I'm very grateful this piece, As Above, So Below was selected for the San Francisco Women Artists Gallery art show coming up in October. There will be a reception on Oct. 5. I welcome you to come by and enjoy an inspiring evening in the Inner Sunset. This mixed-media piece measures 30 x 30 inches. Like the world's stage, my inner universe contains every possibility. To change anything without, I must begin the conversation within, with honesty and compassion. I am willing to change in order to bring more love and hope into this life. Gandhi's words resonate for me. He said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. ... We need not wait to see what others do.”

So Much Love

The photos that inspired this piece are below.

I Rise

"I Rise," was inspired by an uplifting and art-filled vacation my husband and I took to Paris last summer. We left our apartment at Place de Vosges in the Marais early one morning. Stories seemed to rise with the sun. Gothic reliefs on Notre Dame de Paris told tales that held us awestruck. Gargoyles overhead giggled before swooping down to capture our imaginations. Later, the Victory of Samothrace rose from a sea of aesthetes at the Louvre. "Your intentions," she said. "I'll take them from here." I said a prayer. A wind filled her wings, my hearts' desires ascended and I watched Victory fly swiftly with my dreams. Days later, a graffiti walk took us from the art of the ages housed within architectural wonders to narrow alleys filled with vivid markings. Just like the masterpieces, these fleeting expressions and tags spoke to me of a yearning to make manifest a rich and soulful story within each artist. Street art depicting children impressed upon me the importance of giving flight to our childhood wishes. I loved the conversation the Universe had with me and the story I reimagine from this wonderful trip.

Faith

It was a rainy, moody weekend in Portland, Oregon, perfect for hunkering down in our well-appointed, downtown hotel, with the subject of faith in my heart. These days, along with faith, I'm holding my dream, a novel I've written and want to share with you. Like all worthy goals, time must have its turn with this one. I've spent enough time creating to know there's a time for action and a time to allow my soul to work her magic. The best way to get out of her way (and out of my head) is to fill myself with inspiration and keep creating. Here's what went down in the City of Roses ... a deep dive into a plush bed and a great read, The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George. Float to the surface where all I want is to post digital art from our trip to Paris this past summer (Why haven't I done that yet? Ah ... editing, editing and more editing. How soon I forget the arduous labor!). I step away from wet metaphors into a reality of rain outside and walk to Powell's Books where I buy Amy Butler's, Blossom (issues 1 & 2). More gorgeous images and words fill my heart and then, an art muralist captivates me with the lovely figure I photographed below. Notice one of the words at bottom right ... faith. Validation is the best! On the plane ride home, the person next to me, an Irish American woman, about my mother's age, tells me she loves rain and it's a good thing, since she is going home to Ireland. She inspires me too as she does exactly what she loves as an avid gardener and world traveler. We enjoy Blossom's flowers and richly hued pictures of other countries. She lives alone on two acres in a 250 year old cottage, a 45 minute flight from Dublin. I ask if she gets lonely. No, she picks up and goes to visit friends all over. Her favorite spot to visit right now is the island of Malta. Her words conjure a planet as a neighborhood ... where strangers are fast friends when the language of inspiration is shared. Now it's easy to have faith. I thank her, Nina, Amy and a talented muralist for bringing me inspiration that keeps me believing in my own dream.

Photos that inspired the art above:

Alice Follows her Bliss

On an inspiring graffiti tour in Paris recently, I came across a stencil I love of Alice in Wonderland. I would give the artist credit if I could. I took some liberty in playing with the stencil with my images of my wonderland, San Francisco. Here are a couple for you to enjoy, the first is titled, "Alice Plays in San Francisco." In the original image, Alice has spray painted the Ace with a Fleur de Lis in its center. To me, the Fleur de Lis is a trinity symbol of power, wisdom and love. I cut the Ace out and placed it in the window of the Victorian, housing the symbol in my favorite type of home. The second image is titled, "Alice Imagines." The third image is titled, "Quilted City." I fell down the rabbit hole when I began quilting over fifteen years ago. Since then, pattern, shape, color and texture have been my alchemical tools much like Alice's spray paint can in her hand. The digital art was created in Photoshop CS6. I'm happy to share any questions about the process.

Having fun layering photos I take on my walks in the morning, with drawings and paintings. Enjoy!

