Ria's Fine Art Studio

watercolor painting

Maria Spencer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:53:44 +0000

As an artist who really enjoys drawing and usually doesn’t like painting that much I’m always surprised by how much I enjoy watercolors. I just finished a watercolor painting of sunlight glimmering through trees in a forest. I loved painting it. I loved everything about painting it.
I often wonder as a colored pencil artist whether or not my work is respected since it’s not paint. It sometimes feels like people don’t think your a real artist unless you paint. It’s kind of silly if you ask me. Isn’t art about self expression? What difference does the medium make? If the drawing is beautiful isn’t that good enough?
Well, either way I’m going to prove that I can paint. I bought a watercolor painting set and I’m going to work. So far it really is jolly good fun.

Remembering what matters

Maria Spencer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:58:13 +0000

Today I’m thinking about what really matters.
Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget about what life really is. Our jobs, our responsibilities, our bodies, our current circumstances whatever they may be can get in the way sometimes.
What really matters to you?
My family matters to me. Spending time with them. Laughing with my husband, talking to him, touching, and playing. Teaching my daughter about joy. Giving her something to smile about, really smile about. Teaching her what it means to be loved so that she can learn to love. Spending time in nature with them. Taking pictures of eagles, elk, and deer with them. Reading the scriptures with them using stuffed animals and funny voices. Learning together, sleeping together, praying together.

Jobs don’t matter. A clean house doesn’t matter. Having a perfect body doesn’t matter. What the world thinks doesn’t matter.

This is my life and a few of the things that matter to me. We all live different lives though. We all have our own paths to walk. What really matters to you?

Unbelief is a form of belief

Maria Spencer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:11:45 +0000

Unbelief is a form of belief. So often we hear about separation of chuch and state. I contend that this is not possible. The act of excluding God from daily discussion is a practice in the religion of atheism and is therefore not separating church and state at all.

I’m sure many would argue that atheism is not a religion. I argue that it is. Is it not a system of belief? Atheists believe that there is no God. Therefore atheism is a belief system about God. In other words a religion. So I ask you this, why is it that atheists are the only ones who are allowed to practice their religion in schools? Why too is it that atheists are the only ones for whom it is considered socially acceptable to express their ideas? People accuse believers in God of shoving their religious beliefs down everyone’s throats all the time. Is atheism not shoved down my throat constantly? Why is that okay?

Not only is atheism shoved down my throat constantly, I’m also told that I’m a fool for believing in God. I’m told that I’m a brainwashed sheep, a follower, a mindless drone with no ability or desire to think for myself. We’ve all heard the phrase, “opiate of the masses”. Hmph. Well how about this? Maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe atheism is so prevalent and permeating in our society that all of you who don’t believe in God are just a bunch of mindless drones who are completely incapable of thinking for yourselves or forming original ideas. You’ve been so convinced that your minds are open that you’ve closed them to anything real, or different, or true and they’re so closed that you cannot possibly see that they are closed. Maybe.

Or maybe, just maybe we’re all perfectly capable of thinking for ourselves. Maybe we’ve each come to the beliefs that we have because of different personal experiences that are very real and valid. Maybe we’re actually all intelligent people just doing the best that we can and maybe, just maybe if we all learn to genuinely respect and love one another in our differences the world will actually become a better place.

Maria Spencer — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:52:09 +0000

All that I have seen, all that I have heard, all that I’ve experienced is with me still and continues to mold me but I’m the one who chooses what it molds me into.

Coyote Moon

Maria Spencer — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:12:53 +0000

I’ve decided to name this painting Coyote Moon. It makes me think of the long walks Stunk and I love to take on moonlit nights, especially in the winter time. Last winter we heard coyotes howling in the moonlight all the time. I loved that.

It’s my birthday!

Maria Spencer — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:34:54 +0000

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

Painting of a coyote in the moonlight on basswood

Maria Spencer — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:21:47 +0000

It’s Saturday!!

Maria Spencer — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:16:26 +0000

Oh boy do I love Saturdays! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Stereotypes

Maria Spencer — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:03:10 +0000

Such an educational video! I’ve spent my entire life being called a tomboy and not understanding why the things i enjoy aren’t “feminine.” I’ve even been told that I do the things I do (hike, camp, play sports etc.) because I’m not confident in my femininity and am compensating by doing “boy” things. It makes no sense to me. Anything I do is inherently feminine because I’m a girl!

What a beautiful day!

Maria Spencer — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:54:27 +0000

It’s a beautiful day today! The sun is shining warm on the mountains. I can see them out my window and it makes me smile.