darks and lights

i had gotten a commission for 4 pieces of my artwork for a home. my customer had given me a color palette and had allowed me to see the space before hand so i would know where the pieces were going.

so this eager beaver got started.... and worked myself to the usual point where i like the painting enough, because they had past their ugly phase, but, now i liked them too much because i was almost afraid of  ruining them....

i waited patiently knowing that what these paintings needed would come to me after allowing the pieces to "cook" for a bit. after listening at my most recent art class i attended, our last day was about color; and although i was not sure i picked up anything that day after a long week- apparently something soaked in because what my current pieces were missing....were the darks and lights.

 i added the darks between the gold diamonds along with a few lights at the very top to provide additional contrast. sorry about those bright yellow edges- those are the next step....to "kill" the edges and blend those in......

but, these commissioned pieces are almost done and i am very excited to provide them to my customer.

friday fill-ins

and ....here we go.....

1. staying active is the key to feeling better- gotta move (at least a little...).
2. art well, that would be nice!
3. the very thought of a spider sends me running (with hands waving and that strange skip/ hop- you know what i am talking about....).
4. a sunset is so beautiful.
5. i grew up in the 70's and northeast south dakota- no, you don't have to feel bad- it was all good!
6. "my favorite hotdish" was my most memorable meal as a kid- it is macaroni, velveeta cheese, cream of mushroom soup and spam (my mom thought for sure this is all i would feed my husband when we got married).
7. and as for the weekend, tonight i'm looking forward to a movie (i gotta go see despicable me 2), tomorrow my plans include painting with my mom, and sunday, i want to get ready for this next week!

instagram love- an ode to....

are you on instagram? this is one of my newest addictions! you can find me here.

one of my favorites on instagram is junkerjane. she hand makes these unusual dolls which i love...you can't help but love them! she had a new post and her doll was so adorable i had to paint an ode to this doll- or something close to her....

here is my version on yupo paper with tyvec, collage and acrylic paint...

week of class review

i spent this past week at art class with Myrna Wacknov- such a talented lady....we spent the week working from a photograph of one lady- all of us; and looking at everyone's drawings and paintings, i am not sure anyone would know!

 the first day we work with a grid so we could distort and understand how to use the grid to do this. my first drawing above- she seemed so angry. i tried to soften the left eye on the second drawing- and she seemed slightly happier....

 the second day i worked with shape and color- we had to roll a dice to decide our elements for our paintings which made life interesting, but, if you are not outside of your comfort zone at class what is the purpose?.....i do like my lady below- she is probably the best embodiment of the lesson for my work this week.

 i loved the hair on this one- but, i think i got lost in it.....i needed to go and work on the face and kept avoiding it- so, it is what it is.....

 and this was one of my last paintings for the week- and i need to go back into the face to put the light/ shadows in....i did add tissue paper to begin reclaiming some of the whites- but, have not gone back in with paint yet- we shall see.... i loved her hair as well....

i worked hard this week, and by friday when we talked about color- i thought i had the info, and then, it was gone....so much info to get in a week- but, so good. loved the week and had a great time stretching and working outside of my comfort zone! but, so glad to be home!!

winner, winner....

i am going to be snail mailing my mail art to Lynne Knowlton.... she was my winner from friday! i am up extra early today....heading for watertown, south dakota for a week long art class. i cannot wait to start today! my mom and gramma used to go to these classes; and now, my mom and i will go (God bless you gramma....miss you!) this class should push my comfort zone and limits....we will be mainly painting in watercolor this week; although i am taking my acrylic paints along just in case!! not sure how much time and access i will have for the computer- but, i will be back for sure on friday- otherwise, i promise to post on instagram and twitter!

mail art- give away

did you sign up for Roben-Marie's mail art class? if you did not- you are missing out!! she has done an outstanding job of ensuring all the details are there so anyone can easily follow the supplies list and create fabulous mail art.

i have only done one project so far, but, there are many....and you do not have to worry about time. once you pay for the class you have unlimited access to this class, so if your life is busy- you can work at your speed and fit in the creative time when you have time- bonus!!

so this was my first creation.....it was so much fun to make- i cannot wait to mail it to a friend!

to help celebrate this mail art class i am going to send this to someone who leaves a comment for me on this mail art by 9pm on sunday, june 23, 2013. i will even include a smaller version (with a card) for you to send on to your friend. i will let you know who my lucky winner is on monday....good luck! and happy friday...

rolodex file card art

 on sunday besides making a father's day card i made a couple more rolodex file card collages and a birthday card. i used scraps off of my working counter to make these.

• overpainted scrap
• music paper
• book paper
• strip from a playing card
• tape

 this file card i did use acrylic paint on the background- gesso and a light blue.

• overpainted scrap
• book paper
• sewing
• cereal bag (right hand side; clear bag)
• stamping
• washi tape
• pen doodles

 our youngest son needed a birthday card- so this skilled, crafty mom whipped one up! i used a bingo card and selected one with the appropriate number of years (15). i used a circle stamp to circle that number and gesso to lightly cover the rest. i also used:

• green acrylic
• overpainted scrap
• diamond stencil
• sewing
• letter stamps and circle squiggle stamp from mixed media essentials