I really do want to be a good blogger, but I admit I'm easily sidetracked. That's why I've spent the past month trying to get myself better organized. Not just so that I can pay my bills and walk through my house without stumbling over things, but so that I'll have more time to devote to art.
I've turned to all the gurus -- the FlyLady, Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People , and David Allen's Getting Things Done. And even though their audiences are so different, these experts all offer the same core advice. Write things down. Take care of yourself. Decide what's important to you. Do it.
So I'm trying to take their advice. I'm journaling daily, walking, and watching what I eat. And I've learned that as much as I enjoy scrapping for my family, I'd rather put my energies into my art. So I'll be spending a lot more time with my art and with this blog.
Here's what I've been up to recently. I completed a Quirkle for Digital Art Quirks. This week's challenge was to use the color brown, a leaf, and some bling. My autumn girl sprang into my head fully formed; all I had to do was execute.
Photo by Pop Catalin,
stock.xchng; leaf and leaf overlay from the Autumn Glory collaboration
by Birgit Kerr and Flergs; golden leaf overlay from Lumoz Whimsy 1 by
Lie Fhung; and tree texture from ImageAfter Texture Set 1.
Over at Scrapbookgraphics, we were inspired by the work of Raphael for the Frameworthy Challenge. I couldn't resist casting my grandson in the role as one of Raphael's cherubs. You'll probably see this image again when I start on this year's Christmas cards.
We've also explored the work of Brandie Butcher-Isley. Her use of painted trees and vintage images started me humming, and this was the result.
Phuong Ton Floral Grunge papers; Traci Sims Altered State word strips, Sausan Designs Folded Pixie Overlays, Maya Quirky Grab Bag photo; and 1942 Report font.