"JuNk DrAwer FriDAy!" No.9

BE PREPARED TO BE AMAZED, TO GAWK IN WONDER, TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD IN CONFUSION, OVER WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE.....:))

Let the Randomness Begin:

Your Wake Up Call:

In case you can’t get to your caffeine fix soon enough of the morning (not that I know anyone who fixes coffee the night before and puts it on timer to be ready before their feet hit the floor in the A.M.)--thanks to Bath Buzz-- you can now lather it on;) 

Yep, you heard right, Caffeine Soap for your get up and go;))
'Cause you can never make the good stuff up:))

Music to My Ears:
The wonders of  music, of passion for life itself poured out in lyrics, guitars and voices--I am always humbled by the beauty and diversity and sheer magic of music. 


This week-end, take some time to treat yourself to the discovery or re-discovery of the JOY that music adds to the everyday moments of your life:)).  And please do share in the comment section--I'd love to know who inspires you:)!
My man John Mayer...keepin' me where the light is!

If video does not appear, click here:)

Slumpitis:

Occasionally, I get a question thrown at me like the one below:

“Have you ever hit a slump where everything you paint turns out wrong? I'm there and am very frustrated!”

Eddie Demonstrates a Severe Case of Slumpitis..

It happens, sooner or later, to anyone trying to do anything creative:)   Many times it seems to correlate itself to a break through in your work.  The equation being something like  this:
  

The Amount of Building Frustration = The Amount of Breakthrough Pending:))

What becomes the challenge is to not get so discouraged that you quit for long periods.  

What I would suggest is doing the simplest of things in your studio that make you happy.  From organizing, selecting photos to paint from, setting up still lifes, looking through art books, etc---just let the muse lead you.  And here's the kicker...when you paint, just paint for the joy of it.  No attachment, no expectation.  Think of it as a jam session like musicians do.  No one is recording.  Keep the focus and the joy on the pleasure of doing it---not a finished product.  Having the joy in the doing is what it is all about anyway.  

A finished painting is merely a by product of having a good time:)) 

Rearrange your thinking and love everything you do.  It is all a part of the journey:)


Leftovers:
My Paris Studio Makeover (Part I and II) stirred up a few questions:

• What kind of studio lighting are you using? I have basic track lighting with "cans" that hold a mix of cool (flurouscent) and warm (halogen) lights mounted to my sloped ceiling.  The lights face away from my easel and bounce the light onto my work surface.  What I consider in any indoor space I have painted is to work with the lighting until whatever painted using them appears pretty much the same wherever else you view it.
• I've got so much extra stuff like canvases, travel gear, etc--where/how are you storing yours?  My studio room has a bonus area under the eaves that was finished out for storage.  All the "guts" of my studio reside there---things that I need to be handy, but not necessarily in the same room.  Thinking of a secondary storage area for your art stuff may help free up your actual working space.
• What do you like about having your easel in the middle of the room?  Less chance I will walk into my sloped ceiling and leave a mark on my forehead;)  Seriously, it was just the most practical spot considering my options.  And it works.  When I need to back up to get the long view, I just turn my easel to view it from the adjoining room (my office)
• Why the bamboo flooring? What about spills and is it cushioned enough?  I like it.  I am a fairly "clean" painter (put that down to years of working in watercolor) so I keep a small rug to stand on to protect the floor a bit, but for most part,  I don't worry about it.  It is a studio, so if some paint does appear, NBD (no big deal;)  And I find it to be a comfortable surface for long bouts of standing.
• In case you missed the posts on my studio makeover, just click here for Part I and here for Part II.

And there you have it.  How to hide an addiction and get clean at the same time, songs to sing in the shower, loose ends in the studio and pulling out of a nose dive.  If that's not enough to keep you out of trouble, then remember my newsletter hits the stands Saturday morning.  That's all I can do.  If you're gonna drink AND shower, there's nothing left for me to say....

Click Here to Comment on This Post

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE!  Just Click to Subscribe:)

Pin It

"Paris Studio Makeover Part II /A Happy Ending--New Beginning"

Lights: 

As in a shabby chic chandelier!

Camera:

Action: 

All good action films have at least one cliffhanger.

For my studio story, I have two...curtainclimbers 
Eddie Bill and  Eddie Pierre, which accounts for why the sequel has trailed so far behind the initial offering. (To Read Part I, click here)

Anyways, if you remember where our story last ended, we were just getting to the good part---placing all the stuff that we liked back into the  studio:)

When you are doing this in your own work place, it's really worth giving thought to what has good neuro-association for you. 
You know, what your nervous system feels like when you look at certain things.  


