BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Maria Doglio

TRANSITIONAL DECADE A Reflection on Turning 70

CHEERS

Letting go of the 60’s years and back beyond with it’s sometimes bumpy road, it’s highs, its lows, it’s sorrows, forgiveness’s and the stuckness of spinning wheels. Enough now, it’s all passed. No more resistance ~ more allowing, in harmony I will flow.

Turning, crossing the threshold, letting go the illusions of perceived common sense and reason, I will enter this next decade’s season following my heart, my passion, not so much my head; less confusion and more fusion, is the road to which I am led.

The beloved Crone, the Wise Women, I join you, embracing this transition, full on. I will start to unfold, dancing down that uncommon road, coming into myself, my worth, my eternal beingness, understanding, maybe, for the first time, (and it’s a long time coming), this jumping out of the “what’s expected of me” mold.

I shall spin my 70 year old heart with love, joy and connection of endless creativity that keeps me expanding, weaving life’s shining threads, that “turns to gold”, if I play the game right. Like buds ready to burst in spring, like a bird ready to take flight, I enter my personal new decade with levity, for truly, if we choose to see it, feel it, and create it, it is always A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

– Maria Catherine Doglio – September 6, 2014

Birthday Poem Inspired by the song

Turns to Gold, ~ Welcome Matt Music (click title to play song)

With love and appreciation to my fabulous children, their cherished husbands, wives , my amazing grandchildren and my two ex-husbands, who taught me how to come into my own strength, and never forgetting the courage, fortitude and richness of life that all my Italian ancestors showed me.

Wind In Her Hair Studio – Debut at Gin’Gilli’s Vintage Home

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Maria Doglio

September 1, 2014 – Opening day for Wind In Her Hair Studio’s Space at Gin’Gilli’s

Gin’Gilli’s Vintage Home

21079 Geyserville Ave (Rt. 128)

Geyserville, CA

Take a look at Gin’Gilli’s on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingillis.vintage.home

Wind In Her Hair Studio Spot at Gin’Gilli’s

If you drive through downtown Geyserville on Route 128 while meandering your way through Alexander Valley’s Wine Country and small towns, be sure to stop by Gin’Gilli’s Vintage Home. The big L-shaped barn is invitingly filled with antiques, vintage items of all sorts, crafts, imaginative up-cycled and re-purposed items transformed into art or other good use. There is so much to see, a quick sweep through just doesn’t suffice – so plan to stay awhile.

I had the good fortune of being offered a space in the craft row that runs along the center of the wing. I took a leap of faith, gathered all of my crafty pieces and set up my space this morning. You’ll see my colorful up-cycled art lamps as you walk down the aisle. You will find unique colorful pillows, painted furniture, mixed media art collages, a painted canvas floor cloth, lamp shades and more. If you would like a pop of color or one-of-a-kind art and craft items, choose a piece to enhance and enjoy in your home.

Fulfilling my passion to craft and paint on a full time basis, doing the things that I love, keeps me centered and fulfilled in my life, and that positive energy spills out into everything else. Thank you all who read my posts, for following my creative journeys – always changing, always expanding.

Here are some close-up glimpses to entice you!

Painted, Stenciled Chair, signed 2007 (Has a Canvas Floor Cloth to Match!)

Mixed Media Collage’s and Vintage Metal Butterfly Votive, embellished with CeCe Caldwell Paint – comes with a Bees Wax Candle

Painted Art Lamps and Shades with CeCe Caldwell’s Chalk & Clay Paints (available at the store); Pillows and Collages;

Stenciled Side Table (CeCe Caldwell’s Paint). Pillows, Stenciled Apple Wall Plaques

FAIRY IRIS DEVA EMERGES

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Maria Doglio

NATURE DEVA SERIES – Number Two of Four

Recharging Myself and the Studio:

Taking a side path for a bit of time to concentrate on craft items for an outdoor show, my Deva painting series got put on hold for a bit. The Fairy Iris Deva sat patiently on my easel for weeks, just starting to emerge on the canvas.

