My Painting Journey

In Good Company

2009-09-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

It is that time of summer when the days are long with lots of sunshine. With all the summer activities, special functions and parties, I must admit I have to take time out and find my special space over in the side yard where no one else ever goes. An old painted hat, a glass of wine, pink petunias growing in weed filled wooden boxes, butterflies, and Mr. Sunshine are what I call being in good company.

Ode to the Pear

2009-08-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

My childhood brings memory of the pear. My grandmother had a large pear tree behind her house where I was welcome to have its fresh fruit. We often ate pear salad on Sundays. But the best was my mothers homemade pear preserves. They were always very sweet and a little crunchy when eaten with butter on a biscuit. Pear green is one of my favorite colors. Also, green pears are very lovely when placed next to red pears in a fruit bowl.

Dreamscape

2009-08-26T11:00:00.001-07:00

My Cousin's Attic

2009-08-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Cupcake Factory

2009-08-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Green Moon

2009-08-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

Only once every seven years, the moon above my uncle's village appears to be green for 21 days. be night, everyone watches as shapes and objects appear above houses that either seem to rising out of or lowering into houses.

The Wishing Tree

2009-08-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

It's a place far out into the country where only a few people live. One must know exactly where to turn on the dirt road that winds back into the forest. There stands a large old tree that flowers pink blossoms all year round. Near the tree on the ground is a collection of old pottery and bowls. I have heard stories of a sacred red bowl. One can sit beneath the big tree, hold the bowl with both hands and concentrate on deep wishes and desires. When the heart is sincere enough, objects begin to appear inside the bowl turning bright orange. At the same time, pink blossoms shower down into the bowl. They say this profound illusion has a lingering effect that lasts for about six months and during this time, If you make a wish you will receive manifestations of his or her heartfelt desires.

Good Neighbors

2009-08-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

I noticed in my backyard that a cardinal family and a wren family were living in the same tree. Sharing is so positive!

Birdhouses

2009-08-07T06:31:00.000-07:00

A wonderful friend and I were discussing new ways to paint birdhouses and butterfly houses. Sometimes answers manifest in my abstract paintings.

Have a Good Day

2009-08-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

I love to remind others to have a good day or a wonderful afternoon because sometimes we forget.

Vision

2009-08-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes between sleep and awake, I have visions that may appear to have profound messages. Recently, in one particular vision, a wise man surrounded by a lot of energy appeared. He was carrying a basket, a large blue feather, a large white feather, and a dark blue blanket which he placed by my side. Then he handed me an envelope, smiled, then the vision was suddenly over.

dancing fog

2009-08-02T07:17:00.000-07:00

While visiting my friend who lives in the mountains, we fancied taking moonlight walks. One evening I will never forget. We were delayed with our midnight stroll, due to having to attend a meeting. While on our usual path, we noticed lights beginning to shine and brighten from an area nearby. We were able to keep on the walking path while drawing closer to the light. Crouched behind trees we encountered something very strange up around a huge and unusual house. A fog seemed to float right in and gather up around the house then spiral upward in carious places. It was as if the fog was dancing. Tiny orbs filtered about while the fog gre and lit up the sky. My friend seemed afraid and ran home after not being able to speak. I was amazed and stayed for the whole show.

Holes that let the Sunshine In

2009-07-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

There are times when holes are great especially when they allow the sunshine in on really cold days.

My Little Friend

2009-07-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Each evening a small owl perches in a tree just outside my dining room window. He gazes into my world with its lights and friendly dinners going on. When I dine alone, I move next to the window and linger there to spend more time with my little friend.

Sacred Waters

2009-07-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

Atop a mountain, the water cascades smoothly over terraces and comes to rest peacefully and still just beyond the rock wall. It's a sacred location hardly known to mankind. Unusual entrances above ground lead down to homes below where residence live inside the mountain. Some say they swim often in the water and they never look old.

