My recent paintings.

It's no secret that the past few months or even year, have been very on course in some ways (see yesterday's post!) but also a bit off course in others.  My painting has gotten off course as the girls have grown older and my free time has grown smaller.  Also, now that I'm 33 a much bigger chunk of my free time is going towards my health and cooking, something my carefree 29-year old self didn't realize would happen. 

All that to say that I kept hearing one tiny voice telling me to maybe just be done with painting, that maybe it was selfish to try to squeeze just one more thing into my day, that I'm not that good anyway. 

Then the BIGGER, louder, voice-the roar of God I believe, said "no."

I kept hearing a loud pounding in my chest, telling me to get back to painting before I got too far gone.  To just pick up a paintbrush and try.  Not to worry about pleasing anyone else's eyes but my own.  To move on if I didn't like something but not to let that stop me in my tracks completely. 

To paint again! 

And so I did. 

Saturday morning while standing at the skillet doing breakfast duty, I began to paint.  

Watercolors were my medium of choice because they're so easily portable. 

Later in the afternoon I was so fired up and excited about all that color staring back at me that I went in and added some acrylic paints as well. 

I wouldn't consider any of these paintings finished, but I like what I see. 

Especially the pink paintings. 

"I painted something today that I liked and that made my heart beat real hard", is what I shared with Brett later.   Two things are sure signs that I need to keep following a certain way, tears and a pounding heart.  I'm so glad I picked up the paintbrush again! 

I plan to paint on and have a little sale on IG soon.  

My Instagram account is therosylifeblog

What have you done that's made you feel alive lately? 

I missed painting the most.

My kiddos are getting older, as is evident by the fact that Anna Ruth has her first loose tooth.  Loose teeth actually, seeing as both her bottom, front teeth are loose. 

She's also registered for kindergarten and nap times are a thing of the past.  We still do an afternoon quiet time a few days a week, but it is short and sweet.  I've often said how much I adore my kids growing up, and I do! Creatively speaking I've found it very tricky to have time to paint, gone are the afternoons of tucking away in the craft room. 

I was reflecting on this new season and feeling like I might not ever paint again.  And that's what I missed the most, the painting.  But then I decided to change my perspective.  I could be like a lot of people and complain about the lack of _____________ or I could just happily roll with the seasons, instead focusing on what I can do.  Why bother, you ask? I've often heard moms say they just don't have time for anything for themselves or even say that they'll wait 'till their kids are grown. 

I must not be cut from the same cloth because I need to express myself artistically and creatively just as much as I need breakfast and my morning coffee.  It's good medicine for my mind and soul and life.  A book I read recently really inspired these thoughts (more on the book later) and so I've decided to embrace my art within the time frame I have.  One afternoon recently the girls and I set up our paints and paper on the back deck, each of us content in our own artsy world.  They painted for quite a while with me and it was precious.  Then they were off, running in the yard and I finished up this little painting. 

I don't even know why I like it, but I do. I really, really do.  This painting went through the normal creative cycle for me, meaning at some point I really DIDN'T like it at all, but I kept going. 

Once I felt like the painting was finished I almost literally heard it speak to me, as if to say "See, all that joy and color and art is still in there".  

What name would you give this painting? 

Do you share an understanding of the creative time crunch? 

**And please don't share/remind me that my time will shrink as my kids get older. :) I already get that and being reminded of it constantly sends my anxiety through the roof! Thank-you kindly***

NEW scripture posters coming to the shop!

(11x14 poster coming soon)

It's FRI-YAY!!!!!!!

You guys, we made it to Friday! The days have been packed so full the past few weeks we are absolutely feeling relief that the weekend is almost here. 

I am also so excited to share that some ideas I've been carrying around in my mind for ages are finally unpacked and in real life.  My Etsy shop hasn't been updated in a while but that's about to change! As I sat down to reflect on what I wanted to offer in the shop I actually looked inward, instead of outward.  I dreamed of the art and photographs that I was currently craving and designed from that deep well of reflection.  

Without further ado, the first new products coming to the shop are these scripture posters.  Each one will be big-11x14!

(11x14 poster coming soon)

These are absolutely my favorite.  In my opinion you can almost never have "too much" art on the walls.  What I've been craving lately though is God's word, not just the art itself.  I married the two in these photographs you see, which will be available next month as 11x14 posters.  

You can tape the poster to the wall, use thumb tacks, or even those sticky squares that peel right off when you're ready. 

You could also pin one up to a bulletin board, have your hubby make a frame for one, or buy a frame at Hobby Lobby. The possibilities are endless and I'll be sharing some of my favorite ways to decorate with posters as we get closer to their release time. 

Which is your favorite?  Do you have a spot in your house where an encouraging scripture would fit best?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this new product! 

A few photo spots left and my art shop!

 "Do you still have your Etsy shop?"  I've also been asked "Do you still paint?" 

How kind of someone to think to ask me about this!  My answers?  

Yes and yes.  

 If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook then you've seen that I've been quite the busy photographer this summer and fall!  What an unexpected blessing!  I have had the privilege of photographing well over a dozen families this year.  In years past I would have dreamed of this number!  It is truly a dream come true that I am getting to capture such real-life beauty and stories.  With that said, if you are wanting photos made for a Christmas card, I have only a couple spots left in December! Feel free to email sunshinebysara@hotmail.com for more details or click on the "Photography FAQ" tab at the top of the blog!  

