Blog

One of my favorite TV shows was "Numbers." The show centered around an FBI agent who recruits his brother - a college math professor and genius - to help him solve crimes.

The show is intriguing to me because of the way everything can be reduced to numbers. The flip side of living in a head filled with numbers is the constant searching for the "real deep meaning of life," and missing "life" while you continue to search for it!

It reminds me of that old saying, "Life happens while you're making plans" - or in this this case, "Life happens while you're pondering the meaning of life!"

I think the real meaning of life is to live life in the present moment - as much as possible. Of course - I have to make plans for tomorrow - but I don't "live my life" in tomorrow or in yesterday for that matter!

On my daily adventure on my bike, I see so many amazing things - all around me - everywhere. This day is no exception! I'm wandering around this beautiful lake - taking it all in - when I see this beautiful woman waving at me - then pointing up to the sky! I thought she was pointing at something in the sky so I look up. I just see sky - so I approach her. As it turns out - she was just pointing up to the sky to show what a beautiful day it was! She was 100% completely in that moment enjoying the very best life has to offer!

I thought to myself, "This is exactly the meaning of life! To be outside, drinking in every moment, and enjoying the beauty that surrounds me! If I'm lucky enough, like today, I might meet a fellow traveler enjoying the best of the best, too!"

I thought to myself, "Why do people insist on making life so hard? Why must everything be so difficult? If I can get up in the morning, that's a good day! If I can go outside, then I'm in heaven! Taking everything and everybody into my experience gives my life real meaning and IS the real meaning of life!

What can colors do for you? Think of the "happy" colors when you enter McDonalds - red, yellow, orange - very bright, uplifting colors! Each color vibrates at its own frequency - so choose the colors that create the mood you want!

Are you having a bad day? Surround yourself with yellow! Yellow is the lightest hue of the spectrum- it's uplifting, offering hope, happiness, cheerfulness and fun. Yellow resonates to acquired knowledge and with the left side of the brain - stimulating our mental facilities and creating mental agility and perception. Yellow is the best color to create enthusiasm for life and can awaken greater confidence and optimism.

Need more energy? Red is your color! Red means energy, passion, action, strength and excitement. Red is energizing and motivates us to take action. It signifies a pioneering spirit and leadership qualities, promoting ambition and determination. In Eastern cultures, such as China, red is the color for good luck!

Even if you're having a bad day, connecting to these two colors will raise your vibration, making you happier, and energizing you to take action!

I just saw a great ad for women's fall fashions! The fashions worn on the models - I'm guessing a size 0 - looked great! I remember reading somewhere the average dress size for a woman (in the U.S) is a size 10! So what happens when a size 10 woman tries to fit her size 10 figure into a size 0 look? Frustration! Women, because they're judged so much by their physical appearance, can feel so bad about themselves - just because they don't fit into the fashion norm. But, if you're being judged by the clothes you wear and how you look in those clothes, what's a woman to do?

Be yourself and find your own style! I really think this takes courage because you're not only going against the fashion norm - but the norm itself - by wearing the clothes that really fit your body and your personality! I think - because there are so many more options available online that don't fit into a specific category of clothes - that this is changing - and women are buying what looks and feels right on their body!

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was a teenager - I would tell myself, "Allison, you're an artist. You look at the world a bit differently. It's okay to be different and - I know this is impossible for you to see right now - everything will turn out okay!"

How many teen suicides could be prevented if that message could be taken to heart! When you're a teenager - you really do think it's the end of the world if you don't fit it!

I have to say, the more I embraced the way I was, the happier I became. Somewhere along the way I realized I could only change myself and I needed to think better about myself.

Of course, as I got older and attended college, everyone in college is encouraged to find out who they are and what they believe. I really believe my difficult times actually helped me become the person I am today - but that being said - I would do whatever I could to communicate the idea that the earlier you can embrace and celebrate the person you really are - the happier you'll be!

I love fall! I love fall fashions - and I love the fashions I've found for myself that fit the person I am! So, just be yourself, because everyone else is taken!

It's good to have Hurricane Irma in the rear-view mirror- but with every catastrophe comes lessons! I'm so glad to still have a house to come home to, fresh water and food. Every "little" thing becomes a BIG thing when you don't have them! I've learned that if I focus my life on helping others, my own personal growth and relationships, I experience MUCH more happiness in my life than focusing my attention on money, my image or my status.

These are the things that are 100% within my control and focusing my energy on these things that really matter makes me happier! If my energy is focused on "outer" things, like what people think of me, I've lost control over my life and given that control away to other people.

If I focus my energy on just trying to make money, or wearing the nicest clothes or just trying to impress people into thinking how wonderful I am - it's a pretty empty life! Anything that is focused 100% outside of me will pretty much guarantee my unhappiness.

Sowing the seeds of happiness means focusing on what's happening inside of me - not what's outside! If I focus on what's outside of me - it's like living life on a hamster wheel - I'm stuck going round-and-round in circles. Maybe you know someone who wears the "right" clothes, drives the newest car, knows all the "right" people and yet - they're not happy! Maybe you know someone that doesn't have the newest car, doesn't make the big bucks, doesn't live in the nicest house and yet - they ARE happy!

What's the secret? Look inside yourself for your happiness. Be 100% grateful for EVERYTHING you have - including running water, air-conditioning and food!

Spend time doing the things you love, surrounded by the people the people you love. Look for ways you can help other people make their lives easier. Look for ways to improve your own life!

Happiness radiates from within - so I'm challenging you to take inventory of your life today - look at the wonderful things in your life that REALLY matter and be 100% grateful for everything around you - right now!

"Something from Nothing?" What does that mean to you? What comes to mind when you think of those words? In my case - what comes to mind is seeing "something" where there's "nothing!" For example, this image of fencing and ironwork becomes "something" when you look through the ironwork and suddenly you see the interesting playground patterns behind it. Suddenly "nothing" becomes "something!"

I see this every day on my bike ride. I'll be riding along - and suddenly - something unusual catches my eye. It's the way the sun reflects off the water, or - an upcoming image I'm planning - a half-closed gate hidden in a woodland path. The interesting thing is these images are all around us every day, but you have to train your eye to "see" them!

We're so used to "seeing" things in a certain way that we miss other things. Have you ever driven a certain way every time to a destination. Try going one way - then reversing it the next time. I've done that before. Suddenly, I'm forced to get to a destination driving a new route or the same route from the opposite direction - and voila - it looks totally different!

Take a different route to the grocery store. Come back from the store in a different direction. It's all about "mixing it up," because our brains become complacent in seeing the same things the same way every day!

It's just like our minds! Our brain needs new challenges every day! It needs to makes new connections and invent new circuitry to get from point "a" from point "b." That's why crossword puzzles are so popular! They are called "brain teasers" for a good reason!

Getting outside and doing things is always a good idea! Riding a bike or just walking is great because you're going slow enough to really "see" things you wouldn't normally see when you're driving a car. There is always "something" to make out of "nothing" if you just take notice!

Interval training for athletes has been very popular - because it works! It works because you do one type of highly-focused training for a specific time period then switch gears and work on another type of training for a shorter time period.

The sports experts have found that longer periods of intense work-outs, coupled with shorter periods actually complement each other. The shorter periods actually give you some relief from the more focused longer periods of time which equals better workouts!

I've taken that same strategy and applied it to my creative life as an artist. I concentrate on one (or more than one) painting for a specified time, then "break" for some social media updates, then back to painting, then take a short tea break, then back to my blog writing, etc., etc. It does make for a more productive day for me - and at the end of the day - I've still accomplished what I wanted to accomplish - without feeling that I've burned the candle at both ends. I think - for me - it's the gear-switching that works, because I have a tendency to want to sit and finish everything I'm working on at one fell swoop!

Try creative "interval training," and let me know if it works for you!!

So, how do you re-invent yourself? How do you keep on re-inventing yourself to have an interesting, passionate life?

Sonia Simone, Chief Content Officer of Copyblogger Media states, “The reason an artist’s life is so interesting and rewarding is that you never stop learning. When you master your craft at one level, new levels reveal themselves. The game gets more complex and interesting.�

Washington State 2017 Teacher of the Year Camille Jones states, “When you do something difficult and new, your brain grows. It changes your attitude and your perspective on the rest of your education.�

Camille teaches students, as young as 5 years old about STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. She identifies promising students who would “benefit from spending extra enrichment with time with her, and from that group, a few more students are chosen for even more focused attention.�

The bottom line is, whether you are a 5 or 95 year old, you have to keep challenging yourself and keep learning. Not only does it keep you young it keeps you engaged and communicating with the world!

I'm a big fan of "Numb3rs," an American crime drama broadcast on CBS from 2005 - 2010. The show's premise revolves around a college math professor (Charlie Eppes) a math genius, who assists his brother, who works with the FBI, on solving crimes using math. "We all use math every day - to predict the weather - to tell time - to handle money. Math is more than formulas and equations. It's using your mind to solve the biggest mysteries we know," states the show's intro. Charlie turns every crime into a math formula and looks for the patterns in everything. I can see how patterns are everywhere, including our lives. I think we all would be astounded at the patterns we've already created in our lives, from the way we go to work, to how and what we eat, where we shop, etc. I started noticing the patterns in my life and starting evaluating how they were working for me. First, you have to notice them, pay attention to them, then, change them - if they're not working for you! It helps if you have someone in your life that can gently nudge you in a different direction by saying something like, "You have a tendency to (fill in the blanks)." The great news is by identifying patterns in your life you can make a "better" life! My post today is a pattern on top of a pattern. Interesting? Then, I started to think, "Do I have a pattern that I put another pattern on top of that pattern?" Probably! Let me give that some thought and I'll get back to you!

I recently watched the documentary, "Get Me Roger Stone," on Netflix. What a revelation! One of Roger's golden rules is, "You have to be outrageous to be noticed!" How many really, amazing artists are there out there that lack (or don't want to pursue) the marketing expertise to market themselves? Millions of artists are selling their art online. How do you stand out in the crowd? Stone's number one rule is "Better to be infamous than famous!"