Meanwhile, the aftermath of serious crafting production, left my studio in utter chaos. I closed the door for a while, with the need to take a break. I took up a library book – Claude and Camille by Stephanie Cowell – a historical novel of Monet. The story is of a young Monet, his first years in Paris along with his companions at the beginning of the Impressionist movement–Renoir, Pissarro, Bazille, Manet and Cezanne. As I got caught up with the novel, I felt that it began to fire up the artist within me. From my own studio came the call of the unfinished canvas.

Digging in first to clear the energy of chaos in the studio, I set to work cleaning up and organizing. I brought in my drum to change the vibration to a higher state and clear out the old stale (and rather stuck) energy. The window was flung open to let in sunshine and fresh air. Laying out my paints and brushes, I was ready to go.

The more I worked, the more I got lost in the painting. The fever pitch set in, causing me to lose all sense of time until my cell phone twitched with a text message. I realized it was 6:00 pm already and I was very hungry! I actually love it when this happens, being consumed by a painting. Ultimately you realize that you are over tired and better stop to avoid any big mistakes. It was close to mid-night.

She sits now – at rest, having fully emerged. It’s at the stage where I “live with” a painting for a while – essentially finished, but sitting observed on the easel in case a need for tweaking becomes evident.

Two more Devas waiting in the wings will complete the series. There is energy in these paintings that I can not explain. It is a journey, not only in the painting, but also, I believe, in connecting with the energy that comes from the force of nature personified. The authors of Findhorn and Parelandra books talk of their cooperative work in the gardens with the over-lighting Devas and Nature Spirits. As the Deva emerges in each painting, I will continue to share my personal journey in painting them with you until all are complete.

Be inspired to step out of the box with your art – what shows up may surprise you!

Fairy Iris Deva – Maria Doglio, 2014 – Acrylic on Canvas Board, 16 x 20

Ref: Bird of Paradise Deva July 13, 2014 Blog for first painting in this series.

Sweet Vintage Trailer Home Show Booth

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Maria Doglio

SHOW TIME: Saturday August 16, 2014 – Wind In Her Hair Studio Booth

Mastering logistics of space, learning how to maneuver the new pop-up canopy, my daughter Kate and I at the Gin’Gilli Sweet Vintage Trailer Show, ready for show time. Nice meeting all the vendors, fell in love with the fairy-like vintage trailers, and survived the desert-like heat of the afternoon – glad to have that canopy. THANK YOU to friends who stopped by!

Maria Doglio – “Wind In Her Hair Studio” crafts & mixed media

Kate didn’t get to sell her sweet “Fairy Bloom painting, but after a morning walk, came home to find it “magically” hanging over my bed! ♥♥♥

Artist Kate Langlois

Visit: www.katelangloisart.com

INSIDE THE BOOTH

We wound up rearranging the booth several times throughout the day for better display advantage. My first time craft booth experience since years ago when we lived in Vermont – a good learning experience.

Down Memory Lane in Vermont:

Shaftsbury, Vermont ~ Circa, 1980’s with Kate Langlois and her friend Randy (My “Harvest Moon Stencil Studio” years)

Back to the present –

Booth Shot #2

NATURE DEVAS EMERGING – Number One

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Maria Doglio

BIRD OF PARADISE

Her song abundant with perfume
that soars like incense to the skies,
earth holds her beauty in its grasp
that buds the Bird of Paradise

(excerpt from a poem by Elfin “Bird of Paradise)

TUNING IN

“Begin by thinking about the nature spirits, the higher overlighting nature spirits, and tune into them. That will be so unusual as to draw their interest here. They will be overjoyed to find some members of the human race eager for their help.” (Nature, channeled by Dorothy MacLean, Findhorn Foundation)

The “Bird of Paradise Deva” emerged, I am sure, with the inspirational help of the overlighting spirit that holds the blueprint for the Bird of Paradise. I am grateful for the intuitive guidance that helped me hold my vision.

The sketch of this particular Deva sat on my easel for a few weeks so I could contemplate my approach. I started tentatively painting with some difficulty, until I realized I wasn’t “tuning in”. I let it sit for another week of contemplation, with rather flat leaves beginning to form a foundation.

