GerAmyUm

Mid- February in Need of Color

2012-02-15T22:43:00.001-06:00

For many years, February hasn't always been my favorite month. It's a grey-brown month here in St. Louis and I pull out my garden books and do a little dreaming, a little planning. I think it's because I'm so thirsty for color and green. This is a floral I painted for my 2012 calender. I think home grown flowers look best in Blue Ball jars.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,

wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;

there is really no such thing as bad weather,

only different kinds of good weather. -- John Ruskin

I've copied this quote as much for me as anyone. Weather does effect me I'm sad to say. If I see the sunshine in the morning, for some reason my breakfast tastes better and I'm in lighter spirits. Oh how I wish my moods weren't effected by the seasons, the rain, the dull cold days. It's a challenge some days to persevere. But I think that we all have the challenge to not let circumstance -- be it weather, traffic or even a mosquito bite ruin our day. This quote reminds me to see my life like weather. There are just going to be changes -- and really some of the best things in life have come from what I thought were awful. So the challenge is to get through February not with my head held down counting the days, but up and looking to see and find the good in the day and even in the brown and grey.

My Poster!!!!

2011-12-19T22:51:00.001-06:00

I made this print from one of my favorite watercolors and a passage from the Bible that has truth no matter what your belief system. I do believe what you think about day after day definitely plays into your moods and response to life's day to day monotony and even surprises.

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely or admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - THINK ON THESE THINGS!!!!

Philippians 4:8

I look at this print and the words remind me to reset my thinking and the watercolor flowers help me to see beauty and change my perspective for the moment. When I've been churning the negative in my head for hours it is time to look up and choose something different to think about.. even if it starts with,

"I will think about this lovely pink peony... the fact that I had a meal today that I didn't have to worry about obtaining... I then think of my friend who called me today and made me laugh... "
you get where I'm going.

Size of the paper is 13"wide x 19" high with the watercolor in the middle with 1.5 inch border around. ETSY link here.

Local Christmas Art Event

2011-12-14T18:54:00.000-06:00

I had a great time setting up for this event here in St. Louis. Was a great event for a great cause!

2012 Calender

2011-12-10T16:22:00.000-06:00

I've put together a beautiful calender for 2012 with twelve of my favorite floral watercolors. I think this is my favorite one yet. You can click here, my Etsy shop to purchase or you can always contact me directly here if you prefer. I hope you like it!!!

August 2012

Calender Details: Size 8.5" x 5.5", 12 month calender with front and back cover. $18.00 - which includes shipping!!!

Mrs. Kasper's Roses

2011-11-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

Don't tell Mrs. Kasper, but I didn't LOVE this painting when I did it 6 years ago. But after a computer crash scare, I found it, hidden file within file. And you know what, I kinda like it now. We artists can sometimes be the harshest critic of our own work.

Rule #I (established years ago, by the way). If I hate, don't toss it. Put it away until my emotions settle and that awful internal critic in me is asleep. Always get back to it. Because you'll find with fresh eyes, it's not as bad as you thought. It never is. Isn't this true of so many things?

Think on These Things

2011-09-29T15:35:00.001-05:00

Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things.

-- Philippians 4:8

My head has been in that bad space where every thought turns negative, I'm sour, I'm anxious, I'm not the person I want to be. Sure there's a whole list of things I wish would change in my life and I think if these "things" change, I will be happier, more positive, more....

But I've lived long enough to know that's not how it goes. You must start from the inside out. I must choose where my mind lands and where my thoughts go when life isn't going according to my plans and people don't behave in kindness. It's so hard. That's why this verse from the Bible is great, mostly because it's true. Because what you think really can change your outlook and your person and just maybe your circumstance.

Sometimes it's hard for me to conjure up good thoughts when I'm in the midst of ruminating. So I created this "Think Good Things" spot that is a visual push for me to get out of my negative mindset.

This little corner in my dining room is a little visual sampler of the Philippians Bible verse. From there I can turn my thoughts on things that are true, honest, noble, praiseworthy and lovely.

Master Gardener

2011-09-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

"Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, growing the flowers and fruits, which he requires,

so may a man tend the garden of his mind,

weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of the right, useful, and pure thoughts.

By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life.

He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy,

how the thought-forces and mind-elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstance, and destiny."

– James Allen As A Man Thinketh

Beautiful Garden

2011-09-13T23:31:00.001-05:00

A friend called me the other night, in tears and with enough despair and hopeless in her voice that I wanted to cry with her and I did. I have watched my friend suffer from the temper and emotional instability of an extremely ill-equipped manager for the past three years. Her efforts and successes being award her with “you could do better” and there is a constant undertow of threats of being fired. This is a boss that rules with fear and is using the economic downturn to treat her employees with little to no respect. It breaks my heart. She fights the good fight, with head held high most days, but today was one of those days.

I try to help her gain perspective. We recently read and watched The Help together and we were grateful that a bad day at work didn’t mean physical harm like it did for so many African Americans living in the south only 50 years ago. I reminded her that she had more opportunity than most of the world, that she was lucky. She could see she had something to be thankful for… barely. And I felt like such a crummy friend pulling the whole world into her situation. I hate when people do that to me, and I apologized.

All I could do was be sad with her and tell her she really did work for the sickest most damaged woman living in the United States, well, at least in the mid-west. I listened and did so without trying to fix it. I wish I could have fixed it though. Then when she was finished and the tears became just sniffles I told her things I wanted her to hear. And it’s important to wait for the tears to finish, the words of pain to stop spewing and the expletives to disappear before you say anything. No one can hear during that time. It’s like trying to get someone who is puking to eat… sorry to be so growce.

I reminded my friend of who she is and always will be and it went something like this…

You are kind. You make good cookies. You make me laugh everyday. You bring value to my world and anyone who knows you. Basically you have a garden with lots of flowers! All kinds of flowers are in your garden, it is full of color and beauty and there’s no better place.

Here’s to my friend. Your garden is beautiful and no one can change that, not even a crummy boss.

Happily Ever After....

2011-07-31T22:47:00.001-05:00

I've been a skeptic of "happily ever after" mostly because it always seemed to be associated with finding prince charming, getting married, THEN you you get "happily ever after." In just 13 days, I get to marry my prince charming. But I have to say "happily ever after" began before I even met John. "Happily ever after" came with each friend I made that I could call a kindred spirit, with the ability to paint when I was exhausted from life, work and mean people, with every day I managed to hope. I guess that now that I'm engaged and soon to be a Missus, I see "happily ever after" in a different light. You can choose to live "happily ever after" NOW. Then you meet the guy....

Difficulties and Grandeur

2011-07-24T20:11:00.001-05:00

Hot Days

2011-07-23T17:37:00.001-05:00

Pointillism Flowers

These hot days... all I can do is sit still and move as slowly as possible. I'm taking my time to finish paintings and even slow down enough to try new things. (like the flowers above) Not too much thinking today, I get hot doing that too. I wish I had zinnias to paint, but it looks like I fed a rabbit family this year. I have sowed at least 5 packs of zinnias and might have five starts to show for it. But don't get me going because thinking about that gets me hot too.

3x3x3

2011-06-10T08:25:00.000-05:00

Three Artists - Three Mediums - Three Works

No, we aren't a country music trio, we are a trio of artists.Several months ago Brad Edwards, photographer, Michael Bolton, acrylic artist, and I, watercolor artist got together and decided to do an art show unlike any other we've done. I mean, come on, if you are like me, I've come to dread art shows. The ones where you are intimidated by the stark white walls, okay wine and you feel more comfortable standing in front of the plate of cubed cheese than a painting. Yes, you know what I'm talking about it. And as an artist, if I don't like going to them, why would I want to be a part of one. So we decided to try something a little less intimidating and a LOT more fun. Urban Chestnut Brewery is a new micro brewery here in St. Louis. With an amazing selection of beers and tasting plates to accompany their great brew assortment. Recently opened and in a fabulously renovated building - it was perfect for what we were trying to do - which was....

Have Fun
Make Art more approachable and available
Show our guests how each artists works and interprets what he/she sees
Support and express our vision for St. Louis - a city with immense history, beauty and potential who seems to be limping at the moment

So here's how it happened. Brad took several photos of St. Louis and each of us chose one photo Michael and I painted the three selections using our method and style. These three would be displayed at the brewery. Then on the night of the show, we did a live painting and had a silent auction.

Black and White Flight

This was my favorite painting that I did. It was quite a departure from my normal more realistic paintings. There are so many dilapidated buildings in St. Louis. You can see that many of them where once quite magnificent and I look at them and see beauty and sadness. I painted this from Brad's black and white image, and it was just too depressing for me to paint the image using greys and blacks. I saw so many great textures and to me that's what made this interesting.

Relic

and finally

Make sure you go to Brad's website to see the original images.

This experience was really wonderful for me as an artist too. Even though I love painting flowers, I found this to be a challenge I needed -- pushing me toward the abstract and to thinking about meaning and what my work says about the world around me. I strongly encourage artists to collaborate when possible, it truly is a growing experience and I hope to help bring more of these types of shows to St. Louis.

Ordinary Days

2011-05-21T22:44:00.000-05:00

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.

~John Ruskin

I've been working on my garden, planting seeds and hoping and praying that all I plant grows. I seem to have a great deal of faith when it comes to my garden. Or, I just enjoy the surprises that spring out of the dirt - or in my case carefully prepared soil. I think the rabbits are enjoying some of these surprises too. I actually threw a couple of stones at a rabbit hoping she would run off and not nibble on my flowers anymore. She's eaten my verbena, my marigolds and my lillies. She didn't budge. And as my boyfriend said, "Who throws stones at bunny rabbits?" Well, apparently I do when it comes to flowers. But the bunny didn't budge. She loves them as much as I do. I guess I'll have to plant more - some for me and some for the bunny.

Springing Back

2011-05-20T08:52:00.001-05:00

Phew, bet you thought spring would never get here. I'm a little slow getting back to my art and my blog. My plate has been so full. I wish I could just take the peas off and hide them underneath the rim of the plate. (Peas being the not so favorite duties of life.) But the artist in me that needs color and flowers never really dies, it's just been dormant as I've had to tackle the peas on the plate. But there have been some great new things as well. I will share more later...

