Happy Birthday, Paint Party Friday, Self Portrait

Happy Birthday PPF!  In celebration of 4 years, we are asked to show our faces in the form of a self portrait and celebrate together this happy birth day.  Thank you to Eva and Kristin for four years of hosting a place where artists can share and come together every week.  Its an incredible group that over the past few years, we have continuously given support and love and most importantly, shared art.  Its been so enlightening to see my fellow artists blossom, move through styles, and grow in leaps and bounds.  We've walked together along the artful journey and I have to say I have met some of my very favorite people in the world through this weekly gathering.  Thank you everyone, I am grateful to be part of this tribe.

June:: In the Picture, PHC and Recap

This picture sums up June for me.  Its one of the self portraits I took this month for Christy's {In the Picture} and its also my pick for Kat's Photo-Heart Connection.  The sun flare over my shoulder, the blue sky, the trees - crazy beautiful.  All are glorious.  This photo speaks to me of all things for which to be grateful. 

I don't keep a grateful journal.  Many people do.  I don't bother to write down the amazing things that come my way each day, or the things that make me stumble but hold valuable messages and lessons.  I've found what works best for me is to acknowledge the things as they happen.  Sometimes, I also run a mental list at night before I go to sleep.  Its a nice way to drift off into dreamland with thanks on my lips.

June was good for me.  It was filled with firsts, wonderful opportunity and yes... also things that caught me off guard and made me stumble.   

Thank you June. 

In the Picture::May

Honest to goodness - does anyone know where May went? 
I hit a large pot hole on the road to 52 self portaits in May.  I'm kinda sad to say that the pot hole was hit at the beginning of the month and totally bounced me off the road.  I have ONE - only ONE self portrait for May.  Christy, Urban Muser, picked such an awesome theme for this month - Big World, Tiny You.  But even so... only one to show and it doesn't even follow the theme..

Want to see my list of excuses?  It starts with #1 = busy.  Really?  is that my #1 excuse? 
Enough whining.. I have work to do to get caught up now - like double the amount in June.  Time to get busy in a postive way.  Sending good postive thoughts out into the Universe for motivation behind photography for June.  Thanks to Christy for hosting {In The Picture}.  I can't wait to see what everyone else accomplished in May.  Hit the button below and hop around to see some pretty fine self portraits.
Interested to see what really has been my distraction for May?  Click HERE to visit my other post for Friday.
Please visit the other self portrait artists by clicking HERE

In the Picture:: April

I've been reading Christy's blog over at {In the Picture}.  I'm finding the interviews she has monthly with veteran self portraiture photographers to be really inspiring.  It gives me a boost to try some new things and stretch a little more.  Her latest post interview with Vivienne McMaster was great.  Hop over HERE to read it.  April was better for me because I could get outside (YAY!)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Spring Stroll

Feeling a Bit Sketchy Today

Woodland

Its a wrap for April.  Still keeping pace on the road to 52 self portraits.
Last month, I combined a painted self portrait in this group for my other Friday fun - Paint Party Friday.  This month - nope...no time.  But, if you are interested in what I posted for PPF- click here.

In the Picture

 52 Self portraits for the year.

I'm in

my score so far

+1

I'm actually ahead of the (my) game by one.

I figure there will be a point at which I'll get behind, so

why not think ahead.

Want to play along?

Color Statement

Color Statement

Today's color prompt sent me wandering through the house.  I was observing what color or colors I use as my statement - my style.  Its funny that I really do find red everywhere in my house. 

I don't think of it as my favorite color at all.  I would definately classify turquoise, yellow green and orange in that category. Being a blonde, I don't wear red.  I'm drawn to it in clothes, but I never buy them because red just over powers me - or at least I think so. 

Yet, red is everywhere in my house. 

Ever thought about what color is your color statement/style?

Speaking of style - eyes is the prompt for the 30 day challenge.  Linking up with Caroline over at Nowordz.com for the month of June.

Yesterday was me with 13 things -

Back

I've taken a bit of a break.  I've been sick, but on the mend and feeling better every day.  But really, that's just been this past week.  So other than that, I really don't have an excuse nor do I really have a reason. I just kinda put the camera down.

I just took a break I guess... Lost motivation, moved from this spot in my life... not sure what really happened, but I just didn't feel like it.  So, guess what?  I chose to take a break and let it sit for a while. 

Why do these things happen?  Why do we let go of something we love?  Is it a natural process?  Do we get bored with it?  Do we lose the creative mojo? Or perhaps we just get busy and have to let one thing go to fit in another. I'm really not sure.

Thankfully I signed up to do Creativity Boot Camp over at madelinebea.com  Its been a gentle CBC this year.  Not a frenzied photo fest like last year.  I think its what I needed.  A gentle coaxing back into the fold.  Among other things, Maegan asked us to take self portraits. Selfies are kinda fun, I enjoy them.  I've never figured out why the person I see in the mirror in the morning - to me... is much more beautiful than I can capture in a photo.  I hope that if I can actually take enough selfies, that maybe I can capture that which I see when I look in the mirror.