Here’s To H.A.P.P.I.N.E.S.S…

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Family, friends, happiness, happy, inspirational, love, love art, love quotes, lovers, positive affirmations, quotes, to be loved

“To Be Loved”

Sharon Cummings

2014

Wishing you the gift of happiness today and every day….

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The Old is N.E.W. Again…

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angel, angel fish, aquarium, beach, beach home, beach house, colorful, colorful angel fish, colorful fish, colorful tropical fish, contemporary, cute, dive, diver, fish, fun, happy, marine, modern, ocean, oceanic, rainblow fish, rainbow, salt, salt water, salt water aquarium, scuba, scuba diver, scuba diving, sea, sharon cummings, sweet, tropical, tropical decor, tropical fish, underwater, water

Little Angels 2

Colorful Angel Fish Mixed Media Art

Sharon Cummings

2014

As I was looking through my pen and ink drawings from 25 years ago, a little light bulb went off in my head.  I’ve been working on my Color Fusion series for weeks now and combining those black and whites with my acrylic painting on fabric seemed to be a marriage made in heaven.  I love color, so here I go!

First I took my ink drawing and scanned it on my Brother scanner.

Then I fused my new acrylic painting on fabric onto the design using my computer.  I added some background texture from a crinkled piece of paper that I scanned.

Enjoy!

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Free S.P.I.R.I.T…

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10 speed, babies, baby, beach, beach cruiser, bicycle, bicycles, bicycling, bicyclist, bike, bike wheels, bikes, biking, child, Children, colorful, Colorful Art, colorful bike, cruiser, cute, cycle, cycling, cyclist, de, france, free spirit, fun, handle bars, happy, hobby, kid, kids, leisure, mountain bike, mountain biking, nostalgia, nursery, outdoors, play, playing, primary colors, rainbow, rainbow art, road, sharon cummings, spokes, sports, tour, tour de france, toy, Toys, trails

“Free Spirit”

New Art Mixed Media Painting on Fabric Fused Digitally.

Sharon Cummings

2014

I’ve always been a bit of a free spirit since the time I could walk, but today I am not talking about that personality trait.  When I was a little girl, I loved riding my bike. Being the younger of two girls, I always got the “hand me downs” from my sister.  So it was her old beat up economy cycle that I learned to ride on.

My older brother had a beautiful bike.  It was sleek and colorful and oh so enviable.  It was way too big for me and every time I tried to sit on it, that painful bar would get me right between the legs!  His was a “Free Spirit”.  It was red, white and blue.  I wanted one so badly.  Every Christmas it was all I would ask for.  One season went by and I got a play stove set and the next I got some barbies.  I just wasn’t into all of that girly stuff, but was thankful for the gifts anyway.

Then the day came!  It was the Christmas of my 7th year.  My parents had wrapped a few small gifts for me and placed them under the tree.  There was no huge wrapped gift, so I assumed that the bike wouldn’t come yet again.  We all opened our gifts and everyone was happy….well mostly happy.  I am sure I looked more than a little disappointed. Then my Mom and Dad started laughing and asked me what was wrong. I shrugged. My Dad then left for a few minutes and came wheeling in my new bike….oh boy!   She was a beauty.  I jumped on that long bright yellow banana seat and I rarely got off it!

Here is a picture of the bike I loved so much.  Time for a ride down memory lane!

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G.O.O.D. Memories…

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animal, animals, aquarium, art, beach, beach house, beachy, blue, bright, coastal, coastal decor, coastal living, coastline, color, colorful, colorful animal art, Colorful Art, colors, cottage, cute fish, decor, fish, fun, happy, hippocampus, horse, kids, marine life, nautical, nursery, ocean, oceanic, primary, primary colors, red, scuba, sea, sea horse, seahorse, seahorses, snorkeling, summer, summer vacation, surf, sweet, swimming, tropical, tropical decor, tropical fish, underwater, waves

“Colorful Seahorse”

Mixed Media Art

Sharon Cummings

2014

I know today is all about 911 and that most people will be talking about that horrific event in American History.  It is burned into my memory mainly because I had a little girl in kindergarten at the time and I can recall vividly rushing to her school with all of the other panicked moms.  Hugging my Muslim friends who had removed their Hijabs out of fear of attack.  It was indeed awful.  Explaining that to a child was beyond comprehension.

