Time for Some Zentangles

Well... I have taken my last antibiotic pill yesterday and I am still sick with Pneumonia - going on four weeks now. It is not great, but it is what it is and I am certain I will be feeling better soon! I am not going to complain!
With that said, I have been rather productive artistically speaking with working on some zentangles. These are so great to work on while lying in bed not able to do much, very relaxing even though my hubbub would rather I just lay here and rest (I can't do that... I need to be doing something! lol). So... my head went to work and I decided to draw some shoes and a purse (girlie things). I purchased some artwork in Honolulu when I was there back in 2006 and they are all fish with doodles in them... so I thought to myself 'well if this artist could doodle inside of a fish I should be able to doodle inside of an image that I really love'. I LOVE shoes even though my budget does not allow for all the fancy shoes I love. So... when you are given lemons... you draw shoes! Hee-hee!
Hope you enjoy my zentangle accessories.
Happy Creating Everyone!

Smiles On Faces Award

Thank you Fadwa for giving me this "Smiles on Faces" award. This is my goal every day that I should put a smile on everyone's face that I meet or for anyone who reads my blog! Thank you so much for sharing this with me as I am inspired by you greatly.

So, as Fadwa did on her wonderful blog... I shall share 5 facts about myself;
1. I am an artist who is just coming into my own (so to speak). I am finding my favorite mediums and objects of my affection, beginning to soar on this road of creativity out into the world.
2. I treasure my friends and always look to build up and encourage them above all other things, never putting down or gossiping about them.
3. I thank God that I am His child and look forward to my eternity with Him.
4. I am a mother of two wonderful boys who are very much BOYS and I am very much of a girly girl needing my girl time regularily!
5. I am blessed with an amazing husband who loves me so much he said to me just the other day that he would move me to Arizona one day if it meant that I would have a better immune system there (as I thrive in the heat and sun) (He is highly allergic to the sun and heat)... thoughtful so much he would sacrifice his own comfort to make me happy. (I could never ask this of him).

So I am forwarding on this wonderful award to my favorite five fellow artists;
(Click on their names to see their lovely work)
Michelle
Melissa
Margaret
Lynn
Adrienne

Thanks again Fadwa!
Happy Creating Everyone!

In The Land of Butterflies and Fairies

I have been in the land of Butterflies and Fairies lately as I have been pretty much stuck in bed with this silly flu/cold. I don't know what it is and I hate it! My youngest is home with some sort of virus (not the swine flu - thank You God! as we got him checked out at the doctor). His eyes are red like pink eye and his throat is red and spotty like strep throat and yet he has neither. Strange business this is.
So being that I am confined to my bed I have managed to pull out my Twinkling H20's (which I simply cannot get enough of lately) and set myself up (like Frida) and have gone to work (when I am feeling good enough to do so).
I found this lovely little magazine called "Birds and Blooms" and the front cover had a gorgeous photo of a Monarch butterfly perched upon a burnt umber sunflower. I knew I had to give it a try and paint it. I was surprised it turned out so good as I had never before used the "China Black" Twinkling H20. I wasn't certain that it would be black like I needed it to be for the Monarch but 'low and behold' (whatever that means??) it turned out beautifully! I was extremely pleased with the outcome. I cannot recommend Luminarts Twinkling H20 watercolors enough! They are so smooth to work with and shimmer like you wouldn't believe!
I don't know why fairies have been on my mind so much... they are so mystical and beautiful... it must be that I have recently visited with my gorgeous little nieces (whom I already miss dearly!) and gifted them with some fairy crafts that have got me thinking about them. I am also reading the Twilight series (click on the list on the right to purchase from Amazon) (HIGHLY RECOMMEND AS WELL)... and the story is very mystical also, and romantic and nothing violently gross like most vampire stories! Anyway... off topic (shiny object!)... never mind... to continue...
fairies... right... I decided to draw this little beauty and name her "Autumn" (I know, original isn't it!) lol.
We have had such a fabulous September that fall has gently come upon us sweeping leaves through the parks... we have been able to enjoy the changing of season in the sunshine and abnormal high temperatures for Calgary. Our usual fall tends to happenstance upon us with a gigantic dump of snow which means we do not get to see the beautiful trees gently changing before us... it's summer then BAM! it's winter for six to eight months (depending upon the year)! Needless to say... this fall has thus far been beautiful and inspiring and the reason for my naming my new fairy "Autumn".
I hope you enjoy her!
Happy Creating Everyone!

