One more furry friend...

Life is good. 12 x 12 mixed media canvas.
Another kitty to share...the last one for a while as I am now working on a lighthouse canvas, playing with papertowel art, continuing to work on my journal and working on a mixed media story book. I'm in heaven. Have a fabulous weekend.
Enjoy!

Flowers...

12 x 12 mixed media canvas
We are currently under a winter weather advisory and expecting some nasty stuff sometime after midnight. So glad we have no plans for tomorrow other than art and college football. Thought a few colorful flowers would brighten the mood.
Stay safe.
Enjoy!

Wish upon a star...

Wish upon a star. 8 x 8 canvas.
A few weeks before Christmas, I was working on a piece of art for a very dear friend. I wanted to make a cat for her piece and had my hubby look online for a pattern. He found one and printed it out and then cut me a cat. I wasn't happy with it at all, it looked too much like it had been cut from a pattern. Well, of course it did. I grabbed a piece of patterned paper and cut a cat freehand. Not an easy task when you cannot see very well and aren't supposed to play with sharp objects. Long story short...I love my cat. This was the second one, first one went on her piece and it's my favorite. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo before giving the gift. Silly me! It was a much larger piece, 16 x 20 and also had a big flower on it with the message "life is beautiful".
Life is beautiful as we prepare for the new year.
Have a beautiful day.
Enjoy!

Best gift ever...

Lauren, John, Brandon Lewis, Amy, Graylee, Brandon, Megan, Hannah, Madelyn, Gabriel, David, Tyler, Jayden, Amy, Matt, Sarah, Drew and Buddy.

Our beautiful children and grandchildren

December 2012

It's been my wish for the many years to have a photo of all the kids and grandkids...my wish came true this year. It was a big surprise and I couldn't be happier. Best gift ever!

Hope your holiday is merry and bright.

Merry Christmas.

Enjoy!

Celebrate...

Another spread from my journal, the last I'll bore you with for a while. This is one of my favorites. The journal  is still a work in progress, I've been adding to it daily. A few more layouts done in my mixed media scrapbook and I hope to get a few scanned soon.

Hope you are ready for the holiday. Just a bit of cooking left to do and then as much art time as I can fit in.

Enjoy!

See the possibilities and more...

See the possibilities

Take time to heal

Enjoy Life

Just a few more pages from my journal.

I've also been working on a mixed media scrapbook...it's a first and I'm quite loving it.

Enjoy!

Joy...

Another spread from my journal.

Can you tell I'm having fun?

Enjoy!

A few more pages...

More journal pages.

Enjoy!

I've been busy...

A couple of journal pages to share.

Busy getting ready for the holiday, one more Saturday at the Market, family gathering Saturday night and then all the kids and grandkids for dinner on Sunday. Lots of cooking to do and then there's shopping and wrapping that needs to get done.  We are way behind schedule, hubby has been sick for over a week but the good news is that his CT scan this morning shows all is normal. He's now on medication with codine and seems to be getting better. It's all good, we'll get it done. We work best under pressure. Hope all is well with your holiday plans.

Enjoy!

A couple more...

More backgrounds to share, lots of color.
Enjoy!

Journal pages...

A couple of journal pages...just the backgrounds for now.
Enjoy!

The journey back...

The front and back covers of my journal, The Journey Back. It's going to be a documentation of my health scare and the recovery that followed. I started with a book about 1/2 inch thick, removed every other page and then glue 3 pages together. I now have a journal with 60 pages that are very sturdy.. I've ompleted all the backgrounds and will share a few during the next week. I'll be working on this quite a bit from now until the new year.
I just finished two more canvas pieces and now have a pretty decent inventory of art. Going to take the holiday season to work on several projects including my journal. I'll share when I can however posts might be less often until the first of the year.
Have a wonderful day, the paints are calling.
Enjoy!

Happy days...

The days that make us happy, make us wise.
12 x 12 canvas
The photo doesn't do the colors in this piece justice. It's very bright and the colors really pop. My husband did have to help me a bit with this one, he cut out the bird and leaves. Gotta love a man than helps with your art.
A day in the studio for me today, a bit worn out and sore from yesterday. I've been told that my energy and stamina will return eventually. One happy day at a time.
Have a great one.
Enjoy!

Beauty awakens the soul to act.
10 x 10 canvas
There is a lot of texture to this piece however it's really hard to see in the photo. I used modeling paste and a stencil to create a dimentional background.
Spent the day with a group of artists at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. The highlight of our day was  the exhibit of blown glass by Dale Chihuly. It was fabulous!
Hope your day was a great one.
Enjoy!

