Keep Smiling

Graffiti art with a positive attitude... 

Sharing with Writing on the Wall hosted by Cheryl. 

Lost muse...

Searching for her muse

wandering the mistiness

Will she find her way? 

Today I’m joining with Haiku my Heart at recuerda mi corazon, and also partying with the artists at Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin.

  

The past two weeks I’ve had a bit of stress with my son, who is having some serious issues. All my energy is used attempting to keep him on an even keel, and there is little left for me.

A wise friend reminded me that I need to take care of myself (as has my husband) and so I’m trying to do my art. Alas, my muse seems to be hiding somewhere in the clouds over my head.

Since starting something new required too much brain power, I pulled out some mixed media canvases that I started awhile back and had set aside. I did not take before pictures, but here’s where I stopped.  The photos aren't that great, nor am I happy with the results thus far... they need more layers and some words. Definitely works in progress! :)

I'll keep plugging away...

Now I'm off to visit Rebecca at Haiku my Heart, and the artists at Paint Party Friday to be inspired! And perhaps my muse will be coaxed out of hiding. :)


Thanks for stopping by!  

HuMp DaY Haiku - Splintered

broken and splintered

shadow of it's former self

holds it's own beauty
© Helen Campbell 2012

Splintered and fractured into pieces.
I tell myself that each rough spot has it's own beauty... so I keep looking.
My self tells me it's tired.
Everything in it's time.

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. 

I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 


Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 


You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello.  

Magical View

Driving  south to Mount Vernon last week with my husband, I spotted a snowy clear cut on a hill, with a few trees left in the draw. From our distance, it looked like a heart. The magic of finding hearts. I literally do find them everywhere. :)


After attending the "Art of Moving Forward" workshop in Anacortes last weekend, our heart was spotted again along Highway 20. I attempted a picture, my camera just didn't come through. ( A Canon SX30IS 14.1 MP with 35x is on my wish list.)


Here's one my friend Cheryl took for me with her much better camera.  :)

This is inspiration for a canvas that I hope to work on soon... 


Sharing today with Carol at A Creative Harbor on Magical Monday. 

Detour to Highway 9

I wonder what it means...
This detour sign to Highway 9
that no longer exists.


Two vintage signs on the door to my husbands shop make a photo I've posted to my Fine Art America gallery.

This also just happens to fit the Writing on the Wall challenge hosted by Cheryl at mysticmissive. 

Paint Party Friday - Heart with wings

Happy Paint Party Friday everyone! This fun weekly event is hosted by Eva and Kristin.

This week I worked on a variety of things, but what I'm showing is this small 3x3 canvas. I painted this with acrylics, no intention in mind initially.

I also just finished this little heart, by tinting and adding the wings, with the intent to place on a canvas, but hadn't determined what background. 

And decided to see if they go together. Hmmm... The canvas should be larger, and I'm unsure the colors go well. But it's given me ideas, and that's the name of the game. 

For my birthday, I've treated myself to the "The Art of Moving Forward" in Anacortes, where I'll be this weekend learning all kinds of information about how to have a successful art business. I'll be by to visit you all as soon as I can when I'm back. In the meantime, have a fabulous weekend! 


And hey, if you have time, check out the Treasury I just created on Etsy for a Team Challenge "In the Woods".

Find out what the other Paint Party Friday artists are working on here. 

In the Woods!

I've created a new Treasury gallery in my Etsy shop, as part of a Team challenge, and would LOVE for you to go check it out and comment if you like what you see. The title is "In the Woods" and includes fun things you might see as you take a walk in the woods. I hope you have time to look and enjoy browsing a few of the shops. :) 

In the Woods

HuMp DaY Haiku - Mossy Stump

On a mossy stump.

Wandering in our wild space

Message calls to me

I've had a hard time the past few weeks, too many demands, too much stress, too little support. And wandering the back “wild space” near the creek, listening to the birds, I came across this stump, embedded with an old rusty shovel, showing me a moss heart. Hearts literally jump out at me from all over. What do you suppose the message is?

