Frida

In my quest to find my perfect medium, finally I tried oils.  I think I am in love, love, LOVE!  Oils are so much easier for me to blend and shade than acrylics.  I love the fact that they stay wet for so much longer enabling me to change things if not satisfied.....even the next day.  Yeah! I have two more portraits to post when dry.
8"x10" oil on canvas

True Free Spirit 1

So happy to be taking Mindy Lacefields class "True Free Spirit".  This is January's project (I just joined).  Just love her work!!!!

For details on her class, just click on "True Free Spirit" to the right.

Mixed media on board.

An artist vocation

An artist vocation is to send light into the human heart.

George Sand

First drawing with a Wacom.  Love the simplicity.

Credit: heart http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Tread softly please.

What we call the beginning is often the end

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from.

T. S. Eliot

Three panels 5 1/2"x18"x2"

Acrylic/Mixed Media on wood



Sweet revenge

Mixed media and encaustic

18"x5 1/2"x1" wood

Ode to Valentines Day. 

Credits:
http://xxmortanixx.deviantart.com/art/Poisoned-ink-brushes-91693034
 http://brittany-xss.deviantart.com/art/Brushes-01-Handwritten-Revenge-101846679

http://henda-stock.deviantart.com/art/Barbed-Brushes-34951894
http://coffinkittie.deviantart.com/art/Photoshop-Brushes-Dead-Trees-112534468
http://red--roses.deviantart.com/art/Stick-Men-Brushes-124546302
http://xxmortanixx.deviantart.com/art/Poisoned-ink-brushes-91693034
http://invisiblesnow.deviantart.com/gallery/11858576#/doqh19

Blustery Day

 

 

Blustery Day

 

 

Encaustic and mixed media on 12"x12"x2" wood.

Finished my first encaustic today.  When I started this last week it was very cold here, thus "Blustery day".  This piece was done with encaustic medium and pigments of Raw Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Raw and Burnt Umber.  Accents of black and white were also added.

 

 



 

 

I am so amazed by the way the wax blends and moves when heated. The process is much slower than painting but far more gratifying for me.  Truly love this process and the results it produces.

 

 

 



Imagine

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one"........

After taking Jane DesRosier's awesome class "The Red Scarf" at thetroddenpath.ning.com,  I managed to finally finish my first portrait.   It is a mixed media and acrylic on a 16"x20" birch cradled panel.  I really loved her online course and loved making this. 

The first painting was the female with a hat, but I didnt like it so I painted over the top portion.  Couldnt decide what kind of hair she was going to have, so I sat on it awhile.  Finally a couple of nights ago, I was watching videos on YouTube and stumbled across "Imagine" by John Lennon.  The rest is history. 



Thanks John Lennon for the inspiration!

Imagine

John Lennon



Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one


......by the way, I got all my encaustic supplies in today and have started playing with it.  Love the look and feel of this medium.  Hopefully will finish my first piece soon and can post pictures.

New beginnings with Encaustic

 

 

Tomorrow I start a new venture.  It will be my birthday and I am celebrating with a new experience with my art.  I have wanted to try encaustics for some time now.  Last week  after watching many videos and  reviewing MANY blog posts, I decided I wanted to start working with encaustics.  I have ordered all my materials, they should be arriving tomorrow for my birthday.  What better way to start my birth year but with new beginnings.  In the past year I have been searching for my artistic "niche", I am come close to finding it but something is still missing.   I am so excited about encaustics and the possibilities.  I love the simplist yet deep look that can be achieved with this technique.  The above video is my encaustic muse.....her work is beyond fabulous!

Jenn's girls

 

 

 

Jenn's girls

 

These pieces were made for Jennifer for Christmas.  They are acrylic mixed media on wood.  When deciding on what to make Jennifer for Christmas, these two girls kept coming up for some reason.  Jennifer has no children, when I gave them to her I said "I see girls in your future Jennifer".  Jennifer then told me she had just found out she was pregnant.   Everything happens for a reason.

