Just life....

Okay, so I am 46 years old and on March 1st I will be 47...then three years from then I will turn 50!  So why do things like this shock me?  In my head I still think I am a kid.  Will I think this until the day I die?  Will I be 85 years old and wonder why I have so many white hairs?  Will I be a Great Grandmother someday and still be amazed that I'm not a young girl anymore?  I find it so strange that my mind works this way.  I'm okay with getting older, it just amazes me that I am so shocked everytime I see the signs-haha
By the way...despite my look of horror-I think I sort of like the white hair!  Just life.....

progress....

new sketch...

the beginnings of a new painting....

My littlest bff....

I love kids!  I have always loved kids, little ones especially.  I love how honest they are.  I love the honesty that comes out in their words and expressions.  I love how they live in the moment.  If only we could bottle up their simple pureness and save it for our adult lives-what a wonderful world that would be!

Today I was on the phone with my 5 year old bff.  When we were finished talking and hung up, her Mom called me back to tell me the sweetest thing.  She said-"oh Kelly, I just have to tell you what Natalie said to me....she said- 'Mom, me and Kelly talked so long that my ear was getting sweaty!  But I just had to keep talking to her!  I just love her voice!' "

We laughed about the cuteness of what she had said, but in reality, I love Natalies voice too!  Whenever I talk to her or listen to a message she has left for me, the sound of her sweet voice just lifts me up!

Thank you God, for the pureness of children.  Thank you for their sweet words and innocent little voices.  What bright lights they all are in this world.  

Her Love Birds

All finished!
HER LOVE BIRDS
14 x 18
mixed media, acrylic, ink

a little more progress....

more progress....

By taking pictures of my progress, I'm able to see my work from another view, and then I can see better, what changes I need to make or correct.  I'm still working on her face and eyes.  I need to get one of those tools where you look through a lense and can see your work smaller-like the opposite of a magnifying glass.

New painting in progress....

Here's the latest one I've been working on....

The Red Balloon

I came across this book at a cool little store in Portland about a month ago.  When I saw it I knew I had to buy it.  So many memories and feelings rushed through me just when I saw the cover alone!  When I was in elementry school, we would watch this movie in the cafeteria.  It seems like I saw it a few times over the years and every time I watched it it would make me cry.  My sympathy for the underdog gets me everytime, even when I was little it did!  Anyway, I thought I would post some pics incase any of you might have grown up with this movie too.  Such a blast from the past...funny how certain things like this can bring back so much emotion.  Hope you enjoy.  Love, Kelly xo
This is the front cover of the book:

This is the back cover of the book:

HER GIFT

All finished!
HER GIFT
18 x 24
Acrylic, ink,mixed media

progress....

still adding to it....almost finished.....

Making some more progress today.....

More pics of my latest painting in progress.....

in progress.....

still in progress.....

It was such a pretty evening, so I worked on this piece outside on the deck.  Such a pretty sunset, I didn't want to miss it.

working on a new painting.....

Just the beginnings of a new one here to show you.....

A wonderful quote.....

I read this today and just had to re-post....
There are 5 things in life you cannot recover:
A stone...after it's thrown.
A word...after it's said.
An occasion...after it's missed.
The time...after it's gone.
...A person...after they die.
Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Enjoy Life!!

Sometimes....

Sometimes life is not so smooth.  I don't really like the bumpy times, they give me stress and anxiety, but I know that there is always some life lesson to be found in them.  So when they come my way, I will try to find the lesson that is hiding underneath all the ick.  And then when I think I have found it, I will let go of the stress it caused me and try my hardest to be thankful for the lesson learned.  I will ask God to take away the hurt and anxiety and to make me stronger for it instead.

