wanda marie

CREATIVE ABSTRACT WRITING AND PAINTING...

2012-01-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

i know this has looked like the dead zone around here...

...still working and studying and painting with misty...

out tumbled the WORDS...

PRECIOUS TIME!!! VALUABLE FRIENDS...

2012-01-25T12:57:00.000-08:00

i have so much more to share...but my computer reception is bonky.

these little ditties are like starting to learn to paint and draw all over again!

i am taking misty mawn's OPEN STUDIO on line class, and SHE is keeping us busy, by the MINUTES!!! no time to lollygag around.

and then in between class and life, this is a WIP...

i feel a little house series coming up :)!

i shall share that, i have learned much in about one day to fill a lifetime of art from misty!

and there just aren't enough hours to share it all...but i want to say this, coming from a self-taught artist as many of us are...

i feel i've learned backwards, but its A-OKAY...

the VALUE OF SKETCHING AND DRAWING is underrated...

it has/is teaching me to paint and see better...i get so excited over these revelations, i promise not to go off on this subject, in all good ways!

i hope all my friends are CREATING AWAY with WILD ABANDON (or just painting away!)

XOXO

P.s. i have not visited around the net, misty is driving us hard!

THE LITTLE RED HOUSE...

2012-01-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

This started out as an intuitive painting, again. And it was many things before this came to me. It is so astounding and surprising what comes from our imaginations when we let it flow.

After applying regular paint and then open acrylics with a palette knife, i picked up a brush, didn't like it, then another and another...hmmmm....

I went back to the palette knife and then another palette knife, and fell in love and dug in! Richard my husband made a special frame for me out of smashed copper piping...it found it's home surrounding the little neighborhood :))

I feel so blessed to have found this absolute painting passion in my life. And i am so fortunate to have many persons involved with myself and this endeavor. i never knew that one could feel so profound over this gift.

i hope that you too, are exploring your gifts, stepping out of the box OFTEN, and loving life for all it throws us!

wanda xoxo

FIBER ART!!! with a little painting thrown in...

2012-01-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

my entry into CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS postcard contest...it had to be at least 50 percent cloth. i loved doing this, i love attempting new excursions. and what better time than the new year!

the magazine peeps suggested writing them encouraging words on the back of the postcard, not that they need it. i adore this mag!

i finished a scarf last night after purchasing someone elses, hand spun...getting to my own soon, just need to give them some colors to float in...yummmy!

i'm not real sure what i am going to turn this into...i have toyed with a pillow top, a funky scarf, or a baby blanket...we'll see if i can stop knitting long enough...i just become obsessed in the winter time to knit up a storm!

...and there are no storms here in northern california yet. not even rain, it's been close to 70 for days and i am NOT COMPLAINING. yes we need snow and rain, but i can't do anything to change that, so...am basking in this spring time weather!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

MUSIC

2012-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

...i started out with an intuitive painting using some colors i am in love with together! for the first time in my life i actually wrote them down for reference. then painted with left over paints on some other papers (the norm for me) THE colors are: Golden; pyrrole red, naples yellow hue, green gold and then (sky blue claudine hellmuth)

...then a couple of days later, i decided to paint a portrait with the same paints just to see what might come from it...well, i fell in love with the soft easy look, not sure if she is retreating or emerging...no matter...she's simply done and listening and melting into the soft music :)) annnd...i popped her into my etsy a few minutes ago :0

HAPPIEST when sharing...

2011-12-31T15:40:00.000-08:00

                                                           HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
                                                                           XOXO
                                                          SOLD! thank YOU, patricia!

OUR STORIES...

2011-12-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Black matte

White matte

i am going to attempt adding some new pieces of my work onto etsy fairly often. but i won't post each and every one on my blog, or that might get a little old. so...for today, this is the one i just added, thought i'd share as it's one of my favorites. SIMPLY STATED: ENJOY, my friends. xo

SO HAPPY TO BE ON VACATION from work...so i can REALLY work...with that brush of mine...

2011-12-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

3 HAPPY MESSES...

WAITING...

for my brushes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

she's wrapped in plastic, in these 2 photos

she is an 8" X 10" with a mat applied...and went into my ETSY!

Whimsical Winter Hangers!

2011-12-27T15:18:00.000-08:00

Little Hangers, i just posted in my ETSY shop...all the measurements and information can be found there! This seemed a good way to get my paint on today...gearing up for some much larger pieces to work on!

SOLD!
Thank YOU!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

2011-12-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

DECK THE HALLS!!!

2011-12-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

Whimsical gifts

i turned my acrylics into watercolors again...i am loving it!

...takes very little wateryep...this is our christmas tree...a redwood bough

Christmas brings out the minimalist in me of late...

outside the front door

WELCOME

Merry Christmas One and ALL!!!

XOXO

THE SEA IN DECEMBER...

2011-12-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

WIP...i am digging the pink :))

MORE wip and intuitive paintings......a section of a WIP that lit my fire!

Gifts galore...see, i've been busy in my workshop more and more...

These are the hand enbroidered titles for my "sea pillows"...

i shall be incorporating these "lovely titles" sewn onto the pillows with added yarn and fabric...

isn't the "sea lace" fabric sumptuous? these are fabric remnants that someone SWELL gave me!

there are those around me and espECIALLY on our blogs that encourage and entice and inspire...something of which i hope i too am a part of---SHARING and SPARKING our energized creativity back and forth...

this is what all the backs of the pillows look like...They are all about 16" to 20" squares

COLLECTIVE CREATIVE ENERGIES is what we are about at timesWASH CLOTHS GALORE!

captivating the ocean floor...

...and she just about says it all...

THANKFUL FOR ALL THE COLORS IN MY LIFE

annnd...for all you peeps that encourage, inspire and create with one another...

We all benefit from the self-expression of others...

i THANK ALL OF YOU, for sharing with me!

XOXOX

CHRISTMAS JOY!!!

2011-12-03T14:21:00.001-08:00

hanging angel ornaments...i'm at it again...just can't resist...it's soon to be Christmas afterall...

i got this idea to share with everyone, anyone...found it in a magazine somewhere?
grabbed an empty box...tore out an interesting paper page from magazine, painted a wash and then white randomly.
then painted the angel and dressed her.
glued old jewelry on the top and added wire and beads...voila... an intriguing ornamental!

HAPPY WEEKEND TO ALL MY BLOGGING BUDS! XOXO

SUPPORTIVE friends, a world of wealth...

2011-11-21T10:04:00.001-08:00

i jumped out of my car when i arrived at work last week, ran under one of the chinese pistache trees and shot many photos...one day these were just beginning to change and then overnight they turned so magnificent. they are all over the campus and so INSPIRATIONAL!!!

i don't usually frame my work with glass on them, but for some reason i really liked the trasformation the glass gave this simple painting...and then i loved how the photo shows the reflection of a window on the left :))

i have so much fun experimenting...always...while taking one of misty's classes i didn't have watercolor paints so tried turning my acryrlics into just that (it's done all the time i hear). any hoo, that's how i painted this one, with a little ink to outline. while painting it, i was THINKING of mistie and her words and her support and thought it looked like her...but then when i was done...i thought...this doesn't look like her at all, but happily i thought..."i love the feel, the emotions this has turned out and THAT'S just why mistie's paintings drew me in in the first place"! This was quite awhile back and now she sits on the San Clemente Pier in Southern California...for sale yes...in my niece's space...if she doesn't sell, i won't be sad...honest...i maybe should have saved her...we shall see what's meant to be! and i don't usually get so attached to my work...has this happened to you?

The previous post was a hasty trial at posting on BLOGGERS new modern version...i still have to learn so much, but know it's good for me :))

THANK YOU FOR PEEKING AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING XOXO

NEW ON ETSY and NEW to the updated posting...oy vey!

2011-11-20T12:54:00.001-08:00

All the details are on FB and Etsy!
XOXO

CHRISTMAS IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!

