meet Sven :)

This is Sven, my 1970's Swedish sewing machine.

And look what we made:
A double sided napkin!
I can sew, by hand. As a child I used to go to a little (really, she was little) old (really, she was old) English lady's house after school once a week and she taught me to embroider. How I loved making beautiful things. Unfortunately, I don't have a single piece of the work I did then, but it was really nice.

My only encounter with a sewing machine was in Girl Scouts when they helped us sew an apron. I remember being nervous, but so excited to sew by machine. It was awesome. I was so amazed with my creation that since that very day, I have been wondering when and how I'd learn to sew by machine again.

Fast forward at least a couple of decades; I was gifted with a machine (yup, that would be Sven). For two, maybe three, years after receiving my gift, it sat in the corner of my living room, as I was too afraid to use it! I thought I'd never understand all of its complexities and possibilities, all of its dials & stitches, different needles, fabrics and thread varieties. I was sure it would be a horrendously frustrating, sad, lonely and disappointing ordeal. My feelings weren't logical, of course, as I've taught myself numerous skills by sheer imagination and trial & error, yet the sewing machine still remained an enigma to me.

Sometimes I'd lift off its cover, look at it lovingly, then close it back up again with a sigh. I'd imagine all the things I wanted to make. I'd leaf through beautiful instructional books, trying to understand. I'd drool at other people's beautiful creations and I'd even go to the fabric store and make mental notes of all the fabrics and prints I liked. Then finally, last Xmas, I was gifted once again. A seamstress friend of mine generously came over and showed me how to thread the machine and how to wind the bobbin (good job I didn't even know about the existence of the bobbin until that very moment). She told me a little about needles & thread and didn't seem freaked out at all. Then we fiddled with "the tension". All I can say is thank goodness I had absolutely no idea I had to worry about "tension" all of those years!

Anyway, I listened carefully, appreciating every moment of this blessing, especially her calm confidence in front of The Sewing Machine. That was 8 months ago and just last week I signed up for a short on-line class. Yes, me, the non-believer in on-line education (that's another post), signed up for an on-line sewing class! I did it two weeks after it had already started, (illogical feelings again), but I did it!

Wow.

Here's a sneak preview of project number 2 in the making :)

Only 22 more or so to go!

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Pencil Sculpture

Some of us passed notes and doodled on every scrap of paper while in school,
some of us carved pencils. Look at what Dalton Ghetti can do now!
Pretty impressive!

AND I was pleasantly surprised to read that he's originally from Brasil. He even has words of wisdom about how a change of attitude helped him successfully complete more pieces. I'll have to sit with his idea and apply it to some of my projects and "intentions".

The picture above is of one single pencil, peeps. Isn't it amazing.

Last year I wrote about Willard Wigan. His work is definitely worth another look this year. The original video posted is no longer available, but if you click on his name in that post, you'll be linked to a few videos on his site. I've watched them all at least a couple of times. Wow. It makes it ever more clear to me that no matter what we do, as children or adults, we ought to be encouraged and given lots of room and space in which to follow our passion. It's clear that the experiences and lessons gained are profound, worthy, and many.

I can't wait to see Dalton Ghetti's long 10 year piece complete.
I'm sure it'll be memorable.


PS. Thank you to my friend Karen Symons for first posting about this artist :)

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What's Your Sentence?

Besides the happy fact that the author's last name is PINK,
this is one of my favorite videos. I love the first question:

What is your Sentence?

What are you about? What is your life about? What is it you're creating of yourself? It's a worthwhile question. I've watched this video several times and each time I come closer to understanding what the question is and as a result closer to understanding what my sentence is. I feel an excitement, a scintillation, shimmer through my body as I allow the veils to fall and myself to become more clear. How about you? What's your sentence?

And then there is the second question:

Was I better today than yesterday?

It's like working from the end; It's like envisioning your success and then filling it in with the daily life that creates the fulfillment of the goal you've set for this lifetime. I think we know what we want to experience in our time here on earth, our sentences have always driven our journeys, yet asking ourselves to consciously remember and state them to ourselves and/or others, may help us stay on course.

<3

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IslandLovely

©Fito Gordo

My friend Fito is an avid sailor and not long ago he was in Ilhabela for the Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week. Ilhabela is in Brasil, in the state of São Paulo, where I, actually, we, grew up. Yup, Fito and I have known each other since 3rd grade, maybe it was 4th grade. Ilhabela literally translates as IslandLovely. The picture above was taken by Fito and is absolutely beautiful to me ... those dreamy blues, the mirage-like quality, the light reflecting off those billowing sails, the flatter ones intermingled. Oh how I love it. And then there's that PINK! sail, oh my. I could watch this picture all day long, so I couldn't help but ask Fito if I could share it with you here. I may ask him if I can show you one more from his IlhaBela album. Fingers crossed he'll say yes! It's gorgeous as well, but different. Stay tuned!

