She Loved Each One....

All finished....
She Loved Each One Uniquely and Unconditionally
12 x 12
mixed media
acrylic, ink, oil pastel, collage

Working on a new one....

So yesterday I made a little sketch, and today I've been working on the painting. I keep adding more and more characters to this one. Here it is in progress...I'll post the finished piece when I'm all done.

A great quote....

Just read this quote and had to share...

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” ~kahlil gibran

Somerset Studio Gallery....

I'm so excited to be in the summer issue of Somerset Studio.  It comes out on June 1st.  Being published never gets old...I don't want it to stop!  I have two articles in this one.  One on page 18 called Inspirational Art, and another on page 170!!!!!  Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Yipppeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Yipppeeeeeeeeee!!!! Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeee!  

Surtex May 2011 New York...

Right now I am full of hope.  I don't want to read too much into the positive messages that I have recieved from this company, until they actually say the words..."Kelly, we would love to have you sign with us!"  So I'm waiting patiently to hear those words, trying to squelch my excitement and not jump up and down just yet...but oh it's hard!

The Surtex show was going on this past weekend.  It's a big show in New York, where licensing companys go and set up booths to represent thier artists.  Then the retailers from all over the world come in and "shop around" for artwork to go on thier products.

Painted Planet is the licensing company that represented me.  How cool is that!?  I had a banner up on thier booth wall, along with all these wonderful artists.  And they also had my portfolio on thier site to show prospective "buyers"....so exciting to me!

So now I sit and wait...with a big grin on my face...trying to be patient and ready for "the word".  If you have any extra prayers that you could spare, I would sure appreciate any that come my way.  I really want this to happen.  I feel so ready to explore another art outlet...

Hoping and praying...

Love, Kelly

Sedona...

Just got home a few days ago from a wonderful trip.  Sedona, AZ is such a beautiful place!  Wow!  It left me speechless as we were driving into these incredible red mountains.  Makes you look at the world with wonder, I loved the feeling....Here are some photos and a little painting I did while I was there...

the mountains are breathtaking!

Some beautiful souls to spend my time with...

a special night filled with laughter, tears, dancing, eating...so special....

of course I couldn't forget my supplies....

feeling blessed.

Lessons...

Sometimes life lessons are easy, and you dont know they are happening until they are over. Other times they can be so painful and drawn out that it feels like you could break in half. All you can do is stay true to who you are, to what your heart tells you.

Thats where I am today. Trying to keep it simple and true to my heart. What else can you do? I really dont know. I take responsibility for my words and actions and the consequences that will be. I examine my self, my faith, my values. I examine my words and their effects. I examine right from wrong and the role I have in this life.

I do know that life is constantly changing. I am constantly changing, and i hope growing. This is a good thing, just not always an easy thing.

Day by day, moment by moment, experience by experience...learning, growing, being.

Kindred souls...

You know sometimes you find someone that you feel you have known forever? That feeling that your souls are connectected in some way? Perhaps you were in another life together, saving each other in a battle...or up in heaven, holding each others hands and discussing when you would meet up again. However it works, you know you were destined to be together.

I have a person like that. I am sitting on her couch right now as i type this. I only just met her seven months ago...how can that be? That fact seems totally impossible to my brain and my heart. She is pure comfort to me and I can only hope that I am that to her also.

I sit here in my pajamas, sipping coffee, talking to her and her sweet husband, feeling that I am right where I belong. How often does that feeling ever hit you in a lifetime? I dont know, but I am cherishing the moment and feeling amazed by it.

Life can really be amazing sometimes. As my kids are now 18 and 20, life is slowing down a bit from all the hustle and bustle of four busy lives going in every direction. Simple moments are feeling sweeter, thoughts are feeling deeper, good things are feeling magnetized, and pettiness is feeling wasteful.

How very blessed I am feeling right now, appreciating this moment. How thankful I am for my family, old and new...thank you God, for bringing my soul together with this very special sister of mine. She gives me peace and clarity. Please help me to be able to be the same for her. Life feels good.

Life...oh complicated life....

Life can get pretty complicated sometimes.  It's hard to do what is right, especially when you know someone will get hurt.

For me, all I can do is to follow my heart.  I am 46 years old and only now, am I beginning to speak up for myself.  It seems that up until now, I was trying too hard to think that evilness didn't really exist, at least not in my world.  I was pushing it away, and pretending it wasn't there.  The truth is that it is there, and has been there all this time.  I was covering my ears and my eyes, and pretending.  I was trying to fit in to a place that I didn't belong.  How silly and immature that feels right now.  Today I'm finding that I'm too tired  to pretend that all is good.  It's about time I took care of myself and my family.  It feels so right to stand up for what I feel in my heart.   Maybe I am finally a grown up...I always wondered when that day would come.  I'm proud of myself for doing the difficult thing and for showing my own kids that sometimes you must stand up for what you believe in.  Especially when the other option is so negative.

