I hope that everyone enjoyed a warm and festive holiday season. And I hope that this good feeling will continue as you move forward into the new year. May 2012 be illuminated with the brightness of love…lots and lots of love.
Speaking of love, a lot of love went into creating this mixed media canvas. And thoughts of optimism perched in my mind as I worked on putting the pieces together…it would make me very happy to pass this good energy on to one of you.
Here’s a look at my light and bright creation (6″ x 8″ canvas).
This piece began with a little birdie…
…and a white canvas, to which I’ve added subtle details…
…such as a twisty wire tree…
…grounded with shimmery accents.
I positioned the birdie high up above so that he can fully take in the view…watching and waiting…with hopeful anticipation.
At the edge of his seat, he is patient and steady as he observes…
…for you never know what will come into view. There are infinite possibilities beyond the branches…begin by believing.
The start of a new year always gets me thinking deeper – this year my thoughts are to continue to focus on letting myself (and my art) evolve. Allowing change isn’t always easy so I’ll have to work extra hard at it. And at the same time I want to stay connected to my truth.
Perhaps some of you have been doing some soul searching as well. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on any new revelations or aspirations. And I’m also curious to hear what you’ve been creating (or wanting to create) in your studios. Please leave whatever message or comment you might have to this post by next Wednesday (January 11th at 5pm) and I’ll count this as your entry to the giveway. Then I’ll randomly choose a name and post this winner the next day.
Have a happy week and thanks for stopping by…it’s good to be back!
62 Comments, Comment or Ping
I will gladly be first! My aspirations for this year’s art is to keep it simple. I create with way too much color and busyness — when I see something of Becky’s, it calms me down and reminds me that it’s okay to just go soft and calm. And why don’t I create it? I’m drawn to it, I love it and then I gunk everything up. So here’s to 2012, SIMPLE, SIMPLE, SIMPLE. It really is the most beautiful.
January 3rd, 2012
Hello Becky,
Lovely sentiments for the new year. Being true to myself and to not let fear hold me back from exploring new creative expressions….my goals.
January 3rd, 2012
Becky, this is so beautiful and peaceful and inspiring. My goal for 2012 would be to narrow my “art” focus and create beautiful, peaceful and inspiring things.
January 3rd, 2012
Becky I SO ADORE this light and bright canvas!! I am such a nature, animal and bird lover and my hope is to create more nature inspired art. I also want to look at things that can be repurposed (thanks to all your inspiration) and use what I already have. Oh, and I am having my son help me set up a blog(my one specific New Year resolution 🙂
January 3rd, 2012
Happy New Year Becky! It’s good to see you back with another lovely creation! My word for 2012 is Journey. I am truly trying to concentrate on the journey and enjoy the ride even with the “bumps” that we will hit along the way. Packing away my craft studio is going to be a chore for sure, but I plan to keep some kind of smaller “travel kit” at hand with embroidery, and watercolor pencils for those much needed art breaks!
January 3rd, 2012
I love this three dimensional piece! My word for 2012 is balance. I have made some changes in the past 3-4 months and found ways to better balance family and work. I even started exercising on a regular basis in August and have stuck to it along with healthier eating. So, now that this feels more like a habit or lifestyle, I’m ready to be more creative again. Somehow in the past three months I have managed to keep blogging and creating. It was just a little less than I previously did. Now, I feel like I can hit the studio again. I’m ready to rediscover my loot and concentrate more on nature and using my own family in my art. We shall see!
January 3rd, 2012
Another gorgeous creation! Love the pristine white color palette you used.
Good to have you back…wishing you a creative new year!!!
xo
jeanne
January 3rd, 2012
I am looking for my inner strength! I know it is there!
I also am seeking to be more creative. I feel so much better when I am creating regularly! Then…I need to take a picture and post it. I made three things in December and forgot to do that before I gave them away!
Wishing you the best on your aspirations for the coming year, Becky!
