Blog Giveaway Results!

OK, so I get up this morning, early, before everyone else, and go to my giveaway post to print out the names of all of you lovely people who came by to visit me….and realize that I said WEDNESDAY I would do the drawing-ugh! I am so sorry, I don’t usually do that, but I somehow had it in my head that I was doing it today. Maybe I should read my own blog posts more often-LOL! So, because of that and the fact that so many of you were kind enough to leave a comment and to post my giveaway on your own blogs, I will draw two names, and the second person will receive two 5×7 prints of these works!
And now for the drum roll please…………(excuse me for not taking pictures of the process, I am trying to be quiet as to not wake anyone so I’m sitting in the dark typing this), the first winner is Bevie of Bevie Loves the Lord http://bevie2u2.blogspot.com/ she is also a fellow artist and ZNE member so stop by and visit her inspirational blog, congratulations!!! The second is, Chrysti Hydeck, an amazing artist I met through ZNE, you can visit her awesome blog here http://chrysti.wordpress.com/, throwing confetti!!!! I really am blown away by the response. You are all so inspirational to me and I appreciate your taking the time to stop by and comment. Have a great Friday (you can pretend it’s Wednesday if you want:-) and a wonderful Fall weekend!
xoxo

The Fruits of My Labors

Labor’ would be an exaggeration. Painting is a labor of love. It is harder not to create, than it is to let it out. I start to get very antsy if I cannot get into my studio for any length of time. Even if I am not inspired, prepping a canvas, tidying up, or writing in my journal helps me to unwind. I have to admit, that I love the ‘smell’ of art supplies-lol! I guess that is an occupational hazard as my DH loves the smell of jet fuel. The smell of gesso, so pristine and white, and full of possibility, reminds me of long ago art rooms of my school days. I am preparing myself at the same time I am preparing a canvas. It is cleansing. It opens my mind. It allows me to leave problems at the door. It is the first step in the process of creating. I never feel like this is a ‘chore’, it is the anticipation of the next step in my artistic journey.
How do you prepare yourself for your next project? Do you have a favorite step in your process of creating art? I would love to hear from you, so if you want to share a bit of your artistic ritual, please do!
These are scans of part of my finished pieces, ‘Bounty’ and ‘Harvest’. You can see the works in their entirety in my etsy shop.

Fall is Here

Well, there is no denying it, fall is here. The leaves are piling up in the yard, the nests are empty of birds, and the nights are cool. I found a lovely little birds nest in the young maple tree in our front yard. It is a reminder of the home that it was for a little family of birds. One of my birds has flown from my nest, and one is spreading his wings with thoughts of what college he would like to attend. These are exciting times, but also a tad sad as life is ever changing. This piece, Empty Nest, was inspired by these things. One little leaf clings to the tree and the little nest is empty of eggs. While these things bring a touch of sadness, we still have the promise of spring, the warmth of being inside by the fire in the winter, and the memories that never leave us. Tuck away these little treasures so that you may pull them out on a crisp fall morning, and look forward to the adventures that still lay ahead.

More Tales From The Dark Side…

I just finished up a few Edgar Allen Poe inspired ATC’s to list in my etsy shop. These were so much fun to make! I use this wonderful Italian Watercolor paper with a soft, torn edge for my Artist Trading Cards. It is a great base to start a mini collage on, and takes paint really well. I always use a coating of gesso, front and back, to ensure my card lays flat. Then layers of paint, water soluble crayon, papers, gel medium, graphite, and charcoal, mixed with some stamped images, complete these miniature sized collages. Rigid plastic holders, make sure the work can be held and viewed without fear of damage. If you haven’t yet discovered ATC/ACEO’s take a minute to look them up on Etsy. They are so much fun to collect and trade! The Metsy Team, (Mixed Media on Etsy) is having a Fall ATC challenge. These are two of my entries. They had to have something to do with Halloween or Fall.