Thursday, December 25, 2014

Light of the Season! The Celebrations of December


Merry Christmas! 


Today is Christmas, and I hope you all, who are celebrating this day, are celebrating in peace and joy!

For this post, I will begin at the beginning! (Of December, that is.)

First off,  one of my top 5 Christmas Songs!!!  It was originally written for Frank Sinatra who first recorded it in 1954, as a "B" side to a cover of "White Christmas." This recording is from just a few years ago, but I seem to love every version!


A few days after thanksgiving my cousin Allie came over for dinner, and decorating! We also looked through my albums of Christmas cards and photos, and reminisced about the holidays of yore! What a lovely evening!

Allie helping with the beads on my little bird and butterfly tree. LOVE beads on a tree!


My mom, for years, had been wanting to have a mother daughter gathering for our old friends from Ventura, where I grew up. The moms still get together, and a few of us girls, but many of us don't and certainly not all together at once! These are all ladies that have known each other for 40 years!



Here, a few of the daughters, who are now older than the mothers were, when they all met!



It was such a lovely afternoon, in Ojai. I stayed up there through my birthday and did some celebrating, in Ojai and Ventura style!


Bonnie Lu's for my birthday pumpkin pancakes!


Then, Indian food in Ventura with my high school friends ...


In making a wish, great focus is necessary!


And then two different nights out in Los Angeles, for Italian food! I might have gotten a bit carried away this year. I mean, carb coma is to be expected, but two nights in a row of tiramisu?  

And wine, of course ...


One of the lovely ladies from my pastel group had a holiday party for us at her beautiful home ...





And a few of us at my work, The Wizard of Art, were invited for a night of Hanukkah, by Anna (one of my amazing students I've known for 6 years!) and her very cool mom Carol.


Anna, Audrey and Mekenzie



It was my first time at a Hanukkah dinner and it was so special spending it with my Wizard girls!  I do think I ate at least a half dozen crispy latkes, with applesauce and sour cream. Yum!

My first Hanukkah present ... this beautiful hand crocheted necklace! Love!


And at the Wizard, there was definitely some Christmas spirit, among the kids!

Lorelei with her Rudolph and Clarice acrylic painting!


Marielle and her watercolor of Santa with Woodland Creatures ...


And Ava, with her pastel of Hot Cocoa and Christmas Cookies! (Note the size ratio of Ava and the paper! So Cute!)



And, at least once a year, I like to experience the throngs of humanity, last minute shopping. I was under no pressure because my shopping was done, except for Christmas ornaments, which go one sale a the end of the season.

These were taken at the The Grove shopping Center, in Los Angeles. Don't you love twinkle lights?








It's that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear seems to say
"Merry Christmas,
May your New Year dreams come true."

And this song of mine
in three-quarter time,
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too.
~Sammy Cahn


Many Blessings,
Peace and light 
to you 
and
Yours!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

A Year of Amazing kids' Art!!!

So, here are a few of my favorites, from a year of amazing artwork, at The Wizard of Art!!! Get ready to be inspired!

The Wasp
Pastel and Charcoal on paper
(Look at that gorgeous line-work!)


Atticus, 5 years old (now 6)
Resident sweetiepie 
(and just may run and knock you over with his hugs! 
No kidding, I was knocked to the floor once!)


Hog Pipe
Ink on paper


Zoe, 11, Artist
Still waters run deep
Future Conceptual Artist


Still Life with Apple
Watercolor and pastel on paper


Hazel, 7
Artist and future attorney general of United States


Colorful Crab
Pastel on Paper


Cleo, 10,
Masterful Artist and future President of the United States
(A psychic told her this and I can totally believe it.)


Cardinal in a Snow Storm
Watercolor and pastel on paper


Nicky, 8
Painter and future animator, actor, musical theater director and clothing designer, before the age of 20.


Shark with Mustache
Charcoal on Paper


Jamie, 8
(Now he's 9 and doing amazing renderings of his favorite architectural structures, including Frank Lloyd Write. Pretty sure he will be an architect, or Modern Art Historian. He's obsessed with Mondrian, Paul Klee and Kandinsky.)


Scull with antlers
Graphite on paper


Satchi, 10 going on 30
I might want to be her when I grow up. She's totally cool an relaxed, being in the world.
She will be going into a business, hired as an artist, and end up running the corporation before they even know it.


Indian Elephant 
Mixed media


Sophia, 5 (now 6)
Artist, storyteller, and maybe the cutest voice you've ever heard. 
Future illustrator and cast member of Prairie Home Companion

 
Scarlett Macaw
Watercolor on paper 


Kaya, 13
Artist and future employee of Disney/Pixar


Blue Eyed Cat
Pastel and charcoal on paper


Evie, almost 5
Artist, dreamer and fairy child. Future children's book author of fantastical tales.


Panda Love
pastel on paper


Echo, 6
Artist and future cast member of The Groundlings 


Perfume Bottle
Pastel and charcoal on paper


Ruby, 9
Artist, and never leaves without hugging her teachers. She kills me.


The Band
Guache and ink on paper
(Commissioned by the band.)


Audrey, 17
Artist, already an amazing art teacher, and I can't wait to see how her art continues to evolve. I've known her since she was 11 and it's been so fun to watch her grow! 


Weeping Angel
Mixed media 

Shelby, 11
Artist, old soul and always radiant. This angel will be a teacher of some kind. And I mean teacher with a big "T." She already is.


Tiger and the Tree
Pastel on Paper


Tessie, 8
Artist and cat lover. This was only her second piece she did in class.
 I'm still getting to know her but she is incredible.


Magical Elephant
Watercolor and pen


Maddie, 9
Artist and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. 
Future volunteer - anywhere she's ever asked.


Colorful Bird
Watercolor on Paper


Gabriel, 11
Artist and future Mayor (of anywhere he ever lives.)


The Chinese Teapot
Pastel on paper


Juliette, 10
Artist and pre-Raphaelite model in a past life. 


Lion in Color
Acrylic on canvas


Lorelei, 11
Artist and granddaughter (she comes to class, along with her grandparents- they are hilarious together) and future cartoonist for The New Yorker.


The Griffin
Oil on canvas


Sadie, 9
Sensitive painter, kind spirit, and will do anything she wants with her art. Her dad is a sculptor and her mom is a clothing designer and art is in her blood. 


Hendrix
Acrylic on canvas


Keya, 8
Artist, cool kid, and future writer (and illustrator) for Rolling Stone Magazine


Peacock
Pastel on Paper


Mia, 8 years old
Artist, animal lover and future eyewear designer



Autumn Colors
Watercolor on paper


Natalie, 13
Beautiful watercolorist, sweetheart and future art teacher (fingers crossed.)


Blue Figure
Oil on canvas



Anna, 17
Extraordinary Painter and future art therapist and Tulane Graduate! Congrats Anna! 
(She's headed there in the fall!) She and her family had us over for Hanukkah. So sweet.


Paul (The Wizard) behind Anna's Painting!



Yosemite Valley in Spring
Pastel on Paper


William, 7 
Artist, mathematician, and first to crack the code. (any code.)


African Elephants
Watercolor on paper


Chloe, 10
Master watercolorist and peacekeeper


Self Portrait of Pearl
Mixed media on paper


Pearl, 9,
Artist, designer and future Milliner, who brings hats back to the main-stream.



There are no seven wonders of the world 
in the eyes of a child.
There are seven million.
~Walt Streightiff

Happy Holidays!!!
Blessings and light!