On the eve of 56

 I can’t believe it has been 7 years since I added to my blog (blogs?). I guess life just got away from me. Oh, I have still been making stuff. That never changes. 

Tomorrow I will turn 56 and it marks a new beginning for me. It will be the last day for my Family Childcare business, Kula Playschool. I hope to start on a road toward health, healing, balance, and growth. The last few years have been a doozy, to say the least. We are all just starting to see light at the end of the Covid tunnel. Pete and I  are still working through the losses of my mom and his dad. Niko graduated college. I just finished my Masters degree., We just celebrated 30 years of marriage and Pete sold his practice. That’s a lot. The good with the bad. 

This year my focus will be in giving time and energy to my creative life. I still hope to teach in some capacity, either at the college or in my home studio or both. I hope we can see some more of the world. I hope to return to sharing on this blog, even if I am the only one who reads it. 

Let the next years be my best years. Happy birthday to me.

50 by 50

So, inspired by Jenni Horne's 52 canvas by 40, I have decided to paint 50 paintings before by 50th birthday which is June 3, 2016. I am excited and nervous about this challenge.

 So, you ask, what are you going to do with the 50 paintings? Well, much like Jenni I plan on having a gathering (50th birthday bash?) and have all the paintings on display. I will ask in lieu of birthday gifts that anyone who feels so moved to purchase a painting of their choice. I will price each painting at the low, low, extra cheap price of $40. All proceeds will go to a local charity, yet to be chosen. If you are interested in purchasing a painting you see on this blog before my birthday, or you live too far away to come, let me know and I can arrange for purchase via my Etsy page. I have already started and here are some of the paintings:

#1

#2

#3

My artistic family tree

It is July and I am feeling inspired to blog again. In Austin Kleon's great book, Steal Like an Artist he talks about climbing your own family tree. By that he means looking for artists you love and who inspire you. Read about them, study their work, and if you are lucky study with them. Then go onto the next artist and pretty soon you will have an artistic family tree of inspiration.

Among my favorite artists on my tree are:

1. Henri Matisse

2. Marc Chagall

3.  Horace Pippin

4. William H Johnson

5. Jacob Lawrence

I also enjoy Caravaggio

Renoir

Vermeer

Cassatt

and Basquiat

.

In addition I have been inspired by many artists I have found via the Internet.
You can find them on my Pinterst boards:

Artist that inspire me

I have also been fortunate to take classes from artists online who I love and are willing to share their gifts.

The first online class I took was from Mindy Lacefield. I live her childlike style and her intuitive mixed media process. Here is some of her work:

Here is some work I did after taking her class.

I also studied with Whitney Freya. I did her Creatively Fit Coaching training. I created this Buddha in her Paint the Buddha class.

I took Flora Bowley's online class Bloom True. I painted this:

Then I discovered Mystele. I really enjoyed her Gut Art classes over at Community Thrive. Her class inspired me to paint this:

This summer I have taken classes from two great artists and teachers. In June I took Jane Spakowsky's great class Painting on Black. I painted this angel:

I loved learning from all these women and I so appreciate their willingness to share their talents and knowledge. Online art classes have been a heaven sent gift for me. There aren't many affordable art classes here and I have to be able to fit them into my schedule. Online classes allow me to learn when I have the time at me own pace and the price is more affordable.

In July, I have just finished two courses by the fabulous Jenni Horne. I loved her classes Paint Something- Part 1 and 2. I love the way Jenni teaches. I gained a wealth on information and I have really been inspired as a painter. here are some things I have been doing:

We painted the American still-life so of course I did it Maui style. Jenni shares my love of whimsy and a fun, folksy style.

Jenni has also inspired me to do something brave and exciting this year with my painting. More about that in my next post.

Art thy name is Play

"I dwell in Possibility-

A fairer house than Prose-

More numerous of windows-

Superior for doors."

-Emily Dickinson

So well, the craft fair got me thinking about selling art. I know that many people need to make their living selling art and I think they should be paid well. But I am somewhat troubled by the concept of art as a commodity. In our consumer driven society almost everything is commodified. I think that the focus on monetary "value" takes away from the amazing benefits that come from the process of creating art. The joy and escape I get from painting and other creative pursuits are far more valuable than the final product I produce, whether I or others love it or not. 

I have been looking more into the area of expressive art and specifically intuitive painting. This is art making for the sake of art making. The only goal is the enjoyment and other benefits (emotional, physical, spiritual, etc) that are gained through the process of creating. Art making should be like play was as a child. When you get lost in the present moment and time disappears. If you end up with a painting that you love, that is a bonus.

To further my education in painting, I am currently enrolled in two online classes. The first is Soul Food 2015 at Community Thrive. The class consists of a number of talented mixed media artists sharing fun and interesting lessons which I can watch over and over. I have learned new skills and so enjoy watching the artists' process.

The second class just began and it is called Painting with Fire at Creative Juices Arts. This is an intuitive painting course which just focuses on the benefits of process art. No painting lessons,. No comments on each other's art.  I am excited to begin this new journey. 

As I continue to shape my now 4 year, 2 month plan for my future creative work life shift, I continually come back to the desire to teach others how to develop a creative practice in their lives. My desire is to be able to show anyone how they can have a creative practice that is fulfilling, practical, affordable, and most of all fun.  I am considering taking a training in intuitive art instruction in the future. 

First Fair

Last Saturday, in the spirit of doing something brave, I had a booth at the MUC craft fair at the Makawao Union Church. I started the day sharing the booth with my friend and colleague, Shellie Smith (sorry no photo) who brought her gorgeous plant dyed yarn goodness to share. The fair was very slowwww. It definitely could have been advertised better. But
I still had fun and met a lot of nice folks. I didn't sell any paintings but received nice feedback about them. I did sell two signs I had quickly made and 1 doll. It was overall a positive learning experience.

Show Your Work!

I just finished reading Austin Kleon's great book,     Show Your Work



I a big fan of his last book Steal Like An Artist



I have an obscene number of books related to creativity and living an artistic life and these two are at the top of my list. They are compact and funny yet extremely practical and insightful. I read Steal Like An Artist when I felt very stuck creatively and it really helped me move past that place. Now Show Your Work has come to me just when I have been struggling with how to get my work out there and questioning whether I am ready. He encourages you to share your reference materials with other so here it is. Great read. Great resource. #Austin Kleon.

Newest angel.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/224123788/angel-series-8