You have enough to start

This article could have been written with the artist pointing her finger directly at me! Love her advice, “It doesn’t matter how slow you are, as long as you don’t stop.” Well said.

Celandine Art Talk

You know that old joke? A traveler lost in the Scottish countryside stops a local farmer and asks him which way to Aberdeen, and the farmer replies “Och, if I were going to Aberdeen,I wouldna start from here”. 

We feel that way a lot in life. I don’t think it’s only artists – anyone who has far-reaching goals has at some point thought to themselves, ‘if I wanted to get to that level of achievement, I wouldn’t start from here.’ The gap between your current position and your ultimate goal seems so big, you feel there have got to be some more intermediate steps between your messy reality and you actually starting to work towards your ideal.

But there aren’t.

Every time you tell yourself ‘I’ll start working on this seriously as soon as I……’, you are procrastinating. You don’t need a studio. You don’t need better pens…

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Beginning the day with a magical hummingbird

I love the way that Janet Weight Reed starts her creative day by painting a watercolor of one of her magical hummingbirds! Who needs to start the day out listening to nerve wracking news anyways. 🙂

My Life as an Artist (2)

It is important for me to have rhythm and structure in my life.      These two elements allow me the freedom to create.    I have also learned that the way I begin my day is vital.

 I used to listen to the BBC news first thing, and realised that it was 99% negative and designed to ignite fear and anxiety in the listener.

I now listen to soothing music for the first hour or two while either writing or doing a warm up watercolour.

Today I start with painting a gentle magical hummingbird.     I have used hummingbird imagery in my paintings for over thirty years.    They symbolise for me the unseen magic in our world.

I am using watercolour paper with a neutral ground which I applied some time ago.    Remember when working from a ground…it is important to…

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Retro Quatrefoil Pattern Designs, Throw Blankets from Zazzle.com

 

Retro Quatrefoil Pattern Designs, Throw Blankets by injeeai on Polyvore

Salmon Pink, White, Quatrefoil Geometric Pattern Throw Blanket |…
zazzle.com

Bittersweet Red Quatrefoil Pattern Name Monogram Throw Blanket |…
zazzle.com

Light Gray, White Quatrefoil Pattern Name Monogram Throw Blanket |…
zazzle.com

Black White Gray Quatrefoil Pattern Name Monogram Throw Blanket |…
zazzle.com

Charcoal Gray Quatrefoil Pattern Name Monogram Throw Blanket | Zazzle

Hello Everyone!

I just discovered Polyvore.com for putting together fun design sets to share with others. I don’t know why I haven’t come across it before now. I thought I would share some of my designs from Zazzle with you this way.

The quatrefoil design has been very popular this season for both throw blankets and many other items on Zazzle. I grew up with this retro design being popular while I was in my teens. I didn’t know what it was technically called until I started creating it myself.

There are tens of thousands of items on Zazzle with the Quatrefoil design on it and you may visit through my designs above or by going straight to the Quatrefoil designs on Zazzle

I’m sure the Quatrefoil designs will start taking on very springlike tones very soon as winter draws to a close.  🙂

Artists For Peace and Free Shipping Offer on Crated

Hello Creative People!

I do hope the New Year is treating you very well thus far. I came across a post on the https://artists4peace.wordpress.com/ blog and felt inspired to tie it in with my own post today.

If you feel your beliefs are in alignment with their blog, be sure and jump in and contribute to their posts to spread the message of Peace versus War in our world.

An art print from an original painting by Itaya titled ‘My Best Friend’.

My painting titled ‘Best Friends’ was meant to capture the sentiment of embracing others and being friends even when it is a very unlikely pairing. This seems to be a theme throughout my entire life with my having unlikely friendships with others. Don’t you agree that our whole world would be a much more positive place to live in if we just accepted others and their way of being and believing?

I don’t feel the need to change anyone’s beliefs and I expect others to afford me the same courtesy. It has not always been easy to accept another’s beliefs when it so profoundly differs from my own, but it has gotten much easier as I’ve gotten older.

My son chose to join the military and ended up doing two tours of Iraq. It was quite challenging for me to accept his beliefs and accept his decision to serve our country in the manner he chose. Ultimately, I had no choice. I love my son and respect his choices and beliefs. I’m very proud of him and appreciate his bravery and courage. I may not agree with him at all times, but I definitely accept his choices such as that one.

Is there someone in your life that you have had to work at accepting their beliefs and choices when they are very different from your own? Do you agree that we need more focus on peace versus war as the Artists for Peace blog states?

Crated.com is having a special offer going on until Sunday with Free Shipping!

Free Shipping Offer on Crated.com – Use Code CR3XUT

If you would like to see more, visit my store and more beautiful artwork pieces at http://crated.com/itayasdesigns. Be sure and use the code CR3XUT when you check out for your Free Shipping Deal!

Happy New Year and Looking Toward Spring

Hello my Creative Comrades!

I know you must be creative and artsy in one form or another or you probably wouldn’t even be dropping by so hence the greeting. 🙂

As usually happens, right when Christmas ends, my thoughts start turning toward spring and what types of art and designs I can create for that time of year. I wonder why that is? I mean, winter has only begun by a little bit. I do enjoy this time of year much more than summer. Perhaps I’ll create a few more snowmen pieces before it starts to warm.

I just finished a new painting of some daffodils with my new watercolor paint set I got for my birthday a few weeks before Christmas. It’s the Sakura Koi Travel watercolor set that I’ve had my eye on for some time now. You can see it here – Sakura XNCW-24N 24-Piece Koi Assorted Water Colors Field Sketch Set with Brush.

The set comes with a water brush that you add water to the handle which makes it convenient for painting outdoors. Just fill the handle and go. I’m really enjoying the vibrant colors and practicing my watercolor painting with it and the set.

Painting with watercolors is a whole new adventure for me. I’ve dabbled with it a bit in times past but not very much. I plan on practicing a lot more and hopefully I will be sharing more of my watercolor paintings with you here.

I titled this painting, ‘Rise and Shine’. It seemed appropriate given the sunny disposition of the daffodils in the painting. Here it is as an art print on Zazzle.com.

Watercolor Painting, Yellow Flowers Art, Daffodils Posters by Itayasdesigns
View other Abstract art Posters

Did you get any art supplies for Christmas this year? Or any tools that will help you to be more creative and focused in your creative process? I would love to hear from you in the comments section. If you’ve posted about your creative Christmas gifts, be sure and share a link in your comments so we can visit and read all about it.

Happy New Year and Blessings to One and All!!

Itaya