Watching Paint Dry

Ξ May 31st, 2009 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Around The House, Art-tastic, For The Kingdom |

Yes, I’m watching paint dry and ripping my supplies apart looking for a water soluable graphite pencil, which of course I don’t seem to have. So I looked online and the cost of the shipping far outways the cost of buying 10 of the pencils. Sigh. The subject of this painting will have to wait till I can get the pencil later this week. I did this background on a 9×12 canvas board, started with gesso and then “frosted” the canvas with texture paste using a palette knife. I used several different layers of acrylic paint washes blotting with a baby wipe as I went. I rubber stamped, collaged on some napkin pieces of flowers, layered on more acrylics and oil pastels and am ready for the focal point of the painting to begin…. and I’m dead in the water. Such is life, when handed lemons, make lemonade. I used to detest lemonade, but oddly now after having been forced to turn a sow’s ear into silk purse many times in my life I prefer lemonade over just about any juice out there. One of lifes ironic lessons no doubt. I have 3 other paintings on my desk that I “could” be working on but wanted to try this technique I read about in the current issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. Which is the only magazine I splurge on these days. It’s hot again today and we just didn’t want to live another summer having to suffer through the heat. SO! Yes, we took the plunge and ordered a portable air conditioner! I’m SO excited about sitting and painting with cool air blowing through my hair and scattering my papers all across my desk! =) And on that note, I’m outta here for something cold to drink… possibly some… lemonade!?

 

Summer Time Flower Power

Ξ May 26th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic, Les Petite Dolls, The Great Outdoors!, The Healing Garden |

I was just playing around with this painting. I started it with a scrapbooking flower/sun shape and it bloomed from there. With layers of collaging paper, napkin leaves, sponged on inks, stamps, gel pens, melted wax flowers with rhinestone centers. I just got down in the dirt with this and got messy! It’s the best way to get your flowers to grow! Today I’m working on several different paintings at once which is my favorite way to work. I’m also going to be playing with a few canvas pieces which is “newer” to me. Keep me posted on your projects! I’d love to hear about what you’re creating. =) Keep your paint brush dirty!

 

Wood Nymph

Ξ May 23rd, 2009 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic, For The Kingdom, Les Petite Dolls, The Great Outdoors!, The Healing Garden |

Tucked away behind the flowers and the leaves of the forest you’ll
often see the movement of the Wood Nymph as she escorts you safely along your way. This started out as a doodle in my sketch book and blossomed into a full sized painting with lots of layers of artsy goodness. I used tissue papers for the dress in 3 different shades of green. I also used napkins for collaging part of the leaves and the “dots.” I used gold leafing along the dress and near the firefly charms. I tried several different techniques on this painting with Mini Misters from Ranger I ordered 12 of them along with an organizer for storing them in and they are fabulous! Two of the flower are done with modeling paste for a 3-D effect and the middle one is as flat as a pancake! (mmm ~ breakfast!) I used shimmering paints on a lot of this painting but as is the norm, the camera doesn’t do it justice. I’m pleased with how she turned out. Now I’m off to work on a birthday card. Until later! Keep the art coming!

 

End Of The Board Book Swap

Ξ May 22nd, 2009 | → 5 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic |

This is for theTake Me Back board book for Lisa. My origional idea didn’t pan out but that’s not suprising to me at all. I normally start out with one idea and my hands change their mind and create what they want. I used to have TONS of color surrounding me which I don’t find to unusual for an artist. Now I live in browns and beiges and can see from this blast from the past splash of color that I need to surround my art area with what I love most ~ LOTS of color! The stars are cut from wax sheets and melted onto the paper which is simply a lunch style brown paper bag. I used stickers, and stamps, paints, and inks, charms, and the awesome trim along the botton. This was just to much fun and in the end I wanted to wallpaper my house in it! =P I hope you like it Lisa, the whole book is awesome! The ideas and art and talent in the book are outstanding and I can’t wait to see the art that comes and goes in our next 8×8 swap. Happy Friday! Enjoy the sun and weekend!

 

A Bit Of Journaling …

Ξ May 21st, 2009 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic, For The Kingdom, Les Petite Dolls, The Healing Garden |

This isn’t the best scan ever (it may very well be the worst!) but I was in a bit of a hurry and my camera battery is dead and my recharger has died. Sadly I’ll have to order another charger. I’ll have to borrow my DH’s camera until then. This is the second of three pages I’m doing in an art journal swap. This journal belongs to Teri who is also a resident of the wonderful Pacific Northwest! I used quite a bit of different mediums on this two-page spread including, vintage sheet music, acrylic paint, rubberstamping, gold music stickers, collage paper, rick rack, ribbons, and charcoals. It’s fun to get downright messy and dirty with blending, and shading, and glueing and such. I’m finishing up the third page spread today and will have it mailed out this weekend. I’m also going to be finishing up the board book swap that I’ve been priveleged to be in with the craziest group of gals I’ve ever run across! You know who you are ladies. =) Until later and with a working camera. I’m off to make a mocha and get back to the arty farty that I call life.

