In and out of my "Studio"

Sharing with you a work in progress...

an illustration from my prayer journal...

more photos from our recent vacation to fantastic Caramoan, Camarines Sur...

and linking up with Paint Party Friday, Studio Sneak Peak, Sunday Sketches, and Inspire Me Monday.  Have you joined my giveaway to win this painting?...

If not, you might want to visit my giveaway post!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday: Buys and Beaches

Happy Wednesday or whatever day you're visiting, dear blog friends!  I have some new buys on my desk today, a set of water soluble gel crayons and the book "View from a  Sketchbook," with the beautiful paintings of Marjolein Bastin.

Last Wednesday, I was away from home and Lisa so kindly linked me up to What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday (thank you so much, Lisa!)  If you're wondering where I was (together with my whole family - my parents, my brother and sisters and all our children), here are a few pictures as we went island hopping in Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Here is a man selling fresh coconuts near a sand bar...

We had this island all to ourselves...

Crystal clear waters and powder fine sand...

What a lovely time we had!

If you think you can't draw, you might be interested in my previous post and if you haven't joined yet, there's still time to join my giveaway!

So You Think You Can't Draw?

Today my daughter is graduating from Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication, Magna cum Laude (with honors)!  Four years ago, when she just started her course, she came home one day, so discouraged.  She said her teacher, dismayed at their drawings, told her class, "There are some of you here who have no right to be here."  My daughter told me, "I think I am one of those, because I don't know how to draw and some of my classmates are so good."  "What?!  Don't believe him", I told her, "That's why you go to school, to learn!  Prove him wrong!"  Well, the rest is history.  She did prove him wrong and now I use her as an example to those who say they can't draw.  Congratulations, dear daughter!

First step in learning to draw, believe you can!

Last Saturday, my sister Patsy and I had another "crafternoon paint party"!  First we made backgrounds and then, although I am no expert, I gave them their first lesson in drawing a face.  Everyone gamely followed instructions.  Here are some sketches I made while teaching them.  I had them draw an egg for the head...

and then I gave them guidelines of where to put the eyes and nose and lips...

I think they look quite pleased with their drawings!  They can draw, don't you think?

Here is a painting I made that day.  Patsy taught us how to transfer the words using gel medium and inverted letters printed in a copier...

Today, I am also celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary (with my second husband)!  If you haven't read my past posts, I was widowed when I was 33 years old (my sharing about that here) and remarried in 2002.    So it is a doubly special day today!  God is good!

Linking up with Paint Party Friday, Studio Sneak Peak, Sunday Sketches, and Inspire Me Monday.  And if you haven't yet, you may want to join my giveaway!

WOYWW: A Giveaway and a WIP

This is a scheduled post and I won't be home to link up to What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday but anyway, here is how my desk looks today (perhaps one of the WOYWWers will volunteer to link me up?)  On my table is a painting which I made during last Saturday's paint party ( I'm trying to keep this short so more about that next time).

And if you haven't joined my giveaway, there is still time to join.  Just leave a comment in my giveaway post for a chance to win this painting and if you are a follower or if you post or tweet about it, you can get more entries.

And for some inspiration, why not take a peek at more desks!

WOYWW: WIPs

Today, a short post for WOYWW.  Promise!  A WIP collage for my AB, my Love Bunny wearing the WOYWW button with some mixed media ladies...

a lovely envelope and ATC giveaway win from Lorraine and a beautiful felt ATC from Phyllis, a trade in ATCs for All...

And if you missed it, please drop by my Easter Celebration giveaway post if you would like a chance to win my mixed media piece, "Tree of Life."  Other desks here!

Easter Celebration Giveaway!

The giveaway has ended.

Thank you so much for joining!

A blessed Easter season to all! 

May the Risen Lord bless and guide us through the journey of life!

I have been making an Altered Book.  It is entitled "Journey" and I plan to fill it with maps and clippings of the various countries I have travelled to.  But it is also about the journey of life and it ends in this niche at the back of the book.  But as I thought about all my travels and my journey of life, I thought of St. Augustine's words, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." 

Jesus Christ, My True North
Image of Jesus from Holy Card Heaven, used with permission

I like to think of my life as a journey, a journey to the heart of God, a journey to Love.  And this Easter, we celebrate the best example of Love, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39  

To celebrate Easter, to celebrate my journey in blogland, and to thank my wonderful followers, I am having a giveaway.

I am giving away an original 7.5" x 11.5" mixed media piece entitled "The Tree of Life."  I made it using acrylic paint, colored pencils, watercolors and collage on a gessoed sketchpad background.  The flowers (on her hair, on the tree and the ones she is holding) and her dress are collaged on.

If you like "The Tree of Life" and would like a chance to win it, simply leave a comment on this post.  If you would like more chances to win, please leave separate comments telling me if...

1.  You are a follower,

2.  You made a post with a picture of this giveaway or posted a picture on the sidebar of your blog (linked to this post).  

3.  You tweeted about the giveaway with a link to this post (please leave the tweet URL).

I will be using the random number generator, so please make sure you leave me a comment for each entry you make.  I will pick the winner after May 27 (Pentecost Sunday). 

May you have a wonderful Easter season!

I'm inviting my blog friends from Paint Party Friday, Studio Sneak Peak, Faith Filled Friday, Heartprint Hallelujahs, Sunday Sketches, Inspire Me Monday to join my giveaway!

Look at Jesus this Good Friday

"Behold, the Man" John 19:5

Augustine (5th c.) says about those who stood at the cross of Jesus: "As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection.  He bows his head, as if to kiss you.  His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are.  Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every part of your soul."

I'm sharing this in Paint Party Friday, Faith Filled Friday, and Heartprint Hallelujahs.

Edit:  If you would like to join my Easter giveaway, please leave a comment on my giveaway post.

WOYWW: A Clean Desk for Holy Week!

I thought it would be good to clean up my desk in the same way that I am asking God to help me "clean up" my life this Holy Week, if you know what I mean.  That's my prayer journal (that I am painting in) in the center.  And I have put all my paints back in their proper place (the whole box lid tray goes under the table when not in use)...

And in case you were wondering what's on my computer, it's a very interesting video of a man who says taking a dose of coconut oil is helping him overcome dementia.  No harm in trying it, I think!

And over at the back are the much awaited WOYWW buttons for my sister Patsy and me so that we will recognize each other as WOYWWers when we have "a WOYWW convention of our own," LOL!  Thanks so much, Julia!

For other desks to peek into, visit the What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday list!  And since many of you won't be dropping by before next Wednesday, a blessed Easter to all of you!

Edit:  If you would like to join my Easter giveaway, please leave a comment on my giveaway post.

Blessed Is the Man: Prayer Journal Illustration

Here is another page from my prayer journal with verses from the book of Jeremiah and Psalm 1.   Indeed, blessed is the man (and woman) who trusts in the Lord!

I'll be linking this up to Sunday Sketches and Inspire Me Monday.