Hugs,
Suz
January 3rd, 2012
Happy New Year, Becky! Hope it is sparkling and full of joy.
I’m starting a completely new adventure with my art this year (more on my blog), and I feel thrilled, newly energized and greatly inspired. Hope to be able to convey in my work all the joy I feel while I’m creating, and share it with others.
Your canvas is just too cute for words- it conjures up beauty, calmness and pure inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing it with one of us.
Monica xo
January 3rd, 2012
This is lovely, and I so appreciate the thought behind it. I hope this year to make progress with creating, to try to find my voice, and to let that help me be a better person all around.
January 3rd, 2012
Happy New Year Becky~ I love your bird and all your thoughts and reflections! I am playing with light, too. I am using my camera to capture visual poetry. I want to make my art more about what stirs my soul, what brightens my day. I can see my work has been to rushed, I need to sit back and reflect a bit more and let things develop. I haven’t arrived at my style yet and hope to this year~
Happy to see you back and filled with hopeful anticipation! Agreat way to start the New Year~ ATB
January 3rd, 2012
Hi Becky! Happy New Year to you! Oh, how I love that sweet little birdie! What a lovely piece! My hope for this year is just to slow down a bit. I’m thinking of cutting back on the number of arts festivals I do (which is only about 8 a year to begin with!) and just focusing more on playing. I’m also hoping to stick to a Project 365 daily photo. So far so good!
January 3rd, 2012
How wonderful to see your familiar faces here. And it’s even more wonderful to hear all the details regarding your personal goals…thanks so much for sharing.
January 3rd, 2012
happy new year, you bright winged lovely light *
January 3rd, 2012
oh Becky, what a lovely piece. Your work is so sweet and peaceful, I just adore it. I am still finding my style, I look at many different artist out there in blog land and then sit at my desk and try to let all of that inspiration flow out in to something that is me. I have decided that every day I will make sure to be thankful, generous, and creative with the hope that with focus and practice a style will develop that is uniquely me. You are truly an inspiration and I would adore having a piece of your artwork. Thank you for your blog, your work, and the opportunity to win.
January 3rd, 2012
Hi Becky…I’ve been thinking about “time” a lot these days. Some people are so very productive and then there’s me…not so much. But we’re all given the same amount of time to use. I want to focus on managing my time a little better than I have been. I hope that if I can do that I’ll have more time to make more of my own creations!
This piece of yours is lovely…I wouldn’t have thought to go so far off the canvas. I really appreciate the inspiration I receive from you!
January 3rd, 2012
Happy New Year! May it be a year of blessings and peace for you.
I love the picture you have made, it is so peaceful and serene.
It has already been a time of reflection and thought for me as well. I need to find a focus, I love to do so many dfferent things but find that I haven’t given my all to any one of them. So this year I want to discover what are the thing(s) that are the most important and most loved by me and set my focus onto them.
January 3rd, 2012
Yes Linda, I too want to focus on the things that move me…in art as well as life in general. Perhaps this is a perfect example of how “less can be more.”
January 4th, 2012
Becky you are so creative. love this piece. playful, serene, and love the sparkle. just the right touch.
aspirations for 2012- i need to organize myself. need to focus on what moves me. take steps to create in a space that allows me the freedom to explore. i want to be able to make a mess and leave it. right now i make a mess and have to clean it up because we need the counter space. so for me, space is going to be my focus. yes I’m cleaning, but the rewards are going to be so worth it.
January 4th, 2012
love your little birdies. for this year, i want to delve into projects other than making cards. i have played with soldering and microscope slides, so i want to try that again. i also want to make teeny, tiny books, try assemblage and keep my mind open to make other different kinds of art.
January 4th, 2012
I.love.this.piece….”finding my voice” is my phrase for 2012! Literally. I went thru chemo and radical surgery in 2011 for esophageal cancer. The surgery left me with no voice as the dr had to remove my larynx. It’s amazing what I’ve learned about my self during this journey. Like how strong I really am, how strong others perceive me. My art will reflect “finding my voice”. I’ll have to incorporate birds though….they are my obsession!