2011-11-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

Greetings Everyone

i finally get to chat with ya' all!

i haven't had time to peruse YOUR blogs, but will be doing just that off and on all next week, vacation from job at school allots me time for this and painting!!!!

can't wait to see what you have been up to...i felt so isolated without the wonder of the computer.

annnd...i am having a sale on ETSY and will be adding more as the week progresses....

This is a painted 2X4 and stands 14" tall

her "dreads" are wired beads

...so much fun on board and am anxious to see what everyone else has been up to!

and miss Chris, you are at the top of the list baby, checking up on me, unbeknownst to me till the computer was up and running...finding your messages in my e mail and blog...THANK YOU FUNNY GIRL!

XOXOXO

Not a Vacation

2011-10-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

i'll be back in about a month i hope...my computer is CRASHING! i will miss ALL YOU LOVeLIES, but will see you on the flip side!
Many happy CREATive days to you all, wanda xoxo

CITY LIFE--COUNTRY LIFE

2011-10-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

SHE LIVED IN THE TOWN BENEATH THE CITY

i used to keep sheep.

i had different colored sheep, black, brown and white.

we sheared them, i spun and wove. i still do a little in the winter, it is in my bones to stay.

people used to give me fleece that i washed, dyed and spun...but hardly anyone knows that part of me anymore (especially those with sheep)...so now i have to send away and here is a wonderful place to do that...just in case a follower friend would be interested. you can enlarge to see the address:)) This is how it came in the mail...so pretty, inviting and special...

when i found this in the morning light, i had to do it!

SPUN!

(but i won't let myself spin the rest until it's freezing outside and warm inside by the fire)

Happy Weekend Everyone!

XOXO

INTUITIVE PAINTINGS

2011-10-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

If you look on julie prichard's site...her latest on line course, with chris cozens'...you will see a preview of # 6 in the line up of lessons.

this is the one that i have fallen in love with...so in between portraits i am playing and digging INTUITIVE ART. something i was already in the midst of, but when i got to lesson #6...OH BABY, my fire was lit!

julie and chris' on line lessons are so fabulous...when i took julie's first one, i sold every painting that i painted after that...there was so much depth, so many layers and a truly different way of painting.

since loosening up and letting go, miracles and fun have happened over and over (certainly, not EVERY SINGLE TIME) and i am still on fire.

you can take a gander at julie's talent over at http://thelandoflostluggage.com

her classes stay up forever after you have taken them and they are extremely REASONABLE. i just got my computer back tonight. it was being held hostage while it was supposed to be tuned up, cleaned up, more room for more wonders...ha! they did nothing, and charged me nothing! live and learn!

i still can't leave messages on blogs (not that that had anything to do with the free tune up).

it's so discouraging.

DOES ANYONE HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT'S UP WITH THIS PROBLEM???

BLUE MUSIC ROOM

2011-10-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

ENLARGE to see some layers...there are a LOT! Some more INTUITIVE paintings...this looks a might distorted as it isn't taped down TO the easel at the top.

i have just a few more changes and it's probably going to be titled the BLUE MUSIC ROOM :))

in my next post i'll tell you why and how this all started...it's not a big deal really, but then again YES IT IS, because i am obsessed in all good ways!

and....i can't leave messages on many of your blogs, it's not that i haven't been there...i have and tried...maybe it'll be time for me to change to another blog realm...hmmm!

I WISH YOU ALL A MARVELOUS DAY AND EVENING...

filled with music from ANYWhere...YOUR heart, soul, radio, birds, silence....

XOXO

Spirit Family and Clare?

2011-10-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

i've been doing a lot of INTUITIVE painting since taking a class (more on that later). the class is not on INTUITIVE painting, but this has just been happening :))

clare- i have tried for several days to leave you a comment (long ones, heh heh) but blogger will not allow me in. this is what it states: "cookie value is null for FormRestoration". does anybody know how to fix this or get around this? it happens periodically, but then straightens itself out??? not this time, i'm in the dark and frustrated, i love talking to clare! xoxo

2011-10-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

...so, we took a little trip down south from northern california.

i have seen so many different kinds of fruits and vegetables cruisin' down the freeway...but never carrots, there is a first time for everything!

this was the best shot i could get.

there is just something thrilling to me, ever since my childhood to see items from our good earth traveling far, to who knows where...!

...coming down from the tehachapai mountains, so barren, so beautiful!

i always love seeing these...

Tea bag girl :))..that's the background...

teabags that are painted, stamped and dyed...

very fun, and this is one i had buried, found and improved!

Have a MARVELOUS autumn weekend, FRIENDS one and all!

xoxo

"INVENT YOUR OWN WORLD"

2011-09-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

She was given an improvement or two...

...THEN, she dressed in her special ensemble...real dried flowers and gorgeous sheer fabric!!!

...and then she was FRAMED!!!

lookin' at her any which way...we can "invent our own world"!! She is heading off to Tango Yogurt or down south to Orange County

California, that is *}

Happy Weekend Friends

XOXO

It's still so HOT here in Northern Cal and these works were found in our local yogurt shop....

2011-09-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

an extremely special person, julie bought this, "SECRET KEEPER".

i was so thrilled because she said she absolutely fell in love with her, her words and perfect colors in her home...(ya' just never know, eh?)

THIS/she was one of my absolute favorites, i almost kept her...but today HEATHER purchased her. as i spoke to her over the phone she said she had red hair herself :). i forgot to tell her that red is my favorite color to paint hair. it always seems to pop and go with any colors of the rainbow. heather said she might show where she has her hanging in her home, i sure hope so :)) oh...she was framed with some of the raised flowers right on the frame...

bye bye, "she always brings flowers"

on 1/01/09 i started painting portraits...i had done a lot of mixed media and made and sold art dolls at this time.

this is a plain ol' story of encouragement for anyone and everyone...

people found me, people liked my work, people started showing my work (remember again, i'm just a plain ol' lady with a not so plain passion ;)

then i was contacted by the Art Commission in our regular ol' town of newcastle, and then auburn, calif, the town above our little town.

today a woman, Heather called wanting to buy a painting, and noticed that they were mostly women and girls (that's another whole story from wanda) so i said, i'd work on some men and boys more, i do like them, in fact i love them, so...we'll see what tomorrow brings!

WHEW, CAROLYN, maybe this is TOOO many words....but..............

i just want to encourage everyone, that when you put your mind to things you love,,,,

STUFF HAPPENS....GOOOD STUFF....GOOD PEOPLE and on and on...I AM GRATEFUL TO ALL THE GOOD!!!

XOXO

Painting the Blues Away...

2011-09-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

HER KITE
HER FEET

HER HEAD, HER NECK, HER HEART...

SHE FLEW HER KITE BY MOONLIGHT!

I THANK YOU ALL AND LOVE YOU ALL

XOXO

Healing and Moving on...

2011-09-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Buffy, Diane, Jane, Rachel, Theresa and Yael...thank you for your love and prayers and hugs to every bloomin' one of you. when i saw your comments and faces, i smiled, giggled and trembled with tears...good tears. you all have helped me be more at peace. i love each of you dearly...oh, theresa, you wondered where i went, heh heh, not far, just low :). XOXO

here is a sunrise, at mom and dad's before mom passed away. mom ALWAYS became EXCITED over sunrises and sunsets...

this is mama, under my sister candy's hands, while she lay dying...i never thought this would be this hard, but she left a legacy of 8 loving siblings, and flew to heaven on 9/11/11. taking photos of this you say...i know, it seemed weird at first, but then it seemed nothing but right. my dad even asked me to run in his room and take a pic of my sister carolyn who had fallen asleep next to moms head...no more words...

how could you not love this attire?

this is dad, he did a lot of gazing out the window, while mom lay dying in the next room.

he sang to her, prayed over her, gave her kisses and permission to go. he took such good care of her till the bitter end, like a loving angel. he says he's a survivor now, but only half a man. the father of 8 children, he is so special to us.
Mom died on 9/11/11

There will be a celebration of life on 9/30/11
i can garantee mom will be present, her 8 children and family were her

TOP PRIORITY.

