Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween! May it Be Wicked!

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.
~Author Unknown




Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,
Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!"
~Dexter Kozen
 

The Two Most Wonderful People Ever


















Monday, October 29, 2012

Bits from my night...




More gratitude from the day..
phone calls from my dad saying he loves me
apples with peanut butter and raisins (Thank you pinterest)
colorful paper..I love paper!
Time for creative release..working on swap for April Cole's inspirational packs~!
Music..of course :)
Time well spent with family
friends who lift me up..(hugs)
my bed..heat..pillows and my honey bear
An alarm clock that actually works
Sweet dreams folks! Three day 3 days until ATC deadline for my swap! Hope all is going well for you guys!
nite*

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Plans for the day have changed...

Well today is my only day off and I really just wanted to stay in my PJ's and relax but its not looking very likely right now..my Mom called and she is having one of my brothers over that I have not seen or talked to in some time...she is making chicken and dumplings and how in the WORLD can we turn that down? So we are going to get moving here and head over there...guess I will spend the evening hours working on art and hopefully add some more blogging time before the night ends.
Hate saying no to my mom...it was such a long week with work and being sick and I was really looking forward to some down time...
there is always later...cant pass up time with family. :)
Hope you all have a good day today..

Sunday Gratitude List!

Family
kids
Don
God...
being alive
coffee
 having a job
slippers
warm fall clothes
Adobe
chicken & dumplings
hot showers
soft tissue...been blowing my nose for a week like crazy..
(hard tissue and toilet paper sucks!)
cough drops
conditioner :) pantene
good smelling candles
laughter
music...thank you God for music...
it heals my soul..allows me to vent in productive ways
and holds special places in my soul...
art supplies
self expression
the internet lol
ability to read
irony...sometimes lol
I'm sure I will have more to add to this list later today! :)
xoxo
tata for now!
oh ya one more thing...with each passing football game...
we are closer to done with the football season!
hehe ssshh...can't let Don hear that one lol ;) 
(Just as I typed that I heard a big football "YES" from him watching the game....yikes!

Long week!

Hi everyone...hope this finds you well. Wanted to stop by and say...thank goodness the weekend has finally arrived for me and hope its been a good one for you all thus far. Have been working lots of hours ot make up for time missed while I was very sick last week. My only day off this week is tomorrow...(today if we are looking at the clock!) Have a day of ART planned for tomorrow...making a good dinner for Don, and while he enjoys football I will be lost on art supplies having ME time! Whoa right? you bet...some nights I get in so late and I sit here with sleepy eyes still in business attire and just gaze at my supplies...wishing I had the energy to utilize them. That is just the name of the game of survival I guess...
Went to my sisters after work tonight for a Welcome Home party for my nieces fiance' Johnny who I have probably mentioned a few times here on the past week or two...He just returned home, unharmed I add, from a 13 month stay in Afghanistan. So good to have him home...Here are a few photos.
This is Henry on the right and Johnny on the left. Welcome home guys..we are so thankful to you both for your incredible strength and service to this country! Johnny and Henry were deployed together spent a short time in Iraq together and then were in different parts of Afghanistan together...returned home together and so tonight's party was to honor them and another solider Dave who didn't get there until I had left tonight..he was wounded and healing... We do wish you well Dave and glad you are home too!
My brother n law Mark...he is the best!
My daughter Kori, my mother and my other daughter Samantha!:)
My nephew Chris's daughter Desirea...what a doll huh?
So many more photos to come...just getting tired tonight and would like to have a productive day of art tomorrow...
Was so nice to see my family tonight and hang out with them...we dont do it often enough really but if there was ever a good cause for celebration it was this! 
See you all tomorrow!
Oh one more...my daughters and I :)
Really dislike photos of myself..so this wont happen too often. Well not until the rest of the weight I want to lose is gone...really really really dislike photos of myself..i take the photos...not pose for them! Love this one though...my pride and joy girls..Kori and Sam!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Reminders Today

  • That I have the best friends in the whole world!
  • That even when things are bad, there are things worth smiling about in every day!
  • That..you can explain something 46 different ways, and there is still the potential that  others will never understand lol
  • That although my dog is bad sometimes, I’d sure be upset if something happened to him and I’d miss him terribly.
  • That ANYTHING can be made with paper :)
  • That MATH will never be something I care to learn more than I need to survive with.
  • That I’m pretty lucky to be loved as I am...
  • That happy mail from my friends, means more to me than the senders may ever know!
  • That when I am down or having a bad day.. I miss my girls and Dons kids too!
  • That..sometimes..you can work hard and it wont be recognized, appreciated or rewarded but that you have to still keep working hard if for no one else but yourself.
  • That sleep is NOT over rated.
:)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

