Abstract meditation

Here is the first in small abstracts I am working on. With all that goes on in my life I have learned to practice meditation. But painting abstracts works the same way. Painting with no intention other than to paint. No plan, no analyzing, no expectation ... Just applying paint. (Acrylics on cardboard)

Golden Frida... finished!

Here she is! finished. Will be going on exhibit in San Francisco in early July. 

New Frida Kahlo painting and new mediums

Currently working on a new Frida Kahlo painting and trying out new mediums. I've never painted on cradled wood board or used gold leaf. I really like the smoothness of the board and how the wood grain shows through the paint. I am using acrylics and a gel stain medium to keep the paint light and not so opaque. I want the wood grain to come through. The gold leaf is so light and delicate as a feather. I love everything about it. Here are a few pictures of my process from pencil sketch to using just white and raw umber with a gel stain medium. I still have some more details on her face and the rest of the gold leaf around her to complete the painting. I'll be posting pictures of the finished piece soon. Stay tuned. She will be on display in San Francisco in June. I think I will definitely be working more on cradled wood... maybe I'll even brave painting with oils soon.

 

Good Night Captain Mama! Pre-Order Book Tour and twitter party!

I want to share information on this new children's book written by my friend Graciela Tiscareño-Sato, and Illustrated by Linda Lens. If you are military mama, this would be a great book to have and share with your children.Pre-Order Book tour and Twitter party takes place next week! See below for details.



Good Night Captain Mama is a bilingual picture book created for children between the ages of three and eight.

One evening, as a young child passes by his mother's bedroom, he sees Mamá in her olive-green Air Force-issued flight suit. The child is curious about the colorful patches on the uniform and asks questions as he pulls each one off. His mother's answers teach him, and young children everywhere, why women serve in uniform. [peek at illustrations here]

Schedule

Pre-Order Book Tour Schedule 4/22-4/26

Mon 4/22 Condor Musings http://condormusings.wordpress.com
Tues 4/23 Latino Book Examiner http://www.examiner.com/latino-books-in-national/mayra-calvani
Wed 4/24 OC Gente http://ocgente.com
Thurs 4/25 Latin Baby Book Club http://www.latinbabybookclub.com/ AND Mama XXI http://mamaxxi.com
Fri 4/26 Latina Lista http://latinalista.com AND New Latina http://newlatina.com

Twitter Party : Friday 4/26

Is Speaking in Spanish to Children Unpatriotic?

1PM Eastern/10AM Pacific

follow @condorbooktours and @gracetiscareno and use #captmama at tweetchat or your favorite group tweet platform

We will be discussing bilingual children's books, and the controversy surrounding the author's decision to include the Spanish language in this book depicting a military service member in uniform. Hope you'll join us!

The purpose of this book tour is to encourage Pre-Orders of this book, which will be released in July 2013.

Pre-sales help this small, Latina-run publishing company PRINT IN THE USA, increase the print run, and helps to ensure the book is picked up by public and school libraries. When you Pre-order you save between $5 - $7 off print price, get your name included in the book as a supporter and have the option to have the book dedicated to a loved one. You can pre-order by using Paypal or U.S. Postal Service at Captain Mama's website. Pre-order two (2) or more books and instantly receive a Patch as a gift!

This book tour is a Give-Away Tour!

Check out these beautiful patches (made in the U.S.) that can be yours for participating in this book tour!

Look for the Captain Mama post daily in participating blogs and leave a comment Saluting a woman you know who serves/served in the U.S. military and you will be entered to win a free copy of the book with a dedication of your choice!

Extra Gift: All Pre-orders of two or more books will automatically receive a patch!



Make sure you visit our blog, CONDOR MUSINGS to kick off the tour on Monday April 22nd with an audio interview with author Graciela Tiscareño-Sato & stay updated on the rest of the tour through our RSS feed or email notifications.

EXTRA FUN!!!

Bring a friend to our Facebook Page post on our wall that you stopped by any day throughout the tour and you and your friend will be entered to win a copy of the book!

Etsy feature... "Red Handed"

My little painting "Red Handed" was featured in an Etsy Treasury, The Garden Bandit!

https://www.etsy.com/treasury/MjI2NDc4ODV8MjcyMTU5NTUzNQ/the-garden-bandit

Thank you Erika of Etsy shop One Small Story. https://www.etsy.com/shop/OneSmallStory

My Lean In Story

I wanted to share with you all that my Lean In story was published on Sheryl Sandbergs community site. I'm excited that it was published and happy to bring awareness about being a military esposa. It's not easy and every day is a struggle. With God's help and with the love and support of family we overcome.  Thank you so much to those of you that have supported the BeBrave!Mujer!  website and Facebook page, as well as my Military Esposa blog.

Con mucho amor,
Maria

Yes Dear...

New sketches and painting in the works

I've been out a little out of touch with my blog and art life these past few weeks, mostly enjoying time with my husband while he is home on two weeks leave. We are half way through his deployment. It's been a great two weeks of family time. I am slowly getting back to painting and sketching. Here are few images of what I'm working on now for Chicago exhibit, "My Life as a Deer".

KC Baker ... her practices work!

