positive words for inspiration cards

it is funny to me how my confidence of what i create can wax and wane....usually, i am able to keep this protected and just be happy, but, this morning for whatever reason i am feeling very vulnerable.

i will be mailing these inspirational cards out this morning to my swap partners, but, apparently needed to see the words for myself.

 i was really pleased yesterday working in the studio at how i was able to create my cards so quickly and was able to pull words from my favorite book so easily yesterday.

and so this monday morning, i will remind myself to keep my head up and continue to be brave......

eliza's game

blog surfing this morning found me on Kasia's blog this morning and her photo mosaic looked like so much fun....i had to give it a try. she was a playing a game from her friend Eliza on flickr.

So let me quote Eliza's rules:

The Game - concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions: (my answers)

1. What is your first name? (Kristin) 

2. What is your favorite food? (fruit) 

3. What high school did you go to? (Aberdeen Central High School) 

4. What is your favorite color? (purple) 

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Ryan Reynolds)

6. Favorite drink? (coffee) 

7. Dream vacation? (tropical) 

8. Favorite dessert? (apple pie) 

9. What you want to be when you grow up? (an artist)

10. What do you love most in life? (creativity)

11. One Word to describe you. (happy) 

12. Your flickr name (AlteredStatesStudio) 

happy sunday....

paper stackin' to be published....

i have had a looming deadline for a publication and finished the work last night. feeling good about this paper stack.....

happy wednesday......

thoughtful painter.....a humbling experience

this past week i attended a realistic watercolor class....now, if you follow my blog regularly or if you are new and are simply looking around- you will notice that realistic and watercolor are certainly not words that are found here very often. so this week was a very humbling experience for me...reminding me that was much as i think i know about art- there is always more to learn.

so as an artist, i should be able to learn key concepts from any good artist of any media. i was happy to join in this class last minute. our instructor was Andy Evansen.

he was an excellent teacher and re-enforced his concepts all week. he was a very "thoughtful" painter- always thinking ahead of what his next move is and what he is working towards...mixing his paint and working through his painting. his concepts for the week:

1. do your value paintings- to work through light and dark issues ahead of time
2. paint big shape- do not get caught up in the details; always paint big to small
3. connect those shapes- your middle value should be one big, main shape and should provide a visual pathway through your painting

here were some of my value paintings and lessons for the week....

and here was me trying to blend my colors and let them wash together to help with the shape connections in my paintings.

somewhere along this week's journey, my mind goes back to concepts that i find comfort in and i revert back to what i know or like to do, but, i did incorporate some of these new concepts in this painting.

Featured artist

I have a great opportunity of being the featured artist over at http://www.melaniestatnickart.com/#!featured-artist/c1f13

Rabbit Hole Art: Art by Melanie Statnick

She had some great questions for me that allowed me to give good insight into how I work and who has impacted the way I create. Stop over there and check it out!

Thank you Melanie for this opportunity!

One Little Word- Light

our word for the month of June is "light." i gave a sneak peek earlier with this photo....i loved the texture left behind from the white ink i used to diffuse the bright colors.

this is a full view of my painting below. i used gesso, acrylic paints and inks to create my background and then used some ephemera and book words to pull in our theme.

with all of the colors and the textured, white wash "into the light, she would be happy...." yes she would be happy.

have wings....

i had started a painting on a cigar box....and it gave me fits. so after many, and i do mean many.... layers of paint, this box found its' wings.....

yep...this white owl had found its' wings......happy saturday.