it's all learning

This is a mixed media piece I created this past weekend. I do not like it, BUT, I learned some things while making it, and I do like that. Taking a cue from one of the quotes on my 2020 vision board: Make something today even if it sucks. 👍😊

1st snow of 2020

This weekend we experienced the first snowfall of 2020. It seems a good time to post this winter piece I created a couple weeks ago. It's one that started out as something totally different. When it didn't go at all as intended, I just started messing around with it. Once it had the textured background, I didn't know what to do next so set it aside. The next time I looked at it, I imagined a snow scene and this is what happened. It actually ended up to be something I really like. I never knew watercolor could do things like this.

2019 is a wrap

Today is the first day of a new year and new decade. It seems like a good time to refresh the blog with a new look. Gone are the sunlight dappled water background and winding country road header. They've been replaced with a simple, solid blue background and a header made from a photo of a metal bookmark I created a few years ago. 

As for 2019, I'd set specific creative goals and am pleased to say I met them. Blogging definitely helped in that regard, so I will continue blogging in 2020. I doubt anyone but me sees my blog, but that's just fine. I do it for myself, as a way to chronicle my efforts and growth. It inspires me to keep practicing and learning. 

What will 2020 bring? I'm increasing the number of hours I intend to spend creating each month. My initial focus will likely remain watercolor and mixed media, but I'm also itching to use some of that stained glass I was gifted a few months ago, as well as do some sewing - maybe a quilt. The possibilities are endless, and I'm excited to get started! 

By the way, I read (analog and audio) a record number of books last year, grew one of my best gardens ever, spent more time in the pool than in the past several years, and set up a dedicated yoga/meditation space which I've been using daily for 160 days now. It had it's challenges and sad times, yet 2019 was a great year on many levels.

dream the dream

The piece above is one of three galaxy ones I created a couple weekends ago. I've always been mesmerized by space, and decided to try my hand at creating images. It's a fun process with cool results -- pretty sure this will become a regular part of my art.