Hibernating

2011-02-06T22:28:00.000-06:00

What a winter. If I could choose I would hibernate like a bear. I'm dreaming of my spring flowers and looking through magazines and catalogs. The painting is one I did after finding a type of flower I've never grown or even painted before. I long for the mornings I can sit out on my back porch and sip coffee. I even promise not to yell at the squirrels. Oh spring where are you? But I don't recall any better springs than the ones after long hard winters. Oh the metaphors... So for now I try not to let the longing kill the present moment.

My New Favorite Artist

2011-02-01T16:47:00.000-06:00

This little artist is my niece and she LOVES painting. And I love watching her paint. As you can tell...

Every Child is an Artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.

- Pablo Picasso

A Miraculous Christmas?

2010-12-16T00:25:00.000-06:00

Ah Christmas... such an "interesting" time of year. Even now as I write about it, I really don't know quite how to feel. I know I should be happy and cheerful but I'm not, mostly because yet again another Christmas year approaches and I didn't get it right. This year has been especially difficult to get it right, not just for me but for so many people. How can we get it right when incomes are cut, jobs are lost and so much fear of the future. Yet we all want that Martha Stewart perfect Christmas. I confess I want it, I will always want it because it's pretty and perfect and well, not like me.

In this grand Christmas effort there always comes a point where I have to look at from the beginning. Mary - a virgin, not your skanky kind of girl, found herself miraculously pregnant and pretty much all hell broke loose for her and her fiancee Joseph. Not an ideal beginning for a new marriage. But both Mary and Joseph encountered an angel of God and believed his word and promises. They believed what might have sounded to me insane. Then just about when this miraculous baby is due, the government places harsh demands on them and they must travel to be counted. And while traveling she goes into labor and has to have her baby, the child of God, in a barn. Just imagine, you see a cow, a donkey, cow poopy, and then a newborn baby, why yes, that IS the son of God. Then some freaked out shepherds show up kneeling if not groveling at the feet of this newborn with their lambs making enough noise to wake the baby, the baby that is the Son of God. Good grief! This birth, the one that brought us all this overwhelming, over consuming, over stimulating Christmas was far from perfect, ideal and easy.

So how do I, an average Joe, think I'm going to created anything perfect or ideal? And every Christmas I get the Martha Stewart smack down. Even today as I sat in my seat for 8 hours of jury duty, with a throbbing toothache - because of a filling I had replaced the day prior, I wondered how was I going to do it all and with what money. I simply looked at the list and just realized I couldn't and I crossed off some things. I guess that would be the "cow poopy" part of my story. Then I when I got home I noticed the Christmas wreath that was hanging on my front door was gone, stolen -- the one my friend made, the only one I had. Yes, definately Christmas isn't going to be perfect this year. But GOOD NEWS people, whether you believe what I do or not, Christmas will still be. There is much to be anticipated, do I really believe that to be true? Can there possibly be joy in the chaos, in the Christmas that doesn't go as planned? I have to believe!

My wish for you is that you believe in spite of the disappointments, thwarted plans and "cow poopy" that surrounds you. Believe in a miraculous birth!

It's a French Thing

2010-12-09T20:30:00.000-06:00

I've told you all about my love for Lafayette Square before - a taste of Paris in St. Louis - and I've painted so MANY watercolors of this part of town that you must be sick of me. But I never grow tired of it. I paint a little, dream a little and get a little taste of Paris too - in the form of a chocolate croissant to be exact. My absolute most favorite cafe is Rue Lafayette and before I met or even knew the owner Araceli I came here at least once a week to sit and remember my one visit to Paris so many years ago. I eat my chocolate croissant, trying not to devour it in three bites, sip my coffee and enjoy the view. No matter what time of year I come, it is beautiful. It's one of the nicest things I do for myself. And, if you ever come visit me it's definitely a place I will take you. So it is with so much excitement and honor that Araceli has invited me to show a few of my Lafayette Square paintings at her shop this Sunday.

And, for the first time I've had several 8x10 giclee prints made for purchase as well. (like the one pictured above) It's the perfect Sunday too because the Holiday Parlor Tour will be going on as well and you can get a peek inside of some of the Square's most fabulous historic homes.

So, dress in your most cozy cuddly coat, twist your scarf up like a Frenchmen, take the tour and finish up at Rue Lafayette. See you there.

Time

2010-11-18T23:16:00.000-06:00

Today, a busy day (but then isn't every day a "busy" day), I'm posting a quote that I need tattooed on my forearm so I can read as I'm speeding through life and sometimes even art.

What makes us truly human may not be how fast we are able to accomplish a task, but what we experience fully, carefully and quietly in the process. - Makoto Fujimura

I know this isn't a new idea, I've written of the importance of slowing down and taking your time before. But a couple of weekends ago I was reminded once again of this. I was a teaching a small group of beginning artists how to paint in watercolors. I kept it simple and had my students paint an apple. The most important thing I believe for beginners is to help them see - see the light, shadow and how color reflects. And while seeing transfer the best you can - with a little instruction from me on to your paper. I find it fascinating how people really enjoy and learn from this fairly simple, slow but thoughtful exercise. But, I had one student who rushed through, painted the apple, the napkin the wood of the table ...and whatever else he saw and he was finished. I thought for sure he wanted to shout, "I win". I pointed out a few elements he missed in his hurry, sat beside him and made him ONLY paint the apple and look at it. Sure he was a good draftsman but in his hurry he didn't create the best picture he was capable of. His girlfriend beside him confirmed that he rushes through everything he does. "He does everything in a hurry, " she said. That little lesson taught all of us something! And now I'm wondering can art change life, the every day life?

With so much around me pulling at me for my time and attention, I have to choose how I will spend my days. I could kick myself for all the time I spend on the web reading about other artists, or Facebook envying "friends" or even three stations on my "no cable" TV. Because I want to grow as an artist I need to take the time and do the work and not speed through it saying look how much I got done today.

Here's a letter from John Mayer that I really like and think he hits the nail on the head like only John can do.

Greetings from the land of complete thoughts and a strong sense of self worth!

A lot of you are wondering why I decided to quit Twitter. And I’m ready to explain it to you now that I’m off Twitter and can explain anything in a salient manner. It occurred to me that since the invocation of Twitter, nobody who has participated in it has created any lasting art. And yes! Yours truly is included in that roundup as well. Let me make sure that statement is as absolute and irrevocable as possible by buzzing your tower one more time: no artwork created by someone with a healthy grasp of social media thus far has proven to be anything other than disposable.

By now you’ve called up the fail whale and his birdie friends and told them to get their brass knuckles ready cause a fight is fixin’ to go down. But hear me out.

Has any artist, since they’ve begun to give you daily insights into their life created their best work yet? Are the best writers of our time on Twitter? You rip Tina Fey for shitting on the construct but she’s busy penning the best show on television. Aaron Sorkin says he’s never used Facebook, a statement that the guardians of the internet are up at arms over, yet he makes an artistic contribution that the media sites are talking about so much that they’ve developed that gross white stuff at the corners of their mouths. (What is that stuff?)

Those who decide to remain offline will make better work than those online. Why? Because great ideas have to gather. They have to pass the test of withstanding thirteen different moods, four different months and sixty different edits. Anything less is day trading. You can either get a bunch of mentions now or change someone’s life next year.

Hey, I didn’t make the rules. I’m just telling you what I’m pretty sure they are.

I’m not knocking Twitter for those who are trying to make a name for themselves. Some people need all the RTs they can get today. But for those who have already established themselves it’s a slow erosion of the artistic notion.

Great art has survived the changes in technology, from wax cylinder to tape to Pro Tools and beyond, but this is different. This affects the writing, the conception. You want to know the best way a musician can start making shit music? If they start referring to themselves as a “brand.” I’d rather hear an artist refer to themselves in the third person than as a “brand.” Jif peanut butter is a brand. A singer is a soul. People who think of themselves as a “brand” subsequently refer to themselves as “marketing” their “brand”. And when you convert your art into the art of real-time brand management, I suddenly have no more interest in it. I don’t respect marketing alone. Anybody can market something now. And that’s cool. When it’s time to market something.

I’m not a brand, and I don’t refer to myself in the third person. I’m a dude who plays guitar and writes songs. When I’m done writing and recording them I will market them. Luckily for those who are cracking their knuckles ready to knock my point of view, that won’t be for a long while. Because good shit takes a long time.

And this is going to take a very long time.

Currently listening to: everything -JM

Hang on Little Tomato

2010-11-04T20:00:00.001-05:00

Brrr... chilly nights and I have just a few tomatoes hanging on the vine. I'm sad to see them go and I've been thinking of this lovely little song written and performed by Pink Martini called "Hang on Little Tomato". It makes me happy. Go listen to it here. Someday I'm going to illustrate this song. I think it would make a great children's book.

The sun has left and forgotten me
It's dark, I cannot see
Why does this rain pour down
I'm gonna drown
In a sea
Of deep confusion

Somebody told me, I don't know who
Whenever you are sad and blue
And you're feelin' all alone and left behind
Just take a look inside and you'll find

You gotta hold on, hold on through the night
Hang on, things will be all right
Even when it's dark
And not a bit of spark

Sing-song sunshine from above
Spreading rays of sunny love

Just hang on, hang on to the vine
Stay on, soon you'll be divine
If you start to cry, look up to the sky
Something's coming up ahead
To turn your tears to dew instead

And so I hold on to his advice
When change is hard and not so nice
You listen to your heart the whole night through
Your sunny someday will come one day soon to you.

Makoto Fujimura

2010-11-03T17:15:00.001-05:00

This summer my brother loaned me a book entitled Refractions - A Journey of Faith, Art and Culture written by a Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist, Makoto Fujimura . I have been chewing on it all summer and finally have decided this is a book I need to always have at my finger tips. Regardless of your spiritual bent I think this book can speak to the soul of every individual who is an artist and wonders what place he or she has in this world. For years and I have mourned the fact that didn't have a draw or talent for medicine, accounting, lawyering (I know it's not a word) - practical gifts. Gifts that are deemed worthy because of their ability to bring in money. I've always wondered allowed to God, "Why did you make me love painting and writing so much." All my life I've heard that these things I love to do are "only" or "just" hobbies. In fact just a couple of weeks ago a woman said to me while referring to my art, " I don't have any hobbies like you Amy." I was screaming inside. HOBBY!?!?! But that is our culture. Art seems to hold a lesser place than let's say accounting. Art is just a nice hobby. Is it?