New day...

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. -Eleanor Roosevelt
10 x 10 canvas
New piece I finished up last weekend. It's now on display at the Lynchburg Art Club.
This started as an experiment with paint with the blues at the bottom. When I was finished, I liked it better with the blues at the top. Very abstract, something different for me.
Enjoy!

Laugh...

We don't laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh.
8 x 10 on canvas
This is my husband's favorite piece to date, he loves the bright, cheerful colors. It's one of my favorites, too. Hope you are having a great week.
Enjoy!

Flower Power...

Nature is the art of God
4 x 12 on canvas
My third and favorite flower. It's supposed to be a Poppy. This is the piece I sold yesterday. So happy it has a a wonderful new home.
Enjoy!

Wings...

Let your heart soar.
8 x 10 on canvas
One of the pieces I finished last week. I love this piece, especially the soft colors.
We had a wonderful day at the market, sold a piece of mixed media art and several pieces of photography art.
Currently working on several pieces, hoping to finish a few by the end of the weekend. A bit of holiday decorating done and beginning to feel a bit festive.
Have a great night.
Enjoy!

A little different...

Petals
16 x 20 on canvas
Before my stroke, Pinterest was a daily addiction, I absolutely loved it. Although, not on a daily basis, I still cannot resist. My vision issue prevents me from really getting to see all the beautiful pins but occasionally I'll come across something that really stands out. Saw a piece of art, similar to this and just had to give it a try. My wonderful husband cut all the petals for me, still not comfortable with scissors due to impaired depth perception...really would like to keep all my fingers.
This was fun to create.
Hope you are having a fabulous holidady weekend.
Enjoy!

Big...

The art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. Henry Ellis
18 x 24
My largest piece to date, thought it was 16 x 20 when I was posting the other day. Interesting choice of colors, out of the norm for me. This piece is entirely post stroke and I believe that my art has changed in small ways. When my daughter, Amy, saw it, her first reaction was Mardi Gras. I've framed it in a black floater frame and it's going to the Lynchburg Art Club for their Christmas Show and Sale along with 2 other pieces. One of those pieces I'll be sharing tomorrow.
It's the eve of Thanksgiving, always my favorite holiday although the last three years have been hard. This year will be difficult too, our fourth holiday without Deb. She also loved Thanksgiving and she's the biggest part of why it was always to special to me. All those wonderful traditions are gone now but still so much to be thankful for, even more so this year. I thank God daily for all the wonderful blessing in my life and for allowing me the time to enjoy them. I am truly blessed and so very thankful.
Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.
Enjoy!

A willing heart...

Nothing in this world is impossible to a willing heart. Abraham Lincoln
12 x 12 on canvas

This is the very first piece I worked on after I came home from the hospital the last time. I got the background started at the urging of my family and then put it aside. I wasn't ready at yet and I knew if I tried to force the issue, it wouldn't be healthy. I was still very visually impaired at that point and not certain of the future. I tried to stay positive but there were days that it was harder than others. I looked at it almost everyday, even on my worst days, I atleast walked in my studio to see if the urge to create was there. Eventually, I picked it up again, added some more paint and set it aside again. When I heard this quote several weeks ago, I just knew this piece was where it belonged.  This quote sums up how I feel. I knew I needed my art to heal and when I let go of my fear and let my heart lead me, I was ready.
Enjoy!

Blooming...

Earth laughs in flowers
4 x 12 canvas
Another flower experiment, like the first one I created much better but this is still a bright and happy piece. Now working on a third flower.
Started framing my  large piece and found out it's actually 18 x 24, not 16 x 20 as I thought. So I guess that's means I accomplished more than I thought I had. Always a good thing. Will get it posted soon.
It's been a beautiful weekend, time at the Gallery, delivering orders, painting and journaling. My eyesight seems a bit more blurred this morning but I imagine the eyes are a bit tired. Need to take more time to rest them but when I get going it's hard to stop. Taking a break this morning then it's an afternoon of football, racing and art, quite a combination but it's what I enjoy.
Have a wonderful day.
Enjoy!

Enjoy...

6 x 9 Art Journal page
It's been a great week, getting a lot done. Several more canvas pieces started including 2 large ones. Just finished a 16 x 20 piece, my largest to date, and will share some photos soon. I'm also working on 2 pieces for an exhibit early next year, in my situation, never too early to begin. May not have any new photos to share for a few days but will get new posted as soon as I can.
A busy weekend ahead, hope yours is fabulous.
Enjoy!

Friendship is a flower that blooms in all season.
4 x 12 on canvas.
I am truly pleased with this piece, it's fun, colorful, makes me happy.
Enjoy!

