The Sharing Center Tour!

The Sharing Center Tour

The Thrift shop

The Thrift shop

 A place to get a shower and do laundry, check email etc. for Homeless in Seminole County

The homeless can get a haircut!

 shower facilities

bathroom and shower facilities

 volunteers wash clothes for homeless

 new spaces to expand

 the warehouse where all things go to be sorted by volunteers

The food pantry

 this is where people come to get help and signed up for services

 HUGE food pantry this is just one isle.

Working poor and homeless get help with healthcare services

Thank you for looking. I sincerely hope you liked this post and will share it! If you like art or like to give small format art for gifts hint hint..:) Please help my project at http://www.153paintings.com or donate directly to The Sharing Center!

Press from Orlando Sentinel Blogger Kate Santich -Thank you Kate!

Longwood artist finds unusual way to give back

By Kate Santich

1:01 a.m. EDT, June 11, 2014

"Sherbet Dream," an original painting by Terri Lynn West (Painting by Terri Lynn West / June 11, 2014)

One day, Terri Lynn West asked herself the question a lot of people do when they consider the troubles of the world today:

What can I do to make a difference?

Sometimes the answer is simply to do what you do best. So in West's case, the answer was to paint.

The Longwood artist, who had just taken a yearlong hiatus to help care for her grandson, was ready to resume her artwork. Inspired by a mass at her church, West launched153paintings.com on May 21. Her goal? Paint 153 landscapes and nature images and sell them on eBay, then donate much of the proceeds to The Sharing Center.

The Seminole County nonprofit organization helps the poor and homeless during personal financial crises caused by job loss or medical issues. Those in need may receive food, clothing, rental or mortgage assistance, bus tokens or help paying for utilities, medical care or prescriptions. 

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Pictures: Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando

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West is a regular patron of the thrift store and boutique that support the Sharing Center, and her church, Annunciation Catholic Church, provides ongoing volunteers.

So why 153? That was the miraculous number of fish caught by the disciples in John 21.

West's paintings are small images -- each only 5-by-7 inches -- but vividly detailed. They're based on photos she has taken in her own garden and neighborhood and those captured during travels across the U.S.

West expects the project will run through October, but she is already plotting her next venture.

“Maybe we can get a larger group involved next year,” she said of recruiting other artists.

Meanwhile, if you're interested in bidding on West's work, you can find it here. 

 http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/blogs/change-the-world/os-sharing-center-artist,0,7661274.post

Priceless PR from The Sharing Center

I am sharing this post from The Sharing Center's Blog today! Thank you The Sharing Center and Bill Orben!

Artist’s project paints brighter picture for homeless, hungry

The Sharing Center Blogger - Sunday, June 01, 2014

Terri L. West shows off 4 of the paintings she has completed.

Terri L. West has launched an art project to help the homeless and hungry and believes it could be a nationwide model for other artists to help.
The Longwood artist debuted 153paintings.com May 21 with the goal of painting 153 5-inch by 7-inch nature and landscape paintings. She is selling the paintings on eBay and donating 20 % of the proceeds to The Christian Sharing Center.
She chose The Christian Sharing Center to share the proceeds because friends have been helped there, she often shops at the thrift store and boutique and she is a member of Annunciation Catholic Church, which is actively involved with the organization.
“What can I do to help?” West asked herself in January when she ended her year-long hiatus from art to watch her grandson and was looking to give back to the community. “One day, it came to me -- I paint.”
The number of paintings Terri plans to paint is not arbitrary – it is a reference to the number of fish caught by Jesus’ disciples in John 21. During a mass at her church earlier this year, the passage was the basis for a message. She saw inspiration in the number and decided 153 would be her target.
Her paintings are based on photos she has taken in her neighborhood, across the state and in her travels across the U.S. She also gets inspiration from her own home, painting scenes from her garden or landscape.
She expects the 153paintings.com project will run through October, but she doesn’t intend to stop her efforts to help others.
“Maybe we can get a larger group involved next year,” West said of recruiting other artists to support organizations helping the poor and the homeless.
She also believes it can be a nationwide effort, where artists dedicate a portion of the proceeds from their artwork to support social causes.
Do you have a different way to support us? We would love to hear from you. Please send us an email.

