Two New Painted Ladies

I've been working on two new painted ladies.  They are mixed media, using napkins, maps, acrylic paint and old book pages.  "Autumn's" dress was cut from a napkin, and I used one of my favorite paint colors, Nickel Azo Yellow, for the rest of the bodice.  I wish I could capture the richness of this paint.  It just doesn't show in the photos.  I mixed the NAY with a lime green for the background and antiqued it with Burnt Umber...looks kind of cool.  I like to experiment with paint colors. 

 

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the background or dress for this painting.  I used a map, that my daughter gave me from one of her trips to Washington DC, and I kind of like the way the map looks.  I like the look of the print on her dress, too.  So many decisions.  You may remember seeing a girl that looks a bit like this.  I used the sketch from my "Dora" painting.  It's fun to use the same sketch and see how different the paintings are. 

My Review of Animal Print Background Business Cards

Originally submitted at 123print

Animal Print Background Business Cards

Animal Print Background Business Cards

Nice Product

By Deb from Oregon on 9/7/2012

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy to use, Good Quality, reasonable price

Best Uses: Making Custom Cards

I like this site because I can use my artwork to design custom business cards for my business. The site is easy to use and affordable. Only down side I have found is if you are not aware that your image is too dark, they print the cards anyway. So, you need to make sure you have a good image. Also, the better quality paper is worth the money. The cards look much better using higher quality paper.

My Custom Business Card

Tags: Picture of Product, Using Product, Made with Product, Custom Business Card

(legalese)

Ellie Is Finished

Here are the rest of the WIP pictures for "Ellie".

At first I painted the background brilliant blue and light blue violet.  I used burnt sienna, raw sienna, mars yellow, cad red light, titanium white, gold ochre and burnt umber for her hair.  Eyes are Olive Green and payne's gray. Lips: cadmium red light, quinacridone burnt orange and titanium white.  Skin: Titanium white, gold ochre, mars yellow, burnt sienna and Cad red light. 

                                                                   
Next I used Matte Medium and glued torn pages, from my old  French Novel, to the background for texture.

Then, for several days, I worked on the hair and background...because there was something that I just didn't like.  That usually happens with every painting.  I finally decided that I didn't like the blue background.

So, "Ellie" has a Payne's Gray background.  You can still see the texture, and I think she pops more with a darker background.  She is now wired, and hanging at the bank for a while.
                                                                                                 

New Zazzle Store Coming

I should be painting, but I decided that it was time to open a Zazzle Store.  I had a hard time coming up with a name.  I guess since I've waited so long to open a store, most names have been taken!  So, the store is called, "Flamme'che; which means Spark in French. I only have one product, so far, but I did figure out how to add their button!  I don't know about everyone else, but figuring out all of this STUFF hurts my brain!  Need to go rest and paint now!

"Ellie" A Work In Progress

I love seeing, and reading about, other Artists' "Works In Progress". So, I decided to show a little bit more of my process while working on, "Ellie". I started with a sketch on paper and transferred to the canvas. Then added a bit of paint to define the lines. ( I used Nickel Azo Yellow for her dress, Titanium White, Mars Yellow and burnt sienna for defining the lines.)

 

 

 

 

I decided to use flowers, from a napkin, for her dress; so I cut them out and played around with placement, until I was satisfied.

 

 

 

Then using Matte Medium I glued the flowers in place.

 

 

 

I then started painting.  I have a slow painting process of adding thin layers of paint...over and over and over.  Her hair, so far, is burnt sienna and mars yellow.  Mars yellow has been my favorite color for many years.  Well, they no longer sell it.  I have found that it is very similar to Yellow Ochre.

 

 

 

I am really liking the way Ellie's dress is turning out. 

 

 

 

More to come...

"Friendly Fur Stole" Finished!

"EMMA"

                                                            "Friendly Fur Stole"

At  24" X 12" X 1 1/2", "Friendly Fur Stole" is one of the biggest paintings I've completed in a while.  I, also, just finished, "Emma".  Emma is a bit smaller at, 16" X 12" X 3/4".  I am listing "Emma" in my Etsy shop, but "Friendly Fur Stole" will be hanging at Citizen's Bank for two months.  Both of the paintings are Mixed Media pieces.  I used a combination of torn pages from a book and napkins to add texture.