Her Own Design

2009-07-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Jane had been entering the "Original Design" contest in her hometown for the past 14 years. She had never won, not even an honorable mention. This year would be different for Jane felt she needed to create her design much larger and elaborate to get attention. Well, she made heads turn and heard an overwhelming comments. So Jane finally won her Grand Prize.

Owl House

2009-07-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

Tree dwellers are migrants. Whenever there is rain or snow or really cold weather, they must give up their home and head south. But when the trees have longer seasonal time, they do keep their leaves (like in Florida). I imagine that tree dwellers may have elaborate homes.

The Floor

2009-07-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

My friend saved money money by purchasing mix and match tiles on sale when she needed to re-tile her den floor. Due to a lighting issue, the dark tiles really changed the ambiance since the furniture was also dark.

Quilt Dreams

2009-07-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

When I was young, my family and I were invited to a great aunts house for a big holiday celebration. Members of my mother's family arrived with lots of pot luck food and someone brought the biggest turkey that I had ever seen. We all ate and celebrated with music and singing the rest of the day. Children were allowed to participate until midnight. I was given a small bed in the corner of a big teal green room. The bed was covered with a very strange homemade quilt. Once the light was turned off and the door was shut, the room suddenly became quite creepy. I became plagued with noises from the house including snoring from people who were already asleep. I wrapped myself in the quilt so that it completely covered my head to drown out the atmosphere. I became warm and had wonderful dreams that night which I have always felt was because of the very strange quilt.

Many Facets of the day

2009-07-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

I often have days that seem like a multi-cut gem with things to do, places to go, and people to see.

Orbs Incoming

2009-07-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Small orbs are drawn into an inviting energy during the midday. They are escorted by the sun.

My Abstract Glasses

2009-07-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have worn glasses most of my life and I see things differently than most people so painting in abstract fits me perfectly.

Be Bold

2009-07-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

Go forth and fulfill and love what you do as you work faithfully toward your dreams and inner visions. It does not get handed to you on a silver platter. A spiritual message of encouragement to do what we love and really work at what we truly love.

Troubled Waters

2009-07-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

The shadows of the wallpaper magically moved and flickered about causing shape which looked like ships that almost capsized in waters of green, pink, yellow, green, brown, and black.

Owl Friend

2009-07-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

The owl first visited a large oak tree in my back yard. A few days later she returned with two smaller owls and they stayed in the big oak tree. I sat out on the back porch every evening just to listen to the mother owl with her "who, who, who". I felt that she was acknowledging that she knew I was there. I considered them to be good neighbors. "Who" would have known.

Mountains between the Sun and Moon

2009-07-08T07:18:00.000-07:00

Someone once said there is a dimension between the Sun and the Moon that can only be seen when the moon is directly above the setting sun. Only at the precise time a red mountain range appears for about seven minutes.

Bubbly Town

2009-07-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

Native Sunshine

2009-07-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

A sign of a very happy future.

Miss Sweet Cheeks

2009-07-07T14:12:00.000-07:00

Sandy owns and operates Sandy's Candies, a wonderful confectionery that features some of the world's oldest recipes. Each summer Sandy's Candies sponsors the Miss Sweet Cheeks Contest for girls and single ladies. Each contestant is judged for congeniality and natural rosy cheeks.

Butterfly Residence

2009-06-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

As the day closes a master butterfly makes sure small butterflies fly safely home. Then the master returns to hos own residence.

Butterfly Condo

2009-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

The butterfly pauses just outside her condo to enjoy the neighborhood.

Chalk Intelligence

2009-06-26T11:19:00.001-07:00

Chalk was used in ancient times for creating cave drawings. Later, artists started using chalk as a pigment in artwork. Then teachers used chalk in their classrooms as a teaching medium by writing on chalkboards. Imagine all of the intelligent and educational words written by a little white stick of calcium carbonate, only to be rubbed off later by a blackboard eraser. These erasers are clapped together over a trash can or outdoors by a student. What happens to the intelligent energy which is in the chalk dust? Does it go out into the Universe?

