♥ Raggedy Ann & Andy ♥
How it all began. I must have been between the ages of 10 and 11 when mom started taking my little sister and I to a shop in a nearby town only 10 miles away that had plaster sculptures.We made this trip several times a month and stocked up on things to paint and the supplies to get it done. This is the very first thing I picked out to paint.Every Saturday we’d clear off the dining room table and the three of us would sit down, chatter, and create! I was SO proud at how they turned out and my mom was amazed at how much I loved putting detail into my creating that I think she knew instantly that I was destined to be an artist. Ever since then I recieve art related materials for birthdays and Christmas every years. And I used them to my greatest abiltiy. From beading supplies to make jewelry in Jr. High School, to water color paints when I thought at 17 that I had found my niche. I played with watercolors for years and loved it. There came a time when I had to put art away and move on to taking care of other things in my life but that was very short lived. I often found myself back in the creative mode. When my son was in grade school I found myself creating greeting cards for the teachers in his Catholic school. I was in bliss. I got to create and give my “art” to people that had an influence on my son’s life.
As you can see, these more than a few decade old child art pieces are in more than a little bit of disrepair. But my sister must have known my love for creativity and she managed to get her hands on these and put them in her laundry room … hence the dust.. which … regarding their age only adds depth to the essence of them. What was one of your first creations? What is your favorite medium? How did you get into artistic creations? So many questions… but we artistic types always want to know more about those like us. … and we want to make friends with our like kind! Please post … what was one of your most memorable creative endeavors?
♥ Petaluma ♥
Happy Monday. If Monday “can” be happy.☺ I finished up two mini paintings today and started in on a project that came to mind a few weeks ago. I have one more 4×4″ wooden canvas left and it’s saved for a commission I’ll be working on. I haven’t made a big painting in quite some time and am looking forward to the challenge of bigger projects but that will have to wait till I get some of my other to-do list checked off.
The holiday’s are creeping up on us slowly and I need to think about what I want to make for my family. I’ll have to brain storm! Anybody nave any ideas? I’m thinking some _________ will be happening for some of my nieces. (HAH!… you thought you’d get it out of me didn’t you!) You sneaky sneak sneak! You’ll just have to wait for Christmas to find out!
I’m looking forward to relaxing tonight in front of the TV with my sketch pad and some dinner… American Pickers is on pretty soon and House is on later tonight so I have a great line-up of entertainment to keep me busy. I’ll be back tomorrow to share a Halloween treat with you along with another show and tell of Tammy’s Toys. Have a great evening!
♥ Queen Bee ♥
More Journal playtime! She has yet to have her crown but I’ll be picking that up today on my weekly Fred Meyer shopping trip. They have an art isle that I know the entire inventory of and I have my eye on a sheet of silver crown stickers! =) Sometimes I think I’m the only one buying from that isle as the inventory doesn’t turn over fast enough. They haven’t gotten anything “new” in a long time. A few isles over they have a discount section that I’ve boughten some wonderful papers from so that’s always fun!
This bee was drawn over a “tiled” collage paper in yellow. I used star Post-it notes on both sides and used some of my star punches to cut some yellow stars. The green ones are stenciled and stickers. I used markers for the stripes on the bee and added some interest to the yellow with a yellow gel pen. She turned out quite sweet if I do say so myself. =)
I finished getting my magnets and key rings up on Etsy if you care do drop by. I’m very pleased with the prints for the key rings. The colors turned out perfectly! And the magnets are made from Moo cards with I just love!
We’ve been having visitors in the evenings again….
A momma and three kits. They are absolutely adorable and misleading! They started to chew on the screen door to get in for food. We’ve had that problem before so no soup for you! I couldn’t resist snapping their pics though.☺Come back tomorrow to see what I’ve finished up! I have lots on my plate today! Go pour yourself a cup of creative juice and see what happens!
♥ Love Song ♥
If you read my blog you’ll remember I was telling you about how getting rejected by a gallery downtown discouraged me enough to mess up a painting. Well… I’m not one to let defeat succeed in my life. I simply started over. I took layers of sheet music and covered over what I didn’t like and started creating what I felt in my heart. A love song to myself! These 4×4″ paintings that I started to create at the end of last year/beginning of 2010 are my economic efficient versions of art that I’ve grown in love with over the course of painting them. I do my best to pack them full of as much “punch” as I an fit into the canvas size! And I love doing it! This little sweetie is created with:
- Vintage sheet music
- Metallic confetti collaged over with tissue and pearlized paints.
