"Story Within" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Sonoran Desert Southwest

"Story Within"

40"x30"x1.5"

Oil

Here it is New Year's Eve and as many of you are saying "Where did this year go?" so am I. What a year of ups and downs...but isn't that life? It's how we handle our daily life that truly determines the pathways we choose.

For myself, I have found this year to be one of huge growth. Where I had joys...I celebrated with a happy heart. Where I had sorrows...I allowed my soul to embrace the true essence of sadness and released the heaviness to the heavens. Where I confronted fear...the entire process of fear...I hugged my inner child, prayed to God our Creator, forgave the offender so it did not turn into a debilitating anger and rested in knowing that He would lay His blanket of protection on me, my loved ones and our home/sanctuary. Where my creativity manifested...I rejoiced. Where I had doubt...I held onto my confidence and took another step.

On this New Year's Eve, I plan on celebrating all that I am...all that my life is...all of my blessings, and I humbly give thanks to God.

My wish for you is that you walk through your personal trials with you head held high, your heart filled with love and peace in your soul.

Happy New Year to you and yours!©

Please visit my website and view my joyous art. I have a new gallery "Studio Specials" where the prices are negotiable so contact me!

Peace, light and love...Amy :}

"Copper Haze" Abstract Oil Painting by Arizona Daily Painter, Amy Tuso

"Copper Haze"

12" x 16" x 1.5"

Oil

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This calming, oil painting with kisses of copper metallic running through it is just one of the paintings that I am offering on my website in my "Studio Specials" gallery. There are a total of 36 original works presently for sale and the best part of it for my collectors is that you name the price you are offering by contacting me through my contact page on the website.

I have spent the last few days organizing "AT Studio" making room for the new canvases Santa delivered and have many exciting ideas floating in my minds eye.

Take advantage of this "Special" offer. All reasonable offers will be considered!

Happy shopping :}

www.amytuso.com

Have a blessed day...Amy

"New Year Angel" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Daily Painter

"New Year Angel"

3"x3"

Acrylic

I believe in Angels. They are always near and willing to help comfort us. All we need to do is acknowledge their presence. Angels can be in the form of spiritual guardians but they also can be found in a fellow human being.

Open your awareness. Listen quietly to your inner knowing, your inner voice. Feel a calmness embrace you by dropping your guard, your skepticism. Allow yourselve to believe and view your life and surroundings with the innocence of a child.

God bless...Peace be with us...Amy©

www.amytuso.com

"They Are Always There" ~ Amy Tuso

"They Are Always There"

3"x3"

Acrylic

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth!

"Souls' Journery" ~ Amy Tuso, Fountain Hills, AZ Daily Painter

"Soul's Journey"

36"x36"x1.5"

oil

There is a lot happening within this painting. The photo image of the woman does not show that there are very subtle facial features and that her chakras are highlighted. She is in a state of flux, not sure which way to go or what to do. She is relying on her inner wisdom to lead her once connected to her soul's intent. From her 3rd eye chakra, her spirit, her essence is reaching out to the Source, Great Spirit, God.

The 3 passage doorways offer direction - 2 to the right and 1 to the left...but which way to go?

Seeking Divine guidance. Trusting intuition. Having faith in a greater force than ourselves. Sometimes that is all we have to get us through the place we find ourselves in.

"Faith is courage; it is creative while despair is always destructive." - David S. Muzzey

We all have struggles. I've documented my recent struggle within this blog. While meditating yesterday this thought came to me..."Don't let fear stop you, instead find the courage inside of you, conquer your fear and free you soul".

This stayed with me throughout my day and obviously is still present as I'm sharing it here. I have found comfort and partial release within this thought. It is a journey and my courage is conquering the fear. It will be an ongoing process but I can feel my strong spirit and soul stepping to the forefront.

Today is an open studio with 2 dear art friends. We will laugh, talk, paint, eat, laugh, paint and support each other. I plan on being fully present to enjoy this marvelous day and my soul is smiling.

Peace, joy, laughter and light...Amy©

www.amytuso.com

"Dwellings" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Daily Painter ~ Fountain Hills, AZ

"Dwellings"

16"x12"x1.5"

Acrylic

This painting is one of those that is a must see in person to appreciate the jewel tones that pop through the layers of glaze. I highly encourage touching my texture pieces as they are a tactile delight as well as visual joy.

This piece was textured by my husband and then turned over to me for interpretation.