For you new artists exploring your creative side, it might at first feel like a hobby, but then at some point you will realize this is as important as your heart or lungs or feet to your existence. Mr. Fujimura delves into the spiritual importance of art and points out how art changes our world, reflects a better world and is as important to humanity as any other profession. I'm flustered in my words trying to tell you how good this book is, just go read it. You'll see.

Thank you to the St. Louis Art Fans

2010-10-25T20:26:00.000-05:00

Thank you for coming to the Art Underground Fall Quarterly Show. This show was very personal to me – my first show, in my favorite part of the city, at my brother Phil’s amazing home. I never dreamt I would end up living in St. Louis. But it’s been a city I’ve fallen in love with since moving here three years ago. These watercolors are an exploration and documentation of my new home town. Lafayette Square in particular is my favorite part of the city and I’ve been coming here to paint from day one. I love that I’ve found a home in a city full of history yet brimming with possibility. There’s a great deal more of exploring and painting to be done here.

I dedicated this show to Philip and Becca Woods,

“Thank you for your big love and steady faith!”

Art Underground Art Show - October 23

2010-10-15T18:30:00.000-05:00

Abbey on the Park

Write it in ink folks. My first and biggest art show here in St. Louis will be in approximately a week. I'm so excited and yes, a little stressed. I'll be framing all weekend long - and if you are a reader of my blog at all you know how much I really dislike framing...grrrr. But it is coming together. I do find when I take my time, it just works. Here are more details about the show on this here website ART UNDERGROUND. I'm so honored to be sharing the space with two other artists. One of the artists John White is a photographer who moved to St. Louis the same time I did three years ago and this is his first show as well. For those of you not local, I will be posting pictures of the show and will be making a few prints available for purchase after the show - like the abbey above. I hope to see you if you can make it and please do find me. I'll be the one sweating but smiling.

Abbey on the Park

1505 Missouri Ave. #2E
Saint Louis, MO

October 23
6:00 pm to 11:30 pm

Smooth Sailing?

2010-09-25T22:26:00.001-05:00

... nothing by blue skies... If only

This past week I received and e-mail from someone who visited my blog and wanted some advice. Interestingly she was asking for advice on life questions that had nothing to do with art. I was surprised on a couple of levels the first being that non- visual artists DO read art blogs and the second surprise was her statement that said "it is so good to see a woman rise above and and turn things around in such a positive way." I said that out loud to Kitty who was bathing herself next to me and I do believe she rolled her eyes. I have been thinking about this for awhile and it's flattering as heck but the reality is that my life isn't one that is the most positive. I simply choose to ONLY write positive inspiring words on this blog. I need it and you need it. But that certainly doesn't mean my life is perfect. There are a few things that have helped me get through tough times like unemployment, divorce, more unemployment and just that fear that keeps you up through the night where you think you are going to crack just from crying so hard. And these things are...

1. My creative abilities

2. Great wonderful friends who encourage me and laugh with and AT me.

3. My family

And all of these things are gifts from God. So because so much has been given to me I feel compelled to used this blog to bring good, beauty, encouragement to those who read it. Like you, I get battered all day and most days and from many directions. For me to use this blog to bash life, bash my job, people or god forbid other artists, I would just be contributing more pain and ugliness. I determined long ago that this would not be the place for that. So please fellow bloggers, artists, struggling souls, remember when you watch the "stars" on TV, read a blog, look at your neighbor they don't have it all together and somehow you missed the boat. We can craft a life for display. I chose to create a blog that uplifts. I'm not trying to hide my inadequacies, just not focus on them. But most importantly, please don't wait to have a perfect life, a perfect set up, a perfect ______(fill in the blank) before you let your creative spirit fly. I've had to learn to paint while crying. And trust me, you paint just as well, if not better.

Peonies

2010-09-23T19:19:00.000-05:00

Peonies are long past, but this is a little 8X10 watercolor I did this spring and finally got around to posting. But just a reminder to all you gardeners, fall is the time to transplant and divide this beautiful flower. I'll be doing that in a few weeks and to those local, I'll be happy to share if you would like a peony for your yard.

My Flowers

2010-09-20T23:02:00.000-05:00

Where flowers bloom so does hope.

Lady Bird Johnson

I guess I was growing hope as much as flowers this year. This little vase holds all flowers I grew this year - marigolds, bitty zinnias and lavender. For more info about this painting just go here. And there's alot more hope where that came from.

(Thanks Sue at A Brush with Color for having so many great quotes that I borrow! She's a kindred spirit - watercolor artist and quote collector.)

Zinnias, Zinnias, Zinnias

2010-09-19T18:37:00.000-05:00

For purchase info click here.

It seems like such a long, long summer - so very hot and full of lots of work and even more changes. But one thing that keeps me sane is that you really can't screw up when you plant zinnias. They are the easiest to grow and I must say the happiest flower I know. It looks like they're laughing in my yard. It's a gray, rainy day here in St. Louis so I must hurry and get back to my place on the couch and enjoy the dreary coolness. (My cat is snoring as I type this - silly thing.)

To purchase click here

These Times

2010-09-05T22:38:00.000-05:00

"Whether it's the best of times

or the worst of times,

it's the only time we've got." - Art Buchwald

Hope you all enjoy your day tomorrow - love Labor Day. I look forward to more beautiful weather and a day of painting some flowers from my garden. My marigolds and zinnias did well this year, but heck if you can't grow marigolds.... Make the most of your time, I will, even if it means sitting still and breathing.

First Watercolor Painting (gasp)

2010-08-27T21:18:00.000-05:00

It was this time of year nineteen years ago that I signed up for my first watercolor class. And this here is the "lovely" (cough) little painting I did in the basement of my parents house testing out my new watercolors that I bought for the class. This old set of chest of drawers sat very patiently while I painted it on heavy sketch paper - not even watercolor paper. Over the years of cleaning and moving eight times, I kept this beginning. It's a reminder of growth. I can look back and say,

"See I HAVE improved and I have proof."

I only wish I could say this was true for many other areas of life. As we age do we improve? I'm a bit of skeptic these days. "Things" just don't get better because I get older. Improvement is imminent when a person is deliberate. I have been diligent at becoming a better artist. It has been slow and frustrating but I do see improvement. This little painting leaves me wondering what other areas of life should I be working on with the same diligence and perseverance. Patience with people? Generosity? Being less self-absorbed? yes Yes YES. Today, I think watercolor painting is easier...

RL Gang - A Watercolor Illustrated Story

2010-08-27T08:06:00.000-05:00

Thought this little video was so sweet with the fabulous watercolors illustration. They are divine in their simplicity. Have a look here.

SPAIN - The Watercolors

2010-08-14T13:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome .It's been nearly a month since my vacation in Spain. I haven't been out of the country for many many years and so this was quite an adventure... sometimes an exhausting adventure especially since I know very little Spanish. But there are elements of vacation that I LOVE and they remain the same no matter where I go. To me vacation is more than just laying around - it's a vacation of the senses-new sites, new sounds, new tastes.

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Spain. I spent several hours sketching while my travel bud slept on a bench.

An old building in a Madrid square done in pen and "loosened" up with water.

I can always find geraniums. This is pool side in Tenerife at a beautiful new resort on the south side of the island. Lots of tourists from Europe come here to vacation.

Pool side at the Regency Country Club La Estania. I was up very early and sat and watched the sun rise. The light is so different in this part of the world. The Canary Islands are close to the northern part of Africa. And I loved painting these white empty chairs before all the topless tourists filled them.

Looking out on the balcony my first morning in Tenerife.

My paper souvenirs from my trip to Madrid and Tenerife

Spanish homes on the island.

Los Gigantes on the the west side of Tenerife Island. Huge cliffs tower over the ocean. It's the prettiest part of the island.

Remembering to BE a Geranium

2010-08-11T23:07:00.003-05:00

It's stifling hot here in the Mid-West. As soon as I step outside in the morning, the air weighs so heavy on me I have trouble breathing. My garden is looking a little heavy too and I don't have many things blooming. My garden could be synonymous for my spirit. Not much blooming, just trying to bare the heat and stay alive. Changes at work, uncertainty of tomorrow, the constant longing for....

It feels like my heart is burdened as much as my flowers are.

But on my porch in their terracotta pots, the geraniums thrive and bloom. I can't help but smile yet, at the same time want to kick the pots off the porch. My "name sake" flower, if you will, geraniums - thrive and bloom best when the hot sun bears down and their soil dries up, reminds me of, well ... me or what I'm supposed to be - strong, independent, capable and best under pressure. But lately I've been wishing for a little TLC, a little peace, some cool ground... just a promise and someone who will keep it.

I've been drawn to geraniums for years, ever since I broke down and cried in art class while trying to paint my first one. (Here's the story.) I learned to paint them years ago and have never tired of them. When I moved to California on my own after nearly ten years of marriage and having to start over again, there were geraniums lining the streets it seemed. In California, they grow all year long and can handle a great deal of wear and tear. Baby Kitty liked to sit in a pot next to one on my porch in North Hollywood. I've left a trail of potted geraniums behind with my friends as I moved from place to place. Some of those plants are still alive. I see them in every place I visit and have tons of pictures of them. And while dating a guy years ago in L.A. he jokingly called me GerAmyUm because I painted them so much. The name stuck, but he didn't stick around - thank goodness.

And even though I have been able to overcome alot, there has been so much that is out of my control that makes me crazy and angry. I'm tired of bearing up under the heat and pretending like it doesn't bother me. I have worked hard at creating a life -- my job, my home, my relationships, my art... I work hard. Maybe it's time to just BE.... If I bloom, Great. If not, Great. Am I not still a geranium?

"Whole hearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness. It means cultivating the courage, compassion and connection to wake up in the morning and think, no matter what gets done and how much is left undone; I am enough." - Brene Brown from the blog Ordinary Courage.

