A few pieces that were posted in 2011

The end of the year has come. It's onward to the next. This is my last post for this year with a very small few of the paintings done. Thanks to Paint Party Friday I have painted like I've never painted before. I hope to continue in this manner next year. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! See you on January 1, 2012 which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. I have so much to say and so little time to say it in, so I'll wait till next year. Now it's on to publish July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 of 

"My Life As A Housewife Blogger"

There were so many other paintings. These are twelve, one from each month. Happy New Year!

Paint Party Friday

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY #42

Thank you to Eva and Kristin for the Fridays of fun and sharing,  and thanks to all my bloggies friends for heartwarming posts and comments.

This is the last of this years PPF, and hopefully onward we go to the next year of lots of artistic talent from all the ARTIST'S that participate. I have had lots of fun participating and have met great people and made more bloggie friends. I hope your new year will bring you much happness, health, and well being. I look forward to next year with gusto!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone on blogland, one and all.

So to end 2011 here is a piece I started a few days ago and I thought it was done until I looked at it and realized there wasn't a nose on the face and left it out. So I titled it:

"A FACE WITHOUT A NOSE"

....but why do I need a nose anyway, I've

got eyes to see and ears to hear.

I dream in color, therefore I am colorful as the new year is going to be.

I'm a canvas with acrylic paint, pastels, pens, a lot of doodling with Letraset Metallic markers that make me glitter and shine, and even without the nose, it matters not. Sometimes things are better left unsmelled. (tee hee)

So we end this year.

We shared, we loved, we partied.

We sing Auld Lang Syne.

*******

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne ?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !

and surely I’ll buy mine !

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine ;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine† ;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !

And give us a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hump Day Haiku-Silence

Thought I would link up with Helen for her Hump Day Wednesday. On a recent trip to San Jose, this ranch beckoned and we stopped and I got out and listened to absolutely nothing, except for one sound. It was awesome. Stop by Helen's and join the fun. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Holiday and I wish you a very Happy New Year!

 



Silence is golden

It lingers here every day

Ah, I hear a moo.

Our Sky-Merry Christmas!

Today at about 1:40 or so, this was the sky at it's beauty. The gray/bluish white clouds threatening but really just teasing. This photo makes me want to try to paint it. Next year I will attempt to give it a stab. When I see the sky, my eyes open in awe and a feeling of calmness washes over me. I love life. How good it is to be living now.

Many in my family are gone now, and very much missed. My mom at 89 is still doing okay, living alone. She wants it that way and she wants to grow "old" she says, in  her own home. "leave me here, she says." "Just come to visit." Okay, I say. It won't be long though before I will find myself there in  her home tending to her needs. I will look at the sky, the same sky and pray for her and remind myself that life is short and that one has to enjoy each day no matter what.

Yes in life, the sky is the limit. Right now I'm reaching as far as I can stretch my arms to let "our" sky know that I am here. I'm thankful for having met you all and listening and learning about you, as well as sharing. There's a calmness in the air.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

There is calmness here

The tree without leaves hovers

I feel I'm floating

HERE'S A THUMBS UP TO YOU ALL.
YOU ALL ROCK!!
SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY.

Paint Party Friday

Well, there is one more PPF for this year and that is next Friday. This of course is the 41st PPF and I'm happy to say that my participation has been since the beginning and am totally happy with all these Fridays. I think I missed one Friday.  Thanks to Eva and Kristin we have shared in our works. 3 cheers for both. Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! I know, I know, I'm kinda crazy like that. Stop by their PPF and enjoy.

So here is a painting that was lots of fun and hope you like it. 
I've titled it:

"THE INTERPRETATION"

I've done one in light and one dark and it's on material that I ordered called: Jube Fabric 100% cotton, it's almost like canvas but not as thick. I've used acrylics, watercolors, Pitt pens, and even pastels.

Enjoy the rest of the days in this year!!

Food For Thought Thursday

EARLIER TODAY

Cold morning and it's going to be cold throughout the day. It's cinnamon toast and coffee for breakfast and a peek into the colors of Vincent. The holiday season has finally taken over and I'm pretty much done with what had to be done. I'll be making some "Empanadas" this weekend in the spirit of the holiday and also since my dizziness has ebbed a little, I will be making tamales as well. Linking to Robin's Food For Thought Thursday. Stop by Robin's and join in the fun.

Cinnamon Toast and coffee plus beautiful book made for a fine breakfast earlier this morn.

Enjoy the rest of the day and of course the holidays! Take care.



WOYWW

I thought it would be fun to participate in WOYWW for one last time before the year is over. Just doodling and making a big mess. Spending time indoors because even with the heater/fireplace in the studio, it still is too cold today to leave the house and go out back. Have a great rest of the week.

Happy What's On Your WorkDesk Wednesday!