PS. Please feel free to leave Fito a comment under this post or join us on FACEBOOK:)

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P R O C R A S T I N A T I O N

It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon in Boulder, Colorado.
As I was wondering whether I was going to accomplish anything (anything at all) today,
I came across this BRILLIANT animation. Perfect.

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Continuous ...

I just found this painting in my studio and was surprised. It obviously didn't make the cut when I was choosing paintings to show off. I don't know what I didn't see in it way back then. I love it now! I wish you could see it. A scan has absolutely nothing on an original. A scan is just an idea of the actual painting; all luscious nuance of color, brushstroke, and layer, mostly gone. That said, it is nice to be able to show you a glimpse of it anyway :)

When I was about 10, I drew a picture of a flower, a big daisy-esque flower on white drawing paper, whilst visiting my grandmother. I didn't think it was very good though so I threw it away. For years and years, every time somebody commented on it, hanging, framed, in her living room, my grandmother would tell the story of how she fished it out of the lixo (lixo is Portuguese for trash)! What a sweet love lesson she taught me.

These days in my studio, no finished painting ever gets the bin treatment. If it's finished, it stays, whether I'm enamored of it at the time or not.

How do I know when a painting is "finished" or "complete"? This is something that every artist must figure out for him/herself. The moment tends to be elusive. I know it by a sound, a feeling, a sensation. I call it a Zing. I play with this Zing sometimes too, moving it around according to whatever it is that I'm investigating as a painter.

Unfinished paintings will eventually be revisited. Even if it starts out, for eg, looking like an horse, and ends up looking like a spaceship, it's the same painting. All the layers of color, shape and brushstroke, inform and transform each other continuously; the underlayers as much a part of the painting as what you see on the surface. It's certainly not like throwing a painting in the trash and starting over with a blank. It's continuous. We're continuous.

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There's a difference!

"Workaholic? Brokers and salesmen are workaholics.
Artists are obsessed. There's a difference."

Yuuup.

This is one of my favorite cartoons.
Are you as amused by it as I am? Hahah!
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Are you afraid of framing?

No need. It can be super easy. The easiest option is to take your newly owned piece of art to a professional framer. Although more costly than buying a ready-made frame, most of them are framing artists and can help you decide on colors and sizes. I particularly like framing my pieces in oversized white or off white mats. I love how the extra space around the painting adds "breath" to the experience. It's all personal preference though.

For example, many I even like framing without a mat. I have several that are just floating in glass. You can also have your painting floating on a mat board without the window cut into it. The sweet thing about these "floating" options, in some cases, is that you get to see the ragged edges of the painting which is often charming, in my opinion.

Professionally framed pieces can really make the painting look stunning. If you love the piece of work, go for it! As long as the art is still the art, as opposed to the frame.

That said, I know that for some of us, having art professionally framed is not an option, as it is more costly than finding ready-made frames. Don't worry though, in no way does this mean your piece will look any less stunning! Some of my favorite pieces are framed in ready-made frames I found very inexpensively! If you're in the US, check places like: Michaels and Hobby Lobby (craft stores), Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, World Market (called Cost Plus in some places), Pier I, Ikea, and Pottery Barn.


Also, have you heard of do-it-yourself frame shops? I've not personally framed anything this way but it sounds like a fabulous idea. They're frame shops where you pick out your frame and style, are shown the ropes, and then use their materials to frame the piece yourself. I understand framing this way is more affordable than having a professional framer do the job, yet you're free to have mats and frames cut to your particular creative dimensions. This may be great in cases when you can't afford to have a piece professionally framed, but your painting is an odd size and doesn't fit in any of the ready-made frames or the styles you see out there just don't work for you.

Check out the possibilities! Framing need not be what prevents you from owning art, originals on paper or prints. Have fun!

PS. I get no kick-backs from linking to the stores. The links are just there to inspire you with your framing <3

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Well, it's the day after ...

All in all, participating in my first Cherry Creek Arts Festival was a GREAT experience. I loved talking with everyone who came to my booth. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the Festival, along with selling my pieces, of course. It felt wonderful to have people love them enough to want to take them home with them. My work is certainly made to be owned by people other than myself.


I received so much overwhelmingly positive feedback. I think I must have said "Thank You" at least three hundred thousand times! I especially loved the kids, who made beelines for my booth, and spent time intently looking and looking. Almost all of them made wonderfully insightful and even profound comments. One little guy even sat down in the chair next to me for a chat. They were absolutely certain about which were their favorites and even why.


