New Painting

First of all a big thank you, dear friends old and new, for your heartfelt comments on my last blog post. The consensus (and my own inclination) seems to be to keep blogging when I feel like it and visit you all when I have time and leisure to do so. And not worry about the rest! That is what I'll do...

I have been painting on this latest one for quite a few days, slowly building it up with layer after layer (after layer) of transparent acrylic paint.

I didn't know what to expect and I was just thrilled with the colors, the depth and the texture this resulted in.

Couldn't resist showing you the above photo inclusive my fuzzy slippers. We are having another cold morning!

I feel as though I am finally finding my very own voice in my paintings and I love it! It's the best feeling to know that what you are painting comes purely from inside.

Yesterday's Dreams
acrylic painting on 12 x 24 inch canvas

SOLD! Thank you!! 

I'm linking this to this week's Illustration Friday.

And to you all I wish a wonderful and relaxing weekend!! I have to go buy more art supplies before I can start the next one as I'm fresh out of gesso.

❧ Silke

About this blog

When I started this blog, I was spending some time being creative, but not much as I was starting out. I spent much more time blogging and visiting other blogs. And now that this has changed, I am both excited and also constantly feel bad I'm not spending more time with all of you.

These days all I want to do is paint. And when I'm not painting, I'm thinking about painting. This is one I am working on that I am building very slowly with many layers (I think I have 10 so far).

And when the layers are drying, I sit at my sewing machine and make little bags out of the most fun fabrics! (All of those are in my Etsy store with more to come.)

And that's my dilemma. I am constantly making things, but the time I have to blog and - more importantly - visit your blogs has been diminished.

I used to spend hours every day in the blog world and it was fun! Now, when I have free time like that, I want to spend it painting or sewing or knitting or cooking, but not so much on the computer.

Facebook has been great in this as I can post these things and connect with people without spending much time online. But my blog has suffered. And I am not sure what I should do.

As I am coming up on my 4th blog anniversary, I am wondering if it's time to pack it in. It doesn't feel fair to you - my loyal visitors - that I often don't visit you back. Or should I do it like some of my friends and have a long post once every week or every two weeks?

I also wonder if anything I post is of value to you anymore. Every once in a while I have a deeper thought on here, but mostly right now I am driven to create, which is beyond exciting to me, but might be boring to you all.

Do you still enjoy visiting here? Even though I have no tutorials or even recipes to share right now? Would you miss this if I were to not blog anymore? Any thoughts?

I'm just not sure at all...

❧ Silke

New Paintings

The last days of Jane Spakowsky's challenge turned into a little series for me, which I think is still continuing. It's been interesting limiting the colors I'm using (two colors plus black and white) and just allowing the intuitive part of my brain to guide me.

The Dance
acrylic painting on 8 x 10 inch canvas

Flight
acrylic painting on 8 x 10 inch canvas

The Ascent
acrylic painting on 8 x 10 inch canvas

Movement
acrylic painting on 11 x 14 inch canvas

All available in my Etsy Shop. 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Ours was busy with friends, cooking and art - a great combination!

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week and that, wherever you are, it is warmer than in Savannah this morning...

❧ Silke

This 'n' That

Life is moving at quite a nice clip and I am getting behind with my blogging. I snap pictures here and there and with this painting challenge haven't shown you any. So, this will be a mishmash sort of post.

The other day when it was so rainy and gray out, I loved this little spot of indoor sunshine on our table. Candles go such a long way in making me feel cozy inside.

This was my painting for yesterday, day 6 of the challenge. I picked out four colors and that's what came from it. I had fun just letting my imagination run wild. Can you spy the red alligator that appeared in the lower left?

Alligator Dreams
Acrylic painting on 8 x 10 inch canvas board

SOLD! Thank you!!

And then, lest you think I haven't been knitting, a few photos of scarves I finished lately and put in my knitting Etsy shop. Actually, the first one I haven't listed yet, but I will today. It's such fun yarn and great color!

And these two are nice and long and warm!

Now, this was fun. I knitted and then felted a pair of slipper socks for a friend of mine. The process of felting just fascinates me. They were so huge when I was done knitting and then the perfect size after the wash.  (Don't you love that little house candle holder? A friend gave that to us years ago and I think it's so pretty.)

And, last but not least, my painting for today. It's such a totally different style and I just adore it! I limited my color palette to cerulean blue deep, raw sienna, black and white. And I just started with the black marks and went from there. It was fun! Fun!

The Dance
Acrylic painting on 8 x 10 inch canvas

The Dance is available here.

I have so much more to share - lots of it revolving around food and recipes - you know me, always cooking and baking and especially in the winter! That'll have to wait for another post.

In the meantime, I hope you are all doing well and staying cozy and warm!!

❧ Silke

A Painting a Day for 10 Days ~ Day 5

This challenge has been better for me than I thought in the beginning. Not only am I in my studio every day painting one piece from beginning to end, but it has somehow given me permission to experiment and have fun with it. 

Every day I sit down without a plan and I paint what I feel.

I need to keep going like that. It does my soul a world of good...

Deep Inside
acrylic painting on 6 x 8 inch canvas board

Available here. 

On the weather front we have had stormy morning. Tornado sirens woke us up, but nothing actually happened. Another day of rain and then sunshine. As soon as the weather behaves "normally" again, I'll stop writing about it... I promise!

Wishing you all a beautiful and sunny Tuesday, and thanks for visiting!

❧ Silke