Forgotten In Italy

                                                  "Umbra or is it Ambra"

   I must confess that I copied someone's style.  The artist's name is Alice Williams, and I love her work.  However, seeing that her paintings sell for thousands, and that isn't in my budget this month, I painted one for myself.  I find her work fun and playful.  It makes me happy. 
    I had the pleasure of going to Tuscany this Fall with 6 other women.  It was one of only two "girl trips" I had made in 21 years.  The other had only been for a weekend.  So, needless to say, I had a WONDERFUL time.  When people asked me what I enjoyed the most in Italy, I would say that it was being with the girls!  Part of the trip, we stayed at Castello Di Montalto.  A castle that dates back to the 1300's.  It was beautiful, enchanting and had it's own ghost.  However, being the Mississippi bumpkin that I am, I could never remember it's name.  The first night there, we drove to the nearby village of Ambra for dinner.  When it was time to leave, somehow I was separated from my friends for a moment, and they all got into the two cars we had rented and drove off.  Each group thought the other had me.  So here I was, alone in the small village of Ambra, couldn't speak a word of Italian, had drunk my fair share of wine,  and couldn't remember the name the castle we were staying at 20 minutes away.  All I could do was sit outside the restaurant and laugh.  Knowing that eventually they would figure out that I wasn't with them and return.  Which they did.  That was just one of the many wonderful memories I have of my trip.

It's a Love Hate Thing!

                                                                    "Why Not!"
                                                                       36 x 36
                                                                         (Sold)
Commissioned work.  I love them, yet hate them at the same time.  I'm thrilled that someone likes my work, and the fact that I'm going to actually be paid for doing something I love.  But, I also find it very scary, and I end up putting it off.  It's always the big "WHAT IF" looming over me.  What if they don't like it?  What if it ends up not looking like the one she saw at Blair's that I did?   What if .....

So, what did I do instead?  Something totally unrelated.  The result was "Why Not".  I had a half painted canvas sitting around my house for about 2 months because I hated where it was headed.  So, around 10:30 at night, I thought about what a fellow artist told me, that it was only canvas.  I said to myself, "why not", and started slapping white paint on it.  I finished around 1:30 am.  I actually liked the result.

However, the dreaded commission work is still there waiting to be done.   Maybe I'll call it  "Procrastination".

A Little Slip!

Confession Time!  I had a little slip yesterday.  I made the mistake of sending a couple of friends to my blog.  I got one or two positives, but I also got a "nice, but if you ever do this, let me know...".  I started to sink.  However, once again my husband came to my rescue, and reminded me why I started this blog.  It wasn't to get approval from everyone, and make $$$ (but I'm wouldn't be against that!), but to just create and paint for MY enjoyment.  He said, "I'm sure everything Picasso painted wasn't great. I bet he had to do a ton of sketches first."  I had to once again erase all my old tapes in my head and remember that not only is this a process, but that I am painting things I want to paint, and not for others.  As my friend, and fellow artist Lisa tells me, just let my blog be a way to show improvement and growth.

So, I came home and did what I've enjoyed doing this week.  My Drip Trees, I had a blast!

My Favorite Photos

                                                        
 I was doing some "spring cleaning" of my photos on my Mac, and decided to post some of my favorite ones, seeing that I haven't had a chance to paint much this week since my "Drip Trees".  It hasn't been a easy week.  The worst being that Tommy's dad had a heart attack on Tuesday, and has been in the CCU on the vent.  We wont know much until they can extubate him.

Photography has been a love of mine for many years.  I especially love taking children's photos.  Since mine have become teens, and it isn't "cool" for mom to take their photograph, I haven't done much of it seriously.  Thank goodness I now have my painting, otherwise I would have to take up the dreaded biking!

Life Is Not Always A Bed Of Roses!

