Happy New Year - 2010!

What a year this has been! It was a real lesson on what life can bring us, gains and losses. I lost three family members this year and the losses were lessons on how I should live my life. I decided not to mourn them daily, but to honor them by enjoying the life that they are no longer able to enjoy.

The gains came about in accomplishing some goals in reference to my art; this blog being one of them. It all started at the beginning of the year when I was invited to attend an art marketing workshop. In that workshop, I met many talented artists and people that I hope will remain in my circle of friends. The workshop showed me that I could no longer remain a closet artist, but that through the internet I could let the world know that creating makes me happy and sharing it makes me even happier. After the workshop, I opened a Facebook account, a Twitter account and started this blog. If that was not enough, I submitted my work and joined the GroveHouse Artists Gallery and again met more wonderful artists. I ended the year by entering the Mad Hatter Arts Festival and even being in the King Mango Strut Parade last Sunday. Life is great and I hope that in 2010 I can add more to my list of gains.

Below are some links to some of this year's events and the web pages of some that helped me begin this journey. Enjoy! Happy New Year!!!!

http://lyndawellensart.com/gallery.html - Invited me to the workshop.
http://debracortese.com/blog/ - Led the worshop.
http://monique-lassooij.blogspot.com/ - Spoke about her blog and it inspired me.
http://www.artistamundo.com/artworksbyelizabet - Encourages me to paint BIG and tells me of various art opportunities year round.
http://web.mac.com/deborahweed/Site/Deborah_Weed.html - Always encouraging me.
http://mylifeandart.typepad.com/ - Always sharing her marketing information.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaI2d2r_AA0 - GroveHouse Gallery opening video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQVuQb22FY - Mad Hatter Art Festival 2009 video
http://windisch-huntfineart.com/ - Gripe Vine group organizer for King Mango Parade(workshop held at this gallery)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K14OwgPnEss - King Mango Strut Parade 2009 video

Thank you to my husband, Phil, who encourages me to pursue my dream, attends all shows, takes pictures and even creates these great videos; and my family and friends for always supporting me and attending my shows.

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart

Long Live Creativity

I came across this by chance. I had to drive my mother to see some friends at the senior center next to her church. I thought I was going to a place where people were sitting around, depressed and waiting to die. As I walked through the door, I was amazed, the creativity in the room almost knocked me over. These people were not depressed. They were overflowing with excitement and very much involved in projects. There were a couple of tables with knitting and crocheting. Another area, where they were meticulously doing hand-painted cards. Incredible how these hands, crippled by arthritis or shaking due to their ages, were still managing to make beautiful creations. Then I came across what really caught my eye; men and women with their easels painting in acrylic and oils. One of them proudly told me that I should have seen the one she completed for her son just in time for Thanksgiving. Creativity is giving these seniors a reason to wake up in the morning, the excitement one feels while creating, the pride of seeing a project completed and the joy of giving someone something that is truly a part of them. It was not all about arts and crafts, there were others playing cards, dominoes and a group with their guitars singing Cuban songs from the past. The place made me realize a few things. First, how one can continue to create well into a time when you are not able to do so many other things in your life. The importance of continuing to develop and nourish our creative side which will be with us until the end. The place made me very nostalgic as I listened to these seniors sing the old Cuban songs. I thought of how this generation will soon be gone and what a big part of our heritage will be going with them. A visit by chance last week prompt me to return again this week, this time with a camera. They were more than happy to let me take their pictures. The problem was that I can't possibly put them all in my blog. The next time you see a senior with a cane or walker, look beyond that and see what is still very much alive and well within them.

P.S. - One of them asked me to stop by her house and see her paintings.....she has a few for sale!!

http://www.artistamundo.com/ZonaMenuPersonal/ArtistaMundo1_5/Front/SitioPersonal/SitioArtista/_JMdvGhRkGOvNFLHcg_IQane5SpYdsVyZyI3yKnSzoRs4FPgCClKfVg

Size Does Matter

The GroveHouse Artists Gallery will be having a Small Wonders Exhibition (maximum 12 X 12) on January 2nd. The intake will be December 27th. I thought this would be an easy one to tackle, since I mainly paint small in watercolor. I recently painted a couple of seascapes and I figured they were small enough for this show.....WRONG! My paintings don't meet the requirement. So between now and the 27th, I need to do a couple of paintings if I want to participate. I really liked these two and may do something similar. Now you know that size does matter!

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart