I just finished a name for a gal's grandson who likes bugs and trucks and airplanes. What do you think? I can read the name ok but I wonder if it's toooooo abstract? I had so much fun doing it and I really hope the family likes it!

Meanwhile, I have finally finished a name for a dear former student and friend of mine. Dinosaurs playing sports! The themes are always cre8ive! I love the cre8ivity coming out of the people I get to work with on my cre8ive words! Thanks everyone!

I've been working on some special projects for the Mountain Home Arts Council but I can't share them with you yet. As soon as I can....I'll post the work here! I love the project! Hope you will too! It's very cre8ive

Blogging is like dieting and drinking

I start out with such good intentions to blog more regularly, eat right, exercise, and don't ever drink more than 2 drinks and well, hmmmm, something happens. There was a time that I felt like I was very good at maintaining things...the laundry, the house, the car, the bills, my desk, my relationships, however I'm either losing my energy to sustain it all or I have too much to do! Well, for my one lone blog reader, never fear, I'm not giving up. It just will not be perfect. Hope that works!

Since the last time I blogged a lot has happened. My dear mom suffered a stroke. Luckily my sister was there to save her life! Yes, I'm related to a real live hero! Well, mom is doing very well now with months of therapy and treatment. Thank you God! During the time mom was recooperating, everything went on hold. She had to have 24 hour care. Between my family and I we somehow did what we needed to do. And, now we can start getting back into our routines. So, I've updated my website, http://www.brendaraub.com/ and now my blog. I'm on a roll...

This painting is using a new technique one of my creative friends, Jonna, taught me that she had learned from the amazing Jesse Reno! It's a lot of fun to paint with your fingers and that's exactly what this is...a finger painting! Have a cre8ive day!

I HEART color pencil! My poor high school art student's know it! The one thing they don't know is that I experiment with color pencil as much as I can....This piece is done on copper! I got a 5" x 7" piece of copper from Dick Blick (online) and patined (sp?) it. Once it had a nice green and white tint to it I started adding my design with color pencil.

When I was visiting the Oregon coast I fell in love with the trees effected by the ocean winds and knew I HAD to draw one. Since my dad passed away, my mom and I have noticed a lot of "spots" in our photos. Some people believe they are spirit guides of people we have sent to the other side. So, I've added a lot of "spirit guides" to this design. Whether you believe or not....it is an asthestically pleasing design...right?

sorry to be so anti social

So, you've maybe wondered where the hell I've been for so long.... well, I'm in a bit of a funk. Work has taken the soul out of me. I can't walk into a store without freaking out socially anymore. You may never understand if you've never been oversocialized before! I will survive....I am an artist that can retreat into her artwork and somehow find salvation!!!!

This is a color pencil piece that took me WAY too long to count but I love it....I went to New York City to visit my beloved cousin, Chris Seppa (a Manhatten cop) and she gave us the tour of the century! She is THE BEST!

Any who...she took me to Mood, the place where Project Runway goes shopping in NY. I saw these ribbons, took a snap shot, and then HAD to draw it!

It was hard for me because I'm not an architectural type artist and believe it or not it took alot of architectural lines to get it right! I really loved how the tape turned out...hope you love it too!

My very cre8ive Sister-in-Law is a designer for Maya Roads. She took photos I took in Paris and made this cre8ive book and gave it to me! Lucky!!!!! I'm so very lucky!!!!!! Isn't it BE A U TIFUL????

Cre8ive lady

Bobbi Kelly is the next artist's space we visited. She was my art teacher in high school and very nicely she retired so that I could have her job after I got my degree.



Like many of our artist's she has taken over a bedroom for her studio. However, she has a super comfy spot in her living room to create art too! The space here is her studio that she claims is unorganized but it looks mighty fine to me!

She has a lot of artwork throughout her house of either her creation or some other talented soul. (including me!)

Bobbi is ALWAYS working on something. She is a very busy retired lady!

One of the many cre8ive features Bobbi has in her home is a cork wall! How amazingly handy is that?

I know if I were Bobbi, this would be my favorite place to work. Right in front of the tv! I can watch my Celebrity Apprentice and get all of my art done too! Throughout Bobbi's house you can tell a cre8ive spirit lives there. Thank you for sharing your cre8ive home with us Bobbi!

Cre8ive spaces

I don't know where all of the time has gone since my last posting...sorry! I'm just finishing up spring break and I feel a little bit refreshed. TG! So, I'll try to whip out some posts now.

Where were we? Oh yes, we are on a studio tour of local Mountain Home artists from the Visual Art Committee. Before we even walked into our next artist's home, we could tell there was going to be a lot of cre8ivity! This cute little bird acts like her doorbell!

Our artist, Cynthia Henstock, built this house with her husband and they lovingly call it the Cedar House. It is a beautiful work of craftsmanship with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Inside of her home it has all of the gorgeous wood exposed.

Cynthia is an amazing watercolor painter that creates beautiful Idaho scenes. Her studio is one of her bedrooms filled with great light, organization, and supplies! Thank you for sharing your space, Cynthia!