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.