So today I take you back to my kindergarten year and good memories that I hope will make you smile on this day.  I grew up the first half of my childhood on Siesta Key, FL.  We did not have an ocean view as we were not wealthy, but a very modest home on one of the side streets.  Right next door was a fish market that would smoke mullet all day.  When bored, I would wander over there and if I smiled cutely, they’d give me a sample of their fish.  It was so yummy.  But what I remember most is that they had this vertical fish tank in the corner of their store.  It was filled with tropical fish and mainly seahorses.  I was so intrigued by how they swam with such small fins.  I would watch them for hours.  One day I noticed one of the very “fat” seahorses was making jerking motions and much to my delight he was having babies!!  I squealed with so much joy that all of the customers rushed over to look in the tank with me.

I remember the proprietor asking me if I wanted a little tank of my own with some of their seahorses to care for.  I did, but then I thought about it and decided i didn’t.  It was much more satisfying to sit and watch the fish over there and besides, I wouldn’t get free seafood goodies at home. 😉

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I Stone Rock’d A G.O.A.T!

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abstract art, animal mosaics, animal prints, animals, art, Artist, contemporary, cute animals, faabest, farm, farm animals, fun, funny animals, funny art, goat, goat art, goat paintings, goat prints, goats, happy, humor, joy, modern, mosaic, mosaic art, mosaic prints, mosaics, paintings, pink, pink art, prints, sharon cummings, zoo, zoo animals

I am always trying to think of new subject matter to Stone Rock….one of my signature art styles.  Lately I have been taking a second look at images and paintings that I have had up for a long time that have not received much attention.  And it is working.  I have sold pieces Stone Rock’d that never sold without it.  My latest transformation is here.  I have taken “Pinky” below and added my trademarked Stone Rock’d pattern for an interesting and “Pop Art” effect.  I had a pet goat as a child named Lulu Bell….she would be proud. 🙂

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See “Pinky” Stone Rock’d Here:

Just S.M.I.L.E.

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arrangement, art, bathroom, beautiful, bedroom, botanical, botanical art, botanical painting, botanical prints, bud, buds, cottage, cottage art, country, country cottage, elegance, elegant, feminine, floral, floral arrangement, flower, flower buds, flowers, garden, gardening, happiness, happy, health, health benefits, healthy living, kitchen, ladies slippers, lady slipper, orchid, orchids, phaphiopedilum, photo, photograph, photography, rich, sharon cummings, smile, smiling, soft, table, traditional, vase, vases, yellow orchid

 

It’s so simple.  Just smile.  Even if you have to look at cute videos on YouTub of babies laughing or puppies sleeping, it’s a great way to improve your health and it makes you feel good about yourself.  Below are some of the rewards of lifting those cheeks:

1.  It Lower Heart Rate – Smiling slows the heart and relaxes the body. People who smile and laugh often are less likely to develop heart disease. Smiling reduces blood pressure temporarily too.

2.  It Reduce Stress – Stress relief may be as simple as smiling a little more throughout the day. Smiling releases endorphins that counteract and diminish the stress hormones.

3.  It Increase Productivity – Smiling has been shown to increase productivity while performing tasks. There’s truth to the “whistle while we work” mentality. This also explains why silly internet memes and pictures of cute animals can actually get people motivated and working harder after a few moments of smiling or laughter.

4.  It is a natural Pain Killer – Smiling and laughter both have been shown to lessen pain. They release endorphins that lift our moods, but many of these act as natural painkillers too.