A recent lesson I have learned is that sometimes people are not what they want you to think they are.  Some people dont wish goodness for you. Some people are miserable and will only be happy if you are miserable too. Some people hold themselves above others and refuse to look at their own actions or even to take responsibility for their own lives, and the lives that they have made or touched negatively.  Some people shut their eyes to what is right in front of them and go on hurting themselves and others.  I have learned that communicating with these people is impossible because they will only hear what they want to hear.  I have learned that I dont need to have these kind of people in my life.  I have learned that I am only responsible for learning my life lessons and that I cannot help someone else learn theirs if they dont want the help.  I have learned that it is okay to be myself, to be honest and true.  I've learned that sometimes it's okay to let go.  It's okay to be happy.

They're in love....

I think they are such a cute couple-hehe

Pirate Boy

Here is a sweet little Pirate Boy for summer time :)
PIRATE BOY
12 x 12
acrylic

I made this little guy for the Autism Pirate Party.  I'll donate a print of him and one of the little mermaid with the blonde hair for their auction.

I just want.....

I just want to paint something SPECTACULAR!  :)

First Friday Art Walk, Imagine Gallery August 2011

Such a fun place to be on this August First Friday!  Imagine Gallery in Eugene Oregon.  So fun to be there and walk amungst the crowd as they looked at all the wonderful art.  I'm so very proud to be a part of this special place!   Here are some pics from the Art Walk Tour....

Thats Tym, the owner of the gallery.  She has been so helpful to me, I really appreciate her!

Those three up top are mine!  Whoot! Whoot!

There's Ron in the bottom left-hehe

Proud to be a part of this....

I'm so proud to be a part of these "girl" journals!  I'm in the company of so many wonderful artists, so that feels incredible to me!  These journals are really awesome!
CUSTOM PLANNERS

All we can do....

All we can do is be the best that we can be.  Live our own truths.  Be kind along the way.  Give love.  Treat others as we want to be treated.  Take responsibility for our actions.  Learn and keep learning.  Grow and keep growing.  Live with compassion and gratefullness.  Every action matters...it's all part of the journey.  Hold on to some, let go of others.  Let our hearts lead the way.  Listen carefully to our instincts.  Let forgiveness in.  Ask questions.  Listen for answers.  Live this short life with a pure heart.

A wonderful weekend...

We had such a wonderful weekend with friends from long ago.  It is so comforting to be around friends from your past.  The weather was perfect and the company was the best!  Here we are wine tasting in Chahlem valley, OR.  Thank you God, for wonderful friends and happy memories old and new.

Hmmmm....my beliefs are simple....

I just walked on the treadmill this morning.  Now as I cool down, I'm sitting at my computer and I feel like typing these words.  My beliefs are simple.  This is a belief of mine:  Everyone of us has an obligation to God, to live OUR truth.  I believe God wants everyone of us to be happy.  Sometimes we stray off of our lighted path, and into the darkness.  That is when we need to quiet ourselves and listen.  God will show us how to get back to the light and back to our truth.  We owe it to ourselves and to God to try our best to stay on our lighted path, the one God has intended for us.  That is where we will learn all of our lifes lessons.  That is where we will grow in our relationship with Him.  That is where we will find peace and love.

To shut our eyes to the truth and to what needs to be seen is the same as putting up a wall between us and our intended path.  This is so sad because when you refuse to see the truth, then you block yourself from learning what it is that God wants you to learn.  When you refuse to learn, you also hurt your own relationship with Him.

To deal with difficulties in a passive-aggressive way and without words and truth is so useless.  It's not only useless, it's harmful and it keeps that person in the dark and lost.  No good can come from that.  Life is a constant journey.  It's a journey of life lessons and love.  It's always changing and growing and evolving.  If you stop in your tracks and close your eyes you will miss it all.

Life is short and precious.  There is no room or time for hatered or silly mind games.  Say what is in your heart.  Love the ones that mean the most to you.  Have compassion for everyone.  Enjoy this beautiful journey.  Learn everyday.

Mermaid and Sea Turtle....

Mermaid and Sea Turtle
12 x 12
mixed media
acrylic, oil pastel, collage

Treasure the time you spend with those you love.

mermaid...in progress....

I've been working on this little blonde mermaid today.  Here are a couple of pics of her in progress....