Pink Bubbly

2009-06-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Lucinda poured her small goblet of fresh poured pink champagne behind the pink vase. The champagne was extra bubbly and from where Beth sat, the bubbles appeared to be rising out of the vase.

Traveling Butterflies

2009-06-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Two butterflies pose for a photo. No one knows exactly where this photograph was taken. It could have been over street grids or a distance from earth. Strange!

Ticket to Paradise

2009-06-19T07:22:00.000-07:00

This painting is about taking a ticket to retire in Florida. The energy of the city now fades into the background. As a butterfly appears with the "Ticket to Paradise". Artwork, beaches, and love for ancient people provide a new world. There are great things to do . It's like emerging from a cocoon.

Art - Ticket to the Future

2009-06-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

This painting was inspired by inpiremethursday.com!

Processions of time, life’s journey is mine,
A ticket for your thoughts.
Tour buses and planes, shows and trains,
All tickets I have sought.

Time slips by now, and I wonder how,
It wasn’t clear before.
The tickets of life, the end of strife
Not things, but so much more.

The artist in me, comes out you see,
Tickets of sparkling sunshine,
Divine roses and songs, now I belong,
My ticket is coveted time.

Paintings within a Painting:

Aladdin's Lamp

2009-06-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Aladdin’s lamp floating upon the sea

Shell treasures swimming in harmony.

Breaching the surface, they touch the light

And greet the dawn, new hope in sight.

Waves of change rise to touch the blue sky

An albatross signals a boat passing by.

Look, see Aladdin’s lamp glistening here

One wish will be granted, the time is near.

The sailor crafted a wish of love

Admiring God’s work from heaven above.

The wish was really quite simple you see,

He asked for a world of tranquility.

Poem by: Janet Gililand

Incandescent Butterfly

2009-06-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

This butterfly is one of a kind. He was supposed to be yellow when he came out of his cocoon but instead he turned out to be purple, aquamarine, and gold.

If you look at the painting the right way, you can see the face of a woman on the upper left wing.

Art For a Child

2009-06-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

Butterfly House

My butterfly wings take wind and sail
Come fly with me on my magical tale.

Sparkling winged fairies live in the lee
Colors burst forth all around us to see.

Five fairies in all come out to play
They join my journey early each day.

In search of colors to match our wings
And the nectar a beautiful flower brings.

The fairies delight in games of flight
Then we sail home and out of sight.

Nestling my ship at the edge of home
Greetings to friends at the honeybee comb.

Playful butterfly full of delight
Rest those wings another night.

Poem By: Janet Gililand

Find the Birds

Everybody loves butterflies especially baby birds. Many Momma birds brings the baby birds to see the butterfly late in the afternoon. How many baby birds can you find?

Golden Webs

2009-06-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

In the afternoon the sun shines through the west window and into the decor colors of orange, red, and yellow reaching the spider web in a dark room causing the web to appear as it it were decorated in these colors. This illusion stays for awhile, then fades with the sun.

Horn Ensemble

2009-06-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Horn Ensemble has the same color scheme and similar theme to one of my previously posted paintings entitled New Ensemble.

"This musician has mastered playing this four horn multi-function instrument. It makes her performing solo quite awesome.

Butterfly Ship

2009-06-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

"Seeing into another dimension allows us to see things that are beyond 3D. The butterfly kingdom is quite beautiful I've heard."

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

2009-06-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

Eleanor stands before the stack of returned letters she keeps in a small green chest. Another dear friend has passed on who never had the opportunity to read Eleanor's last letter.

Eleanor is old school and now experiences a different world with e-mail, cell phones, and texting which she finds very sad. For many years she communicated quite well with writing letters and dialing her rotary phone. At the age of 10, she spent an entire summer with her grandmother perfecting her penmanship and learning the family's art of letter writing. That summer opened her world to communication through writing great letters.

