Art and Awards

(Click on the painting to see more detail)

Finally, I am getting to show you more art! I don't know how some of you do it - you work full-time, you create new art every day, you post about it every day AND you leave comments on other blogs. I admire you!!

I recently bought a Baroque Artist Panel to experiment with. I really loved the wood grain on the panel and decided to mix a lot of glazing medium with my acrylic paints to work more transparently. The result is a very different look. Much more muted, this girl looks quite demure. I think had I sealed the wooden surface before painting, the colors would be a little more vibrant, but I have to say I like how this worked out. In fact, I like her so much, I am offering her in my Etsy shop.

And now two awards I was given recently. This first one I received from the very talented Mary Wadsworth, who is not only an amazing painter and sculptor (she makes the most wonderful creations out of paper clay!), but a dear and kind friend, always ready with an encouraging word!
The rules of this award state that I need to mention seven facts about myself. So, here it goes:

1. I am a recluse at heart, perfectly happy in our own little world, but only because I know I can connect with my dear friends any time I so choose (how lucky am I?!).
2. I can get up in the morning and be chatty immediately. Because Daniel is not a morning person, I talk to the dog and cat!
3. I also talk to myself quite frequently.
4. I have at least three or four very vivid dreams every night - never a nightmare! It's like my own personal movie theater!
5. Some of my dreams have been predictive in nature - nothing grand, but enough to make me pay attention.
6. When I met Daniel when I was 19, I couldn't cook anything, but I could bake the most complicated recipes! Growing up, my mom was the (most excellent) cook in our family, but she didn't like to bake, so that was my job. I learned baking from my grandmother and still, today, even though I've learned to cook, more than anything I love to bake! Especially the old family recipes.
7. I put waaaay too much thought into lists like this...but I want to give you something to read that is somewhat worthwhile!
And now another award from my tireless, amazing, talented, wonderful, thoughtful, kind and beautiful sisterfriend Ces. This one she created in honor of Arija and this is some of what you can find on Ces' blog about Arija and this award:

I am blessed to call Arija my sisterfriend and it is my great honor to design this award to recognize her: A thinking, seeing, feeling, loving person who celebrates life every day. She is an artist, a photographer, a fascinating woman with great sense of humor, wise and thoughtful blogger and a loving and caring friend.

Bella Sinclair had this to say about Arija: "I was reading just a little bit about oaks yesterday. Such a strong wood that it is prized for its strength and density. It refused to be felled for centuries (until the invention of iron tools). That, truly, is Arija, she who offers support and shade, who twinkles in the sunshine and sways with the breeze, and who refuses to be felled."

I feel so honored to have received both of these awards and am passing them on to all of you! After selecting names for the last award, I decided that I cannot do that again. The worry about forgetting someone and that person feeling bad about being left out, is just too much for me. And the fact is that you are ALL wonderful and special to me!

So, if you feel so inspired, copy the awards, post them on your blogs and pass them on. Let's spread the love!!