Happy Coloring!

 

So, recently I've started offering something a little different in my Etsy shop... or maybe I'm going back to something kinda similar to the digital stamps I offered when my shop was brand new. I've started creating hand drawn downloadable coloring pages for kids (and kids at heart!), and I'm having so much fun with it!

This all really happened quite by accident. At Christmastime, I created a page of Christmas-y designs to use as the background for the gift cards we'd bought for our family. I printed out multiple copies and taped the gift cards on the back of the design... just a silly way to add a little homemade holiday whimsy to ordinary gift cards. And I thought they came out pretty cute!

I got thinking about all the fun coloring pages I could make about holidays and seasons and the cute kid-friendly designs I enjoy making... and I just kept on creating these pages.

So now I'm hooked on drawing these silly coloring pages! Right now I have a total of nine designs in my Etsy shop... and the ideas just keep on coming! I'm filling up my sketchbook with snowmen and space aliens and leprechauns... and I'm looking forward to discovering what other cute creatures and critters will make their homes in my sketchbook! Stay tuned for more coloring silliness from me in the near future!

** If you're wondering where you can find my hand drawn kids coloring pages, just follow the link HERE

Why Do I Create?

Photo: BigStock

Lately I've needed to remind myself again about why I create. I guess it should be obvious to me after all these years... but I still often lose sight of my "WHY?" 

Do I create just to enjoy the process of creating? Do I want my art to be noticed and appreciated by others? Do I want to make money with my art? Do I create because I want to share something that comes from within myself, as a gift to others? Do I create just because it's fun?... or maybe because I'm wired that way and I just need to create?

I guess the answer is probably "all of the above." To be honest, I still often get discouraged and I struggle with my "WHY?" So this is me thinking this whole creativity thing through as I blog.

I came to art kinda late in my life. I wasn't the little kid who played with paints and scissors and colored paper and made all kinds of creative "messes." No, I was the little girl who loved to color inside the lines with a brand new box of 64 Crayola crayons. I filled up coloring books, but I never imagined myself actually drawing my own pictures or painting on canvas. For one thing, I really didn't have a creative model in my family... someone I could watch to see that being a creative person was a valid way of being.. that it was more than OK to be creative just for the JOY of it. 

I discovered art when I was 28 years old and my first son was a little guy. I drew little pictures for him to find in his lunch box when he didn't like going to preschool Lunch Bunch... and it was a total surprise to me just how much I loved drawing those little stick figures! I had no idea that a simple pencil and 3x5 card and some colored markers could be so much fun! So, I kept drawing...

Years passed, and I got better at drawing. Then I got introduced to online art communities on Facebook, Flickr and blogging. Eventually I got inspired to open an Etsy shop and a Zazzle shop. Looking back, the art I created wasn't all that good, but I knew I had found something that was an integral part of who I was. I was a creative person who loved color and imagining things into existence that never had been before. And it was exciting! 

But somewhere along the way, I think I got confused about why I was making art. Lack of views and lack of sales really started to get me down. So I optimized my listings and listened to podcasts that I was sure would give me a leg up in marketing my art. I listened to Etsy experts and redoubled my efforts to make art that people would want. But all I still heard were crickets from both of my shops.

It really felt discouraging! And I asked myself over and over again... What was the point of painting these little canvases with all their happy colors when all that ended up happening was an ever-growing collection of mini canvas art on the shelves in my studio? I was sure that, years from now, my kids were going to need to figure out what in the world to do with all Mom's one-of-a-kind, funky art? 

But, you know what?... I'm really tired of thinking about my art and creativity in this way. So I'm going to try to make some mindset shifts that I hope will get me on a better artsy path. 

* I'm going to stop worrying about whether or not other people like what I create, and I'm going to create what I like anyway.

* I'm going to put my finished artwork in my shops, and then move on to the next project without wondering if someone will buy it or not.

* I'm going to stop checking "likes" and stats, and spend more time sketching and painting.

* I'm going to treat myself to some fun online creative classes that will teach me something new and spark my artsy enthusiasm.

* And I'm going to look for JOY in all I create, knowing that God has "wired" me to be a creative person, and it pleases Him when I use the gift of creativity that He has given me.

**Thank you Lord for creating me the way you have... for making me love working with my hands, for my love of color, for the gift of imagination. Please help me to look to YOU and not to others for approval and validation. Help me to find joy in the things you have made, and in the creative process that has become such an important part of my life. Inspire what I create Lord. I want to please you with all I am and all I do.

