August is Artist Appreciation Month!

Did you know that? 

I didn't either! And August 13th is also National Lefties Day!  I am both an artist and a Lefty! Raise your hand if you are a LEFTY!
I hope that I am not the only lefty artist that didn't know about these two events until last week!
Sorry for all of the exclamation marks, but I'm trying to show my excitement. Maybe a selfie would show that, but I'm not going to subject y'all to that.

I totally 'left' out Lefties Day this year, but I didn't find out until the end of the day. But next year...well, I will definitely be more prepared!

So back to Artist Appreciation Month.

Since it is Artist Appreciation Month, I want to feature some artists! This may even take a couple of posts. I have been influenced and motivated by many artists. Some personal friends and others that I admire from afar.

Where do I Fit?

Being a whimsical artist, I find inspiration everywhere! As I look through my Pinterest boards and search online for whimsical artists, I find so many creative and whimsical artists out there! For many years, I couldn't figure out where my art fit in. Before the internet, before we had all of the resources that we have now at our fingertips, I thought that I needed to have a realistic or abstract style to make it in the art world. But I don't fit into either one of those styles. Yes, I like to draw realistically, I love to create abstract art. But actually my style fits somewhere in between those two. I like colorful art, and happy art. I like design. I create a lot of stylized images. More like illustrations. But I didn't consider myself an illustrator either.

Artists Who Inspire
Today, I would like to feature two well know and successful whimsical artists that I have admired over the years. Both have influenced my style. These talented women are artists who both became successful with their creative businesses.

Mary Engelbreit
Many years ago, my husband brought home a magazine for me, to cheer me up. At the time, I was struggling to find my way as an artist. I was actually pretty depressed about it. So he brought this magazine called  Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. It was more of a decorating magazine, with articles about working artist's. Of course, Mary Engelbreit's art was all over the magazine too. But that magazine, and the articles about artists, were so good for me. Her art is bright and cheery and whimsical. And many of the artist's that she featured in her magazine were too. I think that is when I realized that my art did not have to be realistic and I could play and experiment and try to come up with my own style. I was really sad when the magazine stopped being published. But I had every issue since that first one my husband brought home to me. He also bought me a planner and/or calendar every year for Christmas. Now we have the internet to bring all of those inspiring images and stories to us!



Patience Brewster
I am always looking for other artists who share my vision of a fun and whimsical world. A few years ago, I came across the whimsical artist, Patience Brewster. She creates some wonderful and whimsical art, especially for the holidays. Her Christmas ornaments are beautiful! You can find the story about how her illustrations are turned into to 3D sculptural ornaments here: About the Ornaments .

 If you love unique ornaments and Holiday cards, then check out her website! View some of her latest Christmas Cards , because they are also beautiful!  And she has the coolest name!


Who inspires you?
I don't know these women personally, but I still feel like they have inspired me to be who I am, not what everyone else wants me to be. Because they have worked hard to make their style work for them. Every artist must find their own way. It's okay to be inspired and learn from others, but be yourself.

Be True to Yourself! 

Beth♥ 

Writing and Art

I consider myself more of a visual artist rather than a writer, but I do enjoy writing and photography.

I've always tried to keep a diary or journal, although sporadic at times. When I was very young, I had a diary, once. It was the 'thing' to do back then. I have no idea what I wrote in there, as it is long gone. I am quite sure that it was so important and secret that I had to hide the key, so no one would try to sneak in and read my important memoirs!  Makes me laugh now. But I do wish I had that old diary.

When my kids were young, I wrote in notebooks about their milestones, accomplishments, and even my frustrations with being a mother. I also have calendars where I kept notes about important dates and events.  I have managed to keep those because I'm sure that one day someone I, will want to read them again! They help me to remember things that I have forgotten about. That is my reasoning, anyway.