So, many artists have successfully become "performance" or other artists to separate themselves from the masses. What I've noticed is the potential to lose yourself in the process. Case in point, Roger himself, who was just fired (who quit first or got fired is up for discussion) from the Trump campaign, and is now watching the action from the sidelines. One of Roger's rules "morality equals weakness," might have got him in trouble when he denied he was involved in (and later admitted to being involved in) a sex scandal.

So, how far is too far? It seems - the ONLY way to win anymore - with all the sports performance scandals including Lance Armstrong, that "winning at all costs," IS the only way to win!

Looking back, the "morality = weakness" ideology might have backfired on Roger! Maybe there is - even in politics - something to say about character!

I recently read a book by Jim Loehr called "The Only Way to Win." Dr. Jim Loehr, is co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute and his book is based on his work with world-class athletes and global business and political leaders. Dr. Loehr argues that leadership with purpose - with integrity, honesty, humility, optimism and compassion - is the most effective way to create lasting success and fulfillment in life. Jim signed my book by saying, "Character above all else."

Any creatives out there trying to "make a name for themselves," and "get discovered" would be well advised to read Dr. Loehr's book AND another Netflix documentary, "Icarus," about the doping of the Russian athletes.

I think - with everyone clamoring to reach the top at any cost, the "downside" of that thinking has to - and IS being presented. Now it's up to each of us to decide how we proceed!

Mindfulness. What is it? How can I get it? How can I keep it? Mindfulness, to me, is the ability to stay and "be" in the moment 100%. No distractions. Being 100% present wherever you are. Sounds easy, right? Getting to that "mindfulness" state requires the "clutter" of the mind to be silenced. How do I do that? One way I've found to increase my ability to stay in the moment is to meditate.

Meditation to me - quiets my mind and allows - once my mind's cluttering rapid-fire thoughts pass - me to enter into a state of calmness where ideas and thoughts melt together into oneness. Somewhere in that process, my mind becomes bigger than my small thoughts and I start to connect with the oneness of everything. I've found this only happens if I can acknowledge those initial, fleeting passing thoughts, which give way to "larger" universal thoughts of "oneness," and the connectivity of everything.

One sure-fire way for me to access that "mindfulness" dimension is through music. I've found - for me - that using music to access the "oneness" of everything works - every time. I have to quiet my mind - letting all the minutia thoughts go - and access the universal "oneness" - fast. Music - is the key - for me.

My favorite meditation is musician's Jim Commander's "Edgar Cayce Sounds for Meditation." The music is designed to attune your mind with each chakra. I have experienced lasting effects of listening to Jim's meditation music. First, I'm calmer. Listening to the music makes me calmer even after I've finished my mediation. Second, I'm more "intuitive." I've noticed the more I meditate the more intuitive I become. Third, I'm more creative. I notice ideas suddenly are more "available." I'm more able to "see" things in a different way or notice things I hadn't noticed before. Maybe I can describe it best as a "heightened state of awareness."

The bottom line is - mindfulness is - for me - a by-product of meditation and can be reached easier through meditation - meditation can be reached easier through music. Meditation + Music = Mindfulness

I hope this helps you access the state of mindfulness and more importantly access that universal state of mindfulness and oneness with the universe.

"The whole essence of Zen consists in walking along the razor's edge of Now - to be so utterly, so completely present that no problem, no suffering, nothing that is not who you are in your essence, can survive in you. In the Now, in the absence of time, all your problems dissolve. Suffering needs time; it cannot survive in the Now," states author Eckhart Tolle author of "The Power of Now."

I know for a fact that Eckhart's statement is true. Living 100% in the present moment should be easy, right? His whole book basically states how most of us live in the past or the future instead of the present. Why is living in the present so powerful? Because - as you look around you right now - everything is fine. You haven't projected your thoughts somewhere in the past or the future.

Any type of creative person - because they are creating something individual - and putting it "out there" for criticism - is subject to projection. As creatives, there is no separation of who we are and what we create - because we are what we create. In the creative's case, there is no subterfuge! What you see is what you get! The creative wears their feelings on their sleeves - because there basically is no "protection" between what we say we are and what we are! If you're a writer, if I read your book, I know what you're all about. The same is true for an artist, musician - or any creative. It's all "out there" to be judged.

I think that's why so many of my personal creative friends find it "difficult" to paint on site. I used to regularly paint on Sundays at the Grand Bohemian Hotel's art gallery in downtown Orlando. It was great fun to paint in the gallery space and have a chance to interact with all the visitors. One word of caution here, it is NOT for the faint of heart! Anyone can say anything - as they can when you hang your cherished artwork on any exhibit space. The difference here is I'm right there listening to it. I'm not removed from the comments. There is no where for me to go to distance myself from a comment that I might perceive to be disturbing.

The one really good thing (MANY great things came from this experience) that I learned is - people will say whatever pops into their head. They are coming from another place - someplace far, far away and me and my painting are a new experience for them, as they are to me.

I learned to embrace whatever they said as part of the experience. Many, many times their comments forced me to examine my own thoughts.

One time a little girl, all dressed up in her Sunday best came into the gallery with her parents. I was painting one of my landscapes. I'm guessing she was about 11 years old at the time. Her parents approached me and told me their daughter LOVED to draw! So, I picked up one of my brushes and gave it to her and told her what to do on the painting. The parents stepped back and said, Oh, are you sure you want to do that?" I said, "Absolutely!" So she painted the area, with such care and trepidation, and did a great job! I told her to stand back and take a look and she was amazed! It disappeared seamlessly into the painting! It was THE best experience for both of us!

We both were caught up in the amazing NOW where miracles happen. I left her brush strokes untouched in the painting and the painting was infused with her energy and painting style. She left filled with the potential of the creative spirit.

It all happened in the one place that it CAN happen - in the present moment. So, EMBRACE the present moment - no matter how scary it seems to be - you can face anything in the Now.

I love this quote by Bert Dodson, "Creativity occurs in action: it is not a trait; it is something you do."

This is so meaningful to me - because "getting out and sketching" is creativity in action. I think my "real" creative thoughts - ALL happen - outside my "studio." I'll see something, hear something - outside of my studio - and I'm really motivated to capture - and share that image. Now, the challenge is - I'll have this great idea - in my head - of what I think something will look like when it's completed. MY frustration comes - when my painted image doesn't match what I've conjured up in my head! Believe me, that can be very frustrating. But, I've found, as Bert states, that creativity does in fact occur with action, if I get back outside and start focusing on something else, the "solution" usually - but not always comes to me.

I was amazed recently at the disclosure Woody Allen made in a recent documentary. First, I didn't know he got started as a writer. Second, he keeps all his ideas that he's created on bits and pieces of paper in a drawer by his bed. Allen said, "I pull out all these pieces of paper and start going through them. No. This idea won't work. This is a maybe. This one is about a magician that was given another magician's trade secrets and what happens to him after that...." It was exactly like me! I have bits and pieces of envelopes, napkins, the back of business cards strewn all over the house with ideas and images scribbled on them.

I still have this stack of unfinished pieces. They just didn't quite come together. I've found that some of these, when I come back weeks, sometimes months (or even years) later can be revived. Time has a way of doing that.

Also, I've created binders of inspiring images and ideas I've had that I browse through when I hit a dead end. Having all these inspiring images and ideas at my fingertips does help - but hands down - the very best thing to do - if I hit a roadblock - is to get outside and do something.

There is so much being written about the power of "Flow," that heightened, focused mental state that everyone strives to achieve - it seems to me it's made that state seem - well somewhat unobtainable - or elusive! The Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmlhayl brought the power of flow to the mainstream with his book "Flow." He described the state of flow and - basically how to "achieve" that state. I'm more of a "just give me the bottom line" type of person, so I want to make it clear - to me - in my own experience - flow is available - at all times - and is hardly elusive!

What's the secret? Actively engaging in an activity you are passionate about. Do you love to ride your bike like I do? I feel exhilarated when I'm riding my bike. I'm focused on everything around me, but still riding fast enough to get plenty of exercise. If I pass something that suddenly jumps out at me, I just turn around. I can't tell you how many times I've seem something - the light shining on a tree - a shadow making a particular pattern that catches my eye - and turned my bike around and stopped in my tracks!

When I'm painting, the minute I pick up the pencil, brush or whatever - I go into that state of flow. To me that state is focusing on what I'm painting 100%. I'm listening to music which helps me sustain that state. I'm not a fanatic about being interrupted, as I can paint anywhere on site and carry on a conversation with anyone at anytime during my painting process and immediately return to my previous "flow," state. So, I guess, in some ways, I'm somewhat of a hybrid. Many (not all) of my artist friends are the happiest sequestered in their studios with no - or little contact with the outside world during their creative process.

When, in 2001, I saw Baz Luhrmann's (He's an Australian film director) "Moulin Rouge!," I was so blown away I spent 2 weeks in "Moulin Rouge!" la-la land. Yep. I went off the deep end and painted in a frenzy for 2 weeks straight. I had purchased the sound track, so I spent those 2 weeks in a state of heightened awareness painting my version of "Moulin Rouge!"

The one thing I can say is, once I get bitten by the "frenzy" bug, I pretty much have to play it out! I definitely would call that state of awareness, "flow." Everything else disappears. My whole focus is on my painting and trying to re-create the image in my head onto a flat one-dimensional surface! NOT EASY! In my head - I can see it clearly - in all dimensions - it's right there - within reach! Being in the state of flow - for me - is trying to capture that feeling and image and transfer all that energy to the canvas, paper, or whatever. Being in the state of flow basically is being involved 100% in something that takes 100% of your focus!

