Soulful Saturday - Portraits & Prose

another portrait from Misty Mawn's online class: Drawing & Painting Portraits...
we are in the last week already :(

i have so enjoyed exploring all the many ways to create portraits...

...and just started my last assignment - the artist's self-portrait

will keep you posted on that...

the little goodies above are from Ruche (pronounced 'Roosh')

have you heard of them??

'a modern boutique with a vintage touch'

i won a gift certificate to use there...

thank you again sweet Sierra for introducing me to all things Ruche

*wishing you a fabulous weekend and as always: stay inspired and be well*

Illustration Friday: 'Focused'

pencil on bristol, 8x10

"Our thoughts create our reality, where we put our focus
is the direction we tend to go." ~ Peter McWilliams

Nice to be contributing over at IF this week, it's been awhile and I thought this sketch might fit for 'focused'. Also I usually focus on the eyes in my drawings & paintings as they lend such a mood and make the viewer wonder (hopefully) what the subject is thinking or feeling...

This sketch was created for Misty Mawn's latest online class: Drawing & Painting Portraits. I've been trying to sketch lots, keep an open mind and approaching these 2 mediums in different ways to see where it takes me.

If you haven't taken one of Misty's classes (or any other artists' that are currently running one online) you should really consider it. The convenience alone is worth it - you show up to class when you want, work at your own pace and participate/ hang out as much or as little as you want in the class groups.

kraft paper journal, 8x10

My latest sketch for Misty Mawn's online class: Drawing & Painting Portraits. I tried some painting over the weekend, blecckk is all I have to say..... I think I will just stay with dry media for awhile, I really don't think I'm destined to have my best work in paints :>

Actually that was one of the reasons I stopped working at it so much last fall, it was frustating at best sometimes and with the way I was feeling physically (I've shared a bit of that here with you) it felt like a chore and yes - like work - to go into my studio and try to create, everything felt like a repeat of the previous piece and the joy of making art just wasn't there.

How do you get past personal blocks in your life, creative or otherwise? I believe it comes from a place that no one can take us to but ourselves...

"We fail to see that we can control our destiny;
make ourselves do whatever is possible;
make ourselves become whatever we long to be."
-- Orison Swett Marden

Hope your week shapes up beautifully, and as always - be well...

From the heart

(artwork © copyright Misty Mawn)

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." -- Edgar Degas

Look what I got in the mail yesterday! I feel so unbelievably blessed and fortunate to have won the drawing from Misty Mawn's first online class. Because of the holidays and me going on vacation, I just got it in now and boy was it worth the wait!!! I cannot describe the feeling of holding it and seeing her handwriting, anticipating what was inside and then to find it so carefully & tenderly wrapped up like a precious, beautiful gift.

My reaction was, in this order: screaming, crying...then sighing :>

And yes, that is TWO original pieces you see folks, along with some of her postcards...that sweet soul even tucked in a CD she made just for me (love it)

I am speechless... and in awe of her talent, soulful energy and generous spirit. I loved it all but I have to say the piece with the girl & bird really spoke to me. I've been feeling like that girl, holding onto a large bird (burden), flying with only one wing, however I've remained positive and optimistic because of the golden light (kind & caring support) all around me. Like her, I can hug and recognize the beauty of the "burd-en" knowing that it's brought me to a different, stronger and decisive place, one I wouldn't be at without it.

Misty, thank you from the bottom of my heart - mmwah!! xoxo

Beginning to enjoy what IS

A couple of sketches I wanted to share with you. As you know my artmaking & creativity level has been hit and miss for some time now so when I was inspired to go and grab my journal and pencils last nite I went with the flow. A new season of Project Runway came on and I had just finished flipping through my daughter's Teen Vogue mag (I tucked an issue into her Christmas stocking, love the size of that thing - it's so cute & compact) and it was the push I needed I guess.