- Black lava texture medium
- Rubber stamps
- Acrylics, Colored pencils, Gel pens, and Water colors.
I added rhinestones and washes of paints with metallic mediums in chosen places. I stamped “Love Song” on her hair and embossed it with powder usually reserved for rubber stamping cards and scrap booking. She instantly became a favorite at home so I was overly pleased with this heartfelt painting and now I’m offering her up to you on my Etsy shop!
I’m thankful the week is half over. I’m busy working on the painting I mentioned yesterday for our friend of the family… it’s half done! YAY! I’m also playing with a journal entry regarding “MONSTERS!” which I mentioned in yesterdays post about conquering. I’ll be back tomorrow to let you know how the slaying of monsters is going…until then… you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar! So be you sweet awesome selves!
Dreams do come true. Maybe not the way we think they will but in the way God wants them to. I’ve been back in my artist chair since March of 2008. I’ve spent nearly every day since then working diligently on my “craft.” I’ve drawn, painted, collaged, art journaled, taken photos, made usable objects of art and items to hang on the wall… or hide in the closet! I’ve loved every single second of it. I’ve taken a multitude of online classes to help clear up my confusion and I’ve learned exactly what I wanted from them. I’ve read numerous books, magazines and online articles. Then I started to teach myself. I’ve learned mostly from trial and error and the error is the part that taught me the most. I’ve purchased many supplies to experiment with and tried methods and techniques recommended by other artists on the the Internet. Now it’s my turn to teach. I’ve been selected by an online magazine for my napkin art tutorial. (Come November.) It’s the stuff dreams are made “from.” We all start somewhere. I’ll update you more when I have more to share with you. But I’m delighted that someone is coming to me to learn a technique! I’ll continue to teach myself and share what I know.
I’m getting close to wrapping up art journal number three. (one per year?) It seems as the past few years have gone by the size of my art journals has gotten larger as well. It’s almost ….. almost…. time to start in my Moleskine journal. I only have about ten pages left in the journal I’m currently working in. When it’s “finally” complete I’m having a journal celebration! I’m not sure exactly what that is right now but I’m sure I’ll think of something.
I think I’ll treat myself to an art supply to celebrate my article being published and my journal being completed…. I’m thinking maybe …..
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♥ Love Yourself First ♥
This simple message was a tender moment in the movie Mary and Max and I jotted it down so I could put this in my journal. I’m SO glad I did as I did a brave thing on Monday. I put a submission in to a local art gallery. I poured my heart out in my email and added ten of my paintings. I had to write a bio which was very difficult for me. For some reason I just couldn’t find words. I sat staring at the submission for a long time and pondered whether I should hit the send button. BUT… I HAD written this down in my new organizer so I knew if I didn’t do it now I wouldn’t do it at all. So I took a deep breath, hit the send button and said a wee prayer.
Yesterday I got an email from the art gallery. Here is what it said:
Hi Tammy, I think you artwork is beautiful and you are obviously very talented. However, your work doesn’t fit the abstract, edgy vibe at (insert gallery name here.) Thanks very, very much for your submission and for your support of what we’re doing here at (insert gallery name.) Best of luck to you. (Gallery owner name.)
I felt like road kill.
I attempted to try to brush this off and paint. I couldn’t. I messed up a painting. I thought for a while and I think (Gallery owner) is right. My girls aren’t edgy. They are sweet. If I gave them razor blades they might be edgy. But that’s not what my art is about. I’m sure I can do something edgy and I might try. But as for my whimsical folk art…. I have yet to find the place I “fit” in downtown. The scar from the rejection made me think of this page I had started in my journal ~ and the healing process began.
I’ll find somewhere to display my art. Somehow. I wanted this to be the year I got “brave.” It’s not over yet! After my wounds are sufficiently licked I’ll try again at another gallery and put on my leathers in case I hit the skids again. Be Brave. Until then… I have Etsy… and tomorrow I’ll be adding more paintings to my shop.
