I am deeply honored!!!

Today, a fellow member of VAST (Visual Arts Street Team) - one of my online art groups, featured me on her blog titled "What Shoes I Wear".

It's a wonderful blog and I always enjoy reading her posts and interviews. With an artists creativity, she interviews other artists and features a few of their art pieces, a picture of the shoes that represent them and a full length interview!

Please come read and comment on this blog that has just featured an interview with me!

http://www.whatshoesiwear.blogspot.com/

And thank you Janyce!

Zazzle - my newest adventure

My newest pastime, when I'm not painting or jewelry making - is creating fun items printed with my original artwork on Zazzle! I really prefer it to CafePress and have even created a 2009 Calendar! Come check out my shop there... rate a few items... leave me a message!

And I'm just getting started... adding new items every day. Have a request??? Let me know!




create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Question #1 - Artists who inspire me the most

"A Tribute to Van Gogh"
(c) M Pruitt 2007

Question: "What Artists inspire you the most?"

Great question!

I would have to say - the number one artist that inspires me is Vincent Van Gogh.

I had never been all that interested in his art - he often went a little too unrealistic in his impressionism for my logical brain.

But it wasn't until the day that I visited the Toledo Museum of Art that I really became interested in Van Gogh. I am a fan of the impressionists so of course, I insisted we start there - not knowing how my energy would hold up!

I knew I would be seeing a real Monet, several Cezanne's and a Van Gogh among other famous artists. But I did not expect the impact that Van Gogh's painting would have on me.

I walked up to it - a simple painting of a wheat field, with harvesters and rolls of wheat - but as I looked at that painting - there was so much feeling in this beautiful simple, yet complex painting, that tears began to well up in my eyes. I eyes were glued to that painting and I returned to it several times that day.

Later, I learned more about Van Gogh and his life. We remember him as the crazy man who cut off his ear. But he was really a man who couldn't find his place - partly because he was different and partly because society rejected the beautiful gift he was able to offer God and humankind!

I was really touched by the story his life. His father was a preacher, and he too went into the ministry. He loved and wanted to serve people, but he was a quiet man - and not well spoken. Yes, he was gifted, but not with the gifts that were valued by the church of that time. He was let go from his position and was set adrift. He spoke through his painting - calling out to God and mankind through his art.

I could go on with more of his story - but this last thing is what inspires me from Van Gogh's difficult life as an artist. He spoke to God and he spoke to people through his art. I knew it the moment I saw that first painting! That's what brought tears to my eyes.

Someone can be a good artist but not give a care about God or people. And we stand and look at that art and are interested and even amazed at the ability.

But an artist that paints speaking to God... an artist that paints with a deep love for people... his/her art moves the heart and soul of the viewer!

And that's the kind of artist I want to be!

I may come back to this question, because there are several more artists that really inspire me... but this is a long enough blog for now! :-)

Watch soon for the answer to Quest #2!

AND ... I added a new gadget to my blog! You can become a "Follower" . What does that mean? It means that my blog will show how many people like to follow up on what's happening on my blog and, if you have a blogger account, you get to see snippets of each blog you are following so you know when you might want to read them! So if you'd like, add your self to my Follower's list!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Art Sweet Blog Feature

Today, I am the featured artist on Art Sweet - a blog that features ImageKind artists!!!

If you have a few min, come by and see the blog and leave a message! I feel very honored to be chosen!

ART SWEET Blog click here

Friendship

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:10

(c) M Pruitt 2008
for sale on Etsy

I've been thinking about friendship a lot lately. Being so isolated due to my illness has changed the the way I can relate to my friends and the type of friendship I can have. But it hasn't changed the fact that I need friends. And it hasn't changed the fact that I have friends.

But the friendships have changed.

I have new friends - very close friends - though we only talk over the internet and never meet face to face (well... I met one face to face last year! ) :-) Some, are sick like me so we can go a long time without talking depending on how each of us is doing physically, but when we do get back to our emails and chat - we pick up right from where we left off.

Some of my new online friends are artists, some are Christians, and some are both. Some are older than me, many are my own generation, and some are much younger than me! None of these friends are stuck at home, in a relciner chair like me, but we network, and chat and have a good time together! Sometimes they get busy and we don't talk for quite a while, but when we do get back to our emails and chat - we pick up from where we left off too!

