Watercolor Assignments

This week in Mixed Media class, we got
an introduction to watercolor. It was a bit difficult for me to get used to a new medium, but I think I have the basic idea. I'll need a lot more practice and it may never be my favorite medium, but I would like to feel more confident in using watercolor.

Publishing Poetry Article

I wrote an article today about free ways to self-publish poetry:

Publishing Poetry

I hope you enjoy it and learn something you can apply to your own publishing efforts.

Anyone Wanna Race?

Would anyone want to race with me to see who can write the most HubPages articles in a month? Just a little friendly competition...

What do you think? Anyone game?

-Sheila

Happy New Year!

I made a little Happy New Year video:

(Video has been removed from youtube.)

Let this serve as an example of one of the many ways to promote your websites for free. YouTube is one medium of promotion. Like you need multiple streams of income, you should also have many sources of promotion working for you. Numerous promotion methods are free. You just need to take the time to put them in place.

Latest HubPage Article

I wrote an article about the way that the Social Security Administration treats those who cannot work outside the home but try to do what they can by working freelance from home.

A Word of Caution about SSI and Self-employment

Please, give it a read and leave a comment if you have an opinion on the subject.

My Latest Project

I wanted to share my latest website - Goalplan.org -even though it isn't finished yet. I'm still adding the content, but feel free to check it out and let me know what you think of it so far.

The Parable of the Professor & the Bucket

"The Parable of the Professor and the Bucket
By Michael Masterson

A philosophy professor and his student stand in a warehouse. A large tin bucket and several boxes are in front of them.

The professor picks up a box that contains large rocks, each one about four inches in diameter, and pours them into the bucket. The stones reach the top of the bucket, and he asks the student if it is full.

'It is,' the student replies.

The professor takes another box, this one containing stones about one inch in diameter, and pours them over the rocks in the bucket. The smaller stones fill in the spaces between the rocks. Again, he asks the student if the bucket is full.

The student looks and says, 'It is.'

The professor then pours in the contents of a third box, this one containing small pebbles. Again, the student looks in and agrees that the bucket is full.

Finally, the professor pours a box of sand on top of the rocks, stones, and pebbles. And once more, for the fourth time, the student has to acknowledge that the bucket is full.

'The lesson,' the professor tells the student, 'is to do the most important thing first, and each lesser thing in order of its priority. In this way, you will be able to fill up your life four times, instead of just once. If you do the unimportant things first, you'll be filling your bucket with sand... and there won't be room for anything else.'"

My Newest Article on HubPages

I enjoy writing about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders. I feel that there is a genuine purpose to educating people about these disorders. This is my latest article on PTSD:

What Happens During a Flashback?

HubPages HubNuggets Award

My article, "How I Raised an Obama," has been nominated for a Hubnuggets award. Basically, ten HubPages are nominated. The readers vote to choose the top five. So, please, take a minute to check it out and vote.

HubNuggets Awards

The voting is towards the bottom of the page. If after reviewing the other articles, you feel compelled to vote for a different article, don't feel obligated to vote for mine. I'd rather if the voting was based on merit.

Color Theory Final Project

This was my final project for Color Theory class. What do you think?

How I Raised an Obama

Newest article inspired by someone asking me how I raised an Obama...

How I Raised an Obama

Jonas Gerard, Abstract Expressionism, & DIY Art Therapy

Jonas Gerard, Abstract Expressionism, & DIY Art Therapy

I wrote this article about the method of painting that I use as a coping skill for anxiety and depression. I strongly recommend that people who suffer from mental illness try a creative activity as a coping skill. Unfortunately, art therapy is underutilized due to a lack of insurance coverage. However, I advocate a do-it-yourself art therapy approach for everyone. Even those who do not suffer from mental illness can benefit from creative activities for stress management.

HubPages- A FREE Resource for Writers

I decided to try HubPages. Apparently, some writers are making decent money with it. One thing that I like about HubPages is the ability to add links, photos, and video to your articles. If you'd like to give it a shot, just sign up- HubPages
It's free and you can write about anything that interests you.

1st Assignment in Color Theory Class

My color theory class is focused on the properties and role of color in graphic design. Only circles of various sizes were allowed to be used in this assignment. The first image had to feature a gradiant in hues.

This next image was to feature a gradiant in value while maintaining the same hue.

This image had to feature variations in saturation. I was going for portraying motion. What do you think?

Final Project

Just a quick post to share the charcoal drawing I did for my final project for my drawing class. I call it "Art Therapy."

School Break

Well, I have slightly over a week off from art classes. My last classes were enjoyable and informative. I had a drawing class and art history. Both instructors were excellent.

The art history class was early art history from pre-historic art to baroque. I asked many questions over the course of the class. My instructor, Melissa Jones, took the time to answer all my questions and we had some great conversations.

The drawing instructor, Elizabeth LeGrone, always offered constructive feedback to improve our drawings. The focus of the drawing class was to draw what we see with a wide value scale with either pencil or charcoal.

My next class is on color. It should be very interesting.

Rough Sketch of Final Project

Here is the rough sketch of my final project for my drawing class. Obviously, it needs work, but I think I got a pretty good start on it considering I got sick several times while trying to draw it. I'll use sighting to fix the proportions and add the appropriate shading and textures.

...sick

Sorry about the recent delays in updating my writing contest and poetry contest blogs. I have been sick with bronchitis. It's been horrible. The timing couldn't be worse with my current art classes coming to a close in two weeks. That means it is time for final projects! ugh! LOL

I hope to be adding more articles to PTSD Central soon!

Typical Day of Work & Schoolwork

More schoolwork, of course..
Do you like my charcoal drawing of the kiwis?

I have been working on PTSD Central. As I get the time, I am going to be adding as many articles about posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and phobias to that website as possible. So, stay tuned for that! Check it out often if it is a subject of interest to you.

More Schoolwork...

This is a charcoal drawing I did for my drawing class. What I liked was the complex shadow cast by the textured, fluted bowl. For those who draw still lifes, I would recommend the trick I learned in my perspective drawing class and place white paper under the still life arrangement. It makes it very easy to see the shadows.

Well, I have more drawing and writing to do...