I've decided I need to take some time away, all by myself, to think and find out what’s in MY heart. I must let go of the perceived expectations of others (and myself), and focus on being true to ME.

Note that this week I'm also submitting this post to 

Guest Heart Thursday  at Random Hearts

Haiku my Heart at recuerda mi corazon

And now... back to our  HuMp DaY Haiku!  
I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. 

I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 


Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 


You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello.  

Garden Corner

Photograph of a magical corner in my garden. You can almost see the fairies...

Prints for sale at Fine Art America.

Other than watermark, this is Straight Out of the Camera. 

Also linking to Lisa's Chaos - Macro Monday

And a new meme: Magical Monday at A Creative Harbor  

Happy St. Patricks Day!

A small round structure discovered on my son's trip to Ireland a few years ago. I love the country setting and the cows in the distance. Isn't it perfect for St. Patrick's Day? 

Wishing you a pot o' gold at the end of your rainbow! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Flower Crazy wannabe

Dreaming of a class.
Working out how to attend.
Thank you Universe!


I SOOOO want to take Carla Sonheim's online class Flower Crazy! This month other obligations have used up my "art class" budget. 

So universe, I'm putting it out to you and claiming with a grateful heart.

I will be able to participate in Flower Crazy!  

I'm doing the work and soon will be able to say...

Joining with Haiku my Heart Friday

Paint Party Friday - working on it

I so look forward to Paint Party Friday each week, and visiting as many fellow artists as I can to see what they've been up to the past week. Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting! 


First a couple of announcements:
I've started a Facebook Page for Natures Walk Studio, and I'd love you to check it out. 
 I've also just started selling a selection of my photography at Fine Art America. I'll be adding more to both galleries as the weekend progresses. 

Now on to the Party! This week I worked on the 5x5 abstract landscape, trying several layouts for the final texture. 

After painting a bit more, I spent some time sorting buttons to find some that would work best... 

This photo shows the tree, some threads, dyed lacy ribbon attached, and some buttons laid on to decide if they will work. I'm still not sure about the buttons.  It's such a small canvas it was hard to find small buttons in the right colors. 

At this point I'm going to add more threads... and perhaps these buttons. And it may need something else in the bottom right corner... hmmm. )

 More to come... 

Check out what the other Paint Party Friday artists are working on here. 

HuMp DaY Haiku - Full Bloom

 

Bright spot in the gray

Cheering me on rainy days

Full bloom hellebore

Profusely blooming!

My hellebore Rosemary

helps me know she's near.

I love looking out the kitchen window at my hellebore, which has been in full bloom for the past several weeks. It's so wonderful to have plants that bloom in the end of winter gray weather. If you look closely, you'll also see the daffodils poking their head above ground too! 


And I know you're probably tired of hearing this... but I see a heart in one of the blossoms. I guess I want to see hearts everywhere, so I do. 

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. 

I especially like creating them to go with my photos and art. 


Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 


You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to see what they've created and say hello. 

English Daisies

English Daisies at the "farm", taken during one of my recent tours while visiting my husband during lunch.

They inspired me to attempt a technique by Carla Sonheim this past week. I posted my first creation here, if you're interested.

This is Straight Out of the Camera. 

Linking to Ruby Tuesday2 

Altered Book

 Our local art journaling group is starting another Altered Book Exchange. The book I'm using this time is a withdrawn library book, purchased at a Friends of the Library Book sale.  It was damaged on several pages, and had a cover with fun doodle type drawings all over it, which, in my book, makes it perfect to alter!  

I wanted to change the spine, but leave the rest of the cover intact. (Of course, I forgot to get a before picture)

Taped and painted

I debated covering the spine with cloth or painting it, and decided to paint. I prepped by sanding just the area I planned to paint, then taped (painters tape) to the edge of the cover pattern. I then painted a few layers of black gesso, drying between layers,  and added a couple of layers of black acrylic paint, also drying between layers. 