Hump Day Haiku-Tamale

Just thought I'd pop in for a few seconds and then I'm going to do my head exercises, take my meds, and go finish painting something for PPF. I'm trying to learn to paint scenery but it's very hard for me. Hope everyone is enjoying the pre-holidays. I thought I would do a little post on Helen's Hump Day Haiku, just for fun. I don't know anything about Haiku except that it's 5,7,5 syllables??? So I'm trying. Have a great Wednesday and join Helen in her Hump Day Haiku's. I just happened to stop by her blog and decided to give it a try at this one time.:) It's all in fun. Enjoy. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The Tamales cook!

Smelling the bounty earth scent.

The thought just melts in my mouth.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Paint Party Friday-Works In Progress (wip's) ahead of time

Happy Paint Friday... Week 40
Stop by Robin Kristin and Eva's and join in the fun! (sorry Kristin) I guess Robin was on my mind with her delish pancakes.:)

 Hello to all and here's hoping you are having very Happy Pre-Holidays. I seem to be getting a little better and not as dizzy as before. My Mission Van Gogh has begun and here are a few sneak previews on what has been going on. None are complete so only the eyes are being shown along with the "Master's" self-portraits.

This is going to be a long journey at one painting a month so I thought to get started early that way it won't be a hurried thing. It's really a very difficult challenge but I like commitments that challenge.  Van Gogh painted the majority of his self-portraits and many masterpieces a couple of years before his death. It seems he was in a hurry to produce during the last couple of  years of his life. Most were done between 1888 and 1890 when he died. I've learned a lot about this man and continue to learn more. So here are 3 of the wips I've been working on which are done on 16 x 20 hard pressed paper, acrylics, watercolors, crayons, pens, some pastel and a sealer. A mixture of all.

My Vincent, and Vincent's Vincent

I'm liking this mission because it "makes" me do what I like most and that is of course:

PAINTING! Peek a Boo says Vincent.

and a little peek at one of my ladies from the Unibrow series done on 9/16/2010:

HAPPY PAINT FRIDAY AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I think I'm repeating myself but HAPPY HOLIDAYS anyway, and again and again.



Food For Thought Thursday

FOOD FOR THOUGHT THURSDAYS#7

Lemons, mild chili, oranges that we picked from the garden. There is a plastic clothes hamper full of oranges. I'm packing some in baskets and taking them to a center and also taking some to a friends house. I use the lemons every day. I squeeze the 3 tablespoons of lemon juice usually in a nice sized lemon into my water. It's much more refreshing. I also make a hot tea, glazed rinds, lemon jam. The chili's are going to be used for sauce for tamales and of course the oranges gets used every day for juice or to eat them.

This morning I made my husband a sandwich for his lunch. He also likes the hot/spicy soups that come in a bowl. I keep telling him there is too much sodium in those bowls, but he doesn't listen. He still wants them for his lunch. What am I supposed to do?

So I looked at this sandwich early this morning and it had roast beef, mayo, and lettuce but I get queasy when I think of the meat. I've really cut back on eating meat a lot but when Christmas comes around there is nothing going to keep me from those tamales. Unfortunately I won't be making any this year, still dizziness going on and I can't stand for long. We will have to eat someone else tamales this year. Who knows, I may still give it a stab if the days ahead get better.  So there you go, my FFTT. If you get a chance stop by Robin's, she recently started this blog and she welcomes everyone to join in

 the fun. Enjoy the days ahead.

Paint Party Friday and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all.

HAPPY PAINT FRIDAY TO ALL AND HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING FUN FILLED DAYS AND EXCITEMENT IN YOUR LIFE.

Please stop by Eva and Kristin (s) to join in the fun.

This is a piece I started back in late summer going into September  but haven't gone anywhere with it, it's still undone but I like it the way it is and have titled it:

"KEEP THE FAITH"

Perhaps one day I'll go back to it and finish it. Watercolors, pitt pens, acrylics on canvas.

This little Frida mermaid with her barely visible eyebrows was done in acrylics on tar roof black paper. I wish I could have had something recent to share with you but haven't been able to accomplish much. Soon though I expect to be back in full  production, says she. :)) Have a wonderful weekend and take care.

HAPPY PAINT FRIDAY!!

I will be taking a break for a few and hope to be back soon. I've scheduled a few posts while I'm gone. I wish everyone special days and nights on this journey to the end of the year.
May your holidays be filled with Happiness and Joy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A quick hello to all my bloggie friends and FFTT.

Hi everyone. I can't believe I haven't posted since last Friday. I finally found out what is wrong with me. It's BPPV and other than medication there isn't much I can do except the exercises for the head that I've been doing and taking the medication. I don't require surgery but there are things I have to avoid in order for it not to worsen. So that's pretty much it. Stress I have to try to avoid and hopefully I can do it. Hope everyone has been okay and you are enjoying the pre-holidays. I may only be here a couple times a week but always you are up there in my mind. Hoping to post tomorrow for PPF and now I leave you with what I had for lunch yesterday.

