Doing Your Heart Good!

"At the close of life the question will be not how
much have you got, but how much have you given; not
how much have you won, but how much have you done;
not how much have you saved, but how much have you
sacrificed; how much have you loved and served, not
how much were you honored.""

- Nathan C. Schaeffer

This quote came to my mailbox this past week...and it came right around the time that I was sending out the dog picture and had just come off of the Gilda's Club fund raiser. I do quite a few donations every year of my art work and time to causes that I feel passion for. The amazing thing about doing this, is that it does so much for me! I am a firm believer in passing it on. You know doing one good deed when one has been presented to you. I am honored to be part of these fund raisers. This one for Bernie was a delight, because really nothing was guidelined or had to be juried...She even asks for children's art! But the biggest thing that came my way after doing this piece was that the response from Bernie hit me square in the heart. The kind of feeling that you get when you first fall in love, the arrow piercing and you knowing that you have fallen! I have fallen...Bernie is the most delightful woman to talk to, tireless in her efforts to rescue these animals to such an extent that it consumes her life! So I urge you after you read this to pause for a moment and whisper the love for your own animals in their ears...Give the a great big hug for all the unconditional love that they give you! And once you have done that then run your mouse over one of the links here and see if there is anything that you might like to do, to do your heart good!! http://aplacetobark.com
and for the auction: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZaplace2bark
Your smile will be your reward....Oh, and watch out for the arrows!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Living A Good Life...........FINISHED!

Here is the finished piece titled " Living A Good Life"....It is an acrylic painting: size 16 by 20 which is a standard size and can fit in an off the shelf frame of the buyers choosing!! It is a fun, happy and colorful piece that has metal flower embellishments, a dog collar with jewels and a sweet heart that hangs, and a metal butterfly that dances on the Blue Dog's nose! The bubbles in the background are acrylic with a pearl over lay...I am sure once the dogs have been rescued by Bernie and taken to their new homes, this is how they must feel! ENJOY!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Living A Good Life....

This is the beginning of a painting that is 16 by 20 that I am doing for Bernie Berlin's auction.
Bernie rescues dogs and the auction helps to off set her vet and housing costs! Go and check out the auction! There are many of your favorite artists on there!! Just press this link and off you will go...BID OFTEN! BID HIGH!

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZaplace2bark

When I have completed the picture I will post it...Probably tomorrow...Anyhow till then I hope that BLUE (named after the dog that my son rescued!) makes you happy and finds you living your good life!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Flower Mandala

This mandala was done by Lori Pilla! She did it with prisma pencils! It is so beautiful and alive with color! It just makes me feel warm and happy from the inside out! Lori has been coming to my site for a long time now, and I want to honor her here! If you have not had the pleasure of doing a mandala yourself, you should try it!! Just make a circle, get quiet with yourself and draw from the center out...from the outside in..from whatever point you choose. Mandala have no structured starting point. The whole idea of them is just to let your self create...I have seem them done with total geometric designs, I have seen them done with random abandonment, I have seen them done with painted pictures inside, I have seen them done on photo shop by altering a photo...What ever you choose to do...make the mandala yours! It is a calm and relaxing thing to do for those of us who love them....I dare you to try it!! You just might find that you like the freedom it gives you and the feelings it evokes with in. Thank you Lori for sharing this with me today...It makes me feel like SPRING and HOPE and WARMTH, but most of all it makes me feel HAPPY!

HAPPY SPRING!

Yesterday was the first day of spring, and although upstate NY is getting there, it isn't where I would like it to be yet!! Ah, Mark Twain once said..."If you don't like the weather in upstate NY, just wait a minute, it will change"..I believe this statement to be SOOOO true here!! But, the birds are singing and I hear the geese returning, while the snow is seriously melting! So, I have to assume that is a good sign! I have been working on things in the studio, but all have been on a fairly large scale and so I have not been able to post them...I still have 6 days to complete on my swap items and will get back to them ASAP! I have joined in several other swaps, sometimes I do bite off a little bit more than I can chew...BUT...I do so love the challenge!! So, if I start to complain in any way, shape or form, please remind me of this post!! LOL.... I have to get back to the creative area, (not that this isn't ... it is just that, well, like anyone else...this machine can totally suck me in and all of a sudden 2 hours has passed!..LOL) So, my wish for all today is that you continue to honor your creative process, whatever it may be and SMILE....SPRING IS HERE!! (this is a picture of a small cross stitch that I did as a birthday gift for a friend, but it is very spring like!!) YES...I do needle art too!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

TEST!

