Monday was an art-filled day. I managed to clean my Studio to prep for Mixed Media Monday and felt happy after a productive day. Here is what I painted LIVE:
MATERIALS LIST: Paper-Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface, DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints (Boysenberry Pink, Vivid Violet, Bahama Blue, Canyon Orange, Yellow Green, Deep Midnight, Foliage Green, Irish Moss, Wild Orchid, Lemonade, Royal Fushsia, Orchid, Spa Blue, Spice Pink, Saffron Yellow, Bright Yellow, Margarita, White Wash), Gesso and Stencil - DecoArt, Pens - Sharpie and Uniball Signo White and Charocoal Pencil 3B, Ink - Marvy Heritage
Thank you EVERYONE who was able to be there LIVE and participate with the chat. What a great night and a collaboration. I love seeing the pages that you share with me following every Monday:
Donna Leuders
Vicki Loichinger
Sharon Estes
Remember to join the Facebook Group HERE and share your projects! Remember to share your work there! I love to see MMM-inspired ART! Stay tuned for the February Creative Dare to be posted too! I will see you next Monday, February 10th! ♥
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear. Don’t ever hesitate to give yourself a chance to be everything you are capable of being."
When you return to your Studio Monday morning and it looks like this, it was probabaly a good weekend...
This was the aftermath of some creative fun returning to what I love and feeling creative. January was quite the busy month. So I am ready to take on February! I will start with the first Doodle of 2014 and was just happy to pull out that watercolor Moleskin I carried around with me all summer! I missed it!
This was just about bursts of color and playing with some new things I got in my travels..
Lately the question was posed to me "What do you do when you don't feel creative?". That happens and I hate that feeling of forcing creativity. I sometimes just have to see it out. I am lucky that every Monday with Mixed Media Monday's I am challenged to come up with ideas but sometimes those even fail me.
I highly suggest creative trips out. I personally go to Little Italy and spoil myself with Italian food and a trip to Blick's to buy something new. Sometimes a trip to Michael's. It may be a new Art Journal, a pen, markers, watercolors. Somethng small to just use on my next page. Sometimes those creative journeys are enough to spark that creative side of me (and if not, Italian food and wine is in my belly making me smile). Sometimes I go to the beach (sand between my toe time) or a book store to just go through art magazines. I know it is winter for many and there are far and few books stores but that is no excuse not to find your special place. Now I want to venture out and take my painting to the beach.
Some evenings the sunset sparks me and this weekend it was the sunrises. I was up this past weekend by 5 am painting. I took advantage of every moment I had.
This weekend was full of kids, sports and more but I found that creative time. I harnessed it when the mood struck and pulling out that Doodle journal which felt great!
Where do you find your creativity? What is your special place? What inspires you? ♥
"If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world. Dare to walk alone, and don’t be scared to like it. Remind yourself that you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. You’ve got to do what’s right for you, even if some people disagree."
Life being an Artist is NOT EASY. You get used to people saying you walk to the beat of your own drum. They give you the head tilt with the questioning eyes. Unless you go to school and major in Art it goes against that grain of being a business major and then going to work as an Accountant. I have a degree in Building Construction Management. Nowadays there is great competition and everyone is an Artist. The thing is...I truly believe that EVERYONE is an Artist. So EMBRACING that Artist and not being your own biggest critic is such a struggle.
I remember taking a photography class and the photographer was showing her signature shot. She gave the recipe for her signture shot and how to capture it. I raised my hand and said "this is so great however I don't want your shot...I want my own shot". It was there that I put togther that the elements she shared were bits and pieces I need to find my signature shot. (Ironically that same photographer was not so happy people were "copying" her shot).
As an Artist I have taken classes from many different Artists I admire. I am always learning....I have been adapting my unique "style" for a very long time. I continue to grow and evolve.....I share/teach what I have learned....I take chances. I sometimes leap and HOPE wings grow when I paint. I am reminded that the process is not easy and comparing yourself to others is so easy to fall into. Embracing that Artist has become a process.
Susie said and I hope she does not mind me sharing "I really enjoyed your "Monday Madness" this week....It was a pleasure to watch you pull out of that "hot mess" and create something you (and I) just loved!! This was one of the best things you've done and very true to YOU. I loved the colors .. although they made no sense to me …. somehow it just worked. I loved watching how you "just knew" you needed to use certain things, but then allowed others to just develop. You have a natural eye for value contrast and I think that is a lot of what makes a successful painting. Congrats!"
Here is that piece....
