Revising your art

Paint Party Friday

Digitally altered to a pink card I had printed up at Vista Print to use generically!

I create art only for myself to fill my life with
 colour. At times it's for  a charity event, 
or for a few close friends. Yearly I have a set

 of  generic greeting cards made with my images

to acknowledge personal Birthdays and other
 special occasions. Other than that I find creating 

is just a way to feed my soul and connect

with other like minded creatives!

This is the original orange painting I made as a card for my friends Birthday

 Looking for different ways to do things has always

been my forte even as a child!! If I didn't have

  things I needed or wanted I found a way to reinvent

  other items. Hence my way of looking at the world

 is often a little different than others!!

This was one side of a wood cigar box type purse made in 2006 for an art show.

I digitally took bits and pieces from the art purse, shrunk the writing to make this repeat pattern!!

It was added to image 1 below to make something 
completely different! Looking at your artwork through 
new eyes is not only fun but gives it new heart! 
The artwork following this collage will show you
  all the art I shrunk down, resized and recreated
  to customize each item!! 

I  recreated my art to use in this  six image collage. Click to enlarge

 

Original acrylic painting done about four years ago....

 When raising my child if things weren't working,

instead of giving up, or making excuses I looked

for new solutions!! Google makes that so much

easier today. Years ago it meant contemplating

an issue on your own, researching at the library,

or asking friends. Either way it always made me

seek new ways to do things.
 

This digital image  was taken from original acrylic painting above

Lately I have been looking at my artwork in

new ways during the lull. Finding different

  ways to use what I already have!! I wanted to 
share how fun and unique our artwork can
 look being revised for something wearable!

Pattern for image 2 in my collage, revised and shrunk down from the two above pieces!

This  is a really large painting I did several year ago by cutting some of my own stencils.

 The painting above is called "Letting go" I used it 
for image 3 and 4 in my collage!!

My original acrylic bear used for image 5!

 Digitally shrunk down and made into a pattern for image 5

This is an original acrylic background made in an art journal!!

 

Changed the above painting into this digital piece by piecing it together to make a smaller pattern!

I was wanting to have a pair custom made up
for Beardos Birthday of course I'm planning 
on making a piece of more masculine art 
  in his colours... with his approval of course!
We shall see how it goes!! This is what I  
have done to test things, my favourite is 4 and 6!

Do you have a favourite?
Have you ever had your artwork
made into something special that
you love?

Who knows you?

Paint Party Friday
 

Who really knows you? It's interesting how many people 
we can talk to over the course of a lifetime, some never
 really know us! They may think they do, but never seem 
to inquire about  anything of substance! 

So how can they truly know us?

I recently surprised my  goddesses friends by showing up 

unexpectedly at their morning breakfast soiree! I was a little
 verklempt on my country drive at the prospect of seeing 
them all! The joy and love on their faces was beyond 
what I could have imagined! It warmed my heart so much!
My mobility often makes it difficult to get around the

 way I used to! This one Sunday everything aligned

 perfectly so I showed up!  I felt loved and welcomed, 

it was as though we hadn't missed a beat!

 It was wonderful to see all my friends of over three decades!
  They know me, and I like to think I know them!
   We're all so interested in hearing the  details of each others
  lives! The goofy parts about aging as well as the
as the  blunders and joys that we experience! It's
always such an authentic loving group with an 
amazing life long bond whether we show up or not!

Then there are the phone calls with relatives, and
although you speak for a long stretch of time
 they never  inquire about your life! You hang 
up slightly perplexed, left wondering if you even
matter to them.

I have known some extended family for over 
twenty years, they  still don't know our
story. They never even asked the basic
 daily questions for conversation!
Funny thing is, a lot of Beardos large
 family doesn't  know him either!! 
Many have never heard  the music
 he's written, they have no idea how
  many instruments he can  play.
They've no  idea his other extensive talents either!!
They haven't a clue what his interests are,
 or what his opinions are! He is
a bit reserved and  unlikely to tell
 you much if you aren't interested enough to  ask.


Truthfully I prefer those types of people don't
know our story anyway! However I find
it interesting that they've never attempted
to find out more about us! Or to 
build an intimate relationship that's
more than one sided. Especially
after years of being around them!
  We know every intimate part of their

stories in detail!

Recently Gypsy goddess sent a very

old friend a special poem she had written for her.
Something she had never done before.
Her friend responded by sending her back
  a photo of a gorgeous painting she had painted. 
Neither had known each others 
special talents all these years!!

Here are my questions to you! 
Who truly knows your authentic self? 
Who in your circle do you need to know better?
Are you asking the right questions?
Who do you wish knew you better?

Changed Perspective

Paint Party Friday

Holiday loves to watch the birds and hugs the trees!!

You know when something is mentioned a few times,
by different people during the week I am bound to
address that subject in my blog!! It's interesting how
we can all perceive things so completely differently!
Even family members can be hard wired in opposite ways!

Lizzie prefers to engage with happy people full of spunk!!

Of course different perspectives makes the world more
interesting to some, and mad to others!!  Even though 
I have strong core beliefs, I've always kept an open mind!
 Able to change when I hear or read better perspectives!!