This week is going to be a busy one for sure. I am a pretty organized person and so I know that everything will fall into place without too much pressure. I'm sure that most of you also have a long "to do" list as well. Just remind yourself, as I will be reminding me...breathe in the joy and smile.

www.amytuso.com

Amy Tuso

Daily Painter and Joy Maker! ©

"3 Tone Blue Barn" ~ Amy Tuso

"3 Tone Blue Barn"

24"x30"x1.5"

Oil with Copper

With Christmas a week away my thoughts drift back to my childhood with all the anticipation and joy that surrounded the holidays. I am the youngest of 3, so the secret of Santa Claus did not last very long for me as my sisters took great joy in spilling the truth. However, the magic never died! We grew up in a small rural town in Southern New Jersey and for the first 6 years of my life, my paternal grandparents, aunt and uncle, and great-aunt and uncle lived a few blocks away. My maternal grandparents were close by as well, so the holidays always had a house full of relatives and friends. It was a very special time for sure.

My maternal grandparents were chicken farmers and therefore had a barn and several coops, along with a small home for the farmhand. So barns have a piece of my heart. They are comforting to me but yet represent what can be accomplished with hard, diligent work.

As you are preparing for next weeks celebration, take a moment and allow yourself the experience the joy and happy memories from your Christmases past.

Have a great weekend and remember to enjoy all the holiday scurrying!

Peace, love and light...Amy©

www.amytuso.com

Amy Tuso ~ Daily Painter from the Desert Southwest

"Almost There" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Daily Artist From Arizona

"Almost There"

10"x10" Textured Acrylic on Canvas Board

In studying this piece one can imagine a distant city in the background behind the glare of headlights...or at least that is what emerges for me. It's as if something is "just beyond" my view.

I've chosen this piece to share with you today as we are "Almost There" in regard to our court hearing yesterday. The justice system is not a perfect world to say the least! However, even though we were forced to defend our position against the person who invaded our home as they attempted to dispute and justify what they did in forcing their way into our home, justice prevailed.

I am not a person who seeks out confrontation and found it very uncomfortable to be placed in the position of sitting across from someone who I am very frightened of...but with the grace of God and having done my research regarding police records from the night of our home invasion...I presented a sound, calm, strong case and the Order of Protection for both my husband and myself stands!

The next hurdle will be the Criminal Damage hearing if the perpetrator shows up at court. If not we will just have to rest in the knowledge that a Warrant for their arrest will stand within the state of Arizona.

And so....we are almost there!!

Peace, love and light...Amy©

www.amytuso.com

"Passages" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Daily Painter

"Passages"

20"x16"x1.5"

Textured Acrylic

"Passages" is so newly completed that I have not had the opportunity to add it to my website. Hopefully, I will find the time to accomplish that today.

I really am enjoying creating these highly textured pieces. This process allows me to express my emotions vividly and once completed, I love running my fingers and hands over the artwork with my eyes closed interpreting the tactile impressions.

So...today is a court appearance for the home invasion we had the misfortune of being the victims of mid-November. So many emotions tied up in this mess! In speaking with law enforcement and our prosecutor, I have been enlightened to the enormous drug and alcohol abuse problems that are within our society. It's not that I've been living under a rock...goodness...I was a Flower Child of the 70's...

I think what has me so freaked about all that is going on is that there does not seem to be a way out for a lot of people who may have started their drug addiction with just "experimenting" thinking that it's just a one -time try only to find the power of the drug overtakes and becomes them. Law enforcement can only do so much and here is AZ the course of action is to put the offenders in jail for a while. This does not address the problem of the addiction and once they are released, the drugs overtake their lives again. As Innocent bystanders, we can become victims of their addictions simply by virtue of their violence overcoming our private space and personal sanctuaries. Not to mention the tax burdens of the public for all that is involved in court time, jail time, emergency room visits....etc., etc., etc.....

Our home invasion has been costly financially to us with repairs and now my husband is faced with a series of blood testing as he was covered with the invaders blood.

Will we ever see any reimbursement? I honestly do not know. Will I ever have a good, solid-nights sleep filled with sweet dreams again....in time, but in the meanwhile, night terrors haunt me. Will my husband be declared free from HIV and hepatitis? God willing!!

So I go about my daily chores and the creating process of my joyful art. I pray for God's guidance and protection...not only for myself...but for all of His creation.

Peace and blessings....Amy©

www.amytuso.com

"Geometric 8" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Arizona Daily Painter

Geometric 8
26” x 30”
Free Flowing Canvas

I played with numbers and a few letters and when numerology is applied, the number 8 emerges.


This is an acrylic, glaze, acrylic, glaze, acrylic, glaze creation on canvas which looks fabulous hanging as is or you could dress it up anyway that speaks to you.

Time seems to be moving so quickly. As a child I can remember adults saying this same thing and thinking they were crazy because it seemed to crawl at that point in my life. I'm thinking that this fleeting feeling is not only due to being busy juggling so many things, but also because I'm witnessing so much and realizing I have absolutely no control but must "go with the flow".