Sometimes that "hot mess" does not go where I hope it goes but other times it takes a turn that I absolutely LOVE. But she hit it on the head. When I create what is TRUE TO ME there is no right and wrong. Finding those elements to perfect your "signature shot" is part of the process. Find your "special thing". I am thankful to those who share their Art with me inspired by our Mixed Media Mondays:
Mary Kay McDonnell
Ildiko Miskell
Jean Marmo
Valarie Rich
Vicki Loichinger
Marion Armitage
Debra Buckland
Maxine West
My hope is that every Mixed Media Monday you are finding techniques and inspiration. I am proud of the community we have where it is fun and safe to share our work to grow as Artists and embrace who we are. I will see you tonight for Mixed Media Monday!
"Success never comes to look for you while you wait around thinking about it. You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. Knowledge is basically useless without action. Good things don’t come to those who wait; they come to those who work on meaningful goals. Ask yourself what’s really important and then have the courage to build your life around your answer."
January 2014 just flew by! We created some amazing art in January and I am looking forward to February. Thank you so much to Glue Dad for being my Guest Artist in my Studio last month. I really loved sharing that time with him and all of you! We have so many new viewers!
All shows can be viewed here LIVE FREE: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tracy-weinzapfel Make sure to sign up for a FREE Ustream account user name/password to participate in the LIVE Chat. Feel free to ask questions and be ready for some fun. We recommend logging in early to avoid a delay.
I am excited to announce that our OFFICIAL SPONSOR FOR Febraury is Beacon Adhesives!!!! I had the pleasure of being next to their booth at CHA and they are such great people! I love their products too!
For more information on Beacon check them out here:
Stay tuned for the announcement of our official January Creative Dare this week! A special thanks to all who Let it Go and participated in our January Creative Dare. Winner announced this week!
"Let go of all self-hate. – Love yourself! Forgive yourself! Accept yourself!"
For years I have picked a Word of the Year. I have had Trust (2011), Patience (2012), and Breathe (2013). This years is Believe...
So after all those words I thought long and hard about this year's Word. I have known struggle, rebuilding, and growth in the past few years. Some times I felt like things were falling apart and good things happened for other people only. Mind you, I am always grateful for where I have been, where I am and all I have in my life. The one thing I lacked was the Belief that I deserved those good things and they were all around me.
I heard things like "you deserve a break", "you deserve a great guy...", , "you deserve........". I worked and did not always enjoy the process or see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have great friends who attest to that. But with Trust, Patience and finally last year taking time to Breathe I built this Life I so LOVE living. But yet........Believing in myself was missing.
So this year I Believe. I Believe in myself, in the foundation I am giving/teaching my kids, my family, my ART/CAREER and I Believe I deserve those good things too. I wake up Believing that each day is a gift to me and to those I share it with. I Believe in creating a life I want to Live in and with whom I want to share it. I Believe in Love, Grace, God, and being Grateful. I Believe in following my own path, the crazy path of this Artist who wakes up and paints from 8-5 pm. I Believe that not everyone is going to get me. I Believe that I don't need to knock on wood because the rug might be pulled out from under me (I GLUED that damn rug down). I Believe that there will be rough patches and I am strong enough to get through them. I am working on Believing that I am doing a good job and that I made the best decisions with the knowledge I had on hand. I Believe that just because everyone is doing (fill in the blank) that is no reason to do it. I Believe and EMBRACE the Artist along with the Inspiration and gifts I have to give. I Believe in Mixed Media Monday's and sharing who and what I am about no matter the number of viewers (it started with two and has grown beyond belief to a wonderful community of Artists).
Thanks to my Mom who bought this book for me....One WORD. I was already doing this exact thing for the last 3 years. I No need to break New Year's Resolutions. This One Word has an impact on me all year long. I highly recommend this fast read....
What is your One Word and what does it mean to you? There is great importance in One Word. I truly Believethat.
"Make friends with failure. You want to know the difference between a master and a beginner? The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried. Behind every great piece of art is a thousand failed attempts to make it, but these attempts are simply never shown to us....Just because it’s not happening now, doesn’t mean it never will. Sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right."
Thursday was one of those days as a Mom you look forward to and dread all at the same time. In the midst of their teens, making your way through them hating you and then loving you when they need something the age of 16 looms. It is the age they get some more freedom. Up until now you provided the most protective environment you can and then that day arrives when they get their driver's license. Now don't get me wrong, it is not free reign when one gets their license however, that environment you tryed so hard to "control" gets a whole lot bigger.
As we headed to the DMV I was excited for him and nervous. Waiting for the test for nerve-racking for us both...
Seeing him take off even harder...
but seeing thumbs up.....priceless
and oh boy California has a new driver..