Blog Post by: Bill Orben, Marketing Manager

http://153paintings.com and Sunflowers

http://153paintings.com/

       You know, sometimes the stars are divinely lined up so that it is clear which way one should go. This charity project has brought life and joy to my heart.  Painting 153  small 5x7" paintings for The Sharing Center brings focus on things that I care about. People having shelter, food, health care, and necessities for dignity. It occurred to me while I was interviewed by The Sharing Center this AM how very lucky and blessed that I am to have a home in a beautiful area of Florida full of inspiration for my paintings and creative trails that I follow. Meanwhile may be a couple of miles from me-- there is a tent city in the forest where families live... I don't envy them, no showers, no hot water, plenty of Florida sun, heat, BUGS, snakes,  and toad strangling rains. I am grateful and honored to help make some small difference. And it will be a small difference unless people like you reading this blog help--- your small contribution if you can't bid on a painting... SHARE this post. Go to http://www.153paintings.com and share posts to Twitter to Instagragm, Facebook, Google+...

Vesper Sunflowers II on eBay

Blessings to you and may you find your path through the flowers :)

153Paintings.com About to LAUNCH!

I have been working on an AWESOME project that will launch on May 21, 2014!

 It is a charity painting auction to benefit The Sharing Center.

 I will be painting 153- 5x7" acrylic daily paintings and auctioning them starting at $53.00 on eBay. I expect this project will go into late October! Please check out the site, bookmark it check out the Facebook Page I have set up for it as well as Twitter and Pinterest!  Even if all you can do is join these sites and follow please do. I need your help! Please share join and share the links! I will be planning some freebies and maybe a contest or two... :)

http://www.153paintings.com

https://twitter.com/153paintings

http://www.thesharingcenter.org

https://www.facebook.com/153paintings

http://www.pinterest.com/tlwest1/153-paintings

Art Journaling

     This is my latest art journal spread. At first I did not like it but now I think it might be one of my favorites!
The page on the left started out by scribbling with crayola crayons. Then I layered on some black gesso and wiped that off before It could dry, Then I reinforced the colors with more crayola crayon and a black sharpie. Last I took my white pen and embellished a little bit!
      The page on the right started out with my adding some old zentangle  pages and then painting with watercolor and gouache - I just love that bright red streak! Then I finished with black circles that sort of reinforce the artwork I think. On the red streak is gold pen handwriting. I hope you enjoyed this pic as much as I enjoyed making the spread! 
      Art journaling is very freeing and actually for me, has a purpose-- I can explore and paint what ever I want- whereas my regular art creation is more refined and has a much more narrow focus.
     My bromeliad painting is coming along -- the next time I blog I hope to show you the finished painting!

Here is a link to how you can start art journaling-- you don't have to be an artist and it is FUN!
 http://www.artistsjournals.com/instruction.htm

    "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

Vincent Van Gogh

Back to Creating Art and Blogging!

I am getting back into the groove of creating art and other creative things... I will share with you on future posts:)  As you know I can be a serious procrastinator, so I have been searching for the cure- which I don't think there is one ... but there is help! This free app uses the Pomodoro technique :

The pomodoro technique is a time management methodology created by Francesco Cirillo. Pomodoro enables you to take the stress out of deadlines by breaking down your day into segments, you work solidly during these periods and remove all distractions. At the end of the pomodoro session you reward yourself with a break.

Read more about the pomodoro technique… 

                              FREE Focus Booster APP for PC or Apple
 I will let you know if it helps me!
 Now I have a new art project started (to fill up the space above my bed in the master bedroom) and I have been showing  some of the stages on my FaceBook page  https://www.facebook.com/TerriWestArt
 I do intend to make a free PDF file of the project so that if you are interested -- you can get more info!
Here is where the project is right now:

 I already have the next painting that I want to do and it may turn into a series!- I am so excited!

I have to give credit to Sunu Philip of Clothed in Scarlet for helping me get motivated and getting me going on some changes that will be made in my business, blog, Facebook page and new products that I am developing. I had made the decision that the time was right this past New Years Day- God cleared a few things from my busy calendar and was calling me to come back. Out popped Sunu and her business and a cool art journal class http://shop.kristalnorton.com/e-courses/art-journaling-roots/ by Kristal Norton to get me going. Then I got into a group called Artist'sKiss run by Robin Pedrero and now I am busy! Busy!

“We artists are indestructible; even in a prison, or in a concentration camp, I would be almighty in my own world of art, even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell.” 
― Pablo Picasso