I thought I'd sleep for a week after the weeks and weeks (and weeks) of preparing for this show and after the days and nights (and nights) in a row of not sleeping, filled with working and working (and working), but I'm already up and researching where to take my work next. I have a HUGE body of work. I didn't really realize just how much I had until I took most it to the show and began hanging. I could have many shows! That's what happens when a couple of years ago I made a commitment to painting everyday it is possible :)



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Cherry Creek Arts Festival is this week-end!

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Remember that "My First Big Deal Art Show!" I was all excited about? Well, it's here. It's now. It's this week-end! By the end of tonight (whenever that will be?!) I'll be ready to pack up and leave the hut (my house/studio) to get on the road toward Cherry Creek, Denver! At least I'm in excellent company. I love my paintings and every time I see or handle them, I see something else about them that I like. It even surprises me. If you can't make it to the Festival, I'll be tweeting and FB'ing from my booth to let you know how it's all going. If you do, I'm in booth E5. Yes Please! Do come down and see me! Okay, back to scanning and double stick taping and labeling :) See you this week-end! E5.


That's the front and back of my new Business Card!
They just arrived today ;)

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Virtual Choir

If at first I felt the virtualness of this choir a little freaky scary, I soon melted into its immense gorgeousness. It truly touches my heart to see people come together to participate, contribute, and make the beauty of the whole. Look at those faces, soul shining through to the outside.

"Lux Aurumque" was composed and conducted by Eric Whitacre. He merged tracks recorded and uploaded to YouTube by 185 people from 12 countries.

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Last Two of Eight

WinterTree
FireTree
Here are the last two, completing this series, at least for the moment. That was fun. I really like WinterTree. Oh, and see what else is new? Up top you can see the whole series together by clicking on the Tree Series tab. Cool, hey. I don't know how long I'll keep it or what I'll add but I like it for now :)

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Two of Last Four

LovelyTree
JazzTree
Here are 2 of the last 4 of this tree series. By the way, if ever a title for one of my paintings occurs to you, please do let me know! My friend, Bethany, titled this one and I LOVE it!

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Two More!

SavannahTree
WaterTree
I didn't intentionally set out to paint a series of trees. I paint what happens. Looking at them together though, I began to notice what they had in common. It seemed to me that they (the last 4 I've shown you and there are 4 more coming) all have a certain treeness about them. I do love trees, so it's not surprising that what's in my heart, is painted out. Then again, maybe they're not trees. The one I've titled (always subject to change) 'WaterTree' often looks like balloons to me, or seaweed, or an amoeba, or funny people or a big storm.

What do you see?

I'd love a child or writer to be drawn in by this magic and write a short story inspired by this painting.

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Two New Paintings

ReflectiveTree
SufiTree
These two are acrylic on paper 9x9". I think I'll be mounting them onto wood panel boxes. I love painting on paper. Things happen on paper that don't happen on canvas. The trade-off is that then I have to think about mounting and/or framing them.
I hope you like these :) I'm loving this series. There are more to show you soon!

Do you have a Dream Today?

MLK had a dream.
What's your dream? Everybody has a dream.
Welcome to Planet Earth. What's your dream?

Go on! Tell me what you want what you really really want. (sorry, couldn't resist:)
I thought I was well on top of 'what I want' until my beloved 14 year old friend made the above poster and gave it to me, very intentionally. To me, her direct question implied that perhaps there was more to know about 'what I want'. (Plus, do you see that underline? And that big intense question mark?)

So I've been asking more of myself. What is it really, that I'm doing here? What is it really that I want to hitch my heart to? What is it really that I want to give? What is it really that I want to receive? What is it really that I want to create? What is it really that I want to live? What is it really that I want to experience?

I ask. I listen. I let all those answers go. And ask again ... what is it that I really want? As I relax, I sink more deeply beneath each layer. As I do, listening becomes ever more still and scintillating. As I approach the heart of my truth, a melding happens ... wanting begins to dissolve as I become what I am.

Try it. Hitch the heart of your being to what you want, to what you are. In time, it will speak through you into physical expression.

Okay ... too much already? Let's just take it from the top ...

Now the question is put to you.
Delve as deeply into the ocean as you'd like.
Now is the time.
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Cherry Creek Arts Festival!

I'm immensely honored and thrilled to announce that my art was selected to be part of the 20th Anniversary Cherry Creek Arts Festival! The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a big deal. There were 2250 applicants, of which 230 were selected. Only 27 of those are from Colorado and I'm one of them! There are only 8 of us in my particular category, Emerging Artist!

