Bosco Meets Toby . . .

Hello my friends! Although it has only been a few days it seems like forever since I posted! I have been painting all weekend. I am painting a landscape that has me frustrated and obsessing! I haven't done landscape in a while but I was inspired by a photo and it will actually be a surprise gift for a friend of mine. I am hoping to be able to post it later this week!

So this morning I was printing out a photo of my pug Bosco for an etsy order and I came upon these pictures of him and my hubby's german shephard Toby who lives downstairs with my father in law. It was the first time that Toby and Bosco met face to face. They are pretty funny!

In this next photo Bosco is clearly running for his life! lol

But Bosco quickly learned his place in the pack and came in for a close up with Toby

Hope you all have a great start to the week!

I will be by to visit soon!

Control . . . Getting Messy With Paint

"Control"

acrylics on 8x10 art board

Its strange to me the title that came to mind for this piece. It feels very out of control to me. I painted this late last night which I don't normally do. But hubby fell asleep early and I was restless. So I went into my studio. I grabbed some alizarin crimson, payne's gray, a brush, some paper towels and started smearing then wiping. I had no idea or plan for what I was doing. When I saw what looked like water on the bottom start to come out I worked on bringing that out. I used white gesso instead of white paint. For some reason I really like the chalkiness of the gesso.

The butterfly stamps were an after thought but I like how they look against the darkness of this piece. It felt good to not pay attention to the end result but get caught up in the process which doesn't happen too often for me. With all the anxiety I had at the beginning of this week I feel like maybe I worked some of it out!

Its cool how you never know what you will see . . . I see a little white angel in the top left just above the "L" in Control! Do you see it too?

Wordless Wednesday

"Up into the trees"

Original photo used in yesterdays piece "Growing"

Taking A Scissor To My Photos . . .

"Growing"

mixed media on 6x8 inch canvas board

Yesterday I had planned on putting my recent sketch on canvas but got sidetracked by one of my photos. I had printed the photo out and knew I would eventually use it for a painting. Then I took a scissor to it and cut it up. Once I did that I couldn't stop.

Initially the composition was difficult. This piece went through a few stages of frustration to get to this finished version. I ended up covering up 2 of the collage pieces to open it up. That was when I saw a space where I could add the tree trunk. It is amazing how at one point it all just clicks. I had no idea how this would turn out and doubted it along the way until it surprised me!

Make A Wish . . . A New Sketch

I want to thank everyone for the lovely comments on my last post. And for those of you who shared your own experience I thank you. It really helps to know others out there feel the same! My anxiety has lessened but it seems that there are always aftershocks that hang around for a couple of days. I want to try and keep my sketchbook close by.

Yesterday I sketched her out. Kinda going off of the previous sketch I was inspired by the face and hair from the fashionista sketch! I wondered how it would look if I did just a face in that style. I didn't feel like adding a nose and I really thought she looked ok without one. I had never tried a closed eye but I had fun working on the lashes and shading the lid. Even closed I love the eyes!

Don't know yet how she will make it to a canvas. Possibly a via altered photo . . .

Missing My Sketchbook . . .

I spent way too much time today searching for my sketchbook. That is an indicator of just how long it has been since I used it last. I miss it. I don't realize just how much until I grab that pencil and feel it moving across the page. And just like that I am in the moment.

It helps me focus and that is what I have been lacking lately. What hasn't been lacking though is anxiety. And I find that my anxiety is worse when I don't create.

Just a quick sketch tonite that I had fun with. Oh how I wish I had her figure! And I am loving the hair! I have always liked long flowing dresses and that was the inspiration for this sketch.

A Special Art Auction

"Cancer Clowns"

by Lauren Hammons Groover

For those of you who don't know I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at 31 years old. I have been many years cancer free now and try to do what I can to support the cause especially when it affects the young adult community. So when I heard about this special art auction in honor of a young adult breast cancer survivor who recently passed away I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

The above painting was done by Lauren Hammons Groover who was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer in 2006. She was only in her late thirties. The Live for Lauren Foundation was started in her memory. Last year this art auction raised 2500 dollars which was donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This year the auction will be held April 9th on Facebook. I will be donating a piece of my art to the auction. They are accepting all types of art including photography and handmade jewelry.

For more info on how you can donate artwork to this event click over to the Facebook page HERE!

One World One Heart Winner!!

Thanks to all who entered my giveaway and took the time to stop by! It was a great trip around the world!

Now for the big announcement! The winner of my "Embrace" print is

#25 (selected by random.org) - Jody over at Tumbleweed Trails!!! She has a beautiful blog worth hopping over to!!

Congrats Jody!!

Daydreaming . . . A New Painting!

Daydreaming

mixed media on 6x8 canvas board

You may remember this photo from a wordless Wednesday post I did a couple of weeks ago. I had it laying around cut and ready to be scratched up but didn't get back to it until yesterday morning. The canvas board I used was an old painting I did last year that I didn't like. It was covered in molding paste so I sanded it down to get rid of the peaks and applied black gesso over it.

