Painting Inspiration: Do It For The Process

If you've been following my blog from the get go, you may have noticed that I enjoy creating art!

I'm that great, but I enjoy doing it and sometimes I even think my pieces turn out pretty well.

I've always enjoyed arts and crafts etc. growing up and in high school I took art class all four years. 

My senior year I took an independent study class, where I just got studio time every day to created whatever I wanted. It was awesome! I got to experiment with different mediums and my art teacher gave me tips and suggestions as I went. I don't paint quite as often as I would like, partially due to lack of space! In the picture below I was sitting on the floor, painting at my coffee table--good thing it's a hand-me down coffee table from Joel's bachelor pad that is already chipped and dented!

My youngest brother moved out on his own into his very first apartment this summer. He was talking with me about how he'd like to set up his apartment and what colors he liked. My mom and I went to IKEA with him and then made him go into Home Goods, and he was commenting that he liked blues.

So I told him I would paint him a picture for his apartment.

I used a picture that he took for inspiration. I'm pretty sure it was taken at a golf course (he used to work at one, and it is his favorite sport), but you can't really tell, haha! Here is the comparison.

I used acrylic paint. Most of paintings are in acrylic, it a very easy medium to use.

I also got inspired to paint a pineapple! Pineapple is my favorite fruit!
Joel and I randomly bought one this summer, and it was sitting on our kitchen counter next to a pitcher I had bought, and I was inspired by the colors and the patterns.
Pineapples are very geometric. I created and abstracted version.

The inspiration:

It turned out a little cartoon-ish, but I like the colors. I discovered a hashtag on Instagram called
"do it for the process" and I've taken it to heart. I may not love everything I create, but if don't try it and keep doing it then I'm never going to get better. It's about the process.
So I decided to hang it above my temporary bar cart.

Speaking of bar carts, I have craft stuff in the bottom half, but I did fix up the top!
The pink goblets were a birthday present from my mother-in-law. I love them!

What's your artistic medium?
Have you done it lately?
Do it for the process!

Happy Wednesday!

Easter Sunday

Hi lovelies! I'm sorry I am soo behind on blogging! Over the next week I'm going to catch up!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend. I had 2 Easter brunches this weekend, and I am kicking myself that I didn't take more pictures of my family!! I didn't take any!

These are the only little Easter decorations I have. I got the banner from Target and the bunny and eggs were gifts from my mom :)

I am loving all of the cherry blossoms this spring!!

Easter brunch number one was at my Cousin's home. There were lots of goodies! I made a dump cake from the pioneer woman. I didn't take a picture of it because it wasn't very pretty but it was sure tasty! I made the cherry and pineapple one but instead of white cake mix I used cherry chip cake mix. It is super easy to make, but one tip I have if you make it is to make sure you cover every inch of the cake mix with butter! It only bakes where there's butter and I didn't realize that so I had to add butter and then it baked a little uneven.

We made some crafts that my Aunt discovered on Pinterest. Her sample in the top picture turned out really well.

Mine, well it was more of a Pinterest fail haha ;)

On actual Easter we had a brunch at my parents' house. My mom used her special place mats that she bought in the Caribbean when she got to go on a cruise with my dad.

My mom and my youngest brother cooked. I wish I had taken a picture of the cream cheese stuffed chocolate dipped strawberries my brother made!

My nephew had his very first Easter basket. As you can see he's a busy little boy ;)

My sister-in-law put a very soft, personalized bunny in his basket. So cute!

What I wore: Dress: Old Navy (old) // Cardigan: Old Navy (old) // Rain Booties: ASOS (old, similar) // Bracelet: Charming Charlie

I did manage to get a picture of Joel & I. Unfortunately it was after it started storming! It was raining and thundering so we took a picture under the covered deck.

My mom & I made a quick shopping trip to our favorite shopping area, bridgeport village, Friday after I got done teaching and I got the bracelet at Charming Charlie. It was so cute I couldn't leave without it!

