Sensational Artists Choose Nature, Beauty and Art

What I find fascinating about this week is how these amazingly talented artists were given a choice to create works of art for any theme and many graviated toward creating pieces that were filled with the beauty of nature. As you move through these works, each one represents some gift that comes from nature, some incredible way that the artist sees the world. These are all sensational and make me want to spend my day outdoors basking in the magic of flowers, watching clouds and birds with the same wonder and listening to the wind giggling with the trees.


Please enjoy these Participant Choice works of art...




Althea, creator of Salvaged Expression, created this sensational piece for Theme 57: Ladybug Luck.

"I decided to head back to ladybug land and this challenge came at the perfect time since I acquired a few flower shaped pieces of glass for rings and was looking for ways to jazz them up," said Althea. "I always love finding ladybugs and putting them on my plants to protect them from pests so it seemed like a natural combination."

http://salvagedexpression.etsy.com

Felicia Kramer, creator of Another Bright Idea, created these gorgeous pieces titled, "Clematis Reaching for the Sun", "Rose Reaching for the Sun", "Gerbera Reaching for the Sun" and "Daisy Reaching for the Sun" for Theme 45: A Bright Bit of Sunshine Mixed With...


"What I have been working on this week fits right into one of the previous themes: Theme 45: A Bright Bit of Sunshine Mixed With…My Garden!" said Felicia.

"We have had some incredibly hot, sunny days here mixed in with incredibly dark, rainy days. On the sunny days I hurried to get my new plantings in, in between grabbing my camera to capture the newly blooming flowers reaching for the sun. I used minimal effects on these photos – only to achieve a softer effect - and I’m pleased at how they turned out."

www.etsy.com/shop/anotherbrightidea
www.feliciakramer.blogspot.com

Clematis Reaching for the Sun

Rose Reaching for the Sun

Gerbera Reaching for the Sun

Daisy Reaching for the Sun

Amanda, creator of Persistent Green, created this magnificent Barefoot Soul piece for Theme 17: Once Upon an Afternoon Stroll.

"I've been sick and stuck in the house for several days, so my mind has been drifting to more pleasant times and a long, peaceful stroll outside--hopefully I can enjoy a real one soon!" said Amanda. "I took this photo on my most recent "doodle walk," as we came to call it in Natasha's and my e-course. Doodle walking is when you wander with delicious patience and curiosity, meandering wherever the wind blows you, letting the journey become more important than simply "getting there." PS: I finally got a new website up and running! It's definitely not perfect yet, but I'm thrilled to have made the leap anyway."

http://PersistentGreen.com











Maureen, a talented artist created this stunning piece for a mix of themes.

"I've never submitted just a photo before to TST, but this scene really spoke to me," said Maureen. "I had planned to produce something for "Oh, the Places You'll Go." But this morning, I had my attention drawn out my front window to some plants on my deck. They, in their "Purple Passion," were a trio of blooms: one barely open, one half-open, one full. But then the full-length picture shows you "Where the Wild Things Bloom,"--in a kitty litter bucket, brand name "Fresh Step." Lots of plants don't survive transplanting. If they do, they often skip one season of blooming because they need to recuperate from the shock of transition. Well, these purple beauties could no more hold back their blooming than the sun could stop shining. And they sure weren't gonna wait until they were planted in my yard. No, when the urge came to bloom, they did, right where they were. They definitely taught me a thing or two about taking a Fresh Step toward wonderful Places, down a path where Wild Things Bloom, all the time bursting forth with wholehearted Purple Passion."

http://aquamaureens.blogspot.com













Bird, creator of Crow Tarot Tours, created these beautiful pieces titled, "Little Bird", "Birdy Dance" and "Ladybird Luck" for Theme 58 : Little Bird, Little Bird.

"Little Bird"
"Bobbin' Robin I - Mike is the photographer of this piece, taken on one of our walks by the river. 06-08-10" said Bird.
"Bobbin' Robin II - Again, one of Mike's, but with the addition of a posterizing filter, since there was some disappointing blurriness in the original. I guess Robin bobbed at the wrong moment. :-D"







"Birdy Dance - When I sat down to create what became the Ladybird Locket, while I was sitting there this red-winged blackbird landed in this short bush-tree by the water and started doing this fluttery dance. After a while, he gave on of the 'Goldfinger' calls and left. I have no idea what he was up to with all the fluttering & peeping."





"Ladybird Locket - The "Ladybird Locket" came about as the result of a coaching session with the awesome Gareth of Fight-Mediocrity. He suggested that when I was at the park I create a talisman to remind me of the energies of being at the river, for those times when I needed a pick-me-up & a reminder of better, more power-full times.

This is that talisman. Verigated blues for the river, and a little ladybird for my own personal good fortune."





blog: www.AnEncouragingBird.com
www.crowtarottours.com - In Progress
Twitter: @CrowTarotTours
Etsy: www.CrowTarot.etsy.com








Natasha, creator of DoodleStar, created this piece for Theme 36: Believe in Magic.

This piece can be looked at in two ways. The first is with the tree right side up and the second is with the tree upside down and the house right side up. The idea is that so long as you have an open heart and believe that the Universe has a little magic in it, then even amid chaos, when things feel upside down, everything will be fine.

http://doodlestar.etsy.com












Are you feeling that urge to create something? I am too! So let's hop on the next theme.




This theme is a little different. Before you begin it, you will need to do something nice for YOU! You need to give yourself a little gift of kindness. Then based upon the gift or the feeling behind it, you will create something. This theme is really about loving you because we all take ourselves for granted from time to time. We all get so busy we put everyone ahead of ourselves. This theme is a little present to you. So, I ask that you and everyone you know participate in this theme - it's a special one. Theme 61 will be titled, "The Gift."