A HAPPY WEEKEND TO YOU ALL

XOXOXO
WANDA

I'll be back soon...

2011-09-14T13:18:00.001-07:00

PROCESS ROCKS!

2011-09-03T13:45:00.001-07:00

No tangible product need or necessarily is produced from creative effort...

and then a lot of the time it takes a tremendous aMOUNT of discipline to see our efforts in our

own PERSONAL CREATIVE END...and seemingly to me, mixed media opens the door to such wonders!!! we'll have to wait to see where these processes lead or end :) !
piece of old rotting wood, torn from one of my planters

both sides of a 2 X 4...hmmm. we shall soon find out, eh?!

crape myrtle, one of my favorite bushes or trees and...

this one happens to be my favorite of all the reds!!!

make your own watercolors

from your lovely acrylics...

is such fun and awfully PRETTY, just to play in!

This is not the end!

A WONDERFUL 3 DAY HOLIDAY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE IT!

for those that don't, i'd love you to stop by after work and dabble in paint with me!

XOXO

"It's the LITTLE things"

2011-08-27T21:49:00.001-07:00

if you go in for a close up, the word "little" is teeny tiny eensy... LIVING each moment as it comes...

this was on a wall in front of a store. i thought, "how creative"...a pallet with succulents planted in it...CLEVER

This was at sun up one morning this week. I was outside on our deck and didn't alter this one bit. I just couldn't believe the reflections!

Happy Gardening and Sunday to YOU ALL!

2011-08-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

...so...my sister came over for a couple of hours wanting to learn some techniques. of course we had tons of fun! after she left, i kept staring and really liking this look...so...

if you enlarge twice and peek up in the right hand corner...there she was, not only the start of her face, but a staff next to her arm as well...hmmm

...and then she emerged! love when this happens!today, she is wearing her polka dot cotton attire with a dyed blue chiffon accent to highlight her garden. there are silk remnants added to some of her leaves as well! *)

well, now i know, this part below about not being able to leave comments...blogger is on the blitz, i couldn't leave you one either, jane. i'm sure it'll straighten out in just a matter of time.

Our Blogs, Our Shared Journey's

2011-08-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Sacramento Delta...flying into home, sacramento, ca.
oh my goodness, my fuzzy mind. after reading each of your messages and re-reading my last post. my mom lingers on, she hasn't passed yet. i will reveal that when it does happen. in the meantime, i shall not keep bringing it up. our blogs are our journals where we tend to reveal much, sometimes.

i am one of those REAL people that does let it all hang out a good deal of the time. i've grown quite comfortable here. emelie, her message was spot on, should you read it. it's a rollercoaster ride and i'm not the only one on it. i am so grateful for your love, GRATEFUL beyond words.

more POSITIVITY coming your way!

NATURE, NANA, MAMA and GOOD FRIENDS!

2011-08-18T10:28:00.001-07:00

...and...finally...i painted yesterday. i painted and painted and painted my way into positivity! "tears will continue to bubble up and catch me off guard", my friend janet reminds me...that's okay, it's healing we know! katie, you know your mom's presence has been on my mind lately, so strong the sense, the UNsense. there is love, there is healing. jane, same thing, i think mom will meet your two moms and NANA, seeing the thread that sews us together...the importance of it, the Beauty of it! XO

i've been knitting and crocheting, it's been theraputic of late. i finished two throws and one pillow to match (sort of ish, you know me :)), "no matchy matchy"!

ahh...Nana! the time has flown in so many ways, yet stood still at times with no forward or back. and then the memory of my mama's mama...when i thought nana was leaving forever, i found out she'd be back to whisper in my ear and forever teaches me still...

our girl, showed up at the artwalk thursday nite. she stunned and surprised me, supporting me and holding me up that entire evening. it wasn't in me at the time to celebrate. God's gifts are bountiful!

"sundown" yesterday

the moon, in the distance, high up on a hill with a tree in front of it, such wonder, such beauty!i wish YOU ALL, a peaceful and wondrous weekend!

XOXO

SHE LIVED IN THE GARDEN...

2011-07-26T22:32:00.000-07:00

she's just about finished..

flower petals dropped on her clothing

this is how it all started...

with stencils and paint lids and spray paint, oh my...

i have so much to share about art but my heart is too heavy at this time.

i shall be leaving next tuesday, hoping to touch and kiss my mother's cheek, one last time. if not i have let her go and have blown kisses on her wings to fly away, leaving pain and craziness behind.

i wish you all, artful loving days ahead, my mama would wish this for you too.

XOXO

SUMMER WONDERS TO SHARE

2011-07-19T16:59:00.001-07:00

i wanted to share a before and after. when we make mistakes it's good to share, and then when we actually fix them, even better, eh?

so...here's what happened...

when i first painted and collaged this piece, i had my own handwriting off to the side, but...

it kinda disappered as it was not waterproof.

sooooo, i printed out text, worked industriously to get the right colors to just kind of fade into the background, yet be legible.

wellll, when i finished that part, they were too big, but had to be in order to cover up the handwriting.

soooo, i put modeling paste through my favorite stencil, it dried and then i camoflauged it into the background with lots of work in paint etc. and then....SHE WORKED! "Before"

"After"AND SHE READS:

"listening long enough to the stories of your ancestors,

to hear them draw in breath

and sing in your soul"

there is some of my handmade "fabric paper" on her dress, a dried flower in her hair and a bit of dyed cheese cloth, up in the corner to tie her all together :))

this old woman doll was such a crack up...and then someone, had the creativity to perch her on a bicycle...annnd my nephew asked, "is that one of those cigarette thingys, women used back in the day?" my sister answered, "yep, it's called a cigarette holder". GOOD ONE CAROLYN!

graffiti in Truckee...inside a cafe...every single inch of wall, tables, benches and floor are covered, so fun to see! annnd, their food is the best in the west!

one of those mistakes (or not) in photography...

my pants in the sky in Truckee California :0)

a sparkling piece of summer heaven

in ANTHROPOLOGIE, looking out the window to the street...so beautiful and inspirational!
A WONDERFUL WISH OF LOVE AND INSPIRATION TO YOU ALL!

XOXO

OUR GIFTS, OUR TREASURED OUTLOOKS, and OUR FRIENDS...

2011-07-14T08:41:00.001-07:00

7 or 8
months later...the true colors are in between these two shots, i think

16" X 24" gallery wrapped

it is so astounding to me how...some of our pieces come so easily and some NOT...but in the end i am so relieved and grateful for all i have learned.

my next post is going to be in the same vein (length of time) but am going to show how it just wasn't there, and then "oh no I've wrecked it" and then...no i haven't...and AGAIN, the learning, the wonder of learning, the outstanding learning learning learning...

A VERY WONDERFUL THURSDAY TO ALL YOU CREATIVE CREATORS that stop by over here.

i am trying desperately to stay connected and yet not always visiting you, yet...such hard stuff going on...YEAH...

ART IS HEALING.

XOXO

GIFTS FOR YOU

2011-07-11T20:59:00.000-07:00

thank YOU, YAEL, DIANE, HEALING WOMAN, JANE, BUFFY AND CHRIS...i wish, honestly from the bottom of my heart that i could have taken each and every one of you with us.

this is as close as we can get to that, i am GRATEFUL to each of YOU

happy birthday, it was! xoxoxo

PRETTIEST LICHEN TREE, I'VE EVER SEEN :)

THESE WERE ALL on THE YUBA RIVER, HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Life's bitter sweet MOMENTS...

