Daily Rituals

nfdp - I've been thinking about daily rituals and habits lately. Particularly how I can adjust mine at the studio to help me get into the task at hand - painting.
Right now my routine is pretty much : unlock the door, sign-in (I keep a sign-in sheet by the door and keep track of my hours) and turn on the light by the tea kettle.

I flick on the tea kettle then go light a candle on my table -

then I go over to plug in my twinkle lights around the window

then I go grab the tea and put on my painting shirt.  I do this every time I come in the studio.

It is my little routine or habit or whatever you want to call it (neurosis?)  What are your daily habits that you do when you hit the studio or need to start a creative process?
I found this page of Ben Franklin's routine - so interesting!

Just Desserts - Beth Urdang Show

nfdp
Proud to be a part of this delicious show at Beth Urdang Gallery . 

JUST DESSERTS

April 2 - May 17, 2014

View Exhibition

CLAES OLDENBURG
JAMES DEL GROSSO           K  HENDERSON            MARY ELLEN JOHNSON             PAT LASCH              DEBBIE MILLER         

 CARA WOOD GINDER

BETH URDANG GALLERY

129 NEWBURY STREET    BOSTON, MA 02116    TEL.:  781-264-1121    E-MAIL: burdang@mac.com

www.bethurdanggallery.com

Mon - Sat  11 to  5:30

Swimmer with Cirlces 3

20x20" oil on panel
These are "working titles" - eventually they will get proper titles.

Swimmer with Circles 2

20x20" oil on panel
another swimmer, more circles.  Are you on Facebook?  have you "liked" my facebook page yet?  Hop on over and say Hi and give me a like.  I am close to 1000 fans- so share with your friends too! After I reach 1000 fans I'll celebrate with a 'giveaway' to celebrate!!

Swimmer with Circles 1

20 x20 " oil on panel
This week I'll share some of the bigger paintings I've been working on.  More of my "swimmers" but now some circles are finding there way into the story... 

Hello Spring! have a good weekend!

nfdp

A Peek into My Studio

nfdp- Here is a peek into what has been going on around here. Pssst.... A LOT!

How to make Easy Paint and Sharpie Eggs

nfdp-
 Here's the thing,  I know there are amazing eggs out there - beautifully decorated- painstakingly decorated eggs.  Stunning little works of art.  I have even made my share of fancy eggs.
These are not those.  Nope.  Not even close.
 These are the "use what you can find and make them fast,easy and simple" kind of eggs. 
This is how I made them:

First, I got out my little collection of  "Oops" paint.  Oops paint is the paint that is returned to the big box home improvement stores - I think I got each one of these for .50 cents!

Nothing perfect or fussy here.

They look pretty just like this, but I couldn't help myself.  Let them dry, added more color on top then dry again.  Doodle time after that!   I just love Sharpies.

BTW - I think eggs look super cute on bottles with bows!  These eggs are hard boiled - meant to be eaten, so the "easy, fast and simple" thing works - you could use blown eggs or wooden eggs from the craft store if you wanted to do more detailed intricate designs and save them from year to year.

A Peek Into My Sketchbook - using simple tools

nfdp - Fancy art supplies are great - who doesn't love a  new set of Copic Markers?
 But the beauty of a sketchbook is - it doesn't care what you use.  Often I use regular old ball point pens, and office supplies like highlighters. It makes no difference.  What really matters is drawing all the time.

You can see more pages using simple office tools HERE

Mazie-dog painting commission

Mazie

6x6" oil on panel
 This is sweet Mazie, the cutest little Labradoodle.  
Another dog commission. Seriously People, I LOVE doing these. Painting dogs is so fun.
Bring it on. 
  I like to make a set of notecards as a gift to my collectors too

 

Make your own dried lemon verbena tea

nfdp

Missing my garden so I decided to brew up some of that summer flavor.
 Last year I grew lemon verbena in my little veg patch and all summer I made iced tea with it and some fresh mint leaves - so refreshing!
In the fall I cut some sprigs of the lemon verbena and dried it in my kitchen then popped it into an airtight container to use on a day just like this. A little bit of the garden when there is no garden.
Today it got brewed into a splendid pot of tea. 

Happy First Day of Spring 2014

 Happy first day of Spring!

 Dear Mother Nature,

Please reward us for enduring that long winter with a perfect spring !  I promise to compost all my kitchen scraps and plant lots of flowers.  thanks.

One Love - chocolate cupcake painting

Another little cupcake getting ready for the show.  Have to admit, I like this one.  Sometimes a painting just speaks to me, something is going on with this one that I just love.

A Parade of Green

My nod to all the St.Patrick's Day celebrations from last weekend.
Painting a batch of cupcakes for a super sweet show that is coming up.
More info soon!  In the mean time "like" my Instagram - things often pop up there first!

6x6"oil

Make Your Own Luck

 Happy St. Patrick's Day! 
I've been so busy in the studio that I've barely come up for air.  Sometimes I have to back away from the big oil paintings and do something else.  Yesterday I made this for my bulletin board.  Totally different and a doodle really - thinking about other things while making it.  Make Your Own Luck. 

 COME ON Spring!  You can do it!
 I searched the garden for signs of Spring today .
 Crocus, daffodils,  and snowdrops peeking through!  So nice to see some green.
 .

Black Sharpie Eggs

nfdp.
You knew this was coming right?  Black sharpie on white eggs.  So simple. The possibilities are endless! Doodle DIY heaven.

My favorite egg dyeing is HERE

Pink

6x6" oil on canvas

Chocolate on Yellow

6x6" oil on canvas $150