doodlepaintdraw

Turning 7...

May 20th, 2006 my Husband and I were married! 

One year ago today he drove me to the airport and we had to say goodbye because I took a job in Georgia for 5 months. Let me just say that leaving is hard enough, but leaving on your anniversay is no bueno! We made it through though and because of my time in Georgia we were able to build my wonderful little Art Studio. Something that my Husband worked so hard on, something that makes it even more special. Today as I sit here waking up with my coffee, my studio in view (out the window). I am reminded of all the things that he does to make sure that our little family is happy. Thank you to my sweet Husband Jimmy. I love you.

 

DPD Updates

 

Some quick updates this Tuesday morning..... From left in the photos above; That's me teaching the Garden Journaling class over at C2E. They planted a lot more last Saturday and the journals are going strong! After class on Saturday my Husband and I went to Orange County and finally had the pleasure to meet our newest niece! Her name is Katelyn and she is an absolute doll. The Mermaid class is still going strong (I think this is week 6). It's really a different journey for me but I am really having fun creating characters. Something I don't think I've ever done in my journals. And finally, about my work, my Boss actually purchased the piece in the last photo (above), which lead me to bring my work to my job at Universal... That lead to me selling 6 prints, 7 pouches and possibly another original. I was also contacted about doing 15 to 20 of my braceltes for someone in need of gifts. I love doing things like this because after I make them I prepare them in little pouches with a fun tag...etc. So, I'm very excited and working hard! This has all been a much needed boost for me! 

 

a new teaching gig!

 

I am so happy to annouce that Coach to Edify, "C2E" is now offering gardening classes. The class is about an hour in the garden and then 30 - 45 minutes of Journaling with yours tuly. We held the first class on Saturday and it was awesome. As I said in my journal, "there really is something special about a garden." The group moved, mulched, divided, dropped those seeds in, marked their territory, flagged what they planted and voila! It's a beautiful thing! I can't wait to see the first little sprouts of life popping up through the soul. 

One of the best things about teaching at the C2E Villa, this is my "classroom."  A fabulous little courtyard where we gather, chat and grab supplies.

 

For the journals I am starting with a very basic Composition Book. ($1.50 @ Target)

Gathering a few basic supplies that I already had on hand.

Creating a simple, outdoorsy cover!

My first journal entry, Day 1 in the Garden.

 

 

....working on their first entry. I will see them again in 2 weeks!

 

 

the Shop is Back!

 

Ok, so as some of you know I missed my deadline (the one I gave myself) by kind of a lot! I have been trying to get this baby back open for quite some time! I am thrilled to announce today that my Etsy Shop is open! I have new bracelets, all new zipper pouches, key leashes and I now have prints of my original artwork available matted and ready to frame in two sizes. I am curently working on a few mirrors, some really fun garland(s) and I will be adding my original art by month's end. There is a link and a few photos in the sidebar or click HERE to visit the Shop!

And finally I am announcing Free Shipping on all orders now through May 15th! Can you believe it's May? As pictured above please use coupon code DPD001. If you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding the Shop please send me an email...I would love to hear from you!

 

 

Inspiration! Muir Woods

 

We are back! I sat down last night to load all of my photos on the computer and to prepare an overall tour of what we did and where we went all week. I then realized I had over 250 photos of so many different places that we visited and stumbled upon over the last seven days. I decided I better pick one outing! I chose Muir Woods in Mill Valley, CA (just North of San Francisco). I have always wanted to visit Muir Woods and I'm not sure why I hadn't, until now anyway. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventure Awaits...

 

 

On vacation all week! I've had this magazine (above) since 2003 and I am finally using it!! My Husband and I are heading up the California Coast. No computer allowed! I will however be on instagram posting some fun photos of our trip if you'd like to follow along..... http://instagram.com/jstevensflores

See you next week! xoxo

Mermaids!

 

Some of you may have seen "Lily" my little mermaid pop up yesterday on Instagram or Facebook! Here she is! This is my first completed mermaid for the book we created in Mermaid Circus! I'm really starting to have fun! We just started drawing faces but more whimsical. I have never done that, changing proportions and making the face more like a character. I've always gone a little realistic, trying to get proportions correct and trying to capture a resemblance...etc. It's nice to feel "freed up" to create whoever might come out! As Jane Davenport said yesterday "find out who may be living in your pen." Love that!

