"A Day in the Life".................

Just felt like popping in, here, to wish you all a good weekend. I have a couple of friends who live in Texas and am keeping positive thoughts, for them and all there, that they are safe and out of harm's way of Hurricane Ike.

I'm also going to take a little break from Blogging, this week, as I am realizing I've been running around like a chicken with my head off and need to calm the body and mind down a bit.

I have missed the creative process of working on some art and feeling the void of not being at my art table. I miss the smell of paint, the white gesso on my hands and clothes :)

I want to resume working on a recent painting that I need to finish. This picture is of it that I have altered in Photoshop. It's on a huge canvas.

All be safe and happy! I'll be back soon.....................

Love to all - Marilyn

A "Blue Ribbon" Day ........... :)

This weekend I was an exhibitor at our local 57th Annual Villagers' Outdoor Show that is held in our historic Stockade District. This was my first outdoor art show and it was one of the most exhilarating days of my life! We weren't sure it was going to happen due to terrible weather we had on Saturday from effects of Hurricane Hannah coming up the coast. However, Sunday turned into a beautiful day and the show was on!

I am sharing a handful of pictures, here, with you; which includes my display area (picture #1), my son, David Lippiello, his friend James Doig, my friend Melanie Phillips, and my loving husband Ted (picture #2). The 3rd picture is of James, me, Melanie and Ted. The 4th picture, here, is of my friend Karen Schupack who is the founder of the Albany Art Room where I have the privilege and opportunity to teach, I'm in the middle and my friend Nancy Casso is on my left. I had lots of help and support from family and friends. I feel so blessed and fortunate to have such a support system; I think this is the true reward for me.

I want to thank all of my friends who came down to visit with their caring and supportive words; I got lots of hugs and kisses! I would love to name them all, but you all know who you are :)! I'm good for a very long time :)

I grew up in the Stockade District of our city and it was meaningful, for me, to be part of the art show where I used to live. It's filled with memories, for me; some good, some not so good, but that's life. I think we can all relate to that.

I felt very good about the day, personally, having my loving and supportive family and friends around me.

Art-wise; I couldn't have asked for a better day! I sold some paintings, I had lots of feedback, made great connections. A person who is involved with a really neat museum, in our area, asked me to be part of an art event coming up soon. She felt my art was very unique and would like me to have some paintings in the museum for display and sale. I was thrilled!!

To top, off the day, I had my juried piece "Uprooted" get an Honorable Mention award and received a blue ribbon with a monetary reward! When I heard my name called, I just about passed out, and felt like a little kid at Christmas!

The last picture, here, is me with my juried entry and blue ribbon!

My memories, of this day, will stay with me for the rest of my life!

Thank you all for your visit, here, your wonderful comments you leave and know I couldn't do what I do without you! You all give me wings!

Much love and wishing you all a safe and happy week! Marilyn xxoo

More Student Works.........................:)

I so enjoy teaching at the Albany Art Room. It is artsy, fun, warm and a caring environment that allows artists of all ages to express themselves in their own way.

Last night I had the opportunity of teaching a beeswax collage class. The first three pictures are beeswax collages from artists, starting at the top,: Brenda Seckerson, Karen Schupack, and Lori Stachnik. The last picture is of an acrylic painting by artist Jim Summa. This was from my "Two for One" acrylic painting class which we created an abstract painting using just two colors of acrylic paint. I'm so thrilled with what these artists are creating. They learn the technique, and then take off to greater heights creating with their own talents and visions! Kudos to them!

I wish all, of you, a safe and happy week! I can't believe it's school time again - WOW! Thanks for visiting........................................Love to all - Marilyn

Are you where you ought to be?................

Today is one of those days when it is too beautiful to stay inside all day. The temperature is perfect, the sun is out and there's a delightful breeze! Soon, after breakfast, I turned to my husband and said..................."why don't we take a ride to Schoharie today?" Schoharie is this little country place that is not far from us; about a 45-minute ride and even though it's a small town, it offers much beauty in every season.