For instance, say you had a gift/vase from a family member who always refers to you as the 
poor nit-wit artist of the family, --
Might not want said vase in your creative space.
Just sayin';)

"Sea glass gathered on a memorable day in your life, a priceless work of art by your child/grandchild, 

a B & W photo of you and your sis when you were kids--anything that brings JOY, smiles and peace to your heart--that's what you want in your space." 

Some of my feel good things:)

A horse feed bag to hold extra paper towels on my easel.  
(This came to me from a mischievous friend, filled with candy:)

My favorite man Vincent is well represented

A cat named Mort who has been in every studio I've had for the past 20 years.

Laughter, wisdom,& inspiration--lots of it-- between these covers!

 Favorite jars, lavender sachets, and a license plate from my California girl days--which Phyllis the Mouse keeps a close eye on for me:)!

 

Original paintings and inspiring author/friends:))

All things that conspire to put the mind in the right place for creating:)!!

Gettin' Down to Business


I love reassigning items. Something that was originally intended to be used in a different way brings some delightful surprises into your studio space when given a new job:)

A Home Goods find--hiding in the kitchen section:)


My old jewelry chest, after it's shabby chic makeover, is the most perfect monitor holder-brush holder-paint storage thing you can imagine. (I have included my recipe for the makeover at the very end of this post)

 What used to hold necklaces now holds my stash of favorite brushes and tools:))

So from my mirrored table turned palette

To a chair to nest in for reading a good art book or writing my next blog post...

Some one time gold frames, now made-over for my prints...

Eddie and I agree on one thing.

We Love Our Shabby Chic Studio:))

P.S. The lighting I use for painting is track lighting mounted to the sloped ceiling--I face it away from my easel and let it "bounce" the light back into my work area.  I use a blend of cool and warm lights:))

P.S.S. My easel, jewelry chest and frames were finished with the ingredients below.  On my frames, I mixed a bit of blue acrylic paint in with the Swiss Coffee color.

Click Here for Video Details

To Subscribe to Dreama's Art Blog, Click Here:))

Art, Humor and Inspiration--In Your Inbox

Pin It

"French Poetry"

"French Poetry"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

SOLD

Sun shining 

Fresh laundered sheets 

 Clay potted red-heads 

My kind of street:))

I love it when poetry comes to life--as it does on every corner in France:)!

And speaking of France and Paris and Paris, Kentucky specifically...here are some highlights from the just completed Paris Workshop II!  Artists from Canada to Florida, Wisconsin to Louisiana, and many points in between-- came to hang out with me in my hometown---and to paint a little bit:))!

First day's paintings---look at all that gorgeous color:)!

So many wonderful artists who were so supportive of each other--one of the many things I love about a workshop.  Artists encouraging, sharing, and cheering each other on:)!

  Below is a taste of the musical easels--always fun and always enlightening:))!

Nancy, Barbara, Joshua, Monica, Paula, Arleen, Carolyn, Phyllis, Jennifer, Mary, Louise, Julie, Maria, Nana, Pat, Debbie, Kathy and Robin---thanks for bringing your joy and talent to Paris!!

Big Hugs from me to you:)))

And here's a little video from both Paris Workshops:))!

If video does not appear, just click here:)!

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE!  Just Click to Subscribe:)

Pin It

"Color Song" SOLD

 

"Color Song"

12 x 12in oil on museum quality panel

$550

Color 
makes 
me 
happy.

P.S. 
 I    love    color:) 

Now, what makes you happy??

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE!  Just Click to Subscribe:) Pin It

"Shades of France" SOLD

 "Shades of France"

12 x 12in original oil on museum quality panel

$550

Whether it's the ample of shade of an umbrella

or the particular shades of color in old stone, tablecloths and flowers...

it's all good.  

It's all France:))) 

In Other News:

As promised, here are some pics to capture some of the good times had at Paris Workshop No. 1 (No. 2 starts this Monday:))

Sassy Ann at play work....

Day Two's paintings capturing that old world feel of stone and flowers:)))

Here they are, looking all attentive and well-behaved.  

Shame it's not a video, then you would know the real truth;)))

Everyone weighing in on the musical easel experience:)

And some colorful paintings from it...15 in 40 minutes:))!