A VERY Important Blog For All Creatives

I found myself today in one of the strangest artistic dilemma's I've been in. As to not throw anyone under the proverbial bus tire, I will not use names but explain this scenario the best I can. 
I created, not from a template but from a blank Photoshop document in the late hours of last night a collage with some images from the post titled "Fall Through My Eyes" from last weekend. Loving the Fall colors I added eye droplets of one color from each of the four images in my collage, and added the color palette that gave me to the bottom. Here is the collage I am referring to. 
Love it..Fall hues make me happy!
Today while on Facebook, a friend of mine posted an image that was created by another artist/designer who's primary focus is purchasing images, and making color palettes to attach to the images. They look very different than this one I did, this individuals uses one image and I think 5 colors that are not generated in Photoshop with the eye dropper I learned after research...but when I saw the image, it blew me back a bit. I was shocked to see an image that was "similar" to what I had just last night tried to achieve myself. This is where we come into a fine line friends...where I reached out, got offended and had to fight back and will continue to do so if necessary.
Immediately after seeing the image, I clicked over the original source and there I saw this persons work, beautiful and colorful..I clicked like and told the individual I liked their work and that I too liked the idea of creating images and incorporating color palette's. I then proceeded to the net to do further research on copyright laws on collages, ( which mine was created by me in Photoshop from scratch didnt even use a template and if you broke out a ruler you would find how off my eyes are!)
I'm not real sure that anyone can copyright color..perhaps their layout? The images are not even theirs, they purchase them. Went over to that individuals website and read it word for word. My primary reasons were 2.
1. I am NO theif. I do not want to imitate or copy anyone Else's work, techniques, trademarks or anything else and it was an ethical concern for me more than anything else...
2. To make sure I hadn't broken any law in any way

Now...this brings us to many murky areas in the art world folks. Many areas that become so incredibly cloudy...it is almost "Good luck finding your way out" area.
This...I want to make perfectly clear.
I am an arists, a photographer, an educator and many many more things but one thing I am not is a thief. And if I were, I would stay clear of anyone I was attempting to steal from nothing like waving a red flag saying "Look at meeee" to someone you are trying to steal from right?
With that being said..I got a rude comment back from my compliment to this individual that basically said..I made this layout, concept idea years ago because there was nothing like it out there and I suggest you find your own crative expression of color and this was the kicker insult for me folks and the moment I started internally fighting back and I quote " imitation is not a form of flattery in the color/design scheme" 
HUH???
Prior to this morning, I had never seen this persons images or website, heard their name, knew one single thing about them and further, unless I join a work shop and follow along with you, I will not ever try to imitate you. That was an insult to me as a human being who upholds a professional and ethical standard, who operates daily from a place of integrity and kindness and that comment pissed me off. I feel it is a bit full of oneself to suggest you are so original that no one EVER has done anything like it and that any artist or photographer would aim to flatter you by imitating you. I have a damn mind of my own and dont need to imitate anyone.
After my reply which was lengthy and I tried very hard to remain respectful although respect had plummeted at the speed of light by this point...the comments were removed. OK...but still there is the looming perception and the area of gray where most artist hate to go. 
Is your work really origional?
Do you ever borrow concepts or bits from other artist in you work?
What is trademark, signature or copyright?
In doing some research tonight it became clear to me that we need to look at this and be honest with ourselves and with each other.
Here are some images that I found on the net, in one single google search to see who all uses this concept of incorporating color palettes in their work.
Here are just a few... none of which are from the person I am referring to here.
Quite honestly, that person wouldn't get free marketing from me at this point of my life depended on it and that's unfortunate cause their work is lovely...
The lovely Bella Maison who creates these to incorporate in interior design projects)


Mr. Kate

Michelle Yorke Interior Design...lovely work..
Christopher James...VERY high end Interior Design
Best Friend Jules site..cute!

College Fashion .net
 Now really? Did all of these people "imitate" that person or try to flatter with imitation? These are only a FEW of thousands I found. I first saw the idea in an IKEA catalog. 