Webster Groves, Missouri

2010-08-04T17:06:00.002-05:00

Every May, there is a plein air competition called Paint Webster in Webster Groves. I participated in it the first year I moved here and had a good experience and even sold the piece I worked on all afternoon. The following year in 2009 I excitedly jumped in again. It was a perfect day for painting out doors and I had a location all lined up. I set up my little outdoor studio and dug in. An hour later I was so frustrated with my painting, I abandoned it and decided to try another one at a different spot. This time I chose the quad area of town and sat in a place where I wouldn't get so pulled in by the details. I worked for an hour or so - still frustrated but pressing on. Then the dentist whose house/practice I was painting came over and said a kind word to me. I would have happily abandoned my work for conversation, but felt I should finish. Then not long after the lawn mowers started and I was in the way of the weekly quad mow. Talk about distraction! I had to pick up my portable studio to avoid the path of the tractor. At this point I was 4 hours into it - cold, tired and just about ready to throw my painting under the wheels of the lawn mower, I decided to call it a day and chalk it up to a bad temper and grass.

That was over a year ago.

I found the painting recently pressed between watercolor paper and mat board. I set it out and just looked at it for a couple of days and I came to the conclusion...

"It wasn't bad! So why did I give up?"

First of all let me point out the most important thing. Never throw away a painting no matter how you "feel" about it. NEVER. Your feelings change, the painting doesn't. And I have to say I learned some very important lessons in this process.

1. I'm a horrible judge of my own work WHILE I'm working.

2. My feelings taint my judgment.

3. Feelings get in the way of painting... sometimes.

4. Stepping away is important.

I put a few, yes just a few, finishing touches on this painting and am actually proud to post it. May you take these art lessons and apply them to non-art things too people!!!!

Home with my Zinnias

2010-07-31T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hey there my blogger friends, I know it's been awhile. I've been so busy with work, travel and a little vacation. In the next couple of weeks I'll post some of the paintings I did on my travels - just have some finishing touches.

This is the first cutting of Zinnias from my garden - love painting these too. And they look so pretty in a beautiful terracotta pitcher I bought in Spain this past month. I'll tell you more about that later. But for now just glad to be home. This is what I do once I get home after I've been away for a bit.

1. Hug and kiss Baby Kitty until she howls and wishes I would leave again.

2. Cut flowers from my garden.

3. Thank God that my home is still standing when I get back.

4. Wish I had cut the grass before I left.

5. Go see Kennedy to see if she missed me - so far she hasn't noticed.

6. Make coffee and sit on my back porch.

7. Weed.

8. Paint the flowers I just cut for a vase.

Obsession

2010-07-18T23:39:00.000-05:00

In between I see beauty, smell flowers, feel the sun...

In between I dip my brush and change the paper.

Obsession is "the state in which an individual becomes obsessed with an attachment to another person, being or object."

A warning to my fellow bloggers, please be careful with what you post. I recently learned a good friend of mine who is being stocked/hounded/pursued by an aggressive follower to his blog. It's hard to believe but all kinds are out there.

Remember, blogs only show you a glimpse of a person's life. The glimpse he or she may want to share - just a corner of the table, a corner of life.

Significant Days

2010-06-02T19:00:00.001-05:00

... so the days through which we struggle,

finding no way,

but never losing the light

will be the most significant we are called to live.

- Robert Collger

GerAmyUm

2010-06-01T19:07:00.001-05:00

I don't know why this isn't finished yet... this little story... the pictures that go with it. Perhaps I've just put so much pressure on myself. It means so much to me. Perfectionism is a tremendous block to its completion. I'm pulling it out, breaking it down and tackling this project this summer. Because, summer time is the best time for geraniums and GerAmyUm!

Pity Party Crashed

2010-05-31T19:00:00.003-05:00

I was glad to see this weekend come, I mean who doesn't enjoy a three day weekend. But now, on Sunday night after two days of keeping company with myself, I'm feeling a bit blue. Well, at least I was. Once again I found myself alone at my large dining room table with a cup of coffee, a couple of magazines, some books and my "new" sketch book. On most days this is a lovely little setting I really enjoy. But today, I was a bit lonely. I've only been in St. Louis for two years and am still adjusting to life here. It's so different than my life in California. Most weekends were filled with cooking out, going to Disney, or just meeting up. My life was far from perfect there, but from my point of view, alone at my kitchen table, it seemed fairly perfect and so I could feel the pity party beginning. "Poor me" having to sip coffee alone in this pretty tea cup that my girlfriend gave me..." Then I smiled remembering her, and how I loved these tea cups. They're extra special because they're old and when she gave them to me she knew I would love them... and she was right. I looked around the room and saw all kinds of gifts and reminders of friendships - old and new, past and even present. I have so many lovely things either given as gifts from family and friends or purchased on a fun outing. Yes, I'm alone... but only for the moment.

Discovering Artists on the Web

2010-05-30T23:40:00.003-05:00

Occasionally I do a little web surfing to see what the other artists out in the world are up to and I just love to share their work. I mean, sure I do what I do, but it just tickles me pink to see what others create. So, this is Andrea Joseph you can get to her blog here. And she does these amazing ball point pin sketches. BALL POINT PEN!!!! I don't live to draw, drawing is just a means for me to get to the watercolor. But her art and fun perspective really encourages me to work on my drawing. I just ordered my first "Zine" from her Etsy shop and can't wait to get it.

Then there's Geninne's Art Blog. I love her spirit, her calender collages, her birds and how she seems to make every day a special moment. There seems to be nothing mundane about this artist. Because of her I now own a bottle of white ink. I'm learning to be more adventurous and playful with my art. Sometimes it seems like every piece I paint is a "WORK OF ART" and not about playing, learning and trying new things. Thanks Geninne for reminding me to play and explore.

Ranunculas... again

2010-05-25T23:41:00.001-05:00

Well, what do you expect... if you love a flower you can never paint them enough. The season for ranunculas is long gone. I never seem to get enough of them though. I did this mixed media early this spring it includes watercolors (of course), Chinese Sumi ink and Conte crayons. (You can learn more about the painting here.) I had to post something happy because I lost my sketch book on my flight last week. I've been looking for it over the weekend and finally had to just face the fact that I left it on the plane. It must have fallen out of my bag. I called the airline this afternoon to see if they've found it. I'm crossing my fingers. It's not that the art is extraordinary in these little journals. It's just they go with me everywhere and I collect quotes and ideas and I love doing little watercolor paintings in them. Some of which I share with the blogging community like this one or this one. Over the years I have accumulated 22 sketchbooks and this if the first one I've lost. Oh POOO!!!! If you found a painter's sketchbook would you keep it?

A Lil' Bit of Beauty

2010-05-23T23:24:00.001-05:00

Many years ago I had a friend who told me that when she was having a bad day she would call a friend - usually one she hadn't spoken to in awhile to catch up and see how they were. I think this is probably one of the best pieces of advice I've ever heard and have used. As Anne LaMott wrote, "A sick, worried mind can't heal a sick, worried mind." But sometimes the hardest thing you can do is just get out of your own head. Another friend said to me a couple of weeks ago that my mind was like a bad neighborhood and I shouldn't go there alone. Or, at all... I love my funny, wise friends. I owe them so much for keeping me laughing and sane and showing me a different way. Then, I can move forward and help someone else get through that bad neighborhood. I think that's primarily why I blog. Sure I like showing you what I paint. But I have found that painting not only makes me happy but it also makes others happy. And for some reason that's really important to me. There's so much in the world draining us of our creativity, energy and joy, we really must find ways to put some beauty back. And if it's as simple as drawing a smiley face in the dirt on your car window, painting a vase of roses or walking through a bad neighborhood with a friend, it's a good thing. It's important. It matters.

Patience...

2010-05-20T23:25:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, heck most of the time you have no choice but to wait.

Wait and see...Because really, do you have as much control and power as you think you have? I am not a patient person when it comes to myself and all I want to accomplish in this life, with my days or even in my moments. I'm great at preparing the flower beds, planting the seeds in nice little rows, but waiting for the flowers to grow... that's another thing. And, there's nothing I can do but wait, because flower seeds don't care how I feel or what I want. They will sprout when they sprout. I'm learning patience because really I have no choice. Yelling at the flower seeds, getting mad, throwing a fit doesn't make the flowers come any quicker.

I did this picture of Noah and the animals waiting on the ark awhile back but I still love it, it's a calm reminder that I need to accept that waiting is part of life and maybe even find something to enjoy about the "wait". Eventually the water WILL recede and the flowers WILL come.

Kathy D Inspires Me

2010-05-15T08:46:00.004-05:00

... no I'm not going to rap or write a poem today. This is just a little "shout out" to a creative whom I've seen grow - and shrink a great deal since meeting her in 2002. I wrote out this recipe because it's my favorite for blueberry muffins - it's yummy, it's easy and it's from scratch - the way cooking ought to be. As I was working on this I thought of Kathy D - she doesn't use recipes, she doesn't have to. She's one of those creative souls who cooks with her heart and her senses and loves the hunt for the freshest and best ingredients. Then, when she has created something that make her heart sing - she gets to eat it and her tongue and stomach applaud her newest creation. Yes, that happens on a daily basis. She feeds her tummy, her heart, her soul with her creativity. Sounds just perfect doesn't it. Well, it's not. Not by a long stretch. The hard part for Kathy D is that she has to support herself by working retail. And as you all know, retail is brutal. For me I think it's brutal because people in general can be quite rude and unthinking about their words and tone. I've worked a million different jobs and really wish people (including myself) could be more mindful of how they treat one another. It all matters. Really. Once several years ago, I was pretty down and out - no money, no direction, just FULL of desire. So, I went to McDonalds. (I realize for some, that could make things worse, but I like McDonalds and I could afford that little pick me up.) The lady at the counter who took my order for my double cheeseburger and chocolate shake told me she really liked my dress and it looked very pretty on me. I almost cried. I needed that more than the double cheeseburger. I'm not advocating tossing out random compliments. I'm just here to remind myself and you all to keep in mind that creative spirit you cross paths with everyday. Most days Kathy does well and is able to create in spite of her circumstances. Still it's not always easy and I think the miraculous part is creating, being and moving forward no matter what the world around you - including spouses, bosses, the public is yelling at you. So today - I raise my fork to Kathy D - she's creating no matter what because it's in her soul and I know she'll be just fine.

Meow

2010-05-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

(Watercolor Pet Portraits)

You can almost here her purr can't you? I know I maybe a little bit crazy cat lady-ish. But she's my buddy and has been for ten years. I'm her best and ONLY friend, so I take that very seriously. Besides, she loves to pose and sits still for a pretty long time when she knows she's being painted. In fact, when she was just a young thing, she would sit in the middle of my still life's that I would set up on my dining room table.