 

My Mother’s Flower Garden

Ξ May 19th, 2009 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Uncategorized |

I neglected to recharge my camera battery while I was away and after I got home from the dental demon. I attempted to take some pictures today of some art I’ve been doing in a traveling journal swap I belong to but when I opened my camera I got a “low battery” alert.  Well buggers! I’ll have the photos up tomorrow. In the meantime I’m planning a wonderful supper to make up for the “sandwiches” I tossed to my family last night. My face is feeling a tad bit less tender than it was yesterday and by suppertime I think I’ll be able to enjoy some real food. Come back by tomorrow to see some of the art I’ve been doing and possibly hear what I’ve come up with to treat my family with outside the sandwich category!

 

Home Again ~ Home Again

Ξ May 16th, 2009 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Around The House, For The Kingdom, The Great Outdoors! |

I’m home from my parents house and happy to report that I had a fabulous visit! I took art supplies and journals with me but it never left the bag. That’s a first for me. Instead of arting we played Scrabble! I LOVE, and I mean LOVE Scrabble. It’s my all-time favorite board game. I even have the travel version of Scrabble for our train trip to Michigan which is coming up very soon! We’ll be leaving sometime very soon after the 4th of June. My Mom took me shopping and bought me 3 new outfits. I had NO idea that she had this planned. We met my sister at Ross and from there we went to JC Penney and finished our shopping excursion. Afterwards we went to dinner and sat and chatted and laughed and laughed and laughed. Humor is a very large part of my life. It has been since day one! My family is fun and fun loving and my husband also is a riot. I did get to do some art shopping on the way to my parents. We stopped at a variety store that has aisle and aisle of crafts and arts and scrapbooking, and, and and! I bought some paints, some papers, some charms, and other little goodies that I know I’d use. Very FUN! As alway, as much fun as it was, it’s good to be home. I’m tired, but it’s a good tired. I got to spend time with my niece who’s 12 and we had a lot of laughs and played some “not so offical” Scrabble. Below is a picture of her cat named Zin. He’s a fun cat to watch. He has free roam of my brothers and parents yards and take advantage of living life in the country! One smart little cat! =)

I’ll have some art to share after the weekend! It’s good to be home and have my “toys” at hand. What’s on your easel!?

 

Happy Mother’s Day ~ Take II

Ξ May 8th, 2009 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic, For The Kingdom |

Here’s the card I made today for my Mom. I used watercolor pencils and crayons, along with rubberstamping with acrylics, glitter glaze, blue pastel pencil and a sharpie marker in making this card. I added a bow with fun fur which you can see at the top of the card. What fun. I know she’ll love it. =) Here’s a bit of history on Mother’s Day for you. Have a great weekend and a safe and memoriable Mother’s Day and God bless you all!

 

Mother’s Day Creating

Ξ May 7th, 2009 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic, For The Kingdom, The Great Outdoors!, The Healing Garden |

Here’s one of a few Mother’s Day cards I’m making this year. The flower is the front of the card and it opens up to the blue background with the greeting behind the leaves. It’s done on watercolor paper with watercolor pencils, pen and ink, rubberstamping ink that’s sponged on the inside of the card and sprayed with a mister then blotted with a paper towel. The black is done with charcoals and the curls are penned in with a Micron pen. I added lots of glitter glaze that wasn’t picked up by the scanner. A fun project! I plan to see what other cards I can come up with tomorrow! =) What are you plans for Mother’s Day this year!?

 

Crystal Princess

Ξ May 6th, 2009 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Art-tastic, For The Kingdom, Les Petite Dolls |

Crystal Princess originally started out to be an angel, funny how she decided she wanted to be a princess instead. As I’ve been wanting to make a piece in purples and black for quite some time and thought I’d try it here. That’s when she spoke and said “Wait!” I’m a Crystal Princess ~ with silvers and sparkles and glitters and ice! Her dress and hat are cut from a glitter stack I got from JoAnns. The papers from the stacks are pretty enough to frame and hang as art.
I had a lot of fun with the layering on this painting. I got a bit more daring with the color and just let myself go. I have a few things to add after she’s varnished ~ but I was too excited to share her. Also, so far this week, I’ve finished the wooden version of It’s Good To Be Queen and here she is! =)

If you look carefully on the upper right of the painting you can see a not-so-camera-shy spider who wanted to take advantage of a photo-op!  Now I must paint Miss Muffet!