To define originality: Compliments of Dictionary.com

originality

o·rig·i·nal·i·ty

noun
1.
the quality or state of being original.
2.
ability to think or express oneself in an independent and individual manner; creative ability.
3.
freshness or novelty, as of an idea, method, or performance.
By this definition no one is original other than by the second definition. 
All parties here show some expression in an independent manner, and show the ability to be creative.
None of them are identical, and who knows what copyrights are on the images or layouts or anything else right? It is my friends, insane, to believe that any technique in art, that any medium, that anything we do has not been done in some way by someone WAY before us but what makes us original is the method in which we carry out the intention and deliver creatively.  
which asked the following:
 Is there such a thing as originality?

I was rather impressed with some of the answers. 
This was one of my favorite responses:

Julie Thompson October 9, 2008 at 9:33 am
Absolutely! Originality lies with the interpretation by the artist in his chosen medium, and within his individual skill sets. Everyone has their own approach. A couple of years ago I took a palette-knife class with Fred Oldfield, in which we all followed him in painting a mountain. He did not over-guide his students, but let them take it where they wanted – even though everyone was following what he was doing. The end results were amazing. A walk-through of everyone’s easels did not reveal mirrors of the same mountain, but instead was more like a journey through the entire Cascade mountain range. That was a great example of individual originality within the same colour palette and theme.

And another:
Daniel Sroka October 9, 2008 at 11:48 am
The only real originality is individuality – your personal, and therefore unique, interpretation of the world.
Well said Julie Thompson and Daniel.
 Next Question:
Do you ever borrow concepts or bits from other artist in you work?

Every single one of us do it. EVERY single one of us. If you took an art class you learned it from a teacher, if you watched youtube videos, if you get inspired by something in a magazine, if you read tutorials or learn from a text book...hell even abstract art in the most RAW form is borrowed concepts. Paint with your fingers...it was done before. Mix paints with other mediums? It's all been done. 

"Nothing is completely original. All artists’ work builds on what came before. Every new idea is just a remix or a mashup of two previous ideas.”
Austin Kleon on Cultivating Creativity in the Digital Age
What matters after we can admit that there is VERY little originality in the world of art...
is INTENTION.
Is it your intention, to make something with your own hands, from what you have learned over the years through education, through experience, through mediums you have played with, techniques other artists have shared with you workshops you have joined; tutorials you have watched...books you have read...do you try to make something your own to share with the world and feel proud of? Combine elements that you love, with things that trigger as your favorite elements and combine them and make them your own somehow?
  Or is your intention to "imitate" which personally I feel is such an insulting word?
I am inspired by many people...lets take Mindy Murphy Lacefield, Kelly Rea Roberts,   Karen Ann Young, Teesha Moore, April Cole and so many other of my favorite art pals...I see their work and I know its theirs...that is a signature...but each one of those artists...I'm willing to bet you a thousand dollars would more than likely tell you they learned many of their techniques from all over the place and just made it their own. 
I get in Photoshop with my images...and forget what I have leaned I do it all backwards and wrong and try new things with my photos...I buy art supplies and end up using household items for textures and desired effects and so do many artists.
The moment to be insulted...is when someone tries to steal your identity. When someone mimics every step you take, when someone takes your work and puts their name on it or markets it as their own. Otherwise...everyone needs to stop having workshops, you are teaching people your trademark, stop writing books about how to and posting on DIY walls you are giving your ideas away...
that just sounds stupid doesn't it? Because it is. 
Look at Susannah Conway! you think she gets pissed off every time someone takes a Polaroid photo? Hell no cause she has her own individual style..her own touch her own vision just like these other artists I have named...Thank GOD the artists and people I have come to adore are not pompous creators who believe the world revolves around them and that their the FIRST..EVER.END of Story....
That is arrogance. and its ugly.
I would gladly teach any friend of mine or share anything I have done here with them...I am not so full of pride that I would try to hold under lock and key my big secret..
that I go with the flow and break the rules and use inspiration I find from everywhere and everything and every colorful anything that's ever blessed my eyes to create what I do.. and that i make it MINE because i walk through this life with integrity and because I know in the pitts of my soul more than anything in this world...the BEST thing you can ever give to ANY human being is
EDUCATION.
To teach another person...something new. 
That...friends is the end of my story...and I will be adding color palette's to whatever photography I feel like...because I didn't take it from anyone...it was already within me when i altered MY OWN PHOTOS. 
Good night...and God bless us all..(even the assholes of the world).

This is amazing...a MUST see..

