So the Cat's Outta the Bag.....

We've done it!!!!!  We've done it!!!!  It's a part of that whole artist....dreamer....doer

 thing.  Tiffin of Linwood Avenue  and I have put together an AMAZING weekend art retreat right here in our neck of the woods.  Are you giggling with excitement yet?  No?  Well then head on over to the website and you will!!  Because we can not wait to share this dream with you all!

Titles

In trying to come up with a title for myself on a new business card this is what we came up with. I love it. It totally sums up who I am. I can't wait to show you what this title is going on. Seriously...can not wait!! Soon.....promise! Big news in the works. Final details being added so it is presented perfectly to you. Oh geesh I hate keeping secrets!!

Pug Cuteness

This is Pumba:

Sometimes I get asked to do paintings that after I say yes think, oh geesh....how do I paint that?  And this was one of those moments.  Sweet Pumba's parents asked me back in April to do this.  And, well, you know my custom painting issues.  But I suppose every painting is painted at the right time.  Because he turned out so stinking cute!  I captured those teeth to a tee.  The quote I added just because of the sense I got from the owners that this was their baby.  I get that.  My Lily is the same.  I miss her when I teach at school.  At home she's always under foot.

Good times I tell ya in the studio these days.  More coming soon.  I've got 4 custom paintings under way now.  Woohooo!!!

A Karma Meeting with Christina Perri

Wait...who is that with me???  Oh yeah, that's Christina Perri!  Ekkkkkkk!!!!!!

Ok...Ok...let's back it up a second why don't we?  I mean last you heard from me I was laid up, licking wounds and doing some serious pouting here in blogland.  What happened to turn life around?  Well this is what happened.  Friday I got to Dr. Burson and he worked his ear magic on me.  Now, it's not an immediate relief....but the road to mend is like a light at the end of the dark tunnel.  Whew.  Friday night is a blur...mostly because I was on heavy medication.  Yeah...magic wand remember?

Saturday morning I woke up and set out for my Saturday training run of 8 miles.  No really.  8 miles.  I've never run that far in my entire life.  I know I've told you about the big race and all.  I've not bored with with the training part because well, it's a bit like how I shower.  That's personal.  Right?  But Saturday was huge.  And it felt great.    I kept an amazing minute mile, feeling like a freaking gazelle the entire time....all the while listening to tunes and mentally motivating myself.  I also remembered that my word of the year is warrior.  Dang but if that's not appropriate now!  8 miles ended right at my doorstep.  Total bliss.

Then I set about the rest of the day getting ready for the PSW workshop and painting the 52 canvas.  It was a very quiet day.  We all kept to ourselves really, guess the Horne family all needed a break from one another!  And then came Saturday night. 

 A few months back Tiffin had texted Joy and I to see if we wanted to go to Jason Mraz.  Sure, why not.  I love music.  Oh...and she added that Christina Perri was opening for him.  WHAT?????  Holy Cheeeeeeeese cracker!!  She is my music muse while I paint. Really.  I was dying.  And super excited for Saturday to roll around.  So we got there, got our chairs all set and I trucked down to the t-shirt booth for Mailey and I a shirt.  She happens to be Mailey's favorite music artist right now too.  At the counter I asked the guy for the Christina shirts and said, "I'm getting this one for my daughter.  She loves Christina Perri....and I didn't bring her."  So the guy says......"Let me do even better for her.  Here's an armband.   When she gets done singing show up on this side of the building and she'll sign an autograph and you can get your picture with her."  "WHAT??????"  Of course I call Mailey and she was a little jealous...but excited at the same time.  So after she sang Joy and I ran down.  Were about 5th in line (only 50 arm bands handed out) and I got Mailey a CD signed and my pic with her.  I also showed her the painting I did based on her song, Jar of Hearts.   She was so stinking cute and tiny.  And after playing for 45 minutes looked awesome.  My hair after 45 minutes of outside time had gone completely frizzy and nuts!  My hair does not like southern weather period.  It was muggy and had just rained, even worse!

Sunday was the PSW class.  We rocked the house...literally.  The class was spilling out all over the basement.  And boy did these ladies crank out amazing works of art.  I truly feel blessed to have met so many of you.  And to be the one that guides you on your own creative journey, well that part makes my heart very, very full!!  After the class I finished up the 52 Canvas...it is just so charming.  Look for it later on the 52 blog.  And then......well I hit the porch.  Yep....I joked with my PSW gals that I am in total love with my porch and LMN.  Last  night was even better because it rained!  I love a little rain and wine with my porch.  It was a great way to unwind and prepare myself for the week!

This week there's not much on our plates, just normal living.  Looking forward to it really.  And hopefully  by the end of the week I'll be able to share some mongo news with ya.  Like humongous  news!!  You gonna be super excited!!!  I know we are about it!!!!!  So see ya later gaters.....

