Still Waters

Wouldn't you love to just sit here and look... listen... breathe... be...

We spent a couple of days at a wonderful bed & breakfast (and dinner!) lodge on the border of Kansas & Missouri recently. We went in the spring and loved it so much that we went back for a fall visit. ( FYI Click for a look. - Cedar Crest Lodge... I've no affiliation with them, but would recommend it 10+ out of 10.)

We reached a certain kind of blissful boredom that just can never quite be acheived at home. In the spring there were hundreds of lilies in bloom, and I'm pretty sure some of those will end up on canvas soon. This time, though, we especially enjoyed the hiking trail that looped around 4-5 peaceful little ponds.  

My Weekly-ish Challenge this time wasn't just a word or a phrase, it was "The 23rd Psalm"

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall ot want. 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; 

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.

I knew what I'd be painting for it.  The tricky part was deciding which view to choose!

You'll just have to trust me...
there was a turtle sunning on one of those logs.

That reflection could not be any more perfect! 
No, it could not!

Sweet littke frog singing for us... :)

This little guy had the most beautiful orange markings on his head.

I do have one piece of advice... If you're the first hiker in the morning, keep a little stick swishing in front of you as you go because every spider has spent her night building her lovely web across the path.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas

I don't know how long I will get to keep this lovely little painting, but I'm sure going to enjoy seeing it on my own wall until it goes to its forever home.  Click Still Waters if you'd like to purchase it to have on your own wall.

Willowing Arts: Mastering Mixed Media 2026 (Inspired by Lessons 22-31)

I've slowly been working through these 41 lessons to "master mixed media."  Sometimes I'm so pleased with the result... Sometimes I enjoy the process... Sometimes I'm comfortable, and sometimes I'm trying to use some technique or material I've never used before... Sometimes I think the instructor just likes playing with art supplies but doesn't quite have the whole plan together. 

I love it either way.

But... Now, i think it's time to get back to my oil painting.  Yay!

*** (Want to know something???  I sold 19 oil paintings last weekend!  19!!  That's huge! It's so fun to watch a person's face when they spy the painting that "speaks" to them.  It's so interesting to see which painting they pick and hear why they want it for their own.  I hope each one is hanging proudly in its new forever home now.)

(Collage papers, gesso, ink applied through pipettes, colored pencil)
I've learned to trust the process.  When it looks like a complete mess
and waste of paper, paint, and time... just keep going.

(Doodling on dot paper with pen & colored pencil)
I felt like all my cool quilt-creating friends with this one!

(Craft paint, oil pastels)
A weird thing happened with this one.  Because it was "chalky," 
I knew it would smear inside my art journal. 
When I sprayed it with hairspray to affix it, it immediately changed colors.
It was like the hairspray just gobbled up the colors it didn't like. Weird...

(Graphite on watercolor-stained paper, colored pencils)
I'd never have imagined 2 years ago that I could enjoy the process of drawing a face,
but here we are.  Maybe not realistic, but awfully fun.

(Collage book pages & tissue paper, stenciling, gesso, acrylic ink)
I've done several pieces with this particular teacher.  I enjoy her so much. 
A hard part for me is with the layering, I have to cover up things I did and liked.

(Paint smears with big brush, mark making with little brush, embellishment with Posca pens)
I was not excited about this lesson, but I'm thrilled with the end result.
It just started out as three big pages of blobby mess. The doodles brought it to life.
Then cutting the big sheets down gave me the idea to make them into notecards. 
love! Love!! LOVE!!!

(Watercolor pencils, splatter, pen)
i think I needed my paper to be wetter so that my
splatters would have dispersed and faded  better.

(Acrylic inks, run together, splattered, blown through a straw, magazine collage)
The lesson called for using alcohol markers and alcohol drops... I did...
It did not work for me. I scrapped it and started over with other materials.
Although the process didn't work, I like the end result.