What inspires you? Where does your inspiration come from? How do you come up with ideas to paint? Ask any artist, and 100% of them will tell you they have been asked these questions - over and over! These are great questions, and for me, fairly easy to answer. What inspires me? Anything! That's what's so amazing about being an artist, inspiration comes from ANYWHERE! I've found the most mundane, unassuming subject-matter is sometimes the very best - and found in the most unusual place - my own backyard! For instance, one day, I was getting ready for my bike/sketch ride, I walked out the door, and voila - I see this amazing - I mean really amazing blossom on this tree I planted. A friend gave me the tree, so I have no idea what kind of a tree it is, or even that it flowered! It proved to be an amazing painting! I painted the roof line of the house and the blossom of the tree. What could be more simple than that? Music also inspires me. I'll be driving down the road, listening to music in my car and suddenly a song will come on and my mind starts seeing images. It's something that's automatic. The challenge is - while driving - to capture that feeling - and remember those images - and still drive the car! Sometimes, when I get to a stop light - I'll grab a piece of paper and start sketching and write down the name of the song. Other times I just try to keep the images in my mind until I get to where I'm going. Music totally transports me to another plane of existence! I created a whole series I call, "Music for Your Eyes," based on my "music" visions! Now, every once in a while, when I've totally exhausted every idea in my brain, the creative well - so to speak - runs dry. THE ONE BOOK that totally changed my life regarding inspiration was Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way." She started working with "blocked" musicians and branched out to include any creative or any one wanting to be more creative. Her advice for a "blocked" creative - get out! Get outside - take an "artist's date," a date with yourself or with someone else - outside your studio (house or whatever) and into another setting. Apparently, we can actually dry up the creative well, and need to replenish the water. So, go anywhere different - to a museum - for a cup of coffee - a bicycle ride - just anywhere different than where you usually go! I found this works 100%. I also found my "new" creative ideas need a bit of time to percolate - so be prepared that your new creative ideas may/may not be instantaneous! So, hopefully this book and maybe these insights will help YOU to be and continue to be more creative. The "artist date," works for any kind of creative dilemma - whether it be a solution to a math problem or the next thing you paint, or the next line you write in your book, or the next song you create!
#backyardart #art #arte #bike #bikelife #arte #floridaartist #juliacameron

I've mentioned many times that "roosters rule the roost," in downtown Oviedo, FL - and this is further proof! I decided to stop for a cup of coffee on my bike ride today at the Town House Restaurant. I walk up to the front door and there is a rooster sitting on the windowsill greeting me as I walk in the front door! It really is funny! He was the official greeter! According to one of my Instagram followers, "roosters rule!" Too funny!

#backyardart #floridaartist #bike #bikelife #backyard #art #arte #landscape #Ovideo #Florida #artblogger #artist #photography #colorful #explore

We are lucky to be living in Florida, where these gorgeous sand cranes walk leisurely around the neighborhood pecking about in the lawns looking for bugs! Sometimes, I hear this - well, prehistoric squawk - coming from these cranes as they're flying overhead - I guess squawking directions to each other, "No, I said left, Niles, not right! Your other left, please!"

These cranes are very slow, unfortunately, and they cross all roads slowly with complete abandon - throwing caution to the wind, so unfortunately many of them don't live too long, becoming road kill fatalities. But, for those quiet moments, as I'm working in the garden in my front yard, and look up and there they are! These incredible tall and beautiful sand cranes coming up to say "hi" to me!

Now I know, for most (well, let's be completely honest here - ALL) of you - you can tell the difference between a nice cup of hot peach tea and a dirty brush water bucket. Right?? Well, in the heat of the moment - or painting - I've cleaned my dirty brush in my tea cup - not the dirty water bucket. Right side of easel - dirty water bucket - left side - nice hot cup of peach green tea. Silly, you say? Absolutely! So - just move the tea cup (or the dirty brush water bucket) for heaven's sake!! Yes, I've moved the tea cup (I don't want to move the dirty brush water bucket - it's too convenient) so I move my tea cup - then the tea cup is out-of-sight, then it gets cold - then I lose interest.

Today, I couldn't find my favorite Gabriel angel tea cup! Can't you have a cup of tea in another cup? The answer is "no," I don't want t! It's my favorite cup! I look for it, then find it, only to discover I had forgotten to take the tea bag out, and now, the remaining tea bag is covered in mold. I didn't know tea bags could attract mold - but now I do! Completely disgusting!! So, I wash out my cup - this disgusting moldy smell wafting about - yuck - and start all over again with a fresh cup of hot tea. Anyway, I'm happy as a clam again and can get back to work. (PUHLEASE - I'm begging you - get back to work and stop boring us with your tea cup vs. the dirty brush water bucket minutia!!!!!)

One of my favorite places to ride my bike is Central Winds Park in Winter Springs, FL. It's a beautiful park and part of it sits on top of a hill, while other parts slope off toward HUGE Lake Jessup. Lake Jessup, because it's such a big lake, (our 417 Expressway cuts right through the middle of it) park rangers and others who capture errant alligators release them back into the lake, because of its size. Unfortunately, some of the alligators escape the lake! One day, while riding my bike on the road by residential houses fronting the lake, I saw a police car on the far side of the street. His car had cornered - I'm guessing what had to be about a 6-7 foot alligator - against the back of a residential fence. Kids walk that way to school in the morning, and I'm sure he was waiting for someone to capture the alligator and release him back into the lake. (I just heard on the news recently about a policeman and an alligator in a similar situation - he (the policeman) had alligator "capture & release experience" - so he captured the alligator - put the alligator in the back of his police car - and released him! Amazing!) This day in the park was another perfect day. The sun was so bright is blurs all the other colors! The birds were chirping away, especially the osprey! The park has created osprey nests on top of some of the light fixtures that keep the park playing fields ablaze at night. I always call the nests "the penthouse suites," because how many birds have supporting structures for their nests already built in? As I'm flying (well riding my bike fast) down the hill, I'll see happy osprey struggling as they're flying to hang onto wriggling fish on their way back to the nest. Occasionally, an osprey gets a fish a bit bigger than his wings and drops it somewhere on the road. I've seen them trying to sustain their height while their prey struggle to for freedom. I'd say the osprey have it pretty good in the park - luxury accommodations - a penthouse view - what more can you ask for? It's another beautiful day in the neighborhood! I created this piece on watercolor paper from acrylics, watercolors, and oil pastels.
#backyardart #biking #backyard #bikelife #art #bike #Oviedo #Florida #centralwindspark #floridaartist

I keep talking about all the roosters wandering about in downtown Oviedo, FL so it's high time I showed you some of them. They are really funny! Of course, the funniest thing is the fact that the roosters have the entire downtown area to themselves. Yep! If you go into the post office, they are wandering around the parking lot. ACE Hardware is one of their favorite hang-outs. They hang out in front of the store and really like the stacks of potting soil or anything that gives them a little height. Speaking of height, I was really surprised one day when I rode into the downtown area and heard the roosters, but couldn't see them until I got closer and realized they were in a tree! I had no idea that roosters liked trees, but they do. They can fly short distances and apparently fly into smaller trees. I'm a city girl, so this is all news to me! They really - for whatever reason - like the Mobil gas station across the street from ACE Hardware. They seem to hang out there a lot! The funny thing is, anyone driving into the downtown area seemingly knows that the whole area is inhabited by wandering roosters and look out for them so they don't get run over! People and cars are swaying this-way-and-that to avoid hitting the roosters. In the case of downtown Oviedo, FL roosters definitely rule the roost!
#Oviedo #Florida #roosters #backyardart #art #floridaartist #bike #bikelife #backyard

It's another beautiful day in the neighborhood! This time I'm on my bike, on my way to my next adventure, and I see a Panera! It's time for a break, so I put my bike into the bike stand, get a cup of coffee, sit outside and see this incredible view! If you're an artist, everything becomes art - even an umbrella and an awning! Have a wonderful art day!

Today - on Allison's "BackyardArt" outing I biked to the "new" part of Oviedo, FL. I'm totally blown away by the huge amount of new retail, restaurants, multi-family apartments and single family homes going up here! So, exciting to see brand new franchise (and one-off) restaurants coming to the area! Oviedo has a gorgeous park here, complete with a beautiful lake, nice amphitheater, and this really cool chess game. Yep! These chess pieces are all free-standing - so you can really play a game of "lawn" chess! What's really nice about this area, is you have ALL of these really nice amenities within walking (or riding) distance of each other! Everybody is out today walking their dogs, roller-blading and like me, out on their bicycles! It's a truly a " beautiful day in the neighborhood!"

At the beginning of the 23 mile - Cross Seminole Trail in Oviedo, FL, I could stop and go through a complete fitness routine on the "Vita Course." It's designed with a minimum of equipment for a maximum workout! The course offers all type of stretching and endurance tips, including how many times you need to do repetitions on each piece of equipment and what your maximum heart rate should be. It's basically a complete workout - on the trail- before you start your walk, bicycle ride, roller blade outing, or whatever. In the background, you can see a beautiful gazebo where you can take a breath and a sip of water. I've mentioned before how many of Seminole county's tax dollars go into parks and recreation and this beautiful, amazing fitness course is one of them!

Today - on my bike at sunrise - I really see why I dedicate this time of day to being out in nature! Nature puts on an amazing display of color and light for it's sunrise presentation! It was a real stunner today! It looked like the sky was on fire! Absolutely amazing morning! I think the wonderful thing about being an artist is the level of appreciation I have of what so many take for granted! A sunrise - representing a brand new day - is one of those "givens." Central Winds Park in Winter Springs, FL is host to many, many activities, including the Scottish Games which bring all lovers of anything Scottish to the park. Seminole County is a huge advocate of parks and recreation and living in the county you see where they invest their tax dollars - beautiful parks and trails that are well-maintained and beautiful. I hope YOUR day has just an amazing start to it as mine has!

