from baangandburne.com

I claim independence from negative thoughts and self-criticism and the need to compare myself to others instead of focusing on how to be the best at what I do.

I claim independence from the judgments of others. I will not be diminished by those who seek to make me feel small or limit my ability to truly shine.

I claim independence from the unyielding desire for the approval of others at a cost to my personal well-being and sense of purpose..

I claim independence from the fear and doubt that keeps me from creating my most beautiful and most powerful work.

I claim independence from a life of struggle and difficulty. Instead, I choose optimism, success, and possibility.

A little over a week ago, the hub and I went house hunting (as we have been doing for many months now) and just as soon as we were going to make a decision about a property that we liked a house popped up that is really just the cutest property I have seen during the entire duration of looking (since about March of this year).

Just from the outside I knew I would love it.

I like the layout of the property, the size of the lot, the color of the house and the little art studio in front with a carport attached.

Long porch in the very front.

Behind the art studio in the the back

Great potting shed in the back

I love every loved inch of this property. The garden is so inspiring. And, that is only the outside! the inside has a special charm too, very artsy, vintage, shabby chic. Unique and very special.

I should have propagated this amaryllis plant two years ago!

Its much more difficult separating the bulbs!!

‘m spastastically happy that J has finally finished putting together the coffee table. You might remember I posted about it a couple of months ago. I love the tables that restoration hardware makes but they are soooo costly that I wanted to come up with something using recycled wood. I have had the boxes for about 15 years. I still have four more that I can do something matchy matchy with! Happy 😀

I will need to find two more iron wheels to finish off one end.

“Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgement difficult.”~~Hippocrates

“Making art is difficult.”

In the preamble, a favorite quote: “Writing is easy: all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.” ~~Gene Fowler

From the book “Art and Fear”, observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of ARTMAKING by David Bayles & Ted Orland

My hoya is in bloom, love its waxy bloom!

I adore photo retouching and I recently had an opportunity to put the skill to use. Here is my before and after:

oil on canvas 18 x 24

SeLf ExPlAnaToRy!

In the studio