                                                        The Prodigal Daughter
                                                                    48x 60
                                                            Mix media  Collage
                                                                     2008

This Blog will not always be fun and happy, because life is not always that way.  What I have come to realize is that, everyone has their pain.  As I say to myself, "their Afghanistan" ( I have a dear friend who just sent her son to Afghanistan.).  My "Afghanistan" was several years ago, but by the grace of God, I am not there today.  And my children are not there today.  As a dear, wise man continually reminds me, " we are true miracles".  However, this doesn't mean that I do not still feel the "after shocks", because I do.  Yesterday was one of those days.  But, because of my faith and wonderful Godly people, those days and the pain of them do not bring me down like they once did.  See, I do not see myself as a victum anymore.  It is a choice we have to make each time we are reminded of it or faced with hurtful people.  The pain is still there, yes, but I am a different person than I was.  I have compassion and a genuine love for others that I didn't have before.  I can even say "thank you".  His way is perfect.  My job is just to just keep my focus on that.

So, what does this all that have to do with the painting I posted today?  This is the type of painting I started with several years ago as my outlet.  A line from a song, writings by my children, my grandmother's correspondence, or a ticket stub, could often be found in them.   They were glimpses into my life.  It was healing. 

Longing.......

 

20 x 24

"Somewhere Quiet in Italy"

At this moment, this is where I wish I was.  Alone.  Ok, my husband Tommy can come too.

Fun With "Drip Trees"

I had so much fun painting yesterday, that I kept thinking to myself how I felt sorry for people who don't enjoy this wonderful hobby.  It is such a great outlet for me.  Then I thought, well, other people enjoy sewing or biking and I don't, so I didn't feel so bad after all.

A friend turned me on to an artist named Robert Burridge.   He has a great newsletter that comes out monthly.  In his September 2009 one, he gives instructions on how to paint "drip trees".  I had so much fun trying these.  The sad thing is that he has a workshop every year at Cheap Joe's in Boone, NC. and I uses to live in Boone.  By the way, if anyone is familiar with Joe Miller, owner of Cheap Joe's, and watches his videos on You Tube, he is as nice in person as he is in his videos.  A truly delightful man.

I think I'll do some more trees today, and I'll be so glad I'm not biking!

l

12x12 Paper

Acrylic and Oil Pastel 

In Search Of My Style!

                                                                  30 x 24
                                                   "Morning In Montepulciano"
                                                                   Sold
Well now, considering the fact that I have only done three oil paintings, two that I posted yesterday, and the third being a "Dreama style" redo from the workshop, I was forced to go around my house looking for old paintings to post.  In doing so, I laughed at myself and all the styles that I have tried in search of "me".  I still haven't found "my style".  In February, I was into boats (probably a Leslie influence).  Before then, it was landscapes, abstracts, nudes, primitive landscapes, mix media collages.......  The styles go on and on.  The fact is, I love to paint it all.   One day, I know I'll settle on "me", but then again, that would be boring for me, and life is to short to be that!

My First Post!!!!

Why Sweet Baby?
Well, if you know me, that's not exactly the adjective that describes me.  Only one other person has ever called me "sweet" until now.  After a wonderful workshop I attended, and encouragement from a fellow artist named Lisa, I knew it was time to put myself out there and share my art.  So, I text my husband, who was out of town, and asked him to help me set a blog up when he got home.  Shortly after, I received an email sending me to my new blog, the name was SWEET BABY'S ART.  Seeing that he is my biggest fan, how could I change it?

I have just started painting in oils, and it is a whole new experience!  It is so different from acrylic paint, and it can actually be quite challenging.  I have only painted three canvases since my workshop, and twice I wiped off the paint saying "I can't do this", but with encouragement from my friends that I met in Atlanta, I persevered.  I realized that it is indeed a journey.  So thank you to The Black Eye Peas.

                                                                         "Solitude" 
                                                                          12 x 12

                                                                          
                                                                      "Courage"
                                            This was my first attempt, and I think it looks like a
                                            wedge if cheese, but I didn't give up.