I'm heading out again today with my "Partner in Crime," for another "BackyardArt" adventure. I'm thinking we might head out to the new construction area of Oviedo, FL. The downtown area is pretty much like it's always been, but there's a major road expansion going on right now, so let's see what happens after the completion of that project. "New" Oviedo (outside the downtown area) is undergoing explosive growth. Everywhere you look there's construction going on! New homes, new apartments, new retail - it's completely crazy! So, I think we'll head over in that direction and see if there are any "BackyardArt" sketching opportunities. That's the funny thing about an artist. I'm riding along, and suddenly the sun hits the trees a certain way and it completely arrests me! I mean I stop in my tracks! It's not usually the BIG things that capture my attention, it's the small things - like after a rainy morning - the sun peeks out of the clouds and illuminates a spider web filled with dew - or the sun hitting the top of a tree - or a beautiful flower blooming. Maybe art imitates life itself, it's NEVER about the BIG things - it's ALWAYS the little things that count!
#backyardart #Florida #Oviedo #biking #bikelife #floridaartist #backyard

As part of my "BackyardArt" series I rode my bicycle to the sleepy downtown area of Oviedo, Florida. In the downtown area, you'll see antique shops, the post office and of course, the local ACE Hardware store. Perched on top of one of the stacks of bags in front of the store is a rooster! Yep! Oviedo is known for their famous roosters who happily inhabit the downtown area. They pretty much have the run of the place and on this morning, some kind soul had even put down clean water in a dish and lots of food! So, the roosters - well - pretty much rule the roost! There is one stop light in the downtown area where two major roads intersect. One of those roads is going through a major expansion, so it will be interesting to see how the downtown area changes as the road expands! I created this image on paper using oil pastels, watercolors, ink and acrylics.
#backyardart #Florida #Oviedo #backyard #biking #bikelife #art #acehardware

On one of my "BackyardArt" adventures, I rode by this sleepy little cemetery in the downtown Oviedo, FL area. Obviously, it's a very old cemetery with so many interesting headstones. I had never seen a headstone like this with the cross on top! I thought it was beautiful. My timing was perfect, because the sun started shining through the trees creating shards of light - illuminating all the gravestones. It was truly amazing and I wanted to capture the moment and share it with you. I created this mixed media painting using oil pastels, acrylics and water colors.
#backyardart #biking #backyardbiking #art #bikelife

Yesterday morning for my "BackyardArt" bike ride, I rode to the downtown area of this sleepy little community. The downtown area has maintained this wonderful quaint feeling, complete with roosters wandering around in front of the antique stores, post office and local ACE Hardware store. I took this photo yesterday at 6:51 am while out on my bike ride. The sun was just coming up and illuminated everything - like it was on fire! The Town House Restaurant is a family-owned and operated restaurant open since the 1950's. It used to be on the corner of the downtown's two major streets. Unfortunately, the 18 wheeler trucks trying to turn the corner actually took part of the roof with them as they turned the corner, so the restaurant ultimately took off part of the roof so the 18 wheelers could turn the corner. Then, a major road expansion was announced and the restaurant was forced to move to their present location - just down the street. I love coming here for breakfast and shortly after the tragic Pulse nightclub terrorist shooting in Orlando, I stopped by the restaurant and was greeted by a woman painting the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. I, of course, asked her what she was doing and she said she wanted to do something to honor those who had been killed in the shooting and that was why she was painting the sidewalk. I told her I loved the sidewalk and we continued talking for about 5 minutes. It wasn't until the end of the conversation that she told me she was the owner of the restaurant! The Town House Restaurant is the 4 times winner of the Foodie Award Critics Choice for Best Breakfast. Trust me, I know why! If you're in the neighborhood, stop by because it's, "where Oviedo meets to eat!"

A friend of mine gave me this tree and I thought it was really cool because of its shape. It has a amazing canopy - which is perfect for Florida - because, just like the palm tree - this tree has learned to bend, not break in hurricanes. I watched the newly planted tree bend in the 65+ mile an hour winds from Matthew. It survived just fine! This morning I walk out and see this beautiful delicate blossom on the tree. I didn't even know it was a flowering tree! The blossom reminded me of fireworks exploding in the sky. It is amazing! The most wonderful thing about this is - you don't even have to leave your own backyard - or go any further - than just-around-the-corner to see and be amazed by beauty!
#artblogger #travel #backyardart #biking #bikelife #backyardbiking

I thought I'd share a "sneak-a-peek" of my next piece. I've been working on it - it seems like absolutely forever!!! Anyway - this is what my "studio" looks like in the heat of the moment. I have several ideas I'm working on - and some pieces I've already started - including a beautiful flower for my "backyardart" series - where I travel around "in my own backyard" - or "just-around-the-corner" on my bike with my easel slung over my shoulder! Anyway - stay tuned for this finished piece, "Dream a Little Dream of Me," (based on the song) and my backyardart flower image!

#backyardart #art #bikelife #backyard #backyardbiking

Right around the corner from me is this wonderful walking/biking trail. It's a "Rails to Trails" trail - a former railroad that was converted to a trail. You can still see some of the old railroad markers from the days of the railroad's former glory and of course, this really cool train trestle spanning the creek below. The Howell Creek Trestle goes over a quick moving creek that weaves and cuts through sleepy residential neighborhoods. The trestle is a great vantage point to look down at the creek below - or sit down and take a quick breather - or like me - get off my bike for a few minutes - set up my easel, and make a quick sketch. Today, the sky is Easter egg blue. Not a cloud in the sky. This is late summer, so the trees are that really deep green color, but the sun is illuminating them so brightly - that some appear to be lime green or bright yellow! Everyone is out-and-about today - lots of walkers, joggers, bicyclists and someone riding what appears to be a combination of a bicycle and a Nordic Trac. It definitely looked like fun! Today is a perfect day for "Backyard Biking," so stay tuned for my next adventure....
#backyardart #backyard #biking #backyardbiking #bikelife #art

"BackyardArt" with Allison is a daily ride with me - on my bike - as I pause for a moment - get off my bike, set up my easel and make a quick sketch in my sketchbook - of whatever captures my interest - in my own backyard. I don't have to go any further than my own backyard - or right around the corner - to find interesting things to sketch. It's fun for me to make a quick sketch of what I see and capture the moment on paper - then share it with you! I encourage YOU to get out and experience your own backyard. Maybe you will find some interesting things that capture your imagination and inspire you! It's just around the corner! My next adventure takes me - right around the corner to Howell Creek Trestle...so stay tuned!
#backyardart #backyardbiking #art #bikelife #backyard #biking

The faint-of-heart need not apply for this position! But those who dare to step forward and take the leap reap great rewards!

I’m a hybrid artist, who spends lots of time painting in my studio, but also spends lots of time out of my studio with the public, painting-on-site. I’ve always loved to paint, as long as I can remember and I enjoy interacting with people.

Sharing a painting you’ve created with the public is definitely leaving yourself open to whatever people might decide to say about your work. “What is that exactly?” “Where did you get that idea?” “What it that supposed to be?” “Have you been painting long?” “Do you actually sell anything you paint?” “Did you have to go to school to learn how to paint that?” “What does that mean?”

Remember, painting-on-site is a creative process and exposing any of one’s precious creations to public criticism is terrifying, to say the very least! Truthfully, many artists just don’t have the stomach for painting-on-site. It’s the face-to-face thing.

Could the so called "benefits" of painting-on-site exceed the "liabilities" of possibly having one’s creative spirit squashed?

An artist friend of mine and I painted on site at Leu Gardens, (a 50-acre botanical oasis near downtown Orlando) a picture perfect place to paint. The garden’s patrons approached us with trepidation initially, but when they realized we were open to conversation, they relaxed.

Interestingly, I picked up their ideas, their energy and love of nature and incorporated everything into my images. All my paintings in the gardens became a compilation of memories. I’d look at a painting I’d painted from the gardens and say to myself, "That’s where that cute couple came up and started talking to us about planting their butterfly garden," or “"hat’s where that cute little girl started talking to me about how much she loves to draw horses."

My paintings became more than me! Each painting was infused with the energy of each person that interacted with me!

The Grand Bohemian Gallery (part of the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando) has been exceptionally good to me and my work. At one point, I was painting-on-site inside the gallery every Sunday during their Sunday brunch (their Sunday “Jazz Brunch” was listed “Best of Orlando” 2013, 2014 & 2015). Brunch goers would often browse through the gallery after their meal and gravitate to me painting-on-site in the gallery.

Everyone was in a happy, relaxed mood and opened up and shared their thoughts and feelings with me. Sometimes, the really special times, a young budding artist would come up to me reluctantly and share their vision of becoming an artist with me. I encouraged them, of course, but I also offered them the opportunity to paint with me on the painting I was working on. Most of them were hesitant, but I assured them it was “okay” to paint on my canvas with me. It was amazing to see their face as they added their paint stokes to mine.

Unheard of you say? A mistake? The few strokes meant the world to them and I was able to incorporate their work into mine making mine – well - fresher – less of the "old" me! A win-win situation!

The Grand Bohemian even sent me to one of their premium properties in St. Augustine, The Casa Monica Resort & Spa for my own show! I absolutely loved the hotel and having my own show in their incredible lobby exceeded my expectations - actually a dream come true! I loved painting-on-site and interacting with all the visitors staying at the hotel. The hotel’s clientele was entirely different from the visitors to the Orlando Grand Bohemian - so I was pulled out of my "element" even more so.

A friend of mine recommended me to paint-on-site at Micro Key Software’s Annual User’s Conference. I was really excited about the opportunity and everyone at the event was encouraged to "talk with artist," so I had an exciting evening!

One young budding artist captured my heart with her enthusiasm and skill at such a young age. To tell you the truth, she reminded me of me!

Throughout the evening, the attendees talked and painted with me! It was an amazing evening of fun and adventure that I’ll never forget. I "donated" the finished piece that everyone contributed to during the evening to Micro Key. I received a wonderful letter from Micro Key stating "It is evident from the feedback surveys, completed by the attendees, that the conference was a great success." "All of our attendees that had the opportunity to paint really enjoyed the experience. Thank you so much for sharing your talent."

So, if you’re presented with an opportunity to interact face-to-face, just remember, you can do it and you’ll be "better," for having shared the creative part of you with the public.

When Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book “Flow” hit the national bestseller list in the 1990’s, everyone was talking about the power of “Flow,” which the author described as, “The positive aspects of human experience – joy, creativity, and the total involvement with life.”

Everyone was trying to “tap into” the power of “flow” and take it for a ride, including me! My personal experience found “flow” to be a bit more fleeting than I would have liked, until an unexpected trip to the movies trapped me into the “flow” groove for two weeks.