Some friends loyally send me mail. Some say "Hi" on MySpace and Facebook. Some call me and tell me they will be out and about today and ask if I need anything from this or that store. One friend brought a whole teatime to me! Some email me pictures of their ultrasounds, some buy my art, some leave me messages here on my blog.

The other day, a friend did something unexpected and very touching. In the middle of a busy room, she detected my distress as I tried to act normal going through the process of my parental responsibilities. She quietly walked up from behind, and whispered "It doesn't look like you're doing very well today." I tearfully admitted I wasn't. She didn't say anything, but quietly bowed her head and softly prayed for me. Then she went on with her work. I was deeply touched.

Many of my friends write me emails and ask for prayer or advice. I love that. Friends share their good news and their bad news. Friends serve each other - in whatever ways they can. Friends recognize the efforts of the other - even when it falls short of what they had hoped for. Friendship is giving and receiving!

And distance - either time or physical - never destroys friendship. I have a friend who is very near and dear to my heart, but she and I haven't spoken in, probably two years. Not because of problems, but just because of our life's circumstances. I sent her an email the other day, and immediately, we were back to the same friendship we'd enjoyed years before!

No matter what... a friend is a friend forever! Friendships may have huge times of separation, or change as life changes - but a true friend is always a friend!

To all my friends from long past days - friends I haven't talked to in a long time - to my newest online friends, I want you to know that I love you and value your friendship and the memories we share.

This piece of art I created this weekend is dedicated to you!

FlutterBear Hug

I was tired. I was sick. Everyone in my family left for their activities. I felt a little bit like Donkey in the movie "Shrek"

"I need a hug!"

So I sat down and told God just that!

He didn't show up in physical form at my request, (though it might have terrified me if He had - hee hee), so I told Him I wanted to spend the evening with him. I picked up my roving and needles and began playing around - doing a little felting. Suddenly and idea came to me. I began work for real, and God and I had a wonderful evening together!

There is an art contest on eBay called Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC). There is a monthly theme, and artists from all around eBay come and create something for the theme. Everyone lists their art on the same day - the 20th of the month and everyone lists for the same price - 99 cents! Then the artists who get the most unique bidders wins!

This month's theme is "Combine 2 Animals into 1"

The sudden idea I had was to create a needle felted teddy bear with butterfly wings. A FlutterBear! I created him with wide open arms - ready for a hug! He even has butterfly antennae!



I had a great time creating this - my first needle felted sculpture! I don't think it will be my last! God did give me a hug in His own way. He wrapped his arms around me and spent the evening with me, and for that, I very thankful!

BTW - FlutterBear could make a fantastic Valentines day present! The auction ends Sunday February 27 at 4:00pm. Click Here to view the auction for "FlutterBear Hug"

Ballet Art

"Ballerina"
(C) M. Pruitt 2008

Remember - just a month ago - how many blogs I did on Ellen dancing in The Nutcracker? Well, several of the dancers in her Ballet Company allowed me to us them as models for my paintings. This is the very first Ballerina I've painted. It's an 8.5"x11" impressionistic watercolor.

I was really excited to share it with all of you who cheered me on physically through The Nutcracker, enjoyed my experience with me and prayed for me during those weeks. The fun continues!

Thanks for stopping by!



NOTE: The picture has been updated because I've made some changes to the painting 1/24/08

It's now for sale in my eBay store

A Time of Change

We had a wonderful family Christmas.

But before you know it - it's January, and January has brought many changes.

~Bill and I had an empty nest on New Years Eve!
~Marie spent her New Years Eve in Mexico!
~We had a staff lunch that I was able to go to and had a wonderful time chatting with some of the friends I rarely see!
~I went out to coffee with a very dear friend!
~Chris turned 15!

And then... I collapsed. I felt the change coming... I fought it off... taking extra meds for those "special" occasions. But by the evening of January 3, I had begun to feel almost like I did 15 years ago when I needed a blood transfusion after Christopher's birth.

I've rested - rallied a bit - tried to carry on, but the fatigue was determined to win. I'm back to a low point. Why? We may never know. What can I do about it? I wish I knew.

What does a "low point" feel like? I can hardly describe it. My brain feels like half of it leaked out and the rest is swirling in my head. I get goosebumps up the back of my legs. I sweat, then I run a fever. I'm so tired I almost cry - not from sadness - just from being so tired. And yet, I have sleepless nights. Or if I do sleep, I awake feeling as tired and sick as when I went to bed. Sometimes noise bothers me. Sometimes lights bother me. My body hurts all over.