Crazy attention seeking thing... I created a diva by painting her too much I think. But I have to say, she's in my top 5 things I like to paint. So, I will probably continue to paint Her "Fluffiness."

Snot Bubbles of Gratitude

2010-05-12T19:34:00.005-05:00

This past March I received an e-mail commission from the daughter-in-law of an acquaintance. I would like to say friend, but I had only spoken to this woman a handful of times, like her lots, but really didn't know her well. So you can imagine what a surprise it was when her daughter in-law contacted me requesting a French flower shop picture for her mother-in-law as a gift for Mother's Day. I was happy to oblige, especially since I just LOVE painting French flower shops. The final painting is the one you see above. I sent it off and well, forgot about it. So this past Monday, I received the nicest thank you phone call. And I must say, it just made my week. This woman was so happy, so surprised and liked it so much that she cried - yes, cried!! And I quote, "I cried so hard there were snot bubbles." I was completely floored. Now, I realize that said "snot bubble" watercolor above may not be cry worthy to you, but when you think of all the hearts of love that went into it, you might just cry too. She had a daughter -in-law who payed attention to her interests and loved her enough to plan this gift ahead of time and her entire family pitched in to buy this original. And my small part was to paint something for her that her family already knew she would love and cherish. I'm just honored to be a part of the process.

Lafayette Square in St. Louis

2010-05-09T21:20:00.003-05:00

For those of you who don't know much about St. Louis, Lafayette Square is a hidden gem - and my favorite place in the city. A little edge of the city that feels like Europe and yes there is a fabulous cafe that makes the best chocolate croissants in town Rue Lafayette. You almost expect people to be greeting each other with Bonjour as you stroll down the sidewalk. The entire park is enclosed by intricate rod iron gates. This is a fairly large painting at 22"x30". I hope to get it framed this week - something French of course. Bonsoir

Peonies Galore

2010-05-04T22:44:00.003-05:00

I could hardly let this day go by without a quick watercolor of peonies from "my," yes, "MY" front yard. You see, I haven't had a yard of my own for nearly a decade and these are a glorious celebration for me in many ways. I'm just so thankful that the previous owner planted so many. When you walk by them, you think someone sprayed a little too much perfume. Or if you enter a room where I've put a few in vases you might ask who lit a candle. How I wish there was a scratch and sniff link so you could smell them. Then this past weekend I picked a little miniature bouquet. Again, it was nice to pick them from my very own garden. Nearly 8 years ago when I first moved to Southern California I was blown away by the flowers - all the time and everywhere. So many people with yards and flowers that seemed to take over. Did these people know what they had? You really don't understand and appreciate flowers until they're gone or you have to experience winter again. Though I don't love winter, I do think it's a necessary part of really feeling grateful and thankful for Spring. Anyway, late at night I would wonder my California neighborhood and well, um, yeah, steal flowers.... I know its wasn't exactly up and up. But some how I justified it by saying the rose bush really did need a pruning and at times I really felt my sanity was at stake when I first moved to Los Angeles - alone, single, unsure of what my future held. Today my friend Judy said that my Peonies were hope. Yes, flowers do remind us of hope and I think that's why I paint them constantly and never grow tired of them. We need hope as much as we need flowers.

Lilac

2010-04-20T22:39:00.002-05:00

My Favorite Geranium Painting

2010-04-06T23:10:00.002-05:00

This is my favorite geranium watercolor painting that I've done. It hangs at my parents house. And I have to say this one makes me happiest of all. Perhaps it is time to end on a happy note. Spring is coming - new growth, new possibility maybe it's time to plant a new flower. Lots of rain is good for flowers. It's hard to remember that when it's falling. I'm not sure what I'm to do with all the pressures that surround me. I've always do best under a certain amount of pressure, but lately it's been so negative that the very joy of painting seems to be a burden. I'll look at this like rain, lots of rain... to bring lots of flowers.

French Flower Shop

2010-03-11T20:53:00.003-06:00

(For sale at my Etsy shop - just click here)

I really couldn't paint of enough of these flower store fronts. There seem to be so few here in the US. Flowers don't seem to mean as much to the average Americans as they do to Europeans. Flowers are for special occasions we Americans think. But isn't everyday a special occasion? I started buying flowers for myself on a regular basis right after my "D" (divorce). They made me happy. And, even when I really couldn't afford them, I'd buy a small bunch anyway. To me, they keep me sane, happy and hopeful. If I had the money I would open me one these beautiful French flower shops right here in St. Louis - and where there weren't flowers there would be paintings of flowers. ... sigh... it's fun dreaming sometimes.

Tools

2010-02-24T00:54:00.006-06:00

I bought three new tools not too long ago. And they were laying on my table top. Well, more like posing - that's the way I saw it. So, I just had to paint them. So clean and new. I mean, who paints tools? I do, especially when there are no flowers at the moment.
And once again I'm reminded even tools look pretty when painted in watercolors.

Gouache and play

2010-02-21T23:32:00.010-06:00

Tiled stairs at the San Antonio Riverwalk.

I've been looking at some old art projects and found some little journal paintings I did years ago using ink and gouache on natural kraft paper and paper bags. "Experimenting!" I realized I haven't put the effort into experimenting or simply "playing". So I'm pulling out some different mediums to play and see what happens... Art play. Yep, you got to do it. You got to just play without worrying if you're producing a picture.

A red geranium... of course

A New Orleans cemetery

A cactus at one of the missions in San Antonio, Texas

Illustration Friday - "adrift"

2010-02-18T23:30:00.001-06:00

My Morning

2010-02-14T20:22:00.008-06:00

My favorite part of the day is morning... and I could "write" about it. But somehow telling you it through my quick watercolors is more fun and certainly more interesting. Isn't everything prettier when painted?

Morning Part 1 Morning Part 2 Morning Part 3 - AHHHHHHIn my opinion there are three very important elements to a good morning.

1. Great Coffee
2. Drinking from a beautiful mug or tea cup
3. A kitty cat who is always happy to see you in the morning (even if it is because she knows you're going to feed her)

BYW - Mood Board

2010-02-06T12:06:00.002-06:00

The aim of life is to live
and to live means to be aware
joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely
aware.
- Henry Miller

Can't Beet This!

2010-02-04T20:12:00.005-06:00

I've been trying to do more cooking and more eating of vegetables. I'm not as enthusiastic as I was, say a month ago. I thought by painting the beets I might enjoy them more. They were good - but it's just not the same as Cheetos. Where are the Cheeto flavored vegetables and will I ever really LOVE eating vegetables like I love painting them?

"Focused" for Illustration Friday

2010-01-31T17:11:00.011-06:00

The topic this week for Illustration Friday is

Focused

Needless to say I have very little of it and I'm discovering through a course I'm taking on line that focus is one element necessary to achieve success. I would have to say focus is my weakest area. "So much going on, so many great ideas, so many things to do, things to paint, things to see, money to earn, clothes to iron" - you get the picture. So this is a visual of my life/my mind. And what it takes for me to get to the point - that tiny dot and paint. And really, all the other stuff really doesn't hold as much meaning as "this" thing called art. Yet all that other stuff can be quite a distraction - a deterrent from the thing in life that is most important.

To the Artists....

2010-01-29T20:22:00.000-06:00

TGIF - Flower Friday

2010-01-29T17:13:00.003-06:00

Monet said, "I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." And I certainly can say that for myself too. So in celebration of Friday and Monet and flowers and art and, and... you name it, I bought a big bunch of tulips and purple hyacinth and boy do they smell lovely. From this day forward I declare Fridays - Flower day.

TGIFF
Thank God It's Flower Friday.

So glad to see Friday come and there's soooo much I want to do this weekend. SO much.
1. Paint, paint, paint
2. Read read read
3. paint some more.

I have a whole list of things I want to work on. So stay tuned for lots of watercolors!

Mopping vs. Painting

2010-01-16T23:51:00.007-06:00

I love to clean. And I think the reason is because I know that if I use cleaner with sponge or brush, it is clean. Be it a floor, a window or a toilet bowl, the end product after all your work is a clean product. Sure there are a few tricks and you must be thorough but generally if you clean, it is clean.

This, is not true with painting. I know what to do, but sometimes it just doesn't turn out like I envision or plan - I guess that's what makes it a craft...

Today I think I was more successful at mopping. When finished I had a very clean floor. But this little practice painting ended up to "satisfying". But for now, I love that I have really, really clean floors . Here's to practice and perseverance ... may we embrace both!!!!

(Click here to visit my Etsy shop and where this painting is for sell.)

Just a picture

2010-01-11T21:45:00.005-06:00

I've used all my words for the day, well, almost. I'm wringing out the last few words of my Monday right here. But, I'm never too tired for pictures.

Illustration Friday - The First One - RENEW

2010-01-07T21:32:00.005-06:00

So, one of the many things I want to do in 2010 is participate in Illustration Friday. Every week I get an e-mail from this group with a word - a single word and you are supposed to create an illustration for that word. God only knows how long I've been meaning to participate. I get the e-mail every Friday and just put it off. It's hard. Especially if you've never done it. Heck, I'm the kind of artist that usually gets to work on exactly what I want - "don't you tell me what to do!" Well, NO MORE! I'm not going to get anywhere with that attitude and besides this will push me to hopefully become a better artist.

So, the word for the week is "RENEW".

Half Finished

2010-01-05T22:43:00.006-06:00

I have no less than 8 paintings going on upstairs in the attic studio that I love to hide in. Tonight I just jumped from one idea to the next and next thing you know there were 4 more half finished paintings and now it's 11 at night. (I try very hard to stick to a bed time because of my day job.) I love inspiration and when things go well like tonight I wish I could paint until dawn. This is a simple watercolor I did for my dad for Christmas - it's a very important tool he uses daily - his Waterman pen.

Putting away Christmas

2010-01-04T21:16:00.003-06:00

The last decoration went into its box today. Christmas flew by and now I just want to sleep for a week on a beach somewhere and plot out a great adventure for the coming year.

The last decade was a rough one and I'm glad to see it come to an end. For the first time in many years I felt content, warm, thankful as I watched the ball drop in the Big Apple. This year of course I want great and grand changes, but I would much rather have peace with myself. This is truly a very delicate balance. The rest of this week is thinking about all the things I love and just how I'm going to get to do it all. More to come...

