I am back!

I am back from visiting my folks for a few days. I had meant to come back on Thurs but I just didn't feel like driving back-so drove back today instead.

I am a bit tired from the drive but other than that, I feel great. I feel re-energized and excited to have had a few days to just chill :)

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Gina Jrel's Art studio and gallery. She is a local S. Utah artist and I just adore her work. She is awesome too! Such a free spirit, and I love her attitude :)

Anyway, I took a few pics and wanted to share :) I first happened upon her work a couple years ago when visiting a local gallery there. It just knocked my socks off, and ever since, I have kept up to date with what she's been doing . As soon as I found out she opened her studio I KNEW I had to go check it out.

New ATC's I Stamped

Today I managed to get a bit of stamping in :) I did a few ATCs for a swap I am in. I had fun! I was looking through "Art Specially" and I was so inspired by all the sponging I saw in there that I had to do it myself.......Its been ages since I have sponged color like this-I used to do this all the time. I forgot how much I loved it :)

Heading out on Monday for a much needed break for a few days :)

Gillian Graduated Preschool Today

I am so proud-what a milestone! Gillian starts kindergarten on August 22nd. We are excited for her to be making this transition. She will have some preschool this summer as well, but today was her "official" last day. She got an award for being "most creative" and "most imaginative" which of course I am SO proud of :)

What made me so proud today, is that she SMILES!! I can tell her to smile for the picture and she does. This is something I have longed for-to see her really smile.

Here's some pics :)

"Touch"

I have had a fascination with doing stuff with Hands lately. I have had the image of this hand for eons, and have been wanting to use it so I was just inspired to for this piece.

I literally just had fun with this-it was like play. I tried not to be too serious.

its an 8x8 canvas.

Prepared papers, image transfers (the hand), found papers, acrylics and caran d'ache crayons.

Another work in progress

I did this yesterday...........I feel like it needs a little more, but I am not sure. I haven't done anything with it today, but I decided to take a pic of it as sometimes it helps to look at it in a different perspective. I wanted to use hands and have been wanting to use the image of this beautiful bird somehow and it just seemed perfect in these cupped hands. And the window-it spoke to me too........sort of like the bird can fly away through the window....... I dunno.

I really like it so far-now If I can figure out how to finish it off! Its a 10x10 canvas.

Oh CRAP! (Literally!) LOL

Kinda funny..........I decided to start working on a collage today. I am needing to do another one by this weekend and my poor muse has gone missing, so thought I would just start something, despite the fact I just don't feel like doing anything. I got my canvas covered in old book pages.........I pop it outside in the hot sunlight to speed dry it, and left to go get Aidan at school knowing I would be back and it would be ready for the next step when I got home. Well, ahem, not only was it all set to go when I got home, I came to find a little birdie pooped on it LOL
Sheesh! Oh well, it looks like an old coffee splatter or something........I am going to do a light gesso over this anyway, but I just thought it was sort of funny :) LOL