Starving for Love

Having fun with my copics on Watercolor paper, but yes... watercolor paper uses up alot of the ink in my copic markers! The one thing I noticed though is that the colors blend so nicely on watercolor paper whereas not-so-much on sketch paper.

This little lady is full of attitude having her heart broken one too many times. You know what they say about a woman scorned... actually I forget the saying but it's not good:)

Happy weekend to all of you, I wish you many blessings and joy for this fall weekend.

Hugs and blessings

Window To The Soul

Wouldn't it be absolutely amazing to have a window to your soul, an opening that you could view your soul ~ that concept sounds so good to me right now. It's always good to know yourself.

This is a larger Windswept piece called, "Window To The Soul" ~ it is how I would like to see myself in my soul, free of worries, carefree and surrounded by nature, God's creations. This piece was done on 11x15 Watercolor paper using copic markers and zig marker for lining, and my trusty white gel marker for outlining.

I love the details on this piece, the butterflies and the texture.




And here's the full piece "Window To The Soul" (Double click on the picture to show the fine details up close.



I hope and pray that you are all having a fabulous week.
Hugs and blessings everyone.

Sharing Poem From 2009 - If You Need A Boost Read On...

I forget writing things sometimes... it is really very much of a strange occurance. The only way I know that I have written it is that it is in my own handwriting with my name on the bottom. Our brains are complicated, there's no doubt about that! I have over four years of almost complete memory loss when I was sick from 1997 to 2000 and from those years have come much of my poetry located in binders at the bottom of my closet or on my computer.

This poem is one of those that I cannot remember writing but finding it today on an old post from 2009 has been a blessing. This Thursday I have a meeting with a lady at a Woman's Recovery Centre and I think that I am supposed to share this poem with her and the other ladies at the centre. I also may create a drawing or painting to go with it as it has sparked my imagination and I have a beautiful vision that would go perfectly.

Don't you just love it when things fall into place like this?

REDEEMED

She lays on the vile ground dead in spirit... earth fallen free of life, wanting desperately to be free... longing for a way out!
Torn... broken into pieces... shattered even to the point that she feels she will never be made whole again.
A presence approaches...
Laying still, silent but for the pounding of her heart... too numb to be afraid or care that she is not alone. Her head aching from the ground beneath... eyes glazed over and blurred with tears. She watches two feet stop in front of her.
So tired... so weak... 'it must be one more person coming to judge her', she thinks.
'Like they can judge me more than I already judges myself!'.
These feet do not move... just standing there in the same place before her... they do not look firm and ready to judge but soft... so soft... they are beautiful and glowing like the sun. She is confused by them. 'Why does this person of obvious great beauty stand before her?' Her... a lost soul broken... damaged...
She waits for words accusing...
Nothing!
Not a sound escapes into the gentle wind this presence has brought with it.
Momentarily forgetting who she is a small hope rises inside of her. A mysterious knowledge wakens her senses building up determination from a place long forgotten.
If only she can gather up enough strength to lift her arm... if only to touch the feet that have emanated sudden warmth from darkness hovering!
She breathes a strained heavy sigh... lungs refusing to fill with air... all strength failing. In desperation she mouths the words, 'please help me' not knowing if this presence can even see her lips.
A light much like a tiny star falls down upon her skin, she watches as it sinks through her skin feeling it flowing like rushing water to her limbs... lifting them? The upward motion of her arms is unmistakable... they are definitely lifting... reaching without effort from her failing fallen body!
The moment the tips of her fingers graze the surface of these angelic feet her body is jolted! Electric currents of living water race through her!
A love unlike any she has ever experienced or received fills her. Tears, long run dry, flow freely as they wash over her skin cleaning the grime away, thick layers becoming smooth. Strength renewed in newness unabashed by anything in the world, now more than restored, race through her as mountains of adrenaline released have made new.
Joy... indescribable joy has conquered the darkness, the bareness of her heart!
She remains still though her spirit soars within her. Eyes flooding with tears again shed heavy scales falling to the ground with lightening, thunderous movement and sound.
Quiet...
No...
Silence...
The Earth is completely silent!
Even her breathing and pounding heart... all is still as she lays waiting... waiting.
With one flicker of movement at a time her eyelids open... a brightness never seen fills her vision. She is in awe!
Lifting her head now with ease she turns to look at the beautiful angel that has saved her... revived her from death... it is gone leaving only a fading glow in its place.
She stands and looks over her body for any sign of brokenness that just minutes ago enveloped her like a dark cloud following closely... nothing! Not even the scars remain to remind her!
Her skin glitters like precious jewels. She remains in awe as a foreign movement lifts her face... something that has not occurred in decades...
...
...
she smiles!

