STILL...

My latest flower piece-just finished this morning...
STILL...
8 x 10
Mixed Media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, wax

I titled this STILL because to  me it looks like early morning and all the birds are still asleep in their houses. :)

Some music I like to listen to when I'm creating :)

I know this is sort of funny...but this CD is so pretty...I listen to it sometimes when I'm painting.  It's really calming and lovely.

KINDNESS...

KINDESS...
8 x 10 Mixed Media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, wax

TRUE

TRUE...
8 x 10
mixed media
acrylic, ink, pastel, collage, wax

So easy and so complex....

I'm definately a late bloomer!

"Ask yourself:

• Who am I?
• What do I value?
• What mark do I want to make within my lifetime?
• What is my mission?

Once we are able to honestly answer these questions, tremendous clarity finds its way into our lives. And this clarity equips us with confidence, decisiveness, and values-driven focus that allows us to dismiss that which doesn't align with our mission, and embrace that which does align. 

It's as simple and complex as that."

Cresendoh

BEGIN...

BEGIN...
8 x 10
Mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax

CRESCENDOH

Oh my gosh!!!!!!  My story is on Crescendoh!!!!!  I am so honored and excited!  I hope you'll check it out!  Thank you Jenny Doh.  You are an inspiration to me!
CRESCENDOH

Etsy Treasury!!!!!

Just found out I'm in another Etsy treasury!  Such exciting news.  A nice little Mothers Day treat!

SWEET MOTHER

Happy Mothers Day to all you sweet Moms out there!

SWEET MOTHER

11x14

mixed media

acrylic, ink, collage, wax

My Goal...

So I've taken the first week of Katycourse and I am truly loving it.  I am learning so much more than just what is being taught.  I'm realizing that we are all the same.  That we all just take it step by step.  No one is really an expert, knowing everything.  We all just are learning as we go.  But we don't always know what the outcome will be.  We all are just doing what we can, and hoping for the best results.  It feels good to know that others are learning too.  That even the people who have "made it" are also still learning.  There is no real "way". That fact gives me confidence.
 I love how generous artists are and how we all want to share information with each other and hopefully make it easier for someone else.  This field of art is so awesome because everyone is so unique.  It seems to take away the feeling of competition.  There's no "better" than him or her.  Art is in the eye of the beholder, and you just don't know who the beholder may be.
So part of this weeks lessons are how to focus.  One of the questions is "what is it that you want to DO with your art?"  What is your goal and what will give you satisfaction?"  These are very deep questions...not just surface stuff.  You can't make good art without going deep, (even if you don't know you are, you're probably hitting some deep spot hidden somewhere inside!)

So I've asked myself this question and my answer came out of me.  I'm going to put it here in my blog first, because I think it is a little too much of an answer to give to the class.  They all might think I'm a bit crazy.  But here it is....

When I create something, I do it with purity.  When I'm making art, I feel so clear and pure and innocent.  I have no worries, no anxieties, no ulterior motives.  It always feels wonderful when I am in "the zone".  I treasure that feeling, that place of bliss.  I don't know where I would be without it.

For many different reasons, I've come to realize that creating art is my calling.  I feel so lucky to know this.  What I hope to do with my art is really pretty simple...I want to touch this world gently and calmly. I want to leave it a better place because I was here.  I want to bring happiness and peace to strangers.

When I look at the work I've already completed, I see a vulnerability in each piece; each face.  No matter what the subject, each expression appears pure to me.  I hope it looks that way to others also.

If purity was more a part of the world, I think it would be such a sweeter, kinder place.  I know that idea sounds a little childish and naive for reality, but oh how I wish it were true.

I am not a very religious person.  I believe in God and Angels and miracles.  But I also know that fairy tales don't come true.  All I can do is my part in this world.  Even if it is a small part, I believe I am here to do it the best I can.  That is what I want to do with my art.  I want to reach as many people as possible and leave them with a feeling of pureness and calm.  I want to touch the world gently and sweetly.

Kelly Lish
5-7-2010

First Royalties Check!

Today I received my first royalties check from Phenominoes!!!!  And....they sent me a beautiful necklace with my artwork on it!  Thank you Sandy...you are so sweet!  I love it!

A FLEETING MOMENT :)

This is a little peek at my day in Eugene last weekend, visiting my son at his frat house.  I sat in the sunshine and watched these little families of geese, float and swim around.  They were so entertaining and made me laugh out loud all by myself.  A sweet moment for me while soaking in the warmth of the sun-Ahhhhhh

A HAUNTING WE WILL GO...

My entry to Cloth Paper Scissors-A Haunting We Will Go contest.  Wish me luck!
Mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax
12 x 12

WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE II

I'll be attending this very cool party...anyone want to join me?  It looks like fun.  I just love looking at artists studios.  So inspirational!