Freedom

I have been working on this page for a few days now delighting in using my H20's by Luminart (metallic watercolor paints). I wanted to draw a whimsical drawing of a woman completely taken by freedom to let the wind blow through her hair, no worries or cares crowding her mind. I tried to get my families opinion on the drawing/painting - if I should add more to it ~ they had a hard time advising me as they are all "boys" afterall and this is a very "girlie" page! So... I am turning to YOU and requesting your advice. Should I add anything to this page... or should I leave it as it is????? I was thinking about adding words to it. My hubby says he would like me to leave some of my drawings blank (without words)... what do you think?
I would appreciate your comments.
Happy Creating Everyone.

Pure Bliss

Taking in as much sunshine as I can get today I began to sketch out the shape of a tree. I started with a "U" shape for the branches and what formed in my mind was a mother holding a baby resting on the branches. We see kids and teenagers climbing trees all the time but what you do not see are mothers climbing trees with their infants (probably because it is dangerous). However I looked beyond that point, to where it was no longer dangerous... to where a mother and babe could rest within the comfort of the branches and enjoy each others company. I wanted it to portray a lackadaisical day in the life of a mother and babe and this was the image that came to the forefront.
Becoming a mother for the first time was a dream "come true" for me. Pure bliss every morning I woke up carrying the child in the womb and pure bliss once I first set eyes upon my newborn son. The time that we were blessed with together will never be forgotten in my heart to be cherished forever.
In this painting I wanted to capture the peace, contentment and pure joy involved in sharing a moment like this with your child. Pure Bliss for sure.

Happy Creating everyone.

Artist Date - Taking a Peek at Nature

This morning I woke with great purpose in mind... I needed to find my 'happy place'! I asked hubbub how his day looked to which he replied, "I'm spending it with you!" (bonus). Picking up the phone I asked my girlfriend if I could borrow her Digital SLR and sent hubbub to pick it up. The weather looking somewhat questionable, I dressed in capris a t-shirt and long sweater and we set off for our adventure by vehicle. Twenty minutes later we were at our destination "Inglewood Bird Sanctuary". It is inconceivable to me that we have never been to this beautiful place! Living in this city almost eight years and not knowing what this 'Inglewood Bird Sanctuary' really was. I plan to make this a regular spot on my artist dates!
Working our way through serene paths we craned our necks up and down as we scanned tall trees for bird life (not exactly knowing what we were doing). Hands softly joined together by a couple of fingers, enjoying the peace we were encountering, wondering why we do not make more time like this to do what we were doing...
Ahead of us a gentleman pointing his gigantic lens to the top of rather tall tree my heart started to patter the closer we got... what was he so consumed with? Looking high above us I said to hubbub, "It's a bird, it's a large bird!!!", seeing only the bottom half of its body. Maneuvering this way and that to peer through the leaves the full picture came into view and what it beheld filled me with great joy! Not only one, but two gorgeous bald headed eagles perched high above us sitting regally beside one another. I zoomed in with girlfriends camera and was able to capture these lovelies in what seemed like such a miracle-moment for me. 'Thank you God for giving me this' I gently spoke. This was most certainly my 'Happy Place'.
Reluctant to leave the eagles, but knowing there was much more to see in this sanctuary I headed forward through the paths with hubbub pulling me away step by tiny step from my prized possessions (but I did have beautiful photos). With only the sound of my flip flops breaking through the silence we walked through the trees smelling the fresh crisp air, I chided myself for all the busyness I have placed into my life... for not taking more time to 'smell the fresh crisp air!' Why do we do that? We create so many things in this life that take us away from peace, joy and love... seriously, we do it to ourselves! Bad Kelly! Bad Kelly!
Feeling much more aware of what I wanted out of life... (more of this!) I thought I spotted another large bird on a tree across the river. I wasn't sure at first that it was even a bird due to its stealth-like stillness... I zoomed in and to my amazement I was met with a bird I had never seen wild before - a beautiful blue heron. I would have never thought to look high in a tree for this bird ~ I had always imagined it the shore of a river, but there it was in all its glory.
The entire time spent seeking my 'Happy Place' trying to take a peek at nature, and upon loading my photo's I realized nature was taking a peek at me!
Enjoy the photos, I hope they bring you as much joy as they brought me.
Happy Creating everyone!