Receiving a letter from a pen pal in a distant country brought Eleanor the utmost joy. It something that she could hold in her hands and read as often as she wished. There were occasions in which a pen pal, dearest friend, or relative would arrive for a special visit. One of the most exciting pen pals was a renowned person of great royalty in another country. And she and her family were always kind enough to send letters to the sick and shut-in.

On her birthday and special occasions Eleanor always received a box of the finest linen stationary. One Christmas she received the gift of her own seal from her royal pen pal. In her young adult years, her fiance was drafted into the army and whisked off to war. She wrote him a letter almost every single day. Upon his return home, he thanked her for all of her letters, making mail call the one thing that kept him from being lonely and depressed. Of course Eleanor had saved all the letters from her fiance as well.

She taught her own children and grandchildren the art of good friendly letter writing, sharing with them some of her own letters she had received in the past. Most letters were quite long, from 10 to 15 pages, containing all of the news and information one could bring to mind. This was always different from a telephone conversation or an e-mail. When she was young there was no television or computers. Instead, many evenings were devoted to letter writing. This communication with distant friends and relatives actually kept up the current information which she thought was better than the present. With pride, she keeps her own letter archives well organized and in great condition. Some of her collections actually tell wonderful stories all by themselves.

Eleanor has continued her letter writing and penmanship even though her recipients are so few now. Now is not what it used to be due technology but just in case there is a long power failure, Eleanor has the talent and enthusiasm to sit down and write a letter or two.

This painting was inspired by www.inspiremethursday.com.

Orange City

2009-06-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

Orange City is a busy little place that connects to the rest of the world. A hometown where white collar workers take off their ties and indulge in games and whimsy and music. People do their own thing and attract others from faraway places who turn up often in order to enjoy the ambiance and become camouflaged in fun and excitement.

Lighthouse

2009-06-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's high tide and the waves break upon the west side of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was built upon the beach backed by the rocky reef. The lighthouse keeper loves the sound of waves crashing on the rocks and the seagulls flying about.

Altered Ancestor

2009-05-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

The subject of this painting was inspired by the website inspiremethurdays.com.

Altering is instilled through DNA. This may take a very long time all depending on the intended change which could take as long as 2000 years. The DNA in humans contained simpler patterns with our ancestors which has been stepped up through treatment conducted with energy. The more energy that is absorbed the more profound the improvement will be. This female with the enlarged skull has absorbed many years of DNA treatment that has accrued through a number of generations in her family. Her skull has enlarged due to the growth of her brain. With no more space between skin and skull, hair follicles have no more room to grow causing permanent baldness. She is now quite intelligent having a larger brain and she no longer possesses human logic. She has become multi-dimensional and communicates with higher life forms.

Spirituality

2009-05-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

I had no idea about what I was painting my first day of working on spirituality. I struggled to grasp its meaning on the second day as I stared, painted some, and set it aside for later. The third day I felt that I should change the colors and some of the shapes. The original somewhat whimsical picture of cowgirl boots and big toes painted in a sandal with gold nail polish just kept feeling too silly. I began to see a swirling mass of spiritual energy resembling chakras and a higher self. The colors of purple for spirituality and turquoise from my own Native American ancestry became a cone shaped hat for protection. The colors also depict a spiritual aura. Finally, I felt that this painting was finished.

His Mask

2009-05-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

This is the first painting in a series of 3 masks. "His Mask" is another one of my paintings that has a story behind it.

"The mask was purchased by a man who visited a small distant city who was intrigued with it. He kept wearing the mask at home long after possessing it. Eventually the mask absorbed a great deal of the man's energy and was often seen with one eye wide open. "His Mask" starting developing a personality of its own.