Exit

Inspired by San Francisco graffiti and art's ability to let me escape into my imagination.

So tired of telling myself I don't have time to take a nap or hang out, just sit with the coffee or call my friend and go to lunch. So tired of telling myself the beautiful magazine is too much; there's no time to pet the dog, much less, walk. So tired of telling myself there's not enough time to create, paint or write.

Rewind the type. I see what I'm creating. So grateful.

Thank you

Athena and Nike, thank you for wisdom and for the swift fulfillment of my dreams.

Creation

Made from a photo I took coming off the ferry in Larkspur, another I took of an architectural element over a door in San Francisco and an image of a baby in utero. Enjoy!

I Am Light

Painted Ladies Digital Art Series - "I Am Light"© Alma Art™

Painted Ladies Digital Art Series - "Lit from Within"© Alma Art™

SF Street Car - "Light Traveler"© Alma Art™

We are meant to bring the light of who we are into this world. Shine brightly.

I Am Not Afraid of the Dark

This piece is the latest one in my Painted Ladies series. Enjoy!

Love

While enjoying a wonderful day in San Francisco with my son and husband, a bright leaf helped tell the story in my heart.

Shambhala

I believe Heaven exists on Earth. You may view this artwork at the San Francisco Women Artists Gallery through September 7, http://www.sfwomenartists.org/.

Featured Artist- San Francisco Women Artists Gallery

Please join me at the San Francisco Women Artists Gallery for the "Angles and Curves Show" on June 6th for a reception at 5:30PM. As the Featured Artist I am exhibiting the three pieces here and it would be wonderful to enjoy your company! See you there! Information: 3489 Sacramento Street San Francisco, CA 94118 415-440-7392 sfwomenartists@sbcglobal.net

My Soul Opens a Window

My Soul Opens a Window by almaart featuring a tattoo body art

New Animation Video!

Well, I wish I could say the past few weeks have had equal parts frustration and joy in regards to my first stop motion animation, but the learning curve was steep and I'm not gracious when things don't go my way! I learned SO much, however, and I did FINISH it, so I will work on feeling the joy in that! So here it is, my second video in my Cosmic Relief Series, created with iMovie and Photoshop CS6. Enjoy! https://vimeo.com/64597348

What Grows in Your Garden?

(please click on image to enlarge)What inspires you right now? Tell me what grows in your garden.....I am loving the fragrance of the Freesias, Calla Lilies that reach up to catch the rain, Bluebirds that call me outside and the sweet feeling of peace that home brings.

Indigo Garden Bells

I spent the morning in my favorite city this weekend, San Francisco. If you've spent time hanging out at my website you know I have an alter ego, San Francisco Girl With Flowers in Her Hair©, and she inspires me in unexpected ways. I came home with an urge to make bell bottoms, so I headed to Goodwill and bought a pair of jeans for $8.-, came home and made these. I call them, "Indigo Garden Bells."

Dear Life

Dear Life, I owe you one. You left a trail of breadcrumbs in a statement I heard once a long time ago, "Life is an illusion." I followed them on a dramatic quest for their meaning, where I battled demons, slayed not one, but many dragons, rescued the Princess, the Queen, the King, kissed the frog, made my stepsisters my besties and saved the whole freakin' Kingdom, only to unexpectedly find myself at the end, like a giant holding you like a crystal ball in my hands. What a gift! The realization that I was larger than you wasn't even the best part. You showed me I've been writing the fairytale from the very beginning! If I created everything, then it is time for a DIY makeover of the land I call My Mind. Demons and dragons will be my house pets. The Princess? I found her locked up in the tower with her high expectations, but I'll make her the life of the party, she'll love that. The Queen, oh the Queen. She was under the impression it was her kingdom and wasn't pleased to lose control of it, so I'll be giving her some creative projects she can run with in the next few chapters. The tyrant King, what to do with him? I know! I'll sign him up for yoga. That guy just needs to breathe- he is wound tight! When I kissed the frog, I expected the obvious, but when that didn't happen, I accepted the outcome, a golden key. I know just what I'll do with it. I'll open the magic door to new worlds/chapters I'll create whenever I want. I'm renaming my besties, Bliss and Beauty and together we will oversee the new projects underway. There is so much to do and so much to look forward to as a Giantess! Fee Fi Fo Fun, that's all I have to say. And yeah, thanks.