Digital She Art

I have to admit that sketching on my iPad is always easier for me than getting
 out the paints and supplies.  Worse on my eyes but creatively it is a
super accessible outlet.  This gal was created in Paper 53 app (my fav!)
 The words as always spill out of me as I am drawing.  

To finish her up I put the image through
Pixlromatic app to add some filters.
And then I felt that "sigh"
 knowing it was complete. 

xo

A Sketch, Some Butterflies, and IPhone Apps . . .

I found an old sketch I had done very quickly on watercolor paper using a stabilo pencil and water.  I hated it.  lol  Well, hate is a strong word.  I just didn't vibe to the image.  

So when I saw it again yesterday I grabbed my butterfly stencil and some homemade black spray paint.  After a few pumps of the black paint I felt I was on to something.  

I quickly took a pic of it with my iPhone.  It traveled from there to my iPad where I started playing with apps.  I added filters to it with Distressedfx and Pixlromatic. If you have not checked out these apps they are really cool!  I also put it through one last filter via PicTapGo another of my go to photo apps.  

You never know what you can create with a limited supplies!

xo

Wordless Wednesday . . .

"don't forget to look up, 

you never know the wonder to be found"

©cathy bueti 2013

Scratching A Portrait . . .

I tried another sgraffito portrait.  This time I painted a layer of yellow acrylic and added black oil pastel over top.  Oddly enough I had a hard time with this one.  It kept ending up looking like the negative of a photo.  I was thinking too much.  And then all of a sudden it clicked and I was able to wipe away the lights to bring her face alive.  

Creepy as she is there is something about her I like.  There is some kind of mystery to her.  I added some scribbles and stamps to this one.  I really like the scratching and wiping away.  Its good to get some angst out!  Maybe that is what shows in her face . . . my angst!  

Sharing her today for Sunday Sketches.

xo

Believe In Forever . . .

I have been feeling less than inspired these days, not creating much. Today as I was flipping through my sketchbook I found a page that I used to play around with stencils and black fabric spray. And just like that I was inspired.

I added some pink watercolor over the top, stamped the words that came to mind and then added details with a black sharpie pen, finishing the edges with a black gelato. I never expected something so simple would inspire me so much . . .

Sharing over at Paint Party Friday

xo

She's Painted! :)

"flying on wings of butterflies"

mixed media on 8x10 gallery wrapped canvas

available on etsy

So I decided to go with pink and chocolate brown. And I really think it fits her well! I initially thought about blue and yellow but I am pleased with the pink. I added a layer of collage to the canvas, then gesso (love gesso!) and added the pink. I have been liking bubble wrap for texture lately. I used a new faber castell gelato in black for shading to make the circles pop. Those gelatos are great! I only have black and white but they are creamy, smudgeable, and water soluble too!

I enjoy the details the most although I must say that I got a stiff neck gluing all the little butterflies on to the canvas! You are probably thinking "what the hek is wrong with her?" lol seriously though it doesn't take much these days to tighten up my neck.

I really love how she turned out. I need to get to sketching more of these girls.

I so love them!

xo

Paint Party Friday . . . Be Free

I found a window of time last night when hubby and puppy were both asleep. So I crept back to my art space and started collaging some paper on an 8x8 flat canvas board. I was so happy to be back to smearing my mod podge around to glue all the paper. I could hardly wait for it to dry before I added the paint. I actually spilled a ton of my golden fluid raw umber (ugh!) because I poured it out and then ooops too much! Oh well! Anyway, I decided to just use raw umber, white and blue. I really like the light blue with the brown.

I smeared the paint around for a bit and it didn't feel complete to me without stamps. I so love adding stamps to my work. My favorites are butterflies, numbers, and words. Oh, and my dogwood tree stamp is cool too!

I wish I had taken images to share the progress of this piece but I guess I was too in a zone to stop for that. So the finished piece will just have to do. I am slowly finding my way back to my art and although I still feel disconnected to it I am happy with this piece.

I am sharing this today over at Paint Party Friday. Come on over and check out all the great work! Thanks once again to Kristin and Eva for hosting!

xo

Beyond The Trees - New Photo Collage Finished!

For those of you who missed yesterday's post I shared the beginnings to this piece. I decided to go with the blue and raw umber color palette and I am very happy I did! I love how this piece turned out. It looks better in person as I still don't take good photos of my work and this 11x14 was too big to scan. lol

Here is the photo of how it began that I shared yesterday. And I did love what the black background did for my painting process.

I really was able to get in a zone for a bit and smear some paint around trying not to worry about what was happening. Here is part of the process below. I liked it at this point and debated going any farther. This is always the point where I fear ruining it! This canvas had 2 other 'paintings gone bad' on it but that gave great texture to the new painting!

That payne's gray is my fav. I love the shade of blue it becomes when mixed with titanium white! And the raw umber goes so nicely with it. And then there is stamping . . . my dogwood once again (love) and butterflies!

