A Light in Spirit

in 

Orvieto

the moment you doubt

 I just love when one thing leads to another.

The day I discovered this quote by J M Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, I also discovered this by Tricia Scott.

 Things didn't stew too long before I was pulling out supplies.

First, I found a set of alpha stamps that was a good size.  

 Second, I needed a canvas and just as Tricia did, I found a prepped canvas that had been relegated to the corner for oh.... about a year or so. 

Time to let it go.

I had some scraps of sticky back paper left from printing DVD labels and you know we (you and I) cannot throw away anything we might need later.

I needed it. 

I stamped the letters for the quote on the sticky back paper and cut them out. 

I had to audition (above) the quote on the canvas to be sure it would fit. 

 Then black gesso right over that sketch.

I used a fine sandpaper to expose the texture. 

I mean, what's the point of having collage under it.

 Here, in the chair zone, the quote is applied to the canvas.

I remembered that I had ordered some new paint I thought would be perfect.

So, I had to wait for it.

The color I used was Victorian Grey and it looks great.

 I applied a very loose layer. After it dried, I sanded it back a little to grunge it up a bit. 

When I removed the letters, the sticky back pulled up a bit of the black gesso. 

I could have touched it up with the black, but you know me.

I ♥ color!

Use Code: WINTER

for discount

All Norah'S Art

The Hope Flag Project

The Hope Flag Project Maybe you haven't heard about this project being coordinated by Leighanna Light via Facebook. Here are my flags that I'm mailing tomorrow. I just went with simple, bright, colorful and quick. Leighanna needs them in her hands by January 2nd.  Read on for more information if you are interested. 

The following is a "copy and paste" from The Hope Flag Project on Facebook 

The “rules” and frequently asked questions
-This is about hope & good wishes, not about any specific religion, or even praying if that is not a part of your life. It is about showing that we care. If you want to include a prayer, wonderful, but it is not required. This was an issue with en of the schools participating, so we are now calling them hope flags. Sheesh. 
-Your flag can be made out of any cloth material... An old piece of clothing, an old sheet, canvas,- you don’t need to go out & buy anything.

-When you finish, the size of each flag should be about 5” wide by 8” long- so that the chain remains uniform in size. Please sew or glue the top of the flag over, leaving a one inch gap so that I can run a string through it- SO THE TOATAL MEASUREMENT OF YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU BEGIN SHOULD BE 5 INCHES WIDE BY 9 INCHES LONG. Sorry for the initial confusion about this. This project is about love, not about exact measurements! Some people are sending triangular flags b/c they don't have time to make new ones, I will be including everything that I get, no matter what size. It will be beautiful!

-You can make them as simple or elaborate as you’d like. You can paint on it, write on it, sew on it, make a little heart in the center- anything goes EXCEPT please refrain from addressing the person who caused this or the names of the victims. This is about hope & I think it’s a good idea to keep it as positive as possible.

-Please make sure these get to me by January 2nd. If they do not arrive by then, they will not make it to the school, & probably won’t be mailed back to you.

You can make flags until the cows come home, please make as many as you’d like.

-I would love to photograph each one, but I’m not sure how much time I will have for that. Please take a picture of your flag before you mail it off. Feel free to post it on this page.

-Please don't send me any money! Many of the families have facebook pages where you can donate directly to them. I'm going to cover the postage to Newtown, & I've already bought art supplies for the kids who are making flags here. I'm fine with that & would love for the parents or town to get the money instead.

-I would prefer that you post any questions that you still have here on this page, instead of sending a private message or email.

