JoAnnA Pierotti

Doodling With a Purpose

Lately I have been really into doodling with a purpose.  It is very addicting.  I've shared a few of these on Facebook, and some have wanted to know how I do it.  It's very simple.  Thought I'd give a little of a tutorial here on my blog.

click on images to ENLARGE

 

I started off using a stencil I have just drawing a few circles with it.  It gives me a good starting point, especially when the white page looks so blank and you aren't sure how to begin.

 Let's begin but first, here are the simple pens, pencils and markers I used.  You can also use paints, watercolor, etc.

The blending pen worked well on color penciled in areas.

Sorry, the Uni-ball Signo pen is upside down, my white ink pen.

I just started adding marks with my Sharpie here and there.  I also took another stencil and added a few boxes.  Off of the circles I added what I'll call petals.  This is when the doodling starts to happen. 

Now I connected it all together drawing lines from one place to another.  This now blocks in areas for me to doodle in or write words.  Think of it as if you were creating a coloring book.

I wrote some prayers within the spaces and added more markings/doodles to various places.

I start to color with my pens, markers, etc. inside some areas.  You can be as detailed as you want when adding color.

Still adding color.

Color completed in these areas for now.

I start to add some more doodles, this time swirls and such.  Mark-making can be anything, whatever is comfortable for you. It could just be circles or triangles.

Now I added some larger petals.

Within my petals I continue to doodle, adding words of prayers that are on my heart at the moment.

I recently finished reading a book that I loved and outlined pasages that spoke to me.  Inside the petals I wrote them there.  I find writing things down help me to remember what I found to be important.  It sinks deeper into my soul this way.

Book:  "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge

Close up.

After writing my words, I colored the rest of the white areas.  My colors were a bit bright for me so I muted them by coloring over them with other colors.

My final touches include using the white inked pen and retracing with my  black Sharpie Pen.

There ya have it, super simple!  Hope you are inspired to doodle away today.  I think this exercise is expecially wonderful if you find yourself stuck in the creativity department.  It will help loosen you up.

Here are a few of my other pages.

 

Sunday Tour - Pamela Huntington

I was so thrilled to visit with my dear friend, Pamela Huntington's in Connecticut last fall.  Not only is Pamela enchanting, but also are all the great things that surround her at home.  I am sure it has taken a life time to collect what she has.  Pamela's collections filled me with a light-hearted joy.  She has a special gift in the way she displays her treasures.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Pamela's artistic creations reflect the passion she has for collecting things from yesterday.  The characters she assembles speak charming child-like whispers to the heart.  You can't help but smile and feel all warm inside when viewing her sweet creative eye candy.

For more on Pamela Huntington, visit her blog here.  Pamela teaches around the country and also online. 

Taking Off The Mask

(Please note:  None of these photos are of my paintings.  I found them beautiful and wanted to feature them in my post)

It has been so long since I have blogged.  Okay, so now it's 2014.  I am going to try and really make this my priority.  Not because I have to, but want to.  Not because I want to promote myself.  So over that one.  Never really was there.  Listened to mindless people regarding that one.  Life is not about the MASK we think we should wear or what others think we should wear.  I can't believe I fell for that one several years ago and stopped really sharing my life here on my blog.  I even deleted all my personal posts.  A few people I meet along the journey are all about the masks that they wear.  These days you don't even have to be a good artist, but if you promote and market yourself to no end, well, there ya have it!  They don't care who they knock over in their path. 

Read this yesterday -

"The most dangerous masks are often the ones that have brought us success in some way."

Now to my simple life

Trying hard to pick my colors, paint on canvas.  Walls in my house are looking good these days.  Easy canvas!  But then comes the boxed canvas and I'm feeling quite stuck. 

With Breast Cancer now in my bones, I am feeling a bit anxious to accomplish something that has meaning.  Would love to leave something behind that speaks to others and I do believe God showed me what and how to do this. 

Found out today, Susan, a friend, with the same type of cancer as me, departed earth November 1, 2013. We shared the same rare kind of BC. Made my heart and head spin.  She was a really special soul.  She carried me though this past week through a lot of pain.  It was from recollection of when she encouraged me to keep focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel while going through chemo seven years ago.  She truly lives on.  I hope once I depart this earth, I could have a voice that keeps speaking, encouraging others someway, somehow.

So now what?

Going to figure out my pallet.  Not going to give up.  There is a painter within me, I just know it.  Just got to keep doing, keep trying, keep living until I can't any longer. 

Today I take off that "mask" of being afraid to be me, to share my truths, my struggles, hopes and dreams with the world.  Today I feel an urgency to live my life authentically.  Today I choose to be brave!!!  I am going to truly live, today and all the rest of the days I'm a allotted.  I hope you will too!

 

Matthew West - The Motions (Official Music Video) from matthew-west on GodTube.

Creative Inspiration on Mountain's Edge

Yesterday, Ron and I decided to take a Sunday drive up to Jerome, Arizona, about an hour and half from our home.  I've been curious about this town for some time.  I know now where I'll take my friends when visiting us here in AZ.  Inspiration was everywhere!!!

It is hard to explain, but this Historic old Copper Mining town is literally on a mountain edge.  You really have to experience it in person to feel the emotion of what the eyes capture and the heart feels, especially driving up the winding road with steep drop off cliffs.  The views are breathtaking.

Jerome is filled with lots and lots of wonderful art galleries.  I loved that there were a lot of mixed media art.

Here  I am wearing a cool necklace I found in Jerome.  Also note, I had my hair cut off and I'm loving it.

I love that there is a Fairy on this piece, for that is what I was drawn to.  Someone told me years ago, not to worry about others copying our work and to remember, we all have our own Fairy dust.  So true!

You can't help but want to capture all the authentic worn out buildings all around you with your camera.  Well, at least I did.

It really wasn't a great town conducive to pushing Ron around in a wheel chair, so he stayed in the parking lot happy and content while I did a little exploring.  He had an amazing view to look out at.

I believe this is overlooking out towards Sedona, only 20 miles away.

Here are a few shots I took while walking around.  I've been very interested in painting abstract art lately, so I will use these as inspiration.

 

I think this would make an interesting composition for a painting.

 

 

Don't only look up to find interesting textures, but downward too.

 

Ron, ready to go.  He enjoyed just getting out of the house.  We need to do stuff like this more often.

If you would like to learn more about this wonderful place, click here.  I promise if you come and visit me, I'll take you there.

Til then...be inspired!!!

xo

Memorable Moments

Just returned from a wonderful ten day trip to New York City and Connecticut with my long time girlfriend, Cathleen (Cathy to me).  Together, we walked a lot of miles taking in everything we could.

We started our journey off in New York City by going to "my" first Broadway play, Pippin.  It was wonderful!!!!  I cried.

Soon, my other dear Bestie drove into the city to meet up with us, Jane.  It meant the world to me to have two of my dearest friends meet each other.

I think they got along just great!

 

Went to our favorite shop in Rockefeller Center.  It felt like we spent the day there.  I walked out in a new outfit including some very cool boots.

I taught in the city for two days and experience yet another wonderful teaching opportunity.  A huge thank you to Michele at Little Bird!!

After a wonderful time in NYC Cath and I took the train into Connecticut.  We were both born there so it was special to return together.  Cathy and I met when we were twenty one at work in California.

We stopped at her Family Farm near the Connecticut coast.

We stayed with Judy, Cath's cousin in New London.  Beautiful person and enjoyed staying at her darling home.  Will never forget sleeping in one of her enchanting bedrooms filled with windows.  I was able to sleep with a window open and eye the gorgeous full moon until my eyes closed, entering a peaceful sleep. 

My childhood friend, Carol, one of my first Besties.  We met in the 7th grade in CT.  I moved to California when I was 16, but kept in touch with a few friends and family all these years.  We stayed with her also, which was wonderful.

Here I am in front of the house I grew up in on Elm Street.

Got to visit another Bestie in Connecticut, Pamela.  Her house was magical, one I am calling "The Magical QueenDom".  I have a blog post coming up dedicated just to my visit with Pamela with all her amazing collections.

My trip ended on a very special note, visiting with my cousin's, Deb and Donna and favorite Aunt Sis.  So special!!!!

 

Sadly my camera died that night so few pictures were taken of a lovely gathering with family and old friends.  I knew this trip was going to be so memorable for me, with much meaning, and it was. 

I am ever so grateful and filled to the brim with happiness.