Higher Self

2009-05-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

I felt that true self would be another twin or sequel to the painting called "Spirituality" but i wasn't sure about the color combination as well as the use of the color black. The five small spirals were supposed to be spiritual accomplishments. The books represent the many books I have read on spirituality and self improvement. At the end of the day the small spirals were not looking so well and the two in the upper left hand corner suddenly appeared to be a big-eyed something looking down upon the lady. I also did not like the yellow. I painted black almost like x's over the five spirals. Then I saw the line between the left side and the right side. The left side of alternated colors are the spiritual ladder. Yellow is the color for figuring out things and black absorbs energy. The x'd out spirals on the left represent the past that no longer has to be dealt with. The books represent much learning. The umbrella with the un-x'd spiral is protection. A lady with fair skin stands out against the dark. She's using her upper chakras (blue-throat chakra, purple -spiritual eye chakra, and magenta - crown chakra). The white cap is for godliness and the pink waves are for love and peacefulness.

The Birds

2009-05-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

"Some of the animal world has arrived at the park which is closed for the holiday." This painting contains a bunch of different animals including eight birds, an owl , a duck, an eagle , a cat, and finally a dragon. Some you have to really look for. See if you can find them all!

Strange Coffee

2009-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

I love coffee and I have drank it as long as I can remember. Even before I started to school, I remember everyone who sat at my family's breakfast table was given a cup of coffee. It did not make me hyper as I would drink two more cups during the course of the day after I started school. Some years ago I had a very wonderful friend and neighbor who often invited me over for coffee or tea. She alternated making each beverage and made them both in the same coffee maker. One afternoon she called me to come over for coffee. The coffee tasted strange on the first sip and I could not tell if it was coffee or tea. I did not say anything that day as not to hurt my friends feelings. I really did not like this painting the first time that I painted it so I set it aside. Recently I retrieved the painting with the feeling that it was time to continue with it. I repainted "Strange Coffee" with an opaque light gray color and repainted the weird looking coffee pot on top of that. This painting is a reminder that sometimes I don't have to forget the past because I have always loved coffee.

New Ensemble

2009-05-25T20:06:00.000-07:00

Like a lot of my paintings, "New Ensemble" tells a story.

No one knows where this small strange group of musicians (two of whom are hiding) came from. Everyone who has seen them perform has claimed their music is quite wonderful although it's a bit odd.

The painting turned out differently than I felt it would be. I did not particularly like the color combo until I had completed the painting.

Card Game

2009-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Card game is another painting that just came together upon completion. I was not intending for the design to look like a decks of cards. It reminded me of the many card games I have played in the past. I've always noticed how card players hold their card hands. Some players hold their fan of cards tight while others hold them loosely. Some hold their cards close so you cannot see their hand while others have a few of their cards that can be seen. I have always wondered if winning or losing was due to how the cards fall or is it how the game is played.

Sea Reflections and Silver Ships

2009-05-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Sea Reflections and Silver Ships are actually a pair of paintings that go together.

When I've flown over the Gulf of Mexico I have seen the more shallow patches of water in beautiful aquamarine color . I have always wondered what might lie beneath the water. I wonder if beautiful shells and items lost at sea somehow get collected together and form a beautiful collage with magnificent colors reflecting off each other. Who would know?

The Garden

2009-05-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

I had painted overlapping discs, one evening, in metallic aquamarine, red, and gold. They appeared to be hot air balloons and maybe I was supposed to turn the painting around. The next day, this particular corner of the painting was not saying anything and did not seem to be manifesting. I felt at this point I was stuck. I repainted a few of these watermelon looking disks to black and I noticed that they had started to look like sliced peaches. I then painted over them with olive green. At this point the painting started to take shape. "Olive Green? Watermelon?" I thought to myself. "How about a garden!" I had planted some big seeds.

The bottom half of the painting is all garden. The upper left side shows the four card symbols representing taking a chance and that life is a gamble. The right side first produces a vase in the garden and out of it grows flowers. Everything is coming up roses and a lot more seeds.