Terri Conrad Designs

A little this & that this Friday

hello, hello

It's a relatively quiet day here in the Conrad home - I'm working on completing a new collection, still unpacking & cleaning up my studio from traveling to the Create retreat, and doing the momma thing, driving my girls to dance and birthday parties.

I have a little day trip planned for Saturday to spend some time in Newport with my gal pal, Lesa and am so looking forward to time near the ocean, lots of girl talk, window shopping and simple pleasures that bring sufficient joy.

What are you up to this week-end?

I thought I'd share some sites to see while snuggled up on your sofa - there's so much beauty out there - enjoy

hello lovely (indeed!)

inspiring

just purchased her book

breathtaking in every possible way

 

wishing you a wonderful week-end

 

 

Home from Create Retreat

hello, hello -

I arrived home late Saturday night with my creative cup running over from a magical week of playing with possibility while attending the CREATE Retreat. You may recall my sharing in my earlier post that this was not only my first art retreat but my very first introduction to any kind of formal art instruction. I loved every minute of it.

This happy painting is the result of my play time with Alisa Burke - and the largest painting I've ever created. We had the option of painting while on the floor or standing at large tables. I chose the floor because it reminded me of when my girls were toddlers and we would do everything - on the floor. I wanted to give my little girl inside me permission to come out and play.  Can I just say, "THIS CLASS WAS FUN!"  You will definitely see more of this hand painted layering imbued into my new work.

 I really enjoyed taking Pam Carriker's classes where we were supplied with hot press watercolor paper and all the scrumptious creative tools to create an art journal. Fabulous class and having just learned the difference between cold press and hot press watercolor paper I am now a forever fan of hot press. Do you know the difference? Cold press is nubby paper with the little divets or ridges, hot press is smooth, smooth, smooth - a delicious substrate for illustration. I've already placed orders for new art supplies and am eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Dawn Sokol's doodling class was fun and entertaining - she's such a funny (and fun) girl. I purchased not 1 but 2 of her doodling books so both my daughters  can play with their own creative possibility.

JoAnne Sharpe (after having spent time together in an on-line artists' group) and I met in person in her Copic's class.

Jane LaFazio's watercolor class was also an all new and oh so enjoyable experience for me. The majority of my work is done in acrylic and digitally, but because of Jane and her class, I am a new fan of watercolor.

Curiously, it was in this class I became aware that I want (ahem, need) to be more gracious with my learning process - less judgmental - showing more self-kindness in playing with possibility. I am intrigued by the fact that we can behave with ourselves in a way we would never consider being with another - why is that? Do you experience this?  I wonder, is it because we want to feel worthy of what we have; worthy of what we hope to have; worthy of another's love and acceptance; and/or that we want to belong? It was grace and self-kindness that propelled me into my artistic discovery and journey into art licensing (read more here) and, like anything that we want to be a part of who we are, we need to practice it daily -  do you practice self-kindness?

This past week was in all ways a treat for me, and a BIG gesture of self-kindness. I am filled up having worked with these talented women, learning from them, meeting fellow creative spirits (Lisa, Lisa, and RoseMarie among others), and having shared a couple evenings with my long-time and life-time friend, Lesa. It was good to be back home, near the ocean.

I arrived home with deadlines to meet for licensing, so have yet to fully unpack my art supplies and put my studio back together. This is what it looks like this morning . . .

I'd say, quite a lot like me - a work in progress, and that's okay.

Thanks for taking a peek into my creative world and seeing what's new at Terri Conrad Designs.

As always,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing with Possibility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

& stepping out of my comfort zone recently, playing with new mediums, different ways of creating and seeing what comes of my allowing myself the opportunity to do so.

I'm reminded of (a few short years ago) when I first went looking for paint brushes and was so intimidated by the many kinds of brushes available. What did they each do; what purpose did they serve; how was I supposed to know what brush to buy?

I got down & dirty with this play and it's been fun -

started out with a little collaged background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and while intent on painting a fleur de lis, I went for the zest

"Lemon Zest."

What'a'ya think?

I'm still contemplating .  .  .

I love that I discovered my creative and artistic ability only in the past several years.

Knowing I would need to return to work at some point while my girls were still young, I had the opportunity (and foresight) to follow my love for color, texture, pattern and all things having to do with home decor and was intent on playing with possibility . . .  the possibility of creating a career in art licensing, doing so, I thought, would allow me to be home, and raise by daughters while I worked. Four years, three Surtex shows, and and bushel full of resiliance later, here I am.

While my agents are at Surtex I will continue to play with possibility - I've enrolled in my very first ever art class/retreat and leave next Tuesday for the  Create Mixed Media retreat, taking classes with some amazingly talented artists, Pam Carriker, Joanne Sharp, Dawn Sokol, Jane LaFazio and Alisa Burke. I have goosebumps, I'm so excited to be side by side with these woman learning from them and I'm immensly grateful for the opportunity to be able to participate in this retreat.

Are you playing with possibility in any part of your life? It can be kind of scary stepping out of our comfort zone - leaning into the unknown.

take a deep breath -

weave a ladder of dreams, have faith, be courageous & Aspire!

 

 

 

 

xoxo

Terri

On Being Called, "Maaaawwwwwwwmmmmmmm"

I walk out of the room, "Maaawwwwm." I sit down to drink my morning coffee after having prepared their breakfast and lunch, "Oh, Mom, I need . . . ." I hop between studio and office, just get into a piece, and hear,  "Mom, will make me some . . . ."

I cherish every time I hear them call my name -

They, Jessica and Katelyn, are 14 and 11 now...and are the reason I celebrate Mother's Day. There is no greater joy for me than to hear my daughters call out to me, to need me, to want me.

This little snickerdoodle is Jessica, at about 6 weeks old. While I look awfully tired  (she never slept), I also recall, as tho it were yesterday, how contented I felt with her safely wrapped in my arms, resting on my chest.

She was 8 and a half hours old before I first held her in my arms and looked into her eyes for the reflection of her precious spirit.  The room was dark, I was asleep and the nurse brought her in to me as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.  She survived loss of oxygen, a traumatic birth and resucitation - then being whisked away from her momma for evaluation and stabilization. Something extraordinary I should say had indeed occurred, and my daughter, Jessica was now safely in my arms; I played our Nicolette Larson CD and softly sang to her. . .

 

This little laughing sweetpea is Katelyn at about 6 months old. My girl who wants to do everything and not miss a thing. I guess she thought she'd miss out on some of that fun so she tried to enter the world a few months too soon.  With the help of a hospital stay, bed rest and all that ensues with potential preterm delivery Katelyn arrived right on schedule two days pre millenium and has blessed us each and every day since.

My beautiful babies - who now, at 11 and 14 will still let me hold them, hug them, take care of them, nurture them, teach them, and sometimes embarrass them (well I take it upon myself to do the latter). I love laughing with them and talking with them.

Thank you, Jessica & Katelyn, my greatest gifts.

 

 

 

Today, I am privileged to celebrate being mom, and cherish each and every, "Maaawwwmmmm, can I . . ." it is music to my ears.

I wish you, my dear friends, an oh-so-beautiful and Happy Mother's Day!