09 - I replaced the really horrible photo with the better one. I don't know if this will republish and be sent out or not - we will see.


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Today's Painting

Untitled (Joyful Joyful Project)
8" x 10"
mixed media/acrylic on paper

Here is another in the Joyful Project. I guess I can stop saying that as that is pretty much all I am working on now. While I like this piece, and in general I mostly like the abstract work I have been making - it is still not anywhere near what I want it to be. I am trying to express a feeling - that is pretty personal, and when I look at these I do not see what I am trying to express. I will not be happy or feel successful until I get much closer. One of my biggest barriers is that I am not an emotional person. I am definitively a joyful person, just not emotionally expressive - so working on a painting project which is all about expressing a feeling is a difficult challenge. There seems to be a huge gap and disconnect between my head/intellect and my emotions. These painting are one thing in my head and when I start applying paint they become something entirely different. On one level that is OK - great in fact - but on another level it is very frustrating.


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Painting again

Untitled Joy
10" x 8"
mixed media/acrylic on paper

Here is another in my Joyful-Joyful Project. Again, I am not sure if this is the final format - I am still flipping it around and upside down and studying it. Right now I am leaning toward this format, also I am waiting until I feel the Project is near completion before I give them final titles. Tentatively this might be Encroaching Joy - or something like that - who knows? I don't have too much to say today really - busy trying to get re-focused, caught up and back on track - I am totally out of clean laundry!

Thank you again for all of the emails and support for my daughters. If you haven't yet read about my daughter in Los Angeles - check out her story here.

Also DO NOT MISS the videos on my blog too - of Bob Basso as Thomas Paine.





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