2 x 2 inch painting

my affirmation for today

"valuing myself makes me valuable to others." April 8, 2011

ILMA Paints a Painting

some words about making art

   After completing the six session I Love My Art Lessons (email ilovemyart@me.com for more information), Wendy asked me to recap some of the things we talked about regarding making art. Here is what I wrote back, my first thoughts:

   031111

   look at art books and museum web sites (guggenheim, moma, etc.) to see how many different kinds of art are out there already, and accepted, even, worth a lot of money. this means when you make something you have never seen before, that is totally good, following the right track. those people had never seen what they were doing. they weren’t copying anything. 

   follow what you are drawn to do. do something, make a mark, and then respond to it. to get started just start marking, not “making art” or doing “good”...just moving the stuff around on the paper. think about little kids coloring with paper and crayons. scribble. then you can respond to it. “now i feel like putting red there” or “i want to cover that part up with white paint” or whatever. keep going til you don’t feel like doing anything anymore. this could take minutes or days or months. have it up where you can see it when you walk by. don’t do something just to do something. do something that you feel pulled to do. sometimes that is put it in the collage bin and cut it up and use it on something else.

   let your art have a life of it’s own. don’t try to copy something even from your own brain. for me, i make it then see what it is. but the process is different for everyone, so honor your process as you evolve.

   remember, not everyone will “get” it. that’s ok, but you don’t have to show it to them either...the more you get grounded in loving it yourself the easier that will get. but “even” (: for me, sometimes i am very sensitive about something someone says or what i “think” they will say or think. so just keep going. it is an evolving process (progress not perfection)   :)

   above all, only say what you love about your art. even in process...you aren’t quite sure how it is going to turn out, but you love it along the way.

   (: i love you and your art,

      Leanne Thomas

2 x 2 inch painting

this is a recent 2 x 2 inch painting that i did on paper with acrylic and pencil.

Tennessee Crossroads John Petrey (2434-2)

this is so inspiring! you all remember peggy homrich/petrey? this is her husband john petrey. shawn, you will love what he does with metal! Leanne

ILMA visits Teresa Disney

ILMA went to the Janine Taylor Folk Art Gallery in Sanford, FL on February 5th to meet artist Teresa Disney. Inspiring and exceptional. See more of Teresa's work at the gallery link. http://www.jtfolkart.com/profiles.cfm?category=2CABA50D-AA2A-9068-4A9B32CBCCE17CD7

God Laughing

I gave this piece to my friend and neighbor, Pat, for her birthday yesterday. I call it "God laughing," after a quote from a Hafiz poem, "Laughter," translated by Daniel Ladinsky. This is part of the poem:
"What is laughter?
It is God waking up! …
What is this precious love and laughter
Budding in our hearts?
It is the glorious sound
Of a soul waking up!"

sewing as art

i love to sew. it's another creative way to express oneself...the yellow pillow was easy and fun to make.

art on the go

my friend nancy and i met for coffee and art. a really nice break from the routine.

"and the day begins" acrylic, dec. 2010, charlene thomas

Revelation Series, "Seven Stars" 4 x 6 inches on paper, acrylic on paper, Charlene Thomas

"Protected", 4 x 6 acrylic on paper, Dec. 2010 by Charlene Thomas

art for Michael

I made this art for my friend Michael. It has a drawing of a bunny and the word "friendship" which I did when I was young. There is an "M" and an "L" for Michael and Leanne. It is painted on a piece of cardboard box. Leanne

"Poetry is a Window", 4 x 6 inches, acrylic on paper

I have been enjoying working on 4 x 6 inch acrylic paintings. This is one of the most recent ones.

reading

something i love to do...read art books!

The ILMA Show

This is one of my paintings that sold and now has a new home!

painting for ILMA show

here's another one of my paintings for the ILMA Show

ILMA Show Preview: A few works by Leanne

©2010 Leanne Thomas

©2010 Leanne Thomas

Thomas Jarvela Gallery

installation has begun in the Thomas Jarvela Gallery (world's smallest art gallery project). the first show will be at the Eustis Museum of Art in December!