Blossoms DP #24

This painting is available at My eBay Store

January 8, 2008

Daily Painting #24 “Blossoms”

“Blossoms” is an acrylic painting on a 10”x10” canvas. The reference photograph is from my friend Maryanne Brunetti in New Zealand. You can see the process in my youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/GBHartists.

Things have been great since the beginning of the New Year. Two of my best friends (Dena and Chandra) are preparing to start their own version of a ‘Daily Painting’ process, which I am really looking forward to brainstorming with them about future art projects/ideas. We are already teaming up for an art show of our own in the spring. We are currently looking for a location for the show, we have a few places in mind, but are open to any suggestions you may have. An office building, bar/restaurant, coffee house or similar business are ideal and in the greater Los Angeles area. It is a one evening show for late April. If you or someone you know has any suggestions please send me an email!

Some people have asked me lately if I am okay and am I taking on too much in my life. At first this statement threw me off a bit, but then I started to really think about it. I guess to someone, yes it may seem like I have a lot on my plate. I think anybody’s life could be viewed as stressful, joyful, peaceful, etc. It all depends on the state of mind in the observer. I think the best way to describe my feelings about my life right now is to share the 26th Verse of the Tao:

The heavy is the root of the light.
The still is the master of unrest.

Realizing this,
The successful person is
Poised and centered
In the midst of all activities;
Although surrounded by opulence,
He is not swayed.

Why should the lord of the country
Flit about like a fool?
If you let yourself be blown to and fro,
You lose touch with your root.
To be restless is to lose one’s self-mastery.


In the midst of any unrest, stress or anything at all – I try to make the immediate decision to find the calm center of myself. This has made the difference in more ways than I can explain. When I went to the Wayne Dyer event in Maui he told us to “Stand in the center of your being, and forget you are even there”. And instead of saying to yourself, ‘What’s in it for me?’ ask yourself, ‘How may I serve?’

I invite you to try it. I think you’d be shocked and amazed about how much of that inner dialog will tone down (I call it inner backa backa)

Have a wonderful day~

Peace & blessings,
Gayle Etcheverry

http://www.GaylesPaintings.com

http://stores.ebay.com/Gayles-Paintings

Tree in Autumn Daily Painting #6

This Painting is SOLD.

September 21, 2007

Daily Painting #6

‘Tree in Autumn’ on unframed canvas, 10”x10”

I used acrylic paints for this painting. If you look closely you’ll find many crazy colors in the tree and the trunk. When I was a little girl, my Aunt Maggie taught me the first lesson in color theory. She pointed out to a tree and asked me, ‘What color is that tree?’. I of course said, ‘The leaves are green and the trunk is brown’. She quickly explained there were many different colors in the tree and if you used your imagination and got yourself ‘out of the box’ you could really make the tree pop with color. Ever since then, I have always loved to paint with extreme and unexpected colors. Big kudos to Maggie for this first lesson. ☺

I decided to paint this tree because Fall is my favorite season of all. I grew up in Michigan and the Fall was always my favorite. The colors on the trees in magnificent this time of year. Being in California these days I don’t get to see it that intense anymore. I’d say it’s one of the things I miss about the Midwest, besides my family and friends of course. Although I live in sunny California now, I can feel a chill in the air. Leaves are falling here. They just fall for a REALLY long time. I guess the Fall takes me back to being a child. I used to play in the leaves, the beginning of the new school year, football games, Halloween…. What a great time to be a child. This must be why I still love Halloween. Good thing I married a man who loves Halloween as much as I do!

This is my second landscape painting in a row. I’ve never really painted a landscape before and I must say I like it. Thank you to Blaine for suggesting it. I’m sure I’ll paint more in the future. I’d like to say that I welcome any photographs you may have taken and think it would make a good painting for me. Please feel free to email them to me at gayleetcheverry@sbcglobal.net I will give you a shout out if I use it and also plug your business if you have one to share!

I’ve had one question on my mind now for a few days. It comes from the Tao again (you’ll hear a lot about this book because it is my current read) from verse #13, which is Living With An Independent Mind. The question is WHAT’S MY OWN NATURE IF I HAVE NO OUTSIDE FORCES TELLING ME WHO OR WHAT I SHOULD BE? I have been focusing on the idea of living independent of the good and bad opinions of others. I let anyone speak his or her mind and at the same time I do not take it personal. It’s made a huge shift in my thinking. Given me much peace.

Many thanks to all for your support. Your kind, encouraging words mean more than you’ll ever know.

Much love, peace & blessings,

Gayle Etcheverry

For direct link to eBay auction click here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180161988344


http://www.gaylespaintings.com

Wolf Behind Tree Daily Painting #4

This Painting is SOLD.

September 15, 2007

The Daily Painting #4


Wolf Behind Tree


This is an original, unframed acrylic painting. Size is 18" x 24". The subject matter is of a wolf. I found a photograph years ago of this wolf and it's been sitting around for a long time. I just came across it and knew it was the perfect subject to paint. I don't know what it is about wolves, but I've always been fascinated by them.

I looked up wolf in my Animal Medicine cards and found the following information and realized this must be the reason why I am so drawn to them.

Wolf is the pathfinder, the forerunner of new ideas who returns to the clan to teach and share medicine. Wolf takes on make for life and is loyal like Dog. If you were to keep company with Wolves, you would find an enormous sense of family within the pack, as well as a strong individualistic urge. These qualities make Wolf very much like the human race. As humans, we also have an ability to be a part of society and yet still embody our individual dreams and ideas.

If you have drawn into Wolf medicine, you may be able to share your personal medicine with others. Your intuitive side may also have an answer or teaching for your personal use at this time. As you feel Wolf coming alive within you, you may wish to share your knowledge by writing or lecturing on information that will help others better understand their uniqueness or path in life. It is in the sharing of great truths that the consciousness of humanity will attain new heights. Wolf could also be telling you to seek out lonely places that will allow you to see your teacher within. In the aloneness of a power place, devoid of other humans, you may find the true you. Look for teachings no matter where you are. Wolf would not come to you unless you requested the appearance of the tribe’s greatest teacher.

* From MEDICINE CARDS by Jamie Sams & David Carson

=======================================================

I hope you enjoy this painting as much as I do. I had a wonderful time creating it. I painted it at night up on the rooftop deck. My dog Lucy stayed right at my side the entire time.

I am beginning to realize just how many wonderful things are happening all at the same time as I create each of these 'Daily Paintings'. One, my skills as a painter are improving dramatically. Two, all I can think about is going up to the loft to paint. Three, it NEVER feels like work.

Big thank you to Fred Albert and the quote you put on my Guestbook... “A master in the art of living draws no distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence to whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always seems to be doing both.”
-Author Unknown

I am beginning to understand that quote more and more each day.

Thank you and happy bidding!!

Peace & blessings,
Gayle Etcheverry

To go directly to the eBay auction click here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180158600657


The Daily Paintings,
http://www.gaylespaintings.com