Beyond The Trees

mixed media on 11x14 wrapped canvas

available on etsy

Thanks to those who left a comment on yesterday's PPF post!! I so appreciated all the encouragement at the beginning stage of this piece!

Wishing you all a great day!!

xo

New Photo Collage Painting . . .

"Seek Truth"

mixed media on 12x12 gallery wrapped canvas

available on etsy

I was pretty excited to share this painting and had to post it today! It felt really good getting back to combining my photography with mixed media. I used my tree photo that I shared for texture tuesday last week as well as its inverted image. Thought you would like to see how this came alive so here are a couple of photos showing its first stages. . .

This is how I laid down the collage. I really didn't know where it would go at this point but it took me a few minutes to find placement I was happy with. I printed out the photos on regular printer paper in black and white. And I used mod podge to glue all of them down. I am loving mod podge for collage!

This next photo is not great but I am still trying to figure out how to take good shots of my artwork! Typically I scan them but the size of this canvas prevented me from doing so. At this point I have added washes of burnt sienna and quinacridone nickel azo gold fluid acrylics. I also added some stamping as an attempt to incorporate my images into the background.

This was at the point I was scared to ruin the painting. The ugly stage almost stalled me out. But next I added payne's gray in different areas as you can see from the completed piece. I really love that color with the orange and yellow tones of the other colors. I also added more stamping with my favorite dogwood tree stamp and stenciled the butterflies on with the payne's gray. Lastly I used my caran d'ache crayons for shading. I like to use them dry and just scrub them out with a dry brush. The trees I extended down the canvas using a black pitt pen.

I feel very connected to this piece. The colors look dark yet dreamy and when I incorporate my photography it feels like there is more of me in there.

Hope you guys like it too!

xo

Butterflies . . . More Art Therapy For Me

"Dream"

mixed media on 6x8 flat canvas board

available on etsy

Thanks so much to everyone for all the amazing comments on my last post! It makes my heart happy to have so much encouragement and support here in blogland!!

This is my latest painting and I have to say I love it! The color palette is not typically what I am comfortable with but I went for it. I had new paper I wanted to use for collage with lots of butterflies. So I collaged the paper on and then used glazes of teal, gold, and yellow. I used bubble wrap with ink for texture and my crayons to color in the butterflies. I didn't realize until I had finished that those crayons made everything pop! It made me wish I had shaded my last piece.

Today I am just relaxing . . . I haven't had a late night out in forever! The concert was AMAZING last night!! I didn't want it to end! It was alot of driving but well worth it. Def Leppard and Heart rocked it!! When I was out and about years ago dating and doing the clubbing thing I don't know how I lived on such a lack of sleep! lol It will take a few days to catch up!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend and creating lovely things!

xo

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!

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!

Wordless Wednesday and A Winner!!

Rockland Lake at Dusk, Spring 2000

taken with film camera

The only words I will say today are. . .

AND THE WINNER IS

Cindy from CinLynnBoutique!!!

Send me your address and I will get the butterfly print in the mail!

Congrats!! :)

Thanks again to all who entered this giveaway!

Blog Giveaway and an Etsy Treasury!!

I just realized that this week I wrote my 100th blog post!! So I thought what better way to celebrate than to have a giveaway!

I am giving away the above photo. What you see above is a scan of the actual photo so in person the resolution of the image is much better but I wanted to show the digital matting. This image is one of my butterfly photos you may recall from my Bronx Zoo post. It is printed on 81/2 x 11 glossy photo paper with a digital double mat.

All you have to do to enter is comment! To enter your name twice become a follower. And if you want to enter a third time share this giveaway on your blog. Be sure to let me know in the comments what you do!

I will be picking the winner next Wednesday 12/22! Good luck!

If you get a chance check out this lovely etsy treasury "Blue Frost" by Dawn from The Scroll Shoppe! I was excited to find out she included my "Heart in the Sand" photo card!

Butterflies at the Bronx Zoo!!

Thanks for all your great comments on my last post! As promised here is part 2! I took these photos in the Butterfly House at the zoo. It was like a greenhouse for butterflies. When we walked in it was light and bright and they were all flying everywhere! One even landed on my hubby's arm! I wish I knew the names of each butterfly.

This one above is my favorite for sure. I love the black and sage colors! I may paint this one!

This one was drinking something. Maybe some fruit juice?

These guys are just enjoying some melon!

I also loved the color of this little one. Much smaller than the others.

Their colors are so vibrant and pretty. I didn't want to leave! I will for sure make another visit to the butterfly house next time we go to the zoo!

"Believe" . . . New Painting!

Believe

8x10 mixed media on canvas

I had fun painting this one! And with the more I learn the more fun I have! I really love her!

I painted her with acrylics, colored pencil, black Pitt artist pen, distressed ink, and added butterfly stickers. I am loving the effect the distressed ink gives to the background. I enjoyed watching her come to life! I have to say she looks better in person.

I am still trying to figure out where to add the word "believe" or maybe I should leave it out. What do you guys think?