New beginnings...

After 33 years of selling real estate, I am retiring

for the fourth time.

This time I will make it stick.

Too many things have happened this year to show me that it is time.

So now I get to find a new niche and I know it will include lots of creative activities.

This week I found a piece of heavy poster board stashed under the bed

I decided to try some of my yupo techniques on it.

I prepped it with gesso and then gloss medium.  I used gloss because on yupo the paint sort of slides around on the surface,  It doesn't soak in.

Then I painted it with a transparent acrylic paint and covered it with dry cleaner plastic.

I squished it around and let it sit a couple of minutes.

I removed the plastic and had my textured blue surface.

The rest was stencils and paint

Wishing you all a Happy PPF

Lost mail

In many ways, this has been a growing year.

When you are growing, it isn't always pleasant or easy

My best friend was diagnosed with lung cancer and after four months of incredibly debilitating treatment, she elected to stop.  Four months later she was gone.

And two weeks later her husband elected to end his life.

My husband and I are devastated but we woke up this morning and it is our mission to enjoy the moment for those who can't.

Many of you who have followed my art journey know that whatever I do, it is usually lite and bright.

Imagine my surprise when I started a mixed media piece in bright blue and yellow and it evolved into a dark moody piece (for me anyway).  I guess it reflects what is going on in my life right now.

I don't mind it, I just find it curious what our muse can do when left alone.

Back in May I posted a cut up yupo piece.

 I was never happy with it and decided, early in September to change it.
So the one above became the one below and really made me think of 9/11.  I had hoped I could somehow save the color of the yupo bits but oh well, it was not to be.

Today I pulled out a background and hoped by now my morbid muse had been replaced by my old familiar muse.  And here it is

She's Back!

Happy PPF

Putting my art "out there"

Our local art center has ongoing juried shows each year.

I finally summoned up my courage and entered three of my paintings.

All were accepted and last night we attended a reception and public viewing.

That was a new experience!  

I am accustomed to cheering my children, and their children on in their endeavors.

Time to be my own audience.

We will see where it takes us.

This was one of the paintings that I entered

And this is my "salute to fall"

It was hard to get a photo of this.  It is layers and layers of leaves.

The bottom layer was gold.

And Fall is upon us (still 92 degrees here) 

In Florida, fall means school starts and hurricane season.  It has no impact on our temperatures.

Wishing everyone a Happy PPF!!

My beautiful cattleya 'Mario Lanza' #16 is covered in buds.  When it is done I think we will

have over 60 beautiful orchid blooms.