I've never been much of a fashionista, but I do love the poses and many moods they achieve in those photo spreads! Plus just working in pencil and having no color to rely on was very freeing in a way believe it or not. I think I forgot how much I LOVE to draw :>

Another reason I've been thinking sketches lately, is that I decided to sign up for Misty Mawn's Portrait Drawing class which starts tomorrow, I really feel the need to get back to my artistic roots of drawing & illustration...

The sketches below were done by my daughter, she loves to draw & sketch too, only she prefers drawing anime/manga etc. She also has a really good eye for life drawing, she just needs to keep at it - hint, hint sweetie if you read this :>

© 2010 Sarah Mark

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I hope you find the time to indulge your senses this weekend and surround yourself with whatever makes your heart light, whether it's through art, music, food or family & friends - enjoy!

"When you stop comparing what is right here and now
with what you wish were, you can begin to enjoy what is."
-- Cheri Huber

What's your color for 2010?

Happy New Year everyone! Finally back home, I hope that you & yours are well... I'm getting a super slow start on things as the year begins, quite unusual for me. I don't think I'm alone when I say that 2009 had many ups & downs, it was no problem for me bidding it a fond farewell!

How is your year starting out? Are you doing some art journaling, maybe you've written out some goals, dreams, hopes for the months ahead? Perhaps you've even gotten as far as planning out where you want to be 3-5 years from now, personally and/or professionally (wow, good for you) I find that imagery helps me stay more focused so I've started to put together a vision board... what works best for you?

Along with my affirmations words FAITH and HEAL this year I wanted to do something a bit different. I decided to add a 'focus' color and surround myself with it as I believe color has a really deep way of influencing us... which color would you choose for yourself to help motivate, inspire and maybe even heal you?

I'm going with a longtime favorite of mine, Turquoise, which also happens to be Pantone's Color of the Year for 2010. I've always loved it and the many shades that it comes in. I've been drawn to it more at different times in my life, but didn't make the connection until I read the article below from the Pantone website - I'm especially intrigued where it mentions that the color turquoise is considered a protective talisman:

Pantone Unveils Color of the Year for 2010: PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise

Turquoise Transports Us to an Exciting, Tropical Paradise While Offering a Sense of Protection and Healing in Stressful Times.

Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world,while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.” You can read the article in full here

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I hope to have some new art to share soon and I've also been thinking of doing a giveaway before the end of January, so stay tuned. Until then, be well...

Happy Holidays from Arizona!

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Hey y'all, just a quick post... I don't have any new art or photos to share right now as I'm away from all my 'stuff' and spending the holidays in Tucson, AZ. It is just so beautiful here I have to tell you (wow) even for a 'snowbunny' at heart like me :>

I hope all the wonders of this blessed season are filling your days no matter where you & yours hang your Christmas stockings this year. If you've followed my blog/life for the last year or so, you know it's been full of questions, changes and adventures ( plus delays and setbacks too I might add, but hey - everything happens for a reason, right?)

No matter what, I've learned that focusing on my vision, sharing it with like-minded souls and trusting that things will unfold as they should give me HOPE for a brand new year and of course a new decade that is almost upon us - yay 2010!

May your New Year be one filled with LOVE, HOPE and DREAMS come true....

Laura
xoxo

mixed media journal, 10x10

I finally played in my journal today....it's been about 2 months. I know I should be easy on myself as I really did need that time for focusing on some things in my life that needed my attention. If you're struggling right now with life issues and/or are not feeling inspired or creative lately, know this:
flow does follow ebb, your inspiration will find you again,
it whispers in your ear and softly knocks on the door
to your heart, until you answer...

For me I think the big push recently to get back into artmaking/painting was signing up for Misty Mawn's online class 2 weeks ago. Getting new supplies in is always a major motivator for me and finding my table under piles of books & papers was an extra bonus, *smile*

Painting Layers officially starts tomorrow (!) I tell ya, I think most of her students have been about ready to burst from excitement waiting! :>