Artistic Musings

The first moments of the new year finds me in deep contemplation of my path as an artist. I think this year is the perfect time to start really pushing the envelope and see what I can do. Saw Avatar with my family tonight to ring in the new year - it was perfect and beautiful and inspiring and wow - ooooh wow. The perfect way to ring in the new year. Blessings to you all - may this year find you inspired, creating, and happy!

So I'm a bit out of practice drawing people. A dear friend asked me to draw some images for her. I tried and had a hard time. My publisher and friend recommended "How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs" by Lee Hammond. It is an excellent book and helped a great deal in the techniques and tools needed to do what I was struggling with. I had a book, the tools, and a fear in my gut that I wouldn't do well I couldn't get rid of. Through the year I have had many distractions some life made some self made. Yet the fear remained. I couldn't pin point it or even find it. I just knew every time I tried to draw the images something would go wrong and it would come out looking more like Frankenstein than the wonderful adorable children it was supposed to look like. Yesterday my determination kicked in. I can do this, I know I can do this, I've done it before successfully - so what is the issue. Come hell or high water I decided I was going to tack...

A Poem by Christina Nordloh written on Halloween 2009 I must have appeared As a drowning woman To those that saw me there Floundering and gurgling In the warm summer air Upside down and backwards a shadow of herself Grasping at nothing As I talked about saving myself Kicking this way and that A fool at best From the shore Those that could see Knew my efforts were fruitless In the shallows of the pool Their shouts did no good Nor did lectures or silence For Floundering was my choice Until something changed This morn when I awoke And placed my foot down I found purchase on solid ground and stood The water only reaching my waist Upon the empty shore A sign did read "Now pick a direction and see where it leads!"

I woke with a start from a dream where I was 17 again. Yet I had all the memories from where I am now, and even a sketchbook of all the pieces I had created between now and then. It was a wild dream. It got me thinking of all the things I would change if I were to do it all over again - what would they be. Since I lack the time machine, or the ability to go backwards in time - I can only grasp what I would and can change from here. What do I want to be, as opposed to what I am allowing myself to be. Procrastination seems to be the theme for this year. Not on purpose - but as a side effect as I muddle through an ocean of emotions and thoughts. I would love to say I have been drawing and creating every day. That my focus is on creating beauty that shines from within. In reality I have been growing and changing as a person, and realizing some of my dreams that I have let slip by over the years. I give my power to others and then make excuses when I don't take the reigns of m...

So were over half way through August and I recall having a blog of sorts.. *blushes* lol I have been so busy of late doing a variety of events and things in my life. Paramount on that list is I have gone back to work as an art camp teacher. For those of you that know me personally, yes you were right - I love teaching art!! For those that don't know me well, you'd think so to if you saw me in person. I love what I do. the kids are fantastic, and what they make is fantastic. I work for a company called Academy of Art, we only use high quality materials, and college level criteria toned down so a 6 year old can understand. They gobble it up and create amazing pieces. I will post some images so you can see what my boys have done. I have also been involved with my guild putting together what we call "Front Range Exhibit" This is a m0 monumental event that includes kids and adults of all ages, who can submit one piece of artwork. This show is going to be fantas...

Summer is in full swing. Fans and air conditioners running can be heard wherever you go. Children play in sprinklers, with water guns, and beg to stay up till the sun goes down at night. I remember these days, I recall the beauty and intensity of summer. The desire to submerge myself in crystal blue water that smelled of chlorine. The endless days of hide and go seek as the sun set into the horizon. I recall stolen kisses, and romance. So many adventures are had during the summer!! I sure hope cloud watching is still a favorite pastime. I'm learning how to go back to some of those things and be a kid again so that endless joy and whimsy can enter my artwork. The piece that has stolen my eye at the moment has those qualities I seek in my drawings. A message of hope, a bit of crazy fun, and the freedom to be an individual. I can't wait to show it, but it has a ways to go just yet. Seeing all the artwork on Deviant Art.com is definitely a draw to keep at the canvas and just keep g...

My dream has always been to be an illustrator. To make the images found in the enchanting coloring books that captured my imagination in my childhood. Faced with the ability to finally focus my pen, ink, pencil, or other chosen weapon I embark on a new journey to find my true calling. I find it wonderfully serendipitous that I find Deviant Art just as I'm about to jump off the cliff into the unknown world of fantasy and creativity. I have so many things I want to create, so many things I want to pursue. With the small blocks of time that riddle my day I hope to really push the creative flow and see where I am lead and where I end up. I hope to meet many sprites, goblins, giants, and every day people on my way into the recesses of my imagination. So today I begin by working on a beautiful commission I have the pleasure of creating.