January 4th, 2012
Hi Becky! I’ve been absent for a while – my mom (85) has had colon cancer and surgery so needless to say I’ve been a little busy. But praise God she is doing great and won’t even need to have chemo!
This year I want to grow closer to the Lord and I pray my art will glorify Him. I have come to realize I don’t need to be the best or be famous – I only need to be obedient and God will do the rest. If my art brings a smile to only one person on this earth, then I will be grateful.
Blessings,
Lisa
January 4th, 2012
Thank you for sharing your personal stories and updates with me. The depth of your thoughts make me pause and think…for this I am grateful.
January 4th, 2012
I would say my key word for this year is “focus”. At times I get very distracted by multi-tasking to an extreme. I want to create something everyday and pay more attention to the blogging community and my own blog.
January 4th, 2012
Hi Becky….what a coincidence! I was looking at a blog last night an recognized one of your paintings. The blog is elemenop.tumblr.com/archive
It is on the December 30 page. It’s a great photo blog to get lost in!!!
In the new year I want to take more pics to give me inspiration for my abstract work. Another artist who I forgot her name said that she gets her inspiration from croppIng a scene to a one foot by one foot square.
So nice to see you back…missed you. And your new work is so beautiful. If I saw it on a blog I’d surely recognize it too!!!.
January 4th, 2012
“Simplifying”…that’s what i’m hoping to do in 2012. “Simplify” in all aspects of my life..the way I decorate my home, the creations I work on in my studio….and just in my everyday life. “It’s the simple things in life”….right? Here’s to 2012…may it bring YOU everything your heart desires! 😉
January 4th, 2012
Happy new year, Becky! I love your creation. I too, love the softness of it and the fact that it’s nature theme makes it even better!
“Simplify” is my word for this year. Starting by moving! We are in the middle of it right now. From 3,000 sq. ft. to 1200! So I’m having to get rid of a lot. That means purging a lot of my art supplies. My studio will be half the size it was. Once that is taken care of, my goal is to take more online art classes. I want to try new things, even things out of my comfort zone. I am looking forward to it!
January 4th, 2012
Happy New Year Becky
The e-mail only came in this moment but I suspect I might be too late in participating in your beautiful Giveaway which certainly exudes light and hope and joy.
For 2012 I want to trust in what I create and to start believing in myself. I am my worst critic (as many of us tend to be). To continue to find joy and embrace new challenges. A creative dream came true on New Year’s Day when I was announced as one of the new DT members at Oxford Impressions’. I adore their stamps so this is the most joy filled news for me and ready to embrace this new challenge.
Becky may 2012 bring you joy, light and wonderful opportunities. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us during 2012.
Warmest Wishes
Lynne
January 4th, 2012
It’s so good to hear from you again, Becky — happy New Year! In this New Year, I am planning to focus more on ‘simplification’ in my art. This also means using up some of the materials I’ve bought and never used, but still love. I don’t want so much ‘stuff” in my life any more. I’m even parting with some rubber stamps that don’t have meaning for me now. So wish me luck in this endeavor! I’ve also begun a new art journal, this one a very simple one I THINK I can stay with! Journaling for me has always been hard to keep at! Have a wonderful year, Becky, I love your work. That wee birdie is so precious!
January 4th, 2012
Hi Becky Dear…Lovely post and words of enlightenment for this fresh new year. Your little bird overseeing such a simple canvas of possibilities is priceless. I am planning a year of PLAY for me and whatever that entails will unfold as I pursue being creative and giving. Blissful and Creative 2012 to you sweet friend…
January 4th, 2012
Becky you continue to amaze me with your wonderful, delicate, warm and inspiring pieces! This canvas is adorable!!! I love your style!
Last year was wonderful for me – I started blogging, connected with wonderful people on the internet, joined a great online art community which made me feel more confident to explore other forms of art, opened my Etsy shop. And this year I hope I’ll continue to learn, work and play.
