Ancient legend foretold of a sacred time of renewal of the human spirit. The Muses of Inspiration granted a blessing on earth and created a window of time when human beings can create a fresh start. During this phase, all the mistakes, regrets, missed opportunities and errors in judgment are purged from the human memory in the primordial fires. It is a time...
One of many wonderful things that came out of the classes in the fall was that several of the "Imaginary Travelers" decided to take on the 100 Paintings Challenge in a Year. To further help those taking on the Challenge, I've created a blog where we can offer encouragement and support to each other as we travel together. Anyone who is interested in taking...
'Tis finally here!! May blessings fill your stockings, May happy dreams fill your sleep, May yummy stuff fill your tummy, May family and friends, from near and far, fill your home, May love fill your heart. These are my holiday wishes for you and your family! Merry, Merry Christmas!!! ...
And what would Christmas be without our favorite reindeer, complete with lights and……… ……a '52 Chevy Half-ton Pickup Truck?!?!! In another lifetime, Chris and I were the proud owners of the Chevy pickup. Now, I will freely admit that anything within a 100 feet of me was subject to be decorated at the holidays. However, this was ALL Chris' doing! He may say...
Santa Bob If you follow the blog, you know my life has taken some pretty sharp turns here of late, and so, in keeping with the zaniness that is defining this holiday, I thought I would share Santa Bob with you! Santa Bob is the mascot where Chris works, The Compounding Shop of Riverview. His real name is Bob Skurrel. He works in Marketing...
Ol' Santa Bunny Watercolor ACEO You remember Santa Bunny, right? Old and a thousand years wise, with ears as soft as silk to listen to our heartfelt wishes for the holiday season. Even the lightest of wishes does not go unheard! He knows your heart's desire…… We are moving towards having a Christmassy holiday, after all! The floor is finished in my studio...
The Christmas Penguin Watercolor ACEO 2.5 x 3.5 inches It's been a long, busy week here in the land of renovations. I now have about three quarters of a floor in the studio and 48 feet of baseboard waiting to go in. Actually, one wall of baseboard is in due to the huge "Bookcase of Knowledge!" Yay! I've found the crown molding that...
Hi, all! Just a quick heads-up that I am the guest blogger over at Christine Kane's blog, Live Creative! If you've read the blog very long, you know how important having a word of the year has become in my life - I recently had the opportunity to write the article for Christine's blog and it's up today! YAY!!!! Please check it out!!...
It's that time of year……everyone is stressed about the holidays, the gift-buying, what to get, how much to spend, overeating, who's coming over, who's not, and who has had their feelings hurt. Not to mention the expense of the decorating, partying, food, gifts, travel, and everything else that goes into making this the "happiest time of the year." So, enough already, let's try something different………...
Yesterday, I tried (on my own) to remove the base boards in my studio. I found out quickly there's a trick to it, and I didn't know what the trick was. This morning, after we picked up the flooring for my studio (yay! FINALLY!!), I asked Chris what the trick was. I was told it was a chisel. To get behind the board...
Are you sure it's December? I know the malls are playing the Christmas music over and over, but they start that nonsense in October! I keep looking around for some indication that it really is December in the Ferlita household and, well, let's just say something's missing. As in decorations. As in festive plans. As in a clean house. Bedlam and chaos rein...
I went by one of my favorite Christmas shops yesterday, and look what I found–the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben! I always try to buy a couple of ornaments each year that represent the year's experiences - these are perfect, no?!!! I think they are the perfect representation of Imaginary Trips and all the cool places I've been this year, the new friendships...
Watercolor Painting of Antique Ornament As you can see, Painted Thoughts Blog has undergone a rather festive transformation! I am so in the mood for celebrating as I've been able to close some outstanding items from the computer crash waaaay back in September! I feel this great sense of accomplishment and I'm so ready to celebrate and play - care to join me?!!...
Well, it seems that Teresa over at Blueberries, Art and Life seems to think so - she even gave me an award to prove it!! Thanks, Teresa! Teresa is a fabulous colored pencil artist who also happens to love chocolate and blueberries - a girl after my own heart! I hope you'll pay her a visit to see her fabulous art - she...
I must be mistaken, but I've double-checked the calendar twice and it still says it's December!! Can that possibly be right? Egads, if it is, I'm already behind. Not that it would matter or be any different than usual. This little tree is gracing my studio at the moment. It keeps saying it's December too. If you look closely you can see the...
