AAOArtTV on Youtube

One of my favorite places to hang out and to learn in a really fun environment is Art Apprentice Online. Not only is the website a rich resource and super place for shopping for all Deco Art Traditions products (for yourself or for a friend), it's a wonderful venue for learning about art and how to create your own beautiful artwork. The following is a Youtube clip featuring the artwork of students of the Just Paint It challenge. Check it out and click to subscribe to the AAOArtTV. Share it with your friends and think of joining us in the monthly painting challenges too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdZo-3OStSY

As always, thank you for dropping by. ~Amber aka mzchiclets

November already? Yikes

How can this be? Only this month and next before we do that countdown 'til 2010? Time flies when you're having fun or is it that time waits for no one, that it rolls on and you can't get it back? Yep all those things and more when we dwell on time.

I am staying busy with my art journey, continuing to work through my Traditions Modules and painting the lessons at the Traditions Art School. Life is good and I feel blessed.

Blessed too because my sister Debbie came for an overnight last week. Sister time is always good and we've vowed to not let two years go by until our next face to face <---- there's that ol' time thing again.

Halloween was fun with Miss Chaeli bug dressed up as a lion, complete with painted whiskers and a red nose. Too cute! Time marches on here too I see. Time, time, time! It's our most precious personal resource so my advice is, make good use of it whatever you do each day.

As always, peace to you and thank you for dropping by to spend a little of your own time with me today.

Two Minutes For God

I've been starting or (re-charging my day) by reading through Reverend Peter B Panagore's wonderfully wise collection of 'stories' (each 300 words or less), from his book called Two Minutes For God. Sometimes in the busy-ness of life I forget to make time for a quiet spirit pause and then suddenly it's the end of the day, time to give thanks for all that was or promises to be in with a new dawn. For now I am trying to begin each day with spirit in my heart. Reverend Peter's book makes for a nice 'daily infusion of faith' that perfectly complements my email subscription to http://dailydevotions.org. Thanks to my mom Bonnie T for forwarding an original Daily Devotion.

Peace and blessings all! ~ Amber

An Ordinance

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Den was baptized yesterday. Camera challenged I may be, but I love the look on his face here.

It was a blessing to stand with church family and witness his public declaration at the Lancaster, CA Vineyard Church. Thank you Pastor David and all. Thank you too for welcoming us exactly as we are. :>)

As always peace to all who drop here by to have a read. Today I add love to my usual peaceful closing. Love is everything indeed. ~ Amber

Revisiting Ancient Man

Who knew art from 30,000 years ago could be fascinating enough that I'd try my hand at replicating it? Thankfully we have at our hands, ready made non toxic pigments and excellent tools, nonetheless our tools for this lesson were common everyday items and a 12 x 16 canvas.

This is my interpretation of the Second Chinese Horse after a fabulous on line class led by Neadeen Masters, CDA CTT, one of the instructors at the new Traditions Art School. http://traditionsartschool.com

We were inspired by actual images via a remarkable virtual tour, of the art (yes indeed it is art!) of the exquisitely painted walls of the limestone caves in Lascaux, France. How simple and yet how elegant the horse is and how realistic too is the faux limestone background in my canvas.

This is part of a series of lessons presented on line with excellent resource material. Any home schooling groups out there looking to fill a required art component may wish to check the school out. In today's world of slashed budget cuts, many students aren't being introduced to the fine arts. and that is a shame. We all need exposure to art and creative pursuits in our lives.

Peace to all who visit my on line journal where I share bits and pieces of my life and interests.

From my artful heart to yours,

Amber :>)

Look Who's in my Sink

Yup tis Miss Chaeli-bug. She fits so perfectly in there just now and was cute as can be as I scrubbed her up for bed last night. :>) We splashed and had a good ol time while Papaw got photos of her antics. More to come later.

Peace to all who drop by for a visit. I appreciate that you do. Remember life really is what we make of it. I wonder what Chaeli will make of this nekkid baby shot when we drag it out for review for her first boyfriend? Ha! Yes I will too as anyone who knows me is aware.

For the Birds ~ ATC Collage

Yikes ... you have to know I have not done any collage work in years (well I confess to decades actually ~ LOL).

I recently joined a Yahoo group called Art for the Creative Mind. The poor owner bemoans (not really) the fact that I am primarily a paint and brush artist but continues to encourage all of us to think outside of self imposed creative boxes. She offers an amazing array of swaps to join in (or not) and I have to confess collaging once again was lots more enjoyable and successful than I figured it'd be. I am glad though my first foray back to this kind of art had a very specific size though.

My two ATC's have gone travelling to their new home in Canada. I really had fun doing something so different than my usual art. :>) I even used items that I had on hand and wonder of wonders, I have been exploring more collage art on the Web and even bought a wonderful book (second-hand of course because I am frugal by nature.) Oh ... the book you ask? Collage Discovery Workshop by Claudine Hellmuth. It's chock full of great basic collage techniques!

Peace to all who stop by and visit here. I appreciate your interest in my interests. Do something different to keep poking at your own creative muse. You never know what you might discover.

Aways,

Amber AKA Mz Chiclets