 

 

 

And as I have mentioned, the collage part has been challenging. I wanted to share my first attempt at a mermaid (below). It was a bit of a disaster! I tried and tried to save and rework her. I finally decided to rip everything off and start again (RIP my friend). I just hated her, I didn't try to collage and create a look and a face, she's too in tact, right from a magazine. So, when I started again (keeping the circus theme in mind) Lily came out, and I was much happier.

 

 

in my Sketchbook

 

 

 

 

 

As some of you may have read, I signed up for Mermaid Circus with Jane Davenport & Teesha Moore. I wanted something different, fun... something to push my boudaries a bit! I think I found it, because... yes, I am out of my element. I am working on the collage of my first mermaid (in a mermaid shaped book we made) and I am realizing how hard collage is for me? I keep wanting to make it to "right" instead of going beyond the obvious and not worrying about proportions so much and so on. SO, I keep returning to my sketchbook because I am having so much fun drawing sea life, mermaid tails, fins and of course scales!!! So I probably should focus more on the assignment at hand but I am happy to be drawing things that I probably wouldn't be otherwise.

 

 

Fabric Pouches!

 

Oh my goodness! Apologies for my abscence! My Mom and I have been working like crazy so that I can get my Etsy Shop open with all new goodies!! Here is a preview of some of my Zipper Pouches we've made with all of that yummy fabric I've been decorating. On a little side note (if you read my last post) my mind is going crazy with that Mermaid Circus class so I hope to have some really fun drawings and journal pages up very soon!!!

 

 

 FRONT                                             BACK

 

 

FRONT                                                BACK

 

FRONT                                                BACK

 

FRONT                                                BACK

 

 

 

Stepping Away and Changing Direction...

 

Last week I changed my work week around and hopped in the car to head up north to see my Sister and her family. I was super excited, totally had been having "kid withdrawl" - my Sis has one son and three daughters. My Husband and I are Auntie and Uncle 11 times over....and I LOVE being an Aunt.

Although I knew that I needed to see the kids, I also was well aware that I had really lost motivation last week and quickly realized how badly I needed to step away. My studio, the kitchen table (pictured below) and even the extra room have turned into my crazy work spaces as I am trying to get work finalized for a deadline and to get my Etsy shop back open. I had an amazing weekend and got a lot of painting done, hence the "New Work" post on here one week ago. But then, come last Tuesday, I just lost it. So I cleaned up went to work for two days and then had a nice weekend away! I drove back Sunday with my Mom to help me get some sewing done and to have someone else to bounce ideas off of. So this morning I was up early and right back it. As many of you know I firmly believe that many times the best way to find motivation and ispiration is to step away for a few. Most of the time you end up missing your Art and you come back energized and full of ideas!

My life right now! Right back at it!

My sweet neice Holly, after her play on Saturday. She was in a school play called "the Nifty Fifties," so cute! I was able to help her get ready for every performance!

On another note, one more update are the classes I am currently taking! I decided that something I am missing right now is more time just drawing and sketching and working in my journals. This class has 52 lessons and I started it a while back but got distracted while redoing my blog and starting new work...etc. So, I'm heading right back to it! I signed up through A Beautiful Mess, a wonderful blog that I follow. If you are not a reader of Elsie and Emma yet, you should be! They have several really cool e-courses so check it out when you have time!

And finally, my final update is this little beauty....... I have signed up for Teesha Moore and Jane Davenport's Mermaid Circus class! Yipee! If I told you how I ended up here.... oh my! I can be an incredibly indecisive person and lately I have been on a major quest for a new class. I wanted something different and something that would really push me! I have had one class with Teesha but had never been introduced to Jane's work. And needless to say, although I have always loved images of the circus (and who doesn't love a really cool tent) I have never explored the circus in my work and I certainly have never drawn a mermaid. You should see people's faces when I tell them I am taking this....hmmm! I know! But that totally tells me that I am in the right class! Ha! I am so super excited! First lesson posts tomorrow! You can find all of the information HERE if you'd like to join in!