Giving a project enough patience, there comes a point when the vision, the energy and the feeling of the painting all merge to combine a calling back to the easel—I was in sync. As I tuned into the feeling of the painting more, the imagery in my inner vision began to flow out onto the canvas from paint to form with little effort. I fell into the painting, time and day of the week disappearing along with it. What a soul-satisfying feeling of emergence! The Deva emerged with a startling strong energy, that frankly I cannot explain. My friend Cathy attested to this upon viewing it – as chills enveloped her body. “Well this confirms I am not crazy!”, I told her. The energy was definitely present.

The Bird of Paradise Deva is the first in my series of Four Devas of Nature – enjoy the journey with me as I complete each painting and post my experience with it here. Maybe she will speak to you too. Be inspired!

Bird of Paradise Deva – Maria Doglio 2014 – Acrylic on Canvas Board 16 x 20

© Maria Doglio 2014

PLAYING WITH NATURE DEVAS

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Maria Doglio

IMAGINING THE ELEMENTALS ~ Faeries, Nature Devas, Sprites & Spirits

Playing with Nature Devas – 2014 (quick painting sketch free flowing from imagination to canvas)

As long as I can remember, I felt connected with the world of faeries. As a child, I would imagine them everywhere among the Queen Anne’s Lace, under the tangle of wild grape vines along the stone wall, along streams and between the gnarled roots of trees deep in the woods. They would sit with me as I sat high in the branches of my favorite tree, reading a book, or just swaying with the breeze in the branches, eyes closed and the wind in my hair.

Being an adult never dulled this faerie world inside me. They drifted to the background of my mind, but never really left, waiting patiently for me to recognize them again. Now they are beginning to pop up in my paintings as testimony to their work in nature. They are woven between flowers and leaves, some shy, some bold. Like a flash of a snapshot, they take a moment to reveal themselves to me, as I attempt to capture in paint, the beauty and essence of their work.

Four Panels

Now that they have captured my attention, I am inspired to create a series of four panels featuring four Nature Devas, each representing a beautiful flower – Bird of Paradise, Torch Ginger, Plumeria and a Fairy Iris.

Four Panels – Nature Devas

Close up – Bird of Paradise sketch

It’s interesting how inspiration can take off once you start drawing. I sat to sketch out my idea on a panel, tuning into my inner vision to connect with and draw out the spirit of the flower. I drew the flower first, feeling it’s essence. Then the Deva revealed herself to me and was added underneath, peeking out from under her flower hat. The Bird of Paradise Deva was first. She called to others who wanted in on the fun. I kept sensing “me next!” as I perused my file of flower photos – and so I just kept going until one panel grew to four with four different Devas represented on them.

The challenge for me will be in the journey of painting each panel that captures both my inner vision and the spirit of the flower. These are joyful challenges of expression. I am so grateful to be able to pursue my passion and share the results with you. I will be posting my journey with these Devas, and invite you along to watch them emerge into full bloom!

NORTH BEACH – Birth of DURGA ART COLLECTIVE

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Maria Doglio

SCENES FROM LIVE WORMS GALLERY – DURGA ART COLLECTIVE SHOW

DURGA, our collective namesake, is the Hindu Mother of the Universe and the power behind creativity. She greeted all who entered the Gallery from a chair in the front window……and certainly blessed the ten artists in this collective with a spirited gathering for success. It was an amazing weekend with an eclectic crowd of North Beach old timers, telling fabulous stories of the beatnik days, locals of all ages, holiday travelers, art collectors and curious passers by.

Art by Kate Langlois; Durga sign by Ben Bhat

Opening morning, my daughter and I renewed the energy of the gallery space with Reiki and called in the powers of the four directions and Durga to bless the artists in their work. The shift of energy was evident – we all felt it – and the result was a positive weekend of connecting and selling art!

A view of the Gallery filled with art works from the Durga Art Collective, May 30th to June 1:

Photo by Jaya Bhat

Ten amazing artists represented were: Krishna Bhat, Mieze Steinberg, Kate Langlois, Ameena Hartung, Pierre Shamel, Maria Doglio, Jason Steinberg, Liza Brown, Annette Wagner and Jaya Bhat

Opening Night was packed from 7 pm to 11 pm with a most positive and fun crowd flowing in and around to meet all of the artists.

