What an amazing and hectic two weeks!

It really is hard to post when your 

internet is sketchy, 

your phone does not cooperate, 

and you're too tired to work everything all out!

Needless to say the past couple of weeks have been a roller coaster with a rocket attached.

When I began the 100 days for the fall, I was full of enthusiasm and optimism.

Those of you who know me, know that I can pack a lot of activity into a day and pack we did!

The first few days were filled with a recycled class at the Eastern Shore Art Center for kids.

My grandson was also staying with us and going to class with great enthusiasm. 

We had an Artwalk in Fairhope on the first Friday before he arrived.

Our Daughter in law had a birthday party in Mobile that week.

We also went to a movie with the grandchild, family, and church.

Then we spent long periods of time in the pool with our grandson playing long and hard.

The weekend was spent getting ready for the following week's classes at the 

Mobile Museum of Art all day. I left the house at 6:30am and got home at 6:00pm every day.

Thoroughly enjoyable, but exhausting between an average of 19 children for 8 hours, and 2 hours of driving each day! I have a profound respect for teachers that do this day in and day out, molding the active minds of active crazy children on the threshold of raging hormones!

Anyway, we created a lot of art.

I also managed to get a brad nail that shot partially into my finger while 

putting together wood sculptures on the first day!

We had long hard hours spent on our impressionism project of the Flamingo at the top.

(I LOVE THIS PROJECT!)

Crayons, wood, cardboard, paint!

Several other projects managed to find their way into my portfolio as well, 

all while demonstrating to the kids!

In the midst of this, I was cutting, packing, and repacking for my mission to Africa!

There are three bags now, all stuffed to almost capacity with art supplies and surprises for the people there.

I want to bring more, but there is always next year!

MY clothes have for the most part, fit into a rolling backpack weighing less than 15 pounds. 

( per Qatar Airways requirements)

The internet, and electricity have been iffy over in Chidobe, 

so posting anything from Africa may be wishful at best!

Rest assured, I will be creating, and trying to post to blog and Facebook.

Let the adventures in Africa begin at 4 am Tuesday morning!

More of the kids creations on Facebook!

Much love to all, 

100 days~100 paintings Fall 2019

Feeling a little crabby II

When I get stressed, 

I paint, 

I want to eat (chocolate), 

I shop (but don't buy), 

I even pray (all of the time!)

You might ask, what stresses me? The primary is family.

More specifically, my dad. 

Without going into it more, I will leave it at that.

Just know, I am praying about it, praying for him, 

and praying for myself to be able to engage with him.

Today's painting about sums it all up!

Feeling a little crabby II.

While I am still creating, most of my focus is on the upcoming mission to Africa. I leave in about 2 weeks and in true military kid fashion, I am trying to get all of the cutting and packing done as soon as possible. I have a list of what is packed in both bags, so as not to double up on supplies. I am in need of some type of binding to use with the older kids, as I am getting them to make books for them to draw in after I leave. Someone offered yarn to me today, I may use some of that in pre-cut lengths. I am rapidly filling both of my checked luggage bags, as there is so much I want to bring. I am a giver, and the bags include gifts for others, hoping not to step on any toes along the way! The third bag is becoming a reality soon, I fear.

The third checked bag will be $150 for my domestic flight, who knows what it will cost on the foreign ones!

I am grateful for donations still coming into my hands and I want to pass on as much as humanly possible!

Now, as I write this, I am not feeling so crabby any more.

Prayer helps, and so does writing!

Feeling a little crabby II, Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12

Day 5 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Feeling a little crabby I

Today found me working hard with our oldest daughter in her studio. She is getting new cabinetry and her entire studio was in the living room. Lots of items needing to find their homes and proper places. I get it, sometimes you just have to have a work day, clearing out and cleaning up. Her studio is different from mine, hers has a lot more fabric, hat bases, beads and other things associated with millinery. I love to see her create, and also hear about the customers gushing about their personal creations. I'm also a fan of a clear studio, not clean by any standards but clean enough to be able to create. Sometimes I have to stop creating and just clear the clutter, from the table, the easel, the floor, and my mind.

Prayer helps me there!

I find doing mindless tasks of putting things away while quietly thinking 

really clears my mind and my studio. Some days I take out piles of references I have accumulated and sort them all out. Others are extreme brush wash days. Any of them help the artist mind settle some and find a groove that allows me to then create.

Mindless cleaning.

We all do it sometimes!

Feeling a little crabby I, Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12

Day 4 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Independence day sketch

Have Watercolor pencils, will travel!

