Arting for 365 Day 365: Catching Up in the Garden

Day 365, 9.5 x 12" watercolor on pierced paper

Day 365, 9.5 x 12″ watercolor on pierced paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

After weeks of fussing underground, the flowers are poised to make their debut. Their green heads poke through the cool moist dirt as they are doused by a brilliant sun. It startles them at first. Soon enough though, the rays become familiar – like a gentle embrace. The flowers stand taller. They take their place in the garden – joined by old friends and new.  There is much catching up to do.

Day 365 Idle Gossip of Springtime Blooms Detail

Original pierced paper image

Original pierced paper image

Arting for 365 Day 364: The Process

Day 364, 4 z 6" ink and watercolor on paper

Day 364, 4 z 6″ ink and watercolor on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

As this 365 project has neared the end, quite a few people have asked if I have anything special planned for day 365. The answer, I am quite content to say, is no.

I began this project because I needed to commit myself to art making. I needed to quit making excuses for why I wasn’t creating – the number one excuse being time.

When I began, I had aspirations of spending hours upon hours, every day creating great drawings or paintings; and there were a few days I did. I soon realized, though, there would be days that I would find only 20-30 minutes to focus on art. Initially I felt guilty about those days. As my daily practice continued though, I realized I was improving not in spite of the small amounts of time I could devote some days; but because of it.

Perhaps I don’t have anything special planned because I plan to continue to make art every day. While I won’t blog daily, and I won’t require myself to finish a piece each day, my commitment will continue and I will continue to improve because of it.

Arting for 365 Day 361: Sit and Chat

Day 361, 10 x 10" acrylic on canvas

Day 361, 10 x 10″ acrylic on canvas

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

They sit on patios to lounge – coffee in hand, sunglasses on

Smiles reflect an appreciation

Of sun’s longer hours

Light bathes them as they chat

The only discomfort – if it can be called that

Are bare legs that stick

To chairs warmed by the spring

Arting for 365 Day 360: Red Sky Snow Melt

Day 360, 9 x 12" watercolor and ink on paper

Day 360, 9 x 12″ watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

Weather, especially here in Colorado and my home state of Wyoming, intrigues me. The drastic jumps in temperature, the blizzards, the droughts, the afternoon thunderstorms that roll in without an ounce of notice; keep me loving mother nature. Perhaps if I lived where temps stayed relatively stable, this obsession would not be. My morning decisions would revolve around which color of shirt to wear, rather than wondering if I should wear a parka but pack shorts for later in the day.

Arting for 365 Day 359: Hidden Talent

Day 359, 11 x 14 Original ink drawing with Photoshop color addition

Day 359, 11 x 14 Original ink drawing with Photoshop color addition

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

You wouldn’t know it by looking at him. On the surface he always appeared so gruff – half asleep even. Onlookers would see him soaking lazily in the muddy waters and think, “What a bore.”

The cool hippo was anything but. As stars shone above in the wee hours of night the cool hippo came alive. He played a saxophone that rivaled Coltrane. Smooth, silky; the notes flowed from the him like the waters of the Nile. Passers by fell silent with awe wondering where in the world these sounds were coming from?

Day 359 Hidden Talent

Origianl 11 x 14″ ink on paper

Day 359 Hidden Talent Head DetailDay 359 Hidden Talent Sax Detail

Arting for 365 Day 358: Stalk-ing

Day 358, 5 x 8" scanned ink on paper. Photoshop color addition.

Day 358, 5 x 8″ scanned ink on paper. Photoshop color addition.

Goal: To create one piece of art each day for 365 consecutive days

I am back home after traveling for a week to Twin Falls, ID. I headed up that direction after my sister convinced me I should enter Twin’s city-wide art show. I had a wonderful time visiting my neeps and running around getting things ready for the show. The opening Friday was really lovely too – lots of great people, food and drink. I have to say, though, it does feel good to be back home.

Original, un-Photoshopped version.

Original, un-Photoshopped version.

TF Wall TF Group

Arting for 365 Dat 357: Lured to Chase His Tail

Day 357, ~5 x 7" watercolor and ink on paper

Day 357, ~5 x 7″ watercolor and ink on paper

Goal: To create one piece if art each day for 365 consecutive days

The smartest fish in the sea he was not, but that never did bother him – or anyone else for that matter. His happy-go-lucky demeanor and ability to be easily entertained made him a joy to be around.

The day the easy-going swimmer got his fin caught on a lure might have been a bad one for any other fish, but proved to be an exciting turn of events for him. Rather than fuss and moan about the predicament, he approached the bobbly red adornment as something he could chase after for hours. And that he did.