Free Form Fun...

... here's a little piece, a follow up really, or an addition to my recent post on Free Form study & a video by Milliande.  I had a lot of fun stepping out the box and doing a Mixed Media piece.  This type of study really gets my creative juices going! I used magazine paper, ink, acrylic paint, pencils, silver pen, & stamps.
I stared at the scribble...

and stared some more...until I saw this figure, this form...

then from there...

I created this paper piece in pencil & ink, using a brush with water to shadow with ink.

The fish is actually a portion of the scribble located on the page.

then ...

I scanned and digitally colored...

then to canvas...

"Sharks!"

(Listed on Ebay Here)

Hum... does Jaws still loom in my subconscious mind? haha

Kind of fun to see the progression of creation isn't it?!

I hope you try it, even if you aren't an artist, it will

be relaxing and put in you another world for a little while.

I don't work very often in mixed media & collage.

I had forgotten how fun it could be!  I covered the canvas in

random ripped magazine papers, painted, scraped, stamped, colored, & pasted.

I started another piece on canvas but haven't finished it or

enough of it to show you a picture. I will tell you that

there are cactus in it and now I am obsessing over cactus.

So stay tuned!

Click Here to see my previous post & Milliande's video. 

 

Wishing you a New Year full of creativity, peace & love!

 

 

 

Free Form and Fresh Eyes ...

...Thanks to Milliande! I was taking a break from work on a portrait commission today, when

I watched Milliande's wonderful Free Form Youtube video. I have been a subscriber of hers on Youtube, but honestly  & sadly so, I have only taken the time to watch one of her videos, and that was a long time ago. Now I regret all the fun I've missed & have to watch all her videos as soon as I can. I had to take time out to try her exercise, her "form play" would be just the thing to give me a "fresh eye" & get my creative juices flowing. A little "Right Mind" work. It was so fun to see what was created from a  random squiggles! Each one is like a little Meditation. Warning this may become an addiction!

This is her video and how you get started...

 

Here is my squiggle page...

Looking at it from all sides I pulled a few of these figures out...

 

Using pencil, ink, cream colored  & black acrylic paint these fun little creatures came to life...

I created 5 little pieces in all but here are 2 of them... 

Happy, Bubbly, Marshmellowy, is that a word? ... 

Rainy, Lazy, Curled up, Disconnected by Weather...

 

If you give this free form play a try,

please leave your link below.

I would love to see your Free Form Fun!

Show me your squiggles!

Abstract Anxiety...

"Forgiving" 6 x 6

"Understanding" 16 x 20

These are the first abstracts that I am parting with. It's a little scary. They were painted w/ layers & layers of acrylic paint, scraped, scratched, brushed & rubbed.

Surprise San Francisco!

Hubby woke up early. Made coffee and then woke me up. He was taking me on a surprise trip! He wouldn't tell me where we were going but it wasn't long before I figured out we were on our way to San Francisco. For what reason I had no idea. It wasn't until we were there that he told me his surprise. He had purchased tickets for the Picasso Exhibit at the De Young Museum. Such a sweet surprise! This was so special & sweet because walking through galleries & museums is not really his thing, however, sneaking a glimpse of him from across the gallery floor it was clear he was enjoying this exhibit too. Picasso, a surprise within a surprise really. The work smelled old, maybe it smelled like Paris. I loved the smell of it. Quite a few of the paintings appear unfinished. They are; but are they? Some appear somewhat sloppy. An unpainted portion of canvas just appears white in a print or photo so I until up close & personal I was unaware. What made him stop? Fear of ruining what he had already done? I've been there. Arrogance/Self importance? You get what you get & you don't throw a fit. Impatience? Indecisiveness? or total Freedom? I am still mentally digesting every piece I saw. It was inspirational. I can paint anything I want and in any color that I want and if it isn't pretty so what? I was really taken with his metal work, sculptures and collage pieces.

These are a few of the photos I snapped along the way.

Fiber, Paint & Paper...

...is what is keeping me so busy. Fiber... The above is a picture of the purse I'm currently working on. Totally "Boho". I will share the photos when I'm finished. There are 18 different yarn colors in that one, some are vintage and no longer obtainable. Yesterday I started making some granny squares to design a purse I have in mind and now I remember why I never make granny square projects. Granny square creations are truly underrated. They are so much work even doing them in an assembly line, one section at a time. And who likes hiding all those ends, only then to have to steam block them and sew them all together? I'm marching bravely on, but it may take a while to finish. If I have another granny square creation in mind, I think I will be buying some pre-made by some wonderful supply shops on Etsy! Speaking of Etsy, I just listed this new Gypsy Tassel Garland Pattern in my Shenanagans shop. I also created a new Shamrock square because I couldn't find one I was really happy with. I will post that later.

Paint... I have started a commissioned painting of a beloved Great Dane Angel named Tyson aka "T-Bone". I am painting it in the style of my Shar Pei Angel. The size of the canvas is challenging for me as I usually paint much smaller pieces. Wasn't T-Bone adorable?! I will definitely share the finished piece.

and Paper... I have been working at home doing quality control audits of mortgage files. The Lord has blessed me to be able to work on these from home, but I am still trying to find balance, sometimes I'm not sure what to juggle first. 3 blogs, 3 shops, files, painting, creating, marketing, cooking, cleaning ... don't feel sorry for me. I LOVE it! I love being busy. Where's my frying pan for all that bacon?!