This sketch is for a painting at a later date.

I worked on this sketch until it got too dark to see.

Watercolor pencils are fun to use, either drawing with them or pulling color from the tips with a wet brush.Sitting in a chair, listening to the conversations around us,  seeing friends and catching up, families winding down their day with tired children running freely around the crowd for the 4th of July.

Things are happening in the studio as well, I started a major canvas day by setting up my compressor and staple gun. Trouble was, I could not find my canvas pliers. They were not in their regular place, in the drawer with my supply of staples. I am not real certain where they are, possibly at our oldest daughters house. I may have taken them there when we were working on her dining room chairs. Any way, she cannot find them, I cannot find them, dead in the water as far as canvas stretching goes!

(we did stretch one by hand, but I cannot do that for the other 17 left to go.)

 I did get the canvas cut and ready for the next step. One large 6 yard roll of canvas just about makes 18 complete shadowbox canvases along with scraps from the studio.

At any rate, I still accomplished getting a new hose for my compressor and eyes to replace the ones lost on our grandson's "turts". Their dog has chewed the original eyes off, after our grandson scratched the paint off the pupil. Our daughter keeps replacing them with glass beads, but turts hits the floor quite frequently. We also shopped at a sale our local Goodwill had, 50% off everything. I managed to find 2 pairs of cargo pants to take to Africa, as well as an animal print coat and black swing top.

 Another day starts tomorrow, I borrowed a pair of canvas pliers and managed to get 2 more canvases  completed before stopping to cook dinner and go to fireworks at the bay.

Another day in our home and country, free to celebrate, free to worship, free to gather in large crowds without fear. I 'm glad we live in the United States!

I pray the rest of the world can have the freedoms we have as well!

Independence day sketch, 11x17, watercolor

Day 3 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Then, I must paint them all white, in preparation for paintings coming soon. 

Thanks for visiting

Classroom content!

I've been praying for a while for the lessons to teach while in Africa.

I designed these to fit 2 to a sheet, so that I can get the maximum bang for my lessons.

The paper I had was some I bought months ago at a great sale price.

Each project sheet is 4 1/4 x 11 inches and I have a total of 800 cut so far.

These took all afternoon, so no painting for me today.

Lack of supplies, possible lack of water makes life interesting to say the least!

Now I have a plan in place, at least in my head~things may change once I arrive.

The children will either use dry media or wet media, depending on the availability of water. 

Some villages have to walk miles for water and I don't want to use water needed for drinking and cooking.

I know that flexibility is key as well, especially if Africa is like India!

I also have plans for the older children to make their own drawing books from long sheets of paper folded and cardstock for covers. We will "bind" them with cording I will provide. The children will then decorate with wet or dry media.

At least that's the plan for now.

One day closer to Africa and meeting these beautiful people! 

I apparently already have two fellow artist fans there too! 

Day 2 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019

Multiple sheets for projects

Africa is calling.....

Oh what a way to begin!

This year's 100 days~100 paintings finds me being obedient and available.

Those that follow the blog know that I am a Christian by faith.

I love the church we go to now and have lots of like-minded friends. Our pastors are our friends as well! We enjoy going to church and look forward to Sundays,events, and 1st Wednesdays. We have been going there now for at least 7 years and cannot imagine another church that we would call home.

To that end, I have the calling of a mission in my ear for several years now. Lately, it has become stronger and through the grace of God and generous people I will get to go this year.

In fact, I leave in three weeks and will touch my feet into yet another foreign country. 

The plan is to go and teach children art, (the amount of them to teach grows daily!)

I will also be bringing a business to the women of Chidobe, Zimbabwe. This business will enable them to become confident, successful (I hope) women of God. There are also plans for a bible study, (still praying about that!) and a mural on the side of one of the schools. 

Needless to say, I look forward to the adventure!

I pray that I am up to the challenges ahead, along with the rewards.

I have already learned a great deal of patience, trying not to strip my gears when God's answer is wait.

I have also learned about receiving, as the majority of my trip is being financed by donations. 

So many people have given so much, time talent, and finances. 

I truly am humbled and in awe of our awesome God that truly provides!

Why an elephant?

Not a sea creature!

My friends that are already in Africa went with a group from Atmore to the Chobe park and photographed this beautiful creature. My dreams are coming true, and God is showing me more and more how to let him guide the horse of life on which I have the priviledge of riding!

Come along for the adventure of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019!

Africa is calling, Acrylic on canvas, 24x36

Day 1 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2019