By Kelly Watts

Butterfly Kisses

What can be sweeter than butterfly kisses? There was a song called Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle a few years back and I used to love hearing it all the time. This picture reminded me of that song although it really has nothing to do with the contents of the song. (lyrics are at the bottom of this post~ a must read)
I thought about how I would draw butterfly kisses and this is what came out, I know that the kisses themselves are actually done with eyelashes but for some reason I put a butterfly coming out of her mouth (where kisses usually come from) to represent a butterfly kiss. Sometimes my crazy brain works this way!

This drawing I did for my son Ben who continues to tell me that I only draw women, so I drew a man in the page too! First thing out of his mouth was, "Mom, I hate to tell you this but that looks more like a woman than a man!" Great! My dude looks like a woman!!!! LOL! Wow, that would make a catchy song! (hee-hee)

I have the hardest time drawing men, what is that all about? Does anyone else relate? I know there are many gorgeous men out there in the world but when I look at them I do not feel inspired to draw them, they are just men who look good in an Armani suits (of coarse I am talking about actors or models). Women are so much more, what is the word I am looking for... beautiful to draw I guess. Most men do not have long flowing hair, mens fashion is pretty basic with literally no frills to capture your romantic spirit. I need to feed that spirit in my art it seems ~ it inspires me to create beautiful, whimsical drawings.

Here are the lyrics to Butterfly Kisses By Bob Carlisle.

There's two things I know for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she's
daddy's little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes and
I thank god for all the joy in my life
Oh, but most of all
For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
sticking little white flowers all up in her
hair; "Walk beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried."
In all that I've done wrong I know I must
have done something right to deserve a hug
every morning and butterfly kisses at night.

Sweet 16 today
She's looking like her mama a little more everyday
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and make-up from ribbons and curls
Trying her wings out in a great big world.

But I remember
Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer; sticking
little white flowers all up in her hair.
"You know how much I love you, Daddy, But if you
don't mind I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time."
With all that I've done wrong I must have done
something right to deserve her love every morning
and butterfly kisses at night.

All the precious time
Like the wind, the years go by.
Precious butterfly.
Spread your wings and fly.

She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise and I'll give her away.
Standing in the bride-room just staring at her.
She asked me what I'm thinking and I said "I'm not
sure-I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
She leaned over...gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there,
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
"Walk my down the aisle, Daddy-it's just about time."
"Does my wedding gown look pretty, Daddy? Daddy, don't cry!"

Oh, with all that I've done wrong I must have
done something right.
To deserve your love every morning and butterfly
kisses-I couldn't ask God for more, man this is what love is.

I know I gotta let her go, but I'll always remember
every hug in the morning and butterfly kisses.

Enjoy your Manic Monday. Hugs and blessings Everyone ~ with butterfly kisses to all!

Windswept Calendar ~ February

Aaaahhhh, to be in love mon'cheri(?)... I love LOVE, everything about it makes me all mushy and gushy inside, however, I HATE HATE HATE the commercialism of Valentines Day! Commercialism sucks the life out of any holiday don't you think? I can't stand walking in the mall and seeing items already displayed for a holiday three months down the road! Yuck!

So why have I given into the idea of romance for February? Well, that is a good question Kelly ~ wow, you are so darn smart! :)

I am in love with having a day dedicated to LOVE and it just so happens that that particular day is in February (I will not call it V-day, just LOVE day, how's that?) I do not want to be one of those individuals (insert names here, here and here) who gives into commercialism. Hmmm... now I've just confused myself:p

I feel like the very idea that I have associated romance with February has made me a hypocrite in mine own eyes! Do I love it, do I hate it? Oy vay! I wish I would make up my own mind for darn sakes!:)

So... to make it perfectly clear... I love ROMANCE and LOVE and everything to do with a day dedicated to love but I DO NOT love commercialism? Make sense? Good.

Okay... moving on.

Here is my February portion of my mood calendar (completely unassociated with commercialism in any way shape or form!)

Hugs and many blessings

Windswept Ladies Mood Calendar ~ January

I decided to get ahead this year (because last year I didn't even get to one) and make my mood calendar for 2012. I think I did one in 2010 but I never got to filling it out completely. So... I am making one for next year and am calling it "Windswept Ladies Mood Calendar 2012". I so enjoyed making my last few pieces of art with the flowing hair that this idea of a calendar floated to the surface and voila! ~ I'm putting my idea into action! Tomorrow I will post the month of February as I am already finished two months ~ only 10 more months to go!

I plan to use this calendar for all the ladies at the centre to use in tracking their moods, a fun way to motivate them I'm thinking!