Wishing you love and happiness! 🙂
January 4th, 2012
What a wonderful canvas to give away – I especially love its extension ;-))
Have a creative new year, dear Beckie, and I hope you´ll be able to follow your new year´s resolutions … I don´t have any that are different from what I tried before, I just hope it will be a better year than 2011.
January 4th, 2012
Happy New Year, Becky! LOVELY work, as always.
This year my word/focus is “nourish”. I’m going to do my best to nourish my body, heart, and spirit. Naturally this will include a lot more art and blogging, since creating and sharing are big parts of who I am.
In addition, I’m going to make more of an effort to eat healthfully, without worrying about weight. Omega-3’s here I come! I’m also looking forward to a week to myself in March. I’ll be recharging my batteries in Cambria. 🙂
January 4th, 2012
What a beautiful piece! Perfect for this time of year. My focus this year is to create more of the ideas I gather. Also my word for the year is Choice. I think it’s empowering to remember that I have the power to make the choices in my life…..oatmeal for breakfast or oatmeal cookies……
January 5th, 2012
So calm and restful. You are so clever and creative. I love how you make such beautiful things w/o spending a mint on art supplies.
Happy New Year, Becky!
January 5th, 2012
I am like your little birdie – watching and waiting for what you create next – your art is such an inspiration! Here’s to a year full of LoVe for us all.
Happy LOVELY new Year!
January 5th, 2012
Oh, this is SO gorgeous, Becky! I always welcome a new year to see things sometimes in a fresh perspective, just tiny little sparks, that can help every day.
Happy New Year to you and such an amazing giftie 🙂
Hugs
January 5th, 2012
I just discovered your blog. I love it and love your work! Awesome and very inspiring. Thanks for sharing your talent.
January 6th, 2012
Happy New Year!! Thanks for offering this beautiful piece up for a giveaway! I LOVE it!! I can’t even think of the right words to describe how much I love it. Thanks for the chance to win.
January 6th, 2012
Becky – this is a wonderful and inspiring piece! Love the little birdie! Happy New Year! Jamie V in MT
http://rem-nants.blogspot.com
January 6th, 2012
I love your work, Becky! This year I am focusing on trying to find my voice as an artist. I am pulled in so many artistic directions, so many mediums, that I easily get distracted. I want to combine all those media that I love into a style that satisfies all my artistic cravings. April
January 6th, 2012
Welcome back, Becky…wishing you love and light this year!! I have been thinking alot about kindness..how I always try to impart small gestures of good will and respect, and to continue on that path…always. To my art…I’ve been drawn to creating jewelry for several weeks and feel the pull to get back to mixed media. It’s a slow start for me this year, but I’ll get there. Seeing your work is always an inspiration. Joyce
January 7th, 2012
Hi Becky,
The canvas is beautiful. Really enjoyed your article and projects in the current Stampington Studio.
This year I will sew. My machine arrived yesterday and I’m looking forward to learning how to use it.
Thanks for offering up another one of your treasures.
January 7th, 2012
Very nice! I am excited about the new year and all that it will hold! Thanks and warm hugs! ♥
January 8th, 2012
Your picture of the forrest took my breath away. Beautiful eye. I have been searching my soul quite a bit lately. It’s very hard when you’re not happy with what you have become. But it’s a new year and a fresh start. Time to become what I should be and do what makes my heart sing.
January 8th, 2012
Yes! Now THIS is art, thank you for doing something unique and original, I LOVE it and I am really excited to see your artwork evolve…
I kind of feel like I’m in a transition mode of some kind….just tired of the same old thing and ready to try new things.
Happy happy new year talented lady!
~Scarlett
January 8th, 2012
Hi Becky
This is a really innovative canvas. I love it. It is so simple but very effective, looks like you have hit on something here.