I find myself coming to this holiday with grATTITUDE! I have so very much to give thanks for - an abundance of riches in new friendships, accomplishments, health and happiness. My wish and hope is that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with time to celebrate and reflect on the blessings of family and friends! I am so very grateful for each of you being...
It has begun! Well, actually it began two weeks ago with replacing the light. The painting began this past weekend. One wall is painted. Unfortunately, no matter what angle I took the photo from, this was as good of a photo (of the wall color) as I could get. The color is much deeper and richer and not nearly so pink. Nor is...
. . . .when you leave my husband and food alone together! My husband loves to play with his food. Or yours, if you'll let him. On occasion, a waiter or waitress has recognized us after Chris has left a "food sculpture" from our meal. Like the crab made from a bun and broken bamboo skewers from our grilled shrimp for legs with...
Two years ago, when we visited the Artist's Loop just outside of Gatlinburg, we stumbled upon a gallery called "In the Wild." When we walked in, I could almost feel my blood begin to fizz and hum and fill with energy–the walls were a brilliant shade of green, not quit lime but close. The store owner, Doreen, and her daughter, were the artists of all the fabulous artwork. Black bears with magenta and electric blue in their coats and poppies of every possible shade–all of them brilliant in tone! Raku pottery, altered books, handmade jewelry! Art quilts that would just make one fall in LOVE. Instantly and irrevocably. And I did! With all that magnificent color!!!!
But……
On the long ride home and in the weeks that followed, I talked myself out of painting my studio any of those rich, luscious colors. After all, being a watercolor artist I was very concerned what those colors would do to my art as I knew color that BRIGHT was going to reflect LOTS of color around the room. In addition to that, I could not imagine the hassle of dragging everything out of the studio to paint–no matter how bad or how deep it was getting in there! And what about my sanctuary? What would happen to the peaceful, calming, soothing, environment in there?
Fast forward to last month. While we were in Gatlinburg, we went by to see Doreen and those rich, fabulously luscious walls and vibrant artwork and art quilts. I visited the gallery twice, the first time just to see if the reaction would be the same–the quickening of my blood, the hum of energy in my mind, and sure enough, there it was! I could just feel this surge of creativity bubbling up and wanting to explode onto paper! It was an awesome feeling! As Doreen had customers, we wondered away to visit other shops. On our return, the gallery was empty and we went in to speak with Doreen. The hum and fizz returned–even stronger than before!
And you know, if it hadn't been for that blinking light in my studio, this never would have gone anywhere at all. But the light was blinking. And needed to be replaced. And we went to every Home Depot and Lowes and hardware and flooring and lighting store in the county. And they had paint departments. With luscious green paint. And lots of other rich, luscious colors just calling my name! Begging to be looked at, to be chosen.
And this time I decided to go with my longings for a bright, energetic environment in the studio.





But, what color(s), I wondered…………
But……
On the long ride home and in the weeks that followed, I talked myself out of painting my studio any of those rich, luscious colors. After all, being a watercolor artist I was very concerned what those colors would do to my art as I knew color that BRIGHT was going to reflect LOTS of color around the room. In addition to that, I could not imagine the hassle of dragging everything out of the studio to paint–no matter how bad or how deep it was getting in there! And what about my sanctuary? What would happen to the peaceful, calming, soothing, environment in there?
Fast forward to last month. While we were in Gatlinburg, we went by to see Doreen and those rich, fabulously luscious walls and vibrant artwork and art quilts. I visited the gallery twice, the first time just to see if the reaction would be the same–the quickening of my blood, the hum of energy in my mind, and sure enough, there it was! I could just feel this surge of creativity bubbling up and wanting to explode onto paper! It was an awesome feeling! As Doreen had customers, we wondered away to visit other shops. On our return, the gallery was empty and we went in to speak with Doreen. The hum and fizz returned–even stronger than before!
And you know, if it hadn't been for that blinking light in my studio, this never would have gone anywhere at all. But the light was blinking. And needed to be replaced. And we went to every Home Depot and Lowes and hardware and flooring and lighting store in the county. And they had paint departments. With luscious green paint. And lots of other rich, luscious colors just calling my name! Begging to be looked at, to be chosen.