New me, new art...

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. 12 x 12 canvas

This is a brand new piece. I think my art is different now, colors a little darker but still a lot of them. While I was finishing up this piece, over the weekend, I thought a lot about my journey. Both as a person and as an artist. I thought long and hard about how lucky I am. There are many things I still cannot do but there are so many more that I can. It's quite a sight to watch me work, changing glasses or   using one of my many magnifiers . It's becoming habit and that makes it easier. Just the pure satisfaction of finishing a piece is worth every struggle. I've come a long way and it feels good.
Thanks to all that have sent well wishes, prayers and encouraging words. They mean so much.
Enjoy!

Happy talent...

It is a happy talent to know how to play.- Ralph Waldo Emerson
8 x 8 on canvas
Isn't this the true!
One of my favorite pieces to date. I love the colors, reminds me of summer.
This one is going on Etsy.
Enjoy!

Sharing...

Home Sweet Home

12 x 12 canvas

 

More art to share, this piece was about 90% finished prior to my stroke. Finished it up a last week. Also started and finished another 12 x 12 piece and a 6 x 6 piece. It's been a great week and even better weekend. Yesterday we spent several hours downtown peddling my art, am finally starting to feel normal on a regular basis although a bit worn out. That will come in time, too. Hope you are having a great one.

Enjoy! 

 

A little fun...

Having a bit of fun working on some backgrounds.
Image is a jpeg, you are welcome to use in your personal work.
Enjoy!

A gift...

Dream, Mosaic Pendant
A gift from my friend, the ever so talented mosaic artist, Bonnie Kinnaird.
It's just perfect, the tree, the bird, the fabulous color. Her work is wonderful. I'm a lucky girl.

It's been a good week. Several pieces worked on and many more journal pages completed. Makes me feel normal...I'm a lucky girl.
Enjoy!

Journal page, again...

Faith is...
Art Journal page
The quote I shared a few days ago, found a home.
The last of the journal pages for a few days, hope to share a canvas or two, very soon.
Enjoy!

Another page...

It is a happy talent to know how to play. Ralph Waldo Emerson 6 x 9 art journal page
Enjoy!

Art Journal...

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. 6 x 9 art journal page
My husband had to cut the words out for me, I was able to adhere them.
I don't have too much of a problem painting although I seem to be a bit messier than I was before. My main issue with my art is the smaller, detailed work.  Right now I'm working on this journal along with 3 canvas pieces. It's going pretty good and it makes me feel normal again.
Enjoy!

Etsy...

Paradise
One of the originals I have listed in my new Etsy store...
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinRoofStudioArt

Faith...

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love this quote...it inspires.
Enjoy!

Plan B...

Wilted Sunflower
Photo taken June 2012
I took this photo just before we left for vacation. Even in it's wilted stage, I still think it is beautiful.

It's been a long 3 months and I've kept strong and optimistic however I''m alo a realist. That's why I've always had Plan B on the back burner. I hoped and prayed that I would continue to get better however I knew there was the possibility that I would have some long terms affects from the stroke.

Both doctors I've seen  agree that my vision issues are permanent at this stage.  My new glasses came in on Wednesday and although eyesight is a bit sharper, impairment still the same. I will continue to seek answers however it's time to try and get my life back to as normal as possible. I've been collecting items to aid my vision for several weeks and doing as much as I can around the house and yard. I've also gotten back into my studio some. I cannot do anything detailed but I can paint and have worked on a few backgrounds. Sharp objects are kept at length and my wonderful husband cuts out anything I need. I also realize that I may never get to drive again but again my husband has said over and over, he will take me anywhere I want to go. I'm extremely lucky. Creating has been a bit frustrating and slow going but I just keep at it. I need it to keep me sane.
I know how very lucky I am and I thank God, every day. I'm still optimistic and we are seeking second opinions but as a realist, I'm prepared to do whatever I can to live a normal life and create the art I love., that's my Plan B.

I've shared all the art I had finished before my illness and I look forward to sharing new art with you soon. As I mentioned, it's a much slower process for me now but I do as much as I can each day. My eyes also get very tired after a few hours of painting, so thankful I can still paint. So very thankful.

A little bird...

Little Bird
6 x 6 on canvas, framed in black
This is my little bird of optimism.
Optimism  is my word, my focus, my belief.
Enjoy!

Little Tree
12 x 12 Canvas
Enjoy!

Flower Pot
12 x 12 canvas
I love this piece, it was a lot of fun to create. 
Enjoy!

 

Earth laughs in flowers
8 x 8 on canvas
Enjoy!