My Safe Places - Journal Entry

My safe places page came from a journal prompt in one of my art journaling books called 'We Dare You' by Kristina Contes, Meghan Heath Dymock, Genevieve Simmonds and Nisa Fiin. This book is fabulous and fun with intriguing challenges that really make you not only think but be real and true to yourself. I think the book is geared more to scrapbookers, however, when you take the challenges and use them as art journaling challenges the impact is just the same if not better because it personalizes each challenge. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for new challenges.
This page took me a few days which is not common for me. I really had to think about what my 'Safe Places' were in my life. The first image I drew were the wings because that is my most 'safe place' ~ in the shadow of my Saviors wings. He comforts and protects me always. I'm not certain if it shows in the picture but I painted a light layer of 'irredescent blue' and 'heavenly white' Twinkling H20's by Luminart, over the wings. This gives the wings a great shimmer.
My Hubby, what a 'godsend'! He has been there for me through both rough and awesome times and I am truly blessed by him. We are meant to have a companion to grow old with, to experience and share our lives with. I pray that everyone in the world can experience the love that I have with my husband.
Movies and books have always been able to take me to another place as I immerse myself into each storyline and character. I worked in a video store in my late teen years and there found my love of movies! I blame this for my addiction now - lol. As a child I was one of those kids who always had my nose in a book. Discussing with a girlfriend just the other day and reminiscing about 'Judy Bloom', V.C. Andrews' and 'Sweet-Valley-High' books we were taken back to our teen years giggling over the sappy story lines. Good times, good times! Hee-hee.
My art is my 'happy place' and my 'safe place'. My passion comes forth into vision and transformed onto page or canvas. I have always drawn. I remember having a sticker collection as a young girl and I would draw my stickers, then I would draw images I would see in magazines... this bloomed into a love and passion for anything 'ART'!
I am blessed by great peace as I look upon this page.
Happy creating everyone! I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Free To Fly

My Hubby cut out these boards that are approximately 8 1/2 x 11 in his workshop and I saw them and nabbed them. Hee-hee. I have been experimenting some with Gesso and I figured I would try it on these boards and see what I would come up with. Well this is my first piece. It is called "Free To Fly". I am debating wether or not to glaze over it. What do you think? I found the image of the woman in a stack of scrapbooking paper I have had for awhile now. I cut out the wings from some scraps and the hearts from other scraps. I didn't place any words on it because it didn't feel right to do so.
Hope you like it.
Happy Creating Everyone.

Paper Mosaic Circles

I haven't posted in a few days because I have been rather consumed... consumed with circles and circles of my paper mosaic. There are times when something nudges me in my head and I don't know where it comes from, this is one of those times. I have had 'mosaics' on my brain for a number of days now. I knew I wanted to do one. I have only created a couple of them before. This one was challenging in the design aspect and cutting out each piece to the exact shape needed. I never do things the conventional way - the instructions for building mosaics (out of tile anyway) are;

1. Draw out your picture.
2. Create a template of your drawing using tracing paper.
3. Then cut out each shape according to your template.

Well... I didn't draw out my picture. I got out my compass and drew circles and circles and went from there. So... needless to say... I didn't have a template to work from either. In the end I didn't even come close to following the instructions especially since mosaics are usually made out of tiles and not paper.
It wasn't until I was finished a few layers in each circle that I came up with the butterfly to go in the middle. I am not usually a spontaneous individual in everyday life... in art however... it's all about 'flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants'!

When I finished glueing every piece down I brushed a layer of self-levelling gel over top to protect it and create a glazed look.

Well, hope you enjoy it.
Happy Creating Everyone.

