*A New Outlook*

Hello my friends! Since the last time I wrote I feel I've been given another chance to live a better life...that's usually what happens when we feel we were close to death...right? For me, yeah that was how I felt. I still can't believe this happened to me, in fact it was so sudden...in the beginning of the month I was feeling well, actually on a roll with my paintings...even worked on some spiritually inspired abstract art.

Then all of a sudden, 2 weeks ago, I ended up going to the ER twice within a week. I thought I was gonna die of a stroke or a heart attack when I suddenly got hit with a horrendous what turned out to be a combination of a tension/migraine headache. This was triggered by my blood pressure being so high as well as my blood sugars and the current stress we have been going through. Without boring you of all the details...the 2nd trip to the ER two days later by ambulance really did the trick to wake me up about being on top of my health issues. So from the 13th until the 20th this horrible migraine would not go away until the follow up Dr. appt when I was finally given the right meds for the headaches.

I am so happy to report that now I feel well enough to be able to be on the computer for longer than 10 minutes and my mind is able to 'think creatively' again! I am thanking God each day for another day of life every day. Of course, I always have...but now it means alot more than it did before. :)

I'm also excited since I've been working on some new stuff...I'm calling it 'Scriptura Art' It's more of a home decor look and so far I have the greens/browns/bronze color combos started. I'm also gonna work on the blues/browns combos next. I realize that even though I have a lot of subjects in mind to work on that I still have to take things easy...just one day at a time. Actually the 'Scriptura Art' is for a holiday Craft Boutique on November 15th at my church. I'm going to bring what ever I have ready and not stress about it...I'm mainly doing it to present myself as an artist to my community over here. :)

So that's pretty much why I haven't been posting on my blog and barely posted here and there on facebook. Oh yeah, I will be posting the artwork I had just finished up right before this incident on Flickr and FaceBook but I wanted to especially share my abstract piece here because it is pretty interesting...mainly because I rarely do abstract work. It actually was more of a spiritually led painting because I had the urge to paint when I was getting ready to go to bed, it was though the Lord said, "Wait a minute, your not done painting yet!" So then I grabbed a canvas some paints and here's what evolved:

There is so much to this painting that you'll have to check out the details when I post it on Flickr if your interested. Let's just say that there is a lot of hidden images within this painting from the paintstrokes to the paint formations itself! I feel so blessed by this...I really do, especially since this was totally spiritually led. When I finished this I was amazed by what I seen and this title came to mind shortly after: 'The Cleansing of the World".

It's so amazing because as I think about it now...it was as though the Lord was telling me, "I'm not finished with you yet" as I lay there in the ER thinking I just might die! The Lord is AWESOME isn't he? Love him sooooo much!!!

*Autumn's Garden Angels* - Version 1

Hello everyone!
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful Autumn weather as I have! I am most happy since I can actually go outside again! I have a few new pieces of artwork to share with you but I had an unexpected design job that I had to focus on this week so I didn't get to do everything I had planned on. I was also babysitting my baby niece Zoey again today and barely had a chance to post here now! Life is getting busier and busier for us lately!! In fact, we have 3 parties to go to this month! 2 of them being Halloween parties! I am trying to think of something for my Artie & I to be together. I don't want it to be evil or 'sexy' but not too cutesy either...anyone have any ideas? I'm probably gonna have to actually make the costumes for us so nothing too complicated either! ;)

I have also been getting other design jobs and even have some commissioned pieces to do! I am soo excited about that! I just finished designing birthday invitaions and I have another design job for b-day invites plus a slideshow, then a really big job for my brother's dj business...which is a pretty big deal + 2 commissions for the "Margarita" paintings...all due this month! Which makes me wonder if I'll have the time to paint other ideas?? lol!

I actually have no choice but to! My husband Artie has come up with an idea for us to do a private art show in our home for our family and friends to see and purchase my original artwork or order commissioned pieces! He wants it to include cheese platters and wine! He's sooo awesome for his support and enthusiasm of my work! We are planning this in November, not sure of the exact date yet but he's serious about this...so that means it will definately happen! :)

This of course means that I may not be blogging as much as I gotta put myself in gear and superfocus some more artwork!! But I did want to show you my latest work...

*Presenting...The two newest editions to my "Angelic Art". They are Autumn themed 'Garden Angels'...

This is 'Autumn'

This is Lil' Pumpkin

This is actually the 1st color combination version featuring fun bright colors. I am working on another version in more brown tones. I usually paint my current subjects first on canvas paper to experiment with the color combinations until I decide which colors I like best before actually painting on actual canvas. I will have these all available on etsy soon!

