Sage's and IKEA and a sweet husband...

So, just when it was about an hour and a half before closing, I asked Randy if he'd run me up to IKEA in Draper so I could put up a new shelf-set. I told him if we made it fast enough, we'd be in time for dinner at Sage's Cafe as well. He was already saying sure--even before my enticement. We had a nice evening together. I was especially glad I brought Randy along--the bookshelf weighed like 200 lbs! Husbands are so handy.



Hmmm....weird blur...anyway--so that's what I'll be doing tomorrow--revamping the artroom. I have so neglected my vibration in that room--isn't that crazy? I love seeing every art supply I have--but if it's not orderly--pretty soon I make a whole mess of the room. It's like I'm great at entrainment--I just need to entrain UP--not down. So, here's to up. I can see a new flat monitor in my future as well--and eventually, an iMac. Though I use my laptop the most, so maybe an iBook first. We'll see. Right now I'm just working on neat and tidy with new furniture. I love Donna Downey's artspace. I think she's got two of these bookcases.

Have you noticed that money manifests much sooner when you give it a becoming? I think it doesn't like just being paper. I mean, if you could be anything in the world--how satisfying would being stuck in the paper state be? But when I have a specific goal for what I want the money to become--it comes right along. Cool. One day, I'll really have the hang of this universe stuff. =)

So my Marie is gone...=( But I'm glad she's off having some fun--she deserves it. She put together a cute card tutorial before she left. Wanna see? Here it is.

I'm just reminded of my blog post many months ago about wanting girlfriends to go out to lunch with. Now I get to experience that a lot--and it's just a fun as it looked like it would be. And Randy's probably glad he's not having to be my surrogate girlfriend anymore. =)

New Painting

Oops--sorry about the blur there--but I really liked how this one turned out. She's similar to my last lady, but about 4 times the size. I like this gal with the slick, straight black hair. Very much not looking like me, yet feeling very "me"--go figure!

I've left plenty of space for some profound thought. =)

Uncle love

This is just too funny. You may remember a while back me posting a picture of Jasen, our 4 year old, tasting the railings at Disneyland. My sister-in-law just posted this on her blog--my brother doing the same thing. It was sub-titled--This is for you Jasen!

Isn't family the greatest?

And some paintings....

I finally got this chick-a-dee ready to show. I outlined her irises in ultramarine blue, and that one thing really through me off in the color scheme. The background was a turquoise before, but she was just not happy with it. So I kept washing in some browns and eventually gold--and then she came to life. I put a golden wash (Lumiere) over those blue irises, and that made all the difference. She didn't want blue eyes--so now she has golden green.

The texture effect on the background is modeling paste by Liquitex--very fun. very much liking the play with that!!!



I swear I start out envisioning a happy face--yet they never end up that way. Gee, I think I'm a pretty upbeat person! Something I hear alot is that my eyes are very soulful--so that's a nice compliment. I'd like to tie these paintings into my Creating Consciously work--but they don't look happy to create consciously! What's the deal? Oh, well--I go where the muse takes me! =)

Here's one of those sketches I birthed into a full-blown painting. I'm still not sure if I like this one or not. It happened when I added the sticker--and suddenly the painting required some reds and purples to tie it in. It's on masonite, and I've sanded down the colors. I do love this face though.



I used Golden Fluid acrylic for the black--and I LOVE it. Such a rich pigment. I'm sold.



A bit of a glare. I'll reshoot when I've decided whether or not to keep this particular background. I'm still leaning toward a redo. She doesn't look like all she needs is love anyway. Hmmm.... I think I need to let my creations decide, rather that the stick phrases I find!

And some sketching....

These are some random shots from my sketch book--not very well centered--oops. I think I drew this gal at church...


and then this drawing was based on a tonner doll repaint I'd seen--a about an inch and a half big, so I was happy with my enlarging proportions.



Then these are sketches I made while browsing the Internet, trying to get a feel for what kind of faces feel like "Me" to draw...




I like these two gals. They remind me of sisters.

Baby Michael

So, as my dear friend Marie pointed out, my blog was getting a little behind... Yes, I have been sculpting and painting--and having a great time playing with my art supplies. It reminds me of something Wallace Wattles said in the Science of Getting Rich--that those who appreciate art will always have money for art supplies--and so forth--that when we love something, the Universe always supplies it. That's been very true for me. I'm never wanting for art supplies. I make good use of them, too. My latest sculpt is a baby. Randy says he likes the way I make babies these days (as we have 5 children and decided that is enough--though I love them dearly--these babies are easier to...deliver!)

