Today is where my book begins...

I feel like the song "Unwritten" ...staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find...reaching for something in the distance, so close you can almost taste it, release your inhibitions...today is where your book begins...the rest is still unwritten...
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Yep that's where I'm at right now! I can feel the inspiration for sooo many projects of ideas I've had for years come alive and it's really exciting! When this song first came out my husband told me that it reminded him of me. Funny thing was that I didn't see that back then...I think because I was still in a negative state from being depressed over my grandma's passing away...


I had just finished getting my 1st children's story published and I was getting ready to look into ways to self promote when my grandma got sick. Within a month she died...and so did my enthusiasm for everything that I was about...my artwork, my story, my just being happy with family & friends.


So my husband was seeing me as the way I was before and at that time I was soo not mentally ready for inspiration even though I was desperately needing it! But now, I hear this song and it's sooo me! I know the Lord is telling me that it's time to move forward with enthusiasm again...to release my inhibitions. Today is where my book begins...the rest is still unwritten!
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The cool thing about this is that lately I've been drawing this cute lil' bear and I felt immediately that she was so cute I had to continue drawing her in different outfits and soon I started to feel that finally I have the new character I've been trying to create! I have been wanting to write more children's stories for years as I always have ideas for more but I was stuck w/out a character...I guess that's how I work...lol!


Here's a few paintings I created using some of the characters as gifts for my neices on their Birthdays:

This is Baby Bea's Big sister Betty who loves ladybugs so much that she decided to dress as one! Actually I created this one especially for my Goddaughter/neice Lexi...she was the inspiration for this character because of how much she loves ladybugs! :) "Just Bloom" is actually a quote from my 1st children's story "The Rose In Floralsopar".


Now this is the main character: 'Baby Bea' who's full name is Beatrice Beary. She is only a year old so her character is actually inspired by my 1 yr old niece Zoey! I painted this for my niece Natalie's B-day and she loved this! She's a girly girl who loves pink and polka dots...the look on her face when she opened this was soo touching and will be a precious memory to me always!

As you can see I'm inspired greatly by my nieces as well as my nephews! I am also working on finishing up some artwork to sell, as well as getting pics prepared to post for the etsy shop, and I plan on posting a painting daily. Well, I have much more work to do and also need to start dinner. Have a blessed day everyone! Cre8tvlyYrs ~ Gina :)

P.S. Boy, I sure didn't plan on writing a novela here! lol!

Faith is all it takes, to walk on the water...

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my newly 'remodeled' blog! :)

I've been very busy this past week finishing up, starting new, and taking pictures of more finished artwork to get my Etsy Art Boutique set up! I'm really excited about this as well as a little nervous about putting myself out there...which is what the title of this post is all about. I had been hesitating to take this step for a while due to my inner fear of rejection that I'm sure most artists go through...I realized that the Lord gave me this gift of creativity and passion for art for a reason so with that...I need to keep my faith strong and take this step...to walk on the water...what do I have to fear anyways? Jesus is there on the water with me...so here I go...stepping out in faith! :)

If your an Art collector or just looking for some new Art to decorate your home, I hope you will consider my artwork. I have original paintings on both canvas and canvas paper as well as prints available to choose from. The original paintings on canvas paper and artwork prints look exceptionally beautiful matted and in frames.

I also have a variety of styles that I like to paint such as abstract/expressional, whimsical multi-media collaged paintings to whimsical children illustration drawings and paintings. I have so many drawings that I haven't even started to paint yet...so be on the lookout for those! I will also be offering many of my paintings and drawings as greeting cards, magnets, and so much more in the near future.

So with all that, I'd like to invite you to visit my Art Boutique ~ Here's a link to my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Cre8tvlyYrsGina
Please keep in mind that I am still in process of adding more art in the next few days. Also, there are some originals that will not be offered as prints so be sure to get them if you really want them.

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read about my venture here! Please feel free to leave me a comment, I'd love to hear from you! :)
Have a blessed day! Cre8tvlyYrs ~ Gina :)

Leap of Faith...Be Brave!

I am always amazed at how fast time just zooms by! Especially how it's been over a month since I last posted here! Not that anyone's noticed...I am actually pretty sure that I don't have any readers here...and I'm ok with that! This blog is really my digital art journal anyways, just a way for me to document my art journey. If there happens to be a reader or two...hope I'm at least entertaining for ya! ;)

Well, since I last posted here I actually have been creating and painting here and there...finally moving into a more 'consistent' phase! Lately I've just been having fun painting backgrounds, backgrounds and even more backgrounds! I took some photos of them to post but I'm not really happy with the pics of them...they really are more colorful and so fun...I really need a better quality camera! Since these were painted on canvas paper I will try scanning these and see if there's a better outcome...for now here's a little peak at a few of them:


The 1st one is actually on canvas and has more blues and a little collaging on the edges, the 2nd one was more of a spiritually led type of work, and the bottom backgrounds were created all in fun! I am working on other things but lately I'm mostly creating backgrounds!
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This weeks goal: I will begin selling my artwork in my etsy shop!! I actually don't have a choice...I need to just be brave and move forward already! We all know how money is tight and jobs are hard to find right now, well for me with all my health conditions...let's just say it's a bit more challenging for me to find a job. Sooo, I've realized for a while now that I need to use the talents that I've got...I'm not all too bad with art and being creative so I figure I got to at least try. I mean really try...I've had an etsy shop but I've never promoted it...not even to my family and friends!!