Somehow, I lost my comment section...So, I have been playing with this blogger site and lets see if it is back!!
YIPPEE!!! And I want to give a wonderful virtual hug to Chantal who walked me thru being able to get my posts to be able to link you right to the places I am trying to direct you without having to cut and paste anymore!! What an ANGEL....Thank You Chantal....
http://www.celestinemusings.blogspot.com/

Spring!!

The first day of spring is really only 3 days away, and here in upstate NY we are experiencing one heck of a snow storm...Now, just to let you know how bad it is outside, I have been in my pj's all day because I knew I was not going anywhere...I locked myself in, and had coffee, created art, talked on the phone...and then did it all over again!! LOL...It has been a blessing of a day. This piece is two fold...one, it is for the 6 by 6 swap and two, it will be used as a visual online for a daily newspaper hopefully next month. Now again, if you have not had the pleasure of experiencing this wonderful on line creative newspaper you owe yourself the 2 FREE days to experience it! You can go to: http://www.artellawordsandart.com/members.htmlThis community of artist are supportive and this site has so much to say and so much to do! I urge you to take a look...I do not think that you will regret it!! Now go to your space and make art!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie
PS...HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO YOU!

Partners

I realize that I have not posted here in a few days...I have been working on an entry mural of swirls and that has tired me out, so I do my affirmation pages, but I have taken a week off from the swap..Hopefully I will get back to that next week as I only have a week left to do on it before I start to do the envelope...But, I was reading on a friends blog about the positive / negative things that we say to our self..you know the "devil/angel" the "good/bad" ..I use to be one who lived for great stretches of time with that behavior, then I had a coach who took me on a visualization where the 2 of them met and talked and told each other what it was they needed from each other and how they were there to help each other ... I did this affirmation page that night and I feel it almost all the time now...When I do start to tip a little to the other size, I stop..take a deep breath and say, what is it that you are trying to say to me? Because I am only hearing the negative...and then I listen!! It is usually something simple like you are trying to hard..its late go to bed you will do better work tomorrow...and yet all I heard at first was...this is terrible..you call yourself an artist...you must be crazy!! So to all who understand this positive/negative thing...you know we really aren't crazy!! And all we have to do is take a deep breath...let it out...and then listen to the balance of the two.
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Bloom!

I know that we had to change the clocks ahead an hour..but, my body and my brain still says it is only 11:30!! So this is my swap for the 11th which is Sunday, no matter what the post date says!! LOL...This piece is watercolor with sharpie outline....I have a few more days to go and then the swap will have ended for me, although it does not have to go to NYC till May. We have to decorated an envelope that also will be swapped...This is pretty exciting and I am way ahead of the game...which for some reason is unusual for me!! Maybe I am getting better at this...I have another special swap that I am doing for an altered box, and I did start to do some of that design...and I am working on an altered book...plus those looming deadlines!! But most of the sketches are done, and I will pick up supplies this week to get them ready...APRIL deadline, and JUNE deadline!! Have custom pieces done that have to be delivered...Hopefully I will do that this week...Hey, a girl likes a paycheck...to buy MORE ART SUPPLIES! Actually I want to go to Florida to visit a soul sister.(I think that is wish #4!)..So I am saving my pennies!! All is good here in paint land tonight...I bid everyone a wonderful evening full of stars and dreams...
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

For the 10th

Watercolor,acrylic,pencil and sharpie...Oh, and I limit myself to 10 to 15 minutes for these pieces! Still have today's to work on, but I am on and off this machine at random today, as I am trying to play catch up with the mundane too..you know, laundry, cleaning!! The not so important...Important stuff!! LOL
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Swap!