2011-07-09T19:57:00.001-07:00

this sold today in south dakota, in the stagecoach gallery. thank you MARY!

and a good little story with it: a young mother with a miraculous preemie baby, said, "i have to have this" and bought it up.

i love the stories, i adore the stories, the stories are important and life lifting!

i am so in love with these fishing nets, they are every where and all over the place in this town we stay in...santa catalina, panama. it's difficult to capture them on camera, they are so light colored, made out of plastic. catalina is a fishing village first and then all the rest came later...including us.

theron (future son-in-law) and i cooked breakfast together every morning. it was such fun with someone so young, eager and hill air eee us! he was a little scared of how fresh or "what else should we know about these eggs"...seriously

FUNNY AND CUTE STORY:

so, the fam was out on the town (village) in catalina one night. erin (daughter) asked us where the banos was...we pointed, it was very very dark, the door was open, she went in and closed that door. in walked this young panamanian gent, into the men's banos (he's cute too) and he got all flustered and stood there apologizing then left :)

later that night, the younger part of our family went back over to the restaurant to enbibe and dance...we older folk could hear a bit of the laughter and music! (FED OUR SOULS, as we ourselves laid in bed and laughed)

she met up with this guy and he said he was so sorry, he would be over in the morning to give her free surfing lessons, if she was interested...

well she is still going to marry Theron, but she did learn to surf before we left panama!

i'm lettin' it all hang out today...this is my mom and my sister cookie on this last mother's day.

my mama is so sick right now and i simply ask for prayers and good thoughts for our family, esp. for her and dad. they are both 83, in so much pain and i'll spare ya' all the rest of the details. Love and Good Paintings to my Fellow ARTEESTS!

...a little bit of this and a little bit of THAT...

2011-07-06T22:17:00.001-07:00

This is yet another page i painted in that book that saved my boredom with layovers in airports in june...:))

...still working on this one...

a summer sunrise here at home...

This appears to me, that this was one HAPPY horse in santa catalina, panama...

Back in the Game of LIfe

2011-07-04T12:45:00.001-07:00

(Photo is from the side, trying to avoid the glare...too tired to wait for another, better shot.)

This painting is on plaster of paris, over the top of burlap...i am taking stephanie lee and judy wise's plaster studio class and am in love with plaster...it is also cracked intentionally :)):

Definitely go in for a closer view"HER SALE"

It's rarely about the money.

Sometimes it's just to buy more paint.

It's ALL really about ...

putting ourselves and...

giving ourselves..

The REALITY of ..

Putting ourselves,

Connected in the world with,

Other Selves---

Down on paper, cardboard, fabric or wood.

To tell the world,

To feel the world,

To share our souls,

To tickle our fancies,

To show,

To feel...

Making our passions tangible in some way...

Wanda Marie

July 4, 2011

Life Matters call Me...i'll be back when i'm able...

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

i wish you all, good flying days in july :))

thank you for the welcoming words, (home from panama) YAEL, JANE and EMELIE! XOXO

2011-06-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

This is a peek of a corner of a painting i am working on right now...changing her drastically and loving it...it was one of those THROWN UNDER THE BED SO I WOULD NOT HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ONE MORE MINUTE deals. she's 16" X 20" X 2", so i won't have to frame her. i am still getting ready for the auburn, august artwalk...i'll divulge her soon I HOPE!

i was desperate at times, to draw and paint, so i pulled out a book i was going to give mike, for his library. we all had a good laugh, everytime someone looked through this book, as it has drawings, paintings and collages inserted. this is nothing new for many i'm sure, and for me it was fun! the pages gave immediate life to some sketches and the collage and paint were accepted readily!

i had to throw this one in for mi amiga miz katie, her tostito jar always seems to have some color of blue paint in it...mine had rum, pineapple and some coconut pieces thrown in, katie...i'll fix one for ANY of you, my friends, ANY day you show up on my doorstep!

A girl and her dad as the sun set beyond Penguino's...yep...the peguin restaurant!

the photo is not altered...sooo pretty...we all looked purple for awhile when we were eating at the restaurant :))

Penguino's Restaurant...while the tide was out...it goes up to that wall and has been completely underwater some years and they just keep rebuilding...

this is also at the very end of the village, Santa Catalina where the road ends at the ocean...GOTTA LOVE THAT!

Erin and Theron (daughter and future son in law)

at Peguino's

Coming Back Soon...Honest!

2011-06-28T20:31:00.001-07:00

TAKING A BREATHER!!!

2011-06-05T20:32:00.002-07:00

I don't care that summer hasn't shown it's face here this year...

i don't care , i AM wearing flowers in my hair...

i don't care about what to wear...

The air is cool, the rain is soft,

it showers in our garden,

dappled water on our fruit and nut trees, it even sprinkles me!
When the hot sun shows it's face again, i might just take a swim!

Go with the flow i say, just go with the flow...

Rest and Respite are in order now...

just going with the flow!

HAPPY SUMMER DAYS TO MY SUPPORTIVE AND DELIGHTFUL BLOGGING BUDDIES! XOXO

COME PAINT WITH ME!!!

2011-06-01T19:32:00.001-07:00

so many faces...

so many changes...

BLOGGER has been down for me, not able to post or look or anything hardly...and now i am down for the count with asthmatic bronchitis, so i'll be taking a break to get good and well!

but i'll be back when i can...

i wish all my lady buddies WONDERFUL ARTING EXPERIENCES...be that: paint, fiber, papers, fabric and all the textures you come up with! XOXO

THE POWER OF PAINT AND COLOR IS IN OUR HANDS!!!

2011-05-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

this is another thing i did over the weekend...i made myself choose colors opposite of what i really wanted to use. it was such fun!!! i may keep her like this and put some profoundly wonderful words on her, or i may end up adding true colors, who knows...i am quite enamored with her and not sure of the all the reasons yet. needless to say, i just LET LOOSE this weekend, painting with abandon, not at all for outcome and naturally i LEARNED ALOT!

color change on the computer

i missed the last go 'round on this...thought it'd be a good stretch and fun...anybody else out there joining in?

possible front cover...possibly not...my prompt is "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF"! i thought i could go anywhere with that theme...hmm

BLOGGER has not let me leave comments to some of you and didn't let me post yesterday. so if you haven't heard from me, this is why. some of it is straightened out and some of it hasn't.

SOOO... A VERY HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL!!!
AND THANK YOU IMMENSELY!

CRACKS IN MY HEART

2011-05-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

i joyfully worked all weekend on some smaller pieces, affordable, yet from my heart for the next art walk...she doesn't have her words yet, but i'm sure they are going to be sad or heartfelt...ai yi yi...maybe it's time for some smiling paintings...and yet, i'm sure you understand...that just isn't what was inside of me at the time. :)) YOU CAN ENLARGE TWICE! i'd also like to share...that so many of my collage pieces are from using my left over paint on magazine pages...they lend themselves with "just the right punch" sometimes...and then Diane, some of the words that show up can be so humorous or deep! I PROMISE to invite you the next time we go to high hand nursery, :)). the polka dots are a sheer fabric sewn onto the watercolor paper...there were some super sad words under there, now no one will have a clue, but YOU!

HEY...well i guess i COULD be a mayor some day...but i don't think i'd really like that :))

Cracks for Carolyn in the tin...at Candy's!

Cracks in the crevices and wall...for carolyn! i wish you all a wonderful week ahead, ahh monday again. xoxo

It's an EXPERIENCE, not just a nursery!

2011-05-21T09:43:00.001-07:00

A day spent with a wonderful friend, Janet :))!!

ENLARGE if you dare, that may just take you THERE!

Which path to take first...?

ooh maybe this path...

...or this one......or this one...we better go have lunch before getting completely mesmerized!

my lunch...i'm taking the chef home to live with us!!!

i can't think of a finer place to have put this guy "out to pasture"...*)

OUTSTANDING accomodations for produce raised here!

look up!

look down

a most beautiful water fountain!friendly fellows......ahem...excuse us little damselfies! carry on, it is springtime afterall!

...cookin' up succulents?
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND MY FRIENDS! XO

PLASTER STUDIO...

