"IF: RESOLVE...!"

Illustration Friday's Theme for January 2nd is
"Resolve"(noun)
"fixed purpose or intention; firm determination"

The template for the calendar was given to me

in 2006

at a sketchbook journaling workshop

by Grace Haverty...

a well known artist from Scottsdale, Arizona.

"Energy flows where attention goes..."

How TRUE!

Grace made a big impression on me as you can well see.

Ever since then

I have been determined to

draw, sketch, paint...

and now "post" as much as I possibly can.

WOOO WHEEE!

I think my results definitely show at least a wee bit of "resolve",

don't you! LOL :)

"Obstacles cannot crush me.

Every obstacle yields to stern resolve.

He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind."
~Leonardo da Vinci

"Letting Loose..."

...with Grace....Grace Haverty, that is!

This was the second exercise I did in my

sketchbook journaling all day workshop yesterday...

Grace wanted us to really get loose and comfortable

so we actually began first

with a few 60 second contour figure drawing exercises...

then moved into a still life drawing/painting.

We were to take no longer than about 20 minutes for the whole piece...

painting included...It was really fun!

I will confess here publicly though that I did add

a wee bit of pen work detail when I got home...but don't tell Grace...

She told me to stop! I just couldn't...

especially

after a late afternoon icy mocha cappuchino with whipped cream

...I got "loosey goosey" and out of control!

Stay tuned...More workshop goodies tomorrow...I promise!

"Celebrate your success and find humor in your failures.

Don’t take yourself so seriously.

Loosen up and everyone around you will loosen up.

Have fun and always show enthusiasm.

When all else fails,

put on a costume and sing a silly song."
~ Sam Walton

"Looking Forward..."

...to a fabulous, sunny, blissfully art-filled day today

with a favorite sketchbook journaling artist/mentor/friend/cool person

Grace Haverty

during an all day workshop sponsored by my local art club.

The weather in Arizona has been gorgeous lately

but

it has also been breaking all kinds of record highs

for this time of year...

and many of us are anxious for our seasonal cool down to arrive and stay.

The nights though have been just plain dreamy...windows open...

breathing the sweetly scented, cool, fresh desert air...

Ahhhh!

The day I drew the plein air sketch I posted above was one of those

"picture perfect" days

that everyone comes to Arizona this time of year to experience...

Here's hoping that today

will be a repeat "weather wise" and the only records broken will be

those records I set for sketching! :)

"Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss.

Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real."
~Deepak Chopra

A Girl's Gotta Do..."

... What a Girl's gotta do...

and usually there is some form of shopping involved!

Herein lies the last of my full page views of art

completed in Jennifer Lawson's little Maruman sketchbook

"Transitions."
(Click on images to enlarge)

The top photo shows Jennifer Lawson's art

from the wild roses to the high heel to the clothing store...

"Spoil Me Rotten"...

then comes Anita Davies art...

two purchases made...an new outfit and some fun flowers...

...and the scent of a woman :)

then my art...

a art emporium sale and a day of plein air in a courtyard.

My portion above was inspired by a quaint and lovely artisan

shopping destination in Sedona, Arizona

known as Tlaquepaque.

(Check out this link...supremely well worth it.

The word "Tlaquepaque" means the "best of everything."

Tlaquepaque was once a lovely tree nursery sporting gorgeous specimens.

The trees are still there and form an enveloping canopy of coolness

and a softened foreground

to views of crimson red rock formations of the Sedona area.

As the years went by

A quaint Mexican style artisan village was then constructed on the property

amongst the towering trees.

It was

complete with romantic courtyards, colorfully tiled stairways,

balconies overflowing with luscious flowers,

bougainvillea climbing along stuccoed arches and tiled roofs,

bubbling fountains, wrought iron gates,

cozy peaceful courtyards,

high end galleries filled to the brim with treasures,

and intriguing brick passageways.

It is a shopper's delight and a photographer's heaven...

For years

I spent time and money browsing the shops

and

zillions of rolls of film photographing

any, and every, thing in sight...until seemingly out of nowhere

it occured!

Poof! Shazamm! Pazowie!

a wonderful magical transformation happened...

We had planned to be in Sedona

for bit of an extended getaway and a friend's wedding.

Prior to that, I had completed a workshop with Grace Haverty

all about keeeping a sketchbook travel journal.

The change to come was to be meteoric!

A backpack replaced my purse...and

my sketchbook and plein air goodies replaced my credit cards.

Roaming from shop to shop

was replaced by sitting in a cobblestone courtyard

breathing in the "Ahhhs" of the day.

Moments in time became vibrant memories

on my sketchbook journal pages.

My spirit became revitalized...my imagination invigorated.

And

I have been a "new woman" ever since!

I am

that girl above in Jen's book! :)

Now, that's what you call a Transition! :)

"Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life." ~Oscar Wilde
Hmmm...Don't quite know about that...:)

HAPPY 63rd ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!

We love you! :)

"Energy Flows Where Attention Goes..."

I have a neat idea to share...

When I took an illustration journal workshop from Grace Haverty in April of 2006 she suggested an easy way of keeping track of creative spurts. The calendars I posted today show a really user friendly tool she received from one of her art teachers. You can make your own personal record be as unique and complex as you desire-I have chosen to simply color in a square each time I either drew or painted. The quotation at the bottom of the 2007 calendar is "Energy flows Where Attention Goes." How true!

A Step Back in Time-To show a Start of Wonderful Possibilities

As you might have suspected, due to the absence of entries :) , I am very new to the world of blogging. "Water Blossoms" is my first, and one and only, blog to date. So, to provide you a peek into my world, I thought I would share with you some of the things I have been working on during the past few years since I retired from my career as a middle school teacher in Illinois. I also thought I would enjoy sharing some of the delightful artistic experiences I have had through the years with some very special people in my life. These people have not only encouraged me in my artistic endeavors but have also made me a better artist and observer of life in general. My deepest appreciation to each of them.

The artwork in my very first two blog posts (February 15th) is the result of a "leap of faith" on my part. Hence, I whole heartedly want to give credit for their success to the creative mind of Anita Davies-who "took me under her wing" as a member of her POSTCARD PENPALS group. I had no idea what I was in for...my first artist exchange...and let me tell you, what a fun ride that has been...and now I have a blog??!!..."Whoa Nellie!" Yea! Anita! You set the artistic bar high. You are awesome!

So, now if you're ready, here we go...my third post..."Back in time..."

In April of 2006 my art local club offered a workshop for members entitled "Sketchbook Journaling." It was taught by Grace Haverty, a woman who I now consider a "mentor" to me. Grace brought not only her vast knowledge of watercolor painting into my life but also her love for observing the beauty in everyday life. She also brought with her that day stacks of well worn journals-each one depicting intriguing everyday life scenes of her travels around the world. As I looked through each and every page of each and every one of her journals, a fire was lit in my spirit. This is something I wanted to experience-the joy of drawing the beauty in the world around me. In my post above is a scan of the title page I drew after the workshop was over, incorporating some of the thoughts and "words of wisdom " shared that day. The photograph is of Grace painting that day. We spent the entire day-long workshop only yards away from the art studio...but miles away in creativity...just observing life, painting with gusto, and breathing in the sweet April air of Arizona. Our results from that day were simply delightful...

As you visit my blog periodically I hope you enjoy stepping back in time with me and seeing how this one single little workshop grew into a passion..."stay tuned" as they used to say. :)