Recent paintings

 

 

These girls are my most recent acrylic creations.  Last week I joined Heather Murrays group at http://thetroddenpath.ning.com/group/mixed-media-portrait-class.  Love, love love her work.  I was so inspired by her Tall Girl series I thought I would try some of my own. 

The first was Gabby which is a beautiful young girl I cropped from a group photo from Flckr. 

The second was Story.  I also found her on Flckr.  Somehow she just started looking alittle goth, so I just let her go there.

 The third was Destiny and her dog.  A friend at work wanted me to paint her daughter and her beloved dog.  This is what I came up with.  Destiny has been busy lately getting into mischief....because I couldnt place little horns on her head, I placed a crown on her little head.  Destiny is always the Queen of her domain.

Last, but not least came little Annie.  She is a work in progress.....almost finished with her. Just a few more details and she will be done.

Then along came Hope.  She is acrylic on canvas.  I think she is actually my favorite.  I just love the look on her face....definately an old soul. This image was obtained from http://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageShowcase?ref=seller_info .

I have so enjoyed painting this week.  Finally I think I am getting the hang of it.  I was having a problem with the acrylics drying sooooo fast I couldnt blend.  After purchasing alottttt of products, I am able to blend my colors and am having a blast painting!!
Tomorrow, another project for a coworker/friend.

Emma

Recently I took an online class with Heather Murray on http://thetroddenpath.ning.com/. I so enjoyed painting this this morning. I still have alot to learn but am definately enjoying the process. This is an 8x10 acrylic on canvas.

James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend" by S. Wigley

 

 

You've got a Friend

by Scott Wigley

 

 

A fellow nurse made this awesome video. Based on James Taylor's version of "You've Got A Friend" (Carol King) from James's "Mud Slide Slim" record (1971). This is an instrumental version by Scott Wigley from Wilcox Road, Alabama multitracking a McPherson Acoustic Guitar with a Redwood top and Indian Rosewood back into a Roland VS880. The soundtrack is set to scenes of a beautiful afternoon on Wolf Bay in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Fabulous job Scott!!

Snail Mail



This is made for a Take a Word Challenge.  This particular challenge doesnt start till next week, but decided to go ahead and make.  Next weeks word is "Mail".  Heres my interpretation of todays mail.  Although I still use the mail for some things...to me it definately seems to be "snail mail". 

Challenge:  http://takeaword.blogspot.com/





Christmas Freebie

  

Now that Thanksgiving is over we can get ready for Santa!!!  I thought I would pass on this free Christmas vintage card.  This is part of a collage of beautiful vintage cards.  Thanks http://magicmoonlightfreeimages.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-collages-for-you.html for the beautiful cards!!  Check out her beautiful site! 



Lost

 

 

Lost soul

 

This piece was created for a challenge.  Loving goth and dark, I especially loved making this. Used stock provided background and the following:

girl:  http://steamed-pepsi-stock.deviantart.com/art/Ethereal-Stock-81809513

teddy bear brush:  http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/?q=teddy+bear#/dlbtn4 - dawn-at-the-lake brush

moon: http://wyldraven.deviantart.com/art/Moon-STOCK-147754760



 

No imagination is fatal

 

 

No imagination is fatal

 

Digital artwork 

 

credits: http://aimeestock.deviantart.com/art/Virgin-2-197252762

 

 

Enchanted Forest

 

 

Enchanted Forest

  

My most recent creation for a challenge.

 

credit:

girl:  http://dearmond1.deviantart.com/favourites/?offset=552#/d2er8hc

 

forest backround: http://dearmond1.deviantart.com/favourites/?offset=600#/d2cghki

 

 





Dear Santa...

 

Dear Santa...........

 

OOOOOpppssss... I think Santa forgot something before his midnight run to deliver presents.  Its all good, his better half will help him out!

Found these coooooool digistamps the other day by The Octopode Factory. Started making Christmas cards early!!!! Here is the link to Octopode's Etsy sight:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOctopodeFactory.  Love, love, love these stamps!!