2011-05-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

WHOO HOO!!!

i received my new book in the mail...and am taking their class in june...but couldn't wait another second to give something a try.

the book is so well done, clear, concise and of course...artisically gorgeous... "judy and stephanie" STYLE!

i went for the the caulking excercise judy wrote up...

i used an old book cover, spread on the caulk, inscripted my outlines for a face and some textures, having no idea how this would turn out. let it dry and went for my paints...

it was such a surprise all around...the caulking took the painting so BEAUTIFULLY, that i wanted to paint on it forever, it was marvelous! i actually liked my surprise 'TURN OUT', it was almost like painting backwards or with your eyes shut tight...extremely freeing and fun!

i shall attempt more with time :))!

right next door in one of the photos you can catch a glimpse of a little painted plaster gauze...it ain't over yet for experimentation!!!

these are both the same painting...lighting a little different...maybe so you can see the textures and inscriptions...

GO PAINTING!!! XOXO

OUR FAMILY'S MOTHERS DAY

2011-05-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

my sister Carolyn and i surprised our parents and a few other family members for mother's day...a long road trip...

a TREASURED MEMORY!

TREATED TO A YUMMY DINNER

A NIGHT WALK

ANOTHER NIGHT WALK (reminded me of a secret garden :)))

MY SISTER CANDY'S HOUSE (100 yr. old +) she is working on it with her fiance to get married in!

MAMA AND COOKIE (one of my 3 sisters)

ME AND POPS THE RIDE

ONE PAINTING

ONE SKETCH I PROMISE TO VISIT MY FUN FELLOW BLOGGERS AS SOON AS I CAN! XO

"BE HEARD"

2011-04-30T11:39:00.001-07:00

Third coat...the first was a painting i hated, yes hated, ha! the second layer was yellow paint, spray and washed, the next was white paint washed over the previous and then the start of these stenciled flowers and designs, using paint and modeling paste...

frame

frame had to be done along side of painting...this is close up of the modeling paste...

i pasted words from magazines and papers all over, but placed them kind of so it looked good, just as they were...kinda' ?

used golden acrylic glazing liquid (gloss, although, no gloss shows in finished piece at all) and NAPLES yellowpaint mixed, and lightly swooshed, clearing letters and words i wanted to remain...

a piece of the frame up close

start of her face

a video would be easier on the eyes, but alas, i don't know how...

cheese cloth up close

Framed 19" X 34" with the frame
this is my second mixed media painting that i felt i gave birth to...so many layers, so many days, so many weeks, so much STUFF (good stuff)...

thinking at some points during the process, "oh i love this, oh no this wrecks the whole thing, oh my goodness, such bravery,,,oh goodness, nah, just do it"...!

oh the questions i asked, oh the places i went, and then OH NO, i am spent,
oh, the delight of paper, paste and paint...

such joy to clothe and stick on ink!

oh, the places i went, never to aspire...

that i could ever be this much ON FIRE!

I AM I SAY...

and OH, i shall BE HEARD!

A MOST HAPPY SUNSHINY SATURDAY TO ALL MY BLOGGING BUDS! XO

ALLL TRANSFORMATIONS POSSIBLE!!!

2011-04-28T09:39:00.001-07:00

this started out on a watercolor paper, where i added left over paint one day...the colors were so dreamy and creamy, the paint called for this color and type of blond blue eyed, same ol' same ol'...and then she looked too darn sweet and i couldn't resist sewing the "wanted" to her forhead...lol...

well i just couldn't leave her alone after sewing on some hair likeness and various other materials...

hER change in ATTire...not so sure i'm glad i chanGED her...hmmm...we'll see what tomorrow brings for HEr.....
...AND then an happy accident...i randomly chose a mag paper for some of the collage and the words peeking through, mention "sewing, stiches, embroidery"...don't ya' just love when these things happen!!

LISTENING...

2011-04-27T14:28:00.001-07:00

A FEW adjustments and now a frame that only shows bits in the front of the piece (strong copper wire flattened). she is made of original painting, fabric, cheese cloth (well, that is fabric too) i dyed, painted papers, machine and hand embroidery.

she measures 5 1/2" X 8"

you can go in for 2 enlargements and reads: "that means i need to listen all the more!"

SPRING!!!

2011-04-26T17:29:00.001-07:00

i finally finished my little beauties...i even put them up for sale on face book...

they measure with the hanger: 3" X 10"

i know that lots of peeps do this: when painting anything and i have left over paint, i use up every bit of the paint on other substrates. i have had the happiest of haphazard accidents when doing this!

i used 120 lb. watercolor paper, acrylics, inks, fabric, found paper, beads and wire.

"looking at all the angels in my life"

"attention to those i love"

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU...EVERY ONE OF YOU SPECIAL BLOOMIN' FRIENDS!!!

2011-04-21T10:10:00.001-07:00

SPRING!

SPRANG!

SPRUNG!

Immense THANK YOU..."buff" buffy, "yarvelous yael", dear diane, parabolic AMUSING, and Paula Paula! xoxo

2011-04-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

a couple of new girlies WIP...

WHAT IS... in this amazing, intriguing box?...

a birthday present for one of my younger sisters

Bracelet/Necklace...packed so artistically in the box...just this way!!! the sweetest of notes...and this wasn't the first from this special person...

fun card with her name and sites on the reverse

BONUS COLLAGE PIECES...BEAUTIFUL BIRDS FROM MALAYSIA!!! ooooh, i cannot photograph this piece and do any kind of justice...i suggest, if you like rustic jewelry, with a touch of snazziness, earthy...go take a look...and prices...

REASONABLE!

THANK YOU LUTHIEN, this was such a wonderful gift to receive!!!! xoxoxo

THANK YOU: Yael, my painted stud, buff, rach awes, laura a, objekte-ton and deb harvey..

2011-04-10T13:45:00.001-07:00

BLOGLAND and fb and SPRING OVERLOAD...i appreciate...and LOVE ALL your comments...ANNNND if i forgot to thank you, here it is!!!

HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU ALL!!! XOXOXOXO

"we found a rainbow...together!"

little minature lightbulb wired on the very bottom...goes with the whimsical attitude! :))

"bedroom lights are out...my big sister's stage light goes ON!"

close shot...you have no idea how fun this...although...maybe you do!

more practice bunnies...easter will be over by the time i decide on one, ha!

when the sun went down friday...'especially for you sweet diane!

WHAT'S UP DOC???

2011-04-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

i have been practicing bunnies lately, trying to choose a pose for a lady and a bunny or a child and a bunny...this could be it...we'll see...the pose i mean...this is in my practice journal...never thought i'd do that or paint a rabbit...HOW GOOD LIFE CAN BE!!!

FLOWER POWER...I'M IN LOVE...GIFTS FOR YOU!!!

2011-04-03T19:58:00.001-07:00

my mom-in-law fell in love with this today, i had her take it home to hang...

i love when this happens, don't you?

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK MI AMIGAS!!

THE SIMPLE GIFTS

2011-03-26T20:25:00.001-07:00

my inspiration for this one, came straight from an angel and painter that lives right here on EARTH!

this is no complaint...i am just a little anxious to see the sunshine...it has rained for months this year with very little sun showing around here...then these last two days brought this gift at around 6:45...i am smiling!!!

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE...i'm in love with it ALL!

2011-03-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

i just want ya' all to know how great it is to be born in this age of computers...whether it be classes away somewhere or on-line in your very own little house...

AMAZING to me, AMAZING!

i am posting ALL my recent practices after taking ALISA BURKES class, SKETCHING DELIGHT.

it has been a delight, i tell you! her approach is so UN scary, and straight forward enough to just TAKE OFF...going for IT! imagine...watercolors, resevoir filled brushes to take with you, ANYWHERE you want! stepping off from learning acrylics and being able to combine all things, these days! MIXED MEDIA knows no boundaries...and TEACHERS.....INCREDIBLE!!!

and not to leave out the wonderful COMARADERIE that comes with all of "YOU's" and the sharing we do!!!

i am sharing all my boo boos and antics here...letting you know and sharing how grateful i am to be a part of this artistic life...it's so EXCITING to be an older woman and learn new and wonderful things, that shall keep the PASSION alive FOREVER!

