The Studio This Week...

It has been a record month for sales on my Etsy site! I think part of it is because the weather  is changing, causing people to start thinking about different seasonal decor. 

Here is my little kitty, Manheim, "helping" me with one load of packages.

And now that my autumn art has greatly decreased in number, I've been painting some new additions. Here is one that I just finished this past weekend:

The Last of Summer

These Indian summer days are some of my favorites. Last week I went on a much needed walk on a local trail and enjoyed the last bit of summer. It was good for my soul.

I was surprised by how many varieties of wildflowers were still left this late in the summer, and I couldn't resist sketching the ones I saw.

Here's the final sketch with watercolor:

How are you enjoying these beautiful days of late summer?

Love Until It Hurts

This past week has been tough for me. I've been greatly distressed by the violence, hatred, and injustices happening both here and abroad. Sometimes I feel like I just can't bear it all.

This page from my sketchbook is a quote I can't seem to get out of my head. God hasn't given up on this world, and neither should we. Hear the cries of my heart, my Deliverer. Help me to love until it hurts and then love some more.

"'Anyone can slay a Dragon,' she told me, 'But try waking up every morning and loving the world all over again. That's what takes a real hero.'" - Brian Andreas

On Transition, Seasons, and Carpe Diem

It's official: I have fall on my mind.

This summer has been all about transition. We moved back to Kentucky, I started a new job, and my husband started graduate school. In many ways, I feel like I missed out on summer. Summer has always been my favorite season, but this year it just passed me by.

Maybe that's why I'm looking forward to autumn so much. It's the promise of slowing down and enjoying the season. It's the promise of starting fresh and feeling like myself again.

I barely painted anything related to summer, so I'm a bit behind on my seasonal "lines." I really should have started fall themed art back in July. But I'm determined to not let autumn pass me by, too. Here are my latest pieces, inspired by vintage harvest seed packets.

Consider this autumn carpe-d.

Playing with Soft Pastels

A few years ago, I purchased a vintage set of pastels on Etsy because I love how they look and feel. It wasn't until recently, though, that I felt brave enough to actually try them out. I'm so glad I mustered some courage, because they have quickly become my favorite medium.

The set on the right is my vintage set, and the one on the left is a new set that I placed in an antique box. I just love old boxes!

There's something just magical about blending the colors together with my fingers and watching the colors smudge and smooth. My favorite subjects so far have been still life pictures of nature and animals.

This little piglet just makes me so happy!

Thanks for visiting! Have a creative day. :)

I'm Back!

After 2 years of being immersed in academia and putting art onto hold, I'm taking the leap back. As much as I love to exercise the left side of my brain, I never feel complete until I am creative as well.

I've been reading so many wonderful art blogs these past couple of months and have been inspired to pursue this blog I abandoned long ago. Before, I felt so much pressure to publish posts that I often would stare at the computer screen, worrying over the blank page. Lately, though, I've been inspired to use blogging as a creative outlet. I need the motivation to be creative, and I hope that this blog will stretch me. When I feel uninspired and don't know what to blog about, I'll know that this is an indication that my life isn't filled with enough creative. It will be an indication that I need to rearrange my life, to make art a priority again.

I hope that you will join me on this journey and that my inspiration will inspire you, too!

Sketchbook

A sketch from a not-so-interesting class.

Mint Crush

When I was freshman in college, I was asked to the Junior/Senior banquet by a senior. The dress I chose to wear was a beautiful, handmade, mint green color. I've long outgrown the dress and was bummed for the past few years that mint green was in short supply. Imagine my excitement when mint green/seafoam began popping up all over as a popular color for spring! I can't get enough of it.

1. Lodekka | 2. Lonkoosh | 3. OliveMama | 4. BialaKura
5. Ets Place | 6. Soul Sister Soaps | 7. Kates Cottage

Recent Etsy Finds

I have a confession to make.

I am obsessed with Etsy.

The first step in overcoming a problem is admitting that you have a problem, right? :)

After scouring stores for a "statement" pearl necklace, I finally found this one. It's exactly what I was looking for, and it coordinates with so many of my pieces. It adds the extra pizzazz that "makes" an outfit. Plus, pearls are classy and dress up just about any outfit.

