Pet Portraits - Rocco, Roxy, and Ricotta

What a journey this pet portrait has been.

My initial sketches?

I was incredibly frustrated with them.

(Pink carpet isn't the most motivating thing in the world either, by the way).

I wanted to scrap the whole thing and be done with it.

After a few tears, lots of charcoal dust, and several sheets of paper....

I decided to breath and stick with it.  

(I like to call it Determination; 

my husband will say it's Stubbornness :) )

I'm on the home stretch now...  

Just need to fix a few details.

Charcoal on toned charcoal paper. 

11"x14"

So glad I didn't throw in the towel.

~*~

With which projects are you glad you stuck it out?

Sing Us a New Song

Do you ever get blue?

I do.

This surprises some people....  

I'm often sunny and cheerful, mostly in part because I know how sad and dark the world can be.
...I want to add goodness to the world...

But I do get blue at times.
I listen to this song whenever I'm feeling down.

"Sing Us a New Song"

Enter the Worship Circle

Sometimes,
just enough grace to make it through the day
 is more than enough.

Pet Portrait in Progress

One sweet Boxer down, 2 more to go. :)

In charcoal, on toned charcoal paper

Inspiration: The Race

I've been working on my first commissioned pet portrait.

What a new challenge....

I'm almost finished, but I found myself getting very discouraged with it at first.

In frustration, I crumpled up & threw out several sketches before making progress.
(I actually cried over it too, but I tell you this as friends.:))

I'm determined to finish it though,
and finish it to the best of my ability.

I'll post it here when it's completed.

In the meantime, this inspires me to stick with it:

The Race



~*~
Do you ever find yourself discouraged with your work?
What helps you "break through"?

ThoughtQuestions

What a wonderful site:

thoughtquestions.com

"It’s not the answers you get from others that will help you, 

but the questions you ask of yourself." ♥

I think they would make great journal prompts, 

how about you?  

Sketchbook Journal - March

...watercolor and magazine clippings...

Spring is right around the corner!
Hope your day is great.
xoxo

Love Notes

I've been wanting to give out "Love Notes" to dear family member and friends for the longest time.

I finally made a few.

They're not perfect...

... In fact, I just realized I spelled "generous" wrong on one of them.

But, they came from the heart. 

"Thinking of You" postcards in watercolor.

And a "25 Things I Love About You" postcard for my grandfather:

Left:  my Grandpa J. opening another heart-felt card from my sister.

Right:  the front of my "25 reasons" postcard to him.

On the back, the 25th reason I love my grandfather:

Do you create artwork as gifts to loved ones? 

For whom? 

♥

The Happiness Advantage

Harvard psychologist, Shawn Achor, speaks on "The Happiness Advantage"

He also lists Gratitude Journaling as a tool to rewire/retrain your brain.

Shawn Achor: The Happy Secret to Better Work

Fun speech.  :)

Gratitude Journal: Transportation

Sometimes I long for a roomier car... 

or a car that has 2 more cylinders...

or even a car that has more than 2 hubcaps.  

But I will be grateful for my little Corolla. 

It gets me to the grocery store and back.  And to the beach.

And to upstate, New York to visit my dad and brother, 

where I can hike the most beautiful mountains.

Nothing better than hearing the crunch of stone under your shoes and feeling the warm summer sun on your skin.

How do you get around?  :)