And this time I decided to go with my longings for a bright, energetic environment in the studio.





But, what color(s), I wondered…………
We all have different ideas and definitions of the word "studio" and how we make that word fit into our lives. A studio can be a place more in our minds than of this physical world, it can be a something to hope for, a place to work or it can be a place to pile all the extra clutter when family comes to visit.
I am learning that my relationship with my studio is more complex than I originally thought and the definition is evolving. In evaluating the changes that we're going to be making in the next six weeks or so, it become apparent that the studio was quite a reflection of "who I've been" for the last ten years or so.
The first image of the studio is from Christmas 4 years ago. The set up is basically the same, but a lot of "stuff" has been added - mat board, foam core, paper, etc. Stuff stacked everywhere. Most of it tools of the trade and necessary, but highlighting the need for better storage and organization.

And make no mistake, this studio serves me well, but in the last few years, I found myself wanting something a little…different……more energetic, alive, more vibrant. These thoughts have teased around in my brain for a while, but I just couldn't quite see clearly what it was that I wanted to change or do differently. I kept thinking that if I made the changes that were floating in my mind, I'd lose my sanctuary. The question then became about balance. Then about change. Then balance. Then, oh, never mind! I decided it was fine the way it was. Except it wasn't and the Universe decided I needed a nudge.
To be continued . . . . .
I wrote about a new friend I had "met" recently and how it seemed we had known each other forever. Well, that hasn't changed. We can walk into Panera's (our meeting place) and make 3 hours (or more) disappear just like that - poof!! KJ is a freelance writer among other things and she decided (with a little help from her new friend)...
I've recently been having a problem with my light/fan combo in my studio. A few months ago, Chris came into to talk to me while I was in the studio and I asked him to turn off the overhead light. When he flipped the switch it threw an arc, shocked him and blew the bulb. Or so we thought. The light went out...
. . . . or some special item from their trip out of town. My husband brought me dead snail shells from his recent trip! Wasn't that sweet of him?!! Florida Apple Snails Watercolor sketch Yes, you read that right - dead snail shells. They're actually Florida Apple Snail shells from Lake Ockeechobee (pronounced Oak-uh-cho-bee). They may be Channeled Apple Snails. He picked...
I'm becoming rather fond of the Domestic Goddess! She came back yesterday, and together, we cooked up something called Southwestern Corn & Black Bean Soup. The longer this stuff cooks, then sits in the fridge, the BETTER it gets! I think she came back yesterday because it simply was not a good day. Nothing major, just everything from broken email accounts to tropical...
My thoughts and prayers go out to the soldiers, their friends and family, really to all effected by the massacre at Ft. Hood, Texas. May you find the strength and courage to move through this tragedy. May God bless you and keep safe. ...
Warning: This is a humorous, but graphic post and not for those easily upset. This afternoon, Chris returned from an overnight hunting trip, and we sat in our breakfast nook overlooking the backyard to discuss the two day's events, both his and mine. As some of you know, we have three dogs: two good ol' American mutts, and a Siberian Husky, all of...
She, the Domestic Goddess, has returned!! She has been rather scarce around here of late, but yesterday, she came back. She made a pot roast, beef veggie soup and a big, big pot of spaghetti sauce for the cool winter evenings soon to come. Yummm! As we sat eating some of the soup last night for dinner, I tried to explain to my...
Watercolor Sketch in my Nature Sketchbook Does that not look like one mean, ticked-off shorebird?!! Doesn't s/he remind you of the ticked-off bluebird of happiness that's been circulating around for years?!! When Chris and I were in Venice a few weekends ago, we stumbled across this little bird. I knew instantly s/he was coming home with me. You see, s/he's another one of...
I forgot to post about our trip to the beach! This was actually two weekends ago, before the trip to the mountains. The day was wild and windy as we had a front moving in. We'd had rain off and on for a couple of days before we got out to the beach. It was a gorgeous day - if you don't mind...
Wishing you a night of happy treats, just a few tricks (to keep you on your toes), and wonderful times to make great memories! ...
Chris and I love the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, and we've been dreaming of “escaping” for a visit for most of our long, hot, humid summer here in Florida. This past weekend, we jumped at the chance and took off! We arrived in Tennessee on Friday morning to rainy, overcast skies, but it didn't dampen the gorgeous colors of fall...