I couldn't go home without snapping a picture of this little cutie :)

I love that we celebrate Jesus' resurrection in the Spring. It's a reminder that we can be made new again through Christ because of his ultimate sacrifice. He gave his life in exchange for ours, so that we may be forgiven our transgressions and be made clean in Christ. New life comes in the spring, and new life comes through Christ at any time.

I hope you all had a Lovely Easter.
Happy Monday!

Valentine's Day Decor

 I got crafty Sunday night & finally finished a painting I started last spring. If you have been following my blog you my remember be posting about here. I decided to add some glitter because, glitter makes everything better :)

 Here's my little big of Valentine's Day decor for this year. I made all of the canvas art. I made the "LOVE" art last February. It was my second blog post! Read it here.

 

 I have a bunch of these little quote cards about love. They are left over from my wedding. I had them on all of the tables at my reception.

 

 This year, since Valentine's Day is on a Saturday I thought maybe my husband and I would go somewhere special because we actually have time! Unfortunately, since we really have never gone anywhere for Valentine's Day (besides our local winebar), we didn't realize that every place was already going to be booked when we tried to make reservations! Alas, our Valentine's plans are up in the air. Are any of you doing anything special/fun? 

Hope you have a happy Friday & a lovely Valentine's Day weekend :)

Wednesday Wisdom

I painted this...and to be quite honest, I don't really like it haha. My bird turned out to big! But, I have it hanging up on my wall anyway ;)

"Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark."

This quote is from a wall hanging that my mother in law gave to me. It is good reminder that even though sometimes things aren't going the way we planned and it may seem that nothing is going right, to keep "singing" because God has a plan for you. Right now with the dance team I coach I feel like I'm never going to make it out of the dark, but I know that if I keep praying and I keep a positive attitude and don't let it get me down things will be OK. I may not get to take my team to State this year, but I can still give my dancers a positive experience and continue to pass on my love for dance.

Keep your Faith today. Don't give up & keep singing.

Happy Wednesday!

Wednesday Wisdom

Keep your chin up and know this:
Something beautiful is on the horizon!
Happy Wednesday :)

Wednesday Wisdom

Sorry everyone! Busy week with my team at dance camp and I had Zumba this morning and about to head off to dance camp again! All I have to say about this one is that YOU MATTER! Your drop in the ocean is needed so don't give up! Keep doing your thing :)

Happy Wednesday!

Wednesday Wisdom

This is my 100th post!

And I'm posting really late today--sorry!

I painted the Lion above in High School and my inspiration behind the painting was Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia series.

"You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are."

Aslan says this to Lucy in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader when she wishes she was her sister Lucy and almost wishes herself away.

Wherever you are in life right now, don't ever wish yourself away. Do not doubt your value. YOU are valuable. You have something to offer. You might not think that you have any special talents or uniqueness, but God created you to be you for a reason. It might even be just so that one day you smile and say hi to a stranger, and that smile gives them hope to keep going. We will never know until we are no longer on this earth. Don't run from who you are!

I hope you had a fabulous Wednesday :)

Artist Spotlight: Katie Daisy

Today I want to put a spotlight on one of my favorite artists: Katie Daisy.

I honestly love every single one of her paintings and I wish I could buy them all. It was hard to pick favorites to share on my blog because they are all so lovely and colorful. I love how she interprets nature and that some of her paintings are Oregon inspired. They are just gorgeous. To check out the rest of her artwork you can go to here Etsy shop here.

Sleep Under the Stars

Let's Go Camping

Wild at Heart

Stars

Cascadia

Love Oregon

 I Love Oregon & Katie Daisy!

Happy Tuesday All :)

Wednesday Wisdom

This quote from Disney's Mulan is one of my favorite quotes. For anyone who is going through a hard time right now, remember that the tough times are what help to make us who we are. If you keep your head up and stay optimistic that better times are coming, you will be a stronger person when you get through it. Of course you can always pretend you are a Disney Princess as well--I don't think that there is a single Disney Princess that doesn't go through some hardship on her way to becoming the princess ;)

Keep your head up & Bloom in adversity.

Happy Wednesday :)