GRATEFUL WANDA

HAPPY SATURDAY

XOXOXO

A Bit O' The Green...Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!

2011-03-17T11:27:00.001-07:00

Framents On A Wall...

2011-03-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

From Start to Finish...

2011-03-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

The bottom face of an oven door

8" X 30" taped and gessoed, then sanded..

papers, chosen for collage...

white paint rubbed lightly over the collage papers...

paint applied...oooh, getting close here...

outside photo

inside photo...

it's going to read, in teeny tiny letters...

"he wasn't lonely anymore..."

How 'Bout This and How 'Bout THAT!

2011-02-28T10:39:00.001-08:00

i'm taking alissa burke's sketching and drawing class right now...this was A first...i didn't have watercolors, so i watered down my acrylics...it was such fun, though quite imperfect...and am learning learning loving LEARNING!

i might retire soon, so while i have a paying job, i've been taking these classes and wow what a TRIP!!!

a shadow casts itself across this collage i did during misty's class, STRETCHING FROM WITHIN.

IT was quite an experience, the entire class! and this, i know, i will do again... attempting a portrait.. can't wait!

this is a painting that is in my friend miz katie's journal.

we collaborated, but are not done yet..it has been so wonderful, we will probably share when we ARE done.

she has a painted page of this "mrs. crow" in her journal now...but i couldn't just let her fly away that easily :))!

i printed her on silk then incorporated her into modeling paste and paint. this is on a fabric remnent and was an experiment... such fun and turned out wonderful...that doesn't always happen with experiments, eh?!

"little annie", cutting while painting...as of yet...she will NOT use glue to paste items to her paintings...she will ONLY use paint as the glue...this tickles me pink..(which is her fav color so far with red thrown in)

she did her first collage this wednesday without any prompts...and she was so INTENT on cutting, she only asked for help a couple of times...

her favorite sentence...ME DO IT!!! how can ya' not LOVE that, when it comes to art, especially!!!

MEANWHILE.. at work...

Two of my little "noodle monsters"

Gracie

Sydney

IF OUR WORLD WERE ONLY BLACK AND WHITE???

2011-02-24T10:02:00.001-08:00

i tried to get good photos of my framed painting...i took these photos on the gallery wall, just couldn't do her justice...she is one of my fav's, plainly beautiful and then richard framed her plainly beautiful :)) !!! THE WORDS WERE OUT...

HER VOICE WAS GETTING STRONGER

an altered photo of OUR GIRL...inside lighting was horrible, but she is my ADORABLE, inside and out!

REAL COLORS OF THE SKY

appreciation

OAK...one sunny day!!!

COLORS IN THE HOUSE

the sun showed it's lovely face for about 5 days out of 2 months, to let this beauty finally show her colors!!!

From the inner sanctum of myself...misty asked us to paint with all our passion and soul...

2011-02-10T12:46:00.000-08:00

i've been stretching...

WEDNESDAY'S WITH ANNIE and SHARING OUR GIFTS

2011-02-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

SHARING THEIR FOOD

i'll be back to the land of blogging soon i hope...i miss perusing all your wonders and sharing our lives...soon!

Annie--Collage Painting--Sundown

2011-01-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

this is my new painting partner...every wednesday...for a few hours before i run off to work...her name is ANNIE! she lives next door...while her mama goes to work in her older children's classrooms, annie and i go to town with our paint!!!

i just finished this for a friend that asked me to make a wine hanger...it's a miracle i got it done, while trying to work on my lessons...! this can be enlarged twice to really appreciate it and read the words.

Thursday night sundown...couldn't resist to take more photos again...soo beautiful!

Backgrounds, Samplers, WIP, and oops my chair!!

2011-01-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

catch those faces on the flowers...kinda looks that way, huh?!

i know emelie will see them :)) !!!

OOPS...i noticed today the back of my chair...

and i say...i don't give a care..

i'm all grown up and get to paint... ANYWHERE!

Sorry i can't tell any secrets, as it's what misty's class is about...all i can say again, is...

i am STRETCHING, LEARNING, LEARNING and having FUN!!! and wanting

to SHARE SHARE SHARE!!!

P.S. i don't know how to edit out that extra double photo...there's always something, eh?

Thank you Yael, rachel, joanne rose, objekte-aus-ton, buffy diane emelie and jane for your great posts here! xoxo

2011-01-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

Moving along in misty's class...working hard as i said, and not visiting everyone right now...plus the "life" things going on...i want to remember this on my blog and share as well.

judy wise left a message at the end of her blog lately and i loved it..."Remember as you go about your day that we who create are part of the solution for what ails the planet. We are kind, we share, we encourage and nurture. We are powerful. Pass it on."

we were to sketch one of our body parts...so as you can probably tell..i held my hand and arm up in front of my face, with a blouse on and sketched away...a very good learning experience!!

this was a trial of using abosolutely only 3 primary colors. i didn't love the outcome but it was an excellent learning experience...oh, and we could NOT use white...i was almost at a total loss...lol!

Now this was my very FIRST "still life"

MORE GOOD WORK AHEAD...

2011-01-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

i've been working really hard, painting, writing painting writing...lots of writing in stephanie's journaling class and much excavation there.
and in misty's class we are sketching, painting and writing. so, please forgive me for not reading your blogs...i will later for sure...i just want to get and do as much as possible while there is time in my life.
the painting below is one of my favorites that i have kept and am going to frame some day. it too, has a poem on it, fairly similar to this one.
this poem is our latest written prompt from misty..."i am the.." . i just posted on our private fb page, joining others with their special poems. i feel so connected to many of YOU, my blogging friends and supporters...so am honoring you as well in this poem at the end, "thee" is YOU. XO

i am the:
THREAD that holds family together
i am WOVEN with many colors...
many kinds:
cotton, nylon, mesh, satin and embroidered by the cement in my life

i am the:
knotted, curled, crocheted, and straightened threads that add ccolor to other threads

sometimes wet--sometimes dry
filled with static--smoothed out evenly
straight, crooked, crinkled, flat, bumpy, sparkly and surreal

i am the:
THREADS tied and untied
wound around a finger or a spool,
on the sewing machine or laced between rows.
sometimes, i am sewn into pretty french knots
and sometimes i am found on the floor as a remnant

i wrap myself with me
i have control of where i'll be
but never the same on any given day!
i am the many colored threads of THEE...

THANK YOU ALL FOR DROPPING IN, LEAVING ME WONDERFUL NOTES FROM THE HEART, LAUGHING WITH ME AND SUPPORTING ME!!!

I'LL BE BACK!

2011-01-10T18:24:00.001-08:00

i might be gone for a little while...i am taking misty mawn's class, STRETCHING FROM WITHIN and i was lucky and won a journaling class with stephanie lee, so....

Pea Soup and 40 Degrees....

2011-01-09T08:41:00.001-08:00

See this ORB...this is about all we've seen of it for days and days...no, it's not the moon...it's actually the sun!

This is when the sun tried so hard to come all the way out one day...it never made it...this was a very brief (YAY) moment!!!

this is not an island...this is an idea of how the fog has rolled in of late...we can't even see this beautiful chunk of land today...

He showed Heidi what it was like at the top of the mountain...she liked it!

Out with the OLD / In with the NEW!

2011-01-04T11:43:00.001-08:00

She's been hanging on our wall, without this change of hair...she was going to the gallery, but each time i looked at her, there was something that wasn't right...well, i knew it was her hairdo and she was framed and waiting...so i printed out two little pics of her on paper and painted new "do's" and went for it...and so glad i did! i am ALWAYS amazed at how afraid i am to put the brush to something that was supposedly DONE! learning this lesson again and again...