(Masking tape, medical tape, alcohol markers, drawing pen, collage paper)
Funny little picture; good lesson on perspective. 
The thing I love most about this is that two years ago, I would have said,
"I can't draw a house or cat free hand, I'll need to trace."
Nope, not any more,  I just whip it out! 
Huh... who'd have known that practice makes perfect pretty good!
** Also... I still am not sure why I was to put down random strips of tape before drawing.

(Lace, fabric, photo, stickers, dripped ink, colored pencil, crepe paper)
Yeah... I know... What's this? Kind of just glue everything you can find.
It was a real lesson... she demonstrated for 40 minutes...
So... you be the judge... No... Don't be.

Willowing Arts: Year of Magic & Fairy Tales (September)

... Still a life-long learner... 

...Still practicing art...

...Still trying new things...

Drawing, acrylic paint.
The underlayer was the shadows in browns then color added as a second layer.

Acrylic, collage paper, stencils, bubble wrap, white pen, colored pencil
It seemed odd to stencil paint the flowers black.  I didn't have the white spray
paint for a spritzy touch, but I used what I had to make an interesting effect.

Drawing, watercolor, colored pencil, pen
I had to be brave with blue, right across the face, neck, & chest for shadows
The water looks like fire... or the back of a dragon walking past... oh well...
And, the hair is a little more Medusa and a little less flowing... again... oh well...

Watercolor, India ink flow, splatter on wet, Posca pen
As I've done many many lessons, I've learned that I can do what
I want and ignore what I want... nobody's checking my work.
I tend to leave out the spiritual, ritual, mystical, symbolic parts.
I like my two plain old gnarly trees just fine.  

Craft paint, colored pencil
Hmmm... Okay... It's a momma bear dreaming???

Book page, Watercolor pencils, splatter
I got a book of Robert Frost poems at an estate sale for 50 cents. 
Money well spent!

Drawing, alcohol markers, colored pencils, letter stamps
This was my second attempt at learning to use alcohol markers.
I was more successful than the first try... still don't quite have the knack...

Collage papers, stencil, penwork
It was supposed to be an oracle card,
but I just call it a card with a pretty design.
I've kind of enjoyed making some of these projects
into notecards that can be used.

Welcome Home Retreat 10-Year Anniversary Celebration & Craft Fair

Congratulations to Welcome Home Retreat on your 10th Anniversary!

Thank you for letting me be a part of your mini-craft fair!

 

Special congratulations to my sister Sheila whose dream of owning a women's crafting center 11+ years ago came true.

And, special thanks to each person who purchased a painting.  I hope you love the one you chose and got home to find the perfect place to hang it.

I Like... (September 2026)

Thank you to Leeanne of Not Afraid of Color for reminding me to notice things I like. 

Click on HER BLOG to see what positive things others like..

I like butterflies.

I like keeping my fabric things and extra small canvases in this shelving unit.
But, I have trouble keeping the fabric stacked in the bottom cubbies.
Someone likes to dig it out and build himself a cozy bed.

This cat... he has some kind of sensor that tells him when 

I get settled in my chair so that he can immediately join me.

I like how these little ones come running whenever they see me. 
I'd like to think they love me, but I'm pretty sure
it's that they know I usually give them treats.

 I like keeping my little hens safe. 
So sometimes a forest friend has to go live in a different forest.

I like my little garden so much.
But, it's October and time to let it rest for a few months.

LeeAnne's  conversation starter topics this month:

What is your favorite thing about the shift from summer to fall? Hands down, the best thing about the switch from summer to fall is the air.  One day you go outside and there's a crispness, a chill, a feeling of fall.

Do you prefer fun and festive Halloween decorations or truly terrifying haunted houses?  Honestly, Halloween really isn't my thing. I could do without any Halloween decorations. And I'm certainly not paying money or spending a ticket to walk into a place for the purpose of being scared.

What is a comfort food you love to cook or bake as the weather gets colder? Soup! ...twiced-baked potato soup, chicken vegetable soup, chili, beef stew...

What’s your favorite holiday food item that you look forward to enjoying every year? Candy corn! Here's the secret... I like to buy a bag (or two) and let them wait.  After a few weeks (months... don't judge), the candy gets kind of hard... just right.  Then I like to eat the yellow end... then the orange... then toss the white tip.

