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