I LOVE the ribbon, especially when I wear my hair up so that the bow is visible.

From BazineDezine

Every girl needs a flowery dress for spring! I fell in love with this dress at first sight. I was a bit hesitant about buying clothing (especially handmade clothing) online, but it fits great and is of very good quality. It's still a bit "summery" for me to wear now, but I can't wait to showcase it for the first time in public. :)

From Lovely Melody Clothing

Have you had any awesome finds lately? :)

Sunday Afternoon Painting

The sun is shining, windows are open, and I'm wearing my favorite tank top. Spring is here and I couldn't think of a better way to spend the afternoon than painting in my sunlit studio. :)

Before photo:

After photo:

There's just something about the sunshine that makes me motivated to be creative. :) What does a sunny day typically motivate you to do?

Joy in the Mundane

"Hi, how are you?"

"Good. How are you?"

"I'm having a great time, thanks for asking."

The postal worker replied with such enthusiasm that I couldn't resist retracing my steps to the seminary's post office window. A small campus has its arbitrary "how are you" greeting, but this exuberant response? Especially from the UPS man?

The man explained that he tried to enjoy his job, even when he woke up in the morning and monotonously delivering packages was the last thing on his wish list. "See, you can either go through life complaining about all the things you dislike, or you can find happiness in even the mundane. Life is what you make of it."

Since then, I've seen the UPS man delivering packages down my street on two more occasions. He smiles and waves, and I'm convinced that the joy he has is genuine.

I have to suppress the urge to cheer him on as he places boxes on my neighbor's door. His joy is contagious.

I have great difficulty in finding joy in the "mundane." I'm currently taking two different Hebrew language classes, and the overexposure to textual criticism has been enough to pull my hair out. I work as a student office assistant and am incessantly given mountains of papers to file, none of which will ever be referred back to. I'm often tempted to dump them in the trash, where they won't be missed. I am joyless. I am not joyful enough to exult in monotony. "But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony," G.K. Chesterton writes. Children say "do it again," but we adults grow weary. He continues:

"It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be absolute necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

(Orthodoxy, 1943).

I want to learn how to approach life with the same kind of hopeful expectation that God can bring joy from the mundane.

Be filled with joy to the point of overflowing, so that every person you encounter has to retrace their steps to hear more.

------

This post has been adapted from my theology blog. To read similar posts, visit: http://crucifiedcondios.blogspot.com

Creativity

These past two months I've been an artistic rut. Everytime I've sat down to create something, it turned into a disaster. I have probably about 4 canvases that need to be painted over so I can try again. Needless to say, it's been frustrating.

This video from TED spoke to me today. What a very unique way to think about the creative process! I would emphatically say, though, that the "genius" that Gilbert talks about is God. It blows me away to think that I can somehow connect with the Creator when I make art. My artistic endeavors are just feeble attempts at mimicking what God has already created.

With this fresh perspective on creativity, I finally sat down an finished a painting I am proud of. :)

What do you do when you are in a creative rut?

Spring Color Swatches

Spring has been on my mind. I've been experimenting with a bunch of different fresh color tones in my artwork, a few of which will hopefully be making their debut here soon. Here's some of my inspiration.

All images are from Design Seeds.

Finding Joy

Little things this week that brought me a little joy. :)

New shoes. I rarely rarely buy anything that is full price (I'm a clearance/thrift store girl) but these instantly won my affections. It's nice to "splurge" every once in a while.

Hebrew has been taking over my life! I have vocabulary flashcards ALL over the house. I memorize about 250 words/week (!). Yesterday, I even found a flashcard in my shoe. :)

And finally, an art journal I've been carrying around with me. It was super handy for the intensive class I had last weekend.

Catching Up...

An intensive class covering Hebrew grammar has left me playing "catch up." I have all of these creative ideas in my head, but feel way to swamped to take the time to paint them out on canvas, let alone experiment with some new styles. Here are a few quick pieces that did give me a breather from the stresses of schoolwork this past month:

"The Great Summer Escape"

"Lexington"

"Longing for a Friend"

All of these are available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Portrait Painting

A friend requested a custom portrait as a surprise for his wife. What a creative anniversary gift!