Happy New Baby Gift!

 

This past spring, my niece and her husband were blessed with their first child... a sweet little guy named Tyson. They call him their "little crab"... so I thought it would be fun to paint a canvas with a cute crab and his name on it as a new baby gift for his nursery. An original design of mine, super simple, but I thought it came out pretty cute! I painted it on a 5x7 inch canvas panel... quite a bit bigger than my normal paintings, which are usually 4x6 inches or smaller. I don't usually do personalized pieces of art, but for family I thought I'd make an exception!

I hope Tyson and his mom and dad will see this painting each day and know how much they're loved!

 Welcome To The World Tyson!!... Aunt Patti loves you!

July Home Renovation Update

 

Well, last time I blogged (way back in February 2022), my husband and I were up to our eyeballs in plaster dust and paint as we did some remodeling on this old bungalow we call home. Six months later, we're still painting the downstairs, but we're a whole lot closer to the finish line on this project. It's all about sweat equity around here!... and "This Old House" is starting to look a whole lot prettier as a result of our efforts! The front porch is fixed and awaiting a fresh coat of my favorite color green (we're waiting for cooler weather before we work outside again). All the walls of the lower floor have been painted a warm white with crisp white trim (with the exception of our dining room, which is a pretty soft shade of green). The sun porch is bright white and we've just finished painting the porch floor an unexpected sunny shade of yellow. Next comes the butler's pantry which will be getting a fun pop of color too! It's amazing what paint can do to transform a tired looking house!... and it's encouraging to be able to see the good results from all our hard work!

I'm starting to paint some little canvases again to put in my Etsy shop, PholkartStudio! (YAY!!) The painting I posted above is called "Star Spangled Geraniums," and measures 3x3 inches. It comes with the cutest little easel to display just about anywhere! Honestly, it has felt really great to have the time to come up with some brand new sketches and finally play with my acrylic paints again! I've got four new designs that I'm excited about painting soon!... YAY for getting back to creating!

This Old House

 "Country Cottage"

It has been too many months since I updated my blog, or really done any art at all. The reason?... Ever since my husband retired, we've been sprucing up our little 1920's bungalow where we've lived for almost 35 years. "Delayed Maintenance" is what my husband calls it. Somehow in the middle of raising two boys here and working full time and living from month to month financially, things just never got done on "This Old House." The front porch was suffering from years of rain and snow that finally ate away at the floor boards. The plaster in my husband's office had developed major cracks that made an interesting spiderweb design on the walls. There were holes in the ceiling above our stairwell created by an old leaky roof. And every wall in the entire house was begging for a fresh coat of paint!

As I sit here typing, there's a BIG dumpster sitting out front and a porta-potty in the yard. We finally decided that some of the jobs that needed to be done were just beyond our handyman capabilities... and so we enlisted some help to get a few major projects finished around here. But Joe and I are doing most of the inside painting... which means the fun, arty painting I love to do has been set aside for a while. It's a good thing I really do like to paint, no matter what kind of painting it is!

While I'm away from my canvases and paint brushes for a short while, I'm still brainstorming ideas for new paintings and sketching in my sketchbook. New ideas are percolating and I can't wait to get back to more artful painting soon!

Every Day Is Earth Day

"Every Day Is Earth Day"

Just ask my husband and he'll tell you that I'm a devoted recycler! Yes, I've been known to go through our trash and pick out plastic wrap and cardboard that could be sent to the recycling center... and I have no shame about that! Walking our dogs every day, I'm liable to pick up bottles and cans to deposit in the nearest recycling cart. My thinking is always, "If I don't pick this up, then who will?" Just trying to keep our neighborhood beautiful one dog walk at a time!

Not only that, but I'm an unapologetic scavenger and enthusiastic repurposer! "Are you throwing that out?... Hmmmm! How could I reuse that in some creative way?" My brain just seems to be "wired" to see the possibilities in discarded items. Our home is decorated with lots of random finds and hand-me-downs... and I really love the uniqueness and whimsy they add to our environment!

This week is the Bulky Item Pick Up in our neighborhood... the once-a-year chance our city gives us to clear out our attics and basements of "junk" and have the city take it all to the dump. My next door neighbors have used this opportunity to clear out a HUGE amount of unwanted "stuff" left in their home by the previous owner. So we've had a front row view to the ever-growing pile of "stuff" they've brought out to the curb this week.

They say "One man's trash is another man's treasure"... and we've been witness to that this week as many folks have come by to pick through the mountain of random things and happily cart them away for who-knows-what-purpose.

