"OUCH! Artists need a push, don't we? We like to work alone-thus avoiding any criticism, and usually hate deadlines-it messes up our "flow".

For a year now I have been painting on Sunday mornings, on stage, at my church, as part of the worship and the teaching. I have a two-hour paint, in front of everyone, to the music and then to the message. It is a push and for sure I am not working privately. Everything about this arrangement is a stretch. I cry occasionally, sometimes my hands shake, and I have experienced some anger.  And to be honest, I have been doing my best work... ever. People have loved my work and they even "get it". It's a great opportunity to give. I have sold many pieces, and have encouraged many other artists to press on in their creativity.  I have found my happy place, with weekly deadlines, in front of everybody. "OUCH" and "AHHHHH"!

To order these sweet pendants visit my store. Click here.

New Alcohol Ink piece from my studio this morning. Using repurposed tile from the REstore.  I am one week old at AI painting. They will be backed with wood or heavy paper and then finished with vintage music or book pages (see pic) and come with an easel. I may also hang them by inserting wire between the tile and the backing and glue it in super good, add beads, etc. (see pic-which is mixed media and not AI). I have framed and matted this floral one (see pic). Got the frame with mat at the REstore for $3. "Happened" to be the right size and color. All working well this morning. Some days are like that, right, and some are not. Today good things are coming out of my studio. For this I am happy - and for the energy and confidence to try something new. Some days those are lacking. Yesterday we had snow-but today is a day of Spring-like abundance in creativity and color, and sunshine, coming in my studio window and I am capturing it and transforming it into this fresh works of art.

Had a great day cleaning out the garage (well, maybe "great" is not the right word). But you all know how it feels, purging, bittersweet, right? Looking forward to a few hours today. Found a buyer for my kitchen table and got an estimate from someone "in the know", that my potter's wheel is worth $500! Cleaning the wheel and taking pics today. Hmmm, what else is out there? I know I have about 30 Audubon prints that I picked up 40 years ago. Time to do some research. I feel a bit like the woman who lost one of her 10 coins and cleaned her whole house to look for it, as it was precious. I also love that that story symbolizes God's love for us - his lost sheep. He never stops searching us out. Wow, who knew cleaning the garage was such a theological expression.

... a quote from James Harriot, Yorkshire animal vet and famed hero of the book All Creatures Great and Small said that... "Big Steps and Little Uns". He had visited an urbanscape (of the time-which was 1950's) and he struggled in the hustle and bustle to walk his usual pace and gait. You see, he was used to the Dales; rolling hills, few fences, fewer people; walking with long strides, unencumbered by crowds and curbs and cars and such.

England was at war and the time had come for James to join his military unit. His last day at the practice was a busy one and James was repeatedly called out when he had hopes to spend a last, quiet evening at home with wife Helen. He had plans and war had poked its ugly head in and said-"feed me now". Dealing with the frustration of that final day, he reminded himself that it takes big steps AND little uns to get through.

We are at war, us artists. The enemy of our soul wants to discourage us, to tire us out, to make us quit. He wants to divide and conquer us. He wants to make us doubt our call.

But he will not have his way. We know who wins the war. The right side wins the war - the side of good. That is just the way it is.

James went to war, came back from war, and took up his practice again. Can't you imagine that one of the first things he did was take a lengthy walk in the hills of the Dales, with his really long strides?

This week I have had little and big steps. Monday I was discouraged and wanted to quit. Tuesday was one of the most progressive days in my art business. So glad I did not give up on Monday night (I really wanted to).

Walking that way is disturbing. Sometimes-big strides, small movement, and sometimes feeling like we are standing still... worse yet... moving backwards. Ouch!

Today, be encouraged, no matter if your steps are small or large, or if you are crawling along -you will get there. Remember, you win!

These "Colorado Love Rocks" which I created on Tuesday remind me of the "little uns". I left my studio at 11:15 PM, tired, happy and reminded that I am on the winning side too.

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It has been 15 years since I opened that first tube of watercolor, probably cheap student grade. I picked up watercolor for the first time when I turned 40 (and had 2 babies under 2 years old).  My first teacher said something that shaped my very existence as an artist.... "Don't ever throw anything away" (referring to our paintings). What was meant as a blessing, has become a burden. The count would be embarrassing - I have hundreds and hundreds of paintings (which I must add here-means that I work hard at my craft).

So today, I jumped in and sorted them (the ones in my studio-ignoring the hundreds in the garage). I snapped pics of every category. I like the piles. They look nice. They look neat. They say... "someone thought this out", "we are important", "something good is going to happen to us" and the one I love to hear my art say, "we are off the floor and we won't be slept on by the cat anymore".

"Ladies In Waiting" is what I call the pile of paintings I don't really have a vision for right now, but I can't part with. They will be beautiful, they will be the bride someday, but today they are "Ladies in Waiting". I even labeled them such to make the wait not so painful, and to give them hope.

Yes, you have noticed it. I personify my paintings. So here is a album of the persons that reside in my studio.

Watch for my paintings on Etsy. i will be letting go of those Ladies In Waiting soon.