-Please send the flags here...
Leighanna Light
PO Box 2861
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557

Thanks again so very much for participating in this, especially right now, in the middle of the holidays. Really, I am blown away by the response to this.
-When you finish, the size of each flag should be about 5” wide by 8” long- so that the chain remains uniform in size. Please sew or glue the top of the flag over, leaving a one inch gap so that I can run a string through it- SO THE TOATAL MEASUREMENT OF YOUR FABRIC BEFORE YOU BEGIN SHOULD BE 5 INCHES WIDE BY 9 INCHES LONG. Sorry for the initial confusion about this. This project is about love, not about exact measurements! Some people are sending triangular flags b/c they don't have time to make new ones, I will be including everything that I get, no matter what size. It will be beautiful!
-You can make them as simple or elaborate as you’d like. You can paint on it, write on it, sew on it, make a little heart in the center- anything goes EXCEPT please refrain from addressing the person who caused this or the names of the victims. This is about hope & I think it’s a good idea to keep it as positive as possible.
-Please make sure these get to me by January 2nd. If they do not arrive by then, they will not make it to the school, & probably won’t be mailed back to you.
You can make flags until the cows come home, please make as many as you’d like. 
-I would love to photograph each one, but I’m not sure how much time I will have for that. Please take a picture of your flag before you mail it off. Feel free to post it on this page.
-Please don't send me any money! Many of the families have facebook pages where you can donate directly to them. I'm going to cover the postage to Newtown, & I've already bought art supplies for the kids who are making flags here. I'm fine with that & would love for the parents or town to get the money instead.
-I would prefer that you post any questions that you still have here on this page, instead of sending a private message or email.
-Please send the flags here...Leighanna Light PO Box 2861Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557
Thanks again so very much for participating in this, especially right now, in the middle of the holidays. Really, I am blown away by the response to this.

Whispering Angels

I decided to call her Whispering Angels because after a very art fulfilling day, I am left with no words. 

♥

Borrowed Wings

Borrowed Wings

Well.....wouldn't you?
If you could.
♥

Third set of wings

A lot of angels.....
My words, hasn't exactly worked for me.
Here is another and she is on her third set of wings.
And had to sit in the corner for a few days.

They are auditioning for my Christmas card and so far.........
Well, I need to paint more. 
♥

Gift a Love Potion

 May I suggest a very sweet gift for someone special?

 I call them "Love Potions"

 They are from a series I painted to spread the Love

I gifted my granddaughter one of the originals a Christmas past
and
She's asking for another.
but
I don't have another original.
She said she would be happy with a print.

!!!!Light Bulb!!!!!!
Maybe you would like to gift a little Love Potion print to someone special too.

print offer does not include matte or frame

 They are very reasonably priced.

and

there is a special 3 for offer.

Because they group so nicely on the wall. 

One says:  LOVE deeply

One says:  KISS slow & often

One says:  HUG everybody

One says:  GROW together

And there is more. Just click here to get the whole scoop. 

Look for the "3 for special price".

Thanks and I appreciate you!

Sharon 

ps  This original is listed too.

The Urge

I've been waiting. 

Waiting for the urge.

To paint. 

Finally. 

I want to paint angels. 

Lots of them. 

♥

Gift Idea for your favorite Artist

 I made this little travel watercolor kit for my Orvieto excursion.

 I have been planning to share with you f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

Today is the day.

 Tis the season; therefore, I suggest you buy one of the fragrances like Red Hot Cinnamon or Orange Cream Cakes. Then remove the fragrance cubes and bag them separately to accompany the gift.

You will need 6 tubes of watercolor. I don't necessarily recommend this brand as it doesn't have a lot of pigment like other brands.

But it will work and this is the 6 colors I chose.

Remove the label.
Choose 6 colors.
Squeeze the watercolors into the little tubs.
Leave sitting open until they dry.

In the front of my journal, I made a color study using each of the six colors to show how they mixed with each other.
Then I doodled and played with the colors.

Here is the kit all ready to go in a little zipper bag that I already had.

Add a pen, pencil, aqua brush and a small supply of tissue to blot with.

And you will have a very Artful gift.

I think it will be a bit hit!

♥

My Last Creation

This is the last creation off my easel which was the Week 18 finale of A Diary of Faces.

At the end of a class, I always need to go back inside myself to reflect, rest, and rejuvenate. For some crazy reason, it takes me a while to start painting without the camera running. I think it is something about routine. 