As I watched out our front windows, I spied two older black rocking chairs someone put out at the curb... and I literally SPRINTED across the street to nab them for my front porch. My husband and I hosed them down and dried them off... and now they're looking soooo cute on "This Old House's" large front porch. I'm happy to say I now have a rainy day place to sit outside and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a friend!

Are YOU an avid recycler like me???... Please tell me I'm not the only one out there!!


** The painting "Every Day Is Earth Day" was created by me. You can find other whimsical & quirky paintings like this one in my Etsy shop, PholkartStudio!

Lake Life

 "Lake Life"

A few weeks ago, my husband and I packed up the car and headed to a long-awaited family time (post pandemic) at Lake Santeetlah in Western North Carolina. My son and his wife had recently purchased a lake home there, and we were so excited about seeing it for the first time!

To be honest, I had never heard of Lake Santeetlah before... and I've lived in North Carolina for nearly 35 years now! So I had no idea what to expect! To my delight, we discovered a GORGEOUS, very quiet and peaceful mountain lake with a little marina and a small public beach. Even though the new lake house is on the side of a big hill, there are flat roads that wind around the peninsula that even I, with my wonky knees, can easily enjoy walking on. And the views!... They are spectacular at every turn in the road!

As a mostly-city-gal, being out in nature at the lake was a breath of fresh air (literally!). The sky was a bright Carolina Blue... The water sparkled, reflecting the summer sunshine... The tall trees whispered in the breeze. It was just soooo peaceful and inspiring!

I'm grateful for opportunities like this to get away from my "normal life" and travel not-so-far from home to a beautiful place of quiet and rest, surrounded by Mother Nature. My soul felt refreshed from our time away... and I look forward to returning again and again to this new "Happy Place!"


** The painting "Lake Life" was created by me. You can find other whimsical & quirky paintings like this one in my Etsy shop, PholkartStudio!

I'm A Dog Person!

"Good Dog!"

My husband Joe and I have been married now for 43 years... and over that time, we've had the pleasure of caring for five dogs... all very different in their personalities, but all very very lovable!

Our first dog came unexpectedly!... a cute Miniature Schnauzer named Jonathan. Friends of ours were going overseas as missionaries and were not able to take their dog along with them. So Jonathan came to live with us at our house. At the time, our oldest son Ben was only two years old, and I was definitely NOT looking for a dog! Ben was a handful!... an extroverted, busy, into-everything toddler with a mind of his own! When Jonathan arrived at our house, Ben made it his job to chase Jonathan around the house, trying to pull his tail. My job became running around after Ben trying to protect Jonathan!... Crazy Mom Life!! My mother-in-law was fond of saying that Jonathan was a "jaunty little fella"... and he really was! 

Next came Salem (named after our hometown, Winston-Salem). My husband saw her featured on the local news, a brand new puppy from the Humane Society. We took our boys over to see her and (of course!) fell in love with her! She was the runt of her litter... a chow mix with a beautiful auburn coat. What we didn't know at the time was that she had terrible separation anxiety, was very territorial and was dreadfully afraid of thunderstorms! When the mailman came to the door each day, she barked and barked in an effort to protect our home from outside invaders! Still, she was wonderful with our boys and was a great companion to them during their growing up years. Years later, Salem is probably the dog my sons both remember the best.

After both the boys had headed off to college and beyond, our house felt very empty. So I hunted online and found a black lab named Winnie at a lab rescue group here in North Carolina. Winnie was really sick when she was rescued. We suspect she'd been raised as a breeding dog, and when her usefulness as a puppy producer was over, she was abandoned. She had fleas and ticks and needed treatment for heartworms... but from the very first, Winnie was a "love bug!" Of all the dogs we've owned, I think I've been closest to Winnie. Joe traveled a lot during that time... and she was my gentle, faithful companion at home. There are some dogs who are more than just dogs... It seems like they see into your soul. And that's who Winnie was for me.

Jake came into our lives as a puppy... and boy was he difficult to train! We had gotten him through the same lab rescue group, and assumed he had at least some lab in him... but he started growing so fast that we soon suspected he wasn't a lab mix at all. I guess his silver gray coat should have clued us in! One of his litter mates had a DNA test, and it turned out that the puppy was a mix of Great Dane, Collie, Husky and German Shepherd... and not a drop of  Lab in him! So we assume that Jake has the same lineage. We took him to a local puppy training class and he failed miserably!... So Joe very diligently and patiently taught him to walk nicely on a leash, to come when called, and lots of other essential puppy tricks. Eventually Jake settled in here at home, and he's been a joy!... although his hard-headedness and ninety-five pound size continue to be a challenge at times. He's in love with the bunnies that sometimes hop around in our back yard, and can't get enough people attention when we have visitors. He's an extroverted dog in a home full of introverts!