I have lots of Big Shout Outs & Thank You's to some fantastic Etsy people for featuring my art or creations in their Etsy Treasuries! Stop by & visit them all! Yimmekedesigns, OnTheGrain, ChatteJolie, AnnaLela, BirgittasBridal, KatKando, CarlaGrifo, VerbenaPlace & Chocolate Dog Studio.

Sharing Family Secrets

I just made my Gramma's famous Salmon Croquettes, which are now my famous salmon croquettes and soon to be yours! hahaha. Today we are having these and a simple salad with poppy seed dressing. These croquettes are comfort food to me, a treat my Gramma made. They are so easy and economical. I'm sure that's why my Gramma loved them too. 28 croquettes from 1 can of salmon. My son who doesn't like salmon makes an exception for these and eats more of them than anyone else! We will be munching on them all day. The great thing about these little treats are that they are good hot or cold. Made a bit smaller they would be a fantastic finger food for a party.

The basic recipe is so easy. 1 C of self rising flour, 1 C cornmeal, 1 C of milk and 1 Can of Salmon (bones removed) & 1 egg. A couple of pinches of salt & pepper. Mix all together, form into patties & fry in small amount of oil until golden brown. That's it. Sometimes the simplest ingredients, the simplest recipes are the best. Ever notice that? I normally use 1 celery stalk & 1/2 of a large onion all chopped small or minced. This time I dialed them up with parsley, onion, 1/2 green bell pepper, & 5 hot carrot slices found in cans of jalapenos. The sky is the limit to making these your own by adding what you love or whatever you have in the frig. Another way I like them is with green onions & dipped in Japanese mayo (mayo, soy sauce & sugar), hoisin & sirracha, I've dipped them in tartar sauce, sweet mustard, salsa, ranch dressing... really I can't begin to tell you all the sauces we have made for these over the years. That's really part of the fun too. Of all the sauces Ketchup still reigns supreme for me! yep Plain ol' ketchup. That's the way I ate them when I was a kid and I still like them that way the best.

Big Shout Outs & Thank you's! go to CherieBosela, FootCandleArt, Silvia66, & MandaGirlDesigns for including my art in their Etsy Treasuries! Please click on their names to be wisked away to their shops!

Wishing You...

... And your loved ones an Easter full of fun colorful memories and lots of love!

(Push play arrow to view video)We had a blast painting Easter eggs yesterday. This is the "blooper". The "real" video starts out with him telling me "tank you" Awwwww pure sweetness. He was in another world with that paint & brush. Move over Marla Olmstead! He is dying eggs with his Daddy tonight. I can't wait for the hunt!

I'm having so much fun designing shirts & other pieces in my new Zazzle shop. Every chance I get I'm in there playing. Click "Here" to check out more new items in my Zazzle Shop! I have had a Cafepress shop for awhile but haven't done much with it. Zazzle for me is more user friendly and the selection is better as far as I'm concerned. I was relieved to find out that the shirts turn out great and are good quality and the shoes turn out cute too! When I get mine I will post a picture.

Do you have a traditional dinner on Easter like you do Thanksgiving or Christmas? Something that you make & look forward to every year? Ham? Turkey? Roast? A special side dish? I wish I did but surprise! I don't. Deviled eggs don't count either. haha Easter we always seem to wing it, not a standard dish, just whatever we feel like at the time. Maybe this year is the time to start a new tradition. Now I just have to decide what that might be...

Painting Willy Nilly

I've been painting a lot this week and I must say it has felt good. This little painting I did with the left over paints I had on my palette. Just painting willy nilly, she came to life and I love her. She makes me smile. Her eyes follow you & she seems a little mischievous don't you think? So I named her "Willy Nilly". I almost hate selling her. I listed her in my Etsy shop.

I went to my QAG (Quirky Art Group) meeting last night. It was lots of fun hanging out with a few of my Swell Sisters. We laughed a lot! We painted rocks with the intent on leaving them anonymously around town or keeping them for our gardens. I may now be hooked on painting rocks! My favorite is the round rock that I painted like the world with hearts "love makes the world go round". I am going to keep that one and I am thinking I will make a wire cage to put it in, with little hearts dangling from it and hanging it from one of my oak trees out back. I plan on taking some down to the creek just down the street. I will put them in strategic places so that people might spy them when they walk by. I may put a crawdad net in the water when I go too & see if I can catch any! I took this picture before I varnished them. The varnish really makes them look better.

I've Got The Fever?

Maybe spring fever has been my problem lately for the lack of painting I have been getting accomplished? Maybe but I've been painting this week and it feels good. I have lots of new paintings in the works and surprise! they are not all Angels!

I have been hearing about Artfire so much that I have decided to list my new little sprout paintings there and give it a try. If there are any of you out there that sell on Artfire I would really like to hear from you.

These little paintings were inspired by my new sprouts that I grew from seed. Yes you heard right. I did it. Now if I can remember to water them... Sandypetals shared with me the easiest way to start seeds. You put some soil in plastic ziplock bags, zip them up and in a few days WA LA! Sprouts. I carefully transferred mine into some old plastic 6 packs that I had. I really wish I had saved more of these. My house sits on 1/3 of an acre which is way too much for my gardening ability. I have lots of room for plants and I am really motivated now. Maybe I can do this! I just started some more yesterday, lime green zinnias, if they are as pretty as the picture I am going to love them!

I'm going back into my studio then later I'm off to Sacramento for a Swell Sister meeting. I've missed the last few and it will be nice to see all my "sisters" and get a good shot in the arm. They are all inspiring, interesting, creative, artistic, talented & supportive women.