A friend of mine invited me to go with her to see a new movie. I had no idea what to expect. I had heard some very strange comments about the movie, but, nevertheless, wanted to check it out for myself.

The movie? Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge.” I was totally blown away by the movie. I liken it to jumping on a horse I thought was tame and suddenly out of the blue the horse takes off and gallops away into oblivion! I’m still on board (barely) but completely surprised and bewildered by the sudden turn of events!

The movie, to me, was a complete immersion into music, song and dance, all at once! Set in Paris in 1899, the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre became the entertainment center of highbrow and lowbrow society representing a kind of cultural and social revolution, where the Bohemian anti-establishment movement thrived. Artists, like Toulouse Lautrec, poets, musicians, and students flocked to Montmartre looking for artistic inspiration, shunning the bourgeois world of their parent’s generation. A bitter green alcohol called Absinthe had a cult following amongst the Bohemians. The Bohemian motto was, “Truth, beauty, freedom and love.”

Being an artist, this utterly ridiculous love story captured my heart in a way that I still can’t describe! It took me by surprise and threw me into two weeks of listening to the sound track every day and creating my “Moulin Rouge” painting with complete abandon. I lived in “flow” the entire duration, listening to the soundtrack and painting. Painting and listening to the soundtrack.

What was it like living in a heightened state of joy, creativity and total immersion for two weeks? When I paint, I’m in the moment 100%. In this particular situation, not only was I painting in the moment 100%, I was listening in the moment 100%. I added another layer to my senses intensifying my experience!

I could see and hear the painting coming together! It was totally amazing! The combination of the art and the music together pushed my painting to a whole new level!

I displayed my “Moulin Rouge” painting in the studio I shared with 2 fellow artists, inside a co-op art gallery. My studio mate mentioned to me she really liked the painting. My friend is an accomplished artist and I was completely taken aback that she would actually like this very strange painting of mine – a complete departure from the type of artwork she usually paints, (or I paint, for that matter)! I was so miffed, I had to ask her, “Why do you like this painting? What specifically do you like about it?”

I’ll never forget her simple comment, “It makes me happy.”

Moulin Rouge forever changed the way I paint. Now I paint to my favorite music. If you want to experience a heightened sense of flow, try layering your experiences!

Csikszentmihalyi explains in “Flow,” “It is an experience in which there is order in consciousness.” He continues, “The pursuit of a goal brings order in awareness because a person must concentrate attention on the task at hand and momentarily forget everything else. These periods of struggling to overcome challenges are what people find to be the most enjoyable times of their lives.”

When you think of art collectors, do you typically think of hedge fund managers, technology gurus, or maybe just your every-day self-made millionaires?

Well, think again! One of the completely “hidden” markets of art collectors is the artists themselves, collecting art from their artist contemporaries!

The artist’s homes and studios I’ve been privileged enough to visit have proven to me, time-and-again, that artists love collecting the works of other artists.

Contrary to what I believe is the “standard thinking,” artists like being around and hanging out with other artists. To go even one step further, artists even like to collect the works of other artists, and are some of their most ardent supporters! Who would know, appreciate and understand art more than an artist?

It seems like a novel aspect, but who better to seek out brilliant works of art, than artists getting to know other artists and their work. Who better to appreciate the nuances of the paintings, sculptures, etc. than an artist who knows, I mean really knows, the artist that created it!

I have my own gallery. My collection includes art from my contemporaries. I could give you a LONG list of other contemporary artists I would love to collect. I would need to add more wall space to actually display the number of pieces I would like to own.

I attribute my desire to be an art collector to my mom, who was a collector herself. She was an administrator for a public school system for over thirty years, but knew many artists within the school district who taught art and were practicing artists. My mom collected art from many of her artist contemporaries and fortunately, as a kid, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with these talented personalities. My mom had real talent herself as an artist and even won an award for a batik.
(“Batik” is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to cloth).

When I showed signs very early on of having artistic talents, my mom encouraged me to take art classes, which I did! I still can’t believe, as I look back, seeing myself as a young teen, in art classes held at the museum, etc. mostly populated with art students in their fifties and over and marvel at how I had the ability to stay focused and engaged on the subject matter!

When my mom passed away, I inherited her art collection. My sister was generous enough to ship every piece to me. When they arrived, I was completely taken aback at my response to the paintings. Tears starting flowing as I unwrapped painting after painting. These were like long lost friends! The memories came flooding back to me. I started remembering things that had happened, the artists, my mom, - well everything! These paintings were a HUGE part of my past! They were a part of my present and now, part of my future.

I can’t tell you how meaningful and emotional that experience was. Art is emotional. Art can change your world – your life - no matter if you are a hedge fund manager or an artist, start collecting art –now!

As an artist, I think I look at things differently.

I see things that completely stop me in my tracks, while others might walk right on by! I’m always amazed at how differently each one of us sees and processes the world.

A case in point is one of my recent trips to Mount Dora, Florida with my husband. We love to visit Mt. Dora. We walk around the quaint downtown area, treat ourselves to a great meal, take a hike, go for a boat or train ride or just hang out.

This particular day, after a walk around the downtown area, we headed to one of my favorite restaurants, “The Goblin Market Restaurant.” (http://thegoblinmarketrestaurant.com/) for lunch. It’s been there since 1996. This particular day was a perfect spring day and the hostess asked us if we would like to dine inside or outside on the patio. We both said, “Outside!” So the hostess takes us to this table outside under this huge oak tree! She gives us the menu. I glance at the menu. We already know what we want, so we order. We hand back the menus, then I look up!

I’m totally blown away! There is this plant that has wound itself completely up the side of the tree. The plant is being lit by the sun and seems to be sun lit from behind all the way up the tree. Even the tree leaves seem to be back-lit! I can’t believe how beautiful it is!

The beautiful bright green plants are contrasted against the red tones of the tree bark and the bright lime green tree leaves are highlighted against the brilliant Easter egg blue sky!

It completely takes my breath away! I take my phone out and start snapping photos – from every angle imaginable! Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.

Now people are starting to stare at me. I’m sure they’re thinking, “What could she possibly be taking a picture of? All we see is a HUGE tree! What is she doing?”

I keep snapping photos, hoping that the pictures will do the image justice.

I couldn’t wait to get back home so I could start my painting of the tree. I knew the painting would present a few challenges, like getting the perspective right and the most important thing, getting the “sun lit” quality of the plants and leaves “right.”

I really wanted the plant and the leaves to “pop.” So, since I’m painting the image in acrylics and they dry darker, it means multiple coats of highlights. Lots of applications of pure color on top of pure color.

After all was said and done, I was really happy with the results.

You can judge it for yourself. Can you feel the spring day? Can you see the sunshine beaming down on the tree leaves and plant?
If you can, then I’ve done my job of sharing my world with you and how I felt on that pristine spring day on the patio totally arrested by the beauty of the moment!

Inspiration comes from anywhere! Be sure to look up! I’m not sure we’re always thinking about looking “up” for ideas. Maybe it just means we should spend more time each day with our head in the clouds!

Once upon a time, far, far away, I was chosen to play the lead part in a play at my grade school.

I was thrilled because we got to wear these really cool costumes and be on stage, and all that really fun stuff a grade school student dreams of – or I least I did!

That was the “good” part. The “bad” part was, no matter how hard I rehearsed my lines, the minute I stepped onto stage I became completely mortified and I couldn’t remember a thing, nary a word or phrase! I mean, I think I actually stopped breathing or I just completely forgot to breathe!

No matter what I did, I became completely overwhelmed the minute I stepped on stage.

Of course, the teacher quickly replaced me, seeing how, no matter what my enthusiasm level, I was completely unable to deliver a line! My dreams of being a part of the show – over. Big time. I was completely devastated and I felt like such a major loser! (All this drama and I was just in grade school!)

Really, I couldn’t remember my lines? How hard could this be? Obviously I could memorize my lines, I just couldn’t deliver them! I felt like Jerry Seinfeld at the rental car site, “So, you can take my reservation, but you just can’t hold it!”

Fast forward, many, many decades later. I hear about this acting class in town. I hear the teacher is amazing and I could join the class even if I wasn’t an actress/actor.

It was kind of like that “bucket-list” thing in the back of my mind. I just really wanted to overcome my fear of standing up in front of people. I just wanted to be able to deliver a line. That’s all. No big deal. Well, actually it was a big deal to me. I really just wanted to be able to walk out on stage and speak to the audience without passing out!

So, I signed up for the class. Boy, was I in for a HUGE surprise! The acting class was truly amazing. These acting students were truly gifted. They were “real” actors/actresses honing their skills and following their dreams to become big stars!

Then there was me. The class started after work and I was usually toast at that time of day. However, that didn’t stop me from showing up, week after week. Yep! That was me in the back of the class trying hard to hide in the shadows. I could safely “observe” from this distance, just not participate.

However, I had to (the teacher made me do it) participate every time in the “being” exercises we performed at the beginning of every class. One of our acting teacher’s goals was to get us to tap into our “authentic” selves at the beginning of the class. We had to get rid of the “fake” face we put on as we leave the house in the morning and show people all day, and access the “real” person behind the mask that no one sees but us! We had to shake off that “other” person we were during the day and become our “authentic” self. We had to “be,” not “act!” I was floored! This was NOT easy!

What I found out was “acting” is NOT “acting,” it’s “being.” If you want to cry, you have to tap into how you felt when your dog died and actually feel or re-live those emotions as you deliver your lines! If you want to be happy, you have to remember what it felt like the best day of your life, re-live those emotions and so on and so forth. It’s “being,” not “acting.” BIG surprise!

I was so confused! I thought we were supposed to be acting???? This wasn’t acting, this was torturing! I’m thinking, “This wasn’t what I signed up for! This is going to kill me!” However, I signed up for this class, paid for this and I was going to see this thing through, if it killed me, thinking to myself that might be a real possibility at this point.

