Mermaid as Muse Registration now OPEN!

I am so excited to announce this special artful weekend!  Friend and fellow artist Donna Hollowell and I will be hosting a 2-day Art Workshop you don't want to miss!! 

Mermaid as Muse!

Fill your cup! March Art Party/Workshop!

Fill your cup! (March Art Party/Workshop)

Registration now OPEN

Sometimes it feels as if we are running on empty.  It’s important to take time to fill our cups so that we can continue to fill the cups of others.  So take time to nurture yourself and fill your cup at my March Art Party/Workshop!  Join me on Sunday, March 13th from 4-7 p.m. as we sip and sample teas, coffees, wine and more while we create mixed media cups on canvas.  Cost for this 3 hour class is $45 and includes all instruction and supplies.  Please bring a drink or snack to share.  Register now, space is limited. To register, click on "Art Parties and Workshops" tab and scroll down to "buy now" button.

"Love lives here"

"Love lives here" is painting 7/50 in my "50 to 50 Challenge."  It is all about centering yourself in love and radiating that love to others.  May you feel loved and share that love with others.   May you live in a space that you feel loved, supported, nurtured and appreciated.  "Love lives here!"

xoxo ~jackie

Save the Date--BIG announcement coming soon!!!

Save the date (April 30th - May 1st)!  I am planning something extra special with Donna Hollowell of Deja New!  Stay tuned for our BIG announcement coming soon!!!

Exhale--breathe out fear and doubt, breathe in love and joy!

I got a little behind in my painting and posting for my “50 to 50 project.”  Here is painting 6/50 “Exhale”.  

This intuitive painting began one afternoon in December.  I was already stressing out about the holidays when my youngest daughter’s health issues flared up again.  We were led to believe that a surgery was in her near future.  I was in major freak-out mode and needed to de-stress, so I grabbed some paint and a blank canvas, turned on some music and let my mind rest and my heart play.   With intuitive painting, you don’t begin with a pre-conceived image or outcome.  You simply put brush, fingers, etc to the canvas and let your intuition and intentions guide the way.  It’s no surprise that what emerged for me after several layers was the word “exhale” — a message I desperately needed to hear at the moment.  It’s also no coincidence that the image that appeared bared some resemblance to my daughter.  

Luckily, just before Christmas we got the great news that my daughter did not need surgery!  Miracle or mistake—maybe a little of both.  Either way, my family and I were overjoyed and relieved!  We were able to put our stress (and my painting) aside and enjoy the holidays.  After enjoying a “second holiday” thanks to the recent blizzard, I was feeling like I was finally caught up on everything and that I could actually breathe again.  Then we had our follow up visit.  It was recommended that my daughter undergo another test, this one more invasive.  Even though it’s not a life threatening illness or a major surgery we are facing, as a mom, it is still very stressful.  Immediately I started to tense up and go into worry mode.  

It was time to go back to the canvas and finish what I started, or at least pick up where I left off.  Some new details and words emerged.  More reminders for me during this stressful time:  “breathe out fear and doubt, breathe in love and joy!”  Hopefully, I will be able to follow the message in my painting and focus on my breathing…remembering to Exhale…to breathe out fear and doubt and breathe in love and joy!  Hoping and praying that my daughter’s procedure will go well and that her health issues will soon be resolved!  Maybe this painting will bring comfort to her as well.  Not sure if I’m done with this painting or not, but for now I will set it aside and allow it to be a gentle reminder, knowing I can always return to it when I feel called.  Sharing this very personal story and painting a face (which I tend to avoid) were both big LEAPs for me (My word of the year).  Thank you for allowing me to share.  Remember to Exhale… xoxo jackie

Registration now CLOSED for February Art Party--Check back soon for information on the next Art Party!

Come fill your heART and join me for my February Art Workshop on Sunday, February 7th from 1-4 p.m. (For sports fans, there is still plenty of time to get creative before the big game--think of it as a pre-party!)

We will be creating mixed media hearts filled with love, gratitude, and whatever your heart desires!  Cost is $45 per person and includes all instructions and supplies.  Please bring a drink or snack to share.  Don't miss this opportunity to create a beautiful heART felt gift just in time for Valentine's Day! 

My Word of the Year (LEAP!) and how to choose your own WOTY:

Choosing your Word of the Year (WOTY):

What are your hopes and dreams for 2016?  What do you want to focus your time and energy on this year?  How do you want your life to look or feel?  What is the central theme of the year to come? By asking yourself these questions, you can come up with your own Word of the Year (WOTY).  Close your eyes and write down the first word that pops into your mind as you think of the year ahead.  Surrender and allow your word to come to you, with intuition as your guide.  Your word can be a noun, verb, or adjective.  It can even be a phrase or mantra.  Whatever you choose, it should be personal, powerful and meaningful to you.  If several words come to mind, make a list and visualize each one and how it applies to your personal vision for 2016.  Is there a theme that emerges?  Is there one word or phrase that stands out above the rest?  Go with that word and let it be your guide for 2016!

Once you decide on your WOTY,  make it visible!  Share your word with family and friends so they can help support you on your journey.  Write about it in your journal.  Create a canvas with your word front and center and display it where you will be reminded of your intention each and every day!  (This is the project and process I guided participants through at my recent Art Workshop: “Setting Your Intentions for the Year!” We also created a set of inspirational cards with our WOTY to save and share!)  Allow your WOTY to provide insight, inspiration, empowerment, affirmation, and validation throughout the coming year!  Use it as your guidepost in creating a year full of dreams come true!

My Word of the Year (LEAP!):

Several words jumped out at me this year, but one stood out above the rest.  I had a long list that included leap, launch, celebrate, possibility, aloha, collaborate, believe, wonder, release, and many more.  Some themes that emerged were letting go, new chapters, endings and beginnings.  I felt I needed a word that was active and intentional rather than passive.  I needed a word that could somehow capture the feeling and emotion I was already having about this BIG year ahead.  The word I kept coming back to was LEAP!  

2016 is a BIG year full of BIG changes and BIG emotions for me!  In addition to being leap year, and presidential election year, 2016 is the year my eldest daughter will graduate high school and go off to college, my youngest daughter will turn sweet 16, and I will turn the BIG 5-0!  In addition to the normal challenges of daily life, there is a whole sea full of change and uncertainty for me and my family to navigate this year.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I plan to do this by continuing to follow my heART.  Difficult decisions lie ahead and the unknown and uncharted waters can be scary.  Financial responsibilities will be increasing, family dynamics will be shifting, health issues will be resolved, and hopefully my art business will not only stay afloat, but will thrive.  We will be ending one chapter and beginning a new one .  I am trying to remind myself to leave fear and doubt behind and to LEAP forward and allow the “net to appear!”  To do this I need to have trust, faith, courage and support!  It’s going to be a BIG year and I am ready to take the LEAP!  I hope that you will join me!