Inspire Me Thursday - Lets go Digital....

My first try at digital collage... It took me much longer than anticipated. Probably because I had no clue what I was doing. It doesn't show on my finished collage but I was working through MANY free Photoshop tutorials. I tried a LOT of techniques, most of the time not knowing what is going to happen. It was fun but at the same time I was so focused on it that no one was allowed to ask me anything. I have much more appreciation for digital artists now. I can only imagine the time and knowledge they have when they create amazing artwork.

Published!!!!!

Me in a feminist's review..... interesting. :-)

Queen's Feminist Review

Canada

Collage images on flickr

I visited several estate sales today but this is the only treasure I left with. A 1915 song book with dozens of interesting songs in it!

I couldn't wait to get back home and create something. This beeswax ACEO is the result. Beeswax and pages from old books just go together... -ebay-

I added a link to Chrysti's new blog. She has a group on flickr for collage images. I just joined it and added several photos (and downloaded some to play with). Check it out - here.

Illustration Friday - Under the Sea

Under the Sea - it's Party Time!

Two fun watercolor + some collage ATCs. I'd like to trade them. Drop me a note if you're interested.

Big, huge mess.....

I don't know if I will ever have enough space to create... Is there a space big enough for all of my papers, tools, paints, stamps, glues, toys? I covered every single flat place around. There is nowhere to sit, no place to put even one more stamp; you have to watch where you're stepping... I really don't like it. Of course I'll have to put everything back in place soon so that the rest of the family can walk around without being in some kind of danger. I can't take pictures of all of it... I can barely look at it. The results of all that? One journal with a secret and one ACEO. How pathetic.

I wish that I were a real artist... that I could make magic with only a pencil and paper. Life would be much easier.

Fear Fly Away

I did something very brave today.... It is art related and I'm not saying what it is. But, before I did it I had to create this piece:

I hope the message will encourage someone as it did me. It's on gallery wrapped canvas and you can see more pictures here.
I also listed a fun clay piece:

Spring break is over!

I enjoyed the company of my daughter a lot during the spring break, but now that it is over I was happy to stay alone and pull out my papers, stamps, fibers, transparencies... Here is folio with a bunch of tags, an ACEO/ATC holder and a little art journal with inspiring tags. I listed them on eBay.

Digital flowers

My husband brought me flowers today.

A day on the snow

Me and my daughter... pretending not to be afraid. It's "fun" dangling in the air... My eyes are closed under the sunglasses and the smile is totally fake. I didn't like it, but I'm glad I did it.The ones I love most... enjoying the snow.Me.... waiting for them. I was listening to music, enjoying a cup of coffee and sketching people.

My husband almost fell of his skis when he saw the tiny bottle I had in my purse. He took it to the mountain top and filled it with snow.

It was a lovely day.

Fruitarian for a day

This is the second Friday that I pronounced a fruit/tofu only day. For months now I have been going regularly to the gym... almost every day. I feel strong and my energy levels are much higher compared to the 'no-gym times'. But something is still missing.... I still don't feel the way I would like to. I need to be lighter and feel lighter. I would like my thoughts to be lighter, my moods lighter.... Will one fruit day a week help? I don't know. I'll try and see.

Here is my lunch - a lovely mango/cherries/banana/tofu smoothie. What a color!

Today's ACEO - a message for myself and anyone else who needs it:

"Don't take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive."

Learn More About Yourself

I decided to try and learn more about myself... to create freely, to try and tame my inner critic and to have fun with art. It seems that the familiar 2.5 x 3.5 ACEO format is not enough any more. I find myself experimenting with bigger formats more often. I loved creating this piece - the strong colors and fun elements made my day a happy one. I listed it on eBay with the starting price $9.99. If you like it click here to bid.8" x 10"

ACEO Theme Week - "Time"

ACEO theme week - Time. Sounded like an interesting subject, so many ways to play with it, so I decided to participate. The winning ACEO is determined by the highest number of individual bidders. This is my card and for the first half of the day it is winning! That will change soon... so I'm enjoying it while I can.

