Art Swapping is like a Mini Christmas

Back this summer when I was putting brush to canvas I did this little didy.

This was for an art swap that the Sketch Book project over in Brooklyn was doing. Basically it was like a pen pal but instead of a letter you swapped a painting. They also gave us a post card with a few questions about ourselved that would go along with the piece of art work.

I wanted to do something that would say a little bit about myself and showcase the kind of art that I do. Vanity won out and I did a self portrait of sorts. Of course I had to include Monster and Elvira!

After I sent my piece off I started wondering "What kind of art will I get?" "Will it be of a similar style" It was all quite exciting to ponder. Then I got selfish. My thoughts shifted to "What if I get a canvas with nothing more than a crude stick figure on it of a square painted in the center, I'll be mad." Not that my canvas was a master piece by any means, but I did put forth effort and spent several hours on the piece in hopes that the recipient would be proud to have it. Then I turned greedy! I thought "What if the piece I get is by some famous artist and it turns out to be worth MILLIONS!! HAHAHAH!"

Well time went by and ever so often I'd wonder again what I'd be getting in the mail. Then it came just when I had almost forgotten about the swap. It was like a little mini Christmas day. As soon as I got in my door I grabbed the kitchen shears and cut open my envelope. Whew hoo! I love it! It was a painting just like I would like to buy from some one. 

The artist of my piece is Kelly Jo Shows. I emailed her and found her work on line. You must check her out, she is a true talent. You can find her works at http://www.fearnoart.net/. Take a look at her Artist's Shoes collection.

Also check out the Sketch Book project on line. They always have great activities for artists going on.

Cheers!

Running ragged and loving it.

Yeah... well...
Where to begin?
I you've not heard a peep from me in some time.

I swear I need another me to do all that I need or want to do.

However most of my "need to dos" are really just things that I want to do.

I'm blessed to have a job that has a regular 8 hour work day. I am not sure though who thought 8 hours was a good amount of time to work each day.

My work commute is rather short.

I don't have any children to tend to.

I have a tiny apartment so there's no need for hours of house keeping.

Yet I do not know where my time goes.

This summer I was out and about enjoying every hour of warm daylight. A lot of this time was spent running. Not running errands, just running, like for exercise.

Last year when I got into the New York City marathon I started logging in some good miles. Sandy cancelled that marathon. In the mean time I had won free entry into the Miami Marathon in February of 2013- so I just kept on training right through the winter. Then Lee decided he wanted in on the action and he signed up for the Nashville marathon. Of course there was no sitting back watching him have all the fun so I decided to do that one too.

I could have stopped there but noooooo. I decided I should try to get into the San Francisco women's Nike marathon. Now this was purely for the bling. At the finish line you get a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver necklace designed just for the event. Not only that but hunky firemen await you with these trays of necklaces. Well I got into that race too. I was a bit nervous as I still had the New York marathon to complete only 2 weeks after San Francisco.

These are the hunky firemen

The bling

Anyway the New York marathon came and went a few weeks ago. It was every bit as fabulous as I had dreamed!

Going for the "WIN"

Yay! Done!

Oh and I forgot to mention... I also did The Oakly's 10K run, Giants 5K run, a Warrior Run, the 5th Avenue mile run, the Tunnel to Towers 5K, the Hobokken City Challenge, the Brooklyn 10K, the Staten Island half marathon and the Philly half marathon all completed since June 2013.

I'm not telling you this to toot my own horn. Well maybe a little, I'm kinda proud I can run these distances. After all, I'm the former "fat kid" that couldn't even run a mile during my youth.

This is my favorite runner meb keflezighi. I like him because he is nice and can run FAST!

 

 

 

He waved at me at the NYC Marathon Opening Ceremonies.

I have just come to love running, and yes, I may have went a little overboard this year. That being said it has left me no time for creating much of anything. Now my mind is paying the price. I'm itching and squirming to make/paint something.

Tell me how you handle the day to day and still have the time to create.

CHEERS!