Monday in the Studio - Caw! Caw! Caw!

I love the smell that greets me when I enter the studio in the morning; it's a very comforting smell of paint, scented candles, assorted chemicals and a bit of fresh air from outside.  It says, "come. sit.  grab a paint brush and tell me what is inside your heart today."

In the big tree next door, the crows call out and it is a perfect backdrop to the work I'm doing.  I think I turn to corvids this time of year because they represent the shadow side of me, or my inner self.  It's a darker place that I go to as the year begins to wain.  It's not dark in a bad, depressive way; it's introspective and quiet.  And I like that place.  I like that place in the autumn and in early winter.  By February I'm ready to burst out!

I'm working on the next Joker Crow.  I'm sure he's up to no good;)

I have a couple of different things going on here.  One, I'm moved to do "tiny art", painting on playing cards and matchboxes.  These cards will all be brought together into one mixed media piece.  You may be wondering what the heart stone has to do with the crows.  It is not a part of this crow piece, but keep an eye out for it to return in another idea I have brewing.

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your week.  The weather has turned here again, giving us an absolutely fall-like day.  I'm told it snowed in the mountains.  Weirdest weirdest summer I've ever seen!