I am going to be playing catch up with my swap pieces...what with everything going on here!! LOL...anyhow, this piece was for the 9th so I have a couple more pieces to download...one at a time!! This was done with watercolor paint..like I said before not a medium that I am very comfortable with..but, I am continuing to try it...I have way more control over the acrylic paint so I guess that is why I like it!! Plus I can get a more vibrant look!! I know I am using the cheapest watercolors known to man, and I know that you are only as good as your tools allow you to be...the one thing that I am having a lot of fun with is cutting out the little squares and putting a small picture behind them...So here it is...KEEPING HER EYE ON HER STAR!! And that would be my wish for you too today...even if it feels uncomfortable, TRY IT! You just might find something you like about it!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Caged Heart

Swap piece for yesterday....I do not really use watercolor...It is a medium that I am not all that comfortable with..so seeing as that is one of the guidelines to this swap here is a piece that is mainly water color! I cut an opening in the paper and taped another piece of paper to the back...drew the cage and heart on with pencil...used the watercolors and then used the acrylic paint to do the cage itself...I sort of like the way it came out and will continue to experiment with watercolor...I actually came across some watercolor paper I have, which works much better than my drawing paper!! You know that old saying "you are only as good as your tools allow you to be!" So, I will try some more pieces and perhaps by the end of this swap feel a greater love for watercolors!! And that is my wish for you today, that you try something new...don't rule it out because it is uncomfortable at first. Things are often worse before they get better..or at least that is what they say!! You just might end up finding out you actually do like what it was that you feared!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

AIRBOURNE COCKTAILS!!

Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!! I have been watching my grandson and my daughter, both sick with the flu since Monday!! They finally went home today and just when I thought I would be able to sit and do my art without any interruption...BAM! I think I just might be getting the flu...Off as my friend Debs says, to take some more airbourne cocktails!! LOL!!
But take a trip to the side bar and check out my other blog... http://www.artbyluminosity.blogspot.com or http://www.explorethecolors.blogspot.com
Both have things on them to inspire with words and color!
Hopefully I will be back soon!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Art Power # 2

One of the guidelines of doing this swap is to try something new!! These last two pieces are a test for me on several levels...One: NOT TO BLACK LINE..I tend to like to black line everything...I think it is that coloring book visual that I like so much..Two: NOT TO USE SO MANY COLORS...This is really just a test to see if I can do something that has more of a theme..I see in a lot of the art magazines that they tend to do different calls for one pallete art...So I decided I would start out with 3 cause one might just drive this color hound a little crazy!! So, there, I tried something new 2 days in a row with this theme...Done with that and I will be back to the COLOR board today!! (because actually this piece is from yesterday, and I just forgot to post it!) Our house is full of people with the flu, so it has been a difficult couple days! My wish today, is that everyone is healty, happy and living in color!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

heART Power!!

Swap piece for today...I started this at 6 this morning!! Anyhow it is done...What I wanted to do with this piece is use a 3 color palette ...So I choose, red, orange and yellow...It is done with acrylic with prismacolor pencils overlaid...I threw in a little black before I realized I had done that...but oh well, such is life...Anyhow, I was on a site with some friends and someone had posted something they were working on and WOW...Red, orange and yellow background...You just got to wonder how those vibrations work!! LOL...So that is my wish today for all who venture here...Have yourself some GOOD...GOOD..GOOD VIBRATIONS...now get to your space and create something!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Art Passion

Swap piece for today!! I have this thing for flying hearts!! Not sure why, but so much that I have one tattooed on my back, that my son designed! (he is an artist and a skin illustrator) He drew me a picture for mother's day one year and now it is on my back!! I love my tattoo...One thing about them that I find, is that people either love them or they hate them...Me...I LOVE THEM!! I got my first one at 25 ( a birthday gift to myself)...I have several others, but all done at milestones in my life...My son did the heart one for me when I completely loss my hair..it was a reminder for me that my beauty is in my heart...this coming from a former beauty queen!! LOL But to get back to the art piece...As usual it is done with acrylics with a watercolor wash background....I keep trying other things, but I always come back to my good old acrylic paints!! I started with them and continue to love the way I can use them on just about anything I choose to paint!! My wish for all who venture within today is that they too fly on the wings of their dreams and know that their beauty comes from within!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

The Elegance of Time!!

I decided to post this piece here also...I did this piece for an auction for our local Gilda's Clubhouse. If you do not know about Gilda's please check it out to see if you have one in your area...www.gildasclub.org This is a wonderful place for those living with cancer, cancer survivors and their families. It is a safe place where they can come to take all sorts of FREE classes and do fun activities! It was started by Gilda Radner while she was having cancer treatments and realized that there was no where people could go to LAUGH...They are always looking for volunteers to teach art classes, watch the kids in their children's play room (Noogie land, which I had the wonderful opportunity to paint the murals on in our local clubhouse) Or just to stuff envelopes...Give them a call...you will be HAPPY that you did and it is a great feeling of gratitude giving something back to your community. Lets hope this clock brings some BIG BUCKS for them!! The spirit of this clock is to be aware of the elegance of time...one moment..one minute...one hour at a time..For it is our present!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

BELIEVE!