You've probably either heard, me say, or read it a hundred times that I feel art is a path. I took my camera figuring I would see if I could get some cool shots to add to my stash here.

The first shot, I took, was of this sign that was in front of a small church in town. I LOVED what it said; very profound I thought and I could actually relate it to many things in life. Then, not far up the road, were a bunch of sunflowers, which I love, and what did I find among the sunflowers was a sign that said The Rocks!! Even my husband reacted! I had to get a shot of the sign amongst the sunflowers and then took a close-up shot and put a cool poster filter on it. Funny, huh?

I took another shot of more sunflowers with some pretty magenta-colored flowers.

The black and white photo is one that was, in color, but I turned it into a black and white; thought it was more artistic in my eye. The chairs made me feel so relaxed and calm just looking at them.

I have a few more pictures, from our road trip, and will upload in a couple of days.

I hope you all are having a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.

Prayers and positive thoughts go out to the people who are currently evacuating and who will be effected by the latest hurricane - Gustav! It's so hard to imagine that New Orleans could get hit, yet again, just three years after Katrina hit!

Thanks for stopping by today........................Much love - Marilyn

"Life Goes On"......................... :)

Life Goes On (http://lifegoesondeb.blogspot.com/) is one of my favorite Blogs to visit. Deb is very creative and can meet any art challenge out there. She recently awarded me with this JavaBlu Award and I am very much appreciative of it.

Thank you Deb!

My philosophy on these Blog awards is one that I am very honored and touched to think that I have inspired someone enough to give me an award; it really makes me feel so good. You all give me wings to reach higher and to not be afraid of that blank canvas that sometimes glares at me as if to say......."now what are you gonna do"? :)

As a recipient of this Blog award, I am supposed to pass it on to 5 other Blogs that I feel deserving. Again; in line with my philosophy on these awards, I just cannot narrow it down to just 5 blogs.

Therefore, I am passing this award on to all who I have linked here on my Blog. Each and every morning, with my first cup o' joe, I visit your Blogs and am equally as inspired by the art that I am viewing and the words that I am reading.

Thank you all for your daily inspirations, taking the time to visit, here, leaving your supportive words and comments.

I wish you all a safe and happy weekend ahead. Can you believe Labor Day weekend is upon us??????? WOW!

Love to all............................Marilyn

"Midnight in Beijing", 8 x 10, Acrylic/Mixed Media

It's hard to believe today is the closing of the Olympics. I've really enjoyed watching them when I could. I think I will always remember the Opening Ceremonies; what a mix of artistic and technological splendor!

This is a picture of a mixed-media painting I just completed today. It's done on 300 lb. hot-press watercolor paper with acrylics and some collage elements.

I taught a class on Saturday called "Two for One" where I shared with students how to create an abstract painting using just two colors of acrylic paints. This piece was my start for teaching purposes. I brought it home and decided to create a finished painting with it in honor of the Olympics. :)

I hope you're all having a fun weekend and hope your week, ahead, is good to you!

Thank you for visiting! Much love - Marilyn xxoo

"Dance, Live, Love".....................

Acrylic/Mixed Media

16" x 20" stretched canvas

I have so far, to go, to really be comfortable drawing, let alone, painting a figure. This was actually my second attempt to do this and is my first that I am somewhat happy with; oh there's that inner critic again - geesh!

Anyway, believe it or not, this painting started out as a nature scene with rocks, high peaks, etc., and I just didn't like it. I gessoed the whole thing and started over and this is what the painting is turning into! I started seeing a figure when the gesso was fully dried, some colors were popping out from below and one thing led to the other.

I still have some adjustments to make to the figure; she looks a little scared, to me, but I will work on turning her expression into a happier one. After all, she's supposed to be enjoying life! :)

Have a happy day and ..........................Dance, Live, and Love!

Hugs, Marilyn