Peonies and Such...

2009-12-02T00:03:00.003-06:00

Leaving White

2009-11-17T19:38:00.006-06:00

(watercolor by Charles Reid)

The style I love most in watercolor painting is one that leaves plenty white of the paper showing through - meaning not every inch of the paper is painted. I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but to me this is vital in watercolor painting because the paper, the white, the blank space, is as important as the color brushed on. When painting you have to plan for those spaces and even practice a bit of self control and wait. For some reason it's my tendency to want to fill in everything - like I'm coloring in a coloring book. Why is that? Even as I go through the day with work, errands and even my hobbies, I feel like every moment must be productive, "colored in" in order to be a "good" day. Quite frankly I don't believe I'm leaving enough white of the paper. I'm not talking laying in front of the TV and tuning out. I'm talking about

being intentional ...

mindful...

sitting still...

not coloring...

leaving some white.
Just like in painting, if we take a moment and let that white shine through - the color becomes stronger - more effective, more meaningful. Is not life meant to be more than just ploughing through quickly so you can race to the finish line and shout I won!!!! In the mean time, your work - art, sales, teaching, writing, adding numbers, flipping burgers, whatever -is finished but is it your best work?

Several years ago I taught a close friend to watercolor paint. Once a week she came to my place after work and we would set up a still life and paint. One night she really messed up a very nice painting in an effort to finish it so she could go home. So she hurried through, not thinking or planing - just filling in and quite honetly you could tell.

Just something I'm thinking about as I wrestle with doing life and art better.

(This is the work of Charles Reid - one of my favorite watercolor artists because of how he shows light by leaving the white of the paper. I recommend any of his books - he offers great advice about his technique. Better yet, take a workshop.)

Just a House - but a Very Loved House

2009-11-04T18:34:00.005-06:00

There's so much to remember from life, maybe too much. We have photos of so many things we love and want to remember. But I think a painting of something you love really owns a special place in your heart and memory. Be it an animal, a place you visited, flower bouquet or in this case a first home, there are important moments that need to be remembered in a special way. I was so honored when I was asked to paint the first home of a special family here in St. Louis. She chose me out of all the artists she knows because I captured the way she wanted to remember her first home. I'm so honored and flattered. The craziness is that they are trying to sell it and have been having a difficult time. Can you imagine this place not being grabbed up? Contact me if you need a beautiful house that's been loved and is full of love.

I Hate Being Sick! (and other deep thoughts...)

2009-08-25T22:31:00.004-05:00

I nearly fell over when I realized I haven't posted anything on my little blog in over a month. Since July 1 my life can not be called anything but a whirlwind and now it has come down to a box of tissues and Halls lemon cough drops. The body is an amazing thing... it will only take so much wear and tear before it demands your attention and care. And, I have to admit, I've not been taking very good care of myself... "too busy!"
Currently the best position to be in, one where I don't cough, is to be still, very still. And so I organized, planned and got a better grip on all that's before me. Later, I clipped a few zinnias from the pots on my porch and painted. These are my "Still Day Zinnias"

Watercolor Collage for Evalynn

2009-07-23T23:39:00.004-05:00

A commission I finished recently. Within the watercolor there are elements that are collaged into the art that are special to the recipient making it a very personal and original gift- hard to do especially when you don't know the person. But I liked this piece. I love this part of town here in St. Louis too.

Oh so busy...

2009-06-26T23:20:00.003-05:00

I've been neglecting my blog. Life does get busy and currently there is so much going on. It seems that all I can manage to commit to at this time is a weekly posting. So for those of you who are faithful followers (and I know who you are ;) know, first and foremost, I'm sorry for not posting more often and I promise to post once a week so look for new paintings and updates on the weekends.

My aunt is an amazing china painting artist living in Waco, Texas. I have many china pieces she has painted for me over the years. She does amazing and beautiful work and it's very time consuming. So I feel lucky to have as many pieces as I do. After each layer of painting she must fire the piece and let it cool before she can go back and add more paint to the porcelain. She's a patient woman that's for sure. She recently painted this platter for a older couple who just got married. You can tell a Texan loves all things Texas.

Heaven...

2009-06-22T00:13:00.003-05:00

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. - H.D. Thoreau

Charlotte Cox - Watercolor Artist and Friend

2009-06-13T15:52:00.004-05:00

When I lived in San Antonio, Texas I saw my art improve by leaps and bounds. Yes, I was taking classes and I had an exceptional teacher but I would have to say that the main reason I became a better artist was because of Charlotte. met sweet Charlotte in one of my art classes. Soon we became good friends and we had such a good time being together that we made it a rule not to sit next to each other in class because we didn’t get any painting done for talking too much. Charlotte ALWAYS painted! She had and still has a passion to paint and dragged me out to paint with her at least once a week. She also worked a very full time job and was quite successful at that as well. I don't know how she did it all!She offered helpful criticism and saw the good in my work when I was angry and just couldn’t see beyond all the mistakes. Her friendship kept my head above water those first months I was dealing with the end of my seven year long marriage. There were days where I would preferred to stay home, but Charlotte got me out and we painted, cried and then painted some more. You can see her work here. I'm showing you several of my favorite watercolors from her "sketch book". Fabulous work and so spontaneous and confident! I’m a big believer in creating a community of friends who are not only cheerleaders for your artistic endeavors but offer helpful criticism. Charlotte helped me pick the paintings I submitted to my first art show. She also told me where to get slides made of these paintings for submission. She helped me every step of the way when I was first starting to show my work. I sold all three paintings. I remember my mom called me from the show (it was in Virginia) and asked me what the red dots by my paintings meant. I LOVE RED DOTS!!!! Developing these friends takes time and sometimes it just happens. Charlotte and I are friends first and foremost but it was watercolor that brought us together and still keeps us connected. Her work moves me! Hope you enjoy.

Don't Be Such a Chicken

2009-06-08T23:35:00.002-05:00

Monday Morning...

2009-05-11T09:41:00.005-05:00

"There is, incidentally, no way of talking about cats
that enables us to come off
as a sane person." - Dan Greenburg

Here Comes the Bride...

2009-05-09T08:06:00.003-05:00

Here is yet another bridal bouquet.... yep it's that time of year. Lots of weddings and hopefully lots of cake. But the prettiest part, after the bride of course, is the flowers!!! If only they would last. Well you are in luck! I've decided to paint custom watercolors of bridal bouquets. You can go here to get more info.

Today is Paint Webster Plein Air Competition. So with paper, paints and a relatively uncomfortable chair in hand I head out to paint a little part of the world I live....

See you when I get back.

I Can't Paint the World

2009-05-08T10:32:00.006-05:00

... but boy if I could...
I get frustrated with the little time I have to actually paint. And I have to remind myself even these little quick paintings matter, if only to remind me that I AM a painter. I Am an artist.

Even when I had more time I always tried to put too much into a painting. I remember an important lesson my favorite watercolor teacher taught me one day when we were outside painting in plein air. I had taken on way too much and I was tired, rushing and so far from finishing the painting. She told me "You can't paint the world" then suggested I narrow my focus to a much smaller area of the landscape next time. So the next time I did just that. At the time I thought" How boring!! How is this going to be anything "frame worthy?". But now looking back these tree trunk paintings, they are some of my favorites and they're not in frames. I'm still challenged with always, always, always producing a frame worthy painting. But I have to remember that seeing and focusing on elements - not the whole world - is where beauty lies and you become that individual artist letting the world in on what you see.

So remember all you frustrated artists, just like me, who never have time to paint the world - you NEVER will be able to paint the world.

1. Sit down and sit still for at least 10 minutes. Look, really look at everything. What does your eye keep going back to?
2. Paint or draw just that element. Even if it's a 15 minute sketch painting. That's fine. Do it, paint it, don't worry about creating a masterpiece or framing or if it's a good enough to give to Aunt Sally for her 79th birthday.
3. Don't judge it. Not now. Close it up. Put it away - especially if you're like me and want to always paint masterpieces.
4. Look at it the next day or next week. Set it out so you can see it while you fold the laundry or cut up veggies for dinner.

Finally - you will grow to appreciate these glimpses of your world, of what you see and can recreate.

Then... do it again!

French Watercolor

2009-04-20T23:22:00.002-05:00

My brother just hung the French flower shop watercolor I gave him in his new house. I love the aprons and it's in great light.

St. Louis Handmade

2009-04-19T20:52:00.002-05:00

Since moving to St. Louis nearly 1.5 years ago, I'm absolutely blown away at how strong the art community is here. Recently I was featured on a blog site for local artists here in St. Louis called St. Louis Handmade. Tammy Tutterow is an amazing artist herself. She too works a full time job and manages her creative life at night and on the weekends, THEN, keeps up this blog. I don't think she sleeps. Maybe she's one of those vampire artists... hmmm
Anyway, take a second to visit the blog. The site is beautiful. Also, you'll get to meet other artists and view their art as well.

Inspiration on the Web

2009-04-19T19:28:00.009-05:00

Recently I've been really inspired by some fabulous artists I've found wondering around on the WORLD WIDE WEB. Their art and creativity just makes me happy. These artists are full of color, beauty and they just "stink" of creativity. If you don't see and feel this in their art you certainly get it from the writing on their blogs. Enjoy and be inspired...

Kelly Rae - you can check our her blog here.This is the art and collage work of Sarah Ahearn and she has both a blog and Etsy shop.

And last but not least is Amanda Kavanagh who I found in a book entitled 1000 Artist Journal Pages by Dawn DeVries Sokol. I love love love her travel sketches. You can look at them here. Her work reminds me of the Sara Midda. But she paints in so many mediums and just blows me away with her talent.

Spring and her flowers

2009-04-01T11:38:00.009-05:00

I wish these ranuculas were popping out of my own garden - but instead they're popping out of the shelves at Trader Joe's and that's good enough for me. So here is a couple of my watercolors. I love the orangy-yellow colors. So the exercise was to keep as much white on the paper and to work fairly quickly. I know that the watercolors I am drawn to are "loose" and that's what true watercolor is - letting the water work and the white of the paper show through.

Another Bridal Bouquet

2009-03-21T21:39:00.005-05:00

Here's the original photo of the bride's bouquet.

And this is the watercolor version - Size 11" x 14"

Cupcake Heaven...

