Time Lapse oil painting

This is fun for me to watch & understand how to do shading, etc. I'm sure I'd love oils, too--but one thing at a time.

A couple more... Josh Groban

The Prayer with Celine



And this was new to me. I love her skirt--I just happened to buy one like it yesterday!



But I like Sarah's voice better in this version:

I just love Josh Groban

I think I first saw him on a Sarah Brightman Video from my brother, Zeke. Wow! What a voice and so young! I found these cool videos on YouTube:



This one is Believe with a bunch of Josh pictures:



And this one is the same song with a bunch of Christmas pictures:



It gets those Christmas juices flowing!

I love it when people a found divinity within themselves and share their gifts with others. I believe there is something amazing within each one of us--we just need to follow our bliss and discover it. Then it becomes pretty obvious!

aj

Earthly Arts Gardens

I was writing in my manifesting journal the other day--which is essentially a list of all the things I'd like to have in my life--and I'd written down great landscaping. So then today I came across these pictures from Earthy Arts. Yep, that's a before and after picture. Apparently they do this for a business, so now, when I have my home a property, I'll know who to call!

So I've been working on my male fairy commission--about 6 hours into it. He's coming along. I'll post pics later. I also did a new painting in my art journal last night, and i'll have to show that too. It's a more natural, realistic looking face. It turned out nice.

It snowed a foot here, and the kids had a blast playing in it yesterday!

Plus, I found out my parents are going to Korea for 18 months. What an adventure!

Watch Suzi!

August Rush Trailer

I love this--it brings the movie back to me.

A Perfect Day

Today has been a thoroughly lovely day and I wish to give thanks for it. Right now, I've got my laptop...on my lap...and I'm sitting by a fire in our wood burning stove--a recent manifestation--THANK YOU!

Randy and I just watched August Rush, and it was every bit as wonderful as I'd imagined. I've already downloaded my favorites from iTunes--I love music, and I especially love the definition of music in this movie. A harmonic connection between all living beings. In some ways, I think it is the language of God, and when others express what they hear, we sense it within us. Even if we aren't musical, we feel it--we recognize that language and it moves us. We can't help but hear its message.

We made it up the hills just fine--any one who lives around here knows what a huge blessing that is--and with a foot of snow, to boot!

I like to watch the fire. It has a life of its own. Plus, it's been great for all the junk mail we get, and whatever other cardboard or garbage we are used to dumping in the trash.

We got groceries, so we are set, even if we do get snowed in. The snow is so beautiful. There is a man who hops on his four-wheeler and plows the streets in our neighborhood. I think the city plows have a hard time finding us, so we love this kind neighbor. It reminds me of my dad. That's what he used to do when we lived in Idaho Falls--he was that kind neighbor.

I am so grateful for my life, my loved ones, and for all the new wonderful people who will cross paths with mine.

Just Breathe--art vlog

I keep finding such wonderful goodies. I LOVE this song, by the way.

I love SUzi BLu!

The Power of Focus

You've heard of that, right? The Power of Focus--it was the title of a very popular book. But there are other phrases--"what you focus on grows" or "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it"--today I am thinking about the power of focus. It is my conviction that what we put our attention on becomes more predominant in our lives. And so I was reminded again from one of my favorite books, Reality Creation Secrets, that we can shape our world by what we choose to focus on. I choose to focus on a world of love and peace--of abundance and fulfillment for all. What would happen if everyone chose to do this? I can't wait to find out. Luckily, I'm not the only one...

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
~John Lennon

Sharing Light

Still recovering this morning. I guess I'm just shocked the more conscious I become--the more our world understands the effect of our thoughts on the world around us--why would we spend any time creating more violence? It's beyond me. I'm finding it helpful to focus on things I love and enjoy. I read this wonderful quote from Kelly Rae Roberts this morning. This is more of what the world needs!