Honestly, “acting” class was more like “therapy” than any therapy session I have ever attended. I mean gut wrenching. I’ve never heard so many “true confessions” in my entire life! I mean, this is the real deal! NO soap opera I’ve ever watched was as authentic and gripping! This was riveting! This was real! This was happening in real time! What happened in acting class stayed in acting class!

Over the weeks, I watched these completely amazing performances by my fellow students. Some actually left for L.A. or other parts unknown for acting jobs that opened up. Meanwhile, I was still hovering at the back of the class room. I don’t know what it was, but I just couldn’t come forward. Well, okay, it was FEAR!

Fast forward to my very last night in class. I had a horrible personal experience that day and was on the verge of tears all day at work. The last thing I wanted to do was go to acting class, but it was the last night I had signed up for, so I went and assumed my usual position hiding at the back of the room.

The teacher, for whatever reason that night, spotted me in the back of the room and said to me, “You, Yes, You! You are up. Yep. Right now.” I thought I would drop dead on the site.

I walk down to the middle of the floor – or the stage. I feel everyone’s eyes on me. I am completely terrified. The teacher says to me, “You have just won an academy award! You will receive the Oscar, give the audience your acceptance speech and thank the people who got you here.” Then she’s hands me a vase and says “Here’s your Oscar!”

Did I mention, this had probably been one of the worst days of my entire life?? I look at her. She is not going to let me leave. I have got to do this. It’s now or never!

I take the vase. I look around the room and say, “First off, I want to thank everyone for having so much faith in me and for voting for me. I can’t tell you how much that means to me!” All of the sudden, all of my emotions that had been bottled up inside me all day came out unchecked. I immediately start crying!! Oh, did I say crying? I mean, sobbing - uncontrollably! It was like the flood gates opened up! I couldn’t control my tears and sobs! I was completely out of control!

Amazingly, through my sobs, I was able to actually “say” what I wanted to say, although I felt like I had just spent 60 seconds inside a washing machine!

When I left the “stage”, the students clapped for me! I was stunned! Later, that night when I was leaving, one of the students approached me and shared with me that they had to leave the room during my “acceptance speech” because it was so heartfelt that it hit a nerve. It was just too difficult for them to watch and listen to what I was saying, so they actually left the class room.

So, to those of you with fears holding you back, peel off the mask you wear at work, become your authentic self, and just “be.” Don’t act! You’ll thank me later!

How can tapping into your creative potential help you solve problems, and come up with new ideas?

Before I was a full-time artist, I had my own public relations company. I had a big problem to solve and needed a really creative solution. I had a celebrity fitness guru coming to town and a fitness studio to fill up with students eager to see what they could learn from the master.

I had to come up with a whole publicity campaign, pronto, but unfortunately I kept coming up with the same old tired ideas for my campaign.

Everyone was counting on me to pull a rabbit out of the hat and I was running out of time!

Monday was the deadline I’d given myself to come up with my “great idea.” It’s now Saturday. I’m on a plane heading out of town. While wandering around the airport waiting for my flight to depart, I walk into a book store. I’m just wandering around the store, looking at books and magazines.

Suddenly, there staring me in the face was my answer! I’m not talking about just any old idea, but the BIG idea from which I launched my whole publicity campaign! The headline and picture on the front cover of U.S. News & World Report gave me the idea! (U.S. News & World Report is now mostly web based). The article on the front cover warned about the many perils of fitness campaigns and how multiple injuries were the result of these ill-planned campaigns. All kinds of fitness buffs weren’t even stretching or warming-up. They were just leaving the house, running a marathon, and ending up in the hospital! Now the experts are saying, “Take it easy,” instead of “No pain, no gain!” I bought the magazine and read the article on the plane. By the time I arrived at my destination, I had my entire publicity campaign mapped out!

My publicity campaign, “Warning! Exercise Can Be Hazardous to Your Health” was a huge success! The campaign received lots of free publicity and bottom line, filled up the fitness studio with eager students wanting to hear from the expert how to exercise properly without getting hurt!

Over and over again it totally works for me, every time, whether I’m fretting over creating a painting or a publicity campaign! It doesn’t matter! It works every time!

“I’ve realized, from years and years of experience, being able to focus my concentration on something other than focusing on the specific problem at hand actually releases my creative energy so I actually can solve the problem and come up with new solutions.”

The first thing I have to do as an artist when creating a new painting is to come up with an inspirational idea for my painting. This process is very similar to the writer staring at a blank sheet of paper and asking themselves what they want to write about. What do I want to say? What do I want my viewer to feel? What do I want to feel? What do I want to communicate? Where do I start?

That process of thinking what I want to create takes me outside of myself. I start focusing on people, places and things – not on myself. This is absolutely the key! From my personal experience, the key to solving problems is looking outside of yourself for the answers!

My husband and I ride our bicycles around 10 miles every day. That blast of oxygen helps kick-start my system and my creativity. We’re both immersed in the moment – looking out for kamikaze squirrels, etc. darting into our paths, but still enjoying each other’s company. We laugh and talk about things going on in our lives, but the best part of the ride is the ride itself – being outside in nature – away from our daily selves and being 100% immersed in the moment.

I can’t tell you how many amazing ideas have just “popped into my head,” when I’m riding my bike!
Something happens when your mind “disengages” on the problems at hand and re-focuses elsewhere!

So, that is how it works! Go for a walk, take a hike, go see a movie, get on a plane, or get in the car and go somewhere, anywhere!

I mentioned my friend, Becky Nix, the ceramic artist as the creator of my "Lizard House." I thought I'd share this image with you. I've seen lizards sitting on the top and inside the house, so they must like it! I'm still working on "The Land of Counterpane" and my wine glasses today, so hopefully I'll be able to post something next week! I've got some other ideas floating around my mind, too. So, stay tuned to some more ideas as they "gel" in my mind! My bicycle ride today was stellar, as usual. I usually see eagles and hawks, but saw neither today. What I did see in a pond was a duck and about 10 ducklets swimming around in a very tight circle, staying close to mom. They were so cute, but too skiddish for me to get close enough to get a good photo. The sky is beautiful this morning, with beautiful clouds close to the horizon, as if you were viewing the sky from the deck of a cruise ship. The clouds are hugging the horizon and they are tipped with gold sunlight. An amazing start to my day! May you have an amazing day, too!

Artists are a funny bunch of people! Considering I am one, I'm adding my name to the "bunch." In order to really "see" and "feel" things, you really have to wear your heart on your sleeves! Really? Yep! The reason artists have the ability to evoke so much emotion from the viewer is the artist's own vested emotions they throw into their paintings! You can look at a piece of art and sometimes it does nothing for you. Another piece might, for whatever reason, evoke an emotional response from you. "I hate that," or "That's interesting," or "I love that piece," or "That is a disturbing piece." The one thing in common with all those responses, is that the paintings or works of art evoke some kind of emotional response from you, good or bad or even indifferent. I've noticed, in today's world where everything moves so fast, it's really difficult to stop the world long enough to take a second look or even "feel" anything! Artists are looking and feeling every day. They are noticing the usual, the unusual, the average, the above-average, basically artists are taking it all in. It's a blessing and a curse. Artists easily can get swept away by their emotions! (Say it isn't true!!!!) A long time ago, far, far away, I went to see a movie with a friend. It was one of the most unusual movies I had ever seen, to say the least! But, something in the movie resonated with my spirit, and that emotion swept me up, up and away for several weeks as I was consumed with painting these images that came to me. The movie? "Moulin Rouge directed by Baz Luhrmann. A very, very, strange movie that totally overcame me with emotion. I purchased the CD and for the next couple of weeks, worked feverishly on my painting. I really was off in "La-La" land, totally consumed with the painting. The painting was a jumble of images, probably making no sense to anyone but me! After I finished it, exhausted, I displayed it in the studio I shared with 2 other artist friends at the Orlando Visual Artists League (aka O.V.A.L.). Interestingly enough, one of my studio-mates absolutely loved the piece, so I gifted it to her on a special day. Not necessarily seeming her type of painting, I asked her, "Why do you like this particular piece?" "It's a happy piece," she replied. So, if the piece is happy it makes her feel happy! I was happy, (well, to be honest, obsessed) with painting it and the end result was it evoked in one person the feeling of happiness. Interesting! Now, let me reel your mind back to the artist. I'm painting images of bluefin tuna. I'm researching the tuna and find out "Pacific Bluefin Tuna Overfishing has led to 96% Population Reduction." I read further and now I'm seeing images I'd rather not be seeing. The belly meat from the giant (Atlantic) bluefin tuna is considered the finest sushi in the world. Where there's lots of money to be made, anything goes. According to a National Geographic magazine article, "The decimation of giant bluefin is emblematic of everything wrong with global fisheries today: the vastly increased power of new fishing technology, the shadowy network of international companies making huge profits from the trade, negligent fisheries management and enforcement, and consumers' indifference to the fate of the fist they choose to buy." Images of this beautiful fish caught in nets and other images brought me to tears. Oh, there's that artist in me coming out. So, tell me what you feel by seeing my painting, if you actually feel anything. (You may not). The bluefin tuna is beautiful and I hope I captured it's beauty so if they're caught to extinction, like the bluefin tuna paintings on ancient cave walls and their minted images on ancient coins, you'll know how beautiful they once were and how they filled one artist with awe and sadness at the same time!

