It All Started with the Background

I, like so many others, am having a real difficult time knowing how to feel about the events in Boston over the last week. Not only about that - but my surprising reactions to the events Connie Ozvicka over at Dirty Footprints Studio posted a great lesson Fearless Painting. Connie also the hostess of 21 Secrets which is a FABULOUS series of workshops. Any any rate I used her technique to process some of my feelings about the tragedy in Boston. 

I wanted it to look like graffiti. It was pretty therapeutic. 

I love art. I wanted to do something for this week's  Simon Says Stamp background challenge, but this piece seemed a bit dark. So I tried again. 

I finished the background and lo and behold it reminded me of water lilies. AH HA! I had just gotten a new Crafter's Workshop stencil - yep, you guessed  - in water lilies. So I painted me up some lily pads and went about apply the stencils. 

In case you were wondering. That's not the correct order of doing things. Stencil first, then deep black outline would have been better. At any rate, I didn't like the way the lilies turned out, so this morning I tried again.

Not quite as happy with the background, but I think the lilies are much improved. 

Sometimes I can't even believe the stuff I am doing. Does that sound strange? My sister was always the artistic one (and that she is) but I am now friends with paint and it no longer scares me. I am really enjoyed the Distress Paints...they are so fluid, and yet the color is intense. I have a lot to learn, but I am so enjoying the process. So this morning, thank you to Connie and to Simon's challenge, for helping me go someplace new.