I couldn't have asked for a better composition to paint from. :)

Color Inspiration

I've been working on re-decorating my art studio, and am super inspired by the colors in this picture I found. Vibrant greens, soft beige, and rich earth tones... This is the perfect feel. I drew some swatch colors from it:

Hmmm... Now how to replicate it?

Christmas Break Visualized

My Christmas break visualized

1. Painting... Mostly a portrait for my friends' anniversary. It's a surprise, so pictures will be up after they've received it.

2. Organizing... One of my Christmas presents was some cube storage space for my art studio. Fantastic!

3. Studying... I'll be taking my modern foreign language competency exam soon so I can write my thesis.

4. Pink eye... One gift I was not happy to receive.

5. Christmas... Spent with my family and parents-in-love back home.

6. Running... It's been in the upper-50s all break. Running in shorts in December? Awesome!

7. Drawing... Pages for my web manga.

I am SO not ready to go back to school. This is all too much fun! :)

Gifts That Give

Year after year, I've heard people complain about how consumeristic
Christmas tends to be. I've complained myself. This year, I realized that, although I gripe about, I have yet to actually DO something about it. I decided to make this year different. You can too! Here are some ways that you can purchase some nice gifts that will give back and make a difference.

1. World Vision's gift catalog.

World Vision provides a visual gift catalog that details how exactly the money you give will help change lives. Buy a family a goat. Provide clean water for a village. Help people from a different country learn a trade so that they can provide for their family. The best part about World Vision? All of the gifts are sustainable! You are not just placing a "Band-Aid" over poverty but are providing some real solutions to the effects of poverty.

And, if you want a physical gift to send to a loved one, World Vision will provide a card with the recipient's name. The contributions to the "Maximum Impact Fund" include a gift to give as well.

http://www.worldvision.org

2. Thistle Farms

Thistle Farms is an organization that gives women a place to live off of the street and employs them through their bath and body shop. The women, who are victims of homelessness, abuse, and prostitution, are taught about God's love through a program that provides counseling and healing. All of the body products that the women make are wonderful, and the proceeds goes directly back into the program to help the women who make the products. I have a pump of hand lotion and lip balm, and they are of great quality (and all natural!).

http://www.thistlefarms.org

3. Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace where artisans can sell their handmade items. It's amazing how creative and talented people are on here. Many artists donate some of their sales to charity organizations. Just type "charity" or "charity donation" into the search engine to see who's donating.

http://www.etsy.com

Fingerless gloves from GlenEchoDesigns.

4. One Cup

One Cup is an independent coffee roasting company based in Seattle. Not only do they have fantastic coffee, but they have dollar-for-dollar grants that match your coffee purchase and donates it to World Vision's famine relief efforts. Now that's a good cup of coffee!

http://www.onecup.org

5. Donate Fruit

The only thing better than a gift of fresh fruit in the winter months is fruit that helps end hunger. This fruit basket company matches your purchase dollar-for-dollar and gives fruit to families in the United States that are impoverished and malnourished. Give the gift of fruit -- twice!

http://www.donatefruit.com

This Christmas season, may we be aware of the hungry and oppressed and share with them. May we be consumed with the Creator and not with created things.

Wonderful Christmas Time

It's that magical time of the year again... Time to bring out the sweaters, hang the lights, sip hot cocoa, and decorate.

Since my home is composed mostly of greens, I decided to incorporate that into my winter decor so that I can a) use what I already have on hand, b) save money.

I'm really proud of these new art pieces I created. I asked my grandpa to create some basic frames for me out of a light wood. I then hot-glued some tree branches in the frame to create a little forest. Here's the Etsy store where I got the inspiration: UrbanPlusForest. Obviously, the artist's work looks way better than mine. :)

And here's my centerpiece for the coffee table. Candles, a sparkly dove ornament, and a framed winter photograph (Photograph from Chelsea Victoria Photography).

How are you enjoying the start of the holiday season?