I believe God is proud of my decision.  I will no longer sit silently and listen to the hatred and anger and violence.  I will not let that poison ever get so close to my family again.  By sitting silently all these years, I have accepted what I ultimately dispise.  How irresponsible I feel to not have spoken up before now.   I feel angry at myself for letting that be the case.

 I hope those that feel my absence, will someday learn to look inside of themselves and ask some serious questions.  I don't expect that they will, and that makes me sad.  But from this day forward, I am releasing their negative influence and energy from my own life.  This is what I have to to.  This is my life to live for me and MY family now.

I wish for you, anyone who reads this, peace and courage to do what is right for you.  There is no room for poison and hatred.  Life is too short and too precious to waste with those that spread anger or bring you down.  Live your truth, as best as you can.  Be proud of who you are and what you believe in.  Be kind to people of all walks of life.  Everyone deserves happiness.  God bless us all.  xo
Love, Kelly

a little Cooper sketch...

Thinking I might do a colorful little portrait of Cooper.  Working on the sketch first.

Freedom Rides.

I'm watching Oprah right now.  It's May  4th, at 4:25 pm.  I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as I watch this episode.  It is the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides.  In 1961 a group of black and white men and women,  that were against the segregation and unequality, decided to take a bus ride from Washington DC to New Orleans.  They were making a stand for racial equality, for love and humanity.  They knew they were risking their lives by standing up for what was right.  They had all signed their wills before they left on this dangerous journey.   At one point, when they were in Alabama,  their bus was attacked by members of the KKK.  The bus was on fire and the KKK tried to hold the door shut so they would all burn.  When they finally got out of the bus, many were beaten and left to die.  This was only 50 years ago people!  It is heart breaking.

God bless these very brave people of the Freedom Rides.  They risked their lives for what was right.  I pray that someday, no one will be judged for the color of their skin, their religion, or the country they were born in.  God bless our souls.

Oprah Whinfrey-Freedom Riders 50th Anniversary

...

I just LOVE my little family...the end.

Etsy treasury....

Another Etsy Treasury!  Yipeeeeee!   This one is full of lovely roses!

Loving me some sunshine....

Having a wonderful time seeing friends and family and soaking up all the sun I can.  Sat on the beach this morning with my coffee and a fresh maple bar, smelling the ocean and soaking in the warm sun.  A perfect way to start any day!  

Saw these two cool, mature surf buddies and had to capture the moment.  Aren't they just awesome!

A very sunshiney treasury....

So fun to be in such a bright and happy etsy treasury!

A little wine and cheese....

A little wine and cheese is always good....

Friendship makes the sun shine brighter.

Four Mermaid paintings, all done!

Here they are, all finished...these were so fun to make...I felt like a little girl again!

Mermaid with her seahorse

Mermaid talking to the fish

Mermaids' tea party

Mermaid friends

Number four of the mermaid paintings....

Here is the last of the mermaid paintings-all three mermaids together.

:)

I was just painting and looking at my pallette full of dried paint and fresh paint.  I was looking at some of my paintings hanging on my wall...and I was struck with the feeling that I can create ANYTHING with these little wet blobs of paint!  ANYTHING I want....that is such an exciting thought!  hahaha  It just hit me that my imagination is the limit...how fun is that?!    :)

Mermaid number three in progress...

Here's number three in progress...

working on mermaid number two...

Number two, in progress...

When they are all finished, I'll post them all together...

Some work in progress....

I thought you might enjoy seeing my work in progress.  I sketched out a little mermaid the other night.  You can see how I use tracing paper to make patterns for her tail and for the sea horse.  I will probably finish her today sometime.  I think I will do another with the same characters and make a set.  We'll see how that turns out.

Our Stories....

Heartwing Sisters

There is this woman, whom I so proudly call my friend.  Her name is Kolleen.  She has a way with words, this girl.  This is just one of her many gifts. She is caring and thoughtful.  She is creative and wise.  She has created a blog, and on this blog, each Friday, she shares truth.  She does this by simply asking some of the people in her life to share their "I'm Better For It" story.  She has shared her belief, that by sharing our truth with the world, we can heal and perhaps help someone else to heal.  She has given us a safe arena to share our stories, lighten our burdens, and celebrate our strengths.

I just finished reading April 8th 2011's "I'm Better For It" story.  A beautiful soul named Valerie tells of her truth and her awakening.  It is such a powerful story, in a very simple and beautiful way, that I just had to post about it.  It made me cry and it made me happy.  I hope you will read it also, and find healing in all the stories that Kolleen shares each Friday.

Thank you Valerie, and thank you Kolleen.  The truth is such a powerful thing.