If you get a chance stop by Robins, click on the picture of all these beautiful veggies and you'll be there to enjoy.

I decided to make a salad with greens from the yard, an apple I had, avocado from our trees, little cute tomatoes, pineapple, crackers, V8 juice, sprinkle of lemon,  and thoroughly enjoyed it without stress.

Today I am going to celebrate life and how good it is to be alive. VIVA LA VIDA!! Have a wonderful day and go do your thing!

Just me, Gloria

Beautiful Women in the prime of their lives at Advanced Style

This past year I found Ari Seth Cohen's blog through another blog and have been visiting and having so much fun when I go there. This is a video produced by filmmaker Lina Plioplyte and directed by Ari Seth Cohen.  Lina wanted to do some tapings on Ari's beautiful women that he photographs and they came up with this "short." Stop by Ari's blog, you will enjoy his posts and all the beautiful women he photographs. I promise.

I think that this is really SWEET and so I'm linking it to Diana's blog which always posts something SWEET on Saturdays. Happy Saturday everyone.

Paint Party Friday-Eyes From The Past

Happy Paint Friday #38

 and Happy New Month of December to all. Please be sure to stop by Kristen and Eva's, our gracious hostess for each week and the other participants and their beautiful works of art.

I've been lost in keeping doctor's appts., my Mission Van Gogh that I've already started for next year, and my ongoing  dizzy spells. My time hasn't been my own lately, so my contribution will be EYES,  and because it's about eyes,  and these eyes are from drawings of the past, it's title will be:

"EYES FROM THE PAST"

Her name is Morgan #10,  and I'm borrowing her eyes and others eyes, for this post. She seems to be telling me, "Are you sure Gloria? Don't you think you have undertaken too big of a commitment for next year with your Mission Van Gogh?"

I say to Morgan that my time has now been committed,  and even if I didn't stand a chance on achieving a likeness of Van Gogh's portraits, at least I will have attempted the goal. There will be no perfection on the portraits. What you will see is my soul at work.

This is Natasha #5 and her eyes are telling me that she feels ignited by the next goal. She wishes me luck, of which I happily accept with my spirits rising and tell her that I love the gems above her eyes.

Valeria #1, has and is the positive thinker of all these women, and she too gives me a thumbs up. I smile at her and tell her that I appreciate her support.

Mindy #17 is perplexed as to why I would undertake such a challenge.

Mindy, it's something that I have to do. My soul has been touched by someone and the need is there to let out feelings.

Finally Alice #16 who has moved from place to place and has yet to find contentment gives me a look of woe but says, "Don't worry, no matter what happens in the year to come, we'll all still be here."

Thank you Alice.

All these ladies are from my Just Faces Unibrowed

1-40 faces, which was my goal of last year.

That goal was accomplished ,  and sure do hope to say that again on December 31, 2012. So this is my contribution for this week , hope you enjoyed it.

HAPPY PAINT FRIDAY TO ALL, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Just Faces, Unibrowed (c) 2010

I'll be by your blogs. Thanks for stopping by. You're the best.

Reading, writing, and semi-painting

It's been a while since I have totally immersed myself in anything. Since I have been  reading/studying about the master,

Vincent van Gogh, things  have gotten intense. It's like getting lost in his Starry Starry Night when I read the letters he wrote to his brother Theo. Years back I was very much into Van Gogh but never read a lot about his life, as I am doing now for my "mission" for next year.

 Finding out a lot more than I knew of this man in my research. After tearing up that first practice piece,  here is the start of the next one for January, and will be using his colors. There will be orange going in there and a darker blue. That's as far as I've gotten on the new version of his self-portrait. Nada yet! :))

Then all this info to study from, including the Internet. I'm just amazed and also very saddened by the lonely  life he led.

Then I ran across this video which is totally awesome. Don McLean and his interpretation of Van Gogh's work. Outstanding!! I guess we all have our own interpretations, and that's good.



This will be my final  post until Friday for PPF, although I don't think I have done anything, it may have to be an older painting. Have a wonderful week. I go to the doctor on Friday for tests. Take care.

Paint Party Friday

HOPE EVERYONE HAD A BEAUTIFUL THANKSGIVING.

Happy Paint Friday #37 to all.

Prepping the canvas with acrylics and gesso, leaving an outline for a face, hopefully.

 

Face starts to appear with pastels rubbed in.

Some how she's ended up in what looks like something circular around her head.

Before long it becomes this. Changed back to acrylics and Pitt pens.

She may be crying  because she ate too much turkey.:)

No matter, she is complete...no more no less.

She appears to be trapped in that circle that keeps going round and round and she wants to get out,  so the title for this piece is:

"Circle of Hope"

Stop by at PPF and visit the other participants and thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting. As I said, hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Peace, over and out.