By the end of the year, I expect I will get into a good routine of retirement. I have been trying real hard to NOT have a routine. Now, I'm ready to work some routine into my days. I know this is crazy talk but it is what is on my mind.

That and gratitude. I have so much to be grateful for and I just want to tell you, I am grateful for you. 

Sharon

Blessed

Nearly everyone was on their way home and I felt extremely blessed to have a couple of extra days at the convent in Orvieto . I passed this painting in the hallway about a gillion times.  Now it was quiet and I stood with it and sketched in my 2010 journal. 

I don't really know if it is a sketch or print as it is behind glass and unsigned. I really liked the monochromatic tones and so when I took my sketch to the studio, I was inspired to try my best to keep the tones as close to sepia and gold as I could.  This is one of my favorites. 

There is much more that I could share from Orvieto but I will call this my last installment. Probably. Maybe. Will see. 

Going Back to Orvieto

When I went to Orvieto in 2010, this unsigned print hung straight across from me in the studio. 

I was inspired to paint it in my journal.

Although, it seems that I didn't share that journal page here. 

I will do that now. 

Have I told you I was in conflict about going back to the same place?

 Yes, and I appeased the voices with the notion that a second trip was indeed necessary because I didn't finish my journal. 

I wondered if this painting would still be on the wall in the studio.

I also wondered why I didn't take a photo of it the first time.

Hoping it would still be there on the wall, I had to go back to do that!

My heart sunk the first time we entered the studio.

It wasn't on the wall. 

However, a quick search and I found it in the corner, on the floor, under a cabinet and with a broken glass. 

I stayed some extra days in Orvieto after the class was over and most had departed. 

Then, I pulled out my 2010 Journal and painted another version of her. 

♥

PS:  I may have to go back a third time. I still didn't finish my 2010 journal.

PSS:  I still have one more Orvieto share and then I will get up to date with blogging.......with a new computer and Elements 11 and dealing with all those new learning curves. 

Trick or Treat

Sometimes she makes me do silly things.

About self paced study format and Denmark

The Postcard Challengers are working on Week 44.  

I just finished Week 31, Denmark. 

Which is the lesson for Week 17 in A Diary of Faces. The lesson is about painting hair.

A Diary of Faces Weeks 1 through 9 is available in a Self Paced Study format.

Notice I said "Self Paced".

That means,

I changed the format by adding comment walls and a gallery forum. 

It all came down to the fact that the classroom was just too quiet.

I really enjoy having a conversation with the students

and being able to see their art

and answering their questions

and seeing them interact with all the other students. 

So, if you like that too, I hope you will jump in. 

Nine weeks of class content is waiting 

for your self paced study. 

♥

PS.  I will be adding a classroom for weeks 10 through 18 soon too.

Mist in the Valley in Orvieto

At breakfast, someone said, "There's mist in the valley today".

words

instant inspiration

became a part of

this painting which was an exercise using paint and no sketch.

♥

I didn't quit the challenge

Did you think I quit? No no, but there is little hope that I will ever catch up with the other challengers who are still playing with Darcy of art-and-sole.   You can view all of my cards in order here.

My imitation for this postcard is from the very famous poet from India, Rabindranath Tagore who took up painting very late in his life.  There was something about his style that appealed to me and my sweet sis-in-law suggested that this was my Halloween picture for this year. That never occurred to me but of course, she is right. 

On the train to Orvieto

 First of all, you know how I love to share my WIPs. Could be because I like to see them here too:)  Anyway, while in Orvieto, I discovered how crazy easy it is to use my iphone for snapping quick shots. 

You may not need to know that I HATE HATE HATE the Termini  train station in Rome. My experience the first time I went almost kept me from going again. Yes, this time is was the "fear of the known" instead of the "fear of the unknown". 

However, as many of you have heard me say, "if I did it once I can do it again".  And that was what I had to hold onto. I won't go into the gory details except to say it was just as traumatic the second time as the first. 

When we heard the assignment to paint a story with two or more characters, I had one to tell. 

Once I finally boarded the train, I saw all these people.

♥