Bali Rebound

I recently returned from an art retreat in Bali. My instructor was the mermaid in disguise– Tracy Verdugo.

This was my first workshop with her but certainly more will follow. She is warm and friendly and completely genuine and generous. We took notes and took pictures of our steps. — yes I have been to an art retreat where after we had paid and arrived the instructor said no notes and no pictures to help guide us after workshop was over as artists.

These art retreats or workshops can be a bit like eating 3 day old pizza — can go either way!! You love it or you are holding yourself right and saying — nope never again.

Every woman I met at this workshop was lovely. I would be proud to call any of them friend. Graceful and talented they joked and laughed and learned and played well together. Tracy guides us without seeming to and is in tune with the vibe of the group and responds to it. She makes suggestions not demands and offers ideas not criticism. She help me and several of the others truly have break throughs.

If you get a chance check her out at http://www.tracyverdugo. You won’t be sorry.

Here are a few pics of my time in Bali with the group.

Have a good week and enjoy opportunities to see art around you as well as create art. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth the effort.

Cheers

Xoxo

Me

Bali Birthday

This week finds me in Bali with a group of lovely creatives who are nothing less than awesome. Balian beach early morning

Thanks for checking in. More pics to come. I have been art journaling each day in addition to the classes I’m taking. It is lovely.

I am grateful

Xoxo

Sherri

Wednesday’s Worktop

So on Wednesday’s work table we have a stenciled piece. I believe the stencil is from Andrea Matus DeMeng. I plan to do flowers and gears and “stuff” all over this piece.

I generally am not a flowers and butterfly kind of artist — but Hey it’s April and the grass is turning green. I can walk without squashing and the birds are yelling their little beaks off. — I was powerless to resist.

Hope your week is going well and that you are well. Remember that creativity is whatever you choose it to be for you, your art and your situation.

Maybe you arrange the kids pbnj sandwich triangles creatively on the plate — or perhaps you sketch while eating your pbnj. Maybe baking is how you create. Maybe you paint or splatter or assemble — The options for creative living are around each of us.

Join me and Cheerfully Create some imperfect art today!!

Xoxo

Me

This week

This week brought a trip to California and a visit with a dear friend or two.

If you are lucky enough to have some friends that have invested in you and your crazy for decades (I’m so old — decades!!). Cherish them.

For me I figure any broads that have known me for 30 years or more and still choose to be my friends may have a thing for pain. …. But who am I to squash that. Some lick lemons, some eat too much captain crunch til the roof of their mouth is all sore , — some are my friends. My hands are tied!!! The universe has spoken!

Here are some pics of stuff I saw this week in California. Many artistic elements – a pleasure. Enjoy.

Remember that art is everywhere and you have the right to decide how you will spend your time and who you will spend it with.

Xoxo

Me

I think it might be done

So I have been working on this piece off and on for a minute now. I’m not mad at it but I am also not in love with it. Maybe it isn’t finished — it’s hard to think clearly. My studio is freezing. I have no heat and it is like 30 degrees outside. My toes are actually complaining!!!

It’s funny how things don’t have to be perfect to be worth it. I wonder how much time we waste not being fully engaged in our dreams and our life while we wait for the pieces to fit perfectly.

My studio is freezing and there is lathe plaster peeling off the walls in places. But it has a wonderful vibe and it fits me!! It is my happy place. It makes me happier than a bird who found a French fry!!!!

Have a good week. Don’t be afraid to cheerfully create imperfect art or to live an imperfect life!!

Xoxo

Me

On the road again ….

No I’m not gone missing just on a road trip with Mr.

Here’s a peak at some of the art journal pages I created while sitting in the passenger seat of our truck. I create a small carry on with magazines and texts and pics in separate ziplocks. I bring some paint pens and a reliable waterproof (real not manufacturer idea of waterproof!) black pen. A glue stick some two sided tape and a water brush and watercolor pencils and ya dah!!! Hit the road toad.

Mr. And I get along much better when I art journal on the road too. He doesn’t get nagged at or co piloted as much about his bad driving (and I am talking 12 year old stole the car for the first time bad driving) and I get some backgrounds created and ideas generated. Win. Win.

Road tripping is one of my favorite things to do. …. but I like it better when I am driving and Arlo (my boxer) is in the passenger seat!! Shhhhh don’t tell Mr.

Happy New Year and here’s to a creative 2019.

Cheers

Xoxo

Me

Not Pretty

Okay so not every art journaling idea I have is great.

Exhibit A: because I have been sick three days now I have been drinking cups of tea and feeling sorry for myself and my traitor of a body. I thought I had ana maxing idea. Now I am willing to acknowledge it may have been the NyQuil talking!!!

Anyway back to the tea. An herbal tea I like has beautiful leaves and little softly colored flowers in it. So of course my mind (again maybe it was the fever) started thinking that maybe I could create an amazeballs journal background with the stuff. …… then again ….. maybe not!

I emptied the tea bag and spritzed with water and put a bunch of books on it to press it out. (Okay actually it was a huge box of baby wipes – but books sounds more artsy). I expected to open it just now and find lovely floral smells and muted natural colors all washed into the page in a wreath shape and I would use watercolors and stuff to art it up!!

Pic above is what it actually looked like. Nope — nothing. Just greyish greenish mess. But never say die and I am working with it today in between other cups of tea and coughing fits.

Check back tomorrow for finished product. Maybe it will be soooo beautiful and organic and smell of flowers. Stop laughing — Hey it could happen.

Now to finish that imperfect art of mine.

Xoxo

Me