Art Journal Advent December 9-16 ...

December 16

*authentic*

Included a quote I love on this page.

"While everyone else chooses validation, prioritize your purpose.

While everyone else chases validation, prioritize your value.

While everyone else choses fitting in, prioritize your own lane.

While everyone else chases popularity, prioritize your peace.

While everyone else chases, prioritize being"

~Matt Gottesman~ 

December 15

*2024 in 3 words*

Living Wide Open 

Combined my art with the wonderful words of Dawna Markova

December 14

*alive*

"I don't like to say I have given my life to art.

I prefer to say art has given me my life"

~Frank Stella~

December 13

*confetti*

"I smell snow"

my favourite kind of confetti and one of my favourite lines from Gilmore Girls.

December 12

*ups & downs*

Look up at the sky

&

stay grounded

December 11

*keep*

Keep a green tree in your heart 

I added a pressed vine from the flower press to this page.

December 10

*letting go*

fly confidently in the direction your soul takes you

December 9

*dreamy*

I will always be a "look at the moon" girl!

 

A nest of spun gold

.... the words underneath the paint read ...

"She built her nest with Faith and Optimism.

Gathering twigs and weaving them with found golden thread.

When ever given the chance to have a close up look at a nest I love spotting unusual nesting materials found .... often there will be string or ribbon woven through the twigs xo

Throughout the year, I donate art to various organizations /causes.  I think it's important to "give back" in any way you can & even the smallest gestures have a huge impact!   A nest of spun gold is an original painted in acrylics on canvas board. It measures 8.5 " x 7" and is my last donation of the year to the

Layna Gallinaro Scholarship Award Silent Auction

Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ontario

through

32 auctions. com 

9 days until Christmas!!!

Have a wonderful week,

d xo 

Art Journal Advent 2024 ...

Art Journal Advent 2024... mindful moments in December... 

I'm participating in this online art journal over on Instagram.  It's a  "challenge" which really isn't a challenge at all, but more of a "take a few moments for yourself and journal" which I love!

~Mindful moments in December ~ 

I found a very old journal (you may notice the date 1974) and painted a little woodland scene on the cover. An equally old sage green grosgrain ribbon has been used to wrap around the cover, holding all these December thoughts snuggly once I've finished with the days page. 

Sunday, December 1

prompt: start today

I wrote ... Welcoming in the month of December ... our garden is filled with birds... doves, cardinals, woodpeckers and squirrels ~ they have been spotted with large mouthfuls of leaves ... it's trying to snow.

24 days of prompts

Monday, December 2 

prompt: simplicity 

I wrote ... A thick frost covered the ground, that comforting early morning feeling having my hands wrapped around the first cup of tea ... journal * meditation* devotion* stretch * and a walk .... blessings of a simple life.

Tuesday, December 3

prompt: pursue your passion

I wrote... Inspired by my little Sparrow Garden daily .... the birds who visit have become the ideal little models for paintings, the flowers, some picked and pressed between the pages of books.  My ukelele that brings pure joy ... just some of the things I am passionate about.

***

Wednesday, December 4

prompt: fearless

I wrote ... "A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch but on its own wings" Always believe in yourself.

First snowfall of December and a garden of fearless birds

***

Thursday, December 5

prompt: discover

I wrote ... I love my morning, meditative walks along the lake.  Even though I walk the same stretch of beach, there is always something new to discover.  With my gathering bag over my shoulder, I never know what treasures I'll find.  A lovely piece of driftwood, some beach glass, a heart shaped stone.  Always grateful for these gifts from this sacred space.

***

Friday, December 6

prompt: magic moment

I wrote ... Every day of December seems to hold a bit of magic in it... from the decorations to the carols being played, spotting Santa Claus in the mall, the excitement and joy shown in our grandsons faces and voices telling us what they have on their Christmas lists, each unwrapped Christmas tree ornament holds so many memories ... magic December moments.

Saturday, December 7

prompt: silence

I wrote ... Hello beautiful new day ... let me keep still and sit in silence ... in solitary prayer & contemplation to greet you.

 Sunday, December 8

prompt: the sweetness of doing nothing

to this prompt, I simply added ... and the wisdom to know it's everything.

The colour scheme of my Art Journal Advent is very muted and calm, as though I'm sitting outside writing in it with the crisp air and flakes of snow falling.

I've added bits and pieces of book paper, music sheets, tissue paper, dress making pattern tissue paper, flowers & leaves from my press and my own artwork.  

Today's page includes the

 Metta Prayer

"May all beings be peaceful.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be safe.

May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature.

May all beings be free"

As always, thank you for stopping by for a visit.

I will be posting all my Art Journal Advent pages over on my Instagram account

which you can find along the sidebar of my blog.  Hope to see you there!

On Paper: Art Show & Sale . . .

On Paper: Art Show & Sale

Exhibition Dates

November 23, 2024 - January 11, 2025

Main Gallery

Grimsby Public Art Gallery

18 Carnegie Ln

Grimsby, Ontario

I am so happy to have had both my submissions accepted!

The Grimsby Public Art Gallery is celebrating 50 years of Art in Grimsby, and I am so grateful to be celebrating this milestone with them.

Love is the Foundation & Surrounded by Love

Love is the foundation 

from which everything is built.

The Universal message of love ~ to give unconditionally

and freely.

To know you are surrounded by love

in a place where you belong

You start your day with a Joy filled heart

and a melodious song.

Opening Reception: December 5, 2024, ~6:30 - 8:30 pm 

 

Birdtober ......

Last month I participated in a fun "art challenge" called Birdtober 2024.

There was a Prompt list for each day of October with the name of a bird.

I started a fresh art journal and decided on a page layout ~ ultimately deciding on a two-page spread with a headshot, egg study, feather meaning, nesting habits and some notes on each bird.  It was so much fun to do, and the bonus was learning about birds I don't normally paint. I embellished the pages with a pressed flower from my garden attached with washi tape.  I'm not sure how I will fill in the remainder of the pages left in the art journal ... maybe I will just paint the birds at our feeder this month (there have been so many) and add some favourite bird quotes. 

I hope you enjoy looking through the pages xo