I titled it daydreaming because that is what it looks like to me . . . a place to go sit and dream away. This photo was taken in Rhode Island at one of my favorite places. Yesterday for Valentine's Day my hubby surprised me with a planned weekend away next month in RI at our favorite beach cottage. We haven't been away anywhere in a couple of years. I can hear the ocean calling me already!

Happy Valentine's Day! And The Winner Is . . .

"Love Me"

NYC Lamp Post

I am excited to announce that the winner of this print for my Valentine's Day giveaway is

Gloria from Gloria's Blog Viva La Vida !!!!

Congrats Gloria!

Wishing all of you a day filled with love . . .

Believe . . . She Has Joined My Etsy Shop!

"Believe"

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

Thanks for all the great comments on my last post. I have been in the grungy black and white thing for a few weeks now and when I was in my studio this morning I saw this painting. I created her over the summer and she is definitely one of my favorites. I went with the pink and brown palette and embellished her with butterfly stickers. I also used bubble wrap for some texture as this was my pre molding paste days. She was so fun to paint!

I felt it was time to add her to my etsy shop. I listed her today. Although she clashes with my new black and white pieces she has renewed my love of pastels! Maybe I am ready for a color change . . .

Eyes Speak Truth . . . New Painting

"Eyes Speak Truth"

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

I had some studio time this afternoon so I was able to get my eye on canvas! I added some paper collage this time which I typically shy away from but I like what it does for this piece. The words came to me as I was painting. Wish my handwriting was better though! The butterflies made another appearance. I just felt they completed the piece.

Thanks for the comments on the eye photo I posted yesterday! I hope you like it as much in this painting!

WIP . . . The Altered Eye

The image above is an altered photo of an eye I sketched back in December which I shared in this post. I printed it out on matte photo paper and scratched it up with sandpaper. I ripped the right edge off to see if I liked the torn paper effect. I used my caran d'ache water crayon in black to altered and grunge up the eye. White paint pen was used to highlight. Then I used a black sharpie for the lashes. I like the drip effect I was able to get with the crayon.

So this is where I am at for now. I am still figuring out the composition for the canvas which of course will be black. Not much studio time today as I needed to catch up on some errands. Hopefully will get back to it tomorrow. Then again, I may leave this be for something else that may pop into my head. Sometimes I feel scattered like that!

Wordless Wednesday

Blog Giveaway!!!

Love Me

NYC Lamp Post

In honor of Valentine's Day I am hosting a giveaway! I will be giving away one of my favorite prints! I captured this image walking along the Brooklyn Bridge. What struck me at first was the graffiti on the lamp post. Then I wondered about the story behind that moment on the bridge when someone wrote the words "Love Me".

The image size is 5x7 inches printed on 8x10 inch matte photo paper providing a nice white border for framing. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment! I will be announcing the winner Monday February 14th! Good Luck!

PS . . . Thanks to all who commented on my latest painting! I am working on something new with another photo of a sketch that I hope to post soon!

Out of the Darkness . . . Scratching Up My Sketches

Out of the Darkness

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

You may recall this face from a previous post. For this piece I printed out one of my sketches on matte photo paper and altered it with sandpaper and ink. Then I used water color crayon to do shading on her face and hair. I added some molding paste for texture and to incorporate her into the background. I love the chalkiness of black gesso. I toyed with a few things for the background details. First I sketched out a tree to the right of her but wasn't sure (you can still see it lightly sketched in white crayon) In the end as you can see I went with some butterflies that I stamped on with white gesso. I also used some micaceous iron oxide around the edges because I like the sparkles. Unfortunately the photo doesn't convey the texture or sparkle too well. She looks better in person!

I really liked altering a photo of one of my sketches. I had fun making her look a bit goth and grungy. I may just have to do another!

Top of the Met

Last spring I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its one of the reasons I feel lucky to live so close to Manhattan. Although I had been there before I felt as though I was seeing it through different eyes. I had a greater appreciation and interest in what I was seeing. One of the highlights that afternoon was being on the rooftop. Of course I had to get out my camera!

I altered each shot in sepia. I love that you can still see the pink shades of the clouds. The color comes through despite it being overcast that day especially in the above image.

Being able to look out over the city felt grand. It felt like you went on a trip to another place.

I hope you enjoyed coming along with me!

Bloom in the Shadows . . . Mixed Media Painting

Blooming in the Shadows

mixed media on 6x8 inch canvas board

As you can see I am still on the black and white kick. I had fun with this one although I did obsess too much over my drawn in flowers. I sanded and inked a photo of some flowers that I shot near the rocking chair photo I posted last week. This time I tried something different with the composition. I had a extra piece laying around that I cut from the photo and collaged it on the top. I like what it does for this piece. I knew I wanted to draw in some flowers and use some stamping around the edge. I must have changed the flowers 3 times (thanks to black gesso!) and am finally pleased with the results.

I really do feel at home with my photography. And for now am enjoying creating these pieces. This original is available in my etsy shop.

Thanks to all who commented on my photo yesterday! Oh how I wish I could throw in a coin for each of you but it is buried in snow! I will have to do it in my mind for now!

Wordless Wednesday

wishing well

view from the front steps of our house . . .