Fingerprints Tree Painting

Fingerprints Tree Painting

Mom and Me Fingerprint Painting

Family Yoga Art

Sharing these adorable photos of the families who joined us for the Family Yoga & Art class last month.  Join us on June 25th for the next Family Yoga & Art class adventure. We will be painting with our whole bodies in canvas!  More info can be found here:  Family Painted Yoga

Can't wait to Paint by Yoga with you and your little ones soon!

Yoga Bead Love. Yoga and Mala Beads Making Workshop.

So excited to start 2014 with series of yoga+art workshops to teach. First on the list: ‘YOGA. BEAD. LOVE.’ A Yoga and Mala Beads Making Workshop on February 23, Sunday, 2-4pm. 

Mala Beads have been around for centuries, are not only beautiful, but also an anytime-reminder of the inner quietude and space available to us at all times. Turning the thumb around each bead while reciting a mantra or holding a visualization helps keep count and sustain focus during meditation.

Enjoy an hour of gentle yoga practice followed by a fun, creative workshop. You will choose, string and make your own Mala Beads Bracelet that complement your unique energy system. You can keep it for yourself or give as a gift. Bring a friend and let’s have fun!  All levels welcome.

Contact: Yoga360.  91 Bankview Dr., Frankfort, IL 60423 / South Chicagoland. Visit www.yoga-360.com or call (815) 806-0360 to reserve your spots.

Hop on to my website sheriesloane.com for more yoga+art fun!

Friday Feature: Isagani Fuentes Art

'Rain Series'

Acrylic , Enamel & Charcoal on Paper

by Isagani Fuentes

Spring is almost over but it ain't leaving without it's last downpour.  It's been an on and off rainy spring here in Chicago.  One more week and it will be officially summer!  To bid spring goodbye, treat yourself to Isagani Fuentes' whimsical Rain Series.  The soothing colors make his newest series a true delight to the senses.


Fuentes is a grade school teacher from the Philippines who paints on the side.  He facilitates art workshops in his community and a founding member of The Aquarellists, an art group promoting watercolor as the preferred medium.  He is a multi-awarded artist and champ to his students.


To learn more about Isagani and his work, please visit his website.

Every Friday, I feature artists from all over the world as my way of supporting their passion and artistic pursuits.  If you want to be featured in The Morning Artist Blog, please leave a comment on this post and share this article to your friends.


Remember, sharing is caring. 

Trail Tales

I love biking and the way it allows me to explore new places. Last weekend, we drove to Geneva and biked along the Fox Riverside Trail.




This is where our adventure brought us to. The historic Fabyan Village, where an old Japanese Tea Garden rests.

How timely for my ongoing 'hundred gardens' project. I can't wait to jump to the seventh painting. Right now, it's time to resume working on the sixth.

But wait, you still have to see the fifth.

- Posted from my iPhone

Focal Shift

Working on the fifth. Right now, I'm deciding to shift the focus from the obvious focal point, which is the blue door. I want to lead the viewer's eye to something unexpected.

Stay tuned to see where it will be. But while you're here, why not tell me what you think. I'll be happy to hear your suggestions.

- Posted from my iPhone

Pastels and Patience

'Robin's Peach Tree'Chalk pastel on paper. 9 x 12 inches.
I learned that although my boy enjoys painting with me, you can't expect two year olds to sit down on a 'real' art workshop. Not yet.

During the recent arts fest in our town, I signed him up for a two hour pastel workshop for a mere $8. The first fifteen minutes, he was doing fine. Until he realized that it was more fun to run outside. The 'fifteen minute attention span' won over.

So, there I was. Left with a box of pastels and a black paper scribbled with abstract lines and curves. I felt sad for the teacher, she must have thought my boy didn't found her workshop interesting enough.

I apologized and was relieved to hear she knows exactly how toddlers are. I decided to 'salvage' what was in front of me and this is what I came up with in less than an hour. The only time I could spare before I lose sight of my toddler and my four month old baby (in my sling) wakes up.

I could have left it as is and brought another abstract work to add in our growing collection (and I mean 'growing'). Moms and dads, you know what I mean.

Instead, I took that opportunity to show my boy what patience can bring forth. When he exclaimed, 'Mom! My bird, nice!', I knew it was worth the effort.

- Posted from my iPhone

Going Green

Egg cartons for planters, anyone?

That's what I call 'thinking outside the box'. Better yet, 'planting on the boxes'.

Happy Sunday! Go green and grow greens.

- Posted from my iPhone

Mystery Subject

Can you guess what I'm painting next?