2009-03-21T21:18:00.007-05:00

... also known as my birthday week. Thank the good Lord for friends and family because quite frankly they really help me "celebrate" birthdays I'm just am not excited to have. (I'm not old enough to be that number!!!!) I did have a good week and work is improving. I'm learning more and more of the medical terms and can actually speak of procedures and know what I'm talking about and I found time to paint here and there but the best part of all...

CUPCAKES

I had dinner with a close group of girlfriends here in St. Louis and we ate
CUPCAKES!Then Phil, Becca and Kennedy took me for a birthday picnic in the park today and we ate CUPCAKES!Kennedy isn't allowed to have cupcakes yet and she might be a little sad about thatBut instead of being blue she decided she would eat her dad's hat. Yum!

Another Fancy Schmancy Hat

2009-03-16T23:32:00.003-05:00

Well, look at you!!!! I knitted several of these remnant hats for my friends and family - I think Kennedy looks the cutest! I love that she pretty much likes any and everything at this point in her life. She loves her dog so much she kisses him or maybe she's trying to gobble him up.Elle, poor poor doggy Elle has to suffer under the love of Baby Kennedy. She's got a great heart but just won't let her near her peanut butter filled toy. So whenever Kennedy races for it at lighting crawl speed - Elle just moves it out of reach. Kennedy still determined tries again and Elle moves it again. This would go along for quite some time if an adult did not protect the dog from this determined little girl. Kids and dogs!!!! LOVE 'EM!

Sunday - A Day of Rest

2009-03-15T22:24:00.005-05:00

But, is painting rest? People often say to me "Painting must be so relaxing!" Well, sometimes. But for me it can be anything but, especially if I have a commission and I'm concerned 100 times more about the outcome than if I were painting for myself. One thing I LOVE painting is flowers. A couple of weeks ago I asked all my friends to send me pictures of their bridal bouquets. I thought it would be a great idea to create an artistic memory of the bride's bouquet on her wedding day. So here is my first one. I hope to post more of these bouquet watercolors then create a new link on my website which bride's or friends of the bride can go to get information about having their own bouquet painted in watercolors. Of course, like all things in my life, this happens much slower now that I have a VERY full time job. So today, I rested a little, painted a little, rested some more and then finally posted on my blog. Let my know what you think.

The Art Spirit

2009-02-24T22:27:00.004-06:00

Recently a friend lent me a book called "I Married Adventure" by Luci Swindoll. I rolled my eyes a little before I finally picked it up to do a skim over and then politely return it. I was afraid it was going to be a "how to" book on enjoying single life when the would be "married life" doesn't happen or fails... you know, "learning to be happy when you're profoundly disappointed." I wasn't really up for it. I'm learning to handle the disappointment a little better now. I'm use to it like I am the wrinkles around my eyes. Don't really like them, but there's really not much I can do about it. So to my shocking surprise - I've really enjoyed this book. This woman writes of her life and struggles and it's most encouraging. How much opportunity us single gals have. I never saw my life so adventurous as when I was able to read about another single woman's life. Look at all the experiences I have had both wanted and unwanted because of my "singleness." It's been really encouraging. And I recommend it to anyone not just the single folks. In the book she mentioned a book I've owned forever "The Art Spirit" by Robert Henri. And I pulled it from the stacks. So glad I did. With this new job, the painting is not a daily activity, but the desire for it is. I'm going to tuck this book in my bag, so when I'm waiting in some doc office in O'Fallon, I won't forget what my eyes were made to see and my hands made to do.
I also picked up another book, "The Prodical Son" by Henri Nouwen. Nouwen a priest is drawn to the Rembrandt painting of the same name. It's exciting to see what thoughts, emotions and prayers come from this amazing painting. If only I could paint something one day that allows new thoughts to trickle into the viewer's heart and speak to their soul. Art can change your life. So now all I can manage to do is read about art, I know that it will inspire as well. And as I always I hope to inspire you at any stage of the creative process you may be at. At some point picking up the brush is desired but until then, keep looking. Don't forget how to see.

Love ...

2009-02-13T23:53:00.006-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day. Granted it's a questionable holiday for many. But whether you have romantic love or not, shouldn't be the point. If you are living, functioning and on this earth chances are you love someone on some level and someone loves you. Celebrate. I wouldn't be surprised to hear in a couple of years that scientists "discover" that what really makes the sun rise and set and the earth spin is simply the love that is given and received day to day. It has to create some kind of energy --some power.

Also Valentine's Day is the pink and red holiday - I just love those colors.
(I recently discovered spray glitter and sprayed these hymn paintings with it once I was done. Soft shimmery sparkles. They made the ink of the hymn paper run a bit, but I like it.)

I bought myself green roses today - chartreuse green. So different and fun.

Do something pink for someone. Wear red lipstick. Chew pink bubble gun and blow bubbles. Tell a stranger he/she looks nice. make yourself a valentine. Smile while you are crying. Love starts out simply I think. Sometimes the hardest person to show love to is yourself. We are so critical and hard on ourselves (Actually that previous sentence should have started with "I") Love feels so complicated and mysterious at times. But for the most part I think it's simple. It's hard to act when you don't "feel" love. But the action is love whether the feeling is there or not. So today Love yourself, love another. Just try a day of ONLY LOVE.

A GREAT DAY

2009-01-20T09:01:00.004-06:00

No matter your politics - this is a GREAT day. The inauguration of Barack Obama should scream to every American that we are a country of change and possibility. In 1991 and 1992 I was an English teacher in China. Even though I went there to "help" a handful of soon to be English teachers, I received alot of life lessons myself. What broke my heart was learning that so many of my students did not want to be teachers. The had NO CHOICE. Of course there were some that were happy about being a teachers, others who felt lucky, but the ones who wanted to be something else really struggled with their plight. Because I was an International Studies Major in College I understood what communism was, but it wasn't until my year in China I saw the effects of communism on individuals. I realized what a huge opportunity I had by just being a citizen of the United States. When I returned to the U.S. ( and I was anxious to do so) a year later I enrolled in a graduate program for screen and script writing. No, life may not be always what I dream. But I am sooooooo glad I live in a country where I am allowed to dream and allowed to pursue my dreams. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Click here to learn more about this painting.

Just a little something...

2009-01-19T08:58:00.003-06:00

... before I head out to work. To keep my eyes seeing and my heart happy - even if I'm in my car all day. Happy Monday and try to do something that feeds your heart.

Transition

2009-01-14T08:25:00.006-06:00

Looks like I'll be in this state for some time - the "state" of transition. It's ironic, we pray for change even beg for it. But when it comes it still can be tough. I miss creativity. Since starting my new job - yes a blessing for a worried heart like myself - I've had no time to even visit those parts of me that use to dominate my life, like blogging, reading other blogs, painting, reading books, sewing, planning or even looking. It's been all work, long days. So when I do have moments - they are valuable and I make sure I make the time for painting. I have to. Last weekend I finished this painting... Fall leaves.Around November I walked through my neighborhood here is St. Louis and collected some gorgeous leaves to paint. I pressed them until I could finally get to finishing the painting. I really like this one. I loved the colorful fall this year. The first one I had lived in for nearly 10 years. So if I love the fall I must accept the cold gray days of winter. If you think about it, the cycles of life are all about transition - the way the seasons change, plants grow and children develop. It's a constant reminder that change is part of life. And even though this transition is not very comfortable, I have to remember that I won't stay in this state forever. So my mornings of reading in my favorite chair are shorter or not at all and I miss that time. But when I do have the time I can't even begin to tell you how much more I enjoy it.

Christmas is Upon Us

2008-12-24T09:11:00.007-06:00

What a whirlwind it's been around here. The last two weeks I've been in intense training for my new pharmaceutical rep job and it really has worn me out in both body and mind. My mind is so full of medical terminology and Christmas responsibilities that I left the oven on all night after making my annual Christmas Sugar Cookies. This is not a complaint because getting this job truly is a gift. However, I do miss painting - I've not done much sense I started my job. But I know in time life will level out, and I will be able to incorporate the art and all the other fun crafts back into my life. And then, that will be a whole new discussion. Living a creative life, an artist's life while still working full time in a very non-artist field.
But I did manage to finish some things up. First and foremost the cupcake mittens and hat I made for my niece turned out fabulously. Now I just have to get her to keep them on. She loves chewing on the cherry. I just love making these little knits for her. I have a very small window of opportunity where she will willing wear the things I make.
I'm headed out the door - over the hills and through the woods - to my parent's home to celebrate Christmas.

I wish you all a fabulous, restful and happy Christmas!!! God bless.

Angel Band

2008-12-16T18:01:00.004-06:00

Christmas holds so many different emotions. For the kids its full of excitement at every corner and just plain old fun. My memory of childhood Christmas' seems almost magical. Some point - probably around college Christmas became stressful - really stressful. I remember my freshman year of college - my first time living away from my family I got sick during finals. The barfing kind of sick where I was up all night over a toilet bowl or beside it even when there was nothing left inside of me, I kept on trying. It felt like my body was trying to rid me of my stomach itself. I'm sure that anything that wasn't fastened inside my body would have come out. (Yes a little too graphic for a nice watercolor blog I know) and my floor RA took me to the emergency room but found nothing - just stress.... hmmm what do I do with that? How do I fix that? So through the years, Christmas time probably has been the most stressful time of year for me and many others. I have no answers to solving this dilemma. I guess the painting does help. But I find I'm too busy to paint, to think, to be. I become Amy "Super Doer".
This Christmas I'm missing my grandpa. It's been nearly three years since he passed but I notice his absence more than I did right when he died. I painted this angel on the hymn we sang at his funeral "Angel Band". For so many Christmas is a blue and dark time. I hope that somewhere in the darkness you find a shimmering star. Just look... you will find it.

Christmas Cards -- FINISHED!!!!