Because I am a stay-at-home mama and my creative time is totally up to me, that means I'm usually editing photos or making art when everyone else in the house is eating lunch or in bed!  I've learned to be pretty picky about piling on the "yeses" and to be choosy about when I hand one out.  So my painting time has obviously diminished a tiny bit because my photography time has grown and grown.  There is an ebb and flow to my creative journey and I've come to appreciate that.  

 I do, however, have an Etsy shop full of art and photographs that make my heart totally sing! 

There are 8x10 high-quality, archival photographs and art prints, original paintings, and photo canvases for sale! 

You can find my Etsy shop here: TheRosyLife

Use coupon code GIVETHANKS25 for 25% off your order, now 'till Thanksgiving! 

Simply enter the code at check-out! 

Happy shopping! 

A cat color page just for you.

I had plans to make a coloring book.  I just adore them and you can't walk in a single bookstore without seeing row after row of gorgeous, inspiring color books staring back at you. 

"I could do that", I thought.  And I could.  And maybe someday I actually will! 

I started sketching pages.  I even announced on IG I was going to go for it!  But here lately in this new season of life that is just more full than it ever has been before, I've started telling myself this mantra: Be creative today, right where you are, with what life is handing you in this present moment. So the truth is my hands and heart are in all kinds of fun stuff and creativity lately!  A coloring book will just have to wait.  But you know what my very next thought was?! 

How much FUN would it be to put my color pages on the blog!

So my creative cat and I would like to say "Welcome to the first installment of The Rosy Life color pages!" 

These are for personal use only (I know, the boring disclaimer), but you are free to print this cutie cat out and color to your heart's delight! 

You can find the cat here.

DIY Painted Step

I'm sorta known for not being real organized, or at least it doesn't come naturally to me.  However, when I used to teach I had 28 little souls to keep up with and that taught me a lot about having systems in place and being more organized.  Those lessons transferred to being a mom and especially now that I'm a mom of two.  So all that to say I found myself in the garage last week, looking around at the dirtiness, spiders, and junk wondering "where did all this come from?" My husband usually cleans out the garage, every few months or so. This time it was my turn.  

I got to work cleaning out the whole garage and then giving it a good sweep and vacuum with the shop vac.  After all that my eyes landed on this sad, dirty little step.  We go over it a million times a week, seeing as it's the step that goes from the house to the garage.  I decided I'd paint it. 

A few coats of wild paint later, it looked much happier.  Brett said he felt like he was living in the "My Little Pony" house and I told him his feet would surely thank him every time he stepped on this delight of a step. 

This is our funny life and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Now go do your feet a favor and paint your own step! :) 

Fall Sale in the Etsy shop!

Hey all! It's SALE TIME in the Etsy shop! 

The shop has a great selection of 8x10 art prints (remember the new, lower price!) and original paintings.  Don't forget to use your coupon code at check-out! Good until Thursday. 

This is a great time to stock up for Christmas presents too! 

You can shop here: 

etsy.com/shop/TheRosyLife

Thank-you for supporting my art! 

Art Shop Update! (new prices and originals!)

Morning everyone! I am ready to greet you with colorful art and photographs after a summer break in the shop.  Needless to say, I am VERY excited to have my Etsy shop freshened up with some of my summer art! 

There are a few changes I want to let you know about.  First, prices have changed.  Art prints are now $14 with $2 shipping.  That's a $7 difference (saving you the seven dollars) from before.  All art prints are 8x10 and printed on Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster with archival inks, so they won't fade over time.  

I also added many, many originals from my art journals.  This means they are done on paper instead of canvas, making the price point more affordable for those of you interested in originals.  

You can also find various sizes of photography canvases as well as a few favorite art prints in the shop, along with all these new goodies! 

You can find my shop here: etsy.com/shop/TheRosyLife.  

If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me at sunshinebysara@hotmail.com

I am honored and delighted to share a bit of my heart with you through my art and photography! Thank-you so much for coming along on this fun journey! 

My summer paintings.

Summer started and I said this simple thing to myself "Paint for fun." 

That was it.  I've been pursuing the business side of my art from day one.  I have no problem with combining hobbies with business but for me at least, when it became ALL about the business something clicked in me.  Kind of the same thoughts I posted from the book Present Over Perfect earlier this week.  Especially the line that said "You can choose the size of your life."  

I know a few things.  One, I really love to paint.  It just does something for my insides.  It is a joy to sit down with an array of colors and have the time to express myself.  

Two, trying to stick to a strict schedule and rack up my Etsy sales, no matter the cost or sacrifice on my family and friends, just isn't me. 

So armed with these truths and a longing to simply experiment, play, and have fun, I began painting here and there this summer.  These are the pieces that make me the happiest and put a smile on my face when I see them.  Perhaps because they weren't created for anyone other than myself.  

 Once September rolls around I'll be spiffing up my Etsy shop a bit, adding some new pieces and taking down some old.  But for now, enjoy "my summer paintings!"