Spike

I was going to do a Memorial Day post, but there is a little guy in my life named Spike who has a very important day tomorrow and I wanted to ask all of you to say prayers for a miracle.

Spike goes to the vet tomorrow to have blood tests and x-rays. We need to see what is happening with the stone in his bladder and also how he is doing since his kidney failure almost 7 months ago. The vet told me a lot of things and mostly she told me that everything I want the tests to say tomorrow is impossible, however I believe in miracles and I am expecting her to tell me that the stone has disappeared and that he no longer needs sub-Q fluids. At the very least I want her to tell me that the stone has not grown and that he is doing fine. I just won't allow anything else. I love this boy.

I am also remembering all my loved ones that have passed on, all my grandparents, my dad, my cousins, many friends and of course our dear Renee.

Blessings and love to you today. xoxo

Foiled

I thought I better tell all my business supporters that I won't be having a workshop. Poop.
I was thinking of how to structure the class while painting yesterday and realized, sadly that the plaster takes too long to dry. It can take from 5 hours to a whole day and even if we do two paintings as I was planning, what in the heck do we do while they dry? At first I thought we could take a long lunch and work on the collage bit for the paintings, but that won't take long enough and I do multi layers of plaster. It just won't work. Also I found out the space I wanted does not have a sink. I need a sink to wash brushes. Teaching Venetian plaster would work better as a two hour class once a week, but I can't do that, it would not be worth the time and time is what I have precious little of right now. So, for now at least this idea is being shelved. I was sad at first, but then I realized that I need the time for my own creating and that everything works out how it is meant to.
It was a fun idea though.
Happy Sunday! xoxo

Dennis Hopper

(Photo Source)

Dennis Hopper passed away at 74. Being a rebel bohemian I loved him and I have met him many times, he has a house up the street from me. He was not a perfect man, but he was always friendly to me and funny and I am going to miss him, though I know he really isn't gone.

Fly free Dennis. xoxo

What Feeds My Soul

I thought I would write a little post about what makes me joyful, right now. As a way to show deep appreciation. So here is my list:
1.Painting. Art. Making it, reading about it, living it. If you put me on a desert Island with plenty of art supplies I would be happy.
2.My animal boys. My life would be so empty without them in my life. You can't beat unconditional love.
3. Reading. Right now I just finished one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, "Smilla's Sense of Snow". I was sorry to see it end. I am afraid most books will pale in comparison now.
4. "Lost". I know, where have I been? I don't have cable or satellite and in Taos that means no TV reception, which I am happy about as I hate TV, but I love movies, so I have a TV and DVD player. My lovely bloggy friend Nolly gave me the heads up about "Lost", so I have been renting it. I am in the middle of the second season and I love it. I used to hear about the show, but thought it was some boring thing about people stranded on an island, trying to survive. Oh, how silly I was. This show is so much more! I think it is the best show I have ever seen. Bar none. I look forward to watching "Lost" to the conclusion, which I am already sad about :-).
5. Time off. I have today and tomorrow off and instead of cleaning my very dirty house I will be painting, and reading, and loving my boys and of course watching "Lost", being the hermit I am
and loving every minute.
6. Blogging. I love every one of you and I love every minute I spend blogging and visiting your blogs. It is often the highlight of the day. Thank you.
Happy weekend! XOXO

Time

When I get overwhelmed with too much work and not enough play, I get cranky. I forget who I am and what is important. Lately, I have been trying something new, I take each moment as it comes, I don't project into the day or week all I have to do, (well, I do project for a minute and then I feel discomfort which reminds me to stay in the moment) when I stay in the moment I feel like I have plenty of time, and then I relax and things go much smoother. Have you ever found that you get really tired if you think about all you have to do? Instead, just do the task at hand and don't worry about the rest. It all gets done. This has been a hard one for me to get, but I am getting it. I just thought I would share this with all my overworked bloggy friends :-).Happy Thursday. XOXO

Animal Wednesday

My three cat boys all in purple :-). Happy Wednesday! xoxo

New Work and a Little About my Process

(Click on image to enlarge)

I thought it would be fun to take you through this new process. First I start by plastering my board red then I added collage and painting, then I added another color plaster (the creamy yellow) and carved into it, then I embellished the final piece with painting details. As you can see I covered most of the under painting. This piece is bigger than the first two, 20"x 16". I am having fun playing with different elements and experimenting. This piece may stay this way or maybe changed, I have not decided. I will come back to it in a few weeks. I want to move on and try different colors. I am waiting for my pigments to come in the mail, they don't sale them at the art store here. Up to now I have been using acrylics to mix with the plaster, but that is getting costly. The pigments are cheaper and go further.

Thank you everyone for your advice on the classes. I need more help. Do you think it is better to have the classes on the weekend or weekdays? Also should I do 2, 6 hour days or 3, 4 hour days? What would you want in a class?

Thank you for any input on the painting or the classes, I always love hearing your thoughts.

Happy Monday! XOXO

P.S. I have no idea why blogger published this in such a goofy way, with all the huge spaces, I did not do it, blogger seems to have a mind of it's own :-).

*P.S.S Thank you for all the advice. I should have been more clear, the classes will be more like workshops, not on going classes like at school. 12 hours total is about how long I need to get a beginner started.