New Journal Page - What A Wonderous Life

Hmmm... what has inspired such a different page from me... I think I was needing to change things up a bit... add a little bit of the abstract instead of realism... and a whole lot of color using my INKTENSE pencils. Those pencils were such a great idea for me to purchase... I am completely comfortable using them. Paints such as oils and acrylics are a whole other story... I find them difficult to manipulate but with the watercolor pencils I know exactly how to accomplish what I want. Hmmm... maybe I need to take a painting class using oils and acrylics... why am I so intimidated by them.
My hubbub looks at my journal page and I am searching inside his head... I know he's going to say it... I'm just waiting for him to say it... he doesn't. So I do... "I know hon... another tree!" He has a 'thing' about me always painting trees! I can't help it... they are so magical and peaceful to me! This will not be my last tree I know that for sure! lol.
Happy Creating Everyone!

Women's Retreat - Calgary

So I finally broke down and have decided to be apart of my Church (Cornerstone Foursquare Church) Women's Retreat this September 25-27th, 2009. Friends approached me asking me if I wanted to design the advertising sign. I wasn't sure at first because I didn't know enough about the retreat... but after discussing it with one of the ladies I did my own prayers and God gave me this vision for the sign.
I saw God holding a net that catches all our tears, as the tears are absorbed through the net they turn into precious jewels. The containers on each side of the sign are empty, representing women in the Church and how empty they feel. The main container though is the way it actually is... our tears are precious to God. God transforms them (and us) into precious jewels. We are His beloved. We often forget that because there is so much pain and suffering in the world.
This retreat is going to be focusing on healing that pain within us by sharing our stories with one another. I will be giving each lady a small journal and will be teaching a lesson on Art Journaling and writing down the lessons, the prayers, the visions that God gives us. I pray that all the women will be deeply touched by this retreat and will come out completely released, renewed and refreshed.
If you live in or near Calgary and would be interested in attending this retreat please contact me via email at ksun underscore 1999 at yahoo dot com (all together including the symbols).
Happy Creating Everyone!

Biking With My Friend Kelly... Funny Story (Part 1)

Can two ladies be any blonder???? I have the best stories that tend to always occur with my girlfriend Kelly. We are like two lost souls trying to find our way together sometimes... last March in Arizona we made our way through (for us) unchartered streets of Phoenix and Scottsdale while listening to a really irritating computer woman on the GPS that took us two hours to get to a 20 minute away destination... and now we venture out biking!!!
Read the story on the page and you should be rather entertained! Hee-hee.
Happy Creating Everyone!

He Perceives My Thoughts From Afar

I was meditating on my favorite Psalm this morning... I asked God to give me an image that I could draw out and this is the result of my prayers. I visioned myself sleeping and God perceiving my thoughts as I slept. This particular Psalm (139) is my favorite because it shows how deeply God's love for us really is... how He desires to know us completely... how we were made specially and wonderfully and that not one of us was a mistake (despite the circumstances when we were conceived). God loves us and wants a relationship with us... we need only open our hearts to Him.

Happy Creating everyone!

Trying For a New Hair Do

So... I have been feeling really mousy lately. I decided to add some color to my hair and I wanted to go for something a little more funky and fun... I wanted to be spontaneous and see what I could get done...
In the end I ended up with the same hairstyle with a little more color and $240 less in my pockets!
I walked into the salon with good intentions, really I did! I thought I did! I wanted a change... an uplift... something that would make me feel great, renewed, refreshed. Man I am such a sap!
Why can't I be brave like I see other women being? They walk in so confident of themselves, sit down in the salon chair and say, "Hack it off sista, it's time for a change!" Nope... for me it's pretty much the same thing every time.
I finally have my hair the length I want it to be... the length my hubbub wants it to be... so how brave can one be when you want to keep the same length? Maybe next time I will dye my hair purple or something? Ya... no.
Happy Creating Everyone!

My New Diet Success Book!

I saw on a "Composition Book" Flickr site that a lady had made a 'Weight loss Book" and I loved the idea so much but ran with it a little further. Instead I purchased a hardbound recycled sketchbook and decorated the front cover with this beautiful scrapbook paper I fell in love with and matching stickers that I just happened to come by as I saw the paper. I wanted to make a book that I would be inspired to write in everyday. So far I have lost 7 pounds. I am just beginning to write down all that I eat everyday, the calories, the water consumption or other beverages. I was using this program on my hubbub's Itouch Ipod to track my food and caloric intake but it didn't inspire me too much. Because I am a visual person I need something that I can see everyday and track my weight loss.
I was addicted to diet pop and that is a huge one for me to give up. I have now turned to club soda (which I do not particularly care for) which is better for me. I know that will help in the long term to get off of diet pop. If I go to a movie I have discovered that I can get a club soda (even though it's not listed) so that makes things easier. Now, what shall I do about all the popcorn that I adore eating while I watch a movie. I'm thinking I'm going to be going to a lot less movies! LOL.
This has been great for me because my back is finally feeling a lot better so losing weight is just an added bonus. I hope you like my inspirational cover to my book.
Happy Creating Everyone! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

This Summer...