For some reason Facebook would not let me share this...not sure if it was someones privacy settings or just an EPIC fail on Facebook's behalf...you have got to see this...
This is a video of my nieces fiance Johnny who just got back from a 13 month tour in Afghanistan. The girl with the dark hair in this video is Rhiannon, also my niece the sister of the girl who is about to marry Johnny the solider..and Hunter is Rhiannon's son, my nephew who adores Johnny and very much looks up to him as a solider and  hero, as well as an uncle. This video had me crying like a baby folks. Johnny surprised Hunter today in his classroom by showing up as a surprise reader!!
A MUST see...
Johnny...this was so cool of you to do for Hunter, something he will remember for the rest of his life. Thank you.


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Autumnal Equinox..& What Comes Next

Well folks it is after 1am and here I sit, hoping that some medication kicks in soon so I can have some sort of sleep tonight..I'm exhausted from being sick. My chest and back and ribs hurt so badly from blowing my nose non-stop and coughing. My cough and breathing are at times unbearable. My chest sounds like pop rocks. So..since I cannot sleep I thought I would play in Photoshop for a few moments and that led me to some interesting reading. 
I have just come to realize that there are other artist who create images with color schemes attached and plan to do some research to make sure I am not designing something that was someone Else's original idea...I am not sure how that could be its been done since color has BEEN COLOR but always good to make sure you are not stepping on toes. Will get back with more on this...its rather bothersome....
I read a bit ago that if the leaf's stay in the trees well into October..withered but not fallen..
( it is the 23rd) it is a good indication that it will be a very cold and frosty Winter. THIS...
makes me very unhappy. I have never been a fan of Winter and this Bronchitis that I have, along with the cold air, dampness and darker days...tends to leave me with bouts of seasonal depression. I do love the Fall, I love the festivities, I am always ready when it gets here to cool down from a hot summer but I do not like winter months. They last too long, everyone gets sicker in the Fall and Winter than Spring and Summer and too, as I get older my joints and bones ache from the cold. 
I do love the first few snow falls and I do love the way that snow blankets trees. It is magical and beautiful to me. I'm trying to embrace the thought of taking my camera out into the snowfalls and capturing what I see to share with the world as a means of not letting this weather and change of seasons get me too down but being this sick makes it really difficult. 

While we are heading in this direction...let me touch base on my thoughts and feelings about Christmas. I find that many people say they feel the same way but their actions tend to not reflect this and very honestly, I have been guilty of it myself but oh no, wont be the case this year my friends.
So many people are struggling right now...there are so many families that will not have a Christmas as many of us have come to know. Many of my own immediate family members are in this same boat..and I know many other families who are going through some of the same things. Let me just say...that Christmas is NOT about receiving gifts, it is not about buying gifts it is about GIVING and it is about CELEBRATING love and our families and that we have one another. Many will say that is true and then go out and drop money they don't even have on charge cards out of feelings of obligation, keeping up with the neighbor...it is a given that we all feel the spirit of Christmas if you celebrate it at all..and many will say children don't understand that concept but that is only because it is what they have come to know by what they are taught.  Christmas will be slim here this year. My immediate family has all agreed to not buy gifts this year, we will getting together and feasting and celebrating, but there will not be gifts and we are all happy as a bird with a french fry over this. The kids will of course receive a few things each, and others I will be doing hand-made gifts for. My cards will be hand-made, my wrapping paper and tags will be hand-made and rather than giving in the way we all tend to do..I'd very much like to find other ways of giving. Giving of my time to help a charitable organization, donating old coats, gloves and winter wear to those who do not have any. 
Another idea I had last year and I did not get to do it, but would love to this year is to collect hats, gloves and socks to cover a tree with. Homeless people need socks and gloves and it would be nice to be able to set up a tree downtown somewhere and cover it with these items and allow people in need to pick an item off the tree...
I'd also like to find a Army or Reserves unit to donate to for the holiday and collect items to send to them overseas in a box. Some of those soldiers haven't seen a Christmas at home in years. Last year time got away from me and once I am no longer sick I may be posting something about collecting these items and maybe some of you out there will want to join me in a quest of giving something more than a material possession for the holiday to those in need. More to come on that later.
I am not feeling well tonight folks, wanted to get my butt back to work tomorrow but may need one more day. This lack of sleep and inability to lay down is catching up fast with me...all of this has me exhausted and sleeping sitting up is not working for me so well. I lay down and try to prop my head higher than usual and of course I fall asleep but it is what will come next that is bothersome. It only last for about an hour or two and then when I get up I am so congested from laying down I start the process of non stop blowing my poor RAW nose...and coughing so hard my brain hurts. 
Pray for me this starts getting better...I can't take much more of it friends...nor can I miss much more work I can't afford it. :/
Well enough for tonight..I hope you are all sleeping well right now...
Dream happy zzz

Monday, October 22, 2012

Friends, I'm so sick...

