Zentangle

Well it turns out the doodling that I used to do when I was a late teen actually has a name...'Zentangle'. I never knew until yesterday when a friend posted a link about it...which of course inspired me to get busy with pen on paper for the rest of the afternoon! The first time I've done one of these in over 20 years! Made me feel like I was a teenager again! Also made me go quite cross-eyed trying to focus on the designs I was doing!! lol
Anyway, here it is...my first 'Zentangle' since I was a kid..and I've already got the next one started.
They look quite effective don't they.

Messy Canvas - You Are an Artist. What Will You Create?

I clicked on the link provided by a fellow facebooker today. It mentioned something about a free eBook that had something to do with art..I wasn't busy with anything else so thought I'd have a peak to see if it was worth reading...and I am so glad I did!

The eBook is created by Mandy Steward who is an Artist and runs her own blog called 'Messy Canvas'. She's struggled with having belief in herself...having the courage to 'just do it'...and finally feeling comfortable enough to call herself 'Artist'. <~sound familiar??
It certainly does to me!
I am always finding 'excuses' to not believe in myself. Telling myself I'll never be good enough, I'll never make a name for myself, that people won't like anything I do, that I don't have anywhere near the talent one needs to be considered an Artist, and that there are so many people out there who are so talented and creative that I end up feeling like I'm just a tiny speck of dust,  that I might as well just give up 'cos I ain't gonna make it anyway'!

If you've ever felt that way you definitely should read this eBook. Its free (so generous) and very inspiring. I'm going to read it again..and again... I think I might even put some notes up around my craft room, some little quotes from her book, little sayings to help remind me that I should believe in myself and that I shouldn't give up...and that I don't need to be perfect!! Tell myself to "just relax and enjoy the ride Shirley!"

Here is the link so you can download it too...Messy Canvas eBook
Oh..and if you decide you'd actually like to own a 'real book' version of it..well now you can do that too. Just look for the link on the blog.
:oD

"  Life isn't about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself."   
- George Bernard Shaw

Art makes the Heart Sing

Thought I'd share this little painting that I did last week. It's the quickest painting I've ever done! It was done over two days in between doing all the normal boring cooking, cleaning, working stuff...
Now 2 days might sound like a long time to some people..but for me..(the person who takes forever to do a painting because I fuss too much!!)..2 days is amazing!!
Anyway here it is..just a little 7" x 9" Mixed Media piece.

'Art makes the Heart Sing'  - Mixed media on canvas board

 :oD