This summer has been rather interesting... We have been blessed by doing things that we have never done before (such as renting an RV to go camping, or rafting in Barrier Lake (really, it was a little dingy that Josh and Ben took turns riding 20 feet off shore)) and have experienced a natural phenomenon as I call it 'THE STORM OF SUMMER 09'... it was not a storm many would classify as anything other than a small summer storm though we were taken back by its velocity for around a half of an hour as we huddled together in our basement in the middle of the night one night. We had never before experienced the rain slamming our windows in the front of our house or the eerinesss of the wind as it inhaled and exhaled against the windows (or so it sounded). We were certain we were in 'THE EYE OF THE STORM', in the midst of the next big tornado (or so our imaginations took us). The next morning we woke up and were surprised to note that the news had barely covered the storm. We are so sheltered (no punn intended) when it comes to experiencing storms! I don't know how we would live in Kansas or other areas of the world prone to tornadoes and earthquakes or other natural disasters. I consider us blessed to live where we do.

Having summer off has been wonderful! Teachers must love and look forward to every summer. This week I will go back to work for just one week as I cover for one of the ladies going on holidays. It will be such a wake up call for me getting up early and making it to work before 8:30! How do normal people do it??? LOL. I shall look upon it as another adventure in this life... the 'waking-up-early-and-not-sleeping-through-life' adventure! There! I have claimed it! It's my saying now! LOL. Okay... yes, I love sleeping in!

Happy Creating Everyone!

Procrastination / Excuses

I began this project a few days ago. I wasn't sure what was going to come of it, I just began drawing lines really. I went to Michael's the other day and purchased some Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils and I must say... I LOVE THEM!!! In this picture you can see the beautiful intense colors achieved with these 'inktense' pencils. I am not really one for using colors lightly... I have always loved the vibrant tones that I can make with watercolors. I think I use them very much like acrylic paints.
Lately I have been procrastinating, trying to do everything but the 'large' task I have placed before myself. I will find the smallest of things to do before I tackle any of the large task like creating a sculpture as I chip away or smooth out the surface of the larger task a little at a time. Most often I find myself not finishing projects if they are too large or too overwhelming for me to do... I hate that about myself. I want to change... I just do not know how. I am not very good with change.
I like the overall effects of this picture, the words, images and lines create almost a 3D effect. Maybe it's just me, but it feels like those squares on the top and bottom of the page are coming out a little bit towards me ~ or I might just need a new prescription in my glasses! LOL.
Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know what you think.
Happy Creating Everyone.

September Calendar Entry

I know, I know... this page looks very plain and boring. It will look much different when I fill it all in with my many moods. No, you didn't miss an entry as I have yet to finish August... the page I prepped for August looked more like a September if that makes any sense at all - LOL.
Over on Melissa's blog (where I get a lot of my inspirations) I fell in love with her July calendar so I proceeded with some of the ideas she used. Her's is full of words and beautiful images so it looks much better than my plain old September page... so make sure you take a look. I just looked at it again and realize mine is completely different! It's funny how you see something and are inspired and then realize that what you create from it is COMPLETELY different!!!! Somehow I switched around all the colors that she used and had them pictured much differently in my mind! Oy vay!

Happy Creating everyone.

Reposting Summertime with New Page

I found "Summertime" to be a rather negative journal entry as I was getting depressed when I worked on the page... so... I also noticed that I did not particularily like how the water colors looked over the girls face so I decided to write over top of her face leaving only the eyes free of writing because they are such a focal point. I wrote a comeback to my negative feelings and came out victorious. I also was able to finish the other page in my composition book working with similar colors as in "Summertime" and flowers as the images keeping with the theme of Summer. I am much happier with this outcome than when I first posted.
Let me know what you all think.
Happy creating.