Arte y Pico Award

Inspired by Danny Gregory http://www.dannygregory.com/ the Every Day Matters Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/everydaymatters/ is an amazingly supportive, talented group of artists. The seasoned professionals are so willing to share advice and provide praise. The newbies are so charged up and willing to put themselves out there for all the world to see. Since I only started this journey a few months ago, I am tickled to be noticed by the legends and the "up and comers" alike. It is so fun to get peer recognition such as the one awarded to me today by http://purplepaintsmuse.blogspot.com/ THANK YOU! I am so happy to be in the company of a couple of my favorites (the 2 Magnificent Margarets!)
http://waterblossoms.blogspot.com/ and http://scquiltaddict.blogspot.com/
Plus, I love being introduced and to artists I had not known before.

This award is described better on the website http://arteypico.blogspot.com/
For now, just know that I am honoring five sites that for me are-- WOW! Participation is optional but here are the guidelines:
1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award, creativity, design, interesting material, and also contrubuites to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award-winning, has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog thathas given her or him the ward itself.
4) Award-winning and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y pico"blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) To show these rules

This gives me a chance to bring attention to and honor some folks that bring me joy and teach me something every day. And the nominees are>>>

http://gabicampanario.blogspot.com/
A world ahead of most in the blog-o-sphere!

http://www.paperandthreads.com/
I love seeing and reading about Shirley's interesting life, travels and family. Her ideas and style keep MY creative juices flowing!

http://thehappypainter22.blogspot.com/
An example of how trying something new can open up a whole new world!

http://rahkyndl.blogspot.com/
What incredible detail--check out his "organized chaos"! Oh my goodness!

http://john-alookin.blogspot.com/
Even newer to this sketching/blogging world than me! Visiting John's blog is such a fun stop along the way.

Who knew there was such a huge world of like minded individuals out there?!

Martha & Lisa - "Favorite Things"

What a treat to open the mail and see a Reloaded Moleskine
from my dear friend and best sketchbuddy, Martha!

http://www.trumpetvine.com/sketchblog/moleskine-reloaded/ (to see how she does it!)

She had sketched a "bunny pot" that I gave her when we left California. She has planted it with some pretty flowers and it appears to be thriving. The sketch is beautiful and warmed my heart when I opened up our new book. We are doing our own exchange and will sketch our "Favorite Things".

I am posting Martha's sketch and will put my contribution in the mail tomorrow.

Thanks, Martha! I miss you! Lisa

House Painting

What REALLY kept me from painting recently was PAINTING! House painting that is! My son and I spent some long Texas HOT days repainting the exterior of our little house. I am so pleased with the outcome. Several people have referred to it as a "doll house" which really makes me happy. It is becoming the cottage I envisioned!
Weird. When I picked the colors and put it on the computerized house, I was not even thinking of the back of the house--which seems to be a lost cause. Look at how similar the Home Depot version is to ours. I love it when things happen like that!
Thanks for following along!
Lisa

"Reclaim Your Life" Sketches

I had the priviledge of attending a two day course " Reclaiming Your Life" this weekend. I am posting these two quick sketches to remind myself of some of the key things I got from it. I am pretty charged up with some tools to help me be the best that I can be and enjoy that journey. Can you tell, I had some housekeeping to do--getting my blog up to date so I can move onto my grander goals? Thanks Lane Pierce http://www.allotime.com/ for a terrific weekend! You are a rock star!

Here is The Chair (a symbol of obstacles I have no use for!) and Lane reminding us all to FOCUS!

More Summer Fun!

We have a Lake very near and it helps keep us cool in this crazy Texas heat. Okay, nothing can really help but we go anyway. Our nephew came to visit from Austin and the kids enjoyed the beach. We have also spent some time there with our old friends, Pat and Joe, kayaking and picnicking. Here are some sketches from adventures on Lake Ray Roberts.

Another Talented Niece!

A great bonus of being back in Texas is being able to enjoy the talents of my nieces and nephews.

Anna is a wonderful musician and I got to see her perform (Oboe) following her Longhorn Band Camp at UT recently. The first group is very quick scribbly contour sketches of the musicians, then some of the audience. The last is a sketch of the concert setting as they played their hearts out.