And we are back...

Well sort of.

When I last signed on, I knew my subscription would be up the end of March for this year’s broadcast of my website.

The website has been a bit of a thorn in my side since I closed the business in late 2018. Should I keep it, or should I let it go? Should I add a shopping site or leave the Etsy page in place? I still don’t have the answers to these questions, but as a late Birthday gift to myself, I decided to take a bit of my stimulus money and re-up the website for another year. Cheers to me!

Shortly after my last post, the part-time job that I have been working at for the last 5 months was asked to close due to the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020. We were situated in a Mall, so it was no surprise when the directive from corporate came down to close the doors. They paid us for 2 weeks and then furloughed everyone except the manager. The whole episode is still pretty crazy. Even as some states are opening or trying to open.

Our Mall has reopened and corporate is going through stages to get the store back open to customers. Unfortunately, retail as we knew it is gone, and something new will emerge. I am a “touchy, feely” girl so I will miss all the choices that were once available in the hands-on world.

Meanwhile back at the ranch…

We became dutiful citizens that agreed to an imposed lockdown. I always have lots to do and learn when not on someone else’s clock. I would like to get my art business back up and running. This takes me sitting my butt in the chair and producing pieces that can be added to my Etsy shop. This part is a daily work in progress. I also enjoy learning new things to grow creatively and produce new products for my shop. I decided to join Skillshare.com to add some new tricks to my skill set. It’s all been good. But, truth be told I miss my crazy co-workers (“it takes one to know one”) and the interesting customers that come into the shop. I’m yearning to be back out in the world.

During the month of April, I did a creative challenge on Instagram. It was fun. I mixed hand drawing and digital art for each of the 30 days prompt. The piece you see above was a response to the prompt word “ broom.” This image came to mind when I read the magical prompt. Over the next few blog posts, I will share my favorites unless there is Earth-shattering news (not).

So, here I am waiting for the world lights to go back on. My hope and prayers are that we stupid humans don’t screw it up and have to go back in lockdown. WORD!!! Stay safe, vigilant , and healthy my friends and we will see you back here soon.

Peace Out,

sheree A.K.A Mystical Medusa

March 4, Trials and Errors

March 4, 2020

"Being an artist... a lot of what it really means is trial and error. Trying things that don't work... that's how you learn." - Autumn de Forest

Today's quote was long, to use it in my image, I would have to shorten the length. After paraphrasing, the truth rang out. There are many pieces that I work on that will never see the light of day. Some have too much detail, others have too little or the color balance is wrong. These images may be discarded altogether or held in a file for another day.

The inspiration image for this piece was a beautiful girl/woman wearing a crown of Crayola crayons- "Oh, the possibilities".

Some trials and errors did go into this finished piece.

Most of the digital pieces I created for the February Creators Challenge have ten to twenty Photoshop layers within them. They all are twisted and turned to bring to life the mood I wish to create for the finished piece. This process can go smooth or it can be a bumpy ride. At times my timeline runs out and I just need to post. Make no mistake, that which I couldn't finish will go smoother from the experimentation in a future piece.

I liked this finished piece and it came together relatively easily. It represents the core of most of my work. Beautiful girls, women, and matrons in beautiful places and spaces.

And who wouldn't want a crown of many colors? Send one my way, please.

Until tomorrow-

sheree greek A.K.A Mystical Medusa

March 3rd- Directions

March 3, 2020

"To be great, art has to point somewhere." -Anne Lamott

"True North" rang in my ears when I read this quote on the third day in February.

There is something magical about the North Star compasses and finding one's way. Maybe it comes from my love of Walt Disney's movie Peter Pan. Lost and finding your way, home or wherever it is you want or need to go. I could recite some lines from the film, but it has been way too long since I watched the original animated version. The probability that I would butcher them would be extremely strong.

Day 3 started with a great image of a compass and a key. Unlocking one's passion if you follow your True North direction is what the image conjured in my mind. The compass will point somewhere if you set your course.

To be honest, the color scheme doesn't float my boat in this image, but with time constraints I had to keep moving. That's the thing about challenges, if you want to post daily, you need to accept the good, bad and the ugly. Learning within time constraints clears the vision in short order, sometimes changes can't be made. One must keep moving. I have learned to accept the fact that not every piece is a masterpiece, but the potential of something greater. The secret usually unfolds in a future piece.

This image came together relatively quickly. And it may be one of my favorites.