Livin the Creative Dream always comes with a caveat - things don't always go the way you think they should go! You wake up, have your day planned out, then wham! Something comes up and completely throws a monkey wrench into the middle of your plan! Some of the responses I hear when things go wrong are so whiny! "I can't do that anymore now that this happened!" "I almost completed my masterpiece when "x" happened!" So what? Everyday something else is thrown in our path and we only have our choices to get us out! I've noticed how our first gut reaction is to shut down and return to the fetal position. However, even if you do that, at some point you'll have to rejoin the living and you'll still be faced with the same dilemma! So, might as well make the "right" choice as soon as "x" happens and be on your merry way with as little down time as possible! So, what is the "right" choice in these circumstances? Choose to take action and do what you CAN do! Look around you! Okay, so you can't, for whatever reason, do what you wanted to do, but what else Can you do? Focusing all your energy on what you CAN do instead of what you CAN"T do is completely empowering! Number one, you stop whining and start doing something. As soon as you move your energy from static to active a funny thing happens. One action begets another action and suddenly you're on your way in another direction! Crisis averted! The real challenge is to actually have the mindfulness to notice that when things go south, you're going there, too! You have to be aware you're suddenly going down a dark road. You've got to put the brakes on, turn the car around and head off in a new direction. Yes, I know, easier said than done, but really there are no excuses. At the end of your whiny respite, you still have the same situation right in front of you! So, my advice is admit that things didn't go like you think they should have, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and head off in another direction! Living in Florida I love the ocean! I love fish, coral and anything ocean related! My latest work, "Moorish Idol and Coral" is a tribute to the ocean! Did you know that 60% of our coral reefs are expected to be dead and gone in the next 30 years? I was stunned to hear this prediction! This can't possibly be true! It gets worse! Our coral reefs support approximately 25% of all marine animals! I wanted to paint one of the oceans most beautiful (and social) fish swimming among the beautiful coral. On my visits to Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Raiatea, Moorea and other places in the South Pacific, you can snorkel around so many of these islands and see such amazing coral reefs and brightly colored fish I would love to think that future generations will have that same privilege. June 8th was World Oceans Day (#worldoceansday) and if you would like to support the coral reef initiative go to The Ocean Foundation (oceanfdn.org) and see what you CAN do!

Choices! Everyday we're faced with a multitude of them! Do this! Don't do that! How do you know you're making the best choices faced with so many variables? One way is to make "informed" choices based on the failures of others! One of the Twitter co-founders said something like, (I'm paraphrasing) "Spectacular successes come with spectacular failures!" So, we know the rest of the Twitter story, so this guy is probably someone I'd listen to! Another amazing story comes from our friends the Wright brothers. Yeah, the airplane guys! So, they do the absolutely remarkable thing of building and getting an airplane to actually fly, then apply for a patent on the plane. In the meantime, the success of the Wright brothers sends euphoria around the world and everyone that is now aware that flight is possible is building their own airplane. The Wright brothers, with their patent, (This would not be possible today), basically made it impossible for anyone to build another airplane! However, that didn't stop other inventors from trying. One inventor, (Glenn Curtiss) a motorcyclist and inventor, had invented an amazingly powerful motor for his motorcycles and was winning all kinds of motorcycle races. He asked the Wright brothers if they wanted to collaborate with him on building their plane utilizing one of his powerful engines. The Wright brothers patent was approved a week after they received the engine collaboration letter from Curtiss. They felt they didn't need Curtiss and declined his offer to utilize his powerful engine to power their plane. Well, you guessed it! That didn't stop Curtiss and in fact Curtiss built his own airplane inventing "ailerons" (French for "little wings") that changed the dynamic of the airplane entirely! The Wright brothers, still upset over patent infringements and wanting to keep their technology "secret" declined to participate in an event where airplane advances would be showcased. Of course, Curtiss wanted to be front and center at this event, his first chance to show the world what he created, and even after crashing his airplane while on a practice run the day before the big event, still pulled off the unthinkable! His plane flew for over a mile! He was considered the "first man of flight," leaving the Wright brothers in the dust. Okay! Bad choice by the Wright brothers! Their choice NOT to appear at the event opened the door for Curtiss - totally unopposed by any competition! It enabled Curtiss to gain a foothold in the new industry. (By the way, the Wright brothers continued with their law suits against Curtiss, until eventually the stress took over Wilbur Wright's life, and he died suddenly at age 45 due to complications of typhoid fever). So, what nuggets can we garner from the Wright brothers fiasco? Well, fear of patent infringement and "sharing their knowledge" with the world allowed someone else to step in and steal their thunder! Worse than that, Curtiss even came up with BETTER technology (the ailerons) that are still used in airplanes today! So, the moral of the story according to Allison is if someone asks you to collaborate, you might want to take a second look at the opportunity, depending on what can be gained by both parties. Secondly, fear is a powerful motivator that keeps us all on the sidelines. In the case of the Wright brothers, their fear of others stealing their technology actually kept them on the sidelines and allowed another inventor to step forward. Stress kills, and Wilbur Wright is the proof. So, "bad" choices, or choices looking back that probably weren't made for the "right" reasons. They were made out of fear. So, if you have an opportunity to collaborate with someone today, take a second look. If you have a choice today, move forward without fear. Leap and the net will appear!

The great thing about Mondays is that everything is new and squeaky clean! No matter what happened yesterday, that happened LAST week. Today is a new week, a new morning and all things are possible! I love Mondays because of their potential - the "clean slate" idea. So, no matter what happened last week, what you planned that didn't happen, things left uncompleted, THIS week will be different! It's so exhilarating seeing the whole fresh week extended out in front of you! I have lots of plans today, which include starting on another "fish" painting. I had so much fun painting my "Mandarin Fish," that I thought I'd do a series of three. I'm thinking of adding some coral to the images to add some interest. I'm still mulling around a couple of other ideas, too. I end up writing down ideas that come to me on pieces of paper while I'm driving (Er, when I stop at a red light or stop sign I write them down) or any other time of day. The nice thing about getting out early in the morning is that I never know what will trigger an idea! So, just getting outside seems to be essential to me for a continual stream of new ideas. They percolate around in my brain for a while and eventually bubble to the surface. Some work out, some don't! My job as an artist is not to censor the idea, but to pursue it to it's logical conclusion. Every idea might not be a hit out of the ball park, but every action begets another action and pushes me forward to a fresh new day full of possibilities!

Someone once told me when you're thinking about either the past or the future, your mind is actually blank! You're not actually here! Your mind took you on a trip out of the present moment. Have you ever been thinking about something while driving and suddenly realized you passed your turn-off or you're actually going the wrong direction? Guilty! Yep, I've had that happen more times than I care to admit! Living in the present moment is actually called, "mindfulness." It's retrieving your mind when it wanders forward or backwards in time. I believe this one act of "retrieval" might be the one thing that can actually make a huge difference in anyone's life, if actually applied. In the present moment, things are fine. You look around, it's a beautiful day, you have enough to eat, you have a place to sleep at night, life is good! The moment your minds shifts our of "present" mode into the future or past, your feelings change accordingly. You suddenly are fearful about the economy, global warming, ebola, you name it! Lots to worry about! If you can reel your mind back to the present moment, that "simple" act allows you the ability to actually "do" something right now that can't be done in the past or the future. It actually works. Now is the only time you can take action to make your life the way you want it to be. The past is gone, the future is not here yet, so what's left is now. The power is in the now, in the present moment. Make a decision today to be "in the now." Use the power of "now" to do the incredible things you want to do and live the life you've always dreamed!

This is it! Yep! It's that simple! Take a look around at the beauty that surrounds you! It's there for the taking! You don't even have to purchase it! I'm amazed every day as I "take in" the experience of being outside in nature. What floats my boat? Being outside in nature and soaking up everything mother nature has to offer! Today the sky was brilliant blue, only a few puffy clouds on the horizon. There was a tint of pink color in the sunrise turning everything a pinkish color. There was a thin layer of fog dulling the sounds. As the sun came up, we rode past trees, the rays of the sun streaking through the trees creating thin streaks of diffused light. Everything was quiet. Not many people up this early on Sunday. The beauty of it all sometimes literally takes my breath away! I'm stunned by the beauty of something as simple as a hazy sunrise. Cows in the pasture hiding in the fog. It's unbelievable pastoral, but almost surreal! It looks like a post card of some nature scene or something. But, no, it's the real deal! THIS is it! This is that feeling of peacefulness and serenity that you can enjoy 100% by being completely immersed in the moment, experiencing everything 100% in the now. Everything else but these feelings disappear. In this moment there is everything life has to offer. Incredible beauty, peacefulness, serenity and a sense of awe. Taking away these feelings with me to "release" during the day is the challenge. Much like a "timed release" pill, this nature "pill" has to last me through the day when life starts pulling me in other directions away from my "center." Being connected with nature and the earth has more power than anyone realizes. Getting outside is more than simply "exercising," it's being completely immersed in the feelings and the experience of nature. I can feel my immune system being boosted. Once again, today I got my daily dose of nature. Hopefully enough to get me through whatever life throws at me until I can get back out on the trail tomorrow. This is it! Being in nature is the pill that cures!

I've realized there is a HUGE difference between "simple" and "easy." Just because something is simple, doesn't make it easy! It's simple to lose weight! Just eat less and exercise more! There you go! It's only the theory that's "simple." The actual "doing" is something else entirely! Getting up every morning and going on a 10-mile bicycle ride is fairly simple, but hardly easy! The real motivation for me every morning is my daily dose of inspiration and beauty, coupled with the fun of exploring with my co-adventurer. The sense of expectancy, what will we see? An eagle? Hawk? Who knows? It's the sense of "I need to get out there, because I might be missing something!" THAT is my driving motivation. Motivation! The feeling behind the acting. That is the secret! What motivates you to do what you do? Motivation separates the "simple" from the "easy." If I feel I'm missing out on something, that motivation drives me to get up out of bed more than "I have to get up and ride my bike 10 miles!" So, if want to experience life first hand and not from the side lines, pretend you're missing out on something. For me, my early morning bike adventure provides me with a complete repertoire of experiences and images that carry me from one day to the next. So, get up, go outside and have an adventure! You might be missing something!

