My Precious..... Time

Time is a very precious thing, and it’s a balance to use it, because you need rest.

Today is my last day off, concluding a week off that started last Friday. It’s been a mix of family and friends time with the end of school, holiday weekend, general hanging out. Yesterday, kids went to daycare while my partner and I spent time together and had some of our own time, leading to today, with just me being off.

During that alone time yesterday, I spent about 90 minutes working on a painting I had already started a month or so ago. My goal was to finish this painting this week. After feeling good, getting frustrated, feeling accomplished, I stepped away. That changed everything. I realized how awkward and uncomfortable it the piece looked. It was not the original intent. It didn’t feel good. I laid down, came to a conclusion I dreaded: I’m going to paint over it.

And I did. And I felt guilty. And I felt really, really frustrated that I had spent so much time on a painting and I didn’t have anything now to show for it.

Or did I?

Because I learned how to play with different colors. I learned that I liked two colors mixed together on a dark background. I also learned, that though I was frustrated and mad, I didn’t dwell on it (oh thanks therapy for helping my brain!). I learned that I learned a lot of things, even if the hopeful intent didn’t work out. And I learned, I can do something else with the canvas.

So that’s where I’m at right now. Pausing to write up this while I wait for the new work in progress to dry, feeling excited about this new mixed media idea, and mentally drop kicking any Perfectionism that seeks to take away my creative joy. Because that’s the point. My time is precious, learning is precious, and there was no time wasted.

I always include an artwork in a post, and thus I leave you with a small quick mixed media piece that I finished yesterday. A moment of inspiration caused me to go for it, and I couldn’t be happier.

Mixed media: painted leaves and stems, dried flower petals, random neon colors.

Currently Reading: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Currently Listening: Night of the Vampire’s album “The Enchanting Winds of the Dreamweaving Masquerade
Currently Watching: Abbott Elementary

Just Doodle

Just some rambling as it’s been awhile…

All change leads to more change and adjustment. Finding routine and a groove can be hard. Thus, I’m taking a moment to just, say something art related.

Creating can be difficult. Not all artists can just jump to it. The realities of AI are also on the mind of several artists (I’ve also seen several works taken from artists I follow). Art is a big part of me, but that is only a part. I’m still a parent, I have my family, work a full-time job, and have other interests. I’m one that needs a certain mental space to create. However, I’m slowly working on changing that because just doodling can be a stress reliever in such times.

So what has been happening lately art wise? Well…..
- I’m making progress on a project involving the color wheel. I think I have two pieces to complete before I decide do I take it to another level.
- I created a piece inspired by playing with chalk with a kiddo.
- In the spring I showed a few pieces at the Coppell Art Center which I was grateful for.
- I recently gave some pieces new homes.
- I’ve submitted to one show, debating doing another.
- I reached out to two places to show work (one will be next year, so that’s motivation to work towards).
- I’m also trying to journal and doodle once a week, even maybe doodle at night to wind down or sometimes it is to keep my mind active.

Inspiration has come from my kiddos, my friends, my upbringing, the current state of the world, music, the books I read…. it’s everything and everywhere.

So that’s what has been happening. I recently starting adding work to the new 2025 - 2026 under Paintings (hey I’m looking towards the future!). I’m realizing I may need to consolidate older pages as my work changes over time, though I feel I have found myself a bit more in my work, and that’s a great thing.

I hope in some way this helps to show that we all move at our own pace. If it’s really anything else I can share, find your community that can be supportive and support others when you can.


Currently Reading: Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
Currently Listening: Florence and The Machine
Currently Watching: Parks and Recreation


Current works in progress

And So Summer Begins

I had a whole year recap drafted. Twice. At this point, I decided to delete it, but kept a few parts which for a recap of 2023:

- 2023 started with high hopes, then my family had an unexpected situation. It was probably my least productive year quantity size for my art, however, I poured myself into the pieces that I did do. So while not many, I felt some were the best I’ve done in awhile.
- I was in two art shows/events, including El Corazón for the 3rd time. At both events, I sold work, two at The Art of Woman event. I felt so good, even after the Woman event, my husband mentioned how a light inside me returned; I really needed to hear that - I took risks, showing art is always a risk, it’s exposing yourself, and people liked it, people I don’t know liked it, and some people bought it.
- I finally updated a page for my Heart of a Song challenge from 2022.

Now it is June 2024, so what’s happened?
- Well, a big reason I painted was so little was because I was pregnant, and this time around, was very exhausted. My baby was born in March.
- I showed some work at a local recreation center.
- I finished a few paintings, and as recently as yesterday, finished two: one I started years ago, and one I started within the last few months.
- A brand new page is now available: 2023 - 2024. I’m slowly working on adding works from this year to that page. Which, on that note, I know my photos are not the best, for now for this website, it will do.

As I can, I’m starting new pieces, probably too many at once, but hey, at least I’ll have a lot of options to choose from when I can paint?

Summer time is often the least productive time because it’s so hot here in Texas. However, I’ve learned to garden a little thanks to a friend, and I’m becoming even more inspired with these life changes as my daughter is starting to show her own creativity at home. Maybe this summer will be different, maybe not. Either way, I’ll find a way to sneak in a few blobs of paint here and there.

Purple balloon flower from the start of my flowerbed

Currently Reading: The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
Currently Listening: The Shape of Fluidity by DOOL
Currently Watching: Ted Lasso

The Art of Woman and How I Took a Chance

Several months ago, I heard about a local event in my city for an event showcasing art from local women. After getting more information and reaching out to the group, CART, I ended up in being what would be my first vendor/art show event in September, where I’d actually see about selling my work.

This has always been my plan, but more like my “in 4-5 years I’ll figure this out” plan - figuring out taking payments, maybe look into getting prints of my work, selling at in-person events, shipping work, etc. However, an opportunity popped up, and as nervous as I was, I went for it. Displaying five pieces, I ended up selling two to the same person with the payment options I had. Let me repeat that: I SOLD TWO PIECES AT AN EVENT AND IT WENT WELL! It was a big boost in my artistic confidence. I also had to be very social, so as I introvert, I did my best. I spoke with many people, and probably received one of the best compliments regarding my art and me: “The way you are dressed and your makeup completely matches your work, it’s great”. That made me feel that I was successful as proving how much my art is a part of me.

It was also very motivating of, do I really have to wait 4-5 years to really do this? Maybe not. It would not be a full-time commitment, something on the side, a way of just sharing my work. And after much discussion with friends, I settled with reasonable prices for my art as to not under sell myself (pricing art is the wooooooooooooorst, said like Jean Ralphio from Parks and Recreation). Plus, I wanted to keep in mind one of my high school art teachers who at her own show said regarding the price of her artwork: “I want the prices to make it so people can actually buy the work.” I never forgot that, and so it’s a balance I want to strive for.

Here are some pictures from that night:

This blog was drafted back in December, so as of now, here’s what I’m currently doing as of February -
Currently Reading: You Can’t be Serious by Kal Penn
Currently Listening: Spine by Myrkur
Currently Watching: The Crown (season 6)