Painting is different than drawing.. While I’ve been learning to draw with a graphite pencil transferring this into acrylic paint is a little bit of a learning curve… But I think I’m getting the hang of things, plus I can always just paint over the canvas and start over if I don’t like how things turn out. lol..

What new thing have you tried? Maybe you want to learn to cook, to draw, to write? Go ahead and take the steps to learn.. I purchased a book and started reading. You don’t need a class to get started, just start something today.

I started with a blank 11 by 14 canvas and sketched out the image of my girl in charcoal. I outlined her image with burnt umber paint. Then I proceeded to add color to the canvas using an old key card. After I created the background I wanted I proceeded to color in her face using acrylic paint. Then her hair and details were painted.

Finally I used stamps to place Dream Big and went over the words with red and copper paint. I’m letting the painting rest for a little while before I do anything else, but I wanted to share what I have created so far…

Have you made a dream happen lately? If not take the steps to make a dream come true, it is never to late!

Hayden was wearing a T-Shirt and shorts in the photo but I decided to have my girl wearing a dress. I’m still working on refining her look. But I want to use an image like this for a couple of projects I have in mind…

I see images differently now. I’m looking at the shadows that the light creates. I’m seeing things that I didn’t see before and I’m learning.

What have you learned lately about the world around you? Have you found a way to incorporate what you see into your art? It is never too late to learn something new. Just decide what it is you want to do, and before you know it you have gone and done what you want to do that is new!

Reflecting back, I have not been a person who drew. Maybe a little when I was a child. When I was in High School I took one semester of Art and while I was in that class I didn’t get a lot of encouragement. I have always been a crafter, someone that would make something out of various items, but not a person who could draw.

So on Saturday I was in the local hobby supply Lee Hammond’s Big Book of Drawing, I also picked up a sketch journal.

Last night I started reading the first few pages of the book, where the book teaches how to use graphing and then goes into shading.

One of the projects was to practice blending a sphere. I didn’t have the suggested pencil so I used a charcoal pencil – soft and I didn’t have the Tortillion for blending so I used a paper towel wrapped around a paint brush.

While this is my first attempt at drawing, I think I did pretty good!

My word of enCOURAGEment to you; go ahead pick up the paint brush, colored pencils, sewing needle, etc and create. It is never too late to learn something new. If you have the desire to learn you will find a way to succeed. If I can find drawing courage you can find the courage you need for anything you want to try.

What new artistic endeavor will you try? Please feel free to share with me.

Aspire to be Amazing!

Linda

I chose this story to remind us that the cold winter is only a season and that season will end. Soon we will be enjoying a beautiful Spring.

There was an old Indian chief who lived all alone in the Northland. He was very, very old, could hunt no more. He was bent over and his hair was as white as snow and hung like long icicles almost to his shoulders, but his eyes were still bright and glowed, and his voice strong, almost a roar. As he was alone in his hut – a beautiful Indian maiden appeared – her eyes were large and soft, her hair jet black, very long and heavy, in it she wore a wreath of pink blossoms.
Her dress was of sweet grasses. She carried a bunch of pussy willows in her arms, her moccasins were made of flowers and the air became soft and fragrant. The cold wind which had been roaring about the hut went off into the forest. The old chief said “Who are you and whence came you?” She answered “I am the Spring Monitiou and I come from far away in the Southland where the flowers bloom all the time, where the skies are blue, the grass green and the birds and butterflies know no winter, the air is always soft and sweet. I like not your cold weather.” “I am the Winter Monitiou,” the old man said. “I love the Northland, the diamond icicles, the frozen torrents, the soft white snow, the great silence, unless I speak.” “But you have had your reign, you are old, you must rest while I rule in your place” the maiden said.
“No-No-o-o-o No-oo-oo-No” roared the old man. “I will not go. I rule this Northland, with my breath I chill rivers and streams so they lie still. The trees sleep.”
“But when I blow gently” the maiden replied, “the water runs, the trees and flowers wake up.”
“I have the power to shake my white locks and the earth becomes hard as a rock and snow covers the land, and all green things die.”
“When I shake my black locks,” the maiden laughingly said, “the raindrops glisten, the earth becomes soft, the seeds stir, then the sunlight comes and warms the flowers as they waken, the birds and flowers sing “spring is here – Spring is here.” As she murmured the refrain softly the old chief Winter became more and more drowsy, his head drooped upon his breast, his strength failed, he could no longer send out his icy breath. He began to grow smaller and smaller as the sun became warmer and warmer, the snow melted from around the hut and the pine trees. Finally his white hair turned into water and he sank upon the ground. His robe turned into leaves and covered him.
The maiden turned to say “Farewell” but he was gone, then she took the flowers from her hair and laid them upon the ground under the green leaves and said “These flowers I will leave to tell the earth children that Father Winter has gone and Spring has come.”