"Livin' the Creative Dream," includes one very important element - expect the unexpected! The image I've posted today is a photo of me and my co-adventurer, Gary. We've had so many "kayak" adventures, it's difficult to pick one particular one to share, but one of the ones that stands out is the one where I landed us on a nude beach and the tide came in and were unable to get our kayaks back out in the water! The day started out perfect. We were able to launch our two 16 foot kayaks pretty effortlessly, although the waves breaking on shore did make it a bit challenging! Once we got out into the open water, it was pretty much smooth sailing, as we rode the top of the waves. We followed the shoreline south quite a ways, then decided to go onshore. I picked a "pretty" beach and as we started paddling toward the shoreline, both of us fell into the water as the kayaks hit the waves at an angle as they were breaking on the beach. With 16 foot kayaks, all it takes is not hitting the wave straight to throw you into the water. We dragged the two (they weigh 50 pounds empty and they were filled with our lunches, etc.) and sat down on the beach to catch our breath. The very first thing we noticed, was that no one on the beach was wearing any clothes. WE were the only ones wearing clothes! We decided it might be a good idea to re-launch the kayaks and maybe find another beach, but when we tried to get back out, the tide was starting to come in and the waves were too high for us to get past. After 5-6 futile attempts to get past the breaking waves, exhausted, we sat on the kayaks and ate our lunch. Many nice people passed by and said "hi" to us. Everyone was very nice and friendly. It was a little challenging to wrap my mind around the fact that no one was wearing clothes. After lunch, we decided that since we couldn't re-launch the kayaks out into the open water, we better carry our kayaks back up the beach to our car. The only problem was that together the kayaks weighed over 100 pounds. We would pick them up, then walk 10 feet or so, then I'd have to put them down. Walk 10 more feet, then I'd have to put them down. Finally two really nice men asked me if I needed any help. I could feel my co-adventurer's eyes boring a hole in the back of my head and said, "No, we're fine, but thanks anyway." We proceeded to walk another couple of feet and I was done. My arms couldn't pick up anything anymore. The two guys saw us sitting down again and asked, "You sure you don't need any help?" This time, we said, "Yes, that would be great!" So, they helped us carry the kayaks until we saw a National Parks representative towing a trailer. We waved our hands and screamed out until we got her attention. Long story short, we put the kayaks into her trailer and she hauled us back to our car! So, the one thing about "putting yourself out there," is....you've got to expect the unexpected and just go with the flow! It was a fun adventure and we met some really nice people that saved the day. It just wasn't quite the day I had planned!

I've been thinking and thinking! My friends keep saying to me, "You are so creative! I could never be that creative! Where do your ideas come from? I'd like to be more creative! What can I do?" So, I started re-tracing my steps back to the point where everything started. I have been very fortunate to have traveled many places. My mom, an educator and a single mom of two, was a complete adventurer. I was 9 years old when my mom took my sister and I on a 10-day cruise to the inside passage in Alaska! There were trips to the National Parks one year, and a float trip adventure down the Salmon river in Idaho where our float actually capsized! I have traveled to: Alaska, the big island of Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora-Bora, Raiatea, Mexico, Canada, Egypt, Greece, Crete, Santorini, Italy, England, Scotland, Turkey and of course, all over the United States. The one think traveling teaches you, is "You're not in Kansas anymore," and you need to get very creative when things don't go as planned, which might be frequent, especially when you travel abroad! So, as I look back, many of my ideas come from my travels, but in many cases I didn't have to travel any further than outside into my own backyard. So, my suggestion to "Livin' the Creative Dream," is first and foremost, go outside! I go for a 10-mile bicycle ride every day. (Unless it's pouring down rain, I'm out there!). I love being outside! I love hearing the birds, smelling the fresh air, witnessing the sunrise firsthand! I've attached a photo from my bicycle ride this morning. I've enlisted the assistance of my co-adventurer, Gary. The two of us affectionately refer to each other as "Creativity Squared." Gary owned his own ad agency for 20+ years, and if anyone can come up with a creative idea with both hands tied behind his back, it's Gary! So thank you Gary for helping with this photo. For all my friends out there, just go outside! Now! THIS is the first step to "Livin' the Creative Dream!" Just do it! You'll thank me later!

I wanted to get an early start today on my painting, so I left on my bicycle ride early in the dark. The only challenge riding in the dark is, even with a light, it's difficult to see animals, etc. as they dart out at you from the shadows. The real treat today was that I was able to take a picture of the ducklets in the pond! With no rain for the past week or so, the pond has almost dried up, so it's huge pickings for the ducks with the few remaining fish being gobbled up! They were so focused on eating up the fish they really didn't take notice of me taking their picture! So, today I'm working on another idea for my "Music for Your Eyes," series. For whatever reason, the music from Sting really resonates with my spirit. The song is, "Wrapped Around Your Finger." The images that came to me were candles, lots of candles, burning everywhere, and my hand, with a ring, "wrapped around my finger." The candles are positioned so that you're looking at them from above. I love the image of burning candles and the glow they create. The candles are somewhat of a challenge, painted from that perspective, so I'll be working on tweaking them today.

"Me & My Shadow." So, I'm trying to take a picture of my hanging plants. I end up getting distracted and end up with a picture of me and my shadow. Now, interestingly enough, I find my shadow picture very intriguing and humorous! Too funny! So, that's what my legs look like! A friend of my from work once affectionately referred to my legs as "chicken legs," and as I look at my legs in the shadow, I have a tendency to agree with her! The really funny thing about this photo of my shadow, is it really reminds me of my painting! How so, you say? Well, I start out with one idea in mind. Sometimes it's very challenging getting what's in my heart onto a piece of wood! So, as Bob Ross (the famous painter on PBS) states, "Be on the lookout for happy accidents!" This photo was one of those "happy accidents." This image is much more interesting to me than what I was actually trying to take a picture of! I think it's hysterical that I managed even to get my shoes in the picture! I couldn't have composed anything better had I actually tried to compose a photo of this sort! So, today, I wish everyone "happy accidents." Expect the unexpected! Look out for all the possibilities coming your way! Be aware that what you think you're looking for might actually be something else! Be open to whatever comes your way because it might be much better than you could have possibly anticipated!:)

Today is Memorial Day. I had the opportunity to visit the Audubon Birds of Prey Center in Maitland, FL and met "Francis," their "ambassador" eagle. Francis has been with the Birds of Prey Center for over 25 years. He fell out of his nest (when he was a baby) and was found injured and taken to the Center. He became the Center's ambassador and travels to various local events to allow the public to get up-front-and-personal with an eagle. I was so amazed at Francis, I wanted to paint him. I'm really not a bird artist, but a friend of mine had a rooster friend ("Rudy") that roosted on their window and she wanted me to paint him. I had never painted a bird before, but I figured I'd give it a try! So, I painted Rudy and my friend was happy with the results. So, I decided to try my hand at painting Francis. Francis really was fun to paint and definitely a challenge to paint the feathers, etc. My cousin Joe saw my painting of Francis and wanted to send it to his uncle Don (a WWII veteran) for his 90th birthday. Apparently, uncle Don was thrilled with the gift! My cousin sent me a photo of uncle Don proudly displaying "Francis" the eagle. (attached) I felt completely overwhelmed looking at the photo. He died not too long after the picture was taken. I felt so special to have been a part of his 90th b-day celebration!

You may not know I'm a real solar light enthusiast! I have solar lights absolutely everywher! I noticed, in one of my solar light "globes," a lizard has taken up residence. He is so cute! As I took his picture, his nose is sticking out of the solar globe, but you can see his body and legs silhouetted, as the sunlight streams through the globe. I absolutely love all my lizards. I have a lizard house, too! (I'll post that tomorrow!) I purchased the lizard house from an artist friend of mine. It's ceramic and has a place for sticks inside for the lizards. Lizards love the sunshine so everywhere you look in Florida, (the "sunshine state"), you will see them basking in the sun, then scurrying for cover as you walk down you sidewalk or patio steps or wherever. They provide endless smiles for me because they are SO funny. They occasionally leap (leapin' lizards) from my wind chimes to my planters right in front of me as I'm passing by, so all I see is a lizard blur in front of my eyes! They hang upside down, right-side up, any way! Most of the fluorescent green lizards have died out as the "brown" lizards have taken over, but every once in a while, I'll see one of these bright green lizards. Not even my brilliant green acrylic paint can match the color of these amazing lizards! Well, just thought I'd share my lizard friend with you before I start my day:)

Another beautiful day in paradise! Yep! It is! I just finished my 10-mile bicycle ride. I can't even begin to tell you what a spectacular day it is outside! The sky is perfectly clear, the temperature.... a balmy 72 degrees:) I look up at the sky and see absolutely beautiful, sparkling stars and the sun just starting to peek over the horizon. The birds are singing. I give today a 10! I'm gearing up to start my 2 paintings today! ("The Land of Counterpane" and my "Wine Glass Study") I try to work on at least two paintings at a time so I can keep my mind fresh. Going back and forth between several paintings seems to help me keep "the big picture." It's easy to get soooo focused on one spot on one painting, so having several works in progress simultaneously really seems to help! I'm excited about starting both today. Hopefully, I can successfully translate what's in my mind onto wood. By the way, I paint on entirely sustainable, plantation-grown wood from Uruguay called "Red Grandis." It's my way of doing my part to help save Mother Earth. The wood is beautiful, too!

I just completed my "Tree with Vines," painting and am contemplating several other ideas that have popped into my head! I love the idea of trying an image of wine glasses. It's a real challenge to show wine in the glasses and still have the glasses look transparent. Anyone who has tried to create this type of image can sympathize with me. I love seeing artists that have conquered the transparent look of glass! It's very challenging, at least to me! Also, I'm thinking it would be cool to do something for a kid's room. As a kid, my mom, an educator, bought me and my sister the whole "Childcraft" series of books. When I was sick and had to stay home, I would get the books down from the shelf and starting looking through the books. One book in particular was enticing to me. I think it was the illustrations, which were stellar! To me, already an "artist" even in grade school, the images proved irresistible! One of my favorite poems in the book was, "The Land of Counterpane," by Robert Louis Stevenson. When I was sick and lay a-bed, I had two pillows at my head, and all my toys beside me lay to keep me happy all the day. And sometimes for an hour or so, I watched my leaden soldier go, with different uniforms and drills, among the bedclothes, through the hills; And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets; Or brought my trees and houses out, and planted cities all about. I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill, And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane." I absolutely love this poem and the visuals that come to me, toy soldiers, cities, etc.....so, one of my next pieces will be "The Land of Counterpane," paying homage to Robert Louis Stevenson's poem! So, stay tuned to "another day in the life of an artist!"