Why Was This So Hard?

So, I finally finished 2 paintings today and 1 beaded headpiece. Nothing like the pressure of them needing to be done by Saturday to get me going. Still, they took so long! I am a zombie! Here is one of them. This is "The Goddess Diana in Spring". The Race for a Cure is tomorrow and I will be seeing my good friend Diana who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer after having her 2nd baby at the age of 32. She is now cancer free! At the time of her diagnosis, I did a painting for her of "The Warrior Goddess Diana".

I used to live in Greece and studied all kinds of Myth(I am forgetting stuff so sometimes I am getting the Ancient Greek and Roman Myths and Gods and Goddess mixed up-I know-pitiful)the Goddess Diana was thought to be the Queen of the Amazons who were the best archers and cut off their breasts in order to be the best. I told my own Diana it was her call to be a Warrior, an Amazon(where the inspiration for Wonder came from-who didn't want to be Wonder Woman? I still do!). So, in my first painting she is in warrior paints, armor, and is standing strong with a steely look of strength, ready for battle with her loyal greyhound.

But, this time I wanted to make a different painting for her. I wanted this Diana to put her bow and arrow down and her armor. There is definitely a time to fight and hopefully a time for rest, dancing and stopping and smelling the roses too. But, we all know we can be Warrior Goddesses when we need too. That doesn't mean we don't stop liking girly stuff and a pretty dress too! I wanted her to be dancing with the flowers of spring and with her beloved greyhound(who is often depicted by her side). So, finally, here is the "The Goddess Diana in Spring" followed by the first painting I did for her "The Warrior Goddess Diana"(she is wearing a Katinka Patinka inspired headpiece of fleurs, leaves and feathers too http://www.katinkapinka.etsy.com ).

And, it is always nice to see one of your pieces in a Treasury! I love this one by Fivesisters called "Banana Pudding". Fivesisters esty shop sells amazing beads so check it out http://www.fivesisters.etsy.com
I love Banana Pudding and she chose my piece "Venchenza" for her Treasury. Thanks so much Fivesisters! You really made my day/night and I love all the other pieces too-I want them all.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=53292

New Paintings

I have finished some new paintings. I did these super fast and it kind of shows. I am not so happy about how these turned out. I think I need a little break from art, but my break from art is doing art! I am hoping a friend who is the "Organization Fairy" can come and help me get my studio back together. I just went through a doll and shadowbox/collage/photography frenzy so I need to get everything back together!

The Holidays have been hard. This is the first year for me being single after several years of marriage. It is hard to figure out where I fit in. I was looking back on my yearly family portraits(that I always do around this time) and it is odd how things have changed. I look a little sad this year or maybe just different(ok, I am older-my face is sinking! As my mom said at my age, 'Wow! I have cheek bones!').

I am so happy to have all my Little cats(I call them 'The Littles') still with me-that is a huge gift as they are just such joyful creatures and so funny and loving. Here are some portraits from Christmas and Holidays past which mark my singleness, 2 cats, 3 cats and more, married and then back to single, but always with my little cats-grateful for my "Cat Children"!







And, here is this year's(with all 4 black cats-I started out with 1 and kept finding them as orphaned kittens. I guess I should introduce them in the order they showed up: 1)Pascal Pace Pascal Jean Paul Jean Paul, 2)Tobias Greenmoss, 3)Sister Blackberry Bijou-our only little girl! and 3)Glastonbury Suki Ribina-and, only 1 of them was black as a kitten-one was a bald kitten(!), one was gray and one was brown and cream striped so who knew!).

I am not so happy with it-I look mean! I want to somehow fix my face and I might as well add a "doo-dah" or fun headpiece or tiara on my head because if I can't wear one in a painting, when and where else can I? I suppose I should just wear one everyday and celebrate like the Fae Folk do!