I'm grateful for this opportunity to show my work and gain some experience in the art of showing and selling my art out in the Big Wide World (not just in the Big Wide Web :) Yipee! Can't wait!
The Festival takes place on the
3rd 4th and 5th of July in Denver.
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Exciting Good News!

Stay Tuned!
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What Will You?

What a sweet Wish Encourager!
(At least that's what I'm calling it!)
Try it out! Be inspired.
Life always begins anew.
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Happy 2010!

Happy New Year.
Happy New Decade.
Full Moon.
Blue Moon.
May all our heart's desires come true!
<3
PS. A Blue Moon is the 2nd Full Moon in a month. It happens rarely. The last one, before our NYE 2009 one, was in 1990. The next one will be in 2028!

Sign Up To Receive Occasional News!

Organic Pink Lady's first ever Newsletter is going to be sent out REALLY soon! It will always be short & sweet, just the highlights. Give it a try! You can opt out at any time, no worries!

Here's How It Happened

I stacked mySpanish/PortugueseEnglishFrench/EnglishPortuguesedictionaries.
I opened each one to a page at random and wrote down the page number.
I added the individual numbers together (that's the 34). Then I flipped a coin to see if I should keep it a two digit number or reduce it further by adding the two individual numbers together. Best of 3. Heads won. #7. Then I went to my FB FAN page, opened up the list of cool peeps, and counted up to 7 from the bottom. That's how Victor Warring became the WON!

Drumroll Please ...

(click the image to enlarge)
To find out how it all happened, scroll UP or click here.

Point Five!

That's TOMORROW morning!Just getting here? That's okay. There's still time. Scroll down to Giveaway to find out what's happenin'!

Win Free Art In 2.5 days!

To get in on the action read Giveaway!

Giveaway!

This GIVEAWAY is exclusively for Organic Pink Lady's FACEBOOK Fans; so all you have to do is become my FAN on Facebook and you'll automatically be entered into the drawing!

If you're already into FB, becoming my FAN is an easy way to keep in touch with my blog entries, new art in my portfolio, new art in my shop, contests, photos, projects (I've got lots of them in the works, some of which might involve YOU), giveaways, shows I might attend ETC. BEST of all though, you'll be able to meet and interact with other cool peeps!

Please invite your friends! The more, the merrier. Once you're on my PAGE you can do that easily by clicking on "suggest to friends" just under the profile picture. If you're not on FB, but you have a friend or acquaintance you know would love my art, and to be a part of this fun GIVEAWAY, please send them this link: http://www.facebook.com/organicpinklady. It takes them to my FB page. Or you can use this link http://organicpinklady.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway.html and send them to this entry.

Oh Right! Want to know what you might win? Visit my ART SHOP and start deciding! The winner could be YOU! You know, if you wanted to give the gift to someone else, you could do that. I'll even send it to them, if you'd like!

Feeling left out hey-no-fair-just-cuz-i'm-not-on-fb? No worries ... I'm going to have a giveaway for Newsletter Subscribers too. Yes, you can be on FB with me AND sign up for The Newsletter! Why not! More chances of winning that way! And you'll get different news and fun treats anyway!

So WHY am I just giving away art? Because I want to build my online community. Because I seriously want to give something to somebody. That's mostly why I make art in the first place, for you. And also because hey, December is my birthday month and I like December.

Improv Everywhere

I've lost track of the number of times I've had an idea to do something funny and/or silly in public, always prefaced by "If I were an actor I would ..."

Here is a group of peeps, Improv Everywhere, who's really doing it, spreading joy and silliness, nudging people out of their habitual slumber, worldwide. I love the ridiculousness they get up to. Maybe I'll get to join them on "a mission" one day. That's what they call their antics, missions. Below is one of my favorites.


Read details, see photos and watch it again here.

I haven't watched them ALL but I do have a few favorites: Frozen Grand Central, Cell Phone Symphony, Human Mirror, Slo-Mo Home Depot, The Mp3 Experiements ... the list goes on ... endless hours of entertainment!

See if you get a laugh outta yourself. And maybe you'll even find a soft spot in your heart for our fellow humanoids. I certainly have a big SS for us.

Make sure you don't miss The No Pants! Subway Ride to see what seems to be becoming their global signature mission! Maybe you can get in on the action wherever you live!

Bold Beauties! added to the Art Shop

These cards have just been added to Organic Pink Lady's Art Shop. They're even awesomer in person!



Look for these cards, amongst many more, in the Art Shop too! What fun! I hope you like them.I have a friend sending out Thanksgiving cards! What a great idea! Maybe you'd like to, too!