*****Happy Fall & Autumn Season...May God Bless you all!*****

*Fall'n behind...but with a Give Away!!*

Here I am!! Oh my goodness how fast the time flies!! I finally broke through the 'art freeze' number my brain was in!! For some reason, I was soo excited about the ideas of painting Autumn themed art but I couldn't get anything out!! That's part of the reason I hadn't posted any artwork plus I still have to take care of cleaning my house, cooking dinners and spending time with my husband and family and of course my puppy angela too!
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In fact, I was planning to paint all Saturday since my husband Artie had to work that night...but when my adorable Goddaughter/neice Lexi wanted to stay the night...I couldn't say no! So instead of drawing and painting (which I need to do completely undistracted!), there was no other choice but to play payday while watching 'Speed Racer' and then since I promised to do a project with her...which she chose to paint (who knew?)...here she is into her own little artwork:

So I just wanted to post this to let you know that I am a bit behind with what I was planning to do. :) But I promise I have alot more artwork on the way...I have only begun to paint!! lol! It's crazy cause I have like literally hundreds of ideas for paintings I want to do...I literally have dreams and wake up and go "oh, that would be cool!" - lol! But I am sooo excited with a few drawings of Autumny Angels I drew last night and I can't wait to paint them!! Here's a peek at them:
I've got so many ideas for Autumn alone so I'm going to focus on painting a few before actually 'revealing' them. Here's a peek at one piece I'm working on:

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*Also in the continuation with my 'Latina Flair' series, I've decided to use the women of my own family for inspiration starting with my beloved Grandma Prudy...she was one of the most beautiful women on this earth. I kid you not when I was a little girl I thought her name was Grandma Pretty! lol!

*I drew my version of one of my favorite vintage photos of her. I drew this on Sunday as I was waiting for the 'art freeze' on fall art break through! lol! Again I was surprised of how well it came out. This is literally my first attempt at portraiture work. I'm planning on painting this for a Christmas gift for my grandpa. Here's a peek of that:

*I'm also gonna be working on one of my favorite pics of my mom in her 'Disco Beauty Queen' days, and one of my favorite pics of my sis and I together. I'm not saying this conceitedly, so please don't take it that way, but there is alot of beauty in my family...not just on the outside but also the inside. The women in my family are so beautiful that we all at one time in our youth could've "done something with it" according to the world's standards but instead I am sooo proud of what I've seen all of us do with our beauty....

*We kept it inside...by sacrificing our own selves...my grandma Prudy was the greatest example of that...she gave of herself in her cooking and creating wonderful times for us to share and passed that torch down to my mom and then my mom to both my sister and I. My sister is more like my mom and grandma but mainly because she was blessed with children and I'm like that but in a different more 'spiritual' and artistic way. Well, I didn't mean to go into a 'family' biography of beauty! lol! That's just what I hope to capture with my work.

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Well, I know that this is like the longest blog post I've ever rambled on in!! lol! So I do have a little something to give away!! Especially if you've taken the time to read this whole blog entry! I just couldn't post without a little give away! This is a fun piece for fall...of course a pumpkin! Please excuse the picture but I was in a hurry to get this all posted! It is an actual painting but on canvas paper, it has a little collage going on in the pumpkin and has a little bling! It includes the scripture: The Lord Bless & keep you. -Numbers 6:24

Just post a short but sweet comment...letting me know how the Lord has blessed you! I will let my Artie do the honors of picking a number! The winner will be chosen this Friday, when I hope to have all my 'Autumn Art' ready to post and present to you! and with that...May the Lord Bless and keep you! :) Gina

Reflection #2 - The Moments that Matter

It's been an amazing year of growth for me on so many levels...but mainly in my self discovery. For decades I've wasted time in looking behind me instead of looking forward. It is something that I have regretted but at the same time, I'm making sure to learn from it so that I won't be wasting not even another day, hour, minute, or even a second of my life wallowing in things that we cannot change.

I can't say that the past doesn't come back to haunt my mind ever, but when it does I'm able to charge through it...almost like grabbing it and putting it in it's place. I've learned to stop focusing on those negative experiences so much and to start allowing myself to enjoy the simple and joyful experiences of what's happening in my life NOW!

I've also realized that in focusing on the negative, we can't truly enjoy the wonderful memories of our past with our loved ones. The hugs, the warmth, the laughter, the moments that are like treasures in our hearts. Those are the things that I'm sooo appreciating now...those are the moments that matter...those are what I want to remain in my mind as I look back. Those are the BLESSINGS from God...and they are really what matters!

Fall Intentions...

Hello there! I really intended to post yesterday with some really cool fall themed artwork and offer a give away of a print of one of them...and I still do...but it won't be until Monday...so if you could please bear with me!! I completely forgot that I was going to be watching my baby niece Zoey on Friday and so on Thursday when I remembered, I noticed that my house had fell into the hands of 'Cre8v Chaos'!! This usually happens when I get in the 'Cre8v Zone' ~ I paint and create in a frenzy and when I'm done and see the 'Cre8v Chaos' I realize it's time to get the household back in order!!

So on Thursday I got into a cleaning mood and even cleaned up my dusty front porch and put out my favorite fall decorations! Starting with this adorable Autumn Angel that I painted years ago when I was into tole painting! She's the perfect welcome on our front door for autumn!

And on the left side of the door I gotta put out my little scarecrow and since this plant doesn't flower I add some faux fall flowers!

and can't forget to decorate our home's centerpiece with the autumny look!

Then yesterday I had the pleasure of watching my adorable and oh so cute baby niece Zoey!