A few weeks after I did this image, I was in a crystal shop and found the necklace you see in the photo below. It brought to mind my image of True North and I purchased it. I intend to find a small charm of the North Staer and a small compass and adding the to the key. It seems like a good talisman for setting my art world course.

Let's see what direction my journey takes me.

Later you all-

sheree greek A.K.A Mystical Medusa

March 1, 2020 - A Creativity Challenge

March 1, 2020

Well, here I am again trying to clean up my website and be more consistent with blog posts. ...and so it goes.

Last month, I participated in a creative challenge hosted by the I create daily brand. I had done a challenge hosted by these folks last year and thoroughly enjoyed the process.

With most challenges, it is part of the process to create goals and intentions at the onset of the challenge. For this challenge, I had hoped to do more physical painting instead of computer generate pieces.

As usual (and it's almost guaranteed) the Universe threw me a curveball and my work-life sped up after a month of slowdowns in January. Overall I give myself a solid B for participation. I had hoped for a few things during the month, but they were not to be.

Most of my entries ended up being computer generated with a photographic pieces thrown in for good measure. No painting- and I have to live with that, maybe next time. "Posted not perfect" was my mantra for the month.

I also missed one day which I will try to throw into this mix, as I muse about the daily quotes. I also had little time to participate in the Facebook Group, my loss.

So away we go-

"Art is a subset of creativity." - Chase Jarvis

I start these computer-generated pieces with an inspiration image that I may find on the internet, tearsheets I keep in files, or personal photos. I push the image through several different art apps that I have on my phone and computer. I then layer the pieces in Photoshop rearranging, deleting, and adding layers until I get the desired mood for any given piece.

I have a Wacom tablet, so I will also draw on layers to achieve desired effects. 

This quote for Day 1 was a little puzzling to me. "Subset" I understand the word but, it didn't resonate with art and creativity, in my mind.

When I create, and I am in the flow, I view my pieces with childlike wonderment. I amaze myself with the outcome of some piece. And know reaily when a piece nees to be scrapped.

I do try to see the wonder in most things. Life is a challenge, full of hope, joy, and beauty. It also comes to us in pain suffering and disappointment. We must take the good with the bad and learn from both lessons. Much like life, art is” in the eye of the beholder”.

Art has been a touchstone for me when times were rough. I would draw the pain or replace it with beauty. In times of struggle, I would subconsciously pick up a new tool or try a new medium, learning to grow in the physical, while healing or melding events in my subconscious. Subset maybe? Improving myself most definitely. Much like the toddler or child viewing the world all anew with each growth spurt.

As a sidebar, I must declare I am not a writer at all. These musings are strung together to sort of tell my story about the images I produced for the Febuary Creators Challenge As I said before, my mantra for last month was "posted not perfect" and I think it will apply again this month.

later you all-

xoxo sheree greek A.K.A. Mystical Medusa 

March 2- Musings from the challenge

March 2, 2020

"It is not a torment to be an artist, it is a privilege." - Louise Bourgeois

This was the only day during the challenge that I was able to paint. Sometimes when I paint, I plan out the whole scene, and sometimes I will paint in pieces. These pieces are the beginning of a scene that came to me, out of the blue, back in January.

Over the past several years a story has been running around in my head about a Traveller girl who visits lost places and meets wonderful creatures. 

This Traveler girl has been featured in my paintings over the years in several of my paintings. Here are a few, with many more needed. 

So back to the quote. 

Time seems to be my torment, not the art. I seem to get lost in paintings when I am working on them. I once had a teacher that recommended setting a timer for 20 minutes daily. Take this time to sit and do some work. After 21 days it becomes the habit.

Blocking out any time doesn't seem to be in my picture these days. Life work/balance is also a torment. I have managed the balance in the past, it seems to elude me these days.

To be clear, I have always considered it an honor to wear the title, Artist. I may not always step up to the challenge, but I know that it is my true calling.

My Traveller girl story will need to wait for another day.

See you all tomorrow-

sheree greek A.K.A Mystical Medusa

A Sunny Day-not so much

I started gathering the pieces for this image on Thursday when the Sun in this part of Florida was oh so sunny.

Today not so sunny. Rain, rain, and more rain today is in the forecast. After living in Northern Cali for some years, rainy days (full days) were a bit of an anomaly. I am taking a deep breath and looking closely at what to do indoors?

I had thought I might hit my storage unit and try to rearrange a few things, but I mean right now it is REALLY pouring!

