Mixed-media, 16X20 on canvas, $200 (US s&h $25)
11×14 art prints available in my shop

I’ve been in Frida mode this week.  I checked out a book from the library about her and then the hubby and I went to the Nickolas Muray and Frida exhibit at the art museum here in town.  Muray took many of the most famous portraits of Frida.

I am always inspired by Frida, so I thought I’d do yet another portrait of her. This painting is 16X20 inches on canvas, bigger than what I usually do.  I used my painted papers to make her flowery crown.

I will be making large limited edition prints of this painting and the original is for sale too.  Email me if you are interested.

I knew it would be perfect for a new summer tote.

I paired it up with denim to make it stronger and more durable.  It will also help to keep it from getting too dirty (I hope).

I have more fabric and hope to make a patchwork pillow for my bed someday.

I went to Portland over the weekend to see a couple of friends

and visit with my very sweet sister and niece. I was so nice to have some sister and niece time.

The weather could not have been more perfect!  I just realized that I have never been to Portland when it has been raining.

I had a really fun time and need to go there more often to visit. It is one of my favorite places.

Things I did…

* Had a great visit with Katy (KT40) and Michelle (Close2myArt).  Saw Michelle’s amazing staircase in person ~ WOW!
* Ate way too much good food…yummy donuts at Voodoo, lunch at Blossoming Lotus.
* Went to the Crafty Wonderland craft fair.
* Lots of walking and looking at fun little shops.

I’m feeling so much better today.  I had my massage yesterday and it was absolutely wonderful. It took me a while to relax, and the therapist had to keep telling me to “let go” over and over again. I don’t know why I was resisting so much. When I finally did let go, all the tension released. Ahhhhh…..

  When I got home, after the massage, I painted the above spread in my journal. A reminder to myself to relax, let go and find my center.

]]> http://blog.creativekismet.com/2012/05/07/relaxed/feed/ 5 http://blog.creativekismet.com/2012/05/05/art-journal-stress-relief/ http://blog.creativekismet.com/2012/05/05/art-journal-stress-relief/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 03:39:54 +0000 Creative Kismet http://blog.creativekismet.com/?p=5887 Continue reading →]]>

I’ve always had an unfortunate tendency to carry stress in my shoulders and back. Whenever I feel tense about a situation or person for an extended period, I can feel it build up and up until I can hardly bear it.

My shoulders feel like triple knots, shooting small bolts of pain down my right arm, head and lower back. Ugh!!

The minute I walk into my home though, half of my pain melts away and I can feel my body sigh in relief. I open up my art journal and a teeny bit more dissolves away as I get lost in colors and shapes. I am so happy I made time for this over the last few days.

Tomorrow, I’m taking the day off work to do a bit more self care. A long session of yoga for my back, time with my beautiful guys and an appointment with a massage therapist (a much needed gift from my hubby). I have a big week coming up and I want and need to be in tip-top shape.

They are painted on 2×2 wood blocks and will soon have a thin layer of encaustic wax on them.

I have a full work week, so my big list of things-to-do will have to wait. I do hope to squeeze in some evening art journal time though. A little de-stressing therapy, if you will. Wish me luck.

1. driving in AZ, 2. vintage vanity set at Grandma’s, 3. appletini, 4. ice tea, 5. OPEN, 6. vw, 7. Concert@the square, 8. granite creek path, 9. St. Michael’s Hotel

We took a little trip up north to see family and hang out with friends. The weather was beautiful and the company excellent.  We had a really wonderful time.

follow me on instagram @regina_creativekismet

I’m in the process of making more little art blocks with paintings of small houses. I love painting small like this and find it very comforting to work with small dabs of paint and teeny paint brushes. I have four more houses in the works.

I’ve also been very busy with several other projects that I hope to roll out over the next month, before school ends.

* Embroidery patterns for sale like this, this and this
* I’ll be running my Art of Giving e-course in June again, so if you missed it last time, stay tuned.
* Weekend workshop e-courses. Short and affordable, with projects that you can complete in one weekend or maybe a week.
* A”yART” sale to help clear up some space in my studio.
* and lastly, a very much needed update in my etsy shop next week!

New pages in my red rosin journal.

We spent the day at the botanical garden looking at all the beautiful butterflies in the butterfly house.

Hope your day was great too!