on the weekend

I love painting atHarkness state park in CT on the weekends. This particular garden which I always call "my sacred garden" is my fav. I learned last weekend that the woman who lived there and created it did so in honor of the sacred feminine and wanted to honor all the stages of a woman's life. There is a special section that glows irredescent in the full moon. No wonder I've always felt so special there.

Liking it

I recently finished this painting kinda by default. A wonderful woman came to my studio for a Spirit Essence Portrait and saw it on my easel. I t wasn't officially finished but she wanted to purchase it just as it was. I scurried to have it professionally photographed and then put a few coats of spray varnish on it for protection. I really love this piece and perhaps she saved me from overworking it by buying it right then!

Gearing up for Workshop

I've been having fun the last couple of days dreaming up what we will be doing at the next "Painting Outside the Lines" workshop I am teaching here at my studio July 10 weekend. I love teaching and really get into the creative as well as psychic process that goes along with creating each weekend. I like to taylor make them so that they function at the highest capacity for stretching in a comfortable manner for each individual. The top photo is my wonderful studio and the bottom is a photo from the last weekend we had here. This time it may be too hot for a fire circle - We'll see. Meanwhile, I'm off for a swim now. Happy Weekend.

Tar Baby

That phrase came to mind last night. I have been in the midst of some difficult decisions that I just can't seem to get clarity on at this time. Know what I mean? I was thinking that if I had time I'd paint it out. Right now I'd like to be in one of my own art-making workshops because I'd love to work this out in paint. For now, this image probably best illustrates my state of mind, pondering, so many doors, windows, choices. Thank the Goddess that there are choices.

Till then, Melisssa

Totem Animals

Nice to have help in spirit. We all have animal spirit helpers and they change from time to time depending on our needs. I often see them when I do reading for folks.

I started this particular watercolor quite a long time ago and recently felt the call to go back and finish it. I like the way it turned out.

Dead is a Long Time

It has been a little over a month since my friend Kathy Blaine died. I miss her. It's not that we spent all that much time but we shared deeply and our time together always involved lots of laughs. She died a painful death (cancer). Her friends and brother really rallied to make her last days on earth as pleasant as possible under such conditions and her attitude was amazing. She accepted death in a way that astounded those of us around her. She was someone that didn't need much at all in the material world. In fact her last few years she traveled with one suitcase and a dog. That's it. She moved frequently and wanted to keep things to a minimum. Once she mentioned that she only had 3 pair of underwear (hence the need to do laundry frequently) so I offered her some of mine. She refused them, wanting to keep her possessions as I said to a minimum.

In any case, I wanted to share a bit this morning before I begin work a couple of paintings that I did while I was visiting with Kathy in 2007 in Hawaii. Her brother lives there and we had a great week together. I was in visual heaven. Be at peace Kathy. I miss you.

At the River

I just returned from one of my treasured spots in this country which is High Springs Florida.
This cute little town is "old Florida" at it's best. It's teeny and mellow and it was the last stop on my recent 3 week trip to Florida where I was hard at work doing my Spirit Essence Portraits. There is a river shanty that I am lucky enough to stay at that is right in front of this scene that I have both photographed (from last year) and painted (this year). For whatever reason I just love sitting here in this place. The wildlife is incredible. Both this year and last year I saw an eagle as well as the egrets, turtles, owls, etc. I miss it already but I don't think I could take Florida on a year round basis.

It's All Red

It's been awhile but I've been bizzy...... Here is a painting I did quickly (my fav way) of a friend, Samantha Stephenson who is part of the Gypsy Nomads. Google them, they are a great band, and as their name implies they travel all over so you may be able to catch them live. I like the freshness here, the looseness, my favorite way to paint. I think it carries the energy of the music nicely.

Day 4

In order to get through a rough spot on a painting, a place where I don't know quite where to dive in, or a place where I have difficulty finding a satisfying visual solution I will either go to another painting that is already started OR I will begin a new one. This is a relatively new piece that I began when I had a problme with another one. I am traveling back and forth between the 2 canvases now and feeling pretty good about where they both are.

This is such a new concept for me because in much of my painting life I only worked on a piece for one day and didn't allow myself to go back.

There's something to be said for both processes.