Friendly Fur Stole

Our Summer has been flying by!  I've been so busy, and having a great time being busy!  We just returned from a family, beach, camping trip; that was a lot of fun.  We took all 4 dogs, and being able to run free on the beach...just looked like the best thing in the world!  They were actually smiling with their whole bodies!  I've, also, been working on paintings for a show.  A local bank contacted me and asked if I would like to hang some of my paintings in the bank. " Well, YES!!!"  So, I've been painting non-stop.  I've been meaning to post some Work In Progress pictures...and here they are!  The painting is pretty much finished now, so I'll post those pictures tomorrow.  I call this painting, "Friendly Fur Stole".  Have a great weekend!  

Yellow Spider and Green Cat Paintings

I hope everyone is having a great Summer!  Our Summer has finally arrived!!!  It's been so wet and cold here; it really makes us appreciate the warm Sun...hope it stays around a while!
I finally finished two paintings that I started quite a while ago.  MY "Yellow Spider" abstract, and what has turned into a "Green Cat".  Not sure of what the Cat's name will be yet.  My husband thinks it looks like something out of the Avatar movie.  LOL!

Have a great Weekend!

So Beautiful!

If you are ever in Oregon; I highly recommend driving over the McKenzie Pass.  It truly is a wonderland.  You have gorgeous shades of green everywhere, wildflowers, majestic snow covered mountains, hiking trails  leading to amazing waterfalls, and thrown in here and there...massive lava beds that cut through the greenery like huge gray and black rivers.  We spent yesterday exploring a few trails and came upon Proxy Falls.  So beautiful, but what really caught my eye was a pool at the bottom of one of the falls.  The green trees reflecting in the pool..... absolutely mesmerizing. Yes, it really did look like this!  I think I'm going to have to try and paint it...

Forest Creatures

I am sharing a couple of Forest Creatures, and a JRT, (My new painting)

Exciting News

I posted my latest painting, "Unlikely Friends", the other day, and said that I have more news surrounding this painting.  It's very exciting news!  Four of my prints, including "Unlikely Friends", will be framed and given out as awards for 20 winners at the upcoming  2013 JRTCA sanctioned field trials! At their last field trials they had 24 States represented!  Being a Jack Russell Terrier owner and fan; this is especially exciting for me.  They are wonderful, intelligent dogs, and I just know the dogs will love being a part of the field trials.  There is a division for "Working" Terriers, so my Fox paintings, (Fox In Leaves and Fox), fit right in, and will be used for 10 of the smaller awards.  My "Mother's Day", and "Unlikely Friends" will be large prints, and they will be used for the big awards!  I can't tell you how much fun it is to design, paint and see my work being used to honor such beautiful dogs!  I will be sent pictures of the framed pieces, and I will be sure to share them with you.  Here's an interesting, and informative, link for the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America.  If you have a JRT or are interested in becoming a JRT owner...this site is great!

Unlikely Friends

Unlikely friends...  A subject that I like to paint, and my latest painting is just that, an unlikely friendship.  I will share more about this painting next week.  The original will be in my Etsy Shop later today.

A Test Painting... Fluffy Dog

I don't always do test paintings, but once in a while I like to try-out colors, or textures, before I start a larger painting.  This little guy, "Roger", is a test painting.  It's a small 4" X 6" canvas panel, and I kind of like the way he turned out.  I think he will be cute framed, and you can use a standard frame, so it shouldn't be very expensive.  I hope it's as nice where you are as it is here!  We finally have summer weather!  YAY!!!  Have a great weekend!

It's been a while since I've been here, I know.  I'm trying to get my Art Business organized, and that's not an easy task.  It's pretty overwhelming, actually.  And, I just deleted my ranting...  LOL  On a lighter note...the doggy above, Sophie, is a commissioned piece that I just finished.  She was a ton of fun to paint.  Now, I'm off to start painting Buffy.  She's a smiling dog, and is guaranteed to make my day fun.  I hope you are having a fun day, too!

Risotto

We love Risotto at our house.  So, I thought that I should share one of our favorite recipes.

