'Tis the Season

NOTICE - If you are my Mom, Dad, Sister or Brother In Law - DO NOT PEEK!!!

I made many of my Christmas gifts this year. I found some very interesting unfinished wood objects at the craft store to play with. I transfered scrapbook paper, used rubber stamps and varnished them. 

I found these big clothes pins. This was a smaller one, but they had some HUGE ones that I love and would like to find a use for.

I also decorated this very neat photo box. I used the same paper and stamps and also used a rust faux-finish product on the edges.

Rebel HQ End of Year Group Show

I'll have a few things at Dorota's  and Wayne's Rebel Headquarters this month. Check out their blog to see pics from past events and get details. They are a great bunch of people! 

PAMG Holiday Gift Swap

"Muse" Art doll - acrylic on muslin, recycled wool sweaters, paper

I made this for my Art Motivation Group gift swap this year. I might start using my cast-off from yarn recycling and dyeing to make these to sell on my Etsy shop (opening  Jan. 2009.)

IF - Pretend

Smile - 3.5"x4.75", pencil sketch, colored in Photoshop

She decided to stop pretending to smile and just wear a mask.

More playing in Photoshop this week. I enjoy playing with the filters; it feels like collage for me. When I can't get into the studio to paint, this is a good fix. 

I'm not feeling down, I swear. There was a pic of a girl holding a balloon in the paper and this popped into my head for this prompt. 

Mask

Bath Mask - 12"x12", acrylic and collage

This weeks theme at my Art Motivation Group is "mask." I've had this image of me holding up a washcloth with a face print on it for several years. I can't believe it took me this long to actually do something with the idea! 

IF - Wise

O-W-L that spells owl, Craypas and colored pencil on lined paper

Another quick one I did with my 3 year old at "Table Time" today. I hope I have more time next week for something more involved.

IF - Vacant

Boob Tube - pencil sketch, colored in Photoshop

I played with textures in Photoshop this week. Man, I want a tablet! Here's my take on that vacant expression my kids always have when they zone out in front of the tv.  

IF-Repair

Occulus Repairo - Acrylic

I haven't been able to submit to Illustration Friday in soooo long. I made time for this because I liked the idea so much. NO Scotch Tape was harmed in the making of this piece.

Doorway

Doorway - Mixed Media on Wood

I'm really trying to get back into the swing of things. I haven't done an IF post in awhile, but I've been keeping up with my Art Motivation Group. I had no idea what to do for the "doorway" theme. This just kinda happened without me thinking about it much. I'm liking it more and more. My friends at the group noticed that it has some references to renovating which is what I've been dealing with at home the last several months. I guess this was a therapeutic piece for me!

Raven

Taking Off - Mixed media on Four 3"x3" mini canvases

Another piece inspired by my Art Motivation Group. The theme for this one was "raven."

A Historical Figure

Betsy Ross ATC - mixed media

This is for my Art Motivation Meetup. The theme this week was "A Historical Figure." I wanted to do something larger and more involved but just didn't have time! 

VOAT Preview

In Hand, 6.75"x11.75", mixed media. Theme "Collection"

Water Lily, 9"x12", mixed media. Theme "Water"

Black-Eyed Susan, 9"x12", mixed media. Theme "Eyes"

Here's a sneak preview of the new paintings for the Variation on a Theme group show. I'm also showing "All is Forgotten" (was Fences) for the theme "Eyes" and "Fun-Guy" for "Pattern."

Rust

Rust - 5"x4", mixed media

It's been awhile! I've been working hard for our group show, but I found the time to do this for our Art Motivation Meetup. The theme this time was rust. I wanted to do a silhouette of my youngest, framed in a scrapbooking tag I had. I made it rusty with a kit available at the craft store which worked great! I also experimented with Through the Viewfinder photography, shooting some pics through with my digital camera, through my old digital camera. Then I transferred one of the pics to a canvas and painted on it. You can see more of those pics at my Flickr page.

Variations on a Theme

I made it on the postcard for my Art Motivation Meetup's group show!!! I feel so legit! It's the "collection" piece. Come check it out!!!

Variations on a Theme

2nd Annual Providence Art Motivation Group Show

September 3 - October 4, 2008

Warwick Museum of Art

3259 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886

401-737-0010

IF - Sour

Lemon/Lime - finger paint

Something fun I did with my toddler for IF this week!