A Strange Week

Morning friends!  This has been one strange week.  From dream time to daytime, my week has been nothing of normalcy.  So what am I to do...well share it with you!  Because you are just going to not believe it either.  First though, I have to say that this year has already started off on a better foot.  No pun intended when you see how the week started obviously!  But seriously, already knowing all but one grade level has helped tremendously with the stress of starting a new school year.  Last year I had to learn over 400 names!!  And since I stink at names (and birthdays) it was a true struggle.  Plus honestly the 5th graders last year year were really bad.  I feel bad saying this, but they put me over the edge so much of the time I had a hard time enjoying teaching the rest of the school.  Anyways....here's how the week has gone.

1.  Started the week of with my ankle still killing me.  I'd hurt it Thursday teaching in the wrong shoes (stupid shoes are in the good riddance pile now).  Then of course ran on it Thursday PM.....because I am psycho training goal oriented crazy and didn't want to miss a run.  Well, I missed a run all right.  For 5 days!  So I went to the doctor afterschool Monday.  He said yep, looks like it's ........(I was so shocked at what he was saying I have no idea what he said).  You'll need to be immobilized and you can forget that marathon.  What???  Yes, I was on the edge of crying and throwing up in one swoop.  After being swept off to xray and back we put the image on the screen and he said, "Hmmm..not what I expected to see."  As a visual learner I KNOW what I saw.  An ankle NOT broken.  Thank the good Lord it wasn't.  I am sure had it been there would have been a depression issue to deal with.  Ice is now my best friend.  And my Birkenstocks.  This is now my lunch routine:

 2.  On that same day I met with a client about doing a custom painting for her daughter's room.  By the time I left I was up to 4 paintings.  Gotta love that karma.

3.  After that...I met with another client about a logo I had tweeked.  Loved it.  Yeah!!  Whew.  And this is all on MONDAY!

4.  I got my hair done on Tuesday.  I know, a tad cheesy to be sharing this with you all in cyberland.  But, you see I hate to get my hair done.  Takes too long.  Because it's, well long.  I needed a serious change though.  Usually when I am feeling this kind of need for change I whack it all off.  But instead I got bangs and fresh color.  So excited.  Like cheesy Senior in high school days excited.  I've not had bangs in 12 years.  Funny story here....I had this done Tuesday.  Thursday morning Billy comes into the bath to say goodbye to me and gives me a really weird look.  Then says, "you get bangs?"  LOL!!!!

5.  The elaborate dreams started Tuesday night about my PSW class this Sunday.  It's full....and I want to teach a little different which I am sure has stirred up all sorts of monsters and crazies in my head.  You see, I am a very vivid dreamer.  I totally should write these down and have them analyzed.  Or maybe not.  They may reveal my true crazy!  Anyhoo, the dream started with the class.  All of you were there except Mrs. Burdette.  She didn't show.  And I was irritated.  BTW  Mrs. Burdette was William's 5th grade teacher, then my friend, and now Mailey's 5th grade teacher, and still my friend.  So cool.  I was teaching you all amazing art tricks and you were making amazing work.  The dream then morphed into a scene of total chaos.  Husbands showed up to pick you guys up....then came the mud...and Lily running through the mud....and the boats....and more boats....and water.....and more chaos.  And then I had to pee.  So I woke up and the dream ended.  Seriously....I should ignore the mud part right?  It's not foreshadowing of my basement flooding or something icky like that, right?

6.  My left ear started its craziness....oh my ears.  Ever since I got the wicked lake ear disease 4 years ago I have had issues (FYI this is not a real disease but rather a disease I have made up since it seems the ear issues did indeed start after the WORST ear infection ever from Dad's lake).  It started Monday...of course.  I ignored it.  It got worse....I ignored it and the potential second $55 co-pay of the week.  By Thursday however I was ready to pull a Van Gogh.  No really.  And the total ironic thing, I'm teaching Van Gogh right now!!  Thursday PM I literally had to take a Vicodin to sleep.  And today all I want to do is this:

I'm teaching today.  Putting my big girl panties on and mulling through.  When I get to Dr. Burson I will in all likelihood loose my marbles.  It's ok.  He's seen me cry before.  Because it hurts to the core.  Like worse then getting my wrist tattoo. Sigh.

Like I said....weirdo week.  Let's see what else was weird...studio time?  None.  52 Canvas?  Not done.  I feel like the entire week has been an outer body experience.  I'm here but not here.  I've done stuff, a lot of stuff.  The house is clean, we've have had great home cooked meals, teaching has been easy...but something is just not right.  I'm hoping that the bag of double doozie cookies I bought last night will help.  And my 8 mile run will go smoothly.  A GNO to Jason Mraz Saturday night will be like icing and of course the PSW will be fabulouso....I should be cool by Monday, right?  I sure hope so.  I need to get back into this skin 100%.    If not I just might miss out on some potential greatness!

How About Some Orange?

Seriously I run to the studio now and mix up orange.  And look at it.  I could drink it's yumminess.  Never ever could you buy orange like this from a tube.  Want to make this orange?  Well, you gotta come join a Paint Something Workshop...the secrets will be revealed!!  When you ask??

