Salon de Maria Blog

Writing has turned into a full-time passion lately (besides just finishing a huge order of jewelry!), so I have to apologize once again for the lack of posts.  Posts will also be light in the next week as I get ready to make a trip to visit family up north.  I know that I made a commitment to post at least four times a week, but life happens!

Have you ever been so passionate about something that you it's one of the first things you think about when you wake up?  After I do my morning meditation, I first daydream about my dream home that I'll live in one day and then I think about what I'm going to write about that day.  I've been more focused on The Good Life and a couple blogs that I write for KMM.  The Good Life is growing day by day and I feel that it's my duty and calling to share some of the wisdom that the Universe has given me.  Being able to uplift people and give them positive things to think about is something you can't get with most media nowadays.  I'm thankful for the gift of writing.

What gifts have you been sharing lately?  C'mon, I know you have a few!  People often tell me that they don't have a creative bone in their body, but trust me...you do!  You just have to dig a little deep and do some exploring - try something new.  Cause you never know, you might just have a gem hiding inside of your soul ;) 

Posted by Maria Palma at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

I had a huge order for jewelry a couple weeks ago, thus the lack of posts here.  However, it is all done and it's full force ahead with more creativity ;)  I have often thought of going back to making jewelry just as a hobby because sometimes I get the feeling that I would enjoy it more if there wasn't the pressure of having to update my website constantly or be into the mentality that I "have to" make money or else I won't survive.  In other words, sometimes it feels like "work" versus fun. I'm sure many artists feel the same way. 

However, I do enjoy seeing the smiles on women's faces as they try on my jewelry and comment on how everything looks "so pretty!"  They are thrilled when they see the prices of my pieces and know that if they bought it in a department store, it would cost five times the amount. 

Posted by Maria Palma at 08:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

I made a "date" with myself yesterday and visited Balboa Park.  Nestled in the north-east corned of downtown San Diego, Balboa Park is home to a myriad of museums, artist studios (Spanish Village), and the famous San Diego Zoo.

I found much inspiration in the architecture of the buildings and enjoyed the colorful flowers, lily pads, and coi fish.  Sometimes you'll see artists out drawing and painting in the park, but on this particular day it was pretty quiet.

On Tuesdays some of the museums are free, so I visited the Museum of Photographic Arts wherein is the current exhibit, "Breaking the Frame: Pioneering Women in Photojournalism".  I have much respect for these women who often leave the confines of their comfort zones to travel and capture the lives of others.  Some of their photographs were very heartbreaking and few times tears welled up in my eyes.  For instance, there was a photograph of a Muslim women praying with her little boy about three years old standing up beside her looking into the distance.  You can see the sadness and anguish experienced by the war that this toddler is facing - something a boy so young shouldn't be witnessing. 

What I like about photojournalism is the photographer's ability to tell the truth through pictures.  They often show what traditional media is not showing.  They tell stories that you can't get anywhere else. 

For more pictures of Balboa Park, visit my Flickr photo album...

Posted by Maria Palma at 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A reader suggested that I put up more of my artwork here, so here you go...an unfinished piece that I started quite awhile ago.  Taking this picture has spurred some inspiration to keep working on it.  It's not a very good picture because I took it at night and had to use the digital camera's flash.  They say it's better to take photographs of art under natural lighting. 

Anyhow, I still don't have a title for this piece.  It's one of those pieces where I've just gone with the flow and let the paintbrush take over!  You can't tell from the picture, but where the purple tulips are, I've stitched little purple seed beads to give it some texture and interest.  I used oil and applied some of the paint with a knife - again to add texture. 

A pretty random piece, to say the least, but it makes for great therapy ;)  I can pretend that I'm back in preschool again without a care in the world and not think about someone else's idea of what art is.  I'm not trying here, just doing. 

Posted by Maria Palma at 09:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I started a new journal - and coincidentally, a new chapter in my life.  I've kept journals ever since I could remember.  When I was a young girl I remember rating each day using a star-rating system.  One star meant bad day and five stars meant good days.  Other than that, I don't remember too much about my journals because they somehow got lost between all the moving I've done over the years. 

Anyhow, I decided this time that this journal would be a very fun and visual journal....a collage journal with thoughts mixed in.  And unlike some of my past journals, I'm intending for this one to be a very happy journal.  I got inspiration from Anahata Katkin - her work is so inspiring.  I took out all my card-making stuff last night and indulged in blissful creation which is pictured here ;) I even "transgressed" back to childhood and opened up a brand new box of crayons that I forgot about!

I highly recommend collage journaling.  It's very therapeutic...

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I got my first business client not too long ago who purchased a painting of downtown San Diego to hang in his office.  A couple weeks ago I received an email from his office manager requesting three more paintings - putting me on cloud 9!  It's not often that you see original art hanging up in a business office here in San Diego, so I'm thrilled to be spotlighted :)

Dr. Ellen Weber, a colleague of mine at KnowMoreMedia.com, posted an article titled "Art Rewires Your Visual Spatial Brain for Diversity" and offers us some tips to get art into workplace:

1. Ask each person to hang an art piece near his or her desk that represents their particular belief about diversity...

2. Highlight one artwork each month and have that person relate the art to diversity in your organization...

3. Include a culturally diverse icon within your letterhead to show how your organization values opposing views on most topics...

Posted by Maria Palma at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seth Godin has secretly hijacked my brain and hypnotized me into talking about him at half of my blogs...

First it was at CustomersAreAlways..

Then it was at Online Business Resources...

And now here. 

So, what does marketing have to do with art?  Everything - of course - if you want to be known in the art world! Seth introduces us to Emily, who has beautiful paintings and sells via Etsy.com, a site for artsy-craftsy beings to sell their wares. 

Seth is revealing more of his artsy, creative side which makes me admire him even more :)  For those of you who want to stand out in the art world, I suggest reading Seth's books.  He'll teach you how to be remarkable! 

Posted by Maria Palma at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)