My revelations on art, well where do I begin. We moved house a year ago. I came from a home where I had my own dedicated space for art making, to a home where I have still to carve out somewhere for me to go. There are so many other things to renovate here that my art space has been put on the back burner. It is driving me crazy. Hopefully this year will see something happen and I can get back to something I miss tremendously.
Hope you are well, love you website.
Fay
January 9th, 2012
Such a sweet little canvas. I love the color of white – I believe it can make such a powerful statement. And it is so soothing too. All the walls of my home are white. You inspired me to work in white today.
I also enjoyed looking at the small trees that you created in your other blog entries.
January 9th, 2012
My new thing I’m obsessed with is paper art!!! Doing any and everything with paper, old books, etc. I love the beautiful wreaths I’ve seen and am trying to tackle flowers. Loving’ your blog ;0)
January 9th, 2012
Becky, Love your Birdie in a tree, makes me think of snow. My goal this year is to set up a work area so I can be inspired!
January 9th, 2012
Becky- I continue to be inspired by your art and thoughtful blog posts. I want to evolve along with my art on 2012 as well. But mostly I seek comfort in 2012 as 2011 was a big year of change for me.
January 9th, 2012
I can feel the positive flow, thank you.
This year, I will focus on listening to my own voice and putting my ideas into practice.
Warm regards,
Cathie
January 9th, 2012
Thank you for your thoughts and wishes for all of us to find our creative sides. Soul searching? I’m constantly doing that. Maybe someday I’ll finally find some answers. Like why does creating always seem to be the last thing that gets accomplished? Oh well, until I find my groove, I’ll just be constantly inspired by you!!! I just know this little birdie will love living at my house! lol
January 9th, 2012
Hi many thanks for your email. I would like to leave my name to add to the hat for the draw. such a fantastic piece of art.
January 9th, 2012
I love your creation! My biggest goal has been and still is trying to find time to create. Some day I plan to either retire or be financially stable enough to create full-time! Thanks for the giveaway!!
January 9th, 2012
Becky – I love the neutral colors of this canvas! Your pieces are always so fun and peaceful at the same time. My theme for 2012 is “Begin Again”. Last year I was not able to focus on my artwork, as planned, but I am starting off this year with a bang….working on multiple fabric/mixed media pieces. Working in a series helps me get through multiple pieces before my “monkey mind” wants to move onto somethinng else.
January 9th, 2012
This is such lovely work, I am so excited for the opportunity to see it in person!! *crossing fingers*
I am working on cleaning and de-cluttering my work-space. Purging books, sorting fabric, organizing glue and stamps and wire cutters and bits and pieces of this and that, that seem to have collected into piles of chaos in my storage area. Everything in its place, and a place for everything in the new year! <3 🙂
January 9th, 2012
lovely work and I would be honored to have it my home. Love the white palette. Such a favorite of mine too!
January 9th, 2012
I am looking forward to a new year with new memories and learning new things. I don’t want to sit back and wait any longer. I’ve been so busy raising kids, caring for ailing parents, and attending to my “duties” (all of which I love and enjoy!), that I feel my own gifts have taken a back seat. This year is the year I look forward! I have more time to focus on my talents and developing them…hopefully finding new ones! Your canvas is lovely, and as a lover of “twisty trees” – it would look lovely among my collection! Thank you for your generous spirit!
January 10th, 2012
Thanks for continuing to be an inspiration to me Becky!
http://mel-designs.typepad.com/my-blog/2012/01/exciting-news-to-share-sommerset-life.html
January 10th, 2012
Always beautiful and inspiring! What a great way to start the new year. I love your colors…so peaceful and calming. Thanks for such a great giveaway and Happy New Year!
January 10th, 2012
Hi Becky, this is a wonderful give a way! the beginning of a new year is always a time for reflection for me as well…and a time to set new goals for the new year….this year, more than ever I’m wanting to stay true to myself and what is important to me….in the studio i’ve been playing with pastels….love them! hope your year is off to a great start! Doreen (O:
January 12th, 2012
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