Once dry I removed the tape... TADA! 

Tape removed

I have covered spines with suede paper or cloth, but not painted, so hopefully it will hold up to 9-10 other artists working in it. 

I had to share the inside flyleaf with the original library pocket. This will become the signature page for everyone to sign and date when they work in my book. Besides the "check out slip",  I'll probably add a name plate and my theme title on these pages. 

For the theme, I think it may have to be something that includes doodles... but we'll see. 

Linking to

Writing on the Wall

Paint Party Friday - Abstract Flowers

Yay for Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin!

One of the things I worked on this week is a tutorial from Carla Sonheim that I've been meaning to try... Abstract Flowers. 

I started by painting blobs of color on my watercolor paper (140# cold press watercolor paper). After it dried, I circled the flowers with white gesso, immediately scratching marks with the point of the brush handle. 

This is not the best photo, but you get the idea. 

After the gesso is dry, you loosely circle the flowers with pencil... you can check the rest of the steps on Carla's tutorial. 

This is my finished piece. I made a few mistakes, but not too bad for the first try. tee hee! 

I had so much fun playing with this that I've started working on more abstract flowers, including one in my journal. And not to worry, I've worked on my WIP canvases also, I just haven't completed quite yet. Perhaps by next week. :)

Be sure to see what the other Paint Party Friday artists are working on here.  

Also linking to Artists In Blogland 

Pansy love

Cheerful little face

growing in a greenhouse pot

fills my heart with joy.

I recently realized that there are no pansies wintering over in pots on my deck. Not sure how that happened.  They are sturdy little fellows and winter over well, as a rule. I've been wanting some for early spring. I just adore pansies! 


After sharing lunch with my husband this weekend, (I adore him too!) I got a quick tour of the greenhouses to see what was blooming. Isn't this little pansy face cute? And do you see the heart on the bottom petal?  :)

Linking to 

Guest Heart Thursday  at Random Hearts
Share the Joy Thursday at Meri's Musings

Haiku my Heart at recuerda mi corazon

HuMp DaY Haiku - Rusty Wall

 

Random picture of 

this rusty greenhouse siding

on the nursery tour. 

X points out the spot

if you're feeling fanciful 

where a heart has formed

Visiting my husband at work during his lunch always provides photo opportunities. I snapped this rusty wall, thinking to use it in my art, and noticed the heart as I was editing. Those darn things just appear everywhere, don't they? :)

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes...  and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue.  In this process, I have found that creating a haiku (non rhyming poem with 5 - 7 - 5 syllables per line) feeds my soul. 

I especially like creating them to go with my photos. 


Would you like to share a haiku you have written? 


You may include a haiku in the comments, OR you may copy your blog post url (featuring a haiku) and add a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. And consider visiting other contributors blogs to say hello. 

Funky Rooster

Funky Garden Art

Recycled rusty rooster  

struts among the shrubs.

This is in the entry driveway of Cascade Cuts in Bellingham, taken during a recent visit to my husband at lunchtime. Rusty Rooster is made of a variety of recycled metal pieces from the farm. Isn't he cool? 

Linking to Ruby Tuesday 2

Snowdrops

And I have evidence... 

I love my little snowdrops. Spring is coming, spring is coming! 

Other than watermark, these photos are Straight Out of the Camera. 

See other SOOC photos here:

Paint Party Friday - Blue WIP

Happy Friday! Kristen and Eva are hosting another Paint Party Friday. Check out the festivities here.

I've started another mixed media canvas. Layered some papers and paint, sticking with blue tones this time. 

Adding layers and toning. I have a plan in mind, just haven't had time to get to the focal point. More to be revealed soon. 

Make sure to check out what the other Paint Party Friday folks are doing.  They probably have works they have finished. *grin*

Moss Heart

Noticing details. 

Moss upon a rocky slope

forms a gentle heart.

Linking to Guest Heart Thursday  at Random Hearts

Haiku my Heart at recuerda mi corazon