We never planned to have two dogs at a time... but when both my parents passed away within nine months of each other, we brought their Labradoodle Shadow home to stay with us. Shadow was nine years old at the time.She had not received the care she needed at my parents' house. She was very overweight and unkept. We took her to our vet and learned she needed to have several teeth removed and that she had a thyroid condition that required medication. On top of that, she had arthritis that made it difficult for her to get around well. So, at the vet's suggestion, we put her on a diet and started walking her so she would shed some pounds. Twenty-five or so pounds later, Shadow is a frisky old lady who loves to play with Jake out on our deck. Shadow has never met a food she didn't want to eat, so we always need to keep a watch to be sure she doesn't steal Jake's food. She seems to have an inner alarm clock that tells her it's 5:00 and time for dinner. It has taken a while, but now she's perfectly comfortable and happy at our house.

There have been so many joys for us in caring for the different dogs God has brought into our life!... but there has also been sadness as we've had to say goodbye to some too due to sickness and age. That's the hard part about being a dog owner... You risk having your heart broken when they need to leave this earth. Still, I know that for me the risk of hurt is far outweighed by the joy I've found in loving our dogs! I'm grateful for each waggly tail and sloppy kiss I've received by being willing to be a Dog Mom!

Are you a Dog Person too???... I'd LOVE to hear about your furry friends!!

Big Changes And Finding Inspiration

"Tiny Mermaid"

Life has been happening around our house as my husband Joe and I get ready for his retirement in August. I almost can’t believe it’s actually happening... but it IS!! We’re both looking forward to living according to our own timetable and seeing what each new day brings!

After hunting and searching for a one story house that might "fit" our next stage in life, we finally decided that nothing quite felt like home to us after all. And so we decided to do some major renovations on "This Old House" where we've lived for 34 years now. Much more on that later as we work through the process of making changes around here!

With so much on my mind, I’ve found it hard to find inspiration for new paintings lately. I’ve been sketching quite a bit, but nothing has seemed quite right to actually transfer to a canvas and paint. So I decided to paint one of my tiniest canvases with this cute mermaid.  It felt important to keep creating... and she was not very intimidating to paint. Just a little project to get my creative juices flowing again!

What do YOU do when you find yourself without inspiration???... What are your tips for getting back to creating again? I'd LOVE to know your secrets!!

Until next time... HAPPY CREATING!!

 

Do Artists Blog Anymore???

 "Cat Loves Bird Loves Cat"

Long, long ago (January 1st, 2006 to be precise!) I started my very first blog. I called it Simple Blessings... an arty blog that gave me the opportunity to capture my everyday thoughts and feelings and illustrate them with my doodles. Really, it was the first place where I shared my art publicly... and that was a very BIG deal back then for this shy, introverted artist!

I learned a lot from that blog!... the value of telling my story, even the small seemingly insignificant things.... that I really DID like to write... that it was worth it to take the risk and put myself and my art "out there," even when it wasn't perfect. I "met" other art bloggers and for the first time, developed a sense of creative community. And I even learned a little bit of HTML too!

Eventually, I decided to stop posting in SimpleBlessings and I started the PholkartStudio blog instead. If I remember correctly, I ran into "technical difficulties" with the darker background and white type I'd used in my old blog. Another lesson for me on the blogging learning curve!

I can't say that I was a regular blogger back then... but I did post quite a lot whenever the mood struck over the years. And it always gave me JOY!

Fast forward to the present...

Instagram became the "next great thing" and it seemed like art bloggers were abandoning their blogs in favor of this very visual (and fun!) platform. I held off on jumping on the Instagram bandwagon for a while... but eventually I caved and hopped on Instagram too. And my blog was put aside and got very DUSTY!!!

But lately I've been feeling the pull to get back to blogging. I quit Facebook a while back (that' a whole 'nother story!) and Instagram just isn't feeding the writer in me. I guess I miss blogging... but I'm wondering...

Are there any Art Bloggers out there anymore???

I sure hope so, 'cause I'd really love to find them!

** The painting "Cat Loves Bird Loves Cat" was created by me. You can find other whimsical & quirky paintings like this one in my Etsy shop, PholkartStudio!