smARTist Telesummit 2009

Artists — Get Recognized, Exhibited, and PAID what you deserve!
Check out the smARTist Telesummit — The best art career conference online or off!

I participated in the smARTist Telesummit last year and learned so much from Ariane Goodwin's great line up of art and marketing experts! My personal growth has been incredible as a result of this amazing event. Truly a bargain, it equipped me with the tools and confidence I needed to build a better online presence. The very best group of tele-seminars I have ever taken, these engaged my creative spirit and energized my career. I'm so excited about the upcoming lineup of speakers and have already signed on for 2009! I highly recommend it to creative people and artists at all levels. ~ Sandy

"When you put your work in the world, shining, we all have another chance to see the deeper truth about who we are, and our collective, creative spirit." ~ Ariane Goodwin

Does Thanksgiving Dinner Make You Sleepy?

Is it the Tryptophan in the turkey that makes you tired?
This question came up at our Thanksgiving Dinner table yesterday and maybe it did at yours too.


According to this online article By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., Tryptophan & Carbohydrate Chemistry, it's not necessarily the tryptophan in the turkey that makes you sleepy after the Thanksgiving feast. Other factors such as over eating, alcohol intake and a high ratio of fats and carbohydrates are probably the major contributors. This overload requires the digestive system to work harder which increases the blood flow to to stomach, thus decreasing flow to the brain. Turkey actually contains only a small amount more of the chemical Tryptophan, than a lot of other foods. For example, Dr. Helmenstine states that turkey contains 0.333 g of tryptophan per 100 grams of edible portion, while chicken contains 0.292 g of tryptophan per 100 grams of edible portion. So, I guess that answers your question, Chuck!


Many Thanks to Sally and Chuck for a wonderful day yesterday at the New Jersey shore!

Easy To Make Turkey

This is a photo of a little turkey decoration made by my now 16 year old Nephew, Cody Yates, when he was about six. I always make it a point to show it to him when he visits. It sure has held up well, considering it has been on display in my kitchen for all these years. Makes you wonder what they put in them things! Anyway, you may want to save some corn next Halloween and try it with your kids!

Finally...A Puppy!

My dad sent me this picture of Lynus right after we brought him home from the breeder. I was having a 9th birthday party, but I could have cared less. My life-long dream had come true! A PUPPY AT LAST! Can't you tell I'm all a-glow with that new motherhood look?!

Feed The Birds

Winter has come to the North East. It's a blustery 28 degrees outside. We had to hook up the horses' water trough heater this morning and give the birds fresh water because the birdbath was frozen solid. I' just finished another snowperson this morning while listening to my holiday tunes. I call this one "Feed the Birds". It's a whimsical painting with an important message! Please don't forget about our wild friends now that the weather's turned colder. They need us now more than ever.

Football Fun

We had snow flurries this morning. It didn't stick, but it was pretty while it lasted. I counted ten turkeys outside my studio window in the yard. The snow seems to bring them around. I put on Christmas CDs and really had fun painting my holiday feel-good art. Here's one of the ones I finished today. Yeah, go team!

Snowboarding Snowman

I decided it was time to paint something whimsical today. Happy paintings really do lift my spirits! So with snow flakes floating in the air, I started a new series of snowmen to keep me entertained. I've got some new and exciting sports related themes a cookin'!


This original watercolor "On The Slopes" was done earlier in the year and is available along with others from my snowman series, from the Rijks Gallery in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Quotations On Snowboarding by Dave Barry:

"Skiers view snowboarders as a menace; snowboarders view skiers as Elmer Fudd."

"I now realize that the small hills you see on ski slopes are formed around the bodies of forty-seven-year-olds who tried to learn snowboarding."

"Snowboarding is an activity that is very popular with people who do not feel that regular skiing is lethal enough."

The Obama Family's First Dog

The promise of a new puppy can be all consuming for kids and families. I know, as a child I begged my parents for years to get a dog. Walking neighbors' dogs every chance I got, with the help of my two sisters, we finally wore them down. We got our first dog, a dachshund that we named Lynus, on my 9th birthday. His registered name was Fritz's Revenge, after the Red Barron. Snoopy was very popular at the time and we had wanted a beagle, but there were no puppies to be had in the newspaper the weekend we took the plunge. Finally, the day had come and there was no stopping us! We got a puppy from the first and only breeder we visited. Here's a picture I took of my sisters, Denise and Gaile with Lynus. I've got my dad looking for a picture of me holding him as a tiny puppy which I'll post here when I get it.


The soon to be First Family seems to be going about this in a more methodical, less haphazard fashion. Barrack Obama said they have two criteria to address. One is that Malia is allergic, so the new pet has to be hypoallergenic. The other is that the family prefers adopting from a rescue shelter rather than a breeder. As an animal lover and organization supporter, I think this is so nice because it raises public awareness and will set a good example for others.