5.  It Increase Attention – Stress limits our perceptions and narrows our attention. Our body kicks into fight or flight mode where we can focus only on one of those things. Smiling counteracts this and widens our attention again, opening us back up to multitasking and insights that come from the fringes of our perception and our subconscious.

6.  It is Contagious – Around 50% of people smile back. This spreads the health benefits throughout those around you and it comes back to you several times as well.

7.  It makes you more Attractive!  – Smiling makes people look more appealing. This seems to be especially true for women. Men are more likely to approach a woman who smiles than one who simply makes eye contact while women aren’t necessarily drawn in by a smile alone.

8.  It makes You Look Younger – Smiles naturally lift the face and in studies have shown to make people look younger, around 3 years younger on average.

9.  It increases Longevity – The effects of a good smile extend past just the exterior good looks. People who smile more often live longer too, around 7 years longer than most according to one study. It releases stress, helps the heart, and much more to keep you healthy longer.

10.  It Boosts the Immune System – Smiles help the body relax and this lets the immune system react more quickly and effectively against invaders.

So C’mon…………………………………………………..S.M.I.L.E. 🙂

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The Wonder Years….

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aging, anxiety, art, bathroom, bedroom, botanical, botanical prints, bug, bugs, butterflies, butterfly, butterfly garden, butterfly wings, buy, career, change, ecology, face lifts, Family, feminine, for her, for sale, fun, garden, gardens, gift, gifts, growth, happy, healing, insect, insects, joy, joyful, letting go, living room, marriage, mixed media, mom, mother, mother's day, online, paintings, pentas, personal growth, powder room, prints, season, seasons, sharon cummings, skin, spring, summer, uncertainty, wing, wings

 

Are you trying to hold on to your youth?  Your children?  A dysfunctional family?  A job that isn’t right for you?  A marriage that doesn’t work?  That D you got in trigonometry in high school?

So many of us cling tightly to what is familiar or comfortable.  Others bind themselves to the past and allow it to punish them for their entire lives. Change is scary.  Some just cannot picture a life different than the one they currently have.  I have learned that the harder you grasp something, the more it hurts when it slips away from you.  The secret to life is “letting go”.  Also known as acceptance.  This has nothing to do with giving up and everything to do with knowing when it is time to move on.

I had a few years of uncertainty and fear as I moved into middle age.  I was panicked at the thought of my little girl out in the big mean World all by herself. My marriage had a major hiccup one Summer and I was not sure we would make it.  I noticed that I was starting to lose the interest of men when I walked into a room.  My body and face were aging and I did not know how to handle it. I was also very confused about what I wanted to do with my business.  I considered shutting it down and taking a different path by getting back into Holistic Medicine.  I call those years “the worry years”.

Slowly I started to realize that I could not hold onto all of those things that I wanted to remain the same.  More importantly, I did not want to. I discovered it was safe to let go and just celebrate where I was headed.  I was not only physically different, I was also mentally and emotionally transformed.  At 45 I am now excited to watch my daughter leave for college and blossom into her own life.  I will not be keeping her bedroom as a shrine where I can focus on the past.  Instead it will be converted into a sanctuary for yoga and thinking. She will be welcome to visit anytime, but I will use that space for mediation.  I have learned to work “with” my partner instead of “against” him as we weather life’s bumps.  I am less selfish.  I have also decided that I will not be artificially preserving my youthful face.  It’s gone and no amount of face lifting, injecting or sand blasting is going to bring it back.  It’s o.k. to have wrinkles and fine lines.  In fact, if you allow yourself to let go of what society dictates is beautiful, you can actually admire them for what they really are: signs of a life that has endured numerous storms and celebrated many triumphs.

As for my career that is still being pondered.  I have a few new ideas about what direction I would like to move in. But whatever I decide, the process leading up to it will not be fraught with anxiety.  No, these are truly “the wonder years” for me.  The dictionary tells us that “wonder” means:  a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.  And that is exactly where I am.  Bring it on life!

Are You a S.H.O.P.aholic?

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art, baby, baby nursery, bargain shopping, buy, childish, childish art, childlike, childlike art, Children, children's, day care, day care art, day care paintings, daycare, daycare art, daycare paintings, daycare prints, dress, elementary school, farm, figure, figures, fun, funny, girl, happy, kid, kids, kids room, kindergarten, little, little girl, mall, nursery, paintings, pink, primary school, print, prints, purse, purses, room, sale, sales, school, schools, shoe sale, shop, shopaholic, Shopping, stick, stick figure, stick figures, stickfigure, stickfigures, teacher, the mall, whimsical

 

Today I am taking my daughter and one of her friends shopping.  They love to shop for clothes and accessories, but what teen-aged girl doesn’t?  Ok me at that age.  I am not much of a shopper and never have been.  I have been told many times that I shop like a man.  You know the stereotypical male shopper right?  He knows what he needs, goes in and gets it and leaves.  If that is manly shopping then I must agree.  I shop like a man.

Now it’s a totally different story if you drop me into an art supply store.  I will look at every single item, take off caps, smell things, etc. Papers must be felt with my hands for textural nuances.  Price comparisons for canvas must be made.  And look at all of those colors of paint!  Every brush has to be pressed against my skin to determine it’s value.  I can spend hours immersed in art supplies.  So in this one way I am truly a “shopaholic”.

But today it is all giggles, lip-gloss and possibly neon tennis shoes. 😉  The only thing that makes the shopping part bearable for me is the fact that these ladies love a good bargain, so we will be hitting consignment shops and Goodwills.  You never know what you will find in those places. 🙂

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Achieving Zen…

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abundance, abundant, abundant life, art, asian, bug, bugs, buy, chinese, cream, dragon, dragon flies, dragon fly, dragonflies, dragonfly, earthy, flies, flight, fly, for sale, happiness, happy, insect, insects, japanese, joy, joyful, life, online, oriental, paintings, prints, rejoice, sharon cummings, soulful, southeast asian, spirit, spiritual, spring, spring cleaning, summer, textured, yoga, zen

Spring is in full swing here in Florida and I have been one busy bee!  I have been painting lots of commission work and my print sales are at an all time high.  I just spent a few days with my daughter in Sarasota for her Spring break which was fun and relaxing.  But today it is back to work for me. We’ve been cleaning and doing some upgrades in our home.  I do not comprehend the concept of “light” cleaning. It’s always “deep” cleaning because once I see funk or dirt, I MUST clean it!  I cannot turn a blind eye.

How does this tie into “zen”?  The urban dictionary says:

One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts. “Sun is warm, grass is green.”

I have been experiencing the “zen” of cleaning.  My focus is intense and both my mind and body are fully together in my tasks.  There are no illusions here. Dirt and dog hair have infiltrated every pore of my home. “The house was dirty, the house is cleanish.” 🙂

Happy Spring Cleaning!

The Birds And The Bees

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art, bed and breakfast, bee, bees, bird, birdie, birds, buy, buy art online, buy humming bird prints, buy prints, colorful, cute, design, filigree, flower, fun, happy, harmony, hibiscus, hibiscus flower, hummer, humming, humming bird, humming birds, hummingbird, hummingbirds, life, natural, nature, nectar, online, paintings, pollen, prints, share, sharing, sharon cummings, spring, spring art, tropical, tropical flower, tropical flowers, vintage, wall art, whimsical, whimsy

While I was working on my Three Birds piece yesterday the wheels started turning and I wondered if this could become a series.  Why yes it can!  More colorful Spring images on the way. 🙂  I created the hummingbird and hibiscus in this piece well over a year ago. People seem to like it with a white background, but I like the added interest the colors and patterns make.

I’ve got so many images to list right now it is crazy.  I still have a dozen pieces from my Transforming Energy series to get online plus another dozen or so maps.  And then there are photos!  If only one hour of sleep was enough!