Painting a Day Project: #95

Playing & painting with stripes today. And quotes. And boats. (But of course, said the horse.) This is one of my long-time favourite sayings, it says it all, the dreams, the wishes, the hopes &...hopefully the delivery of the former. Things, and by "things" I mean career path,  have changed for me in the last couple of months & many of these beloved quotes have gone from wall-hangings & inspirational Pinterest posts to real life, Holy Crap Batgirl, it's all happening, fasten your seatbelt & let the good pour in. I've always been an optimistic person but more than ever lately, I've had to have faith, trust & a . knowing that this quote can & does come true. From Stella Terrill Mann's lips to God's ears!

Love always. xo

Painting a Day Project: #94

This is the lovely Miss Olivia. She belongs to sweet Chelsea & has recently left us for animal heaven. Chelsea's dearest friend, who happens to be my dearest cousin, commissioned this little piece as a gift, reminder, a tender token for a wonderful life together. I have such a soft spot in my heart for our fur friends, it is a joy to paint these pieces, to bring a little smile in an otherwise sad time. Olivia, you are fabulous, furry, dreamy & ready for an adventure with your feathers & head-dresss. Hugs & kisses.

"Miss Olivia", 8x10, acrylic.

xoxo

Painting a Day Project: #93

 This is my shout out today for feeling like a kid, in the best way, laughing while painting as I google "cat in clothing" (normal activity, right?)

Being a grown up is so over-rated. I think we're all just big kids playing adult dress up. When my glamourous nana turned 85, I remember her looking at me and saying, "Mindy, when I look in the mirror, I am 30...or 15...or 50...sometimes my body feels older, but I am always me. The same as when I was a kid." It was a profound moment, realizing that we're always us inside, the sparkle that makes us us, just gets brighter.

You look fabulous! Yes, YOU!!! xo

Painting a Day Project: #92

I experienced an act of kindness today that was perhaps small to the person who delivered it, but was huge to me & left me feeling so grateful. You just never know how you'll touch someone, a smile, a thank you, gentle instruction on how to do something better, guidance, kind words or a little you're ok, I'm ok buddy punch on the shoulder.  Thank you. xo

"Kindness", 8x10"

Painting a Day Project: #91

Art is messy & surprisingly un-beautiful in the traditional sense of beauty. My makeshift studio, affectionately called "the living room" boasts a beat up table that was once a door that someone ingeniously hammered onto four legs. There are dozens of half squeezed tubes of paints, dirty paint water in one of my can't have enough vintage canning jars, brushes that have seen better days & stacks of journals, art books, ephemera & magazines for inspiration. All of which mostly sit there while I flip through my iPad & create smudges all over the screen. Neat freaks, avert your eyes!

But it's all beautiful in it's messiness. It's real, it's awkward, sometimes it's a flow, sometimes it's a mad desire to combine orange & pink, aqua & lime for no reason at all. But it does wash away the dust from every day life. xo

"Paintbrushes", 8x10".

Painting a Day Project: #90

This aqua vintage canning jar is on my art table filled with sweet peonies, droopy & lovely, picked from my garden. And loveliest of all because I don't really have a garden (by choice, the green thumb skipped a generation) but I do have dirt & by some miracle, a stunning peony bush (plant? tree? shrub?) bloomed like a fresh flower market in a far corner of my front yard. I'm not questioning, just picking stems, saying thank you to the flower fairy & enjoying every lovely moment of them. xo

"Peonies in Jar", 8x10"

Painting a Day Project: #89

I can't explain how cool this image looks in the original photo I found--a beach house or shed or studio with an oversize flag made out of vintage nautical flags draped over the front. Something is lost in translation perhaps...as in, why would a giant flag cover the front of the house...? But, I'm sticking with it and asking questions later. I added the sign & the anchor. I'd be ok coming home to this after a day at the beach.

Keep smiling. xo