...long overdue August intro!

Let's overlook the fact that it is August 19th and I am FINALLY sitting down to do a brief introduction of my August 2017 series...yep, no big deal...just nineteen days overdue...yikes!
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These are my two excuses;

Excuse 1, Sick Scooter:  I came back from my residency with a week left of summer, and I wasn't sure if that was gonna be this cat's last week here with us.  Scooter is getting a little better every day, but his kidneys really took a hit, bless his lil' furry heart!  John and I have to give him fluids every day but he is getting around, and eating, and acting almost like his old self so that's about all we could ask for.  I am thankful to have this fourteen year-old furball (and his brother) still with us!

Excuse 2, Back to School:  Well...summer can't last forever, I reckon!  It's back work mode...year four at Lake Worth High School and I am excited!  My colleague, Brent, and I both had a productive pre-school and first week back and we're looking forward to collaborating on some fun things for our students this year.  I get to teach the AP and Portfolio students this year in addition to my 3D classes so I can't wait...and ya'll KNOW I am looking forward to more RECYCLED FASHION with my Fashion Club!  Yay!

So now...lemme introduce my August 2017 series....

Wait!  First, here are some themes from the month of August 2012-2017 just for fun;

August 2012, theme was 'shadows'...quickly morphed into a butterfly invasion!
August 2013, theme was 'cycle'...went through a kinda chaotic, and stressful time
August 2014, theme was 'Frida Kahlo'...one of my fav artists! #FridaArtJLG
August 2015, theme was 'hats'...worked in mixed media  #ManyHatsJLG
August 2016, theme was 'Shrinky Dinks', remember those?  #ShrinkArtJLG

NOTE:  The entire month for each theme is viewable via the link...and if you check out the blog for each August you can see TONS of behind the scenes happenings...so I won't go into each one since it's already here on the blog.

Oh, August.  One thing is for sure, August is always a busy month.  It's the end of summer and beginning of the new school year, the final chance for last minute travels. In the past two years for the month of August I have 'played' a bit more, taking a break from the more intensive themes like 'Frida', which required some research and more planning...yep, I just had fun.  My hat series was all collage and mixed media, more stylized and the shrink art series was something brand new to me...well, as an adult!  I like that every August is so different.   

​The theme for this month is positive words, #AugustAffirmationsJLG

To prepare, I wrote out the alphabet and then created a short list of words with positive connotation, even if just to me.  There is no rhyme or reason as to the grammatical form/function- just as long as it makes me feel positive.  Each day, I go in alphabetical order and choose my word for the day, think about the image I want to create...and I make it.  

Why?  Well, this has been a very turbulent summer in the country and in the world.  I make it a goal to stay informed on all that is going on...but I get overwhelmed.  I get angry, sad...I can just feel the negativity bombarding me...so had a thought back when I was standing in Austin, Texas...next to the love of my life, listening to one of the most positive folks I know- ol' Willie Nelson.

"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."-Wille Nelson

After doing this whole 'daily art' thing for over five years, I have figured out a few things that help me maintain my sanity- especially when it comes to juggling my art and going back to school.  One thing that helps me is to manage my materials.  I have learned that it is good to consider what art materials I am using and consider ease of set up/clean up and travel.  For this month I chose to work with oil pastels and later added watercolor, I keep a set of materials at home and also by my desk at school in case I have a minute during my lunch.

So that's it.  Positive words.  Active lines, block rendering.  Oil pastel and watercolor resist.

​...and positive thoughts and love put into each piece, my tiny request to the universe for more light and less dark.