MATS Class

When I got the email from Beth, (a sweet, creative friend who I met at "An Artful Journey" back in 2010)
that she was hosting a an online class with the amazing Lilla Rogers as our fairy art
God Mother....I knew that I wanted to sign up. MATS is short for "make art that sells". Its really all about exploring areas of the licensing arena and which one you feel that your engaged to create for. It was really helpful in helping me decide what I area I was most drawn to. I think I had the most fun in the wall art design piece. Simply because this was more in line with my comfort zone and how I'm used to working. But the other exercises really pushed me into new ways of thinking and how you can take bits and pieces of your art and create something pretty magical in photoshop that lends itself to the product better. 

With the children's book cover and the pencil case design, I feel I grew in ways I wasn't expecting. I cannot say enough great things about the class. And guess what there is a part 2 to this offering....Make Art that Sells - Part 2! - starting in October.

I have met so many inspiring artists in the MATS Facebook group. Their work is out of this world and everyone is super supportive and cool.

Plate design

 Children's book cover design

Wall Art design

pencil case design

Waiting on the AC repairman.

I'm deciding to take enjoyment in this moment. This moment that isn't really considered to be enjoying. I'm sitting out in the car waiting for the AC repairman to come fix our air. It's nearly 100 outside.
I'm typing from my phone.

Today Tim was hit by someone who ran a red light as he was traveling back to the office. Thank goodness he was unharmed!

Oh and I also found out that my brother in law is in the hospital from a bad car wreck. (His vitals are improving, thankfully)

This day is really, on paper, a pretty shitty day. This day is more about finding peace and joy despite this one day. It's about recognizing so much love and so much to be thankful for. It's about seeing God work from such magical complexity that when looking back on your journey thus far that what He created for you was beyond your dreams. This kind of goodness wasn't even something you could fathom you deserved. It's here!
Even while waiting on the air repairman......


I want to leave you with words from Ryan Bingham.....
He is the wisest songwriter I know. He speaks of me. Of my struggles with my childhood. This truth he sings and releases. I catch it and do my own releasing. A bit like fishing I guess.

One day I thought i would be just like you...
I know now that you were never satisfied..
Now that I'm grown I am nothing like you.
I see the world with my own eyes
With so much love all around you
How could you never realize
The ground above, the sky below you.
Must beat the hell outta being alive.


(Thank you Kolleen!,,,,8s)


Little moments when you realize a crappy day can enlighten and inspire you tenfold than a retreat in the high country of the grandest canyon on earth and the most stunning red rock these eyes have ever seen. That's magic right there. And His name is nameless. HE is my everything.

CONGRATS- Collaborative painting winner

Congrats to Ali Gitt!!! Thank you for helping to spread the word.

She is coming home to you soon :-)

Magic Making

“Magic comes from what is inside you. It is a part of you. You can't weave together a spell that you don't believe in.” ― Jim Butcher

I do believe in magic. I believe it resides in your core.....Your essence......Your most you, when you are still and willing to listen. It's the absence of the voice. Its the declaration of the soul. Its what's stirring inside of you right now, aching to be seen. Come join, Alena and I, as we guide you into harnessing your own magic.

Magic Making - an online class with Alena Hennessy and Mindy Lacefield

Registration begins: May 20, 2013

Follow this link to register (and click on the "join group" button)

Early bird pricing: $129 (with limited spots)

Regular pricing: $169

Class begins: September 2nd, 2013 and will run for 5 weeks

You will get 1 year access to the class from the date that you sign up!

Alena and I are both doing a giveaway! I'm giving away a collaboration painting by me and Alena.

Here are the steps to enter the giveaway:

1. Post a link of this blog post on Facebook or on your own blog
2. Come back here and leave a comment and let me know what you posted to
3. We will be drawing a random name from the comments on Tuesday May 28th

Here is the painting that we'll be giving away. Yes, you can enter both giveaways. If you do, just remember to post 1 link to my blog and 1 link to her blog and leave comments on both. Here is the link to Alena's blog.

Magic*LOVE

12x12 original

Explore steps and secrets to making your art have that little extra something, that touch of magic, or feeling of the authentic you that can effortlessly flow out of your hand. Through a variety of materials and liberating techniques, you will get to tap deeper into your voice and spirit at play to create art that holds your unique and free beauty. In the end, create one very special painting that demonstrates your learning’s and experiences in this special collaborative workshop between two beloved friends and artists.

Mindy and Alena will share:

*Daily prompts and exercises that will delve into color, mark-making, word, poetry, archetype/symbols, sparkle, florescents, and meaningful narrative. Release and free the inner-critic and transform and transmute your art into shiny and sincere perfection that all the world can feel.

The Story of Mindy and Alena:

Alena first came to know Mindy when she wrote a glowing review of her book. Being so touched by her words, Alena reached out to thank her upon discovering that Mindy was a talented and amazing artist. They formed a friendship online and then met in the magical space of Squam art workshops in the deep blue lake country of New Hampshire. Mindy was a student of Alena’s in her “Awaken the Muse” class and they quickly became friends. Alena fell further fell in love with Mindy’s process after watching her effortless way of creating. They realized that their approach to creating held similar aesthetics and working together to help others express themselves creatively and soulfully was something they both pursue. Both Mindy and Alena teach painting and mixed media workshops across the States and share a loyal and special following of students, from beginner to experienced. 

Peace

"When you let go of the belief that you should or need to know who you are, what happens to confusion? Suddenly it is gone. When you fully accept that you don't know, you actually enter a state of peace and clarity that is closer to who you truly are than thought could ever be. Defining yourself through thought is limiting yourself."
- Eckhart Tolle

Red rock

I dreamt of the red rock last night.
Aching to see coyotes under the clear, starry sky
To hear them calling in the habitat that was made for them.

I relinquish it all.
I hand it over.
I am free.

I send it up to the stars so that it meanders
around until it finds no place to land
and then evaporates as if it never
existed at all.

Awakening

Be Still and know that I Am God.  - Psalm 46:10

"Stillness is the language of God. Everything else is just a bad translation." - Eckhart Tolle

Awakening
He speaks to me through stillness.
His voice not heard but felt.
A power of oneness flowing through me.
Living in the NOW, that is my gift.

This "now" has no room for the past
nor the future.
It has no room for guilt or should haves.
This now has the power to consume all the sadness....
all the brokenness.
Until it withers under the sun.
The smallest speck of light can now swallow up
galaxies of darkness.



"To become rooted in the aliveness and fullness of the present -that is to lead a spiritual life." - Eckhart Tolle