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/lindaisrael

Tired of having junk mail & magazines lying around?

Wish you knew what to do with all those paper sacks from the grocery store?

Spend an hour with Linda and she will show you how to make a handmade Journal using those, and other “useless” items found in your home.

Come hang out with Linda and laugh while you learn.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 7:00 p.m. Central Time US

The video of the show:

A friend referred me to WebcamMax because I wanted the ability to have picture with in picture when I created videos or did live streaming.

I downloaded WebcamMax without any issues. The software instructions for the download were very easy and both of my web cameras were listed in the software once it completed the installation. In fact I have purchased another camera and I was able to run three web cameras at the same time with the picture in picture feature.  This will be very handy as I am an artist and I want to be able to show different angles when I am working with my materials so that people can learn how to create what ever project I’m showing them.

There are a lot of features that come with WebcamMax. I like the Mirror effect because It will show my hands the way that I am working instead of reversing my hands which could be confusing if I say my left hand but it looks like my right hand is moving on the camera.

The Magic features that WebcamMax offers can be fun if you like to play with effects. Like giving yourself a big head! lol. but there are also some cool effects that allow an artistic side to come into play while working with your camera shots.

I was going through all of the features and found doodling and I thought that would be a good thing to have if you were wanting to illustrate something that was on the screen.  You could draw a box around something. There are so many options that I know it will take me a very long time just to figure out all the cool things it could do for me!

The Effect Template is very handy. I was wondering how I could make it easier to swap back and forth between camera shots with out having to press a lot of buttons. Well when I set up the cameras the way I want it I save the Effect template and give it a name. Then redesign the setup for a new design. Maybe I want to have picture in picture with my hands and one of my face. Save that then the next one might be two angles of my hands I could save that as a different template. Then swapping templates would be easier than trying to set up the screen again.

I’m glad that my friend told me about WebcamMax! I can see that this will be a tool that I will use a lot. If you plan to use any type of video in your work get this software, I think I’m going to love it a lot!

Linda

I will be sharing how I use metal in my artwork and Jonathan will be using the techniques I share in his art journal.

I hope you are able to join us tonight!

For those that were unable to attend the show here is the recorded show:

I had a wonderful time! I look forward to creating my own show soon! Keep checking for more information!

One Hundred and One Legends of Flowers
by Elizabeth Todd Nash
The Christopher Publishing House, Boston, USA 1927

The Chinese call their Daffodil “Shui Sin Fa” which means Water Fairy Flower. We call it the paper narcissus  or Chinese Water Lily, as it is white like Narcissus and grows in water. Every Chinese must have at least one in blossom at their Christmas-tide to bring good fortune to their family and themselves. Daffodil or  “Lent Lily”, “Lent Rose”, Lent-a-Lily”, “Lents” and even “Lent Cocks” are English names – because the boys use them to fight with the heads. Herrick Knew of this custom as he wrote:

“When a Daffodil I see
Hanging Down her head towards me,
Guess I may what I must be:
First, I shall decline my head
Secondly, I shall be dead,
Lastly – safely buried.”

Children chant on seeing the first daffodil -

“Daff-a-down Dilly
Has now come to town
In a yellow petticoat
And a green gown.”

And the first to spy the Daffodil and welcome her thus, gets their wish.

“Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon
As yet the early rising sun
Has not attained her noon
Stay, stay.
Until the hastening day
Has run.
But to the evening song
And having prayed together we
Will go with you along.”

I wanted to share this because as I drove into my driveway I could see the first green of my daffodil’s pushing up. It won’t be long before their beautiful golden heads will be in full bloom.

I’m so thankful that spring is here, more sunny days ahead! I love spending time with my dogs outside with my camera.  What do you like to do on a beautiful sunny day?

Hello Friends!

I have submitted my Topic for March 3, 2011 here: Ignite OKC. Please leave comments under my topic, this will help my talk to get picked. To register go to this page. Otherwise your post will be anonymous.

They will select from the speakers listed on the main page: http://www.igniteokc.com/talks .

Henry (my husband) has also submitted a talk that I think will be outstanding. http://www.igniteokc.com/node/1659

I think they will pick the speakers based on the comments that are left for each speaker.. And maybe the PR that each speaker does for the show.. So If you would be so kind as to leave a comment for my topic I would greatly appreciate your help!

Then mark your calendar and come out and hear me speak:

March 3rd. 7:00 p.m.
Lyric Theater at the Plaza
1727 NW 16th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for tickets go here.

I’m excited about this opportunity!!!

I hope you will be able to be a part of this event with me.