I
can hardly believe it is the last day of June! This month has
really flown by. With all the added outdoor activities, we seem
to be busier than ever. I am enjoying an abundance of summer
sensory stimulus. Each year I become more aware and appreciative
of all of mother nature's grandeur.
Quotes
On June:
"In
June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single
day.
No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore
all of them."
~ Aldo Leopold
"What
is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the
fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as
yet no sign to
remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade."
~ Gertrude Jekyll
11"
x 15" original watercolor ~ $349.00
"Spring Peonies IV"
sandy sandy June 26th, 2008 ~ Send Your Name
to the Moon Today!
I was getting
ready to write my Spirit Art Blog this morning when I got this
email. It said; "Sign up to send your name to the moon.
Names will be collected and placed onboard the LRO spacecraft
for its historic mission bringing NASA back to the moon. You
will also receive a certificate showcasing your support of the
mission.", so I did. The deadline is June 27, 2008 for the
submission of names, so go here today if you want to include
your name.
Then I really
started getting sidetracked. I edited and uploaded this new video
to UTube! It's of some of my favorite pictures from A P O D
(Astronomy Picture of the Day).
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7.5"
x 5.5" original watercolor ~ $149.00
"Racing to the Moon"
sandy sandy June 23rd, 2008 ~ Perseverance
Ralph
Waldo Emerson said, "That which we persist in doing becomes
easier; not that the nature of the task has changed, but our
ability to do it has increased". This applies to just about
everything in life, doesn't it? Of course I'm always relating
quotes to my life as you will be to yours. I think my work is
10% aptitude and 90% persistence. I truly believe anyone can
draw and paint if their desire is strong! Those that succeed
do not get discouraged or bored and just do not give up!
Quotes On Perseverance
"In spite of everything,
I shall rise again; I will take up my pencil, which I have
forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my
drawing."
~ Vincent van Gogh
"Great works are
performed not by strength but by perseverance." ~ Samuel
Johnson
"Never consider
the possibility of failure; as long as you persist,
you will be successful." ~ Brian Tracy
"Perseverance is
not a long race; it is many short races one after another. "
~ Walter Elliott
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11"
x 15" original watercolor ~ $349.00
"Spring Peonies III"
The
hummingbirds are now in full force here! It happened very suddenly,
just a week ago. Before that, an occasional male or two would
come around, but now there's six to eight and more to a group!
Their aerial displays entertain and amaze me. I get scolded and
dive bombed, sometimes in formation, everywhere I go. It seems
like more for fun than serious territory disputes at this point.
Intricate mating and fledging rituals are everywhere to behold!
I plan to post my observations about hummingbird behavior throughout
the season on my "Five Steps to Happy Hummers" lens. I appreciate these
little treasures so much! And I am so grateful to be able to
express this through my art and share it with all of you who
also appreciate it. Thanks for writing - to all of you who do!
Quotes On Appreciation:
"This was one of
those special occasions when I could actually feel the
inner appreciation of the beauty of the moment passing like an
electric current
through the brush in my hand." ~ Prince Charles
"The painter's appreciation
[for beauty] is more conscious, for he
spends his life trying to communicate his feelings to others."
~ Emile Gruppe
"Appreciation is
the breath of life to the creative artist." ~ Walter J.
Phillips
"Creativity is so
delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom,
while discouragement often nips it in the bud. Any of us will
put out more
and better ideas if our efforts are appreciated." ~ Alexander
Osborn
====<<>>====
7.5"
x 5.5" original watercolor ~ $149.00
"My Precious"
Here's
my second Peony painting. As I've said many times before, "One
painting just leads me to the next." Each one teaches me
lessons along the way, offering insights into the nonverbal world
of inspiration and self expression. This I only understand by
trusting my instincts and going with the flow of energy that
elevates me from this space and time.
Quotes On Evolution:
"Every artist must
evolve from what he has been taught
to what he can call his own true style." ~ Hap Hagood
"I do not plan any
painting, but begin with layers of textures and colors.
As I layer the colors, something is suggested to me from within,
and that is how it evolves. " ~ Katherine Dunn
"An artist must
evolve to quell the voice within and
find new ways to speak unspoken ideas." ~ William Scott
Jennings
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15"
x 22" original watercolor ~ $499.00
"Spring Peonies II"
sandy sandy June 12th, 2008 ~ Preparation
The
better you plan, the greater your chances are that your painting
(or any endeavor) will be a success. In yesterday's
web log post,
I'm showing my painting table at the end of a good day. My peony
sketches, photos and thumbnails are taped up on a board before
I start. This is used for reference as I work. All the logical
thinking is done before hand so I can let myself go into right
brain, intuitive auto pilot as I create.
Quotes On Preparation:
"Luck is what happens
when preparation meets opportunity." (Seneca)
"Failure to prepare
is preparing to fail." (Benjamin Franklin)
15"
x 22" original watercolor ~ $499.00
"Spring Peonies"
sandy sandy June 9th, 2008 ~ Edgar A. Whitney
Edgar
A. Whitney spent twenty-five years in commercial art before devoting
himself full time to painting and teaching. He taught at Pratt
Institute in NYC and lectured at New York University. Twenty
years after his death, his book, "Complete
Guide to Watercolor Painting" continues to be one of the foremost
and extensive manuals on philosophy, design, and watercolor technique.
In his golden years, Ed demonstrated and taught workshops from
Maine to Florida, producing many extraordinary modern day watercolor
masters while establishing himself as a legend in the art world
hall of fame.
Quotes On Ed Whitney:
"I wish Edgar Whitney
was around today. He was so much more than
a teacher of watercolor technique." ~ Monte Guynes
"His critiques were
always good theater. He would use any device,
a gesture, description or word to drive home a point." ~
Frank Webb
"On finishing a
workshop, Ed would conclude by ending on a philosophical
note. Remember you're the elite who have chosen to spend your
time and
money on esthetics he'd say. Others can cheat you, a craft cannot.
It's the
only area in life where you get back what you put in." ~
Joan Rudman
5.5"
x 7.5" original watercolor ~ $149.00
"Keep On Going!"
sandy sandy June 5th, 2008 ~ The Journey
Turtle
is an ancient symbol of Mother Earth. In the Orient, turtle symbolized
prophecy, longevity and immortality. Native American cultures
linked it with motherhood and wisdom. Turtle is of the water
and also of the earth. The water represents our emotions while
the earth keeps us grounded and focused. The turtle tells us
to slow down, go with the flow and enjoy the journey.
Quotes on Journey:
"If
the path before you is clear, you're probably on someone else's."
~ Joseph Campbell
"The
hero journey is inside of you; tear off the veils and open
the mystery of your self." ~ Joseph Campbell
====<<>>====
original
watercolor
"Journey On" ~ *Sold
sandy
sandy sandy June 2nd, 2008 ~ Drawing
I
just started up my Drawing Everyday Blog yesterday and wanted
to invite any of my Spirit Art subscribers that aren't members
to sign up. You can do so by emailing me with "DE subscribe"
somewhere in your email. I'm archiving my posts on blogger this
year at http://www.sketchingeveryday.com.
Quotes on Drawing:
"Draw,
as much and as often as you can. When drawing lies fallow,
the skill diminishes." ~ Gene Black
"Learning
to draw, before you paint, is like learning to walk before you
run." ~ Don Getz
"I
merely draw what I see. I draw what I feel in my body."
~ Barbara Hepworth
Get inspirational
emails with images delivered free to your mailbox every Monday
and Thursday. Just emailme
with "spirit
art subscribe" in your email. ~ Sandysandy