I had a wonderful 8 weeks of feeling better and enjoying The Nutcracker and my family, going to church and all the assorted visits and outings I had. And for that I am so grateful!!! I am disappointed to be where I am now, but not surprised. I'm beginning to understand how this illness works and how to enjoy the good times, and then readjust when the hard ones return.

I find art very hard to do during this time of fatigue - but I keep doing it little by little. I've accomplished three unique pieces since Christmas! The first is an ACEO (2.5"x3.5") in Oil Pastel (a new medium for me). The second is an 8.5"x11" Watercolor and the last one, I just completed yesterday, is a new needle felted ACEO.

"Inspiration" (C) M Pruitt 2008
NFS

"The Crows at St. Hubert's" (C) M. Pruitt 2008
For Sale on Etsy

"Hugs and Kisses" (C) M. Pruitt

SOLD

Thank you to all of you who visit me here, pray for me, rejoice with me and mourn with me. I am so grateful for all of you!

I'll try to keep you updated on any new developments in my life and art!

What I Learned from Leonardo Da Vinci

Some of you read both my personal blog and my art blog. But for those who don't, I am still so moved by doing this painting that I wanted to share this blog with you. So I have basically copy and pasted my Da Vinci blog here. I hope you enjoy it.



Another month - another Master's challenge on Watercolor's Wet'n Wild (my eBay watercolor group). And - oh my... it's Leondardo Da Vinci!!!

I love Da Vinci's ability to capture a "real" person in his paintings. Of course, his Mona Lisa is the most famous, but I must admit she never really intrigued me. (I know that may be because I have never seen her in real life.)

But a couple of years ago - my kids and I were studying World History and using a literature based curriculum. We read "The Second Mrs. Giaconda" - which tells the story of Da Vinci and how he might have come about painting the Mona Lisa. There is a lot of speculation on who she is and why Da Vinci painted her!

I was daunted by this WnW challenge... I don't paint portraits! I've tried a few - which turned out OK - but also proved that I need a lot more understanding and learning before I could ever paint a good portrait.

But, before giving up, I decided to search the web for images of his paintings. What interested me even more were his sketches. I knew he did sketches - many of them... but how interesting to try to do a "sketch" type of watercolor! Still... I can't do faces... so that seemed a little out of my reach.

Then I found a sketch that made me stop and gaze. It was a very sweet - gentle, woman's face. After a minute of marveling at her beauty - I noticed something peculiar!

The eyes were off....

One eye was looking at the viewer and the other eye was like a lazy eye - looking off to the left.

I was born with two eyes that are not coordinated - they work individually, on their on. This means that I am usually only really looking with one eye! The other eye often travels off and rests because I'm not using it.

If I hadn't had 5 surgeries as a young child, I'd be blind in one eye now. But instead, the surgeons worked on the muscles, and I had eye therapy - teaching me to use both eyes and I can still see out of both eyes. They do still travel off - especially if I am sick or very tired. But I can see fine!

But the "seeing" is only one part. As a little girl, I knew that my strange eyes threw people off (still do) - they don't know where I'm looking or who I'm looking at - and often I felt self conscious and ugly. My dimples - I thought - were my saving factor.

So I began to work on a watercolor painting that would look like this sketch (doubting I could really do it.) I created an old paper background with various watercolor paints including Buff Titanium which is opaque and Antique Gold which leaves the slightest shimmer under it's brown tone. Then I began to sketch. I was surprise how easy it was - like God's hand was in mine.

I finished it off with strokes of mixed colors to look "sketch-like" and then added some thin brushes of color for effect. I shaded with the typical Paynes grey - but overlaid that with Antique gold.

Here is the result:




It's an ACEO - 2.5"x3.5"

As I finished it - I began to cry. I realized - the beauty wasn't in her eyes - or her features at all... but in the gentleness rising out of her heart. This is what Da Vinci saw and painted in almost everyone one of his portraits. In his paintings - the Mona Lisa included - it's the beauty of the heart of the woman he was painting that shines through!

"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God"
~1 Peter 3:4-5~

I was reminded of true beauty as I completed this painting. And the tears that welled up were because I knew - once again - that God's light in my life - creating a gentle and loving heart - made me beautiful again... even with eyes that look a little strange!

I pray that you too may experience what I experienced - a reminder of what makes one truly beautiful!

~Melanie