Anyway, I was at a store a while back and saw these cute little fuzzy bears and thought, That would be really fun to turn into a baby. So this week, I did--and he turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

First, I dismantled a teddy bear (sorry, teddy) and then made an armature so the baby would be posable. I also wrapped it with stuffy, so it would be soft, and adding pellets and paddy all around.




And here he is. I stuck my hand in there so you can get an idea of the size of this little guy. I love his sweet locks of hair!



Hmmm...he's still cuter in real life. One day I'll get a camera that does him justice.

So that was fun. Off to post more blog entries....

Auburn Chick

Auburn Chick, originally uploaded by aprylian.

Here's a close up. My photostream can be seen on flickr.

Dream - Almost done

Dream, originally uploaded by aprylian.

Almost finished with her. This is the first painting I've done with Golden paints for the skintones. They really turned out nice--I'm sold.

Dream Sketch on paper

DSCN4473, originally uploaded by aprylian.

This is how she started. Sketching is a great thing to do whenever I get the chance.

Dream Sketch

DSCN4457, originally uploaded by aprylian.

I finally got around to prettying up this canvas, posted earlier. (I think). Here I've transferred one of my sketches to the canvas with graphite paper. Slick!

Full-size Blue Eyes

DSCN4441, originally uploaded by aprylian.

This piece is only about 8 inches tall. I love her eyes. I'll add paint to the background--so far this is just scrapbook papers. Mixed media on Masonite.

Blue eyes

DSCN4461, originally uploaded by aprylian.

I had fun with this one.

My latest painting...

full red, originally uploaded by aprylian.

I like the colors

Close up

red, originally uploaded by aprylian.

My latest painting...

Inspired by Stephanie

This face was inspired by one that Stephanie, my 14 year old daughter, drew. She is quite the artist. I did all the painting, but the face is mostly hers. She didn't like my colors, so is painting her own version. I like the black hair & those brilliant blue eyes!

Painted Fairy

Well, she's not quite done, but I was tired of the white blob of gesso sitting on this canvas. I love her lip color.

Pangea & Now

Long ago, scientists say, the continents were one—the great Pangea. And over time, the land divided into the separate continents. And from there we continued to divide into countries—with different languages, different customs, different beliefs. So much of the world we know has been based on our differences, our separateness.

Yet, I have found great peace in viewing the world another way—for things are changing. Despite the great seas and landmasses that “divide” us, I’ve found I can have an intimate conversation with a woman in Australia, or England, or wherever my friends arise. And in doing so, I find that we are not so different. In fact, we are very much alike, both being guided by an intelligence greater than us all, or rather, much more whole.

Can you see that most of the strife and turmoil humankind has endured, has resulted from our supposed differences? Whether it be religion or beliefs, or over land and resources—it is our perceived separateness at the root of this turmoil. If we thought we were one, and could be trusted, that the needs and desires of “others,” were as important as our own, would we not find peace?

Times are changing. One by one, relationships are blooming, connections are being made. Yet, while our leaders seek peace globally, I believe the real progress—the kind that will change our world—is happening one person, one friendship at a time. As we connect and learn and grow from each other, we find, we are not so different. In fact, we are very much the same in many ways—and in our differences, we find new perceptions, new ways to view the world—and much to appreciate.

The World Wide Web, has become just that—a web of connection, a web of personal relationships, a healing web of connections that draw us together toward our original oneness.
So as you send off your emails today, or peruse your favorite blogs and websites—take a moment to consider the miracle that is occurring—and the part you are playing. We are not so different after all.

~Apryl

Great new song--I love watching the guitar as well!

Lyrics:

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it`s burning bright for You
It`s everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There`s nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father`s hands

My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me

I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah

I`m gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Try Defying Gravity...

I just love these lyrics:

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...

Glinda:
Can't I make you understand, you're having delusions of grandeur...?

Elphaba:
I'm through accepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'till I try, I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love - I guess I have lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost

I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...

.....

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately -
Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me -

Tell them how I
Am defying gravity!
I'm flying high
Defying gravity!
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

A Good Way to Start the Day....