I absolutely love this song, and I’ll admit that when I’m painting I have it on repeat a few times. Here’s my song of the moment: Airplanes, By: B.O.B

Ingredients

• potatoes
• white sugar ,just a pinch
• seasoning salt
• Worcestershire sauce no more than 5 drops or so
• mustard
• black pepper
• mayonnaise
• chopped green onions (preferably scallions)
• chopped celery
• chopped fresh parsley
• a couple shakes of basil
• one tin black olives (optional)
• one tin of peas & carrots mixed <——THE BEST PART!

Directions

1. Peel (optional) and dice potatoes
2. Place in a pot of cold water and bring to a boil.
3. Once potatoes have cooked and cooled place them in a LARGE bowl, add the ingredients above to your liking and enjoy.
4. You can also added fresh green beans (cooked to a crisp) and crsip bacon.
5. Salad can be served as is or over romaine lettuce.

Ingredients

• 2 cups kidney beans, soaked and drained
• 10 cups water 
• 2 Tsp oil
• 2 med onions, diced
• 1 lg green pepper, diced
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, minced (I used 3)
• 4 scallions
• 1 lg carrot, diced
• 1 cup sweet potato
• 2 tsp thyme
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• (Add other veggies if desired)

Directions

1. Cook beans in water on medium heat for 45 minutes.
2. Drain, reserving 5 cups of the liquid and set aside. Saute onions, green pepper, and garlic in oil for 7 minutes.
3. Add beans, cooking liquid and remaining ingredients except salt.
4. Simmer for 1 – 1 1/2 hours on low.
5. Add salt to taste. (serves 8 ppl approx.)

I have been taking a weekly art class for almost 6 months now, and I’m really pleased with where I am in my artwork and better yet where it’s going, especially since I have found a way in which to balance it with the rest of my life considering that I work full time and have a family to care for. 

Over the last few months, I’ve learned quite a few new techniques and methods such as under-painting and dry colour mixing, I’ve been open to new styles and more importantly I’ve learned to simply slow down and slowly understand that work happens in stages.

I’m not sure if those of you who visit this blog are artists or not but whatever it is you do, whatever it is that you have a passion for, I strongly encourage you to find some way to incorporate it into your daily life, even if you can only devote 15min a day it’s a start well worthwhile. It’s far too important, and you can’t let things that bring you so much joy just slip away… one of my favourite sayings is “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad”…and like the title of this post, “there’s no power in empty passion”…

So here’s to new discoveries, time to self, and the passion for the things we love most in life… find and hold onto your love!

This is my very first piece completed with modelling paste. It’s hard to see the textures through a photography but the modelling paste provides some wonderful ridges. It does however take some getting use to as it doesn’t allow for super fine detail. I’m still experimenting with it to determine exactly how/when I’ll use it throughout my works.

I have applied a blue under painting to the charcoal but am not sure if I will leave this as the finished product or go on to add further colours. What do you think?