So here's where the part about me being brave...I need to just take that leap of faith!! No more wasting time...life is way to short for that!

On my way now...getting ready to try out my wings!

I did it...well at least the main part! It really felt good to just move or as I like to call "dance" my paintbrush on the canvas! I am planning to add some new techniques to this so I'll post it as soon as it's officially finished! I really like the richness of the colors on the black background and what's even cooler is that I don't have to outline my painted subject. As I'm developing my style I noticed that I really like to outline my art w/ black or even white as it really makes them pop!!

I was going through my artwork yesterday as I was showing a dear friend of mine what I've been up to and I can't believe that it's been already 3 years since I began painting again! I've always been drawing for years but didn't begin painting on canvas until 2007. I used to paint here and there before but more like home decor type of stuff...you know like tole painting on wood pieces for gifts and holiday craft fairs. I used to be really into crafting and even used to sell at little crafts fairs magnets and wall plaques for decorations. It's funny because even though I enjoyed creating those pieces sometimes they they would come out too 'artsy' which led me to eventually follow my heart! So now I will be getting ready to try out my wings...watch out world...I'm on my way now!!

Taking baby steps...

with my creativity: Here's my newest Artwork in Progress, which I haven't yet felt inspired with a title for yet. I have a few 16"x20" canvases that I had painted black a while back to try painting on black instead of white, so I sketched a flying heart on it and began to paint...a little.

Back before I had that hospital scare I would have painted a whole painting and then perhaps even start a new one. But these days...let's just say that I am happy just to be painting again. I never would have thought that I would be in a state of creative halt that I am needing to take baby steps to get back in to doing that which I really love to do.

So here is what I painted in less than 10 minutes on Day 1 (Tuesday 5/18):

On Day 2 (5/19) I added the wings, also in about 5 - 10 minutes:

On Day 3 (today 5/20) here is a bright color of green I added in less than 5 minutes.

So at this point I am definately taking baby steps in my artistic path but I know that in no time I'll be able to run down the path again soon!!

Inspired by the color BLUE...

Lately I have become so attracted to the color blue...of course blue skies are my favorites but I usually get pink as much as possible. So when my dh & I went to get paint for my new Art/Craft Room I knew I wanted a nice shade of blue...not pink! My Artie was surprised yet relieved at the same time and I am sooo glad I chose blue too! I am so happy because I FINALLY finished putting together my room! Here's a little look at my journey to this itty bitty accomplishment:

First I started to paint the edges & corners as my nephew/Godson Fabi helped me by painting with the roller and in no time voila it was all blue! So I began to get my studio together back in March...

But then I got stuck right here...I'm too embarrassed to show how bad it actually got but it was definately what you would call 'Creative Chaos and Clutter'! I not only got stuck on what to do next in here but also I was stuck creatively! My dog Angela even looked uncomfortable when I'd bring her to her cubby in the evening...no wonder huh?

So I finally 'super focused' this weekend on finishing and now my room is nice and finally put together!! I got my supplies and zones all set for me when I'm ready to CREATE!! I'm sooo excited and feel inspired! Here's the paper/paint section: My white cubby holds all my scrapbook paper and the little desk is my 'card making' zone...and of course this is my painting zone:

and my puppy is even happy to go mimi's in her little zone too! :)

The year of changes continues...Remodeling Part 2

Well it is now Mother's Day...which has always been bittersweet for me. I am happy to celebrate my mom's, and all my family & friends who are mom's but I couldn't help but to feel a silence of sadness. It's actually a little louder now since I am 41 and still haven't had a child of my own...I usually push out any thoughts of this and try to keep myself as distracted as possible. This year is different...I guess it's all a part of this year of changes for me.

I don't feel too sad, in fact, I'm just allowing myself to think about it...but not in a feel sorry for myself kind of way. I've actually realized that I am a mom spiritually to 2 of my miscarried babies, so in that way I can feel blessed that at least I will get to meet them one day. :) I named my first baby Michael whom was miscarried January 1996 and the 2nd is Julia Estrella miscarried July 2000. So imagine my surprise when I realized that I really am a mom! I can't believe it took me so long to see this! Happy Mother's Day to me after all!! :)

I know the title of this blog is a little misleading since I'm not yet remodeling my home but I am a work in progress mentally, spiritual and physically! So just keep in mind that when you see 'remodeling' in my blog titles it may not necessarily be about a home improvement project but of a 'me' improvement! :) God bless you all and Happy Mother's Day to all of us mom's!!