"a sweet someone said to me recently, "i see your light." my heart sank with tenderness. she gets it. she gets me. she understands that with all the cracks, there is light, too. our lightness within is not only our own personal divinity, but a collective divinity, too. when we show up and be who we are. when we ask for what we want and nurture our spirits. when we live whole and true and messy and free, then we begin to release all that lightness into the world and we allow the lightness and goodness of others people and experiences to enter our hearts. then we're all walking around in the world with bright energy as we tackle the everyday to-do list or deeper matters of the heart. before he passed away, john's uncle roy used to tell me that inside my own heart is a light. when we peel away the layers of stress and confusion and worry and fear, there it is. the light we hold within our hearts is god - our own divinity of everything that is perfect and true. when we begin to see ourselves clearly, without the layers of muck, we are most in touch with what is divine. i'll never forget uncle roy. what a treasure he was to me. he is, as this painting is titled, deeply loved and unforgettable. he taught me that all i will ever need is already within. my light is my sweetest companion and with me always, even when it gets a bit cloudy. it's always there."

Thanks for the reminder, Kelly!

Some Relief

I made the mistake today of seeing the movie xxxxxxxxx. UHHHHGGGHHH talk about violent! That was not PG-13--like it claims. Horrid images. I've decided I won't even mention the name for why would I want to draw any more attention to it? I came home needing a relief and found this awesome video:




I found the lyrics as well:

The touch of His hand will let me know
He takes me in and lets me go
If not for love, who would believe
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
In you and me

We’re lifted up by angels
Higher than the world
Strong enough to leave it
Bound to learn the secrets
Angels never heard
Close enough to heaven
Far above the rain
Darkness cannot reach us
Let the angels teach us
Only love remains
We’re lifted up by angels

To understand yet never say
How every plan would fade away
If not for love, where would we be
Ashes to dust
Water to rust
Eternally

We’re lifted up by angels
Higher than the world
Strong enough to leave it
Bound to learn the secrets
Angels never heard
Close enough to heaven
Far above the rain
Darkness cannot reach us
Let the angels teach us
Only love remains
We’re lifted up by angels

Lifted up by angels
Given wings to fly
Leave the night behind us
Trust the light to find us
Even as we rise

God help us create a better world--that's all I can say.

Before and After

This one was hard to believe.

My first Painting on Canvas!

Hmmm--I could have sworn I took some progress pics, but I'm not finding them. So here she is almost done, with bits of beeswax I'm about to melt with my quilting iron (though I don't quilt).

Melty, melty...



She looked cool with the wax, but even cooler when I took some white ink and spread it around with tissue paper--made the texture POP out!




Outside pic above, inside at my desk below. Ott lights simulate the sun pretty well, eh?



I added some gold to her eyes and lips. Well, that was fun. Felt weird to paint on a canvas, but now I've tackled that one. the next will be easier.

This one is all in my new acrylics--I found a cool set of 30 Liquitex acrylics for under $20 at Dickblick.com


And this was before I had the acrylics--other than pink--so I just used the Portfolio pastels--they are water soluable, so I just wet them and painted with the water.



I really like the red hair and purple eyes. I'll have to do a painting like this and give it more of my own flair.

Hey, I drew this almost a year ago today. It's still one of my favorites. I'm having more fun working in color.

Art Journal Progress- Paintings

This one is modeled after "Angela Prays" by Suzi Blu.

Art Journal Progress - Sketches

So here is a picture of the infamous Art Journal with the pic from 1200 AD.




And next I've just been making sketches similar to other paintings I've seen. They are just for my own use and practice:



Next I'll have to show you how I painted them.

Must be Beatles night

Sweet December. Snow and everything to celebrate. We do live in a beautiful spot nestled in the mountains. Even if we do slide down the hill and have to use an alternate route to get to our home...and even then smack into a snow bank. Like I was saying, it is so pretty! (tee hee)




Our japanese maple is my favorite tree--it's even beautiful covered in snow.