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Me, talking up my art to guests, opening night

Ameena & Krishna

Ameena & Krishna – the force behind the creation of the Durga Art Collective!

Me, below, in front of my section of gallery wall.

My daughter, visionary artist, Kate Langlois – family and friends were all part of the collective – Kate’s husband Jaya Bhat, photography; artists Krishna Bhat and his partner, Ameena Hartung; cousins Jason Steinberg, photography and Mieze Steinberg, artist. Annette, Liza and Pierre, although not related, were all close friends of family members. This thread of family and friendship pulled us all together.

Kate and me in front of my art wall. Day 3, exhausted but happy with our sales. In the end, we were all reluctant to pack up and go. We gathered in a circle under rays of sunshine flowing from the skylight. Each offered a prayer of thanks, joined hands in the center and threw our prayers up to the sky.

We parted, with seeds already planted for the next Durga Art Collective Show.

Thanks to Judy from SF Live Worms Gallery for photos of event on www.sflivewormsgallery.com

Announcing “Durga Art Collective” Gallery Show

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Maria Doglio

I am delighted to be part of the DURGA ART COLLECTIVE’s weekend show the end of May at Live Worms Gallery in North Beach, San Francisco! It will be a gathering of local artists brought together in this collective by artist Ameena Hartung, and includes visionary paintings by my daughter Kate Langlois, amazing photography from her husband, Jaya Bhat, paintings by his brother Krishna Bhat as well as talented fellow artists from the San Francisco Bay area.

If you are in the area, I invite you to stop by for a visit and see the creativity of all the wonderful artists in this show!

DURGA ART COLLECTIVE

at LIVE WORMS GALLERY

1345 Grant (between Green & Vallejo), San Francisco

Friday, May 30 through Sunday June 1, 2014

OPENING RECEPTION: 7-11 pm Friday, May 30th

Gallery Hours: 11 am – 11pm Friday, 11 an – 10 pm Sat & Sun

FEATURING THE WORK OF:

Krishna Bhat
Mieze Steinburg
Ameena Hartung
Pierre Shamel
Maria Doglio
Jason Steinberg
Liza Brown
Annette Wagner
Jaya Bhat
Francky Sahmel

For Information, please call (415) 552-7383
www.sflivewormsgallery.com/

LATE SUNDAY MORNING MUSING

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Maria Doglio

Art and Expression In Life is All Around

I left the house askew, needing dusting, the floors unswept, sewing and art projects scattered in almost every room unfinished or poised with ideas waiting to blossom into form from my imagination.

The sky outside was threatening, but I wanted to walk. I took the umbrella, just in case, setting off for the local coffee shop, dropping letters into a mail box along the way. I headed past the now famous and controversial “Listener”, a giant naked green lady, her gaze serenely intent on the heavens. She is oblivious to her nakedness and all that find her “distasteful” – she is herself, a unique expression of life’s essence and the artist who created her.

I decide to sit at a table outside under a red umbrella. It occurs to me that the color red is showing up a lot in my life lately. The boldness of red. Courage. Fearlessly moving forward. All of these is the subtle message being given to me within the color red. Just what I need now on my journey to embody more fully, the integration of art in my life!

I sit sipping latte from a yellow cup and saucer, observing colors all around me.

Latte Sunday, at Plank, Cloverdale, CA

The gray tones of early morning are now gone. The artfulness of this little bit of town is now set against a sky that has gone fluffy with giant clouds, with patches of brilliant blue sky emerging from behind them.

We take our inspiration for art from life all around us. The outward vision fuels the inner vision and from there springs our interpretation of the worlds that we find. Colors in nature play in our vision to spill upon the canvas. Like the “Listener” who asks us to stop and really hear beyond ourselves, colors present themselves, both subtle and bold, so that we may see and feel more clearly the riches around us.