Gloria is a very friendly neighbour, sometimes even too friendly!!

The other day Cupcake and I did a huge and I mean
 very extensive purge on my double closets. I was focused on
whether I might need one of those articles of clothing in the future.
 Even though my philosophy the last few years has been 
if you love it, or it's useful it can stay! Other wise it 
needs to find a new home!

Simone is annoyed that she has to watch her kids swim, when she has so much housework!

I was overwhelmed as my daughter pulled scads of full 
hangers from my closet for me to root through. 
Although I did a big purge a while back there still

way too many things I hadn't released!
The purge was my idea, my daughter was 
very kind and  didn't pressure me at all!!
So far I had one coat in the bag, and many
keep piles surrounding me!

Zola just got her Masters in psychology, now if only she could figure herself out!

 Then Cupcake brought out this long beige

 ( I prefer to call it sand coloured as I hate beige)

cotton summer vest that's about two decades old. 

Very classic boring style that fits over a dress,

a skirt or pants!! It's difficult to find things long 

enough to go over ones bum! This was the only

reason I ever bought it!! Cupcake automatically

placed it in the giveaway pile!! Held herself back

from teasing me, while explaining that I would

  probably never wear it again, kindly suggesting
it may not even fit any longer!

 In that moment I had an epiphany!!

Oh my goodness... I hadn't even thought to

try the clothes on....I just kept what I liked/loved!
I was reasoning what I kept in a completely different way!

After the new perspective I let it rip and joyfully
tossed everything  into the giveaway pile!

Jenny is polish, abhors her large ears, so she covers them with hair!

She was surprised at the change in my demeanor.Cupcake

had taken piles of clothes downstairs to launder since many

were dusty from sitting unworn in the back of the closet.

 I had a new perspective. I even tossed  gave to charity 

some of the laundered clothing!

I was trying everything on, if it wasn't comfortable it

was gone, gone, gone!! Then I started thinking about

the joy another larger woman would get being able

to buy them for a song in a thrift store! Many I had

really enjoyed over the years!!  A few things still had

price tags as I aged out on them, (halter dress).

When all was said and done we had a few laughs.

She said if it was my last day on earth she knows

 I wouldn't want to be caught dead in beige!

 Oh how right Cupcake was!

  I'd rather be found bra-less with a paint spilled

messy long sleep shirt on than anything beige!! 

Joy is slightly worried about a presentation she must do for her business meeting!

That day I was able to happily fill up four huge bags of clothes!

We purged close to one hundred items from our home!

Cupcake is on this kick to get rid of 465 items a month!

In the minimalism challenge! It can include a broken pencil,

clothes, toys, anything, you recycle, give to charity, or toss!

She is 100 things short of her goal this month so 

tomorrow I am getting into our big bathroom....

see if I can help her out!! 

George is debating whether to weed the garden in the heat!

So glad I had her by my side to give me a new

perspective!! 

Has anyone changed your perspective lately?

Are you a minimalist?

Happy Canada Day 150 years!

Paint Party Friday

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian Friends!

This year in particular I'm feeling so blessed to have

been born in this beautiful rich Country!

Again I reworked old characters to celebrate this momentous occasion!!

A prouder Canadian, I could not be
I wave the flag, in front of me
A liberal land, freely diverse
Varied languages to converse
Countless cultures of every race
Amicably exist in once place

Written by Happy Tiler

Hope you Giggle too!

Paint Party Friday

 

Mara Belle is quite private and refuses to tell me about herself.

Cupcake: Mara Belle said," I have a wedgie!!"

 I have missed two weeks in a row blogging.Pretty sure it's the 

first time in eleven years!!  Both Cupcake and I have been

  fighting  viruses. She managed to  pick up another at the tail

  end of the first one. At least that's what the doctor said!

 I was  worried she had pneumonia. She's resting

to curb the coughing. She managed to celebrate Fathers

 day with her in-laws, but only stayed a few hours as Beardo 

saw her fading! Apparently her sister in law has had it for

 two months now!  I am on the mend, save my ears slowly

 unplugging each day! I'm catching up on sleep now

 for all the days of coughing. So so grateful to be

feeling better! I did create intermittently while sick,

and hope to visit and catch up on all your blogs

as soon as possible!

Winny admits to being a nerd who loves polka-dots!

Cupcake: Winny said, " I like to eat ketchup out of the jar!"

I'm sharing more of my Happy Tiler peeps with a twist this time!

I let Cupcake look at their pictures and say the first thing that came

to mind,  without reading what I said first!! We managed

to have a few giggles, hope you do too!!

Jerry is  a divorced meat cutter single for several decades!

Cupcake: Jerry said,"I try to be cool, but I'm not!

I still sleep with my teddy bear!!"

Before

Life has been a bit depressing with all the nastiness in the

world of late! Being sick makes you feel even more vulnerable.

While the kids did grocery shopping, I managed to have a

private  melt down with lots of tears for all those affected

the last four weeks!! Sometimes it gets so bottled up and

feels refreshing to let it all out without holding back!!