After was a celebretory lunch for his license and good report card. Plus it was a day to spend with my teenager. That made this mom very happy
A very special day for this Mom for so many reasons. The twins are off at camp on their own and my teenager is growing up so fast. What is a Mom to do but take in every minute she gets. I know it made him very happy to take his first solo drive today too.
As for me, I decided I need a much larger beverage container...
Be safe my son........I love you ♥
"And if life only teaches you one thing, let it be that taking a passionate leap is always worth it. Even if you have no idea where you’re going to land, be brave enough to step up to the edge of the unknown, and listen to your heart."
I have had a quiet house this week because the twin's left for 6th grade camp on Monday! They were both so excited and I was excited for them. This is what it looks like when you send two of them....
I asked them if they wanted me to write or write me and both looked at me like I was crazy so off they went into the great big world without me...
I sure miss them.....
This also meant that my hard work to coordinate 75 six-graders to raise $18K paid off! We made it and I was all to happy to see all those 6th graders pull away on the buses and know I had a hand in helping them go there. This was my way of giving back and helping out where I could! Thanks to all who helped me make that happen! Felt great!
This mom has a very quiet house and is making the most of it! There is less laundry, dishes, and for the first time in 12 years I have one kiddo in the house. I am making it a point to do some special things with Tyler while we have this time. But come Friday I will be so happy to pick the twins up!
"Let go of worrying about everyone else’s opinions of your life. – When writing the story of your life, don’t let someone else hold the pen."
Yesterday was a great day! I had the pleasure of seeing the twin's off to 6th grade camp and it was Mixed Media Monday! How can you beat that? I felt so inspired and I was really looking forward to our creative time. Here is what I painted LIVE:
MATERIALS LIST: Paper-Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface, DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints (White, Wash, Bright Yellow, Primary Yellow, Deep Midnight Blue, Sea Breeze, Victorian Blue, Tomato Red, Bahama Blue, Cherry Red, Peony Pink, Turquoise Blue, Cherry Red, Vivid Violet, Jack-O-Latern Orange, Burnt Orange), Gess & Decoupage - DecoArt, Pens - Sharpie and Uniball Signo White and Charocoal Pencil 3B
I am loving that sheet music Susie gave me! Thank you EVERYONE who was able to be there LIVE and participate with the chat. What a great night and a collaboration. I really appreciated all the feedback last night ♥
Remember to join the Facebook Group HERE and share your projects! Remember to share your work there! I love to see MMM-inspired ART! I will see you next Monday, February, 3rd! ♥
“Let go of what isn’t helping your soul smile and grow. – Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. Follow a path that moves you. You are always free to do something that makes you smile."
I am excited to share that things are happening from my Studio. Last week I sold many pieces locally and this thing called Art I love so much needs a new Home online. So This is what is new:
An all new home for Tracy Weinzapfel Studios is in the works and I am beyond excited to see my art and vision come to life. Stay tuned and make sure to sign in for the launch of my new website coming soon!
"In life, if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything. And you can’t always wait for the perfect time. Sometimes you must dare to jump. Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage – just literally twenty seconds of uncomfortable bravery – and I promise you, something great will come of it."
One of my favorite things as an Artist is working with DecoArt and the many adventures this has brought for me. The word Artist is not so easy to roll off the tongue. From this place of Art and being an Artist I have been able to experience some amazing things.
One such thing is going to CHA to see fellow Artists I admire and respect. This CHA I I enjoyed the time I spent at DecoArt's booth seeing their newest products and meeting...Andy Skinner! I have known about DecoArt's new Media line coming out for a long time and have been wanting to burst. Seeing them in action makes me even more excited.
Another cool thing is having my art featured in their current catalog which you can see HERE:
All my fellow Artists I work with along with the people at DecoArt are great. I also want to say a special thank you to Susie who I had the pleasure of meeting at CHA. We had a wonderful conversation and it left me feeling movitvated and inspired to keep doing and sharing what I love. The word Embrace kept coming up in our conversation.
She also gave me some vintage sheet music to tear up and use in my art which I am so thankful for! Look for that in future Mixed Media shows.
So in 2013 I "Let it Go"..........and for 2014 I will "Embrace" me, the Artist and all this wonderful world of Art has brought in my life. So Susie I dedicate this piece to you...
today it just felt great to play and Embrace that Artist...
Oh another perk.........awesome products to work with!! That never gets old and grateful every day for every color of the rainbow to color my world!
So with that said........I embrace this side of me that keeps me heading in a most awesome direction. Who knows where that is but I know it is one full of amazing colors and people. I will be sharing more of my CHA adventures soon!
"Among the things that you can give and still keep are your word, a smile and a grateful heart."
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