Richard pulled through with an exquisite frame...

i'm thinkin' about keeping him!annnd...i am going to darken her hair a bit more after seeing this post!

she was given a better head of hair

oldie moldie hairdo

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 2011

2011-01-01T17:15:00.001-08:00

the day here started with rain...then it ended with rain...but a happier day it was with a new face to start the new year...you can watch as she progressed!

you can enlarge each photo twice

THANK YOU GIFT FOR YOU

2010-12-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

You can enlarge this twice!!

Hey...back on track...what happened to NEW LIFE comment?

read, really really really read about what comment to leave...it's not imperative, but it sure started out special, soo....leavin' it up to YOU's!! :0)

This hangs 4 1/2" X 7 1/2"
This has a lot of personal handwork in it, so yep, there is love too! the piece of silk i dyed. embroidered a flower and fabric. the photo (on postcard paper, so it won't get ruined as a photo paper would) is from my painting, "she brings flowers".

Just leave a comment if you are interested, about:

NEW LIFE...it can be serious, or not. it could be anthing from a new puppy to a new fingernail that grew out after being smashed...the sky is the limit...we'll pick a name from a hat on January 2, 2011! Good luck!!

This is a huge HEARTFELT thank you for so much support, fun filled delightful comments, serious "stuff" and all the in betweens you have given me!

THANK YOU AND AGAIN GOOD LUCK!!!

PLAYING!!!

2010-12-26T19:19:00.001-08:00

...so, i really didn't feel like doing a lot today...but just had to do a LITTLE painting...sooo...

i thought...i'll just play, use colors softly...stay loose and just simply, dooo... ...then i fixed her eyebrow and eyes and she is going to sit like this, possibly forever...it was PURE FUN, and i plan to do it MORE in the new year!!!

CHRISTMAS CHEER ... A Food Network???

2010-12-22T12:12:00.001-08:00

he was waiting on the stairs when i came down this morning... he moved even closer to me...looking a bit impatient...

so i followed him...noticing there was a nest with eggs in his backpack, as we made our way into the kitchen...

...aaah, he must have been hungry...well, so was i...hungry to make homemade bread and rolls...so i got to it!!

yeast mix

turned out on a board to knead...

YEAH...that's right i NEED this...

ahhh...here's one loaf, ready for the oven

...but i'm getting really hungry for lunch by now...how 'bout some green apples and chicken???

the loaf is out of the oven...along with my lunch...crunch...well actually it was soft and dreamy!

well now...i best be making some cinnamon rolls for richard...then when he gets home, i'll get lots more kisses...heh heh heh...

okay so, green apples and walnuts cut up, butter, brown sugar and cinnamon...

ohhhh...just wait till he walks in that door...he'll smell 'em a mile away!!!

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS, LOVE AND PEACE TO ALL OF YOU!!!

Sacred History

2010-12-19T17:01:00.001-08:00

This is for a very special friend of mine...i can post it here to share as she doesn't have a blog, she isn't on face book and she doesn't even own a cell phone...her name his janet and yes, she's from this planet...only she doesn't care about all that stuff...amazing in many ways!

The substrate is a thin rusted ceiling tile: a picture of my painting on postcard, a torn piece of paper out of a bible, a twig, tatted and crocheted thread by my "nana" once again, some random flower stiches with the machine and various other little wonders!

Angels on Board!!!

2010-12-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

just a few more angel hangers...i can't stop myself...OH HOLY NIGHT!

Those Teachable Moments

2010-12-02T14:18:00.001-08:00

just one little post today...we finally got this one framed. and how appropriate for this time of year...just lucky i guess. i asked richard to make a frame that we could just squeeze the canvas into. it wasn't a super simple task for him, but he did it and said, "lets not make these anymore, okay"? it is made from an old maple table. he stained it, shellaced it lightly, then we applied the same yellow ink on top. it's raining again today, ergo, not the greatest picture, but i bet you get the idea. Happy Thursday Everyone! xoxo

This Joyous Song & With Joyful Wing!

2010-11-29T09:01:00.001-08:00

This one is a photo on cardstock of my painting and then fabric and painted papers and some little feathers thrown in and the text...i will never stray ALL the way from fabric, it's in my blood!

these works are almost done...

This is a photo on postcard paper, of another one of my paintings...it was one of my favorites that i was going to keep, but something fell on it and STUCK to it and WRECKED it...ergo...i had to turn PART of it into SOMETHING...

On the top right and the right side are my nana's pieces of quilt that weren't finished before she died...each one of those teeny little pieces are hand stiched by her and then the fabric was ironed ready to be pieced. i have been saving these and another from her hands to make things for my family, passing down treasured pieces from our Nana!

christmas gifts for those i love...
A very happy monday to my blogging FRIENDS!

NIGHT SEARCH...

2010-11-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

...she kept looking up at her window...there were funny sounds coming from it...she listened, is that an elephant...was she dreaming???...she wandered outside in her nightgown... It was, it was...an ELEPHANT...then she thought she could SEE something in the distance...

...her friend "OWL" joined her search...

oooh...there was a secret window, they could barely see, even when they were right on top of it...oh MY, the writing was on the wall...Secrets in the night...she ALWAYS found wonderful surprises in the dark!!!

Here is where the story started...

she began to emerge...

She was never sorry for looking...only pleased at the many surprises her NIGHT SEARCH revealed!!!

Angels Heard on High!!!

2010-11-26T15:17:00.001-08:00

She is simply waiting for her metal frame to hang her HIGH! Christmas is so near, i cannot believe it! Happy Black Friday to all you die hard shoppers! xo

WIP

2010-11-23T11:40:00.000-08:00

i have a few of these...they are waiting for richard, yep, poor guy, he's going to make some copper frames for me and then some little leaves and such (just one on each painting) to hang...i can let anyone in on how they are made if you're at all interested, later on...this is a busy time of year, eh?

FRAMED

2010-11-22T14:15:00.001-08:00

What a difference a frame can make for our paintings...this one in particular, is my very favorite...if it doesn't sell, it has a home, that's right here in the miller house! my husband richard was very busy off and on for the last 2 weeks, making these beautiful frames for my paintings!

Jane Royal, Alisa Burke and some APPLES!!!

2010-11-20T13:15:00.001-08:00

We brought in so many apples from our tree...they are Granny Smith.

We planted them with apple pies in mind...Ergo...a green apple pie...annnd a

"yournmine" (yours and mine) taste test, before company gets here...:))

BOY, that didn't take long, i'm here to say!!!

and then...my friend jane over at:
http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com/ showed all of us, how she cleaned up her studio...
she really got me going...in fact this wasn't the only thing revamped...that was on to the next day of cleaning...

i COULD NOT STAND my paint and work table anymore, esp. after miss "tidy" showed and telled!
Annnd i started losing too many things because it was all like ONE BIG CAMOUFLAGE!
welllll........
soooo...on went the white gesso...

YOU, wouldn't have been able to resist this, EITHER! :))

all dried and ready for action...and ya' just know...there is going to be a constant temptation to paint right on this big white canvas (table) that will forever be calling me!!!

i'll let ya' know just how long i last!!!

Alisa Burke, put a little tutoring of little monsters on her blog awhile ago:

http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/ and so i brought this idea to my afterschool kids (this is my paying job) and they dug in!!!! Then i also told them we were going green, recycling all those toilet paper rolls we save...they laughed and ryan piped up with, "well, we'll never run out of these, mrs. miller"...baahhhhhhaaaa

and this was cat day, this is by our little 2nd grader, Alisa...i thought this was marvelous!

and then our little kindergartener, sydney, copied her...

we had another one of those teachable moments...

"look what you've done, alisa, you've taught a kinder how to draw wonderful kitties"!!!" Happy Weekend to my wonderful friends and fellow bloggers!

2010-11-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

There was a train a comin'...

but i decided not to hop on...i know, i know...maybe a few regrets...

i went home instead...

and ...started prepping...i thought how grateful i am to my wonderful teachers...these were all parts from misty mawn, julie prichard and dj pettit...

this is a close up of a prep job...

another prep job...

