Hope and Love

I had to turn the tv off. Between all the negativity surrounding politics, the devastation of Haiti...and even the constant worrying I do as a newly separated/single Mom ... I could feel it. A creeping oppressive weight starting to push in on me ... and I have decided to push back.

I can't do anything about stupid Washington politics.

I can't do anything about the utter devastation in Haiti, other than to pray and donate when I can.

I can't do anything about my personal situation but frankly be thankful that I had the strength to walk away rather than be disrespected.

I *can* stay positive .

I CAN thank God every day that I drive to work, that I am driving to WORK.

I CAN thank GOd that I have managed to have some semblance of normalcy with my soon to-be-ex, because our son deserves to have 2 parents who can put aside their differences and respect each other - for him at least.

And I can paint.

I can draw.

I can dig as deep as I need to dig, in order to keep pushing the negativity away.

Here are two ATCs that I did, while pushing the negativity away. "Hope" is on a watercolor ATC, and "Love" is on a mini ATC canvas.

J is for Jazz

I'm still doing Sandy's A to Z Challenge, and I'm up to the letter J. I carry blank ATCs around with me everywhere, and while my son was at band practice - I sketched this little doo-dah...and colored it in using Twinkling H20s and Pigma Micron Pens.

Latte Paintin' Going On

It's hard to get back into the creative groove after all the images of death and destruction in Haiti ... but there was a point last night where I had to shut the tv off, after crying my eyes out over the death of a little girl.

This morning, I tried to focus on a little creativity ... trying to think of all the things I love - the simple things - like a good cup of coffee. I decided it was the perfect addition to add to my ever changing paintbrush box. I'm determined that this box be a total representation of me.

Pray For Haiti

Text Haiti to 90999 to give $10 to the Red Cross for Haiti

Call the State Department for information about missing friends or relatives 1888 407-4747

Happy 101 Award

...was given to me by EssenceVibez!! How Sweet!

I need to list ten things that make me all warm and fuzzy...and then gift it to 3 other blogs that will do the same.

Here are the 10 things that make me happy...all warm and fuzzy:

1. I love spending time with my son - playing video games. He is old enough to appreciate it and young enough to still enjoy spending time with Mom.

2. My sister Sam, who is my buddy, my best friend and road trip compadre.

3. Road Trips!! I love a good road trip - and look forward to my second drive across the country this upcoming summer.

4. Boca Java coffee. I am a coffee snob ... and this coffee is soooooo incredibly good.

5. A roaring fire. I hate those electric fireplaces...and love a good old fashioned fire!

6. Painting. The world disappears when I paint...and if I could only paint the days away, I'd be in heaven.

7. A good book. Give me Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson some hot chocolate and a comfy pillow ... and I am set.

8. Lasagna. 'Nuff said.

9. Quiet. I love the quiet. No radio, no television ... I love the sound of nothingness.

10. Life. I try to live my life positively, and appreciate the little things. Every morning on my drive to work I thank God for just being alive.

My 3 picks are:

Ruby's Daughter Brenda - I find comfort in her art. It's classic, it's heritage - it speaks to me, always reminding me of my own family - the way she pays tribute to her own.

Get It Girl Style - I love that she delights in what makes her happy. It's infectious and in turn, makes me delight in what makes ME happy.

Artistic Accents By Darla - I have "known" Darla online for a very long time...when we both began our artful journey's with Onestroke. Like real life, we lose track...go our separate ways...so imagine my surprise years later, when I find her blog! Her delightful artwork is a joy to see.

Congratulations Gals!!

I is for Inspired

After months of perusing blogs and you tube videos ... I had such a burst of creative energy this weekend, I began painting this brush box.

This box sat unpainted on my paint table for - no lie - about 4 years. I can't even remember where I bought it from ... I just fell in love with the piece. I have had my paint brushes in this box all along, and this weekend I decided to finally paint it.

I used 3 of my fav colors - 2 shades of green (leaf and teal) and the back of the piece is my fav shade of royal purple. Nothing really in mind, I took my chalk pencil and began to lightly sketch. This is what I have come up with so far.

I'm not finished - this is only 1 side - but I like it so far. Even my roses - which need a lot of work - I'm satisfied with for not having painted roses in almost a year.

I don't know what this box will look like by the time it's finally done ... but so far ... I'm inspired.

The EYE Has It

Ever since I can remember, I've doodled an eye. Not 2 eyes ... just one eye. I have tons of doodles and sketches through the years - some as early as my pre-teens - with just one eye.

I'm sure if I looked up the meaning of one eye - I could easily find the meaning of it...LOL

Well tonight, I was playing around with the 2.5 x 3.5 canvas (ATC size), and as usual,, while talking on the phone - I sketched my one eye.

This time though, I decided to see if I could take it a little further than a pencil sketch...and I tried my best to add color, using Twinkling H20's.

I don't know what I'm going to do with the other side, which is blank. I used some metallic rub on colors to ad least one down the white of the canvas - but for now - it will stay as is.

...and yes, I know there are no lashes .. that is where I totally destroy the eye(s)...I need to work on the lashes. Any tips out there for eyelashes??

H is For ....

... Hand Over Heart. I had something else totally in mind for "H"...but bored at work as usual, I doodled this on sticky pad. I didn't have any brown markers at work for the hand .... so I used the next best thing!!!!

I used eye shadow!!LOL

G is For Grape

I am starting the New Year off with continuing Sandy's A to Z Challenge. This one is G is For Grape. I didn't have a plan in mind, just did the grapes first...then I decided to draw a boy hungry for those grapes. This sketch killed 2 birds with one stone, as I got to also work on my profile sketching, themes for boys continued, as well as the A to Z Challenge.

I used pencils for the skin-tone, and for the grapes - I used my fingers to add the color, using metallic rub ons. For the white highlights, I used Jo Sonja titanium on the tip of my finger..just dabbing here and there. The teeth and highlight of the boy's eye, I used a Sharpie paint pen, in white.

**I'd heard Sharpie was discontinuing these white paint pens - so of course I had to run and buy a box!!LOL