a NEW Mixed Media Painting

TITLE: Time To Bloom
Original Painting. 11 x 14" on Canvas Board. $145. Available here.
Prints available in my etsy shop.

when i sketched this flower girl, i almost erased my charcoal pencil marks.

my mind kicked in and i immediately thought, "a dancing flower? you don't paint dancing flowers. besides, her posture isn't even right." i questioned her whimsical arms and legs. and i really thought i couldn't make her work.

but i kept with this flower girl. i added my acrylic paint layers and more papers for the smaller flowers. and soon, i felt really connected to this character. 

i wanted to add papers that were really meaningful and that represented my current emotions, so i dug through my paper collection and found a photo copied poetry book that my friend, artist ryan dooley, had gifted me years and years ago. it meant so much to find it again and reread some of the poems. it reminded me of being back in college and creating without a thought about who would see it or where the piece might hang.

to me, these poems represented being care free. and that's just what this painting is all about.

i have a few big creative projects to finish up this week... 

*putting the finishing touches on my upcoming online mini course BACKGROUNDS & LAYERS (which starts this Friday!) 

*and editing videos for my holiday ornaments lesson in 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas (early bird registration is going on now).

but my heart has been longing to paint so much more! so i've scheduled in painting days and started a GIANT 3x4 ft painting for the Artisans on Taylor Gallery in Port Townsend, WA (in conjunction with the SUGAR AND SPICE art retreat i'll be teaching there June 5-9, 2013 with the lovely Danielle Daniel and Mindy Lacefield...more details coming soon!).

and so this new flower girl represents a following of bliss and living care free...

from a far away land this flower waltzes into everyone's life, just when they need it most, and whispers...TIME TO BLOOM.

i hope you have a lovely week!