Creative Courage

Well, in a nutshell, I am on another quest. A quest for more knowledge. Knowledge about myself and just general, all around, I-wanna- know-more knowledge. Going back to school at age 41 (and graduating at 45) was great. But there is still so much more I want to know. Of course, I have ulterior motives too. I want to DO something with all of this stuff I am learning. I feel I am at a definite turning point in my life. I finally feel that I have something to offer. I no longer feel like I am an imposter and that at any moment someone may find out I am not really an artist and turn me in to the art police. After all of these years and experiences and education, I am really figuring out what I want to be when I grow up and what truly makes me happy. I am not all the way there yet but I am on the verge. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. I know good times are coming and I know there will be surprises, I get excited when I think about it but it seems like it is still so far away! That's okay though. I am enjoying the anticipation and the process.

I recently signed up to participate in my first e-course. It is called Creative Courage and is being run by the wildly talented Stephanie Levy. I am really excited about this class. when I first heard about it, just the name of the workshop was enough to intrigue me. As many of you may remember, my artist statement had a lot to do with the word 'courage' and that word has held a lot of meaning for me this past year. I intended on getting a tattoo of the word courage on my wrist when i graduated, but so far I have not actually had it inked! Anyway, I do digress! 
The Creative Courage workshop is all about taking your creative business to the next level and working to make these things happen. Just what I need right now. Our first 'exercise' was to do a bit of homework by answering some questions on paper. The first question was, " Why are you here?" Well, I am not sure if the question posed meant, Why are you here? -meaning, here in this workshop or Why are you here? - meaning, here on this planet, living this life. I figured, either way, the answers would pretty much be the same!

More about my Creative Courage endeavors coming soon, for now I will leave you with my answers...

xokp

more kitty paintings...

I hope you are all not too tired of hearing about Arty the Cat.  As many of you know I am doing paintings for everyone who donated toward helping me with his neuter and his vet bill! I still have quite a few to go, because So many people were so kind and generous. Although I did not take 'custom" orders for the paintings, I have asked people to share their likes and preferences so that I could make them something that would be special to them. I did not want to paint a cat picture for a dog lover, ya know? Anyway , I did not need my friend Carrie, to tell me that she loves cats and has a houseful :) she is an advocate for spay and neuter and she rescues many cats and kittens. She is a "kitty angel"! I made this one for her...I hope she likes it. And I hope you do too!

p.s. Art is doing wonderfully and is one very happy house cat!

xokp

* prints of some of my 'kitty fund paintings' are available here http://www.etsy.com/listing/82456982/house-warming-print-from-my-original for just $5.00!

thank you meow-y much

Just want to say thank you again, to all of you for your contributions to my 'kitty fund". Some of you gave a bit of money, some of you gave things, like flea medication and some gave good thoughts and well wishes! I appreciate it all and so does Arty! He is doing well and seems to be very grateful! He is super sweet and loves to be petted and talked to. He especially loves being inside when it is raining and getting regular meals! I am working on getting him fattened up a bit. He is still pretty thin but his coat is much shinier and his eyes are clear. He purrs a lot :)
Here is one of the first paintings to go out as my thank you gift for any financial contribution....I will show more of the paintings as I complete them !

xokp

dream home

We were able to give the "outdoor kitty" a home, thanks to so many of YOU! His name is no longer,
"Outdoor Kitty" but now "Arty".  He is inside now and recuperating nicely. I will see to it that he gets a lot of love and plenty to eat. He is really sweet and seems very content.
I will continue to keep you updated and post photos. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

xokp

P.S. Please spay and neuter your animals!!

Outdoor Kitty

This is a picture of the cat that has been visiting my backyard since early this summer. He was so scrawny and sad. He began to visit more and more often...and I , of course, began to feed him. He was (is) awfully skinny and dirty and for the longest time he would run away when he saw me coming. But slowly, slowly, he began to stick around and soon he was coming up to me wanting to be petted and scratched. Now he lives in my back yard all of the time and he waits for me to come and feed him and pet him. He meows constantly and circles my feet and wants to be loved and he wants to come inside....I cannot have him come in yet, as I have two other kitties to consider. I do not know if "O.K." (outdoor kitty) is sick and  I am sure he has fleas and who knows what else? I do know he has not been neutered. I desperately want to take him and have him fixed and checked out and cleaned up. And then I would be so thrilled to give him a loving, safe home. My problem is, that while I can get him neutered for almost free, the other needs will cost a bit of money that I do not have...so I am starting a fund and trying to raise approximately $250.00. I am asking for YOUR donations! If you donate ANY amount, I will make you a 5x7 original painting! Any amount at all. If you can donate $1, $5, or $100 it does not matter. I have added a paypal donate button up at the left corner of this blog. Once you make your donation, just email me your mailing address and let me know if you are a dog or cat lover and I will paint you an original  watercolor painting!  It is win-win! I thank you from the bottom of my heart and so will my outdoor kitty :)

xokp

sunny side up

The weather has been beautiful here the past couple of days. Could not ask for anything better than bright, warm, clear skies during the day and cool, crisp nights. Have had the a/c turned off, which is great! Anyway, I am thankful to have some nice weather and I hope it holds out a while. The one thing that makes me sad about summer's end is, the days get shorter....I want to savor Autumn. I hope it is beautiful wherever YOU are too.

xokp

happiness is...

I decided that while I am trying to figure out where my muse went and exactly what it is I want to be when I grow up, that I would just draw and paint things that make me happy. Happiness is...new art supplies. Tomorrow maybe I will paint chocolate ;)

xokp