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February 14th, 2012

A strangeness abounds with the arrival of Valentine’s Day. In last week’s Tutorial Tuesday I included you as I jested my husband with subtle reminders of V-day’s rapid approach.  Now that it’s come, and people all across the world have long-since woken and come awake to celebrate in their respective ways — this depending on whether the holiday strikes a melodic or dissonant chord — I was pleased to rouse from slumber and find that nothing about this day differs from the one previous.

My husband’s clothes still lay in a pile on the floor in the bathroom, his toiletries strewn about on the counter. The Dear Prince wakes at 5:30 each day for work, and I consider it my blessing to follow the breadcrumbs he’s left for me upon his soporific trek through our bedroom.

I texted my girlfriends, wishing them a wonderful day and telling them that I love them. Something I do nearly every other day.

My sweet pup was no more or less excited to see me this morning, ascending onto her hind-legs the moment I released her from her cave — IE: the bathroom — as she was on Sunday.

My coffee was where it always is: beside the stove with the filter and grounds still suctioned to that thingy you pour the boiling water into. It is no special occasion to find my coffee made every single morning — only very special.

I still took fifteen minutes before beginning my day to read over the greatest love letter ever written, scripture, and thanked Him for another day to bless and be blessed.

What I’m saying is, that while Valentine’s day provides another opportunity to share your love and affection with those dearest to you, it should only be “another” opportunity. Gifts, candy, flowers — those things are nice; however, they are but sugar cubes, welcomed sweetness into a cup of acrid coffee or pungent tea, but left on its own, all too cloying and unsavory. I love me some sugar, but I love me some meat, more.

Thank you for listening. I thought about creating two separate posts for today, but if you’re anything like me, you enjoy and take pride in getting around to everyone’s posts to leave a thoughtful comment, and two in one day can feel a little overwhelming.

Onto the tutorial!

Today is a little different, so I’ll ask you to maybe keep an open mind. Normally the things I show you how to do, in my humble opinion, I am fairly proficient at; this, not so much. You see, last week as I prepared to work on editing the book, I quickly realized that it just wasn’t happening. My brain was fried, and as much as I wanted to make progress, I was spending nearly 5 minutes on 1 gosh-darn sentence. Begrudgingly, I closed up shop for the day, but soon thereafter remembered a project I had stowed away in the back of my mind for a day such as this. I was aching for some creative outlet; it simply wasn’t going to involve prose.

I would not consider myself an artist. Artistic, perhaps, but not a proverbial artist. However, and I could be wrong, but wouldn’t you agree that the varying mediums of art tend to somersault into one another? For example, is it not uncommon to find out that someone who writes, also enjoys photography as a hobby or profession? Someone who dances often times designs jewelry or perfume? Those who use textiles and color to create masterpieces also dabble in writing scripts or theater workshop. Those who draw do so while singing. There is a indisputable connection among art-forms, wouldn’t you say?

So, maybe it wouldn’t be all that surprising to learn that I sing? I do. I sing.

This is the album cover for a CD released this last Christmas entitled “Coast Highway Christmas” I sang harmonies on two songs: “Do they Know it’s Christmas” and “The First Noel” If you’re interested in listening click here http://www.coasthighwaychristmas.com/products.html and you can listen to a sample for free. A while ago I posted about this awesome project, but I think had about 4 followers at that time. I’ll say only that Jim Hitchcock, the man behind the idea to fully fund a CD venture and donate all the proceeds to cancer research, is an amazing musician and man.

I am not going to sing for the tutorial, just in case you were wondering. Though, I may just try my hands at vlogging one of these days.

Today  . . .  today we paint! Again, let me reiterate and say that I do not consider myself to be a painter. There are those that follow this blog that I would be abhorred to claim such a thing in your presence. This was just for fun, and I want nothing more than to share my step-by step process using ridiculously shotty, unprofessional materials. And, to encourage you to break outside your comfort zone. Nothing wondrous and inspiring ever happened from people who uttered those four tenebrific words “I can’t do it.” You can do it, but you have to try first.

My materials:

Canvas (I believe its 12×14)

Paint (I had 8 or so colors from previous projects — I made due)

Paintbrushes (I bought this set for downwards of $5)

Pallet (I actually use this to display my eye-shadows. A plate will work fine.)

Cotton balls

Paper towel

Rinsing Cup

I apologize that the pictures are a little dark; I wanted to be outside and enjoy the art going on right outside my door.

After searching around on Pinterest, I had a vague idea of what I wanted to paint. First I would need to color the entire background. I chose this royal blue, using a cotton ball to saturate the canvas. I liked the effect — streaky, and it left clumps which I found added to the depth and dimension of the piece.

Behold! A blue canvas!

Next, I took a moist paper towel and dipped it in gray paint, smudging it along the edges.

Using the same paper towel, I added splotches of green paint, then created land with brown paint.

Let’s play a game! Can anyone find the incongruous item? I’ll give you a hint: it’s yellow and purple, and a size 9.5 :)

My tree begins to take shape.

Kinda pretty, yes?

I love Cherry Blossoms, and so it was decided that I make a Cherry Blossom tree. This hot pink is fabulously vivid and worked perfectly. My method of implication: Globbing.

I got hungry. Cinnamon Toast Crunch to the rescue. Yup, that’s a Yogurtland spoon. I have many vices.

The finished product? What do you think? I’m actually quite pleased with how it turned out. My plan — hope — is to give it away. My friend George and I were discussing the other day how giving gifts is often times twice as fun as receiving them. I’m just waiting for someone to come along and say “Oh, that’s a pretty picture.” And then I can shout in exultation ”It’s yours!”

Thanks for hanging out with me today.

Until next time . . .

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