What inspires my art.


Can I confess something?  I still feel like a newbie and very much out of place saying I'm "an artist."  Isn't that silly? Truth is, if a friend of mine were living the way I was, leaving little footprints of art here and there-I'd immediately assure them they were most definitely an artist.  Yet when it comes to myself......a shyness there.  I suppose it's because naturally in my mind I just assume everyone surely must think like this.  Doesn't everyone combat stress and fatigue with images of paintings, sketches of silliness?  I sure do.  I wake up thinking about art, I escape there in my mind when things get a bit harried with the girls.  It's my haven that's always only a thought away.  
And then there are those times I get to put my thoughts in motion and create.  I don't do well over-thinking things.  It kills my creativity almost instantly.  I don't mean that I don't like to learn.  I am most certainly an advocate of being a student for life.  I just mean that what I do with my knowledge makes such a difference in my art.  So for example, let's say I've watched several mixed-media videos on youtube and want to try out some new skills, or use a new art medium.  If I stand in front of a canvas thinking exactly how the other artist completed their piece I get easily frustrated.  Instead, I like to mentally run through the possibilities for filling a canvas up and then go for it-not dwelling too much on how another artist might articulate the same concept.

The world right in front of me inspires my art.  The vibrant colors of the garden, the many shapes and motions of the wildflowers, the lines and textures abundantly found on the farm...these all spark ideas in my mind.  Sometimes I'll sketch an idea in a notebook.  Other times I just let it sit in my mind until I feel ready to try it out on canvas or another painting surface.  
My two favorite ways to create right now are on canvas, when I have a whole evening to myself in the craft room and creating quickly on my art journal pages.  As far as having a whole evening to create, it only happens about once a week (if I'm lucky).  I like to go into the studio with no plans to emerge until I'm satisfied creatively.  I usually turn on some music, but sometimes I even love the silence.  This little gal was created during one of those long evenings in the studio.  

 I'm also really enjoying painting different types of pages for my art journal!  I hadn't previously been keeping a journal but noticed a lot of the artists I admire, do.  I asked my artist friend Mary on Instagram (you can find me as sunshinebysara) her opinion on keeping a journal.  She most definitely recommended it and so I started one, just like that.  
 I love these little pages because they're small enough it's ok if I create something I don't like.  Which I totally did on another page but I wasn't brave enough to show you-haha !  I painted a face that was just awful and scary looking.  But no biggie, I simply made a note to myself on that page about where I thought I got too rushed in the creative process and I'll try again another day!  That's the beauty of the art journal.

 This is a tiny peek at life in the studio, a.k.a. "The Craft Room".  
 I stamped some leftover paint from a piece of cardboard on this blank piece of paper and immediately saw wings.  I'm super excited to get back to this page and finish it up sometime this week! 
 I'm really loving this spray ink/paint I got at a local craft warehouse.  It's the most gorgeous peach color.  And those green jars in the background-what beauties! Definitely inspiring my art....
and my decorating for fall! 

 I like to make notes to myself about different techniques I've seen and might like to try.  That way when I feel stuck in the process I can quickly look to see what multiple choice options there are for continuing.  
One of my favorite ways to inspire my art is to wipe or rub leftover paint onto a new canvas and see what emerges.  This is my leftover canvas right now and I'm excited to add a bit more paint here and there on it to see what art just shows up on the piece. 

I'm also hoping to pick an online art course for my birthday (hint: Brett!) 
I have a whole list of them I'd like to take, including these: 
2.) Anything by Juliette Crane
3.) Imagine, Play, Emerge by Mindy Lacefield
4.) Anything by Alisa Burke

What about you?  What inspires your art and have you taken any of these courses? 

Someday soon I should do a video....cause then I could say "see you in the studio"!
What do you think? 

Two more days of this! 

You can even find new things in the shop,
like these: 
8 x 10 print here.

 Greeting card (here) 

Greeting card (here


rosy in the real life.


Truth: I'm not always cheerful.  This sometimes comes as a shocker to my real life people who think they know me through and through because they read my blog.  I feel like I've always tried to be consistently honest about the fact that my life isn't always rosy and I'm not always happy.  I'm human too.  But you know what, I can choose joy and rosy-glasses and happiness and that's all possible because Jesus Christ lives right in my heart.  He's the one that wakes me up in the morning, starts me on my way.  
And so a rosy life is very much possible because of my relationship with God.  Last week was a bit of an "off" week.  Nothing major, just lots of discipline for the girls, a few sore throats making me a bit tired.   If I didn't live with the confidence of Jesus living right inside my heart, only being a prayer away, being my confidence and everlasting strength-I don't know how I would be able to choose joy and hope.  
But, did you know that once we have a relationship with God, hope is literally only a prayer away.  When things seem dirty and sad in life, I pray to see the rosy in the real life.  God always, always reminds me of His faithfulness and opens my eyes right up.  A lot of times I think I confuse "blessings" with tangible things I can see, like good food, extra cash, or a gift.  

