I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged by my dear friend from the UK LindaButterfly

Now I am to follow these points:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs.

Facts about me.

1. I love poi with honey!

2. I have two wonderful sons, my eldest is my best friend, my youngest is always a challenge in curious ways.

3. I worked with homeless youth for almost two decades offering programs of meals, shelter,education and creative expression. Published two composite books of poetry and art of the youth!

4. I desire to travel to Spain for my 60th Birthday year: 2010!

5. I grew up with farming, fishing and gathering for instilling my work ethics~hence why I like to rise and shine at 4:30am!

6. I am a warrior against cancer fighting for almost 23 years!

7. I am learning to guide and instruct with total acceptance of each students individuality.

Links to other blogs:

Kauai Artist

Diane Clancy

The Creators Palette

Bear's Hollow

An Artist's Ramblings

Cougar Mellencamp

Cornerstone Antiques

FUN-damentals of Portrait Painting

Art For Change started the Autumn class season with classes being held at Paradise Painting Studio of Marionette. We had an interesting combination of folks in the class. There were three visitors, a couple John and Sharon from Oklahoma and Donna from Washington,DC. and then four local residents from all corners of the island.

This class got to know one another through a couple of fun and interesting introductions and descriptions of each other. We then gathered up and went on an adventure walking through Waimea town to the beach.

At the beach we teamed up with a partner. One was blindfolded and led around the area blindfolded. Others discovered the swing or items on the beach.

We then walked back to the studio and began our portrait FUN-damentals!! Everyone was pretty excited to get started painting. They carefully chose the colors they wanted to use. And then the blindfolds came out again. They painted completely blindfolded with no time limit.

Etsy Artist @ Kauai Made Trade Show

This past weekend was our FIRST Kauai Made Trade Show at Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Kauai. Good friends Marrionette and I attended our booths side by side.

Marionette and I both; live on our beautiful island of Kauai, are visual artist, are art instructors, and are proud Etsyshop owners. We met through Etsy, and realized we only lived a few miles from one another, on the same island! We bacame fast friends- finding many aspects in our lives had a common thread of aloha!

Kauai is a tiny island (525 sq. miles), shaped like a human heart, right in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. Plenty , maybe half of our year-round population of about 60,000 were born and raised here. Some of us like Marionette and I, traveled here and didn't leave.

At this rather small gathering of 22 vendors, we found out that two other vendors were also Estians. This makes four fantstic Etsy Shops that were represented at this very small Trade Show of products made entirely on the island of Kauai. Amazing no?

Finding My Past

Don't you just love to go through boxes and storage containers? I do when I finally motivate myself (I'd rather be painting) to tackle the task at hand of filtering through all the stuff I tend to collect. There is so much paper but heya that can be an entire other post, no?

The other day, during one of my seasonal sweeps, I discovered some long lost photos of lil' me. Here I am at the age of eighteen months. This is outside our apartment next to my Grandparents home.

In those days my fathers family occupied the entire block with a community garden centrally located. This was in Santa Clara, California. I returned last month to see if my grandparents home was still standing. Although their home and apartments where remodeled, they were still there. All the garden was gone though and the apartments in the back were gone. The house behind the vehicle in the above photo was still there.

I couldn't believe it when I discovered photos of my best gal pal in the world and my childhood friend, Jeanine. Oh I wished I had found these last month before my visit back home. We had just reunited during our High School Reunion last month. Our friendship spanning over 44 years.

jeanine and schar at 14 years old in 1964

COSMIC ORDER

Pueo Dream Transition

original by Schar Freeman

I am often amazed at the timing of the Universal order of things. During the days of birthing our new organization Women Artist of Kauai, WAK , Marionette and myself were busy brainstorming and putting up the blog and a website to offer a new budding opportunity for all the creative women artist on Kauai ~ a cosmic thing happened.

As most artist I know, especially the artist I know best - me, selling art has it's ups and downs. I was in one of the lowest, as cash flows, having only $21 to my name. The above painting has been shown in Hanapepe Cafe for the past few months. Up until a couple weeks ago, I was the Day Chef at the Hanapepe Cafe. Due to the great fall in visitors and economics to our island, I was laid off.