After dressing my peeps in digital Canada day attire for July 1st!

I didn't even change my banner this month until just 

this week! Took me a few hours to digitally dress my 

Happy tiler peeps in their Canada Day attire!!

 Cupcake giggled quite a bit when she 

 saw them all decked out in red and white! 

Brandon is a teacher who needs a brewsky on the days his kids are  too rambunctious!

Cupcake: Brandon said," I like to boogie all night long"

If I can make one person smile or giggle at the quirkiness

of my odd shaped peeps with the weird over coloured

facess and odd attire,  then I'm happy!!

Sues need for perfectionism is often quite debilitating!!

Cupcake: Sue said "I'm having an affair with your husband!"

If you like to people watch the way I have over the years

you see how unique human bodies, faces and 

mannerism truly are!

 That's what makes it so interesting!!

Henry is a pleasant guy who likes to "skip  the light fandango."

Cupcake: Henry said " I'm really nice despite my appearance!"

From childhood I tended to like unique features! that

  weren't perfect! Who knew it was probably the

 artist within that found them so attractive!!

Cass is a Peace, Love and Harmony kinda a gal!

Cupcake: Cass said, "I'm really insecure and 

that's why I dress like this!!"

I sometimes see beauty where others may not! I often 

wonder, is it because I choose to look for the beauty

 first! Or is it because beauty in all it's glory tends to

trump what others may see as ugly or

not so perfect!

Linny is a quirky bird with an attitude! She's usually the instigator to family problems!

Cupcake: Linny said,"Do you think I can get free drinks with this dress?"

I tend to be attracted to all things unique!! I have never been

mainstream. Of course as a child it really makes you feel

like an oddball. Once you understand that no one is the 

same, the the ability to enjoy the oddities in life

are a gift, you accept it!

Sophie loves sunday school and purple tights!

Cupcake: Sophie said," I have to go to the bathroom"

For some reason I always wanted to be different than 

the others. Sadly it took half a century to figure out why!

Pretty sure it's the artist within. Who really knows!!

How about you do you like to fit in with all the others?

Or do you like to march to your own drummer and find

yourself a little outside the mainstream?

Appearance

Paint Party Friday

Sometimes you gotta speak out!!

Last Sunday was my Birthday but unfortunately I was still under the 

weather so I wanted to keep things really simple. The kids made 

me an  amazing meal. We had a few really really hot days and
 I suggested the kids get me a  long john instead of a cake this 
year!!  When Cupcake told  the girl  at the grocer  it was 
for my Birthday she got excited and asked if she could  
write Happy Birthday on it!! I was thrilled, as was  
my daughter!!

 2017 Birthday doughnut paired with marathon Netflix!

We were still enjoying the flowers from Mothers day but Cupcake

 still wanted to get me  peonies knowing they're my favourites!  She 

found none but planned to get us flowers a few days later.

Beardo took this photo through the window.....his mom brought it by for my birthday!

I told her to keep it simple and  get carnations, I love how long they

  last and how pretty they are!!  The  day we tossed  the mothers day flowers

my bestie left carnations and a Beautiful Birthday bag of goodies

at my door!! She knows me so well!! Cupcake has expressed how

much she is enjoying them too!!

 Recently my daughter observed a photographer she follows on instagram taking professional engagement  photos on the beach! The photographer was wearing sweat pants and a dirty shirt. Cupcake felt it was  so unprofessional.

Norma prefers comfort over being proper!

Having followed the woman for a few years now, she noticed the quality of her photos  deteriorating. Then to see her on the beach so disheveled was a bit shocking. Especially when showing up for a photo shoot! 

Karen is a yoga pant kinda gal!!

You may think how you appear to the public doesn't matter...but truly it can say a lot about who you are as a person! Possibly a busy mom whose washing machine broke down and left her with  nothing to wear except sweatpants and a dirty shirt? Or was she depressed because of a family crisis and ran thoughtlessly out the door? Could it have been she is just a slob there for a quick cash grab, resentfully taking photos? 

Oma loves patterns on all her clothes!!

Or maybe her craft is failing   because her heart is no longer in it? Recently her photos are too far away, leaving it  impossible to see details on the subjects faces!  Has she taken too many photography classes and lost confidence in her own original beautiful style of art? So many questions. 

Rosey is quirky and often says and wears inappropriate things!!

However when you show up for a job of any type you should be dressed appropriately and professionally! Maybe she just came from a gardening job... either way she should have represented herself a lot better to her client! No one wants a slovenly dressed person standing on the sidelines of their expensive wedding taking photos! I would think if she could miss big details about her own clothes she  may just miss the important details when taking proper photos!

Underneath this character is a hand  written prayer for people in my life!!

 I might be inclined to  think she'd procrastinate when editing, delaying the timeline of when I receive  my photos!    How you appear in your professional life has ramifications! My daughter would never consider, or recommend her  for a photo shoot now. Especially since it seems she's on the decline!  How you appear matters more than you think!

Another hand written prayer underneath this one!

I always try my best with what I have. Being heavy can make that difficult!! However my clothes and shoes are clean.

 Does appearance matter to you?