Blaaahh...
Sorry had to get that out. I am sicker my friends, than I have been in several years! This started on Saturday morning I woke up and had so much head congestion I could even focus or think straight went right to the shower and stood in the heat and stream for as long as I could stand it...I loosened it up a bit but it didn't take long to start feeling bad again...tons of sinus pressure, nose itching and burning, watery eyes, lots of face and sinus pressure...it seemed every hour of the day Saturday and Sunday too...I just got worse and worse and worse. No medicine was working...so I finally caved and went to the ER. I have bronchitis and I believe the flu in general...chills entire body hurts..my chest hurts and sounds like candy pop rocks when I breath...this is horrible. I am off today and hoping to just rest and nurse myself back to well...I cant miss any more time off work than today can't afford it and we are short handed so I am needed...feeling a bit bad for even being sick cause of that but honestly, it is not like anyone ever plans on getting this sick..
So...I have today to try to nurse myself back to well or at least well enough to get back to work. Eating lots of grapefruit, oranges and apples, drinking a ton of water..taking my antibiotics and cough syrup...this stuff with codeine is no joke..but its a bit of a catch 22...it makes me very comfortable and sleepy and the second I try to lay down my chest hurts and I get so plugged up I cant breath. 
Wish me well pals I sure need it....
can't remember the last time I was this sick with these severe of symptoms.
Laying back down but wanted to keep you all in the know...hadn't posted anything through out the weekend. Didn't want you all to think I got kidnapped or something. ;)
Id hug you but...ya well you know...
peace

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Getting Close...ATC Deadline Approaching!

Hello swappers! Just wanted to send an quick update and let you know that the expended deadline for our ATC swap is quickly approaching!  Deadline is set for mailing out on October 31st so that I can get them and get them mailed out by the second week in November. Hope this deadline helped you a bit Deb and again so sorry about your loss. <3 p="p">

Incase you have forgotten or need a refresher...you make three stardard ATC's
original work only please..this means no photo copies
if you have misplaced my mailing address please let me know so I can get that to you all. 
Anything goes as long as they are the standard size, no theme just free expression!
Please make sure to include some postage for your return package and remember you will sending me three..but you will get back 4 plus some little special goodies for participating :) Been working hard on this goodies for you all! :)
If you have any last minute questions or concerns please contact me and keep and eye out. At sometime in through December and January I will be hosting the following swaps:
Traveling Journal...this one is going to be really cool...
Another ATC swap
&
Swap A Tag Swap

Can't wait to share those with you all!

my yahoo ID is peculiargirl71 and I will be online all day today if you need me for anything or just have a question. Please feel free to add me there!
One last thing please be sure your writing is very clear on the packages and that i can read your return addresses! That would be very helpful! Thanks to those who have already sent their ATC's their all beautiful...talk to you all again soon! xo 
Love me...the busy bee :)
xo

Friday, October 19, 2012

Truth is...

New digital art. One hour art challenge from yesterday.
Have a good day folks..wish us luck and fill your life with color this weekend!
xo

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

LIFE. Note to self...

I created this new digital art this morning while pondering the ups and downs in life. 
It would be a perfect world if every day allowed for us to be 100% positive but some days are just not as good as others and while so many people have the ability or desire to only focus on the positive it is hard sometimes to do that. To me this is just honest and real..
I try to give myself firm affirmations and it helps me to continue to be positive even when it is hard. 
And so..here is my digital art ..note to self and to anyone else it may serve well today. There are several versions of color range because I just couldn't decide which one I most liked.
Hope this touches someone today and hope it helps me make it through the week too. 
All original, made in Photoshop with only blank canvas, textures, brushes, fonts and shapes.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9


 I numbered these as a means of telling you which ones I think I like best but also to get your opinions. I am curious to see what color scheme most catches your eye! Please leave a comment if you would be so kind and let me know the ones you most like! Thanks!

My favorites: 1,3,6,9