The very day Marionette designed and published our logo for this blog and WAK's website, and the birth of WAK, the painting sold! A wonderful cosmic surprize Marionette! Mahalo nui loa!!

This painting, all framed and packed will be heading out to Hudson, New York to her new home. I was told that it was bought for the couples daughter, Luna. While visiting last week on Kauai, they saw this painting and had to have it to give to their daughter. They had had an experience with a Pueo at Salt Pond (where I had experienced my owl). Mom had a dream of the conception of Luna..Luna is coming.... she told me in my dream. Luna is only weeks old, to be birthed in May/June. This is chicken-skin-kine stuff! When the hair on your body stands up on ends. A great transition of life!

Indeed this was one of those Universal dances in sync and rhythm for Marionette, WAK, mom and dad of Luna, Luna and myself!
Mahalo nui loa ke Akua!!!!
♥Schar

FEATURED ARTIST ~ Marionette

Kauai artist, Marionette, fell in love with this Garden Island in 1992 and has been painting “Hawaiian Style” ever since. Her works include the techniques of acrylic, silk painting, and watercolor.

Her paintings can be found in public and private collections throughout the world. If you are looking for that special something to bring back fond memories (or future dreams)of your trip to Hawaii, you've come to the right place!

Recently, Marionette opened her own studio in Waimea, Kauai named "Painting Paradise". She teaches a variety of classes in her studio Wednesday through Saturday where you can also find original paintings, prints, and gifts. Marionette loves to work on commission paintings, murals, and portraits!

She is also a graphic designer and has created numerous commercial designs for some of Kauai’s businesses such as Kauai Coffee. She recently painted the cover of "Last Clear Chance" by Bob Tripp, author and test pilot. Her reproductions can be found at The Kauai Coffee Gift Shop in Eleele, Kauai, Island Soap and Candle Works in Koloa, Kauai, The Kokee Museum Gift Shop in Kokee, Kauai, Gallery West in Waimea,Kauai, and Taro Fields (carrying her line of original silk scarves) in Poipu, Kauai.

She is a member of Etsy's Design Style Guide Team and Visual Arts Street Team (VAST) http://vastgallery.blogspot.com/ Please visit her blog at:http://www.kauai-artist.blogspot.com/ (yes, there is a "dash" between kauai and artist)! And her websites at Etsy and Painting Paradise

Marionette and I both live on Kauai. We met through Etsy and have become fast friends working together on community projects, workshops and art classes. She is a beautiful being, filled with aloha and a newlywed!!!

Mahalo nui loa for your wonderful visions and your incredible paintings of our beautiful pua (flowers) and honoring much of our aina (land) with your brush and paints my dear friend!! You are a blessing!!

Marrionette is having her first Blog Give-away! Be sure to visit her blog and enter to win not one but TWO of her beautiful and delicate ACEO's.

New Works in the Making

I just began a new job this week as one of many artist at the Banana Patch Studio. I am learning a completely new medium. Hand screened and painted ceramic tiles. Yesterday was my third day on the job and I completed 36 tiles. The day before I completed 30. I am fascinated with the lengthy process that goes into one tile. After I spend hours on application of the image ,wording and borders they need to dry for 24 hours. Then they are sprayed with a thick glaze that puts a cloudy surface on top of the design. They are then stacked in trays to be placed inside the kiln to slowly fire for 24 hours. After the tiles cool then they are cleaned and checked for blemishes that may have occurred during the firing process. We then apply Masonite backs with a slot for hanging on a nail to the back of the tiles with a super strong adhesive. They are then ready to ship all over the world!

I am really happy to have this wonderful part-time job as an artist. Along with the painting and creating I do in my own private studio plus Banana Patch I am finally a true-to-life-full-time artist! Following what my son reminded me to do..."follow your dream and be the artist you are!" Mahalo son for guiding your mom into confidence!