Working on expressive portraiture with a timer, trying to loosen up, focusing on mark making and bold shadows, using charcoal and graphite powder. 
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It's been a productive day in the studio. I've worked hard, and it feels good. I'll keep on going while the motivation lasts.

Charcoal is messy to work with. I told Keith my hands look like a mechanic's (even after washing them many times througout the day).

​"They're the hands of an artist," he replied....
and I smiled.

loving:: the smell of lilacs has got to be one of the best things in life.

reading:: these are the kinds of books I've been searching for. Grateful to be led to them.

giving:: with all the massages I've been giving this month, I think it's high time for my own.

thanking:: for Eliza getting her dream after-school/Saturday job of working at the local nursery. She beams and smiles when I pick her up. Saying how much she enjoys helping people; especially accompanying the "little old ladies to their cars with their carts full of stuff", loving the musty, earthy smell of the greenhouse, the new like-minded friends she's making.

smiling:: so big when I opened up my email one day this week and saw this photo of Sam a stranger had sent along with this little note: "I thought you would enjoy seeing your son in action :)"  Our missionary son and his companion happy to be helping this family and many others. So very happy seeing him happier than he's ever been.

baking::  these beauties today. (Wishing I could give you a slice like I did to a neighbor that just stopped by..) 

overwhelming::  this yard needs so much work. I always feel this way come April and May. Fall and winter cleanup that never got done, dandelions and weeds and pruning and raking up the wazoo. I'd like to do a garden, but with the tiller still broken down, it's a frustrating and discouraging outlook. Oh, well. I just need to drag my body out there and get to work.

celebrating:: Greta and Erin's graduations to attend tomorrow, my mother's birthday also tomorrow. Looking forward and hoping she's up to going out for lunch on Saturday.

parting:: Gary and Greta are leaving Saturday for their big adventure. I'm so excited for this internship he'll have in their beloved Finland, for their opportunity to connect with old friends, for their travel dreams coming true, to see them truly, truly happy.

thinking, making, and doing :: sneaking away little chunks of time in the studio this week for my current art course. Challenging myself to make or do something creatively every day. Trying to overcome resistance, procrastination, and fear as an artist. Wishing there were more hours in a day to do all that I want to do and need to do (in all aspects of my life). Having this opportunity as I begin this class to pull out thoughts and feelings about what art means to me. Exploring art as a form of journaling and self-discovery. Playing with new mediums and ways to express. Thinking about drawing as a form of meditation, as a way of being and seeing. Pondering myself using symbols and metaphors.

It's a good journey to be traveling.

It was prom night for Eliza and her best friend James. Don't they make a handsome couple?

These two got together to do some creating last night. Eliza made the beautiful wreath she wore in her hair, (her first time making something like this) as well as a boutonniere for James. He made her this lovely wristlet. They each did such a great job.

When she came out from getting herself ready tonight, I saw her and nearly fell out of my chair. I told her that she looked exactly like what I imagined some magical Medieval fairy forest maiden queen to be. Simply lovely and simply dreamy.

 I've been busy as a bee working in my studio the last couple of days.

I made these nature-inspired paint brushes out of some pine needles I brought in from the yard and some stuff I gathered around the house . Not only do I love the aesthetic appeal, but very excited to create some great tools for splattering paint (like in my paper marbeling project below) and adding textures in painting.

Paper marbeling is fun. A little tricky, but fun. These papers will come in handy for collage, notes and gift tags, and other paper craft.

I made this vision board from some beautiful photos and quotes I pulled from some old magazines I have tucked on a shelf in my studio. These images and words speak to me, inspire me, and are a constant visual reminder (I have it hung above my work table) of the life and desires I have and want to manifest this year. For the last year or two, I've also enjoyed making vision boards reflecting my intentions and dreams for spring, summer, autumn, and fall. They are beautiful creations that bring me happiness and peace.

I made some dang good pizza tonight. Over a smear of barbeque sauce, I placed sliced steamed-fried potato rounds, artichoke hearts, carmelized onions, green peppers, and topped this one with a light sprinkling of jalapeno jack cheese (for the cheese people), I started the dough this morning and let it slowly rise all day. It turned out to be the best pizza crust I think I've ever made. 

After prom pictures and pizza making, we were delighted that Jane and Preston invited us to come to their place for pie and ice-cream. We're talking the-best-you've-ever-eaten homemade cherry pie and homemade vanilla ice-cream. Talk about a treat. This girl sure knows how to cook.

I had so much fun with the first collage, I just had to go for a second try. The ideas were there and I had to run with it. An extra joy going through some of my parent's old high school and college year books to find many of these images.

(Twenty-five 5 x 5 inch cut, collaged, and painted grouping on watercolor paper)

The kids are on their spring break holiday this week. Nice to have this shift to a more relaxed pace, Checked out the University cafeteria yesterday for lunch where Eliza will eat her meals next fall. (She's relieved that there's a variety of "healthy" and vegan options available to choose from.) Bowled with the kids at the campus game center afterwards. Staying up late watching movies such as Jane Eyre (I can't tell you how many times I've watched this version), Interstellar yesterday, and Charade is the plan for tonight. Simple days of making, seeing, doing, and being for me. Five new client massages scheduled and/or given this week. Creating with my heart and with my hands things useful and things artful. Excited to find and begin this new course. (So right up my alley.) Missing my missionary son Sam (turning 20) yesterday on his birthday. Counting down the days to August when I will hold him once more in my arms. Feeling and thinking deeply. But that's nothing new.