Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Inspire Your Heart With Art Day

Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  Having a cartoonist/artist father, art was a normal and constant part of my daily existence.

When I was five I began drawing and coloring voraciously.  My biggest thrill was when my father would bring home old newsprint, that the paper didn't need, and grease crayons. (For those who aren't familiar, you would "sharpen" grease crayons by unraveling the paper around the crayon by pulling a string and the paper would come off in "curls" which would sharpen the crayon.)

At age five I was also insanely in love with Mickey Mouse. I used to ask my Dad to draw Mickey for me and he would happily oblige. I remember being appalled when I went to a friend's house and asked her Dad to draw me "Mickey" and he told me he didn't know how. I was incredulous. I remember thinking, "You don't know HOW to draw Mickey Mouse? Don't ALL Dads draw?" Apparently not.



Art remained a huge part of my life. I was always drawing and had plans to major in Art which fell through because I was advised to choose a major that was more "practical." I would hardly call a major of Rhetoric and a minor in Philosophy practical, but I digress...

Art was my solace, my refuge, my escape. I drew constantly. My  focus in high school college prep was Art. To escape from the sadness I felt at the snobby High School I attended, I used to do my artwork in the hallway, ON THE FLOOR. Classes would change and there I would sit, cross-legged on the floor, drawing away, never looking up, just immersed in my craft.
My latest coloring page
from Coloring Cute Cats and Pretty Kitties
I am so happy with how
it turned out!


When I graduated from college and entered the "real world" my artwork fell by the wayside. It wasn't until this past year, with adult coloring books becoming popular, that I had the desire to create anything that involved coloring or drawing. I am so happy I began to color again! Next on my agenda will be to resume drawing.

With today being "Inspire Your Heart With Art Day", I encourage you to do something with art that will inspire YOU.  Draw, color, do something  take a photo and edit it, you don't have to be "crafty". There are NO RULES. Add a cat to your creation, a dog, or whatever other animal you love, add something from nature, Just create and ENJOY!! " Go to a gallery, theatre, cinema, or music venue, and soak up the art. Remember the instruction, though: Inspire Your Heart."

What are you going to do to "inspire your heart with art" today?







55 comments:

  1. We love your colouring page, it looks fantastic! Our biped has considered the adult colouring book, but admits she doesn't have the patience for them, they're too intricate for her. She'll stick with her snapshots! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like a great book! I entered the giveaway but not sure the rafflecopter thingie WORKED! Anyway, your artwork is GORGEOUS Caren.....you are an expert with color and I know how wonderfully fulfilling it is to create ANYTHING. I still draw and paint from time to time - art is healing!

    Love and Hugs, Pam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm...I may pop over and check. There is only one entry option...I may try and enter and see. Thank you so much Pam about the artwork, I am super happy with how this one came out. Cody was my inspiration.....he was sitting next to me the entire time I was coloring this!! You are soooo talented, we both need to do more artwork, it IS healing!! Love you!!! xoxo

      Delete
  3. I always enjoy seeing your coloring, and now I know why you have such great color sense--you were a rhetoric major/philosophy minor. Of course! I grew up with a love of drawing and coloring too. It is so relaxing and such fun. BTW, Cody, you CANNOT eat Mickey Mouse!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you so much!! Trust me I have colored a few that I was disgusted with. This one I truly love. Yeah, Rhetoric and Philosophy....I am definitely "out there" lol!!!! All lofty thoughts and no practicality! lol!! xoxo

      Delete
  4. Caren, this is a great post! I studied history (stories!) and I love to write, but I minored in art history, because the art reflected the minds and loves of the people. In honor of this post, I'll go out and snap photos of the snow-covered trees, after the snowfall last night. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There ya go! Sounds perfect!!! Thanks so much too! You are MUCH, MUCH more intelligent than I am. We are total opposites in reference to loving history.......I shouldn't admit that I always hated it. I always preferred concepts over facts..hence my distaste for math and science too lol. I guess I am just an idiot!! lol!!