2 cups Arborio Rice
olive oil or butter (as much or little as you would like) I use about 4 Tblsp Olive Oil
1/2 Cup White Wine
32 oz Chicken Stock (one box)
Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese

Add Olive Oil to a large pan
Add rice and stir for a minute or so
Add White Wine; stir until absorbed
 Add Chicken Stock 1/2 cup at a time.  Making sure liquid is absorbed before adding another 1/2 cup. Stir constantly.  Continue until all chicken stock is used.
 Add about  1/4 cup or more Grated Parmesan Cheese

Container of grape tomatoes
two cloves of garlic
lots of Olive Oil
red pepper flakes
Fresh Basil

In another pan:
Add lots of Olive Oil.  No set amount, but I use a lot.  It depends on how much you want to drizzle over the rice at the end.  I'd guess 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup
Slice garlic.  As much as you would like.  We use two cloves.  Brown them in the Oil and then remove them to add on our plates at the end.
I then cut grape tomatoes in half and add to hot Olive Oil.  Be careful, they pop a lot.
Add as much red pepper flakes as you like
Cook until tomatoes are soft

Spoon over Rice, add Fresh Basil, sliced garlic and more fresh grated Parmesan cheese

I think my oldest daughter made this up.  It's really good!!!

Still In A Blue Mood

Gus Monet

Blue Cat III

I guess I will call this my "Blue Period".  LOL  I have a new little," Blue Cat III" painting, and an update on one of my WIP paintings.  I'm calling the dog painting, "Gus Monet".  My dog, GusGus, was the inspiration for this painting, and it's turning out kind of blue/green, which reminds me of Monet's water lilies.  Both paintings, I guess because of the blue, don't photograph very well.  Or, I can't get them to photograph well...so, they really don't show the depth of color that they do in person.  I need to work with my camera more.

Two New Works in Progress

I've been in a blue mood, paint wise, lately.  It's funny how your color likes and dislikes can change...I've never really been a real fan of Blue before, but I'm loving it right now.  Lots of work left on these two paintings...I'm thinking the blue dog won't have that much blue left when I finish him. The cat lady is a mixed media piece.  I started out using Matte Medium and pages from the French Novel I've been tearing apart.  I like to see the words through the paint, so I'm thinking more washes and light color.

Draw Something Addiction!

If you haven't heard about the new sensation, "Draw Something"...  I can tell you that, if you like to draw, it's addicting!  Tons of fun, too!  You don't need to draw well...just be able to get your point across.  Most of the time stick figures work just fine.  But, if you like to draw...you can be as elaborate as you would like to be.  Check it out, and I'm on facebook if you want to play!

Art By Madeline

Our, ten year old, Granddaughter was at our house the other day, and she asked if she could sketch with my iPad. I thought that I would share a few of her iPad sketches with you because I love looking at the Art kids create, and I am thinking that you do too.

Colorful Landscapes

I've, of course, heard of David Hockney, but I haven't really paid much attention to his Art. Unfortunate on my part. Someone mentioned his landscapes the other day, so I googled him. Oh, My! I love his colorful, whimsical landscapes! Now I'm inspired to start painting landscapes again. The sketch above is me playing around with my iPad, doing a quick "iPad painting" of my favorite hill in our neighborhood. I linked David Hockney's landscapes above...check him out!

Fine Art America Promotion

The most difficult part of being an Artist, for me, is having to promote yourself. I'm not good at it, but I know it's necessary. If your name isn't out there...no one is going to know you exist. So, I'm slowly learning about this aspect of the business. I've decided to do a promotion at Fine Art America for the next 5 days. They offer great deals, and it's a good way to get your name out there, if any other Artists are interested. My first promotion is for a print of, "Fuzzy". It's an 11X14, stretched canvas print at an amazing price. I'll let you know if their promotions really work! Have a Great Friday the 13th!!!

Living Life Creatively

I've been trying to live life in what I call a "creative way" for as long as I can remember. I used to succeed at it, too. But, that hasn't been the case in several years now. Life has been so busy, and I'm pretty good at putting everyone else's needs ahead of mine, so life here has been unorganized and so" not the composition" that I would like to live in. Yes, I do like to look at everything as if it were a painting, and my dream is to live in that beautiful work of Art. But, until I can get back on the right track...I've found "Creative Carmelina". She lives a "Creative Life", and her blog gives me the daily smile and awwww moments that I crave. She has a beautiful Thank You to me for the Give Away that she won on my blog...but, I'm saying, THANK YOU, CARMELINA! For the beautiful, "Creative Life" that you share with us. You are an inspiration!