Sunday, AUGUST 19th:  12-5  or Sunday, SEPTEMBER 23rd:  12-5

cost:  $75  includes all materials

First Week of School

Well, the first week of school came and went just like that!  Wow.  Only 175 days to go.  Haha.  Seriously, I've got a much better perspective on things than at this time last year.  If you recall, this time last year we were packing and moving from our home of 16 years.  I was starting a new job, Billy was still a legislator being pulled a million directions and William started middle school.  I think back on the month of August last year and wonder how the heck I made it through.  Oh, there was the crazy weight loss too.  Can't imagine why!!!  Basically this time last year sucked.  Somehow we muddled through and my first year back teaching was a success.  This year though.....man I've got my game on!! 

Here's how we started the year:

I talked to the kids about this quote a bit saying something about like this:  "Everyday you wake up, make the decision to put the right clothes on, make the decision to get to school on time and make the decision to be an active learner.  You make choices all day that continue to build your character.  And make you the person you want to be."  Then I told then we were going to add the petals to our sunflowers.

Each petal has the child's name and at least 4 goals they want to accomplish this year.  From being in the Olympics (wonder why that was a common goal amongst the youngsters?) to making their AR goal, the lists were unique and interesting.  What I found MOST interesting where the kids that didn't get it.  Had absolutely no idea how to dream big...had NO idea what they wanted to do with themselves for the year.  Had NO idea how to set a goal.  And that freaked me out.  I really don't have words to express how much it saddened me.  I know they are young, but still.  They should have the ability to dream.  Are we as parents doing so much telling that we are missing the chances for our children to simply dream?  I hope the seed I planted did a little something in their minds and will remember what I said. 

Because our little world still needs dreamers....lots of them. 

Neon Pink

So neon pink.  Yeah.  Totally reminds me of 7th grade when my sister HAD to have the black pants, neon suspenders and perhaps neon gloves for Christmas.  Yeah...she was stylin'.  I was not into the neon trend.   I remember thinking it was a tad tacky.  This is coming from the girl who LIVED in the Laura Ashley store at the Galleria and still has hanging her her closet a green corduroy sailor dress.  Yes...that's me in 7th grade.  Remember the RELAX neon tees?  Ekkk.....What the heck was up with fashion back then?  Until I fell head over heels in love with the above paint I did not get the whole black light glow in the dark excitement.  It gives just enough surprise to my paintings...enough to make my heart flutter at its' specialness.  Yes.  That is a word in my dictionary.  And yes.  It's neon.  Pink.  Who'd have ever thought that?

Making it Mine

Another painting in the series for the class.  And this time, I was able to make it more of my thread.  I actually painted this subject in the 52 Canvases series.  But geesh do they look different!!  Not that one is better than the other, just different.  It's amazing how taking the exact same subject, words and theme but using uniquely different techniques can alter an overall appeal.  I'm liking this softer look.  And well....I like using fancy nice paint.  And mixing my own colors.  Hmmmm....did I just say that?  Oh geesh....

Hi-Ho Cheerio!

This tiny painting (5x7) is headed off to the Naked Art Gallery....fresh paintings for my favorite gallery.  Again, part of the online class I took this summer.  First challenge:  painting tiny.  Not my favorite thing to do.  Second challenge:  painting with only the primary colors.  Mixing my own other colors.  Not using the bazillion ones I own.  Challenge Three:  Using chalk pastels on the canvas.  Yeah.  Really.  LUV it.  Gotta say those $100 pastels I had to have for a class are finally finding a use for themselves other than looking pretty.  Pastels are so very pretty.  Challenge Four:  Giving all these up.  Because I am liking them all.

Create...

Yesterday I had this little painting out to give to a friend.  She commented on it in instagram, and honestly knowing her...it was the perfect little "happy" for her own studio!  Mailey came up the stairs and saw it laying out for her and said, "Mom, where'd you get this painting?"  "I made it."  Mailey said, "What?  Wow.  I really like it.  It doesn't look like your normal paintings."  "Why thanks Mailey....I think.  Maybe I should paint like this more?" 

Which leads me to this.  BTW my friend's deep chocolate eyes lit up so BIG when I handed it to her I knew I'd done a good thing.  :)  Sometimes I find myself wandering away from the normal thread.  The birds...the trucks...the bikes....they get old to me.  Less fresh.  Too forced.  Bland....blah....Ew....The series of paintings I'll be sharing with you over the next 2 weeks are totally not blah...ew...or tired.  Rather they are totally fresh and fun.  You see, I still like to learn and grow my artist vocabulary.  So what do I do to inspire this growth?  I take classes.  I read books.  I GROW.  I never stop learning how to push myself. 

Now, if you are one that likes to search the internet and find inspiration out there and try and copy it I caution you.  Honestly that road will only lead to frustration and is not a way to grow your own personal style.  I encourage you, if you are seeking growth in your work, to take a class.  Learn a new technique.  Allow yourself room to make mistakes, paint over the mess and start again.  That's what happened above.  It was a part of an online class.  A game actually.  And it looked like a freaking hot mess when the game was over.  Not one to ever be defeated by my own art I started finding shapes in the negative space.  And in the end the result was quite rich, textural and happy.  Not really a part of my normal thread.  But still happy.  And that is always a part of my thread!