2008-12-04T10:22:00.005-06:00

Because I'm headed out of town, I've scurrying around St. Louis trying to get a big head start on all the Christmas things I like to do - gift buying, card sending, cookie making, and so on. So last night I finished making my Christmas cards. I would post them, but I don't want to ruin the surprise for those of my family and friends that read this blog. On my flight to California I'll write my notes and send them off. I was standing in line at Hobby Lobby talking to a teacher with 12 mini Christmas trees in her hand. She was telling me she's been teaching her students the different cultural influences on Christmas. Did you know that Christmas card started in England over 150 years ago? It's times like these I really miss going to school everyday. I mean, you can really learn so much. YAY for the teachers!!! Well, I have to tell you when I got home, I did a little web search and found out about the history of Christmas cards - very fascinating and I must say, I'm glad to carry this English Christmas tradition on - besides, we have a traditional English meal every year at Christmas.
But for those of you whom I have not met in person and would like a Christmas card from me, I would LOVE to send you one. Just e-mail me your address if you feel comfortable with that. My e-mail is amy@geramyum.com. I don't collect addresses, save them, sell them or anything like that. However, if you don't feel comfortable with that, I will e-mail you a copy of the card. I'm one of those people who LOVE receiving and sending mail so this is really fun for me.

Christmas Decorating

2008-12-03T19:43:00.008-06:00

Outside it's snowing little tiny salt like bits of snow, but it's accumulating rather quickly. I'm glad I'm inside and mostly I'm glad to finally be finished with my Christmas decorating. Thought I would share a few pics of my cozy little apartment. I know it doesn't "seem" like much, but it takes me along time to get things out, clean them and then arrange them just so.
Over the years I've collected, been given and even have made some Christmas things that I really love. I made the plaid Christmas pillows that BabyKitty is posing in front of and many of the old looking cross stitch work you see here. I even painted the little wooden Santa and varnished him to look old. Now, I guess he is old as I've had him for nearly ten years.But one of my most favorite Christmas pieces is this little miniature manger scene I bought from a Filipino woman who made them at an art fair I went to many, many years ago. I'm just surprised I haven't lost any of the little pieces. And of course, the best Christmas decoration of all - Baby Kitty. She looks great with red and green and knows it.

Kids Painting

2008-12-01T23:37:00.005-06:00

The weekend before Thanksgiving I was part of another Open House held at a friend's home here in St. Louis. I rushed and scurried to finish paintings, get my calenders together, mat pictures and price everything for this open house. My girlfriends did the same creating wreathes and Christmas trees to cover every flat surface and wall in the house. It was beautiful. Then for three days bunches of people - mostly women came and hung out, perused each room, drank some cider, ate cookies and eventually bought some of our handmade items. It was really lots of fun. This my wreath my very talented friend Krissy made. So on the last day, I promised to teach my friend's grandkids to watercolor paint - ages 8, 6 and 5. I do love teaching kids who WANT to paint. I give them simple instructions mostly on how to get the paint out of the brush by pressing the brush down gently to the bottom of the water bowl before dipping the brush in a different color. I let them watch me and then it's their turn. I let them use my artist grade paints, watercolor paper and good brushes. They're welcome to copy something I've already painted or I'll help them come up with an idea, but one thing I don't do is put my hand to their work of art. I want it to be all theirs and that's what makes it so special. I'm amazed at how well children do at painting - even if they do copy. But, it's never an "exact" copy. It's still theirs. But beyond that is their attitude and pride in creating something from just white paper. They have every reason to be proud. So I make sure we place their little works of art on mat board so they can be displayed in the best light possible. It's so fun and mostly I love to see how proud they are of what they made.

TAAA dahhhhh... A couple hours later after the kids were done and they went home to show their mom their paintings, two of my "adult" friends decided to create their own little Christmas painting. They knew what to do because they had watched me teach the little ones. What made me sad was just how they "judged" themselves and their work the entire time they were painting...

"I can't draw a straight line."

"My painting stinks."

"I can't do this..."

Like the children they were first time watercolor artists. But unlike the kids, fear of not doing it right, or perfect, or like mine showed in the art. This made me sad. Are we so worried about the outcome that we absolutely do not enjoy the process? Why can't we just see what we can do and who cares? After much begging, I ended up doing a sketch for each of them which they filled in with color. I talked one of my friends from throwing away her little watercolor paintings, convincing her she would like them later. Somewhere between 8 and 38 we just lose that ability to just give it a try and enjoy. See what happens. Then celebrate what you create. ALWAYS celebrate what you create.

Yummy Turkey!

2008-11-29T10:26:00.005-06:00

Thanksgiving is over but I have a fridge full of leftovers so I don't feel so sad. I get to have my own little Thanksgiving "replays" for the next few days. (Thanksgiving has the best leftovers.) My brother cooked his very first turkey and I must say it was exceptional - this coming from someone who doesn't "love" turkey. I made a variety of "fixins" and I do believe we would have made our mother proud. Even our gravy was yummy and not too lumpy. It was loads of fun and loads of work. We all stuffed ourselves and hardly enjoyed the great pies. I hope Phil and I continue this tradition - I mean he DID by a special humongous turkey pan...

Currently I'm taking a break from decorating my place for Christmas. I love pulling out all my decorations once a year and have lots of fun figuring out where everything should go. Also, it's supposed to rain/snow tonight. Will we have a winter wonderland in the morning? I need to hurry and get it all done. Because I plan on painting tonight. It's been too long and I really miss it. I did this little bit of a watercolor last weekend.

At my Etsy Shop -- Winter Wonderland 4x6

Relax and Enjoy the Ride

2008-11-23T22:10:00.005-06:00

Well, my head is spinning with all the changes that have happened in the last two weeks. As most of you know, back in April I was laid off from my full time job. Since then I've been getting to know my new place of residence - St. Louis, being a crazy Aunt, painting lots, trying not to worry, and here and there looking for full time employment. On some level I was pushing and hoping to make a go at earning a living solely from my watercolor. Two weeks ago I was offered a position as a pharmaceutical rep and I accepted the offer - very happily I might add. So what does this mean for Amy the artist? Am I really an artist if I don't do it full time? Does this mean I'm a "failure" because I can't earn a living doing something I love? These questions dance in my head. But at this point in life I know myself and as much as I wish I weren't me sometimes, I am. I'm not good with being the "Ramen noodle eating struggling artist" type. And I don't paint well with the immense pressure of selling my work. Of course I will always paint. In fact, I look at my love of watercolors as my retirement plan - which means I'll always have something to do as long as I can see and hold a brush. For the next several months I will be using the other side of my brain for awhile. I'm looking forward to learning some new things, meeting new people and all the new influences these things will have on my life and that does include art too. I'll never stop painting - it just may not be everyday. And instead of stressing out about life not turning out how I planned or think I would like it, I'm going to relax - like the little embroidery I did last year says - and try to enjoy the ride. But don't worry I'm not disappearing, just adjusting my seat belt...

(4x6 matted cherry watercolor)

... and the WINNER is

2008-11-08T18:55:00.007-06:00

...Arden from Oregon!!
Yippeee! Thanks to everyone who wrote me and reads my blog. I hope there is 100 more posts!!!!

The past two days I've been part of a holiday open house at a friend's home here in St. Louis. She makes and sells great beaded jewelry. It was so fun to do because you just enjoy talking to the women and there's no rushing, hurrying pressure to shop and scram like you feel at a mall. You have a glass of wine some crackers, take your time, chat it up with a new friend. It's just a fun experience. I've seen more and more of these holiday shopping open houses spring up and think they are such a great idea. In fact I'm participating in another one in two more weeks!!!! So for the next week I'll be busy painting and matting lots of my pictures.

Last Sunday I decided to take the afternoon and paint once again at the botanical gardens. I can not recall a fall so vibrant and colorful as this one. Maybe because it's the first one I've experienced in ten years. So I gathered my traveling paint kit and off I went. I found a perfect place in the grass - after much looking and pacing - then and set up my little studio in the leafy grass and of course put my ear phones in. It was busy in the gardens and I was somewhat secluded. Usually something fairly odd happens to me when I paint in plein air in a public place. Thankfully only falling leaves interrupted me when they dropped on my paper or on the palette.

The 2009 GerAmyUm Wall Calender is here!!!!

2008-11-01T18:30:00.018-05:00

I know, I know, we haven't even made it to Thanksgiving yet and I'm celebrating 2009 - well actually, I'm celebrating the completion of this project. So, as you plan your holiday gift giving, consider this cheerful bit of wall art that marks the passing of time (and supports an artist and her mean cat). If 2009 is daunting, this calender could really help you and others bare through with the help of a year full of geranium watercolors - trust me - they're a very cheerful flower. I'm selling it through my Etsy shop so click here if you are interested. The calender includes 12 of my favorite geranium watercolors.

Here are examples of each of the months. Each calender has a cover and back and is attached with a single red ribbon so you can tack it to your wall or hang on a nail. Like this...
Don't forget to submit your name for a chance to win an original watercolor from me. Click here to see the winning watercolor and what you need to do to get your name in the drawing.

Happy Halloween!!!!

2008-10-29T21:41:00.003-05:00

This is my favorite little pumpkin. Isn't my niece the cutest! I just love her and I'm so glad she came to all of us - life is a miracle. And if I could make a suggestion for a guaranteed spirit lifter - go hug a baby then eat a couple of peanut butter cups - mmmmm. To see more pictures of this fabulous little soul you can visit here.

Pansies

2008-10-28T17:29:00.009-05:00

Winter pansies survive the cold and in my case the crazy squirrel that digs daily in my little planter. Clearly he's not intimidated by the fluffy clawless fat cat that sits on my porch. So I cut a few and painted this little painting. Then, framed it using a map from one I bought in Paris 7 years ago and printed it on this great banana paper that makes everything look old that's printed on it. I'm very pleased with the end product (price and size in for here).I had been working for several weeks on this large watercolor collage commission of some of the historical homes surrounding Lafayette Square. So these little pansies were lots of fun. Commissions always stress me out - love 'em, need 'em, but am extremely concerned with the final product and that is very inhibiting as an artist. You would think after all these years, I would find a place of ease and peace with painting - but I certainly struggle with that little critic in my head that says "Come one Amy, really... you're an artist?" He's a sneaky little bugger too. Anne LaMott wrote a great book called Bird by Bird (a writer's classic) on the art and act of writing and the challenges a writer faces. It's a fun read and certainly can be applied to any artist. I think I need to dig my copy out.

So back to Lafayette square - BEEEEautiful. I really really really hope to live in that part of town one day. I love the tall majestic French brownstones. After New Orleans, this place screams French. And when you walk along the old brick sidewalks for a minute there you might think you are in France. Needless to say, it's a great place to walk around and even better place to paint. I have several paintings in the works, but haven't finished them ...yet.