Stars are Aligning!

"Me"

Lil Birds collection-my newest set of paintings, 6 x8 acrylics

Well, last week I was debating going back and forth about buying a house, and if I did which one would I choose from the over 20 some that I saw. Each one had something special about it that I liked but none of them really had it all. I think that's how life goes no matter what. Very few times in our worlds do we have every single star aligned to the point that we can say...ahhhh this is exactly 100% perfect.
That's not always a bad thing is it? If everything were perfect, I imagine we'd become complacent and stop or slow down trying to make our worlds better.

"We"

I've been wanting to get a home of my own for a long time now, but for one reason or another, I've put it off. However with the tax rebate for 1st time homeowners, it would be crazy not to do it if you are in the position to even potentially make it happen. I've always felt that owning a home was out of my reach but I wanted it so very badly. Then this last couple of weeks, I've been overwhelmed with choices and decisions. I've felt good though about it. I feel inspired by my choice and my decisions. I feel like finally I'm going to be planting some roots of my own, roots that I've longed for since I've left NY over ten years ago,
"Family"

So, this morning I went back and saw my 3 top choices once again and then decided, there wasn't any sense to keep looking because the house that was as perfect as it could be right now was right there all along and I just needed to make the final decision. I brought my youngest with me to see the top choices and right away he loved the house I loved. I was prepared to choose one of the other houses if he didn't like it, but it was almost like it was meant to be. The glow in his eyes as he walked around the house and the yard made my heart sing. I put an offer in after our showing and now must patiently wait......wish me good luck. I truly hope it all works out! The only thing...well, not the only thing but the big thing I worry about right now is how to do it all in a short period of time! I have a few very big projects lined up this month (a job that requires me to do a 147 pieces (part of the reason why I haven't written much this summer, a large commisssion ...20 x 60, Im writing another article, I have a newsletter to get out, I'm teaching an intimate work shop locally at the end of the month, and I have two new galleries to set up art at, plus work my day job and get the house in order so we can move). Wowza...not sure I can do it all but I'm going to give it the college try!!!!

( PS, I picked the older home that den that would make a perfect studio, a beautiful yard, an out building that is in fantastic shape that I could make into an outdoor studio, 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths...but small bedrooms). The small bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths were my biggest concern but when I looked at the big picture, I figured those were things that I could adjust to more so then a crappy kitchen or lack of studio or storage space
Hopefully by the time I post next, I'll have good news to share!

Think positive thoughts!!!

Drive by Question

This will be a drive by post so you can see what I've been doing....first the above picture is my newest and biggest to date painting....30 x 40. Wowza. Can she do it???
My goal is to have 2 large paintings completed before Spring Fest which is April 25th. I have some time but you know how that is, a month is going to fly by before you know it. AND in between doing this, I have about a 100 other things to do, including working on some custom orders--oh and find time to fold laundry. We won't even talk about the dust bunnies. Of course, bunnies are in right now I hear, especially so close to Easter :)

I previewed this painting in a previous post but this is a much better, more clear shot. Yay for longer days and sunlight!

I did tell you I have no intentions of throwing my house series to the curb, just yet...right? I have plenty of places I've lived yet still waiting for their moment on the canvas--so stay tuned. This little gem (8x8) on 1 3/8 canvas is titled, "Richmond Road". I'm taking you back to 1998 when I moved to North Carolina from my temporary stop in Meadville, Pa. My life, my life of my husband at the time, and my oldest son's life changed forever. We planted our roots down south but it also was a time that uprooted our family. Jim and I broke up shortly after we moved....a little over a year later and it really seemed like a dark period even though it began with so much hope. We had a lot of changes in our lives right before this move--my job was chaotic, it was down right exhausting and it drove me to the ground along with the family. Who knows why things happen, but they do, and somehow we rise above those moments and move forward, one way or another. The good news is, we all are still friends, and we maintain our dysfunctional family (which has grown as we both moved, got involved with other people, made new friends). So yes, there will be sun and it'll will be all right...I promise.

Okay so not so drive by as I intended. I get to typing and even though most of the time I ramble, I love stopping by my blog and giving it some love. I hope to get better at blogging more often. Not to mention my need to catch up on all my favorite blogs..I'm sorely behind!

Ohhh hey---if you haven't seen my latest article, check out this little blurb. Very cool!

***Question of the post--I kinda know what color I want to do my large piece but would love to hear from you. Do you have a color you think I should try out?? What's your opinion?? Remember, I try to stick to 2-3 main colors and then use different values of those colors in my pieces for the most part.

Can't wait to hear your ideas!

The Search For Balance and Focus

Lest you think I've been sitting on my duff--think again. I have been!
Painting that is!
I've completed my Winter in NY series--but may add one more piece to the mix if I have a chance.
Time. Time. Time. It's a constant struggle to make enough time to do what we love to do.


Staying up till 1-2am most nights will wear at you especially if you are working
full time during the day. Oddly enough, I'm really not complaining. Just
working on ways to keep my energy level up and to BE THERE for everyone and
everything. Maybe there's not a way to do it all. Maybe some do it better than others.


I do feel blessed that I learned determination from my Mother.
It's a trait she instilled in us to keep plugging away at whatever it
is that we want to do and not give up.

So, now I'm working on a way to make my dream a reality and
to be able to really afford it. That is, I am working towards being
a full time working artist and have a nest egg stashed away so I don't
fret in the down times. It's going to require me to work my tail off for
2-3 years doing it all. Maybe working 14-16-18 hours a day some days.
It's going to require me to pay down my debt and stash a good chunk of
money away in savings for those down times that will surely come like an
ebb and flow. I met with my local artist guild this evening and this was a
very hot topic for many of us. The beauty of doing what you love comes with
a price. The worries, the anxiety, the struggle, and then the joy, the passion, the
self satisfaction follow--sometimes on a daily basis.


One thing that resonated with everyone, is to do what you love because
if you wait until a better day, a better year, a better time....it may be too
late. But you also must do what pays the bills and be smart in how you
market yourself, your work, your products. Be willing to change if the
times are changing, the trends, the competition. Stay a step ahead, but
at the same time--stay with you heart. Everything else will come together.

For me, it's a matter of creating a body of work that is distinctly mine and
getting myself out in the world in the way I want to be known, to be heard.
Finding a niche and exploring every angle of it. In order to do this, I need
to be fully committed, and 100% dedicated. I am. I will be. But there are days of
doubt. But I am grateful I am able to do this now, I'm grateful for finding it in
me again after a long respite of 20 years or so.

These pieces are for a collection that I will be offering at the Fayetteville
Museum of Art. The good news I eluded to in my earlier post was that I
am going to be their featured artist in their show starting November 7th. I can
hardly believe it! Me???? How did this happen? Would you believe, I was
found by one of the directors through my Etsy shop because of my little itty
bitty magnets?? My magnets. And then one thing led to another and before I knew it,
they asked me to do this. Amazing. I'm blessed, I'm lucky, and I'm honored all at the
same time. I'm also energized even more so than ever to keep pushing myself
to do better work, and to keep up my pace with even more determination.

I hope that doors continue to open, but in order for that to happen, I must keep
my eye to the future and roll with the punches and take the opportunities that
are put before me and run with it. Thank you for your support. I greatly appreciated
comments!


To see more of these pieces-please check out my flickr page!
***
For the winners of my contest, I haven't forgotten about you--apologize for the
mail delay. I will get your prizes out to you as soon as possible!!

***

I hope that whatever it is in your heart that stirs a passion and determination, you
follow your dreams and chase after it with every bit of resolve that you can muster.
Things will happen for you! It's the Secret of life!!!! :)