Happy New Year

HELLO THIS IS MY LAST PAINTING OF A GARDEN GATE DONE IN ACRYLICS ON A STRETCH CANVAS. PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE IT OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SUGGESTION!

Hello Friends and Family. I am so excited about all of the possibilities for the new year. I am feeling creative, connected, and committed to my goals for this year. I am not really one for resolutions, but I do see this as a wonderful time to make changes in myself. Someone said, and I wish I knew who, that if we don't stop to examine who we are that life is not worth living. I have been doing a considerable amount of this self-examination.

If you are like me, one of my goals is to continue to watch my calories, (I am slowly loosing!), but I know that I have got to increase my exercise. I want to be stronger, and more flexible so I am really going to work on this.

Number two on my list is a simple enough statement: I want to be more creative. WOW is that one ever loaded for me! I am starting about four journals. I have never even kept one, and now I am starting four! I must be out of my mind! #1 is a visual art journal of images, colors, and textures of things that I just like. I want to practice my doodling and lettering in this journal too. #2 is just a Wine Journal, more concrete with various information about wines that I will purchase and taste this year. #3 Is a Spiritual Journal. It may contain images, colors, etc, but also Bible verses that speak to me, quotes, and I don't know what else! #4 will be a Diet/Exercise Record book for the progrss (do you like that positive word?) that I make with my diet and exercise. Please wish me luck with these Journals.

As if that wasn't enough, I have decided to practice drawing more. I have a new Sketch book, and I want to go to Half Price Books, and find another copy of the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain". I am terrible at drawing, and as I add sketches I will upload them so you can offer suggestions and comments, and if you would like, you can draw along with me.

Part of my being more creative this years means that I am becoming more involved in creating my own art in the form of paintings and collage. I am a member of a couple of local art associations, and I want to enter some shows this year. Of course if they are juried shows well then you have to be selected to be in the show. That is scary!!

If you have read my blog in the past you know that I have been involved with online art groups. I was the owner of such a group, but two days ago I stepped down to make more time to do my own art. I still love altered art, and I will continue to do that, maybe in the form of small collage art, en caustics, and altered objects, but I am not going to be doing any ATCs or Book Round Robins, well not any RR of any kind.

I have to say it was a little sad to give up owning a group, and sad to think of the things that I won't be doing this year, but I needed a change, and so I am going after it. I want to encourage all of you to 1) examine your life, and 2) make your own changes. I want to learn, create, and expand on who I am as a artist.

My third and final goal for the new year is two parts: to give back more to my community and my church, and to have a closer walk with my Lord and Savior. This is what this means to me and some of my plans: Through a friend at a local gallery I will be teaching art to some under-privileged children. Since this is what I trained for, I think it would be a shame not to use my skills in this area. Through my church there is a program of helping others called Hearts and Hands. I am planning to volunteer there whenever I can. Also my church has a school, and they do not have an art teacher, and I would like to discuss with the school how I could volunteer my services there.
I have decided to take up a challenge to read the Bible cover to cover in a year, and I know that by reading God's Word that I will find the closness, the faith, and the spiritual growth that I am seeking. If you are a person that prays then I ask for your prayers on my behalf to reach my goals.

All of my goals I am going to write down in my Art Journal. If you don't write it down and then make the time to do the things that you say, then you will never reach your goals. I am feeling so good, so full of life, so willing to share and to change that I am very excited by all of this. I know there will be many days when I won't do a thing, but I will be aware of them if nothing else. Sometimes when you are retired like I am, one day just runs into the next, and it is easy to procrastinate! If you like, please send me some encouraging words, quotes, questions, and if you want I will do the same for you. Just let me know in a comment.


On a very personal note, most of you know, but in case you didn't, I am a widow. My husband passed away in January of 2002. I have been alone all of this time. Well, in July of 2009 I decided to start dating. I am dating now, and looking for a new love of my life. Dating is never easy, but I find it more difficult since I have not done it since I was 24 years old! Oh my goodness! Has dating changed!!! I am doing online dating, and it is slow and time consuming, but I think it gives me the best chance I have to find the perfect match for me. I'm not saying a perfect man, because there aren't any, but just someone who will love me unconditionally, be honest and faithful, and committed to the relationship. That is all!!! I wouldn't mind if we had similar interests but that isn't really necessary if we are respectful of each other and the things that we do. I could use so luck and prayers in this department too!

Well, time to close and head off to bed. It is almost 3:30 here, and I plan to be up early to start my new goals! God bless you all, and happy creating!