Monday, June 29, 2009

A card for a friend


Just a new card idea because of this fabulous sunset like paper I found at the local paper store! Excited to use this one in many projects in the future. I don't usually make cards unless I have an occasion to give one out but think I will be adding these to the mix in the future.


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

So close I couldn't wait...updated :o)

So close I couldn't wait to post it...






I am just so thrilled to have a piece so close to completion after weeks of working on the same thing!

This is an 11" x 14" piece that I am really, really happy about. I spent a lot of time on the flowers and I think it was worth it. The branch is from a cool sort of sand textured/looking piece of scrapbook paper. I do not normally use scrapbook paper but I always look at the specialty stuff because it sometimes has interesting patterns or textures. I have used this paper in both of my recent branch pieces and won't be surprised if I use it again. I added a bit of shading to the branch with a medium brown acrylic paint but not much. I try to let the paper do most of the talking. I'm not sure exactly what kind of paper the yellow flowers are made of, I just happened to have a lot of it. I put tiny punched flower centers of orange indian batik and then added 3 white/clear beads in the center of each. All that's left to do at this point is the final coats of UV gloss.


I have played around with beads before as I have a lot of them around from many years ago. I've been trying to use stuff I already have and not buy anything new for a bit....so hard! I have a bit of a paper addiction ;o). But I do like playing around with all kinds of techniques and mediums because you never know what you're going to get. I brought some brown, krinkled up, packing paper home from work the other day because I want to try twisting it into branches and see what happens. I am excited to try more textural ideas and see what I come up with.


Oh...so little time for all these ideas in my head!!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Oh, Craft Time How I Miss Thee

Many events besides my new full time job are keeping me from both my art and my blog. Life has been a hectic, often stressful, and sometimes in need of a good blubbering pity party, table for 1. Things are thankfully getting back to normal.

Not to disapoint, I do have a new piece in the works, I just never know these days how long something is going to take. A piece that I could have completed in days is now weeks. Its frustrating for someone like me who loves real, visual progress. That being said I am working on a new branch piece that I am getting excited about. It is another 11 x 14 blossoming branch but the flowers are quite a bit smaller and in more abundance. The leaves on this one will be much more prominant as well. I am also using yellow, largely because I am on a tight budget and I had it on hand and partly because I think it will be pretty. I am planning on this being quite an intricate piece, no skimping on the details and I am also going to make it as textural and 3D as I can.

Now, I know I haven't mentioned the art show. As you can probably guess, I did not get in. At first I was really upset and did indeed have myself a good blubbery pity party....I know, really, that initial reaction was just the plain old sting of rejection and who the heck likes to be rejected. On the positive side, I accomplished something; I can count on one hand how many times I stared my fear of rejection and failure in the face and did it anyways. I have to give myself a pat on the back and remind myself that I am definitely on the road to being the better me that I envision even if the road there is a little steeper now :o) And....I sold my first piece, the one with the mountains and the two cherry blossoms!!! I couldn't have sold it until November if I had got into the art show and we sure could use the extra money right now. Its weird, but I am having a bit of seperation anxiety, this is the first piece I am letting go that never was intended for any specific person. I think its good though, it means my heart was in the piece and the piece is in my heart.

Miss you all and I'm sorry for not responding to comments all of the time! Everything is so unbalanced right now and my correspondence and blogging time has gone out the window! Can't wait to have a new piece to post!!