Later I began to keep a journal about my art. Then I discovered blogs..on the internet.  I was amazed that there were so many people out there that were willing to share their thoughts, feelings, and even their secrets...to the world! I'm not comfortable writing about my secrets, but the idea of writing about my art on the internet was something I had to try!  I could post photos and write about my art! At first I was not even going to make it public. Only I could read it. But I decided I would publish it because I was sure that no one would read it, so I was safe. That was back in 2007!   Some people did actually find my blog and read it! Some people actually posted comments along the way too. I've enjoyed meeting other artists and other bloggers along the way.  I just missed my 7 year anniversary of the beginning of my blog. I hope to continue for many more.

Some of my old journals

My first blog post:  
May 2007 : 
Starting a new Path

A lot has changed in my life since then. I really do enjoy going back and reading my old posts and seeing how far I have come. If someone else happens to come across my blog and enjoys reading a post or two, then that makes me happy. I am not a great writer. I am just an artist who wants to write. I want to share my thoughts and art with anyone who is interested. If you are still reading this...thank you for your time. I appreciate it!


Beth♥

Looking back at 2013 and forward to 2014

Beginning 2013

This year has been a challenging year, but it has also been full of blessings in many different ways. Our family had some personal challenges that were hard to work through, but with support from family and friends, it has helped me to get through them.  I found a new good friend who has helped me out in so many ways, that I want to thank her for her support and friendship.  It was a blessing to find a new friend, at this stage of my life, that I can trust and enjoy spending time with.  At the same time, you should keep your friends close, because you never know when they may be gone...or come close to it.  So, keep in touch with your friends...old and new.  Thank you to my friend, you know who you are.  (Kat)  And to my oldest friends from Pine Bluff, you are a blessing to me as well! Love you all!

Ending 2013

It has been a blessing to stay very busy with my art in 2013. Thank you to everyone who has supported me by being a customer or just encouraging me in whatever I do.  I really enjoy doing this full time. I am doing what I love to do.  In 2014, I plan to make some changes. I want to SIMPLIFY my life. I have been moving towards this for awhile. I am de-cluttering my space and now I need to refocus my art.  I have been all over the place with subject and media, but I have decided to start out the new year with a 30 day challenge.  It is a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge for January.  I hope that this challenge will help me to focus more on what I want to do.  So be watching for painting challenge photos.

Some of the commissions that I worked on this year include, the Snow House at the beginning of 2013. And one of my Christmas commissions was a cute little Yorkie named Khloe. She is a little cutie patootie! Looks like she may be a little spoiled, just like my little pup! This drawing was done with pen and ink.   I've done many others with color, including watercolor, colored pencil, and acrylics throughout the year and hopefully, more in 2014...so I'm looking forward to 2014 to see what it brings.  

Happy New Year!
Beth♥

Do you Read Blogs?

To Blog or Not to blog...that is my question.

I started this blog to document my creative journey in 2008.  At the time, many artists were blogging and I was trying to create a presence online. I was hoping to retire from teaching one day and work full time as an artist.  So I started blogging about my art.  Now, 5 years later, I AM retired from teaching and working full time on my art (YAY!) and I am still blogging. Not as often, but I am still here.  But after 5 years, I am wondering who reads blogs and why?  Does anyone actually read this blog?  If so, do you want tutorials? or just pictures of artwork? or life stories...my life is rather dull, except the story about the raccoons in the attic, or tackling my grand dog who wanted to play chase at a bad time...but those can be saved for another post.


On an art note:
Of course I had to include a photo of some art. After all, this is an Art blog.  I have to include some type of visual in all of my posts. This is a photo of a drawing I did several years ago (2006) for an Art Class project demo.  I call it creative doodling.  These days, there is a popular thing called Zendoodles. I guess I've been doing 'Zendoodles' for about 20 years!  I had posted it on my Art Teacher blog and recently someone contacted me about wanting to purchase a download of it.  So I set it up in my Etsy shop.   Maybe I should do more downloads?  I am thinking about it, but don't know how popular that would be. We'll see. Click on the image to see the listing in my Etsy shop.  Maybe I should go dig out my 'zendoodles' from my teaching years...It was one of my favorite projects to have my students create!

I really would like to know what you think about the blogging questions.  So please comment below or on my link from Facebook.  Thank you in advance!  (Hope I'm not talking to a black hole in cyberspace!!)
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Thanks for stopping by,

Beth  ♥