Click here if you want to see it.

Another journal with a secret

ebay

Illustration Friday - Spotted

Pretending to be...

...Misty Mawn. I received my copy of "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" yesterday (thanks Chel - I ordered it from Zne Store). I couldn't wait to read Misty's article and was happily surprised to see that on more pages than I thought. So wonderful, so informative, so beautiful! I just had to try the techniques she was describing. A copy is never as good as the original, but I had to pretend a bit to be someone else and I really enjoyed the process. This is 8.5" x 12" (very big format for me) and it is the first page of my art journal.I am sure that I will be using Misty's techniques a lot in the future.... and hopefully the little bird will find me so that I don't copy her style.

Clay, tags, fibers.... fun

A wonderful artist bought my first clay pencil holder. I sent it today and really hope that she will like it. This is a much smaller one. It can hold one flower. Or a pen. You can see more pictures here.I was also having fun creating a little folio that holds tags with inspirational words (had to use my new stamps on something).

Artist's date

What a great day! My friend Connie and I had a great 'artist's date'. We went to Dick Blick's art store, where I splurged on Golden acrylics and then visited the largest scrapbook store in Bay Area and went wild. They had so many great things for altering everything that I was amazed. I bought some new stamps, glass pieces, lovely paper, embossing powders and who knows what else and couldn't wait to try them. Here is the first thing I made - a journal with a secret.

Thanks Connie! This was fun! You helped a gray, rainy day turn very sunny and happy.

Clay ACEO

Same technique as for the pencil holder, but in an ACEO format.

Treasure box

I had fun altering this little wooden box. Stamped and inked some bamboo beads, added "feet" to the box, some big beads as a handle and filled her up with goodies. It will be on eBay tomorrow.

Perfect Day

We got a break from all the rain! ONE sunny day! It will rain tomorrow again and the whole next week, but today was PERFECT!!! I couldn't resist... grabbed my camera and went for a long walk. Look at all the beautiful things I saw! Click on the picture for a larger view.

Illustration Friday - Spring

Sleeping.... dreaming about spring..... waiting for spring.....
That would describe me (not the illustration - just the description).
It has been raining so much that I don't think spring will ever come.





Watercolor, acrylics, ink and a bit of egg shells on a piece of 6" x 6" watercolor paper.

Click on the title if you'd like to "wait for spring"

Pencil/Brush Holder

You can see it from all sides here.

ZNE Flying High

I just had to show what Emma created. In her own words "..."ZNE Flying High" (related to success and our 1 year anniversary not illegal narcotics!!" Isn't it cool? And I'm on it (or in it?)! You can se a more pictures on eBay . Love the ZNE group - great artists and supportive cyber friends. BTW - check out Emma's new website .

INKA Stamps

I was recently invited to join inkstamps yahoo group (because I purchased stamps from this company couple of years ago). Inka asked us to upload five cards stamped with her stamps and as a prize offered to send some stamps from her "grab bag". Big fun! Free stamps! I don't make cards, so I uploaded my little bottles, domino books, art dolls and similar stuff.... and got my reward. Not only that - Inka liked my little clay bottle so much that she asked if she could put it on her website and send me even MORE stamps... How great was that? I received a very generous supply of stamps and plan having fun with them in the following days. I got to play with three of them - stamped some bamboo beads that I'm sure will find a place to live. Check out her website - great stamps, fair prices and excellent service. Also - plenty of free projects to try.

ZNE theme week - Wings

I almost didn't make it this month... and I love participating in ZNE theme weeks. I made a Hanging Butterfly Wish Art Doll. The wings are made from recycled plastic bottle..... I don't think you could guess by looking at them. I love using things that would end in the garbage... that's why her crown is a squished (but shiny) bottle cap.
Her body is a glass bottle and the head is fixed on a tiny cork stopper so that the bottle can be opened and closed. I must say that I like her and if nobody buys her I'll be happy to tuck a wish or two in the bottle and let her guard them.

Search for ZNE theme week on eBay to check all the entries. There is always amazing work to see.