What's your favorite childhood candy?  down, There used to be chocolate-ish rectangular suckers called Sugar Daddies.  There were also Sugar Mommas and some M&M type things in a bag called Sugar Babies.  Yum for all three.

Citrus Slices

 Just a little... well actually a really big (18"x 18")... slice of each please!

I love this doing this kind of painting. 

Directions: Pick up some paint on a palette knife and smear it... smear some more with the side of a credit card... drag another layer across... lay down a line of another color... add a color that doesn't make sense... enbrace it and put a little more... spray some water in a few spots and watch the color run... step back for a look... repeat...

My Weekly-ish Challenge this week was a really hard one for me.

Every third week it's our turn to go to The Endless Art Challenge Cards for inspiration. These were the cards we drew.

I know these could have been a recipe for a lovely formal still life with a basket of fruit and some flowers in a vase.  I just was not feeling like that for some reason.  I may have bent the rule a little by only adding a few leaves for the "Add Plants" card... oh well...

I honestly can't put my finger on why, but I love looking at it on my wall... Ah, well maybe "putting my fingers on it" is the why... What a yummy texture!

Original Acrylic Palette Knife Painting on 18"x 18" Wrapped Canvas.

I'm going to love seeing this one on my wall, but if you get ready to have it on yours, just click Citrus Slices, and I'll send it your way.

Sweet Norman, Golden Retriever Pup

How sweet is this little guy!!!

I do love puppies.  I don't want one, but I love that other people get them.  Sometimes I wonder how Google knows so much.  I've been getting videos of people being surprised with new puppies.  So sweet!  

I've painted severald paintings for my friend.  She's found that they make the perfect gifts. Here are her words about this one.

Sweet Golden Norman was born with a special talent for finding light wherever he went. Every sliver of light he saw through a window, or in the crack of a door slightly open, or dancing across the shadows on the patio entranced him. He has forever tried his best to catch those elusive slivers of light! Norman joined his family as a new puppy in 2013, but he is now in the twilight of his days.  His family believes he will soon be able to rest in that light he has chased all his life. ❤️ 

 

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Canvas 

[SOLD] 

Tweet! VII

Tweet! Tweet!! 

Well, Hello again!  I think we've met before!  A few times! I'm sure of it!

I thought you looked familiar!!

Tweet! shows up whenever I need him to help me give beginers a good first experience with oil painting.

Didn't these seniors do a fantastic job!!

You know, I find that 70+ year old students just aren't that different from the 10 year old students I used to teach.  They both want to do a good job, want a little attention, want to do it right, and want me to stop talking so they can get to it.

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas

[SOLD]

Willowing Arts: A Year of Magic & Fairy Tales (July)

 

(Watercolor, alcohol markers, acrylic markers, colored pencils)
They say that portraits look something like the person who paints them...
Hmmm...
Well, the examples always have red hair or blonde or brunette...
but mine often end up gray or silver.

(Watercolor, inks, splatter, drip... fold, fold, fold... cut...
black & gold Posca pens... butterfly quotes)
So many steps, but such a fun little end product!

(Collage with printed napkin, magazine cut outs, & paper, stenciling, gold pen)
She's a little lopsided and the dragonfly makes her look like a unicorn... oh well...
Love how printed napkins work with collage.

(Gesso for texture, purple, yellow, & white inks and acrylic)
It's nice using a limited color palette.

(Collage with magazine & collage papers, black, red, ocher, & white acrylic)
It still amazes me that a few colors and a few daubs of paint can turn into a face.

(Fold, cut, measure, draw, flip)
Just a fun silly quirky bird flip book.
The grandkids think it's funny.

(Watercolor pencils, pen, Splatter)
Somehow the teacher's example always looks better...
oh well...

(Wrinkled packing paper, inside of envelope paper, stickers, gold paper)
I don't know what to say here...
Sometimes you just do the lesson because you've committed to do all the lessons...