 







Challenge creations

 

 

 

Created for Scary Challenge using provided stock items available for challenge. Broken glass right corner from Holliewood Studios/Junkyard.  Face left corner from my personal stock.

Sorrow

 

 

Sorrow

 

 

Created for an October challenge using provided stock photo.

Poe and the flute

 

 

Poe and the flute.

 



Credits: body from Constance Taylor freebie collage. Soup can from Land of Nod.

Dark Ballet

 

 

Dark Ballet
 

Digital collage

Jimmy Fallons "Call me baby"

Cant just "sit" and watch this video.....just makes you wanna get in there!  

   

 

"Music Room": Backstage before the show, Jimmy, Carly Rae Jepsen, and The Roots grabbed some instruments you'd find in an elementary school classroom and performed "Call Me Maybe."

Now, How cute is that?!!

 

 

 

 

Motto.

 

 

 

 

 

I have LOTS to do today from decorating to yardwork to home projects.  I always sit down with my morning coffee and look over things on the computer (sometimes actually getting lost in the computer).  I found this awesome quote from  http://yappingcat.blogspot.com/ and just had to share.  It is my motto today.

 

 

 

 

...and this little jewel just made me smile!

Have an awesome day!

 

 

Halloween Postcards!!!

Poe and a flute (for lack of a permanent title)

I worked on my Halloween Post Cards today. I made three....I think I might have gotten alittle carried away with the layering.....but it was sooooo much fun!  I used Constance Taylor's freebies.  She makes it soooo easy to put colorful cards together really quick.  Love, love, love her work!!! (Thank you so much!!)

For Suzee Que



The above is entitled Suzee Que.  It is a freebie from Suzee Que.

Dear Ethel

Last but not least.....my Dear Ethel card.   Again this was made with Constance Taylors freebie sheets.  I just had to stop adding layers and merge finally.  It is a very good day when I have enough time to get THREE cards done....Yeah!!!!!! 





POE ON A PIZZA BOX

 

 

 

Poe is now on a pizza box.

 

I love, love, love Mellow Mushroom.  I go there at least once a week to get a calzone, pizza or salad.  A couple of weeks ago I remembered that while I was travel nursing in California, pizza boxes where painted and hung in a resturant.  Soooooooo....I decided to do it myself.  Turned out pretty cool, huh.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cant wait to paint another.....think the Raven will be next.

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween

 

 

I love Halloween!!!!! 

 

 

 These cards were created for the swap.  I only need 5 cards for the swap but had so much fun making them....I made a few more than 5....well, actually, I made ALOT more than 5.  Am definately going to have to eliminate this month.  These cards were made with Photoshop and Alpha Stamps.

 

 

Mixed Media Halloween

 

 

 

This set of cards were made slightly different.  I am trying to get away from photoshop completely for my cards. This is definately going to be a slow process.  I love to draw but have never painted.  So I practice, and practice...and practice.  I made these backgrounds by painting book pages then applying some more collage pieces from Alpha Stamps. I also drew the moon on a bookpage, distressed and cut out.  All were put together with Photoshop. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Halloween

 

 

 

 

These cute babies are ready for Halloween.  They are adorned with their witches hat and crowns.  

 

 

 

 

Another card I made for the swap.  I drew the moon with charcoal on a book page and distressed the edges with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink.  I then cut out the image and scanned.  I applied to a spooky background I created with Photoshop.  The scary clown is from Alpha Stamps: http://www.alphastamps.com/p4445/Skeleton_Slides_Collage_Sheet/product_info.html

I love this skeleton clown and used him in many of my Halloween creations. Added one of my favorite E.A.Poe quotes to the card.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the clown again with another image I obtained from Alpha stamps...the awesome witches.  I have always loved this witch scene, couldnt wait to do something with it!   Had to add alittle text for the clown :))

Getting ready for Halloween

I have started my Halloween swap cards and decorating.  Is it too early? Nahhhhhh, not for me.  I love Halloween, the dark, the music and the creepiness.  I probably at heart lean towards the goth/dark side.   So, will start posting my dark creations:))