Ok so I am addicted to this machine and could not go to bed till I checked to see if the piece was dry!! LOL...I see by the time that I am posting on Sunday..(I lose all track of time when I get in the studio...the only clock is here on the computer..I do not have one anywhere near where I work..because I do not want one!!) So this is Saturday's piece..the one below this is Friday's!! Now that I have cleared that up in my head...This piece was inspired by H...(she knows who she is!!) It has to do with the feelings that we as artistic people get when we TRY to make our self fit into those square and round pegs....IT JUST IS NOT POSSIBLE...Now, we can choose to beat our self up about this, we can choose to be a rebel, or we can choose to shine and Fly....That is what I do as often as possible! I am happy (or really becoming Happy) with being a little right of center...makes me feel sort of special!! And I do believe that it is my destiny to FLY just like I know it is H.'s destiny!! And I hope that it is your desire and your destiny too...OK, Good Night Mrs. Kalabash where ever you are!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Find The Key...

This is another swap (are you tired of seeing them yet!!) Only 13 more days to go..Wow it is amazing how fast 31 days go by!! Anyhow this is the second one to do with "where is love"?...To find the key to love you have to look to your heart...and open it WIDE! There can be fear involved but without opening or unlocking your heart you will never really know what it is to give and receive...This piece was done with acrylic paints both regular and metallics with a wash of oil pastel swirls and hearts in the background, and sealed with matte medium....Oh, and it was the piece from yesterday the 2nd of March...I will post todays when it dries...off to slumber land..till then!! Sweet dreams to all who enter here..and may your heart be open to the wonder of love!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Right In Front of YOU!

This is a swap piece that was inspired by my daughter!! She is a single Mom of a 2 year old and was asking the sage old question: where is love? The little guy was running circles around her leg at the time and I answered...Right in front of you!! It made me think about how sometimes we are looking for something that we can't even see is standing right there in front of us! We long for something, and don't even realize that we already have it! I kept this piece simple and with only a few colors, because actually that is how I felt when I gave her the answer...It is simple, sometimes we just don't realize how simple it is, and we try to make life so much harder than it needs to be. This piece is acrylic and the background is done with a texture magic compound that I raked with a brush and then used oil pastels on and rubbed with gold paint after... It was done for March 1st, but it took a while for the background to dry!! So, that is my wish for you today...that you look out the window of your soul and see all the love that surrounds you! It is always there even when you are looking somewhere else!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Valentine Swap!!

Today has been a day filled with my grandson, so not a lot of art got done...I am finishing my affirmation page and I will get that posted...I finally have figured out how to use and download pictures from my new little machine thing, and I wanted to share this picture I did for a Valentine Swap. We could make a valentine any way we wanted to...I decided that I wanted to make one that could be kept out all year long! I drew and painted the bird on some card stock and then cut it out, I did the background in acrylic paint, and used the cool printed jute that my friend Melissa sent me from NEW YORK CITY (from another swap!!) Anyhow, then I found those valentine letters and knew I had to use them...and the hanging heart...I use the words: FLY ON THE WINGS OF YOUR DREAMS on almost everything I do...sometimes you don't see them because they are written on the back...Anyhow, Carol got this piece and I hope she enjoys the sentiments of it forever!! My wish for you today is if you can get in a swap do so! It is fun and you get to be creative, and you get something wonderful via snail mail instead of a bill!! LOL...
Artfully Yours,
Pattie

Pair in a chair

I have a new machine for my photos...and it is taking me a while to figure out how to download them...But here is the photo I promised in the beginning of the week for the other doll that went off to California for the magazine review board....A Pair In A Chair!! ENJOY!

Night Time Art in a Bottle

This is a swap piece that is done with a watercolor background...acrylic and sharpie!
This is what my dreams look like...colors and swirls and flowers..so i painted this picture with them in bottles...so that I can pour them out whenever I like!! LOL..
My wish today for all would be that they too could pour out their dreams into the every day life that they lead....wouldn't that just be a magical thing!!
Artfully Yours,
Pattie