I've been thinking of this so I re-posted!

Spheres, circles, cycles, beginnings, endings, change, growth, connecting...............spheres/made of many circles connecting to other circles which have beginnings and endings

Life, art, love, joy, gratitude, energy, wisdom........things to ponder.

Art and life, side by side. When I think about art I realize that without it my life would look very different. Art - line, shape, form, color, texture, and space - Understanding these concepts is important because..........if my senses are intact, I need to be able to use them well. Having knowledge and some kind of understanding about color, shape, texture, line, form, and how to use space/how to fill space.........I have a better 'quality of life.' For example; as soon as I swing my legs over the side of my bed and open my eyes I find myself in a three dimensional world full of color, texture, line, shape, etc; when I write a letter, the person I write to may get some idea of how I feel, not only by the words I use, but by the way I write/how intensely I put the letter on the page. If I am angry, my writing looks different than when I am relaxed and happy; as I ready myself to go out into the world for the day, the way I choose to dress, put on my make-up [or not], do my hair [or not], says something about me and what I want others to know about me.

Art is not just about something someone does for money, it is one person's way to express him/herself. That expression tells others about me [the artist] or at least the viewer sees what I want them to see [or not]. As an artist I put what I want to.........on to a page, into a piece of sculpture, through words on a page, or into a piece of music; that is me. I want you to see what you see, to interpret my art your way. I won't tell you what to see or to think...........when I am done creating - it's your turn.............what do you see? Enjoy or not, but feel it in the moment.

Human beings use these skills all the time, they just don't talk about them.

Live with intention - Create beauty - Embrace the positive - Let the rest go

"Working hard, I almost missed it!"

I have been at my table painting almost all day. I have been sitting her for hours............ ...painting three pictures at a time and cutting paper for cards............the many stages in the process; I finally looked up from my table and almost missed the amazing sky! There's a storm rolling in or rolling past but right now it is creeping over the mountains and I am the lucky one - sitting right in front of the San Juan Mountains in the southern San Luis Valley! It is amazing and one of the reasons we live here. There are many times on my way into town or back home again that I have to remind myself not to take this for granted - the amazing views and changes in the weather. Weather in this valley changes on a dime! One minute the sun is shining and the next the wind is blowing and it is raining or hailing or snowing. I love that it is not static or predictable. The only thing that seems to be predictable is a nice long fall. We are rapidly approaching that and I can't wait............the nights are very cool and the days are sunny and not so hot! We got the sky, here in the valley!
Here it is, the view from the west; the storm approaching and me almost not noticing. Scroll down to see different shots, I think you'll enjoy the trip. Have a great evening. EC


one more......................................
Well, I hope you enjoyed this little sky journey. I get to see this all the time and I love it! Life is good!!

"What's a Desk Head ?"

You must be wondering what the "Desk Head" is? OK, let me tell you how they came to be........ I have been an artist since the late 70's. I know, that is a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time! But I have only been a doll maker for the last 12 years. I have made over 600 dolls in these past many years and I have held onto the left over pieces from the materials I used for the dolls. Not being one to waste resources and loving to always have my hands busy in some creative project, I took the left overs and made a bag of heads...............just because the parts were there. I think at first it was a way to "fine tune" my face sculpting ability to make the best faces, the most expressive faces I could make. As I looked into my bag of heads I had an idea! Using the stands from the puppets I had made for play therapists while I had been actively making dolls for therapists, I took the sections of wood that were formerly the stands for what I then called "stick heads" [my version of a hand puppet] and glued the head right onto the stand. It was quite funny to me and as I laughed I grabbed my basket of left over yarns and my huge box of recycled buttons and began creating a face. It seemed that I couldn't stop that weekend and ended up with a huge collection of "Heads".

I brought a few of them into work with me and set them on my desk. Later that day I had a meeting with my supervisor and returned to my office somewhat disgruntled........I found that it was easy to share my point of view with the head on my desk instead of seeking out a comrade to 'debrief' this meeting. That is how they lovingly came to be called "Desk Heads". It occurred to me that there might be others who wanted a confidant and that this might just be one solution! Later that day, as I worked on my computer, the phone rang.........I took my glasses off and without even missing a beat............I placed them on the nose of one of my new office mate! It was great because I often spend loads of time searching for "my eyes"........those who know me have heard that expression frequently.........."I can't seem to find my eyes!" But when I am at my desk.........there they sit, on the nose of my "Desk Head".

So, there you have it! The beginning, the creation of what I have come to call "Desk Heads". Hope you find one you like or one you can give to someone you love!

Enjoy,
EC Hanson

Group Doodle coming home this week!

Here is the current stage of the "Group Doodle" which has been in California for a bit but is on it's way back to Colorado! It seems to be evolving in an interesting way...............if you are interested in participating in this project please let me know and you will be put on the list to contribute.

It is feeling very "Fallish" around here in the San Luis Valley. Nights are in the low 40's and high 30's! no kidding!! But we are very green this season due to all the rain we've had this summer. The flora and fauna [including the thirteen lined squirrel, horny toads, and humming birds] love it but weed-wacking is not my thing:(

Look for updates on the Doodle project and the ornaments next week.






Stay tuned,
EC

Hand-painted Ornaments on the way!

Just wanted to stir the pot................get you excited about the newest passion at "intentional beauty"!
I've been painting all night and will be taking pictures all weekend. Here is a teaser; let me know what you think just for fun!

Keep a fanciful thought,
EC

New Products!

Just a quick note,

Please check out my boxes of cards. I will be featuring some ideas on special ways to give them as gifts! That will be coming this week................stay tuned! I will also be listing new dolls and some 3D work. Sculpture had always been my passion.............it seems I paint more now than before but I still work in 3D and I PAINT THAT TOO!

Later,
EC Hanson

Finally Getting the Hang of It!

[Another new card design, that makes almost a dozen! Any thoughts?]


Hello,

Glad to be back. I have struggled and struggled to "get the hang" of working on the web.........and although it seems like an eternity it appears that I am making it happen. I am very grateful to my daughter and my friend who have both stood by me repeating directions time and time again, [without complaining].

I hope you will take some time to scroll through the site to see the new products and in the next few days I will be posting some information on how I create my cards...........people seem interested in the process and I am happy to talk about it.

I am sending another shot of this stormy place we live in here in southern Colorado. It has been wonderful and the desert hasn't looked this green in over a decade!