I don't normally do a lot of endorsements on my blog. But in the case of KC Baker I am making an exception, because I believe in her work. I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to attend her Public Speaking Soiree in SF. Those of you that know me, know that I am a very quiet and for the most part very much the introvert. One of the things that has stopped me from being more out there with my work and with my passion for helping women has always been fear. Yes the fear of being seen, fear of speaking publicly and fear of sharing my truth. After the day long seminar I walked away feeling so empowered by her techniques (some of which were unorthodox) but who cares, they work! Not to mention they make you feel beautiful on the inside and help you feel more confident with your message. I'm posting this because attending that seminar was a gift. Something that I will take with me every time I step on a stage or am in the public light.  I've already signed up for her seminar The Women's Thought Leadership Society and can't wait to be even clearer on my message and to get to the point where sharing my message becomes second nature. It's been a huge help in teaching me to be a BRAVE MUJER. Thank you KC. Baker. :)

(that's me in the very purple dress... lol) 

Her trainings are filling up quickly so I encourage you to take a look and sign up. The shopping cart for KC Baker’s The Women’s Thought Leadership Society and her 2 day, absolutely fabulous Public Speaking Soiree in San Francisco CLOSES THIS TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH!

I guarantee there’s no women’s thought leadership and public speaking training like this on the planet. Her practices WORK and they are also highly effective and they make getting clear on your message & finding the freedom to share it FUN.

Women who do her work have major doors open for them. They become known for their ideas. Their tribes grow. Opportunities like TEDx, Bioneers and other major industry speaking events come their way. Their businesses grow. Their missions take off. And most of all, the resistance disappears. They feel totally free to get out there and rock it, and that’s exactly what can happen for you. If you are really ready to get your message out into the world in a big way and see your mission and your work go gangbusters, come see what she’s offering. It’s so gorgeous, it’ll knock your socks off:

 

 

Encouraging women to Be Brave Mujeres

I've always wanted to be a helper, an encourager to other women. But my fear of being inadequate or not enough always prevented me from launching that dream. After many years of not living to my fullest potential and after experiencing many trials both personal and physical. I can say I am a survivor. I have lived a life with so many stories, stories that I'd like to share that might resonate with other women facing the same challenges. Stories about love, marriage/divorce/reconciliation, living with a life threatening disease, caring for my parents, the death of my father, the other side of depression, motherhood, on the ups an downs of living a creative life as an artist, pursuing my education, deployments and being a military esposa, on finding my voice.   I see now how going through these different life challenges have made me who I am today. The life lesson of simply "going though" and facing each one with grace, love and gratitude. It's a process of learning your strengths, identifying your fears, weaknesses and still being brave enough to continue despite the resistance that creeps up inside of you telling you to give up. It's the knowing that times will get better, that you will be better, that you are going to make it. It's letting go of things that hold us back and having faith that not only are we strong enough to over come, but that we also have God on our side. 

It is through this learning that I am excited to announce the launch of a new project. Something very dear to my heart. Something that I am learning to be, while at the same time empowering and encouraging others to be. That is : Be Brave! Mujer! A new website built just for women looking to be empowered with a simple statement. Be Brave. I hope you'll join me, sign up for the newsletter, like the Facebook page, and follow my tweets. There is also a Pinterest vision board for those (like me) who love visual aids and not just reading text. 

Here is the link:   http:www.bebravemujer.com

I encourage you to be committed to your dream.  I love this quote. It reminds me that when you commit to something do it wholeheartedly and watch how doors will open for you.

 “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.” - William Hutchinson Murray

Con mucho amor,
Maria Sanchez

Art Exhibits coming up Atlanta, Chicago, SF

I have a few Frida themed art exhibits coming up ... for those of you in the Chicago area I hope you can stop by. May 18th, 2013.  I will also be traveling to Atlanta, GA the weekend of March 16th to share my work with the Renaissance Gathering at the Hyde Museum. There will also be an exhibit in SF. I'll be posting information on that soon. Thank you all for supporting my work and thank you God for opening doors and opportunities.

 

Red Peace Lilies and Orange Tulips!

I am working on a some new painting to usher in Spring, my favorite of all the seasons! New life, new beginnings, what more can you ask for? Just take it all in.

RED Project, 9, 10, 11

3 Little Fridas

I have 3 new little Frida paintings. Two of them are magnets on wood and the other is a paper mache ornament (mixed media: collage, acrylic paint, ink, and high gloss finish) They are all listed in my Ebay auctions this week. Auctions end 7 days from now.  

Update they are all SOLD. thank you Ebay bidders!

Los Pollitos Dicen, Pio Pio Pio (RED Project #8)

Red Project, #8 "Pio Pio Pio"

Los Pollitos Dicen, Pio Pio Pio

available in my Etsy shop

Was thinking about my kiddos today as they are all no longer little kids... and how blessed I am to have watched them grow into young adults.  They are 24, 20 and the youngest a preteen (sigh). We were talking the other day about Christmas carols and how all the ones they learned growing up were in Spanish. The girls are gonna sing them for Christmas this year. (At least I hope they do) I miss them as babies and when we used to sing songs. This is one of them that goes along with this little ink drawing. 

Los Pollitos Dicen

Los pollitos dicen, pio, pio, pio,
cuando tienen hambre
cuando tienen frio.

La gallina busca,
el maiz y el trigo,
les da la comida,
y les presta abrigo.

Bajo sus dos alas,
acurrucaditos,
duermen los pollitos,
hasta el otro dia.

 Repeat all verses.

Cuando se levantan,
dicen mamacita,
tengo mucha hambre,
dame lombricitas.