Still working hard for the upcoming exhibit. I'm not sure about this piece. I like it, but I don't know if I'm going to exhibit it. It might just end up in my house somewhere. I had a week of slow paced work, but now I have tons of work to do. My students have three art competitions to prepare for which means I have matting to do, I want to make at least fifty pieces of jewelry for the exhibit and I was hoping to finish one more painting. To top it off I've been informed that I have to attend four prof. development sessions at work.

All this plus finish putting the exhibit together.

As if I don't have enough to do, I applied for graduate school yesterday. To be honest with you I'm quite excited about returning to school, it's been something I've been thinking about for some time. God help me, I hope I can pull it off.

Happy Birthday to me!

It's my birthday tomorrow! I celebrated today since it's back to work tomorrow and my honey is going out of town on business. I love being surrounded by my family. My mom had her surgery and everything is going fine, she was sitting right next to me as they sang the "Mananitas". Singing this song is a family tradition and the water works began as soon as they sang the first notes. This should also be the last picture with my braces on.

MY BRACES ARE COMING OFF ON FRIDAY!!!

Am I going to do anything different this year? Yes, I promised myself to live with passion and look towards the horizon. I've finished a total of four paintings in two months, I'm starting a small series of paintings tomorrow and I have an idea for three others for the summer. My jewelry will also have my full attention. The exhibit is two months away!!

As for my family, well they are my first priority. My kids are my life.

Happy Birthday to me!

My New Painting

I've been working every day on my paintings trying to finish my pieces for the exhibit I'm participating in. This particular piece is of my cat, Frida. I don't know what possessed me to paint my cat, but I have to admit that I really like the finished product. This is Frida's "sitting" pose. The day I decided to make this painting she sat in this pose for quite a while. I had enough time to take several pictures and sketch out my idea. You think she knew I was about to make a portrait of her? I doubt anyone will want to buy it, but that's o.k because I already picked out a place for this painting in the house. Now I have one more painting to do. I want to do a small abstract painting, but I have no real ideas yet. I'm also thinking of making some small drawings....hmmm, where's the dog?

Word for the New Year

The art swap for my art group (UVAS) this month was to create a work of art that incorporated a word that symbolizes the new year. The paintings that were revealed were amazing. I ended up with a wonderful piece and I hope the receiver of my piece appreciated mine. If you would like to see everyone's pieces you can do so by going through the link on the right.

The word that I chose was "horizon". I was sitting on a bus with several art teachers and art students on route to Santa Fe. I was admiring the desert landscape and the word just came to me. Horizon. I just have to keep looking towards the horizon. In our lives we try so hard to keep going forward but life has a way of throwing curve balls your way. Unfortunately, I have started the new year on a sour note. It's the first time I have begun a year feeling so down. The things happening to me are mostly out of my control. My mom is having surgery next week, a colleague took his life, a person I admire very much lost her battle to cancer. Two memorial services on the same day. I didn't go to either one of them, I just couldn't. To make matters worse, my job, along with the job of all of my colleagues, is in danger thanks to the TAKS tests. One of our sub groups at our school is not meeting state standards in math and the school may have to be restructured. My money is gone as soon as I get it...the list goes on and on.

I must keep looking towards the horizon. What will be, will be. It is also fitting that the word that I received was "change". That is what I feel like, I am going through change. Unwanted change, but change none the less.

Trees

I've been painting like a mad woman since school let out. I've been able to complete two paintings, both inspired by trees. I was looking at clouds for inspiration and instead settled on trees. I took several pictures of a tree in Santa Fe and even though they don't seem like it, both paintings are based on the same tree. I have another painting of a tree that I completed last year, it even appeared in our local newspaper. I don't know why I've been so intrigued by trees lately. Hopefully I will be inspired by something new soon. Both of these paintings are for the UVAs' exhibit in March. I have two more paintings that I still need to complete. Unfortunately I am at a loss at to what the next two paintings should be of.

I tried to put a water mark in front of the pictures, but I just couldn't figure it out. I was able to put my name in the front, but then I couldn't get the pictures to upload. Well, I guess that is my next project, getting more familiar with photo shop. In case I don't have a chance I will go ahead and wish you a Happy New Year. I hope the new year brings you closure, renewal and rebirth!

Tamales

My family has been making tamales for as long as I can remember. I think I learned how to make them around the same time I learned how to walk. Every Christmas Eve we come together and make our tamales. We make red chili, green chili and candy tamales. It just wouldn't be Christmas without them. This year I took on the role of "head chef". This was once my grandmother's role, then my mom and this year she announced she wanted me to take over the tradition. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous, I wanted everything to be perfect. Thankfully the tamales came out great! My daughter also took a more active role in making tamales. I'm glad because hopefully one day she will take over the tradition.

I hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas.

clouds

Here in El Paso we get rain when the sun is out. Have you ever seen it rain in a sunny day? The raindrops glow in the sun. It is one of my favorite things about El Paso. When I was flying in from New Orleans last spring these clusters of clouds caught my attention. They were extremely large, several stories high and some of them were dropping rain at different locations. My pictures do them no justice but I wanted to share them with you. I have been looking for inspiration for my next painting and I remembered these clouds, I'm leaning towards an abstract interpretation. I'm also leaning towards some trees....

Bra Purse

I have a group called the UVAs (Union de Viejas Artistas), we are female artists and art educators. We meet once a month to reveal our monthly art swap. We also do workshops and have art exhibits. We did the Bra Purse in honor of breast cancer awareness month in Oct. I just uploaded the pictures and I want to share a few of them. I think the ladies did an awesome job! This is one of the best swaps we've done and we've done some pretty good ones! Listening to some of the inspiration behind these creations added to the beauty of these purses. Next month's swap is to create an 11" x 14" mixed media painting inspired by the new year and must also include a word and definition that also describes the new year. Can't wait to see what the ladies come up with! If you would like to see more of our creations you may do so by using the link on the right.

I'm also very busy creating new pieces that I intend to take with me to Santa Fe very soon. Two more weeks for yet another break!

El Soldado/The Soldier

This is a new piece that I created with soldiers in mind. The image comes from a Loteria game card. This particular image is popular here in town because of Fort Bliss. This is the last one I have (for now). I am still bogged down trying to pick up my inventory, I have so many new ideas that I want to try out but havn't gotten to. I had planned to do it during my week off but I have no idea where the week went! Hopefully having a little more time during Christmas break will give me a chance to complete new pieces.

I am also in the works of putting together a new exhibit for my UVAs group. As soon as the holidays are over it will be full speed ahead trying to get this 20 women show together.

I spend so much of my time trying to take better pictures, all to no avail. I have now relinquished the task to my husband. Hopefully he will have better luck than me and I also hope to have more free time to do some jewelry making instead of fussing with the camera. These pictures are his first attempts.

This is "La Sirena" from the Mexican game Loteria! She is the most popular image from the Loteria game. I will be posting her to etsy soon.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out in blogland!