The real blessing in knowing Jesus to me, is the constant washing of my soul and eyes.  One of my favorite quotes is "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." (Pablo Picasso)  

Yes and amen.  I'm so thankful that I know the Creator who is the ultimate artist.  On the bleakest, darkest day I might could imagine, I still have full confidence of God's hope, life, and art in my life.  He still whispers "look again" and makes my eyes light up with His goodness. 
I hope you know Him......and my heart for Him.  If you ever have a question about my relationship with Jesus please ask.  I can't think of anything I'd rather wish for every single person on this planet, than to know they are loved by Jesus and to experience Him on a daily basis.  
And so, when when regular 'ol life hands me lemons, I make lemonade.  
Here's a look at my story of finding the rosy in real life:



















Tomorrow, a look at what inspires my art!

Y'all come back now, ya hear? :)

Around the World Artsy Blog Hop


 Happy Monday friends!  Today I am so thrilled to be participating in my first EVER blog hop!  

Are you thinking "Huh?  What is a blog hop?"  Well, I was too when my sweet friend Iris asked me if I wanted to participate in her blog hop.  I quickly discovered that a blog hop is a great way to not only connect with other artists, but allow me to introduce you to some of my artist friends as well!   You can click over to Iris's blog to read her responses to the creative questions we'll be answering.  
 Let's jump right in to the good stuff, shall we?!  

1.)  How does my creative process work? 
Very naturally!  I can honestly say from the moment I wake up in the morning 'till I fall fast asleep...my mind is racing with creative thoughts, whether this be ideas for styling photos for the blog, decorating my home, or creating a mixed-media painting.  As far as my painting goes, I have a notebook I keep filled to the brim with sketches, magazine clippings, color schemes, and inspirational quotes.  This is what often inspires my paintings.  Other times I might be intrigued by a photo I took and decide to build a piece of art around that. 

Once my mind focuses on a particular idea for a new art piece I just have to get started and see the idea to completion, whether that takes me a day or a week.  Or even weeks.  I typically paint during nap time or sometimes in the evenings.  I love to have a smoothie or coffee while I paint, but often forget to drink it!  Music is a must.  My current favorite thing to listen to while I paint is Sleeping at Last.

I admit, I do often get frustrated during the creative process because I can picture in my mind how I want my piece to look but sometimes get "stuck" trying to make it happen in real life.  This is something I'm working on pushing through and forging ahead. 


2.) How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
It's rosy!  I wondered this same question at first, wondering how I would "find" my style.  Then as I started to paint what I liked, without peeking around and comparing it to other people's art too much I began to see similarities between my paintings.  I definitely don't like my paintings to look too neat and tidy.  In fact, some days I'll think I'm finished with a painting but will think that it looks too neat, too planned, too structured.  That's when I'll blur the lines of the painting some, or add doodles and scribbles.  So I would like to think my style is different because it's mega colorful and "free", meaning your eye roams the painting a lot of times to take it all in. 

 3.) What am I working on now? 
Eeeek!! So many, many things!  On my mental list are painted paper banners, painted Steno notebooks, more note cards, gift tags, and to create more original paintings.  I'd also like to be prepared for the holiday season!   One of the biggest desires of my heart right now, in addition to creating, is to continue  adding to my knowledge base!  In my free time I like to watch other artists on Youtube and learn how to broaden my techniques!

 4.) Why do you do what you do? 
Because I just love it!  I started painting back in the early spring and instantly fell in love.  Like head over heels, where has this art form been all my life, in love.  Painting relaxes me and challenges me in ways other things don't.   I just love it.  Even sitting here trying to think of a "better" answer than that is impossible because painting makes me come alive.  Fully, deeply, madly, alive.
Now it's my turn to pass on the blog love! 

Next Monday, August 4th, you can check out my friends' blogs below to read their answers to these artful questions!
1.) Cheryl-The Distracted Crafter
2.) Kalyn-Cavalier Girl
3.) Rebekah-With my Fist Full of Arrows



I've got a new blog! Come see. :)

Room for the Rosy  is my new blog. I hope you'll come see.