Second pillow case is born

I have completed my second pillow case. It was quite involved and lots of fun to do. The two pillows are now brightening our living room, bringing a bit of sunshine feeling inside. I need that. The winter is still happening.

Happy Tibetan New Year

"Om Mani Padme Hum", 8x10.5 inches, acrylic

Today is the celebration of Tibetan New Year, or Losar. The year is to be in the sign of a Water Dragon, representing great strength and fulfillment. What a blessing. We all could benefit from the gifts of Water Dragon. May all of you be happy, peaceful, healthy and full of well-being. May all of you have great strength to overcome all difficulties and be fulfilled in the heart of your soul.

Full Moon prayers

I tried a collage on canvas. It was an interesting process of gluing many pieces of papers down. The fun part was the continual metamorphosis. I completed this in December 2011. Now, with the new online class in composition, I am continuing with collages as a mode of expression. It is so different from watercolors. I enjoy now the variety of mediums through which expression for me becomes possible.

I call this piece, which is 12"x 12", "Full Moon prayers". It reminds me of seeing the moon through the window of the woods I live in.

Starting a new online class

As I am finishing Jane Davies "Uncovering secrets of Color" class, I am getting ready for her next online class on "Composition". The experience of online classes has been interesting. Beside focusing on the class material and practicing the lessons at my own time, the big learning came out of how to negotiate the blog world. Feeling more comfortable with my ability to navigate the cyberspace, I can now relax into fully paying attention to the new topic of composition.

I continue to think that knowing something about the components of design is something necessary for creating a piece of art. And I also know from my personal experience that creative expression happens on its own and I enjoy it best when I am not focusing on the concepts of design principles and the elements that are involved.

Above is one of my older watercolors painted in that surrender to the creative process just happening on its own. I am looking forward to come back to that unplanned, spontaneous creativity again, hopefully with my desire for understanding the way art is analyzed satiated, and wisdom to follow my intuition being stronger again and balanced with an analytical eye.

Flowers of the future spring

I am ready for the spring to come. I know the flowers are being dreamed at this point. This is a 3"x3" watercolor in my moleskin watercolor book.