a.m.

Good morning.

I am blogging in the a.m.  That's new for me.

Thought I'd share a work in progress photo of a commission I'm working on that is turning out quite to my liking...

Also wanted to share some images that are really just doing it for me this morning.  So much happy color.

Jonas Wood via Pinterest

'Weekend' by Ariel Dill via Pinterest

flowers by Sarah Brysk Cohen via Design*Sponge
photo by Maxwell Tielman

Lola Donoghue via Etsy

That's my little blurb for this a.m.  Going to spend the rest of my morning drawing.

Happy Sunday.

love, me

lip balm, art and veggie burgers

It's after 6 p.m. and the sun is still shining.  Thank you DST.

I'm currently working on about 4 different art pieces at once.  Not something I usually do.  I'm a work-on-one-piece-at-a-time girl.  So I have nothing finished or interesting enough to post today.

But I will share with you some random stuff.  With links!

A little fact about me...I love lip balm.  Specifically Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in Strawberry.  I've been using it for years.  I know, how very grown up and sophisticated of me.  However, I have recently come to the conclusion that other than it tasting and smelling good, it doesn't hydrate my lips very well.  So I've been searching for new, more grown up lip balm.  My ideal balm is very hydrating with a touch of sheer color and shine.  I really love Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in the Rose color.  It feels really nice on your lips and the hint of color is perfect.  The only problem I have with it is that you have to reapply it constantly.  And it's a little pricey for balm.

After being bombarded with advertisements for L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm I decided to give it a try.  I got the Rose Elixar color and I have to say I really love it.  Its hydrating and has decent staying power.  The rose color is the perfect rose/pink/neutral color for me and I think it would be flattering on all skin tones.  And it has just the right amount of shine.  Plus it's only about $6.  It has a nice scent as well.  Bonus.

I have been admiring a painting on Etsy by Nancy Desmond for quite a long time and finally decided to buy it.  It's one of a series she did of abstract landscapes.  I love original art so much and to have a new piece hanging in my home brings me endless joy.  I can't wait for it to arrive.

'Curve' by Nancy Desmond

And speaking of landscapes, I bought the best calendar for 2013.  I really planned on buying a calendar from Etsy this year.  There are so many beautiful calendars to choose from and every year there are at least 5 or 6 of them that I'd love to have (like this one or this one or this one or this one or this one).  But I really like a proper wall calendar with lots of space to write on so I always end up at Barnes and Noble at their after Christmas 50% off sale trying to find a Van Gogh or Kandinsky or Miro calendar.  This year, I went really late and there was only one art related calendar left but it was so perfect and I have been loving every month.

En Plein Air by Marsha Connell

Gardenburgers.  Have you tried them?  They are my favorite of all veggie burgers and my grocery store just started carrying them.  I'm kind of obsessed with them right now.  I made them this weekend using the pan fry method, with a toasted Ezekial sprouted whole grain english muffin, a giant pile of alfalfa sprouts and a tomato slice with salt & pepper.  SO GOOD.  I'm so obviously not a food stylist but you get the idea...

Finally, I leave you with this photo of Lucy, who is apparently suffering from the hour of sleep she lost last night.  Poor fur baby.

color

When it comes to art, I like COLOR.  I want the art on my walls to add color and mood and mystery to my life.  Or happiness and cheerfulness.  Something that makes me smile every time I see it.  Or something that stops me in my tracks and causes me to wonder.

I don't know if my art causes anyone to get lost in their thoughts but I'm certain it adds a bright spot of color and cheer.  Sometimes that's all you really need.  Not everything has to have meaning and depth.  Art for art's sake.  No function.  Just art.  I'm a fan of that.

Here's some of my latest work.  Agates.  Part real, part imagined.  And full of color.  If you are interested in purchasing a piece, shoot me an email to danagrandbois at yahoo dot com.  Otherwise they will be headed to my Etsy shop in the next few days.