Next on my list is laundry, no that can wait until tomorrow.

I know! Creating some digital art and updating this blog, That is the ticket.

This Wednesday will make one month since my feet hit the Florida soil.

It has been a bit of a bumpy road, but I have learned a few things about myself and others: some good and some not so good things. A blog post for another day.

I have tried very hard to put into perspective what "stuff" is essential to me and what I can truly live without in my day to day life. After all, there is always more "stuff."

I'm pretty much settled in here in Florida. The job market has proven to be as big a challenge here as it was in California. I am hoping to crack the code soon-very soon. I have had a few promising interviews, and I will report more on that as it unfolds. Don't want to jinx a thing.

I tried as hard as I could to join in on #inktober sooner rather than later. The days rolled by and I couldn't find this or that... Two days ago, the stars aligned and I was able to doodle a couple of sketches. Not my best work, but a couple of pieces to warm me up to get painting again very shortly- fingers crossed. I found a word prompt that worked with designers. The rules for Inktober are no paints, just ink, pens, nibs, and jars all things inky. I don't usually work this way, so pushing me out of my comfort zone is a good thing.

Time for me to get onto my next task, I think the Asian designer Izzy Miyake is the designer of this day. He does some great deconstructed designs. I will be on the hunt for a fun look that works with minimal color. Wish me luck!

Have a great weekend, you all! I am sure an update post will come ASAP, until then get on with your bad selves.

Enjoy the ride- sheree a.k.a. Mystical Medusa

Hello Sunshine

Well September was a wild ride and October might have a few twists and turns as well.

My exit from Monterey was unceremonial. I had lots of pieces to put together to exit by September 25th. I felt the pressure every damn day before taking off into wild blue yonder.

I didn't pack the way I should of, but things came apart in stages, not necessarily gathering and packing with like items. For instance, I had to pack a glass lampshade. I did bubble wrap it, but I also packed it with jackets and sweaters around to help with the shifting. Will I ever find anything again?

I moved to Monterey, CA, in 2002, from my beloved city of New York, NY. It was stressful, but I don't remember the shadiness of the moving industry that I saw this move.

I did all the research, collected all the facts, and thought I had made informed decisions moving my big stuff, car, and me. As it turned out, relocating me was the smoothest.

The moving company I choose was not to be believed and ended up costing me an additional $1000. over the $2600. estimate. My stuff is still out on the road, and I may write another blog talking about the thievery that this company was motivated to use.

My car move, well let's say I have more faith in this company. Although The day they were supposed to pick up

my car, their big rig broke down about 50 miles from Monterey. They had hoped that the truck would be fixed by the next day, my last day in Monterey. It wasn't, and I left my VW buggy behind as I flew out on Wednesday morning, September 25th, at 6 AM.

So my car sat in Monterey for a few days while a new big rig was sent for the pick-up. Unfortunate, the driver followed his GPS carefully, and it took him down a side street where he took out a low hanging tree branch and part of the trunk. YIKES! Thankfully the rig wasn't damaged; my car was loaded and on its way to me. The Word is that the delivery should happen today. We shall see.

So, I am in Sunny, Florida, waiting for my stuff. No car makes it a challenge to learning my way around and looking for work. All in good time I guess.

My art supplies are all in shipping mode at this time, so digital is my creative method today. Hopefully, a pad and some art pens will fall into my lap shortly, and my doodles will come to life.

Time to move on, I have a car to rescue.

Yup I got this.

Later You All

Sheree AKA Mystical Medusa

Today is the Day

The movers come today to pick up the boxes of large things from my storage unit. The car movers come Sunday/ Monday, they needed a 2 day window and will call two hours before they arrive. I leave Wednesday September 25th.

and so it goes, The Long Good-Bye.

Time is moving in slow motion in some moments and sped up in others. Everyday I would ask myself if there was something I wanted to see one more time in this wondrous place? I have tried to take that piece of beauty on one last time.

I am leaving the Monterey Peninsula area with a pocket full of wonderful memories, and bunch of knowledge about myself and others. I am thankful for the glorious, the mediocre situations, and the disappointments. These experiences were all part of a bigger plan- which is yet to unfold.

This post will be short and sweet and hopefully my computer will make it safe and sound to the other side so we all can chat again. In the meantime, I will be experimenting with my Squarespace app on my iPad. Never worry I will be checking in on IG, and Facebook as the journey continues.

See you all soon- sheree greek A.K.A. mystical medusa