"With You Always"

Remember when I began this painting and she told me, "I am resting to restore myself as we all must do".  She hasn't spoken a word since.  However, today as I was putting the finishing touches on her, she quietly spoke and said "I will be with you always."  I am naming the painting "With You Always".  Hope you enjoy it.

"With You Always" 24" X 32", acrylic on canvas, original painting by Donna Parker

Yesterday I went to Pato's (the fine art supply store) and purchased another canvas.  I really get antsy if I don't have one on hand.  When I am finished a painting, I never quite know when another will show up.  Must be prepared. :o)

Thanks for dropping over.  Create something wonderful.

Everyone has their own angel.

* A little bit of bliss

 My gardenia is blooming ... profusely.  The perfume is heady.  Sometimes in the early evening, I draw my chair near, put my feet up, close my eyes, and allow myself to be enveloped in the fragrance.  .... a little bit of bliss.

“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”
― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

 

 

* A little gold leaf ...

I'm almost finished.  She needs a little more work on her face and neck and perhaps an earring.  I gold leafed her halo today.  Never did that before on a painting, so it occurred to me, after the fact, it would probably need to be sealed to prevent tarnishing.  Sure enough it does - a good varathane will do.  Of course, I don't happen to have any - so will have to wait until Monday to get a little tin.  Then I can seal and antique her halo.  Here's her latest portrait.

Thanks for dropping in.  Nice to see you.  LOVE your comments, thank you so much.  Take care. 

Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.  Mary Kay Ash

Today in the Studio ...

Getting there.  Thanks for the visit.  xoxo Donna

These things I warmly wish for you: Someone to love, Some work to do, A bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer, And a guardian angel always near ~ Irish Blessing

* Wings appear

The wings appeared today - different than I expected.  I like them better.  Had to stop painting early, my eye was bothering me.  Annoying.

Lovely to see you here - wish we could stop and chat.  Take care.  xoxo Donna

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” Plato

A little progress ...

Spent the day playing with Wendy in my Studio.  She does lovely little watercolours.  I worked on my latest lady ... progress is being made.

Thanks for being here today.  Hope all is well with each of you.  xoxo Donna

“The great courageous act that we must all do, is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can live our dreams.”
― Oprah Winfrey

* A little more glitter and a quick block in

Made one more Christmas card using Martha Stewart's Tinsel which is really lovely and fluffy on the outside of the sentiment.

Another Lady is on her way. A very very rough block in to share with you. This time she has wings - here just in time for Christmas.  She told me she is resting to restore herself, which we all need to do.  She hasn't shared her name with me yet.

Thanks for coming over.  So enjoy visiting your creative havens.  xoxo Donna

Don't wait for anyone to deputize you or authorize you or empower you.  You have to just start out with yourself...and put one foot in front of the other.  Hazel Henderson, Visionaries by Utne Reader

* I kicked it up a notch ...

So!  After reviewing Valerie's tags of yesterday, I decided mine were very dull and boring.  Today, I tried to kick it up a notch.  I actually got the glitter out! ... and the ribbon ... and the flowers ... and the rhinestones.  Here's what happened.

So nice to see so many of you over for Sangria.  :o)  Be well - have fun creating.  xoxo Donna

I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well. - Diane Ackerman.

* I think I'm better at vintage ...

 

Thanks for coming over.  Sangria anyone?  xoxo  Donna

“It’s not about time, it’s about choices. How are you spending your choices?”
–Beverly Adamo

* Christmas is Coming! (the goose is getting fat)

I'm skipping Thanksgiving (well the USA one anyway) and heading straight for Christmas.  It's already nearly the middle of November - so I'd better get a move on.

Frankly, I've been spending a lot of time researching my family tree.  Addictive stuff.  I stayed up all night one night!  HA!

Did a couple of Christmas tags today.  Nothing special, however it took me all day to decide what to do.  Sheeesh!

Thanks for stopping in.  xoxo Donna

“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 

* Allende! - it's where I LIVE.

*

Ready to come for a visit?  It is indeed a magical place.

“Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it.” — Danny Kaye

* Searching for Peace ... complete

Detail

Detail

 

I'm out of canvas's!  YIKES.  Have to get to the art shop quick.

Thanks for stopping in.  Always so happy to see your comments.  xoxo Donna

“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

* No, she's not finished ...

... but just about ...

I took her down to the courtyard wall to hang while I photographed her -- to get some good light.  I simply cannot get her to hang straight.  The nail isn't right - she is tooooo long.  Annoying.  Anyway, you get the drift.

Thanks for dropping by my Lovely's.  xoxo Donna

Before you agree to do anything that might add even the smallest amount of stress to your life, ask yourself: What is my truest intention? Give yourself time to let a yes resound within you. When it's right, I guarantee that your entire body will feel it.  Oprah Winfrey

* el Día de los Muertos

An evening of alters and catrinas.  Fabrica Aurora, the old textile factory turned art galleries, held a Day of the Dead evening, art walk, music, drink and nibbles.  San Miguel turned out in droves.  Many in full dress as Catrinas, the place dripped with atmosphere as we nibbled bon bons, sipped wine and thoroughly enjoyed the art and the beautiful atmosphere.

The colours of Day of the Dead are orange and purple, the flowers, marigolds and violetas.  As I entered Fabrica tonight the trio was playing music from the nightclub scene in Frida.  I felt the magic of this country. 

Walking in to the huge foyer, I was greeted with a massive sugar skull, almost as tall as me.

 

 

The alter, which filled half the foyer is made with fresh flowers.

The office worker.

The artist.

Huge pots with flowers floating in water.

Every gallery had an alter.

The trio in the foyer playing wonderful Mexican music.

These are the molds paper mache dolls were made from.  These dolls are still produced, however this particular mold is antique.

It would be fun to go in costume.

Ah, more mellow music from Old Mexico.  I could listen forever.

We ended the evening at Don Felix, by now my favorite restaurant in town.  

There's a gentle rain falling tonight and the evenings are becoming cooler.  Time to get out the shawls and sweaters.  Thanks for stopping in.  Take care.  xoxo Donna

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.  ~William Penn

* A little more detail ...

I have friends here from 'beige land', as one of them refers to nob.  :o)  Yesterday we enjoyed the artisans market, then went out for a lovely comida at a restaurant called Ole Ole - which as you may guess is all about bull fighting.  A fabulous collection of vintage posters and autographed matador photographs.  The food?  Excellent.  The wine?  Lovely.  The company?  So very enjoyable.

Today I worked in Searching for a short while.

Thanks for stopping by.  It's good to see you getting better, Valerie!  Take care, all of you.  xoxo Donna

Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.
Marquis De Condorcet