Fences

Fence - mixed media

This is based on the sketch I did for IF's "Forgotten." I had a *lot* of fun doing this and I am very happy with how it turned out. 

IF - Punchline

Fun Guy - mixed media

A mushroom walks into a bar and asks for a drink. The bartender says, "I'm sorry, we don't serve mushrooms." The mushroom asks, "Why not? I'm a fun guy." Get it fungi....fun guy. It's my favorite stupid joke and the first thing I thought of when I saw this week's prompt.

IF - Forgotten

Forgotten Fences - pencil sketch

As soon as she felt the wind in her hair, all was forgotten.

I intend to work this up to a finished piece for my Art Motivation Meetup group for our next theme -"fences." It commemorates the many lone bike rides I took through my neighborhood growing up.

Gift Tags

Mom - mixed media ATC

Princess - mixed media ATC

More gift tags; I'm playing with my new water soluable crayons. Sorry Princess is blurry, she has sequins sewn on her tiara and magic wand :)

 

IF - Baby

Baby Dino - mixed media ATC

Another ATC for IF; this time to be used as a gift tag for my nephew's 1st birthday present. Happy Birthday, Christopher!!!

IF - Worry

Worry - mixed media ATC

Another Asperger's inspired illustration. If you know someone with an ASD, you know what it's about. I'm so glad that I had some time to get this out this week! I feel like my people are starting to work more with the mixed media, textured background.

Swing

Swing - mixed media

This is another piece for my Art Motivation Meetup, the theme was "swing" this week. I have another that I am still fooling around with that I will post as soon as I can get it finished.

IF - Wide

Wide - mixed media

Fat-bottomed girls of the world unite!!! Bathing suit season sucks.....

IF- Fail

Fail - mixed media

She knew she would fail to make it over the puddle, but that was the point anyway.

IF - Electricity

Bored in the Basement - mixed media

Here is my entry for Illustration Friday this week. My oldest loves building with things and is enthralled with an old tail light that's in the basement. My youngest is found of shocking me when he comes off the slide at the playground. I'm still trying to figure out how to work this texture-y background into my figure work. Please check out my IF - Fail illustration; I never got the chance to submit it.

Collection

For Mom - Mixed Media

Another painting for my Art Motivation Meetup. I did this one for my mom , intending to send it for Mother's Day, but I ran out of time. Her birthday is in June so I will send it for that occasion instead. I  may touch-up the houses, but otherwise I am pleased with it.

Highway Lights

I took these great photos on our car trip to NC. I used the "night landscape" setting on my digital camera. I just love the movement and blurriness of them. Check them all out here.

Portrait

Casey sleeping - mixed media

I did this painting for my Art Motivation Meetup, this theme was portrait. I transferred an inkjet print of a photo I took while we were on vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a place my husband Casey loves. He also loves to sleep and is a Pisces (water sign.)

Shadow

Shadow dog - mixed media

This is an illustration I did for my Art Motivation Meetup; the theme was "shadow." I instantly pictured a large black dog. When I was sketching, I thought a shadow on a brightly colored braided rug would be fun to paint.

IF - Save

Pennies from Heaven - mixed media sketch

This is a sketch I did for Illustration Friday. The prompt is "Save" this week and I immediately thought, "Pennies from Heaven." I would like to work this up to a more finished piece for my portfolio at some point.

IF - Homage

Building - Mixed Media

This illustration is an homage to my oldest son who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome  when he was almost 6, just after son #2 was born. He is constantly building, drawing or making something. He gives me the best ideas when I am stuck and always has a new and interesting way of solving a problem.

IF-Pet Peeve

Illustration Friday Sketch - Pet Peeve - mixed media

This is my first post for Illustration Friday. The topic, Pet Peeves. I hate when people throw trash out their car window. Even if it's biodegradable. Even if it's the Easter Bunny. Happy Easter!

Naked Guy

Naughty Librarian - Mixed Media

This is a painting I did for my Art Motivation Meetup. The theme for this week was Naked Guy. I had this image of a librarian floating in my head for a couple of weeks. I decided to sneak a naked guy in the picture somewhere so it would fit the theme and so I could get it out of my head. 

My First Post

I'm starting this blog in the hopes that it will help me get some work done for my freelance portfolio. I'm hoping to post a new piece at least every other week. I'm a busy gal and fitting my art in can be a struggle to say the least.