- Posted from my iPhone

Shades of Summer

Today, I'm taking you to our backyard. It's the first thing I fell in love with, before we decided to buy our property few years ago. The old trees give a sense of nostalgia, which often makes one wonder their actual ages.




My husband built our beautiful paver patio as a mother's day gift. Now we get to enjoy the serene summer breeze under the natural shade and dine al fresco. My flowers are blooming too, what more can I ask for?

Perhaps, a little more painting time. Right now, it's all about the 'art of relaxing'. Because in few minutes, the silence will be filled with my boys' playful laughters.

- Posted from my iPhone

Fluffing the Seat Cushion

It's Sunday morning & I got to squueze in some painting time before the boys get up.

I'm moving on to the next garden, thousands of miles away. You can't see much of the two wrought-iron vintage chairs I'm painting yet. I'm spreading the purplish cream paint to create an impression of a seat cushion today.

Tune in tomorrow to see where our 'Hundred Gardens' tour will lead us.

Enjoy your Sunday! Thanks for stopping by again.

- Posted from my iPhone

Window Treatments

Finishing up the fireplace bricks and window panes.

- Posted from my iPhone

Growing the Roses

It's past ten in the evening and everyone's asleep. Now, I'm back to the canvas to do some of the last finishing touches on my second painting for my 'hundred gardens' project.

I enjoyed smudging the highlights with my finger, it creates a nice Seurat-like marks on the painting. Try it next time you paint, you'll definitely enjoy it too. Think 'finger painting'.

Tune in, 'cos tomorrow I'll let you know where this beautiful garden is. Good night for now, I got a painting to finish.

Thanks again for joining me in my late nights and mornings here in my blog.

- Posted from my iPhone

The Beginning

'A thousand steps begin with one', so goes an ancient Chinese proverb. Today, I officially embarked on my 'hundred paintings' project featuring garden themed subjects.

I chose to paint these two white cheeked birds as to start with, as a symbol of the new heights I'm taking. Why two? Because this project is a two-way collaboration between me and the garden enthusiasts across the globe.

If you love photographing gardens or simply enjoy them, I invite you to join my project by sending your photos.

Tomorrow, I'll post the details about this painting.

See you at the gardens!

Monday Musings

Somebody was up early today to paint with me. I was preparing to start the first painting for my 'Hundred Gardens' Project.


Watching him work on his own space reminded me to enjoy the process with childlike wonder. To occasionally break the rules of art for the sake of pure creativity.


Watching his brushstrokes made me realize once more that we can be who we want to be. In this case, the artists we desire to be. Not defined by the style of art we do, but defining the art we make by who we are.


Just like his painting, others may see it as just another child's doodle. But for him, it's his own 'work of art'. A product of his thought and creative spirit.

- Posted from my iPhone

i heART Dad

It's time for 'Magnificent Mondays'.

My picks for this week - Artistic Gift Ideas for Dads.

Click here to find out more about this week's picks.

I lost my Dad several years ago.

Curating this treasury made me a little teary eyed.

Here's to all the Dads and daddy-to-be out there.

Parol, More than an Ornament

'Parol'

Watercolor on Paper © 2009.

It's that time of the year again when I can't help but miss the cheerful lights and sounds of Christmas back home. There, streets are adorned with lights as early as September and taken down the day after Valentine's day. A long festive celebration indeed.

I miss seeing the Parol. I remember making those when we were growing up. 'Parols' are ornamental star-like Christmas lanterns from the Philippines. It is traditionally made of bamboo and paper and comes in various shapes, sizes and designs.

It symbolizes the Nativity star that guided the Magi to the manger, which for me is the very essence of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. It also represents the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos' hope and goodwill during the Christmas season.

Painting this somehow makes me feel a little closer to home.

Back on Paper

'I Got Your Back'

Watercolor on Paper (c) 2009.

'I Got Your Back'. Detail.

This morning I missed my sisters and out of the blue, I started drawing these two girls on my sketchbook.  Then it occurred to me that it's been a while since I painted watercolor on paper.   

For a year now, I've been painting on watercolor canvases.  Although canvas gives new dimension to watercolor painting, the thrill of successfully achieving transparency on paper is unsurpassed.  The 'touch and go' approach on paper still remains to be the purest form of watercolor mastery.

If papers could talk, I bet they're saying 'Welcome back, Sister!'.

First Sign of Spring

Watercolor on acid free, archival mat board. 

Bid now on eBay.

A little spring bush sprouting out, singing 'Here I come Spring!'