From Flowers to Jelly Fish

Well, I am drawn once again to the jelly fish today when I was looking through my inspiration photos.  I hope the people who keep asking for jelly fish like this!

Jelly Fish

18"x18" oil painting on 1 1/2" profile canvas

$200

Today's Results

I am still just craving the color, luminosity and fragility of flowers.  Here is my second attempt at poppies.

Pink Poppies

14'x11" Oil painting on 1 1/2" profile canvas

$80

Everything is possible through yoga!

Well, at least that is what I have decided after an incredible "aha" moment today and a big breakthrough on a tough pose.  After less than a year of dedicated yoga practice and a month long intensive teacher training I am doing things that I never thought would be possible and I am 90% pain-free at this time.

I was able to kick myself up into a full arm balance or handstand (adho mukha vrksasana http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/788 ), hold it for almost a minute and come down with a little grace.  If someone had told me a year ago I would be able to do that, I would have thanked them for the confidence in me, but laughed it off for sure.  My upper body strength and suppleness seems to grow daily.  My core strength is getting really good.  My legs are tightening up in a good way and loosening up where they should.  Yoga has done wonders for my body.  It has done wonders for my memory, my ability to focus and my overall attitude towards life.

So, now I am able to start seeing beyond the past limitations of my body and see that I am now ready for what comes my way and will be able to make a big list of new resolutions and goals that I will be able to meet and possibly exceed.

I am starting my list today....here's a taste of what I now believe is possible!

1.  get up into headstand (sirsasana)
2.  do a cartwheel
3.  walk on my hands
4.  arm balances
5........
6................
7....................
More to come for sure!  I just feel strong, vibrant, confident, and completely able.  The absence of pain seems to really be the biggest blessing and certainly lends me the optimism to truly believe that all things are possible now.   I feel like at 46, I am only just beginning my life.  Pretty incredible feeling, honestly.

Thank you yoga.  Thank you fellow Seattle yoga students.  Thank you universe.  Thank you husband for allowing me to move forward with this with your full support.  Thank you life.  Thank you love.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Poppies

Well the Iris painting got me all warmed up for this larger painting.  It is exactly as I had hoped it would turn out.  The flowers are really giving me an opportunity to stretch myself.  I am thoroughly enjoying the process!

I present...

"White Poppies"

12"x12" oil painting on 3/4" profile canvas

$150

Going Smaller (for the moment)

Decided to do a mini version of a painting I have had rattling around in my head for a few days.  I haven't ever done something so small, but it was fast, fun and it gave me an idea of what to expect when I do the larger, full-scale version.  It was fun!

Here is -

Irises

4"x4" oil painting on 1 1/2" profile canvas

$20

Gerbera III

No...these aren't romantic titles for my paintings, but I am so involved in the learning process, the feeling out of technique, the feeling out of my desires, inspirations, and ability to convey my feelings for the subject onto the canvas that I find each painting more of a study rather than an art piece.  A lesson for me to learn from.  A project to complete to guide me to my next project.  I am so wanting the art to teach me about myself that I attach a title to the pieces that are purely descriptive.  It helps me detach from it, step back from the easel so to speak and evaluate, learn, observe and feel.

So...I present...

Gerbera III

18"x24" oil painting on canvas

$200

Today's Work

I am still very inspired by the gorgeous richly colored Gerbera Daisies I photographed in Seattle at the farmer's market.  Here is another one.  I am sure more to come!

Gerbera II

11"x14" oil painting on 1 1/2" profile canvas

A painting for a baby

It all started with a friend's little girl, her obsession with flowers and a need for a birthday gift.  So, I came up with Mazie's name painting.

Then my sister and a good friend are both due to have baby boys on the same date in November, so I thought I would give them both something original for their baby and paint another name painting.  So that is how Alex (my soon to be nephew) and baby Jacob McLeran got their paintings.  It's kind of fun and it stretches me, so I will certainly keep on doing these!

Finally starting some of the projects I dreamed of in Seattle

Starting out with the gorgeous Gerbera daisies I fell in love with at the University district Saturday Market!  I have more to come since I took many photos of all the lovely and abundant flowers there.  Keep watching for more!

"Saturday Market Gerberas"

11"X14" oil painting on museum quality flat panel

The follow up painting...

Didn't get enough hearts and love in today, so I painted a smaller, much darker heart painting.  Love the blues and turquoises together.  

"Blue Love"

8"x8" oil painting on museum quality 3/4" profile panel

Living the Love!

My latest painting - inspired by the saying, "Live The Love".  

"Live the Love"

12"X12" oil painting on canvas

Happy graduates go back to real life!

Home is definitely where my heart is!  I am so happy to be home, settling back into my routine of teaching yoga and painting!  Life is good!

Here is our recently graduated class of Registered Yoga Teachers!  And my certificate!

Painting has been happening, so keep tuning in for the latest masterpieces - lol!

Helen, Katy, Cat, Richard (our instructor), Shana, Renee (and baby Jacob), and Brittany!

Headed Home

So after a full month of long, exhaustive yoga classes, teacher training sessions, tedious audio/visual sessions, and many breaks at the local coffee shop, I am happy to say I have completed my training and am officially a 200 hour – RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). 

I have never been so delighted to complete a program in my life.  College doesn’t even compare to the intensity and personal reward I have received from this experience.  It was all in all a very good experience.  There were some issues and difficulties, but in the end I have learned a lot and feel pretty accomplished and pleased with the result.

I appreciate the help of five exceptional ladies who not only gave me the support and courage to continue, but the daring to attempt poses I never thought I would be able to do.  Incredible souls who are caring, generous, loving and kind.  They are all well onto a path of enlightenment and a peaceful life.  I honor, respect and admire them.  So rare to encounter such amazing people in one place.  Something divine intervened and brought us together.  I am sure about that!

So, as I prepare to take my loaded MINI onto the road and head home, I find it a bittersweet ending to this training.  I am so excited to go home, but sad to leave behind my new friends.  Much love to them and much love to my patient and supportive husband waiting for me, keeping the home fires burning.