So I apoligize for fall'n short on what I had intended on doing yesterday! ;) Please do come back Monday...it will be an Autumnal Celebration!!! :)

*Margarita* + {Mexicana Girl} = 'Latina Flair'

For my Mom & Dad! Thank you for asking me to do this for you!

Well I am really loving 'Margarita', she's my Mexicana Girl from my Latina Flair Face Series! I really had a lot of satisfaction upon completion of this piece. I loved creating the background and then found it hard to even paint on top of it...lol! Then I painted in the hair and skin and blouse but hesitated on the face for a bit until I felt more confident. Upon completing 'Valentina' I recieved the confidence to move forward on 'Margarita' as if directly from 'Valentina' herself! ;)

Since this was painted on a 16"x20" canvas I really felt like I was putting on make up on her face! That was the funnest part! I used to be really into make up and even took cosmo classes to be a make up artist so that part came in really handy for the shading, highlights and placement of the 'blush'! lol! I decided that the black outlining was not necessary to make her stand out for this piece as the shading and highlights and deep brown tones on the hair did that for me!

The quote I used was one that my mom chose...she's a singer so this is really appropriate for her! The only mistake I made was that my mom gave me that quote to use on a different project that she wants me to do for her and I misunderstood and thought she wanted me to change what she had originally wanted me to put on it, which was supposed to say 'Latina Flair'! Ughh!! Good thing it was my mom!! She really liked it with the quote on her painting anyways so it worked out...but I gotta make sure next time!!

I think I'm gonna have to paint another one now and put 'Latina Flair' on it but I'll try some different colors for the background! It's amazing how fast I am picking up on my faces without taking any formal classes. The first time I painted 'Margarita' I was thrilled with it but this one really topped it. The detailing I put into the eyes was about an hour long's worth of work!

***Special Thanks***

I want to take the time again to thank Paulette Insall for sharing her talent on her videos on youtube. She offers classes and if I had the money I would've definately taken them! Her videos alone have been sooo helpful and the only reason I was finally able to get my eyes painted more confidently! Thank you Paullette!!!

*******Coming Soon*******

Pumpkins and Angels and Sunflowers...oh my!!!

I loooove the Autumn/Fall season and I loooove drawing and painting sunflowers and pumpkins so of course I gotta do an Autumn Angel canvas!! Please come back on friday to see some samples aaaaannnd I will be having a 'give away'!! Can't wait to show you!!

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I'm especially happy because that makes it easier for me to actually go outside again now that Fall is here!! I hope you all will have a wonderfully blessed Autumn too!! Cre8tvlyYrs, Gina :)

When love blooms...

you can be sure to find 'Valentina' The Guardian Angel of Love. I am sooo happy with how she came out!

I was thinking of adding a quote about love or at least the word love on this but my husband thinks it would take away from what the painting is saying...as he put it..."it already has love written all over it!" Isn't he cute? I love my man...he's the best!! I was blessed with such a wonderful husband who is understanding of all my 'issues' and of course too, my love for art...of course he knows he's the #1 Art that I love!!

My Artie (as I call him) is so much the reason that I have even been able to open up myself in my artwork and paintings. He believes in me and my God given talent. Really what I create with is all from God as I have only taken a few art classes here and there throughout my 40 years but never really got to 'study' like I would have loved to!
My dream was always to be in an art academy...you know like in 'Fame'? I loved that show back in the 80's and I'd dream of being able to go to a school to just express myself with my art in all forms...singing & dancing in musicals or in operas, painting, drawing, writing poems, songs and stories, sculpting, playing the piano and chello...those were all the things I'd always dreamed of doing. At least I am doing some of my dreams! That's part of the reason I named my first 'Latin Flair' painting 'Dreamer'! If only I had the courage to pursue my dreams when I was younger...but I hate to think that it's too late so I keep hoping to reach all my dreams some day still!

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Well, enough of the rambling...lol! I actually had been working on 'Valentina' on canvas for a while and then was afraid to paint he face in...but then when I began to paint 'Margarita' for my parents piece I realized that I wanted to make sure and get the eyes and skin tone more polished...so that was the push I need to get 'Valentina' finished. I was able to get the look with that painting to now get this one complete...so here I am so far:

I actually am gonna finish up the details tonight and on this painting I will handmake the flower and decoupage it on the finished painting. I'll also be adding the word 'sing' and a beautiful quote about singing. My mom is a singer so this is gonna be perfect for her!

----The Creative Business Update----

*'Valentina' the main painting as painted on the canvas as well as the 'Sing' Latina Flair piece will be available as a print only in the etsy store soon!

**I will also be working on some fall themed angels and artwork this week to go into my etsy store as well as on ebay! the original paintings will be selling on e-bay starting bids will be $10 - $15 and the prints will be available on etsy from $5 to $10 each.

***Be sure to stop by this coming week and tell your friends as I will be presenting a special give away piece this coming week as well as 1 print!

****Keep in mind****
I also do custom artwork commissions which start at $20 and up depending on the size and complexity of the subject matter so contact me at cre8tvlyyrs@msn.com for more information or inquiries. Please contact me soon if you'd like them done before Christmas! I need at least 2-3 weeks depending on the subject matter, so please keep that in mind too!

*****Have a blessed weekend everyone!*****