Many cool cities across the US have a mural of wings that visitors can stand in front of for fun pics. I remember seeing them in Deland when I was at the Deland Fall Festival of The Arts. Now Oviedo has its own set of wings.

Because of her love of all things, Oviedo, Kerry Kisling, of the Orange Door Boutique is sharing the side of her historic building for this unique purpose.

She hired me to collaborate with her and make her artistic vision for #oviedowings come to life.

We started the process with a meeting and then a sketch to get the shape right. I liked what we came up with ... part angel, part butterfly and all grace.

Early Monday morning I sketched the wings onto the wall with chalk to get the proportions and balance right. It was a fun few days, mainly because friends who stopped by and Kerry kept me fed with snacks, coffee and fresh fruit! I'm a sucker for refreshments : ). Truly the weather was sunny and breezy and I couldn't have asked for 3 nicer days to paint outdoors.  By the end of the first day, I was able to get the basic white shape of the feathers in place.

Days 2 and 3 were all about the modeling and shading of the feathers. Kerry wanted some pops of color, so after some deliberation and experimentation, we decided to add in some sunlit yellow and cool complementary shades of blue.

With the exception of a major paint spill from me, it went pretty smoothly. If you know me, you know that I have a ferocious klutzy side!

By the end of Day 3 the wings were in place and ready to fly. This morning I brought my youngest son and hubby up there to check out the shop, meet Kerry and test out Oviedo's own set of artful wings!

Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I have enjoyed painting them!

The school where my youngest child goes has begun teaching one of my favorite concepts to the children. It is the idea of a growth vs. a fixed mindset. I'm sure many of you have heard of it but if not, you'll want to read a little about it here. The idea is that students (and all of us) do not have a fixed level of intelligence, ability or talent but rather that we can continue to grow and change. I've known about this model for some time and I share it with my art classes. When I recently attended a school meeting and learned that they were sharing it with the kids too - I teared up. With all of the negative press of common core and the constant pressure on the kids with standardized testing ... something very very valuable is still being taught.

The idea that you can learn and excel at something you love inspires me. People with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be developed. Challenges are seen as an opportunity to grow.  On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset believe that you are what you are at birth, and don't change with practice. These people focus on looking smart over learning, and they interpret mistakes as a sign that they are not able.

It's hard to learn when you are so busy trying to look like you are competent in a thing. In my workshops and classes I want people to feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes and grow from them. Learning to create art, like any other kind of learning makes you vulnerable. A growth mindset focuses on improving not on performing well. It's a shift in thinking, and one worth making.

I had the priveledge last week to teach six unique women. This group works for Orange County Schools helping students access their curriculum. Holli and I had so much fun teaching these ready-to-learn educators how to paint geranium flowers. We were both inspired and amazed at how beautiful their paintings turned out.

Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone and grow in a new skill? I'd love to hear what you've pushed yourself to learn. Always remember: It's a mindset.

If you love art and want to make it yourself, check out the upcoming art classes I'll be teaching after the Summer break. I promise you'll amaze yourself with what you can learn to do. 

I don't know about you, but coconut macaroons are one of my favorite treats! I don't like things too sweet, so when they're made right, these little lovelies are divine! I'm crazy about the texture, the simplicity of ingredients, and the perfection of the soft inside with slight crispiness of the coconut on the outside. Throw in a little dark chocolate drizzle and you have yourself a winner!

Once while I was selling art at the Oviedo Farmer's Market. I stumbled upon Jackie's bakery booth. She had the trip-colored rainbow pastries that I remember eating as a kid. My Italian grandma, Antoinette a.k.a. Nettie, used to bring them down from New York when she visited. I don't see these often so after purchasing a couple and gobbling them up, I was inspired to gift Jackie with a "la Dolce Vita" (The Sweet Life) print. It's one I had painted a long time ago mainly for myself that features some traditional Italian desserts. Yes, I realize that cannolis are missing, but it's because I never liked them.

After getting the surprise print, Jackie had the idea to hire me to illustrate one of her yummy macaroons for branding purposes. Specifically, her business cards. I was in heaven and I couldn't wait to get started on this project. Below is what the painting looked like on my art desk before being scanned. I've added in some objects to show you the scale. It was initially painted quite large so that it could be used at a variety of sizes down the road. As a general rule, images scale down without losing much quality, but you can't scale them up larger then the original without the image degrading. I've learned from experience to start big to account for the possibility of car magnets, booth signage or store front signage.

If you have a little time this Saturday, stop by Jackie's Bakery booth at the Oviedo Farmer's Market. While you are at it, come say hello to me. Better yet, bring by something yummy to nibble on : )

​Jackie's Bakery can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pursuitofdessert
and on instagram: @pursuitofdessert  #jackiesbakery

​What is your favorite baked goodie?