      Delete
  5. Very cool and so is your art! My Dad says he relates more to Goofy than Mickey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! lmao about Dad relating to Goofy!!!!!! Still laughing!!

      Delete
  6. Way cool artwork. I never had the knack or the desire to do art. Okay, I was terrible at anything artsy. I've not a crafty bone in my body. Some folks have it and some don't.

    Have a fabulous day, Caren. Big hug to you and tons of scritches to Cody and Dakota. ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you have TONS of other talents that I do NOT have!!! You have a fabulous day too, sending lots of love! xoxo

      Delete
  7. What a great story Caren! Your colorization of the cat was beautiful. I have no talent for art and that is why I admire people who do!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi my furiend!!!!! Thank you!!!!! I am CERTAIN you would have coloring talent...and...your photography talent is just over-the-top and I wish I had YOUR talent for photography!!! I admire YOU!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is such a beautiful story Caren and I love the result of your coloring!

    ReplyDelete
  10. CODY! Git over here! Into the beddie wif me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. dood !!!!! how total lee kewl iz thiz !!!!! thiz post iz awesum az iz yur momz werk....we headed over ta yur gram pawz link....how even mor total lee awesum iz/waz hiz career !!!! yur gram paw bee famouz dood...we think yur mom shuld most shirley follow thru with her desire ta start drawing again.....look at gram ma moses...pluz...her dad wood bee buzzed proud N happee ..984 paws up on thiz post...may bee we will bug yur mom each month ta draw....what cha think !! ♥♥♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMC you are the SWEETEST!!!! Thank you!!! Yeah, Grandpa was famous, he was brilliant and so talented, thank you!!! Mom said to tell you she loves you to pieces!!! xoxo

      Delete
  12. I'm not good at art AT ALL. One of my elementary school art teachers made sure I knew that too. However, after years of anorexia (and a horrendous childhood) - I found that I could express feelings and impressions in art that I couldn't in any other way. It wasn't good by any standard ... but it always made me feel good when someone would stop me and tell me they could relate or my piece helped them understand eating disorders in a way they never had before. Art (and music) is medicine for me :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My heart goes out to you. ALL kids are good in Art. It's the schools with their "cookie-cutter" rules that kill it for kids. When I was in school, I ALWAYS used both hands to write (I didn't choose left or right I switched back and forth). The school called my parents telling them to have me choose a hand to write with. Thankfully, having a rebel artist for a father, he told the school "to leave me the hell alone and let me use whatever hand I wanted." I also had a miserable childhood and drawing was my salvation. My escape. I TOTALLY get it. xoxoxo

      Delete
  13. Beautiful coloring, Caren ! Claire needs to be creative for her life balance. Purrs

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mommy is so guilty that because of her busy work sched (working OT every day) she has no time to color right now.

    Emma and Buster

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well, mama is very fortunate because she is an artist and illustrator and draws all the time and is having an expo in May in Port-Vendres, France. But this post made her even more energetic about her art and seeing the art of others. Lovely kitty art today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhh I am dying!! Wish I lived in France!!!! Would LOVE to see your Mama's Expo!!

      Delete
  16. Your coloring page turned out great! I love the bright colors you chose. :) My grandfather was an artist. I always loved watching him draw. Lately, my kitties have been the inspiration of a lot of my art.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I haven't jumped on the coloring bandwagon yet. I'm afraid once I do, I'll never stop (I loved coloring as a kid) and then I'll never get anything else done. :). ~Island Cat Mom

    ReplyDelete
  18. We love your beautifur kitty page! Did you know that today I announced a Blogvile art challenge where we do self pawreaits! Efurrybody is welcome!
    Your Furend
    Louis Dog Armstrong

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I emailed you Dakota's portrait, uh oh, did you not receive it?

      Delete
  19. Art in any form as a creative express is a must these days. It reduces stress and makes us happy. It's why coloring is more popular than ever. I love your kitty coloring and I while I don't use coloring books I create graphics, photo art etc. every day. I used to make hand drawn and colored mandalas and itching to do them once life settles down a bit ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Caren, its never too late. I have a very successful artist friend who did not start painting until she retired 3 years ago.
    Go for it girlfriend!
    Ciao
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb I so wish you lived near me so we could do art together!!!!! Thank you for that MUCH NEEDED encouragement!! xoxo

      Delete
  21. Art is a wonderful escape. Great job on the coloring page.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Definitely start to draw again. I can't wait to see your drawings. I know they'll be wonderful cos you're good at all you do. TW spent the day making art in Photoshop. She never could draw nor was she creative. Good thing she could write some.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hell no I am NOT "good at everything I do" I sure wish!!!!! Thank you!! TW you are sooooooooooo talented!!! You write beautifully, you are funny, intelligent, anyone can do art if they don't worry about it! xoxo

      Delete
  23. Your colouring page is gorgeous! And the cat with Mickey Mouse made me laugh. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I remember looking up your father before and thinking wow! I know his daughter. I used to draw as teenager - I could draw anything. Now its a struggle due to essential tremor and eyesight yet still worth it. Hope to see more of your work. Love the kitty - Gorgeous. And Katie Kitty Too thinks Mickey needs a wrestling match...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my I am so sorry. That has to be sooo hard!!!! ((((hugs)))

      Delete
  25. Alack and alas, I have absolutely no artistic talent. I do so envy you yours!
    I love the cat with Mickey Mouse.

    Shimona (Mummy to the J-Cats)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you but that is just coloring! Thank you so much!!!! That cat with Mickey Mouse is my boy, Cody!!!!! Shimona I LOVE your name!

      Delete
  26. Beautiful!

    I love art but I've never been very good at it, so that's why I've taken up photography as at least I don't have to draw!

    We'd love you to share your drawings on our Caturday Art Blog Hop one day :)

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you are so sweet!!! I am soooooooo "rusty" because I haven't drawn in ages, would be too hesitant to share at this point. You never know though! I used to be good, I just never draw so who knows? Photography is an art and you are quite talented at it! xoxo

      Delete
  27. What a timely post! In just a few hours I'll be starting my first-ever art class. It is run in the French Atelier style so there's some art history combined with painting in various styles and finding an individual style. You go with your art! Drawing is AWESOME!You can see mine at my art page if you want: ameliaboyernatureart.com (the link to my art blog is at the top)

    ReplyDelete
  28. That's so cool, Caren! We love your story about how you inherited your dad's artistic gene, and that you've re-discovered now with coloring. :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. You did a lovely job with that cat.. the eyes are just beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  30. My Aunt is quite artistic, and she used her talent to eventually become a master weaver. I have a few of her creations, and those of another lady who also was into weaving. I tried my hand at it...Oops, not fur me! I used to make a lot of original crocheted baby blankets, but having a job and children put a kabosh on that pastime.
    I think now my artistic ideas get put into the pictures I sometimes make for furry pals that have special occasions such as birthdays or when they become angels. You might have one yourself:)

    I just finoshed one...not my best...for a new angel kitty that left for the RB today. Two hours of work...sometimes they might take four hours. I hardly have time to even do those anymore. But then I discovered the way to cheat...and reuse a frame without disturbing the original:)
    Now I just have to be careful not to send the same frame to the same furmily, MOL!!

    Art is a great way to express yourself isn't it. And it seems the way we do that can change with the times of our life's needs.

    Your cat coloring is spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always wished I had a talented for crocheting, knitting, etc. In college I took a craft class, and when they got to macrame, the teacher said I was the FIRST and ONLY student in her 25 years of teaching that she couldn't get to learn macrame. I am HOPELESS with string/wool/yarn etc lol. I envy your talent!!!! Thanks so much about my coloring. Did one last night that came out dreadful. Just awful!!!!

      Delete
  31. My husband is an artist (although, he probably wouldn't call himself that) and I am amazed at his abilities. I can't wait to see your drawings!!! I can't draw anything to save my life! That's a very beautiful coloring, too.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your latest coloring page would make a beautiful tattoo!

    ReplyDelete