'Georgina' (9 x 12)

'Virginia' (9 x12)

'Rhona' (9 x 12)

'Riva' (11 x 14)

'Owly' (7 x 10)

blue wall & inspiration

Inspiration can come from anywhere and I was recently inspired by this photo by Paula Mills of Sweet William. Paula painted one wall blue in this room and I love the warm colors of the furniture and items in the room in contrast to the lightness of the blue wall.

photo by Paula Mills

My inspiration led me to create this feather...

'warm light feather'

Thanks for inspiring me Paula. 

no mistakes in art?

So, this week I've had a little lesson in practicing what I preach.  My 6 year old niece is quite a little artist, but she gets frustrated easily when her masterpiece isn't turning out exactly right.  So I tell her that there are no mistakes in art.  You can always figure out a way to salvage a so called 'mistake'.  Right?  

Yeah, right.  

I was working on a feather with a new color scheme and it was going great until I decided to put carmine red next to yellow orange and it was looking like ketchup and mustard...not what I was going for.  But I loved the top portion of the feather and didn't want to scrap the whole thing.  I ended up cutting away the part I didn't like and finished the feather with pencil.  Now I love it and it sort of represents a sketch turning into a finished piece.  I've aptly titled it "there are no mistakes in art".  I'm going to keep this one as a visual reminder to practice what I preach.

"there are no mistakes in art"

And here are a few feathers that I've just put in the shop.

"Alight"

"Flutter"

"Fresh"

feathers

After a long hiatus, I've finally put a couple of new feathers in the shop.

'Theodor Feather'

'Spring Feather'

send some love

Valentine's Day cards for anyone /everyone.  Find them here.

little artist

I've been looking through photos from this past summer.  My niece came for a visit and we painted together.  Here she is working on her first masterpiece on canvas.

Isn't that a brilliant sunset?

She was loving the gold metallic paint.

Really concentrating here. 

So adorable.

feathers

'blush feather'

'glow feathers'

'tranquil feather'

'graphic feather no. 3'

'graphic feather no. 4'

 These new feathers will be in my shop soon!

 And finally, this agate drawing is a gift for someone who has been waiting for it for a very long time.

Happy Friday!

love, me

sunday

lots of staring out the window and daydreaming

feathers drawn and waiting for color

sitting on the front porch with Lucy so she can get her vitamin d

and listening to this album on repeat

powerful words

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

~ Goethe

The quote above is what inspired me to open my Etsy shop.  It's kind of amazing what a inspirational quote can do for you.  The "dream you can" part of that quote is what really did it for me.  I remember thinking, "Well, I don't know if I can do it and be successful, but I can dream it." 

 That dream was good enough to begin it.  And I'm so glad I did.

Now, I'm not the kind of person who looks in the mirror and speaks affirmations to herself.  (Ok, well, I may have tried it once or twice but I found it to be ineffective and sort of weird.)  But I do find that a great quote written or painted in a beautiful type can do wonders for my attitude.  Here are some of my faves...

"Joy" by Katie Daisy

"Let It Be" by Fresh Words Market and, of course, The Beatles

"Power Off" by Laura George

"Creative Life" print by Hello Cherie Handmande

I also came across an awesome Etsy treasury today, which is totally brilliant, and is good advice for everyone.  See it here.

So tell me, do you have a favorite quote?  Words that changed you forever or helped make your dreams come true?

watercolor love

I love art.

I discovered the watercolors of Carianne Mack Garside yesterday.  Her paintings have such a dreamy quality - which go a long way with me, if you haven't noticed.  Please take a minute to view her website.  You won't be disappointed.

'radiance'

'current'

'riverwater'

I'm off to visit family this weekend and I'll be going to see this movie that I have high hopes for.

Have a super groovy weekend!

Love, me

rainy

It's dark and dreary and cold and rainy...and I'm loving it.  It's fair to assume that I will be drinking plenty of hot tea and staring out the window today, and probably feeling a little sorry for the mail carriers.

violet raindrops

rainbow of raindrops

flood v

I'm sorry but you were holding me back

Artwork by two of my favorite artists...Golly Bard and Danna Ray.