A warm, wonderful group of artists--lots of energy and lots of great paintings!!  I like to think the strawberries dipped in chocolate on the last day might have played a part in it.  Artists just seem to work better when fed chocolate--at least that's my theory;)

Big Hugs to this wonderful group of painters:)))  Kay, Marilyn, Ann, Amy, Claudia, Vickie, Susan, Sarah, Barbara, Martha,  Kathy, Nada, Sheila, Barbara and Glenna:)!

P.S.  I'll be announcing the winner of my monthly giveaway this week.  They will get their pick of one of my books OR a petite print from Dreama's Print Shop:))
If you would like to have your name in the drawing every month, you just have to subscribe once to this blog:))  Here's the link on how to do it (click here).

Wanna see my available paintings?  Click Here
Think you might want to paint with me?  Click here to check out my workshop schedule:)

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE!  Just Click to Subscribe:) Pin It

"JuNk DrAwer FriDAy!" No.8

BE PREPARED TO BE AMAZED, TO GAWK IN WONDER, TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD IN CONFUSION, OVER WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE.....:))

Let the Randomness Begin:

CAUTION...Wet Paint:
Traveling with wet paintings can be tricky business.  Right up there with giving Eddie a hug while wearing a black shirt:))  
For my trip to France, I used the 8 x 10 size of RaymarArt Carriers, which carries six wet panels at a time, back to back, with spacers in between.

My colorful painting gear--the gray box is the wet panel carrier from Raymar:)!

 They are so doggone light-weight that they won't add any more lbs. to your luggage, but they will save you from having new "unplanned" work done on your paintings (and clothes) while in transit:))  I added the label to the box, sporting one of my paintings with my website address...cause a girl's gotta have a  little lavender in her life;)
You can check them out by clicking here. ( These are the carriers I recommend for folks traveling to my workshops:)))

Double Duty:Here I go again, sharing with you, as it were, my amazing secrets for saving money and prepping for world wide travel at the same time.....
I have discovered these jars make for great containers in the studio for mediums, water, etc.

The only thing is they come filled with gelato.  Some folks would consider this a problem, but not people like you and me. We realize it's the perfect way to prepare ourselves for traveling to places like Italy.
Kind of like the runners do....practicing in high temps and up hills in readiness for the long distance runs.

I figure it would be pure craziness to plan on eating at all the gelato stands one might encounter in Italy, come September, ....UNLESS......I begin working up to it here:))

 5 bucks buys a lot of training.....

Certainty:
Love the words and video here by Nic Askew...

There was a time when I
looked for certainty.

---

Certainty in the outcome
of the events of
my own life.

---

And then I realized that
there was only one certainty.

---

And that was that it’s all OK.

---

That there’s something
that could never die.

---

And now I realize that
the total uncertainty
of the events of life
is the adventure.

---

And that’s the wonder.

If video doesn't appear, click here to view:))
WORDS BY NIC ASKEW. NIC’S WORDS & FILMS CAN BE FOUND AT SOULBIOGRAPHIES.COM


What's the Point:
For those of us with thick accents and no foreign language skills, the perfect book has been born.  Need to find a toothbrush or buy a banana and don't know the word?  Just point 'til you get it:)))  It's small enough to slip in your purse and has 1200 of everyday things you may just need help finding when traveling abroad.  And it's only 5 bucks:))  To check it out, just click here:)

Summer Job/Bag Boy:
Eddie has been bragging about the job skills E. Pierre is gaining under his tutelage.  I thought it only fair to warn you, in case Pierre turns in a job app at your store.


If video does not appear, click here to view:))

And there you have it.  Bad boy cats raising bag boy kittens,  the point of no return,  gelatothon training, the paintings that got carried away, and the certainty of uncertainty. More than enough to keep you busy for the week-end.  If not, there's always reruns of Dog the Bounty Hunter:))

Me??  I'll be getting ready for my second Paris Workshop  that starts this Monday.  And cleaning out some containers for mediums for my studio.....

If for some insane reason, you would want to take a workshop with me, I think there are some open spots in the ones that were added last week in places like Jacksonville, FL and Carmel, IN.  You can see 'em by clicking here.

Stay tuned for workshop photos from my first Paris workshop that just ended and the drawing for my monthly giveaway.  You might win a cat!!  (Kidding:))!!

Make someone smile today..... share this post with them:)))

Get Dreama's Blog and Newsletter in Your Inbox...for FREE!  Just Click to Subscribe:)

Pin It