Trying a Little Mixed Media

Lilac Wings 12x6 Acrylic Paint and Pastels available $75.00

 Thought I'd share this new piece I did along with the steps.  I wanted to try using acrylic paints along with pastels.  I wanted to achieve a look that the painting was dripping off the page. 

 I started by putting in an acrylic wash in sap green and then did a quick sketch in vine charcoal. 

 I then filled in the butterfly in an acrylic metallic gold.  It really sparkles when the sun hits it just right.  Love working with these metallics! 

 Next, the pastels came out and I started blocking in the flowers and adding a little detail to the butterfly.

 I finished up by adding in more details to the butterfly like the fuzziness of the body and details of the wings. 

I am offering a 20% discount on all artwork in my Etsy Store from now until midnight Mother's Day in Celebration of my 20 years in motherhood.  Just click on the price listed on the painting in the first photo and you will be directed to the store. 

And to all the mothers in the world...... Have a very Happy Mother's Day!

What to do with Mini Pastel Paintings

Magnetic Bookmarks available in my Etsy Store Click here to view the store

 

I've been in awe over the mini paintings I've seen on the web and wondered how these wonderful artists can paint something so beautiful on an area the size of a playing card.  I wanted to try it out for myself with the pastels.  I also wanted these tiny treasures to be useful in some way so I combined my love of books with my art and came up with magnetic bookmarks.  After I painted these tiny paintings, I laminated them along with some pretty scrapbook papers and then added a charm or made up some cute teeny tiny tassels.  I attached to large magnets on the inside to make sure they would stay in place.  I've kept one for myself and use it to mark my page in my planner, and it works out so great for marking my page and also to hold my bills for that month. Here's a peek at the inside-

I've listed each of these available magnetic bookmarks in my Etsy Store. They work great for books, Bibles and planners/organizers, and I've began another set with a different theme soon to be unveiled.

Painting to the Edge of the Paper

Lavender Breeze 12x12 Pastel available $125.00

I've been a busy bee these days planning new gardens for my yard - I'm so excited to get started! My dream is to have an awesome artists garden view from every window of my house, of course it will take a couple of years, I'm sure, but I've been researching plants to go into each sections being planned.  One of the plants at the top of my list is lavender.  Ohhhh the smell of lavender - how can you resist? And there are so many things that you can make with this plant that it also satisfies the crafter in me.  And so ..... I decided to make lavender the next subject for a painting.  I started with a Gamsol wash after applying some color.  I moved the brush in the direction that I wanted the different areas to flow.  I hang my paintings with tape tabs so that I can paint the entire paper and not have a border around the edges.  I first saw this technique on Karen Margulis's blog and though how engenious it was, and I've stuck with this method ever since.  Although sometimes you come across paper that really wants to roll up on you and you have no choice but to tape all the way around, but I like saving as much tape as I can - don't need the extra expense no matter how small it is.

Gamsol wash

 

I can't wait to share with you my finished garden spaces as I complete each one and also the wildlife I'm hoping to attract .  The weather is looking up for this weekend - time to get out and get to work - but with your busy schedules don't forget to stop and smell the flowers. Take in your beautiful surroundings.  

*Just a reminder 50% of all sales this month will be going towards helping a friend in need with hospital bills.

Helping Friends

Spring Symphony 12x18 Pastel available $185.00

I've been pulling my hair out lately with computer issues.  My desktop has officially been laid to rest and my husband has bought me a laptop to replace it.  I'm challenged when it comes to technology so I apologize in advance for the learning curves I'm about to encounter.

I was awestruck at the skies last week and ran for the camera - as if I don't already have thousands of photos of skies - but this one really caught my attention and also commemorates the rolling in of spring to me.  We've had some spectacular skies lately - some that really take your breath away so check back to see exactly what I'm talking about in future paintings.

After being a part of the Girl Scout organization for so long , the idea of helping those in need has become a second nature to me - and since out troop has grown up and most of our girls are in college now, I don't get quite as many opportunities to lend a hand as in the past.  I have a friend in need of help with some medical bills and wanted to lend a hand in any way that I could.  We've been friends for well over 30 years and I could never begin to scratch the surface of the many kindnesses that he has shown to others. I don't have much to offer but I do have my art.  I have no idea how this will turn out, but I have offered him monies made by sales in my Etsy store for the month of April.  If you've had your eye on something in the store, now would be the perfect time to purchase it. It will be helping someone close to my heart. Also, I will post new paintings as quick as I can get them painted. Thanks to all of you for all your love and support.

No Name Monday With a Little Clue Attached

Wanna play a game? Who doesn't love games? I've been wanting to do a series of paintings of a particular place for quite some time and I thought..... why tell you right off the bat where that place is.... why not let you guess? So here is clue number 1. Periodically I will give another clue until someone can name the place I'm painting.  And speaking of naming.... This painting needs a name.  Today is No Name Monday.  Put on your thinking caps and see what ideas you may have for this painting's title. Post your ideas and my review committee ( my children) will select their favorite. It's a neat idea that a title you come up with will be forever attached to a piece of art.  Does anyone say neat anymore?  Oh well.... I confess.... I'm old school. Or I guess I'm just old. What title pops in your head while viewing this painting? I'll announce the chosen name on Tuesday.

Lily Pads and Freebie Friday

Tranquil Kisses 12x18 pastel available $185.00

A couple of weeks ago, I visited a friends house and happened to notice a poster on the wall of lily pads.  I was instantly put in the mood to paint some.  I found a great reference photo on pixaby - I fell in love with all the purples! I pulled out a piece of the new black UArt paper in a 12x18 from my recent delivery and went to work.

Initial Drawing 

There were so many colors in each lily pad, that I went pad by pad laying in the colors.

After the colors were laid in on the flower, it was at this point that I thought I was done, but after letting it sit for a while and looking it over, I felt like the flower had been forced into the painting. I decided to gently use my fingers to soften and blend the colors together to give a more hazy look.  I'm very happy with the end result. See the finished painting at the top of this post.

Today is Freebie Friday!  If this is your first time visiting my blog, I'll explain the rules of the game.
One Friday a month I post a painting for a give a way and all you have to do is comment "pick me" if you'd like to be put into the drawing.  Today's Freebie is of a sunflower that I completed last year. Winner will be announced tomorrow.

Painting the Day Away on a Different Canvas

I had a plan.... and high hopes for things to be accomplished yesterday.  One of which was to paint these adorable bird houses that I picked up at Michael's for $5 each with the hopes of installing them into my newly designed bird house garden.  Well painting took longer than expected and I still have 4 more to go! My back just couldn't take anymore, so I'll continue some more this afternoon.

Each had to be stained first, then painted and still needs some type of protective sealer.  The last thing I want is for them to get destroyed by the weather after 1 season.

I'll post the finished birdhouse garden after completion.  My hopes and dreams for my yard is to create an artists paradise filled with gardens and treasures to paint. At some point, I'd like to invite other artists to come and paint here, but I have a long way to go, and a lot of researching into garden designs. And yes...... I'm counting these painted birdhouses towards my 30 paintings in 30 days -

Next up on the easel......... I'm in the mood for lily pads.