I'm also acknowledging that parenting my mother, who is 82 and who told me last week - and I quote -"you didn't tell me everyhting when you were a teenager either" as if she was a teenager. In her mind, I suppose that's how she saw herself that particular day. Good Grief! She thinks I'm her mother and relies so heavily that I act like her mom! Anyway, time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping...into the future..............

Have a great and safe weekend.

Peace....Amy

www.amytuso.com

"Not Thai" #2 and as a Diptych ~ Amy Tuso ~ Arizona

"Not Thai" Diptych 10"x20"x1.5"

Here is the 2nd part of "Not Thai" along with them together as a diptych, as promised. Now you may be thinking that the name of this diptych is strange, so let me explain.

A few weeks ago we had dinner with friends at a recommended Thai restaurant in Scottsdale. I had never eaten Thai before and my husband and I really enjoyed the food. One day last week we decided to get takeout from the Thai restaurant as I would be working in my studio all day. So as I'm working on this piece of art, I was thinking of how wonderful our Thai dinner would be. Jack happened to leave work about 1/2 hour earlier than usual that day and when I tried to phone in the order for him to pick up, the Thai restaurant was not yet open. Get it..."Not Thai" was named. We did have a great Chinese takeout dinner...but it certainly was not Thai! Ah, the birth of title for my new art:}

The sunrise this morning was spectacular with pinks, baby blue, orange, golden yellow and speckled clouds gracing the sky over the mountains. It stopped me in my tracks as I walked past our balcony windows and I immediately, without thinking, fell into my morning prayer of gratitude. I'm grateful for many aspects of my life and this morning I am particularly grateful for sleeping through the night for the first time in weeks without disturbing memories of recent events creeping into my consciousness. So simple of thing...but so huge at the same time.

Peace to you on this cold late fall day...Amy©

"Not Thai" #1 ~ Amy Tuso ~ Fountain Hills, AZ

"Not Thai" #1

10"x10"x1.5" Gallery Wrapped

Heavily textured, glaze upon glaze, acrylic

This jewel toned gem is part of a diptych. I'll post it's mate next time. Each piece works well alone but are a visual journey when displayed together. I really am enjoying creating my "Please Touch" series. Allowing my hands and fingers the pleasure of exploring each canvas upon completion is a wonderful tactile experience.

You may question the title I've chosen. There is a story within the name, which I will share with you when I post these paintings as a diptych :}

As I am writing this post there is a gentle winter rain falling. Living in the desert southwest we rarely see rain. In fact this year we have had very, very little and are in dire need of the nourishment that rain brings to our desert inhabitants. It is cold for us "lizards" and although I am very grateful for the rain, a day here without sunshine is just plain weird! There is an entirely different vibe in the air along with the clean, sweet smell from the heavens.

So today I am grateful for my life, the life of my loved ones, my blessings and the abundance within my life. The abundance of love, hope, creativity, joy and God's light and love. Each night I ask that He blanket me with his protection and guide me for another day. I ask that He teach me my lessons and help me learn them so I may move forward. I offer myself to Him as a vehicle of His light and love, so I may pass it on to others. He hears me...and I'm filled with gratitude. I'm also very grateful for this winter rain as I can hear the cactus and plant life, the birds and creepy crawlers sighing in relief.

Peace to you...Amy©

www.amytuso.com

"Friends" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Daily Painter

"Friends"

10"x8"

A girlfriend of mine asked me to create an abstract for her and the only definite request from her was that it contained a shock of green within it. As I was working on this piece I mixed several colors and came up with this "shocking" green. Since that time, I have repeated this custom blend of color and incorporated it into other originals.

Friends...we are so blessed to have them in our lives. Sometimes they lean on us and other times they are our support. I was once told by a dear friend that as you travel this lifetime and you can count 5 people as your true friends...you are among the fortunate. Give it some thought...can you count 5 true-blue friends that you can honestly share everything about yourself with?

Peace, Amy©

www.amytuso.com

"Female Sculptured Cast" ~ Amy Tuso ~ Arizona

This body cast was extremely fun to create - from the actual casting to creating the aged leather patina.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of having lunch with an old friend and of course calorie intake became subject of conversation prior to ordering. To me, it just seems to diminish the pleasure of "breaking bread" with someone. Our society has become so hypercritical of how a woman should look that it really has set up some unreachable "norms" if you will.

I believe that as we age it is much more gracefully kind to our souls if we accept this process as badges. I have earned every single wrinkle, frown and smile line that graces my face. As far as my middle aged body...it is what it is and my husband loves the cuddliness of me.

Enjoy this blessed day and embrace your genuine self!

Peace, Amy

www.amytuso.com ©