Gifts of a Woman...

Eyes... a doorway to the soul...

As a woman I am often contemplating the special qualities that we poses and have to offer the world. I realize each of us are unique and have different things to offer, but there are some common and essential attributes as well.

Love, compassion, beauty, sensuality, fertility, life, children, creativity, kindness and a gentle heart are just a few...

The older I get, the more I realize how simple yet sacred these things are to life, to our purpose... Worthy of celebration...

This is where my painting started...

In the beginning, there was a palette, some paint and some brushes...

a good cup of coffee in my favorite mug, made by local potter Reannag Teine

and a blank canvas...

sketching things out

painting in the sky

My painting studio...

Welcome to my little painting studio in the woods...

A place where day dreaming happens... 

The sound of the wind and a trickling creek whisper ideas... 

Dreams, visions and images come dancing through my window to to rest upon my canvas..

my card weaving loom

my view

I surround myself with flowers and relics that speak to me... 

a stone here, a statue there, a feather or photo...

Creating a sacred place takes a balance of elements...

finding the balance... 

allows creativity to flow...

my reference library

Occasionally a good book can help...

And a canvas....

And painting begins...

Evelyn De Morgan... 1850-1919, a Pre-Raphaelite artist

I've always loved the Pre-Raphaelite artists such as Edward Burne-Jones and John WilliamWaterhouse, but it wasn't until recently that I discovered Evelyn De Morgan. 

Flora, by Evelyn De Pickering

Evelyn was a female artist during the Victorian Era who created a total of 102 oil paintings. She came from a privileged family and was professionally trained. Although it was difficult to make a name for herself as a woman in the Victorian time, she had excellent skill and came to develop her own personal style and philosophies through art. Her subjects were almost always women and she used allegorical and spiritual subjects to express her own views of spirituality and moral dilemma.

Medea by Evelyn De Morgan

Her paintings were grouped into three groups, spiritualist allegories, depictions of sacred heroines, and war paintings.

The Love Potion, by Evelyn De Morgan 

 I must say, I think I've found another favorite artist.

Pastels on the Plaza and Farmers Market...

Every year our quaint little town puts on a festival called "Pastels on the Plaza". It's a fundraiser for North Coast Children's services and it's a very busy and fun event to come to. 

Local businesses make a donation to North Coast Children's Services for each of the sidewalk squares on the downtown plaza and artists donate their time and talent to fill them up with original pastel artwork.

The typical Saturday Farmers Market makes an additional festive backdrop to the event. Our town is not short on Artists, and I am always amazed at the wonderful images when the event is over.

My drawing for Historical Sights of Arcata

Me and my sidewalk art creation

Augustus Clark for Plaza Design

Farmers Market Bell Peppers

Suzanne from Root Essentials