Waking up to a fun email...

I received an email this morning from someone in Illinois.  She's featuring my Mothers Day cake on her blog post.  Her site is called FIRST LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY.  Her work is really lovely.  Take a peek!  What a very nice email for me to wake up to.  :)

MERMAID MAGIC

My newest creation...
Mermaid Magic
18x24
mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax

...

Time to go get the new issue of Artful Blogging.  I love all the Somerset magazines.  They totally brighten my day when a new one comes out :)

ps.   I'm in love with my new blog layout!  Thanks Shabby Blogs!

Updated my blog...

I am so lame at the computer!!!! Ugh!  I just spent hours updating and redecorating my blog.  It's fun for me to do, but so dang hard!!!!!
There was more I wanted to add, but just haven't quite figured it out, even though I read the instructions over and over again.  I need to go to bed.  Maybe I'll tackle more tomorrow.  :)

Katycourse...

Today begins the Katycourse...a course on how to generate income from art.  I'm excited to learn.  Come on brain, don't fail me now.

Etsy Treasury!!!!!

Take a peek friends...I'm in a beautiful Etsy Treasury!  I'm so proud!  :)

CPS calender contest

Tomorrow Cloth Paper Scissors announces the winners of the 2011 calender contest-Make It Pretty....I hope I'm a winner!!!!

Quote...

"When you follow your bliss, doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors."
-Joseph Campbell

I hope this is true, cuz I'm counting on it!  :)

New Jewelry I'm adding to my shop!

Here's a little peek at what I've been working on lately, in between painting...

VINTAGE ROSE NECKLACE....
Pearls, glass beads, crystals, distressed gold chain.
Handmade

SILVER N ICE NECKLACE
Pearls, glass beads, crystals, distressed silver chain, vintage silver earring (pendent)
Handmade

Autism Ball 2010

You Are My Sunshine...my piece I donated to the Autism Ball this year for the silent auction.  I hope it did good.

April 25 2010
Melody Ball Room, Portland OR

Cruise to Mexico pics

Payten and I had so much fun on the cruise-I'm missing the sunshine!

Mothers Day Cake

Mothers Day Cake
11 x 14
mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax

ALICE and THE QUEEN OF HEARTS

Alice and The Queen Of Hearts
8 x 10 mixed media
acrylic, ink, collage, wax

Cooper

Just some recent pics of my littlest baby...

CHERISH Wedding Cake

CHERISH Wedding Cake
11 x 14
mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, hand made papers, wax

PROMISE

Promise
9 x 12
mixed media, acrylic, collage, hand made papers, ink, wax

DREAM

DREAM
11x14
Mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax

Steam Punk Girl 4

Just finished her today...
Steam Punk Girl #4
9 x 12
Mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax

Working on a new Steam Punk Girl....

HAPPY EASTER FRIENDS!

Easter Cake
9 x 12
mixed media, acrylic, ink, collage, wax

Another new, beautiful friend...

This is a note I recieved the other day from a beautiful soul.  I am blessed.

Hello Kelly, 

Hope you are well. I'm really touched by the pice your created in honor of your mother win over breast cancer. I lost a good friend to breast cancer, but she choose not to have modern treatments like chemo. She instead sought homeopathic treatments. 

I am a 31 year old brain cancer survivor. Diagnosed with a benign optic nerve glioma at eight months old and had a reassurance at five years old. This time included surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. Spring 2009 I was diagnosed with a meningioma, a tumor formed from radiation cells left in the body twenty or more years. I'm still standing strong, but tired. I am a woman of faith and love offering others Hope. I speak publicly speak on behalf of people whose lives are affected by brain tumors / cancer. 

I hope to meet you some day. 

Love,
Jennifer 


I wrote back to her:


Hi Jennifer-
Thank you so much for your note about Celebrate Strength. You just cant imagine how good it feels to get a note like that, that my art actually touched someone. Thank you so much. I'm sorry your friend lost her fight. I'm very lucky to still have my Mom around 15 years after her fight.
Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor called an Acoustic Neuroma. It was the scariest time of my life so far. It was a large tumor in my brain that grew on the hearing nerve. It was non cancerous. October 16 of 2007 I had brain surgery to remove it. They got it all and I am doing great. I lost 100% of my hearing on the left side but it is okay, and I am happy to have a new outlook on life. Sometimes it even can be a positive thing (when I want to take a nap for example!) :) 
I am sorry about your new diagnosis. You must feel frustrated. I hope everything will go perfectly for you and that modern medicine and prayers and miracles will take care of you and your future. Its wonderful that you can be positive and share hope! My thoughts and prayers will be with you and I hope to meet you someday too!
Feels like we already have so much in common!
Love, Kelly




This blog has opened so many doors for me and also opened my heart to some wonderful people....