So, until tomorrow where the romantic month of February shall be posted!

Hugs and many blessings

Gone With The Wind

I had this image in my sketchbook for a long time now and I finally decided to do another one of her as I really love the side view. The purples and greens go so nicely together which is unusual for me to use purple in any of my work as I am not really a purple gal. She's 'Gone With the Wind' as she looks like the wind is carrying her off to another land.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Hugs and many blessings.

Windswept Lady 1

I don't know what it is about me always drawing the hair of the ladies I draw blowing to the side, it's just so romantical(?). Plus I enjoy placing words in or just above the hair. I used my 'studio g' mini alphabet stamps for the saying, "Time To Fly". I don't normally use stamps in my art work as I find them limiting to my creativity but for sayings or verses or just one word even, they work absolutely perfect.

Have a lovely weekend everyone, with many blessings.

Inspiration to See Others In A New Way

Melody from Brave Girls Club shared this very personal story on her blog and I encourage you to read it as it will deeply touch your heart and change your perspective on how you view the people around you.

I pray that are blessed by it as I was.

Hugs and blessings to you all

In My Fathers House

This piece is called 'In My Father's House', it is the image that I got thinking of the verse John 14:2 "In my Father's House are many mansions". (Jesus)

This day, Sunday, September 11,2011 cannot go by without mentioning the 10th anniversary of 9/11/2001. That day is lodged in my mind forever and it will never be forgotten. If anything it reminds me of the world we live in, John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world! (Jesus)

In this world we will have terrorism, war, famine, floods, death, murder, rape, earthquakes and tsunamis, hurricanes and pain... but "In my Father's house there are many mansions". A reminder that one day there will be a place of no suffering, no pain and no tears. I look forward to that day. Come Lord Jesus, come!

Have a very blessed week everyone!
Hugs and many sweet blessings to you all.

Who Am I Journal Page

One thing I continue to go back to and reinforce in my life is 'Who Am I?" and I do this so that my soul knows without a doubt that I am a child of GOD. Casting Crowns sings the song called 'Who Am I?' and the words are so beautiful, they touch my soul everytime.

Who Am I? By Casting Crowns

Who am I,
that the Lord of all the earth
would care to know my name
would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I,
that the bright and morning star
would choose to light the way
for my every wondering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what YOU'VE done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who YOU are

I am a flower quickly fading
here today and gone tomorrow
a wave tossed in the ocean
a vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
LORD YOU catch me when I'm falling
And YOU told me who I am
I am YOURS, I am YOURS

Who am I,
that the eyes that see our sin
would look on me with love
and watch me rise again?
Who am I,
that the voice that calmed the sea
would call out through the rain
and calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am
But because of what YOU'VE done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who YOU are...


Are not those words just so beautiful it makes you want to cry? I think about how small I am in comparison to this great big'ol world, but inside I know I'm something pretty special to my God, and so are you!

Hugs and many blessings to you.

Motherhood Bliss

I have another painting that I finished I think in 2010 called "Bliss", it was done in watercolor H'20's which are metallic watercolors. When I went to print said painting I discovered that it did not scan very well because of the reflection off of the metallic paints. So, today I was able to create a new piece very similar to the first one but done with Copic Markers. When I began this piece I was not liking the way it started out ~ it was very dull looking and I was about to scrap the whole page when my youngest son told me I should continue on so that I could work on my 'perfectionistic' habits! He is trying to help me be happy with my art that isn't 'perfect' to my standards (out of the mouth of babes:) )
In the end it turned out much better than I ever thought and I'm thinking it is one of my favorites now! Thank you Ben for being my encourager and helping me with my bad habits!

Be blessed everyone and enjoy the day!

Sisters ~ From The Online Class Doll Dreams Basics

I've been having a lot of fun lately creating Dreamy Dolls in the online class I'm taking. These 'Sisters' are from the class, although they look a lot different than Ady's 'Sisters' but I figured I needed to make them 'my own'.

If you want to see Ady's dolls go to her site here.

Happy long weekend to you all and many blessings.

What I've Been Doing The Past Few Days

Well I'm taking my Dreamy Dolls practice sheets and learning to paint them in the 'Dreamy Doll' style by adding thick beautiful lashes with a little highlights.



Here's a closer look at them. I added the white specks to the lashes just like Ady does on her Dolls. Doll Dreams

I've been really sore this week so I have propped myself up in bed with my watercolors and have gone to work on coloring them. As Ady talks about in her videos the painting process is definitely about layers ~ lots and lots of layers. She uses acrylics but I have used watercolors which also takes layers to get the shading down correctly.

Well I hope you all have an awesome long weekend. Hugs and many blessings to you all.