Dreams of Greatness

I am reading a book about the great American artist John Singer Sargeant, his paintings make me think that I good be a great painter too. I don't know why. If I could only dedicate myself to art I wonder if I could go places with it, but atlas I am a wife, mother, and other things before I am an artist. I have been asked to submit some of my work for a greeting card company. So maybe one day I will be great. It's good to have big dreams!

Reading

I just finished reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, finally a book that really should be on the best seller list. It was a little racey for me in some area but it had a good story line. I don't know how some books are chosen for the best seller list, because The Emperor's Children made the list and it was horrible, to me it was just paragraph's with a lot of unknown words. Steig Larsson is continuing the story with tThe Girl Who Played with Fire I think I'll read that. I like series.

My First Commisioned Work

I have been asked to paint a picture of a brother and sister for a Father's Day gift. It is still a work in progress. I hope to be finished soon.

IF: Perspective

I love my Chuck Taylors! My submission for Illustration Friday.

Learning Photoshop

I learned how to multiply my illustrations in photoshop, which made coloring so much easier.

IF: Adrift

My late submission for Illustration Friday. This is my homage to Edward Gorey. I love his art

Learning

My husband brought me a Lenovo X61 Tablet PC. I've been trying to teach myself how to draw on it. I've had a few days off and this is what I have learned to do so far.

Rain, Rain Go Away

I used to love rainy days when I was a stay-at-home mom. After my husband would leave for work I would turn off the lights and watch an old black and white movie. Those days are gone. Now I am out in the traffic in the morning.

February Painting - Unfinished

I am currently trying to work on my 2nd painting for the year. I can't remember whose blog I read but they stated that you should spend at least 15 minutes a day doing something with your art. So in the morning I've been trying to do that. Hopefully I can allot more time this week, because we will be on winter break. No school Feb. 11-15. Prayerfully I will use this time wisely.

#1- Reaching Goals

I set a goal for myself to finish at least 12 paintings this year. That is 1 per month. Although I started this painting in Dec. I just finished it so it counts as my first painting for 2010. The inspiration for this painting came from http://www.flickr.com/photos/waitingforsophie/3459748058/

IF: Clumsy

Trying to wear that 5 inch heel when you are over 45 can make you seem clumsy. I'm definitely not 30 anymore. How did 40-something get here so fast. My mind still tells me that I'm 25.

IF: Wilderness

My submission for Illustration Friday.

Books Read in 2009

My first book read for 2010. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society which I really enjoyed. I give it five stars. My goal is 60 books for this year.I never set goals as far as my art is concerned so I am setting one this year. My art goal is to paint at least 12 pictures. Here is my entire list for 2009 of books read, my goal was to read 55 books.

56. KJV Bible (entire read 2009)

55. Mrs. Sartoris by Elke Schmitter

54. The Fixer by Mary Kay Andrews

53. How to Have the Best Christmas Ever by Julia Foster

52. The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

51. Relentless by Dean Koontz

50. The Fly Truffler by Gustaf Sobin

49. Twlilight Eyes by Dean Koontz

48. The End of the Alphabet by CS Richardson

47. Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran & Oscar and the Lady in Pink

46. Cold Water by Gwendoline Riley

45. A Dish Taken Cold by Anne Perry

44. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

43. Christmas Lights by Christine Pisera Naman

42. Without Blood by Alessandro Baricco

41. The Book of Proper Names by Amelie Nothomb

40. the Two-Pound Tram by William Newton

39. Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons

38. The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen

37. Evenings at Five by Gail Godwin

36. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

35. The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman

34. The Piano Teacher by Janice K. Lee

33. Sam's Letter's to Jennifer by James Patterson

32. Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

31. 100 Cupboards

30. My Cousin Rachel by Daphe Du Maurier

29. Love, Lies, and Liquor by M.C. Beaton

28. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

27. Abhorsen by Garth Nix (reread)

26. Lireal by Garth Nix (reread)

25. Lost and Found by Andrew Clements

24. Artist to artist by Eric Carle

23. Sabriel by Garth Nix (reread)

22. The Mark of the Angel by Nancy Huston

21. The House of Midnight by Lucie Whitehouse

20. Hula by Lisa Shea

19. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

18. Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

17. The Serpent's Tale by Arianna Franklin

16. On Chisel Beach by Ian McEwen

15. The Three Incestuous Sisters by Audrey Niffenegger

14. The Shack by William P. Young

13. Icebound Land By John Flanagan

12. Midnight Sun (Rough draft) by Stephanie Meyer

11. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

10. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

9. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

8. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

7. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (reread)

6. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (reread)

5. The Other Queen by Philippa Gregrory

4. The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill

3. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

2. Enchantments by Linda Ferri

1. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory