Here are some of the “quotes” I’ve collected over the years:

And I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died,

Who gave that right to me ~ Lee Greenwood

Patriotism…is not short, frenzied outburst of emotions, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. ~ Adlai Stevenson

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~ Abraham Lincoln

If our country is worthy dying for in time of war, let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.  ~ Hamilton Fish

From every Mountain side, Let freedom ring. ~ Samule F. Smith, “America”

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!, By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall. ~ John Dickinson

If you take advantage of everything America has to to offer, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. ~ Geraldine Ferrao

It is sweet to serve one’s country by deeds, and it is not absurd to serve her by words. ~ Sallust

I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot ~ Gary Hart

What we need are critical lovers of America – patriots who express their faith in their country by working to improve it. ~ Hubert H. Humphrey

AMERICA IS A TUNE. IT MUST BE SUNG TOGETHER . Gerald Stanley Lee, Crowds

Celebrate the 4th of July, and it’s meaning to all Americans.

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

Tonight, I listened to an awesome teleseminar on the 6th Chapter of Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich.”

I’ve studied this book before but somehow this chapter was like hearing it for the first time.

For an artist, these questions are critical to your success!!

When we were children, we delighted to color inside the lines, because it was prettier, when we colored outside the lines we were considered careless and haphazard and told to be careful to color inside the lines. Leaving little room for our creative imagination.

Now that we are grown up, do we  color inside the lines, still using the synthetic imagination?  Are you more comfortable painting a certain way, because everyone else is doing it this way?

In the book, Hill states “The creative imagination works automatically. This faculty functions only when the conscious mind is working at an exceedingly rapid rate, as for example, when the conscious mind is stimulated through the emotion of a strong desire.”

He also states “The creative faculty becomes more alert in proportion to its development through use.”

As an artist, writer, teacher or many other occupations, I encourage you to determine to overcome the synthetic imagination and rev up your creative imagination.

Ellene

http://ElleneBreedlove Davis.com

http://ElleneBreedloveDavisRadio.com

http://Twitter.com/ElleneBDavis

http://Facebook.com/ElleneBDavis

Ellene’s work includes scenes from her memory, as a child, and, she also paints from the present, painting many beautiful scenes she finds as she travels. Ellene paints primarily in watercolor. She creates her paintings from life, photos, her imagination and memory. Her work is widely collected and she is in demand as an exhibitor and teacher throughout the South. From her Valle of Yellow Creek Art Studio, located in North Hall County, GA she teaches watercolor and drawing workshops.

Davis states that her studio is her home base, not only does she produce her art and teach there. In 2007, she installed her art website, http://EllleneBreedloveDavis.com and promotes her paintings, and local/regional workshops there. “The Landscape Artist Speaks,” is aired on Blog Talk Radio, on Wednesdays at 10am, and also originates from her studio. In this much listened to broadcast, she teaches fine art fundamentals and interviews well known artists.

Ellene states that “classes and workshops are conducted with the student in mind.” Each student receives individual guidance and encouragement. Here’s what Ruth said of her workshop at the Blackshear Place Library:

“When I left that Saturday workshop, my heart was singing! So, thank you for the gift you give when you so graciously share your knowledge and talents with the rest of us.”

For more information, please call 678-528-7099 or email at art@ElleneBreedloveDavis.com,

Here are some ways to help you use these tools:

Keep a journaling sketchbook.  This is a good way to practice what you see each day. In Cheap Joe’s Art Catalog, we find several types of sketchbooks.  In fact, there are 3 sizes of the American Journey Sketchbooks.  There are field journals, drawing pads, spiral bound sketch books and tape bound sketch pads. Find one that inspires you, whether it is a beautiful moleskin or just a plain one. From experience, I prefer the spiral bound books because of their flexibility. And, looking through this catalog, I see there is also a Flexi-Sketch, manufactured by Hand Book.  It has 300 pages of 75lb., acid-free paper in a book that can be laid flat without breaking the spine.  It also comes in several colors.  This type book will also store well.  Just fill it up and it stores along with your other books.

You can’t be an aspiring artist or an accomplished one, without being familiar with your materials and you should also understand that pencil drawing is a basic tool in any form of visual art.  The variations and the possibilities will be developed as you practice and work with your teacher.

Even tho there are many ways within the art world for artists to show their mastery, shading and drawing have  absolutely got to be there as a vital tool.

Many artist aren’t sure of their capabilities and hold back not wanting to look bad, thinking their skills are less than someone else.  This hampers their accomplishments tremendously and hinders their dreams and life goals.

Even worse, these artists allow the feelings or thoughts of others to keep them from discovering their skill and in taking pleasure in the skills they can attain with practice.

Please don’t fall into the trap of disbelief that the attainment of required pencil drawing skills, to be competent and to illustrate well is hard or even unfeasible.

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http://ElleneBreedloveDavis.com

The relationship between the great golfers and artists is not that too far removed.  How do these golfers handle their very personal emotions, especially when they themselves caused the results?

Maybe the golfers could take a word of advise from the artist.  We too have emotions of hurt, rejection and disappointment.  When our paintings aren’t accepted into prestigious art shows, whether they will be shown at a gallery or in a traveling display. When we don’t win a ribbon at the local art gallery or are not accepted to illustrate a great children’s book.

We know we must go on, as our muse will not let us quit, just as the golfers, we have teachers, and mentors that want us to do well in our chosen field and offer guidance and encouragement and bring to light the techniques we used that could have been used better or a technique we should have used to bring better results.

I’ve had many painting teachers, some local, and some nationally known that have supported my work when it wasn’t up to par or truthfully stated the problem that I had.

This make rejection so much easier, and I am able to get back to my easel with more self-confidence and greater determination to do a better job next time.

There is a short report that is in the right hand upper corner of this blog.  It is “Choosing To Be An Artist – For A Lifetime.”  If you are discouraged because your art work has been rejected, I invite you to download this short report at no cost to you.  I think you will enjoy the eight different chapters.  I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Also, I’ve been an artist for 30+ years, and I’m willing to answer your art questions.  I can be reached at http://valleofyellowcreekartstudioblog.com or my studio phone # is 678-528-7099.

I’ll get back with you, usually within 24 hours.

I’m currently in a 30 day blog challenge, issued by my Internet Marketing mentor, Connie Ragen Green. This is day 2, April 11, 2010.

Thank you for reading my blog posts!

“Honor Your Creative Spirit!”

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http://ElleneBreedloveDavis.com

http://ElleneBreedloveDavisRadio.com (Wednesdays at 10am on Blog Talk Radio)

http://twitter.com/ElleneBDavis

http://facebook.com/ElleneBDavis

So far we’ve seen the black fox squirrel, the pileated woodpecker and the red head woodpecker, as well as the water birds that we usually see.

My point is I’m in an area that has no super-speed internet for the laptop, but since I don’t want to be behind with my internet marketing  assignments, I include an air card.

This time I also included my watercolor painting supplies.  It’s easy to stretch the paper on gator board before I leave home, and pack the paints, brushes and other supplies in a small box that fit nicely in the car. I actually remembered to include the charts that I’ve made of the colors I intend to use.

Yesterday, I painted my landscape painting.  Here I paint by the window that faces south and looks out over the pond, the light  is good, especially in the morning.

At night I’ve been able to keep up with my internet marketing assignments from my mentor, Connie Ragen Green.  Connie has issued a challenge for her mentees to post 30 blogs in 30 days.  This is April 11, 2010 and this is blog #1.

Thanks to a little planning beforehand, I have been able to paint a watercolor painting, keep up my assignments and really enjoy visiting with my artist friend here.

If you have ever thought you would like to be an artist, I invite you to download the special report – Choosing To Be An Artist – For A Lifetime.  The first chapter is an interview I did with the good friend I was just speaking of. This is at no cost to you.  I would love to have your comments.

“Honor Your Creative Spirit!”

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http:///ellenebreedlovedavis

http://ellenebreedlovedavisradio.com (10 am on Wednesday)

http://facebook.com/ellenebdavis

http://twitter.com/ellenebdavis

Accomplishing goals whether they are short-term or long term will result in a product you are proud of and you will be satisfied with the results. Take your goal plan seriously and you will most certainly be rewarded with success.

Here are 3 tips that will help you reach your goals:

1. Time-management

This may come easy to you if it has been practiced for a long period of time. But if you are in the process of making new habits, time-management improvements have to be a top priority. This should be practiced daily and in every activity. And, especially true if you own your own business.

If you feel there is not enough hours in the day to do the things that must be done, never mind the things you want to do, setting your goal plan will be a very positive step.

2. Be constantly aware of your goals

How will you know when you get what you want, if you don’t know what you want? This is a good reason to become more goal orientied.  So keep your goals constantly in your mind.

Decide where you want to go, make a goal plan and keep it in your desk drawer, or hanging on your easel to keep you on task and on time.

When you decide where you’re going having a goal plan is the shortest way to get there.