Steph back from shopping with her Pa. Sweet revenge for all those times she made funny face--welcome to the internet, sweetie!

The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows Lyrics

Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream,

It is not dying, it is not dying

Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void,

It is shining, it is shining.

That you may see the meaning of within

It is being, it is being

Love is all and love is everyone

It is knowing, it is knowing

That ignorance and hate may mourn the dead

It is believing, it is believing

But listen to the colour of your dreams

It is not living, it is not living

Or play the game "Existence" to the end

Of the beginning, of the beginning




More The Beatles Lyrics...

Lyrics Across the Universe

Tile :The Beatles - Across The Universe
This is lyrics from www.lyrics007.com
Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

What's the guru part? I wondered too. Here's what I found:

Guru Deva, actually it is Guru Dev, is invoked in the song because he was the Maharishi's teacher. He is an actual person, and they invoked him in their meditation every day. The name actually has meaning in itself. A Guru is a teacher, or spiritual leader of sorts. Dev, according to some other sites I went to, means god or heavenly one. As stated, Maharishi's actual teacher's name was Guru Dev. John Lennon appeared to take the liberty adding the "a"on the end. Jai means, and there are several meanings I have for this, "I give hope, or thanks to", this I was told, but some sites say it means, "victory" or "salutations". Om, is probaby the easiest part to explain. Om is believed to be the natural vibration of the universe. Hence, when many meditate, they make the "ooohhhmmmm" sound. They are trying to bring in that vibration of the universe.

So all together it means, "I give thanks (victory) (salutation) to Guru Dev (or heavenly teacher), om".
I have recently received an email with an alternate interpretation I thought I would share with all of you. This comes from Greg:

I studied to be a Yogic monk in my youth. I can give you a
better translation.Firstly although the words Guru Diva are the name of Maharishis teacher. Gurus names are often aspects of God almost without exception. This phrase is not so much a homage to Maharishi teacher, its more of praise to God. Remember that Guru also translates as God / Brahma and not just any human teacher. Your thinking of humans, think more broader of the deeper spiritual message. During his immersion in eastern thought his lyrics would have reflected the deeper spiritual sentiment and not just ode to the teachers teacher.
All said here is a better translation.

Jai Guru Deva OM
Victory to God Devine OM

Om cannot easily be translated as a single English word. It is used as the most sacred word in Indian thought. It represents the birth growth and death of the Cosmos. It is also the Vibration / sound of the Cosmos literaly.If you could step outside the Universe and listen to it that is what you would hear. The Yogis hear this in deep meditation. One way of thinking of OM would be Alpha-Omega. From OM all the English words like Omniscience, Omnipresence are derived from. Deva means Divine , this is where the English word divinity comes from. Do you see the Sanskrit roots that have shaped our English words?

Much thanks to you, Greg. I sincerely hope all of you enjoy and find use of the interpretations provided here.
from: http://www.geocities.com/clevebeat/JaiGuruDeva.html

Life Itself Lyrics

You are the one
You are my love
You send the rain and bring the sun
You stand alone and speak the truth
You are the breath of life itself, oh yes you are
You are the one

Youre in my dream
I hold you there in high esteem
I need you more each step I take
You are the love in life itself, oh yes you are
You are the one

You are the one that Id die for
And youre all that is real
You are the essence of that which
We taste, touch and feel

You are the one
No matter what
You are the real love that Ive got
You are my friend and when lifes through
You are the light in death itself, oh yes are
You are the one

They call you christ, visnu, buddha, jehovah,
Our lord
You are, govindam, bismillah, creator of all

You are the one
No matter what
You are the real love that Ive got
You are my friend and when lifes through
You are the light in death itself, oh yes are
You are the one
You are my love
You send the rain and bring the sun
You stand alone and speak the truth
You are the breath of life itself, oh yes you are
You are the breath of life itself, oh yes you are
You are the one