...and more...

then some faces...

more faces and more collage...hey! there is an accidental wing!!!!

a start to some finishing...

more collage and wire and beads!!!....

a note for YOU about the substrates: from dickblick, strathmore, 50 watercolor cards, 140 lb. (started to say 140 test, i used to fish alot*>!) They are 5"X 7" as a folded card...

last Christmas i hung them up in our house and told our friends and family to choose them when they left...we almost had a frenzy!!! tee hee...

i keep the cards close at hand so that when i am through painting, i paint on these, and then paint again and again...then you can do whatever you like with them later...

they seem to withstand a lot of use and if they buckle, you can iron them!

these hangers are approximately 2 1/2" X 3" for the paper and hang 6" or 7" long with the beads and wire...you could make these out of transfers or anything...TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!

i hope this inspired you...and be sure to go in twice for a larger view!

XOXO from wanda

"She emerged like a flower...passing all the ladybugs"

2010-11-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

She's been freshening up today to take a ride to a gallery...she added some pretty perky paints, flowers in her hair..

she is wearing a lace trimmed collar of sorts...

and also wearing painted fabric paper...

fabric and dyed paper towels are sewn right on to heavy watercolor paper...

Dried flowers in her hair, painted a bit...

She's been FRAMED!

I WISH FOR A WONDERFUL SATURDAY TO ALL MY SPECIAL BLOGGING FRIENDS!

Christmas Angels and Texture Town (julie prichard and chris cozens)!

2010-11-12T08:38:00.001-08:00

I've just started in last night with my hanging, christmas angels...i love doing these to give to my friends...and i'm more loose and learn so much from them...do they speak to me, probably so...like "hey, give me a better nose than THAT one"...and then i may or may not oblige...the power is in my paint brush...;))!

Well, last night when i finished this...not quite...i had heart palpitations (good ones) i was so excited. i am taking julie prichard's texture class and i am more than happy about it...

this is not the best of photos but will do for now...i was planning to paint a woman's head in the flatish yellowish area...but not sure now!be sure to re-size larger to get a better peek!

Happy Happy friday mi amigas!!!!

Friday's Blessings

2010-11-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

Awoke to this!!!!!

...as i reached the bottom of the stairs, i saw this and thought...i am going to fix that little face of hers...it's just too dark.

then i did and i was glad and she was brighter and happier!!!

then, la la la, on my way to work...

wait...is that a twister up there...will we be swooped up, car and all?...

nope...just an enormous expanse of BEAUTIFUL sky... i wonder how many people noticed this as we drove by?...

arriving home, turned around and ...snapped a shot...

as the sun went down...

Very GRATEFUL woman!!!

Treasured Joys and those Perfect Moments

2010-11-01T11:55:00.001-07:00

This again, was one of those struggles, (background) but i love sharing that it's never the end and that if we keep at it, whether that's to paint over it, and over it, kicking it under the bed, getting out oils, pastels...oh woe is me...what is going to work???...well...some THINGS finally DID work...and now she moves on to another painting...oh wait...the little bird needs one little highlight on her eyeball....heh heh...and then there's the one...."WHEN to leave it alone....oooohhh!

HAPPY MONDAY TO YA' ALL!!!!

You can enlarge all of these TWICE!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE!

2010-10-31T20:50:00.001-07:00

CAMARADERIE

2010-10-29T08:54:00.001-07:00

Well, this painting WAS a work in progress, (as i search for their words) but as i was posting the pictures and poses, i was thinking of how blessed we women are to have one another. i treasure my relationships and profoundness of my women friends, here and in the flesh. how lucky we are to be able to let our emotions out and be understood by so many others...how we help one another to figure out the hard and important stuff...how we can just 'GET' one another without words sometimes...how loving and loved we can be...so lucky we are! (i always have to NOT leave out feelings and truth that goes along with this)..i am grateful to also have a husband that HEARS me as my women friends do! :)

sooo...i came up with just one word to add at the top of the painting...

"CAMARADERIE"

I LOVE that word...it evokes such a special meaning to me as i hope it will for others!!!

thinking about where to shop for their clothes...hmmm...or should they make their own?

THEY finally put their clothes on!...and they are searching for their story or words, still...

Learning More Wonderful Techniques!!!

2010-10-24T14:13:00.001-07:00

i am taking julie prichard's and chris cozens, "texture town" class. and it is so yummy, fun, hard, and worth all the patient labor. julie's classes are so wonderful, i ALWAYS come away with such wonder! her classes are so affordable and stay up forever for one to refer back to. this texture class for instance is much more than that, it's also about color use in the "aged" look and about layering and layering and layering some more with paint, paint, paint! you can find julie on http://thelandoflostluggage/!!

you can go in for a closer view on all pictures.

These are a few sampler panels that i'll keep for reference...i NEVER do that, i always turn my class paintings into whatever, and then i can't remember what i did, soo...this time i was a good student and know it will pay off.

the true colors are right in between these two photos, below...

it's pouring down rain and that is where i catch my best lighting, especially with something like this with all the layers

it reads: "silence is in whispers"
on the woman's chest

SOLD

MUSIC IN MY HEART AND SOUL

2010-10-17T20:22:00.001-07:00

Holy Moly, now i know the meaning of giving birth to a painting, make that two! After showing these a while back (forever) as work in progress...they were almost a scourge to me.

they have been turned against 3 different walls, then turned back around, they were touched up and re-touched in eensy increments...i screamed, no they are wrong, this is wrong, that is wrong...well then richard made me beautiful frames and painted them...and then they were okay and then...yesterday i looked at the music sheets and all the subtle colors and then woke up this morning completely in love...crazy huh?!

I'm going this week to the gallery to exchange paintings, so there will be new and fresh faces litterally and then as i looked at these 2 this morning, i thought...if they don't sell i'd love them on our walls and they make me think of my sister and i, with so much depth and history to tell...Crazy huh?!

17 1/2" X 32"

Acrylics, painted torn paper, torn sheet music, ink, stencils, tears, laughter, screams, delight....yeah, you get the picture!!!

she reads:

"enter the dimension of music...and FLY unfettered!"she reads:

"moving toward uncertainty...she emerged with music!"

Tangled Sky and Alice's Time!

2010-10-14T11:14:00.001-07:00

Okay, carolyn, if you want to know how i did this, and if you want words, then you'll have to come over and see and i'll tell you.

and you'll get to see beth's work up close and personal, and you won't believe how wondrous her work is!

This one is "ask alice about the time"...the answer is a play on the painting!!!

Enjoy!! the joy of serious humor!!! 8" X 8" X 2" thick

Per, my usual...i did this completely backwards...i wanted to show beth's work before mine!!

Here is what i won from beth at: http://tangledskystudio.blogspot.com/! you can go in for a closer view on all the photos...along with this, beth surprised me with 2 cards she created as well, including instructions on how to care for encaustic paintings. i told her i could not part with her cards, and am going to make frames for them and make a little grouping on my wall with her work. Her work is incredible, so subtle, with little found nuances as your explore each piece. and they will speak to you...truly the pictures are just pictures compared to her work in reality. i am so GRATEFUL! and on top of it all, there is my favorite...HUMOR!!!

it was difficult to get a photo that would show beth's work as it should be, but because of the my abilities and her encaustics, i couldn't get a good shot...honestly!

a happy accident, i thought was really cool...beth's painting in front of mine...which of course does not do her work justice!!! beth's are the very coolest in person!

Those Get Together's!!!!

2010-10-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

There's paint, there's fabric, there's words, there is some handmade paper fabric and...

MAGIC

sometimes in the ART of being with one another!!!!

They speak for Themselves...more to come!

2010-09-30T09:21:00.001-07:00

To ALL Those Who Support Me and I YOU...XOXO

2010-09-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

...as one looks to the comments...there they are...this is after i posted this and am now editing...here are some of my soul sisters!!! i love this! i love you guys!