3. Accomplishing your goals

I know there is so much you want to accomplish with your painting. There is scumbling, that has to be done, a wash to be laid in, and planning for drying time. There are many steps to be taken and if any steps are skipped the results will be less than satisfactory. It is never advisable to rush through these steps or to take short cuts, no matter how small.

In summary, Devote time and attention to each task. Keeping your goals constantly in mind, or in other words, your eye on the prize will save you time and effort. When you’ve come this far with the goal of painting a picture, you don’t want to ruin the picture or your motivation, so take no short cuts.  To see this painting through to completion means following a certain process. It ends when time and attention have been used to go to the framer, pick the best framing materials you can afford, entering an art show, and now a days, showing it on your web site.

And in all things, “Honor Your Creative Spirit!”

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

Just a reminder to download the short report “Choosing To Be An Artist – For A Lifetime”. This is an excellent report and in the first chapter read the interview with an artist who has truly been an artist for a lifetime.  See how she has accomplished her goals and found the motivation to teach others.

1.  You will get more accomplished.

2.  You will know in advance what is needed.

3.  No more missed art club meetings.

4.  A neat work space = greater creativity.

5.  No more running here and there, taking time to find materials or find your day runner.

Being organized begins by making a schedule of what you want to accomplish and when it needs to be finished. You will know exactly where the materials are to complete your project and have an estimate of the time that is needed .  This eliminates the need to spend unnecessary time looking for some misplaced item.

You may think that unorganized people make paintings as beautiful as anyone else. This is probably true, but how efficient are they? They may rush here and there, miss club meetings or show dates and are generally unsure of what they want to produce.

Do you find it hard to have time to learn new information about your chosen field?  Most of us spend time in our cars, whether we work at home or hold a 9 to 5 job. This time will be well spent and you will be  more motivated, if you listen to C D”s or MP3′s  that are informative and inspiring.  Even if you are able to listen for short periods, over time the information you receive will add up.

If you have a deadline of having a commissioned piece ready for your collector, or an art show is coming up, if there is no goal plan for getting it done, there is a good chance you will be rushing and not do the job that you or others are expecting. Procrastination and not using your time in a productive way slows you down.  Lack of a goal plan may be destructive.

To increase your productivity, know exactly what needs to be done and when.  Even if there is no deadline the painting still needs to be finished, so decide when it will be finished and incorporate this into your goal plan so that necessary time is scheduled to complete your painting.

At the right top there is an opt-in box where I invite you to join the Valle of Yellow Creek Art Studio E-Zine.  The E-Zine is published each 1st and 3rd Saturday.  So why not join the 200 + that enjoy reading the E-Zine with their morning coffee every other Saturday.  My thank you is a Special Report that I’ve written to encourage you on your artist journey, opt-in and your report will immediately be on its way to you.

“Honor Your Creative Spirit!”

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

http://ellenebreedlovedavis.com

http://ellenebreedlovedavisradio.com (10am Wednesdays at Blog Talk Radio)

http://twitter.com/ellenebdavis

http://facebook.com/ellenebdavis

At first glance wet into wet paintings appear to be an easy way to paint.  One should just wet the paper and drop paint into it, watch it spread and have a beautiful painting.

Hold on, hold on! As with most everything it is not as simple as it appears.  Ask yourself these questions before you begin your painting:

Have you decided which paints to use?

Do they complement each other?

When they come together on the wet paper, what color will they make?

My students were amazed at how much paint it takes to make a bright sky.  When they put the paint down, it seemed they had added too much, but as it spread and dried there was hardly any paint color left.

The way I prepared for this class was to paint a chart of the colors I thought would make this painting beautiful.  I charted pinks and reds, yellows and greens.  Before hand I had also determined if all the paint was transparent. This was determined by drawing a line down the middle of a piece of watercolor paper and painting each paint color over it. Wanting to be sure how the paints would look when glazed, I then painted another chart. When we were ready for class, I knew which colors to recommend and why.

All of this and my students haven’t arrived for the workshop yet!

After discussing the charts and how I determined which colors would work  best and why, we settled down to start the wet into wet process.

So, another round of questions came up -

How much water do I need to put on the paper?

Should my brush be dripping wet?

How much paint do I need on my brush?

These are questions I will answer in the next blog post.  Be sure to check back for these important answers.

Until then, remember to “Honor Your Creative Spirit!”

Ellene

Ellene Breedlove Davis

Web site - http://ellenebreedlovedavis.com

Follow me on twitter - http://twitter.com/ellenebdavis

Friend me on facebook - http://facebook.com/ellenebdavis

For more art information listen as “The Landscape Artist Speaks” on Blog Talk Radio at 10am each Wednesday Morning.  http://ellenebreedlovedavisradio.com