Weekend at the Met

It is wonderful to work at home in my studio, a cup of Sleepy Hollow chai next to me as I look out my picture window.

Now I am not complaining, I would not change it for the world, but sometimes I get a bit lonely. I often have coffee or lunch with local friends, but it is surely different than being around others in an office setting. You have to be your own inspiration a lot of the time, and if you are anything like me, that can get challenging.

This weekend I got to recharge my art batteries and my social batteries at The Met in NYC.

I did not care if there was a special exhibit, if it was extremely crowded, or if I was already tired, the minute I started to walk up those steps with my friend my switched turned ON.

Cezanne

I've seen the impressionists hundreds of times, and that is the section where I always end up first. I've been told that as you mature in your art experience that you expand and develop a larger art palate, and become more sophisticated and discriminating and view the impressionists in a kind of beginner way. 

Gauguin

Yes, I've learned about new artists, yes I love some of their work, but the impressionists are still my thing. I get lost in Van Gogh's Starry Night, Cezanne's (post-impressionist--I know) slightly askew perspective inspires me to break rules, and Gauguin's Tahitian colors relieve my need to revisit the psychedelic drugs of  my youth.



I wear black almost every day of my life because it is easy. Don't have to think about matching or coordinating...ugh. BUT my home is filled with color, even my area rug looks like a painting.

My watercolor attempt at impressionism.

So for me it seems to be about the colors. Maybe the brights help my battery to recharge, or maybe there is something to the psychology of color therapy. But either way I know for a fact that getting out there and experiencing life helps with art.

Get out there and experience.

xo

Weekend Creative Party!

This is the first linky party for all the creative mamas out there. 

Join in every weekend for the rest of October by placing your favorite craft, recipe, or how-to in the list below.

~ Simply click the linky CLICK HERE TO ENTER link below , follow the simple instructions, and add your information.

~ An image will appear and click through to your blog.
~ Grab the ghostly Weekend Creative Party button to add to your blog to show you participated.

~ The post that gets the most clicks will be featured on Instagram on Monday.
~ I will be tweeting (and I hope you will too!) daily to over 6000 followers on twitter.

Join us and add your most creative post and have fun!!

xo

A SPOOKY CRAFTY Find!

Today as I perused Instagram I came across one of the cutest, easiest spooky crafts of the season.

Posted by muminthemadhouse, these Clay Tealight Ghosts were done by one of her nine year olds.

What you'll need:

Air dry clay (Crayola makes one for under $5 HERE)

Rolling pin or smooth bottle

Butter knife

Shot glasses or bunched up paper towel

Just roll out the clay to about 1/8 of an inch. Cut appx. six inch diameter circles. Form ghost shapes over the shot glasses or paper towel, then make marks where the eyes and mouth will be. Lay flat again, then cut out eyes with butter knife. 

Drape ghosts over glasses again and let dry.

When dry (about 24 hours) place a battery operated tea light beneath ghost and place in a very dark corner to create a spooky atmosphere.

I love these! Hope you do too.

Thanks Mum in the Madhouse!

xo

You Never Know

A wise person once told me just do it, you never know what will come of it.

I heard those words as a young person, and they stuck.

Yes, we should make the most out of every situation and try and look to the bright side, but I'm talking about looking at more than just one side of the thing you are doing.

For instance, yesterday I went to a conference/meeting of illustrators in Pennsylvania. Needless to say, I did not want to go. I was tired, a bit under the weather, behind in every chore, and just a little crabby. But I paid for it, and I went.

The conference was actually great, but there was another side to it that was also great.

The event was located in the middle of a farm that was surrounded by cornfields. Reminded me a bit of New Hampshire. It was overcast, and a storm was brewing in the distance. Some of the dilapidated buildings on the premises looked ominous. It was the perfect setting for a horror story, and the perfect setting for taking pictures.

Although bucolic and lovely in spots, the other areas could have been straight out of Night of the Living Dead, so I snapped away.

I did not have a camera, so I used my iPhone.

Look for the funny within the serious, the hidden within the obvious, the emotional withing the stoic, or the love within the hate.

To me there are many sides to every moment.

Look for them--they are many times better than the obvious.

xo