AEDM Day 13: "Naturalist"

Art Every Day Month, Day 13: "Naturalist"

Being under a tree and gazing up through the limbs often gives me a feeling of flying....A green-limbed ascension in which all things seem possible.

AEDM 2014 Day 12: "Letting Go Of"

Art Every Day Month Day 12: "Letting Go Of"

AEDM Day 11: "To Fly"

Art Every Day Month Day 11: "To Fly"

There are times on this journey that I wish I could fly more easily above the daily grind, obstacles, and limitations. Early this evening I lay on my back in the grass under our big old oak tree and just listened to the birds all around me. A small, cool breeze came from nowhere and then it changed direction and softly blew across my face. An oak leaf drifted to the ground next to my head. In that moment was a perfection and a reminder to carry on.

AEDM Day 7: "True Love"

Art Every Day Month Day 7: "True Love"

AEDM Day 3: "Contains Joy"

Art Every Day Month Day 3: "Contains Joy"

Animals, animals, animals! Especially our 4-footed domestic companions -- they have the ability to lift our spirits and give us a different view of life. I couldn't resist this fellow's "smiling face" -- and his willingness to sport a pair of shades (if not Photoshopped) -- just to please his human buddy!

The Blank Canvas Blog Hop!

Are you familiar with that feeling one gets as you're facing a task and you just don't know where to begin? Well artists aren't any different from any other person who hasn't a clue of where start a new project!

It's often a scary place -- especially when that blank canvas, book, piece of paper, quilt, chunk of marble is just sitting there! For an artist this can be a terrifying place to be. Doubts loom and often a litany of self-criticism rises to the forefront. The Muses have left the house. What if they don't come back? 

Luckily after many years of dealing with the Blank Canvas -- or in my case the "Blank Book Page Spread" (since I primarily alter books) -- I've learned a few tricks on how to get the creative juices flowing. And so have 16 artists in the Blank Canvas Blog Hop. Each of these artists share experiences on how they jump start their creativity PLUS each is having a drawing for a giveaway. So hop on over to the first artist, Karen Friedland on Monday, September 8th. 

And return to my blog on September 15th to see what I do to get myself moving in the flow -- and to enter for a chance to win one of my Wild Spirit Animal pendant necklaces!

BLOG HOP ROSTER for ARTISTS -- Follow the links to each day's artist to get tips on addressing the Blank Canvas and how to participate in their drawing for a free gift! And if you come in late to this Blog Hop you can go to any of the earlier artists' pages to see their tips and enter their giveaway contest (Sept 8-22).

Earlier Participants!
1. Sept 8   Karen Friedland 
2. Tuesday Sept 9   Lezette Markham
3. Wednesday Sept 10 Cynthia Patton
4. Thursday Sept 11 Jennyann Carthern
5. Friday "Frenzy" Sept 12  Kiala Givehand
6. Saturday Sept 13 Jan Blount
7. Sunday Sept 14 Effy Wild
8. Monday Sept 15 Virginia Simpson-Magruder
9. Tuesday Sept 16 Dariana Cruz


TODAY'S BLANK CANVAS ARTIST!  
10. Wednesday Sept 17 Susan Miller go here

Next in Line!
11. Thursday Sept 18 Grace howes 
12. Friday Sept 19 Tori Deaux 
13. Saturday Sept 20 Kiala Givehand
14. Sunday Sept 21 Martin Arkenstone 
15. Monday Sept 22 Nicole Piar

When you return on Sept 15 to here my tips on dealing with Blank Canvas Paralysis, you'll also have the opportunity to participate in my Wild Spirit Pendant Giveaway. First Like my Wild Spirit Animals Facebook Fan Page, and then Sign up for my monthly newsletter by clicking on the blue button in the column to the right of this post.

Wild Spirit Animal Pendant

Hello, My Mane in the Wind!

Dear Mane in the Wind,
It's so GREAT! hearing from you. You've been on my mind...always...but somehow I just couldn't sit down at the computer to write you a love letter. I knew somehow that you'd understand, because your blood runs through my veins. I've guess I've been traveling the road of independence, maybe? Kind of like a teenager or college grad? Well,  I've been testing my wings; experimenting with different life situations; trying out all sorts of, hmmmn, illicit substances; giving up old habits and acquiring some new ones! Sometimes I feel very alone in this world. Sometimes I just want to be alone (except for my two kitties). But I really want to tell you and The World what I've been doing creatively for the past two years; what I'm doing now; what's been working and what doesn't seem to fit; what things I planning to do, what things I'm just dreaming about. I think there might be some kindred souls out there who are also traveling this road and I'd love to hear from them!

Was it only 5 years ago I started sharing this creative journey with you? I was so unsure of myself then, as you well know...And now, well, something is stronger! I now know and without hesitancy can claim that I am a gifted, creative soul!

And my mane definitely blows in the wind! It's great to be back!

Love, Love, Love,
Virginia

Photos of Some of the Things I've Been Doing in 2013-2014 (Teaching Artist for ATA; Get to draw Rodin's "The Kiss" at the National Gallery of Scotland; Studiy painting and drawing with Sabrina TerHeune; Hold "Express Yourself! Intro to Altered Books and Collage" and "Altered Book Portals as a Way of Seeing" workshops; Learn intuitive painting from Flora Bowley and Tracy Verdugo workshops; Teach altered books at The Gap, Inc.; "Hold Art Journal Your Travels" workshop at Book Passage; Expand my Wild Spirit Animals line of jewelry...) Visit Kentucky Girl Designs website for more info...

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 1048

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 1048: Trust

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 1047

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 1047: Shadows Are Fallin'

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 1045

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 1045: She Sells Seashells

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 1044

Daily Journal Page Challenge..Day 1044: Punta Mita Beach Bird

Lying on the canopied beach beds at Punta Mita -- these little mynah-type blackbirds would be flitting around looking for food and reveling in the beach air. This photo is a silhouette of one caught by my camera through the muslin.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day1043

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day1043: Breaking Away 

Separating yourself from a person, place, or situation is never easy. Part of you is always looking back over your shoulder -- until the place you desire to be begins to feel like home, begins to feel a part of you. Then you wonder how did I ever live in that other world? Why couldn't I see? How could I have been so mislead? How could I have been so dense? Then the next step is to be compassionate with that self that lived there -- in that past, in that situation -- to not judge it, to not judge yourself. I think perhaps that's the evolution of consciousness -- that's Truth revealed.

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day1042

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day1042: Let's Go RVing!

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 1040

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 1040: (Teetering) On the Edge

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- 1039

Daily Journal Page Challenge...1039: A Horrible Blessing

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- 1038

Daily Journal Page Challenge...1038: Time for a Change

Believe me, it doesn't have to be like this...we have a myriad of choices!

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- 1037

Daily Journal Page Challenge...1037: Building a Mystery

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- 1036

Daily Journal Page Challenge...1036: True Purpose ID

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- 1035

Daily Journal Page Challenge...1035: Give Them Something to Talk About

Daily Journal Page Challenge -- Day 1034

Daily Journal Page Challenge...Day 1034: You Fill in the Blank