My sister, Denise also has major animal allergies and has found allergy relief with a hypoallergenic breed. Pictured here are photos she took of her young Welsh Terrier, Augie.

See Denise's photography here.

See a list of hypoallergenic pooches here. "Daddy gets the Oval Office and Malia and Sasha get a puppy"

I Just Joined Facebook

I just joined Facebook about a week ago and connected with an old Moore College of Art classmate, Nancy Louie. She came to my house on Saturday and we reunited over lunch. We haven't seen each other in 30 years. Some things never change and some things DO GET BETTER with age! We really had a blast and plan on staying in touch, possibly even doing a collaborative art project in the near future!

More Fall Pictures

The bog at the end of my road looks serene any time of the year.


Some of Jerry's "Yard Art" watches over our property.

AFTER THE FALL IN THE NJ PINES

WELL, JUST LIKE I SAID, IT WON'T LAST. This is the same view of our wood's edge that I posted last time.


Now we have to get used to a grayish brown dominance to the landscape for the next four or five months.



Thank goodness Jerry's pretty handy with the blower!

I'm glad he's been keeping ahead of it.


We'd be more than knee deep in fall foliage by now.

FALL IN THE NJ PINES

What a beautiful time of year this is!

Here in the northeast, my environment changes dramatically.


As the foliage of our mixed deciduous forest changes hues, the results can be breathtaking. Everything outdoors seems to reflect a special warmth.


I must make time to savor this ultimately fragile, fleeting brilliance. It may be gone tomorrow.



The next rain and wind storm will most likely dramatically change the physical view of my world!

Bill Maher and My 2 Cents on Obama's Victory

I'm really not a political person. I'm registered as a "Non-Affiliated" voter here in NJ and in the past never got too involved. This time was different. I started out in my usual unattached mode, but as things started heating up and Palin came into the mix, my involvement heightened and evolved. This election was so much more than electing the next President of the United States of America. I watched all the debates. I started paying more attention to what the organizations I support were saying. Watching the news, I felt the vibes. I was appalled by McCain and the Republican 's fear-mongery which seemed like a cover up for the fact that they had nothing constructive to bring to the table. Both John and his wife grew up and still are very wealthy. Barack and Michelle come from very humble beginnings and understand the middle class better. The problems facing us are huge and the transitions no doubt will be painful. Yes Bob, I do optimistically finally feel like the "Times They Are A Changin'!


"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." ~ Maya Angelou

Read CNN's Interview: Bill Maher on Obama's Victory.

The World Has Hope

Today I got a letter from Canadian Artist, Robert Genn about The Arts and Barack Obama.

Read Bob's inspiring letter here.


I feel this is not only a victory for change and reform here in the USA.
The world is watching and paying close attention, because this is SOMETHING REALLY BIG! Nothing like this has ever happened before! There is a higher energy at work here and I am so psyched!

See Five Reasons Why Obama Won the '08 Election Here.

A Victory for Wildlife and Positive Changes!

2008 Election Wrap-Up from DefendersActionFund on Vimeo.

Messages From Spirit

Messages From Spirit can come in many ways. Sometimes it's a subtle whisper and sometimes it's a downright obvious sign!


This morning when I got up, I went to my closet to grab a shirt off the top shelf. It was dark in the room and I reached up and blindly grasped the top one. To my surprise, the t-shirt in my hand was one I had not seen, thought of or worn in a very long time. How did it get on top of the pile?


Although we are prohibited from displaying any political items at the polls, I think my shirt definitely made a statement. Everyone who sees me today will know exactly where I stand.

Wolf is the embodiment of protection and wisdom and according to some native legends, the tribe's greatest teacher.

The Future of Wildlife

As one of America's millions of conservationists, I'll be using my vote this year to help publicly address my particular concern for the future of our country's wildlife and natural resources.


So this year when you vote for your local, regional and national leaders, I hope you’ll also consider voting for those that will be champions for the environment and wildlife.

Freedom OF THE SPIRIT

Each Sunday, I receive "The Infinite Being" newsletter by Owen Waters. Today I downloaded his new book, "Freedom of the Spirit", just out and available online as an e-book.


Owen says mankind currently stands at the 6th and final stage of material consciousness, getting ready now to move on into the spiritual tier of conscious evolution. I strongly recommend this publication to all seekers of a higher, more evolved awareness. Learn more about this book on my Spirit Art Blog tomorrow.

Reorganization in the Studio

I spent the day reorganizing my studio, reference area and painting table today.

Jerry picked up a nice desk this week that worked out perfectly for me. Look how my file cabinet fits like a glove underneath the desk. I guess it was just meant to be!


This really helped make my studio space more functional and less cluttered. Reorganization can often be just what the doctor ordered. It's like a breath of fresh air!