Whatever art form I am drawn to, whatever colors are calling me, the feeling of the colors in the portrayal is just as important as the image itself. On the walk home, I found beauty of colors in a tangle of weeds and at an old gate to an abandoned house. After I paint them onto canvases waiting in the wings, these images will continue to tell their story, long after the blossoms have faded.

Take your inner artist for a walk, keeping an open mind for the unexpected beauty and simplicity in the vignette’s of nature. See what colors you come home with to inspire you.

SPRING INTO DIY – Creating the Creative Home

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Maria Doglio

HOME

ENTER MY WORLD

COME ON IN!

I love entrances to homes. I’ve always wanted mine to be inviting in such a way that it makes the visitor want to continue on through the rooms, find a comfortable seat and stay a while. I like that when you enter my home, you can see straight through to the bamboo trees in the back yard. It pulls you forward. Everywhere are reflections of my arts and crafts nature, a gallery of creativity, enticing visitors to explore.

Lately, I’ve been in an artistic lull, allowing myself much needed rest. My art studio has been a quiet jumble, projects and paintings waiting for the muse to awaken from her nap. Sometime during this lull, spring arrived, turning my thoughts to gardens, flowers, vegetables, weed whacking and digging up the front lawn to accommodate the California drought. Visions of new house colors and DIY projects began to dance in my head. DIY spring fever hit hard. Now I wanted to take my artist beat outside.

A little Paint, Ingenuity and Some Old Stuff ∼ I love utilizing what I have, transforming it to a new use or new beauty. With two broken garden chairs, and some weather beaten side tables, I began a creative and colorful transformation for the front deck.

Broken Lawn Chair

Weather Beaten Side Tables

Taking a cue from the red geranium, I decided on a color scheme that would give me a pop of color for the front deck. The old webbing was cut off the lawn chairs, except for on the chair arms. The black frame was in good shape and now ready to be transformed into a comfy, stringy outdoor seating with attitude! I bought red 1/4″ poly rope and began wrapping. It was worth the effort. Next I found my bucket of red and painted the remaining webbing on the arms; then on to the tables.

TA-DA!!

Rescued Metal Lawn Chair (Amazingly comfortable)

Finished project (almost) below with the little red Geranium that inspired me. (The second table is in process of being transformed)

Pop of Color Seating Area

The Stringy Outdoor Seating idea came from Fresh Home Magazine, Summer 2011 – sometimes it pays to keep those old magazines!

This led me to sprucing up a porch corner next to my red pop seating area. Under a painting on wood of a parrot by my Uncle Bruno, circa 1950’s, I arranged little potted plants on an antique plant stand, which also nicely hides a pipe. The parrot painting compliments my pop of color scheme.

Corner Plant Stand

Parrot – oil on wood, Bruno Giunchi, circa 1950’s

More:

Drought can inspire you to be practical and responsible to the condition of California today, Why not inspire creativity at the same time? My thoughts turned to how I could creatively become lawn free. Of course I wanted to do something artsy! I made it up as I went to see how it would flow. Like all my artistic approaches, I worked intuitively. With flow in mind, I combined plants and ground cover to some existing plantings in a pleasing to the eye way. image (7) Redwood bark is used as ground cover with an uneven fringe of pea and lava gravel to resemble sea foam retreating from the sand at the beach. This little side lawn was my practice “canvas” – now on to the bigger main lawn in front of the deck!

Whatever you do, let your home reflect who you are. Our homes are an extension of the personalities that occupy it. I love the DIY craze that has blossomed everywhere–reuse, rethink, re-purpose – there is so much amazing creativity springing from the imaginations of people around us. Look around your house and instead of throwing out what you think is junk, be inspired!

All this DIY creativity, has lead me to creative writing as well. Now, I feel the stirrings of the muse coming out of her slumber! Time to open the curtains of the art studio and let the light in!

“The Artists Pray to Their Gods, While Opening and Preparing Their Canvases”

(Line from a poem “One with Sweetness” by Amy Trussell from her book The Painted Tongue Flowers)

Wind In Her Hair Studio

FINE ART – DESIGN – MIXED MEDIA

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BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS