Returning to Classes

A bunny in soft pastels by an 8 year old student

Today my local classes resume.

The little ones will be making winter tree sculptures. That will be fun. And the older kids will be drawing again after a short hiatus to design their own pendants.

Clint is a private student who does not like breaks in our weekly meetings. He will be glad to be back.

Clint's interpretation of a lightening storm in watercolor

The adult class will be glad to be back to work as they find it difficult to work drawing time into their busy schedules without class time.

And for those of you who are not close enough to drive over today to join us for class,  Creative Pencils has ongoing workshops.   The Pencils Series 101, 201, & 301 continue providing a solid foundation in graphite skills for drawing, shading, and more. 

Calla lilies - one of the projects for Pencils 201

And Colored Pencils 101 is available for the beginner in colored pencils.  This workshop addresses colored pencil technique, color theory, and a lovely butterfly project.

One of the projects for Colored Pencils 101

New workshops are also coming to Creative Pencils soon!  I am excited about the projects I will be able to offer for 2013.  More information about those is coming....




Wind and Honey Creations

Wordless Wednesday

Wind and Honey Creations

A Moose, a Mountain, and a Garden Fairy

Yesterday hubby and I took a day off for a trip exploring the Wichita Mountains.  I know, I know, I know.  If you are from just about anywhere but here, you would not consider these "hills" to be mountains.  But technically they are.  Maybe just barely, but yes, they are mountains.  

I bring this up because I wanted to show you this wonderful moose.  

This is probably the biggest moose you'll see.  I would guess that he was about 15 feet tall.   I thought he was so fun with his crooked legs and wide antlers.  I have a friend from Canada that makes handmade paper using real moose droppings.  Hmmm.   Her name is LizAnnaOnTheLakes.  You might want to check out the beautiful handmade papers in her shop.  I bet this guy would create shiny metalic papers.  

Here is my entry for this week's Collage Play with Crowabout.   Butterfly Fairy is an original collage created digitally.  It brings summer right into your home.  You may purchase it in my etsy shop in 3.5 x 2.5" ACEO size ready to be framed or displayed creatively.

Melange Challenge

The challenge word this week for the Melange Team is Illuminating. I have chosen this Butterfly ACEO on stretched canvas. It is an abstract pondering the garden view of the butterfly. It may be found in my Etsy shop.

We have been covered with snow for a week at my house. It is unusual for snow to remain more than a couple of days here. So illuminating garden views are a refreshing sight.

Soartful Challenges

In the Soartful Challenge this week, we were given a vintage image of a parlor. It was empty except for a few pieces of furniture and some drapes. The theme was Welcome to My Parlor. Here is my interpretation. Originally I was going to add a lovely couple dancing romantically. Then I found these two and thought they would look quite humorous dancing in the parlor. The quote says The neighbors always talked when Mama and Papa danced in our parlor. The digital print comes in aceo size ( 2.5 x 3.5).

Childish Dreams

This is my newest mixed media collage art. It is the first in a slightly different direction for me and also the first piece I have created as a direct result of my new venture into art journaling. It is a very personal statement on many levels.

The screen door started as a digital image then was embellished with paint. This quaint screen door actually lives propped between 2 trees just like this in the backyard of some artsy friends of ours. The 2 quotes are Dream the dreams of a child and There lies within each of us the potential to be more. The little girl was painted with acrylic gouache and the rest is probably self explanatory.

Although I started this piece a while back, it fits in with this week's Melange challenge 'gateway'. I hope you enjoy it.

Monday's Potpourri

And for today's Monday's Potpourri, I'd like to introduce GardenDelightsArts. Heidi is a new friend of mine who rescues and raises swallowtail and monarch butterflies. When they are ready, she then releases them to live and fly in freedom. That truly is a garden delight! Heidi is a photographer and a mixed media artists. She also teaches art classes. And I'm delighted to have just discovered that Heidi has box turtles! If you've read my blog before, you know how I love turtles. Here are some of the earrings Heidi makes in her etsy shop. They look like real butterfly wings. But you will be glad to know that no butterfly has been harmed. These are made through a special process that began with a photograph. You'll want to look at the rest of Heidi's shop. There are many fun things there.

butterfly earrings

Next in today's potpourri is a fish shaped cat bed by natdesigns2003. This is one of the funniest things I've seen. This wide mouth fish serves as a snuggly bed as well as a place for playing hide and seek for you favorite feline. It works kind of like the old fashioned brown paper sack. But oh so much cuter! natdesign also designs and makes clothing for dolls and for people.

fish bed

And finally, these embroidered pin cushions by manitobagifts. The pin cushions are so pretty, they will inspire you to sew. They are actually pretty enough to have sitting around even if you never put a pin or needle into them. They would make lovely gifts. Debra has many other items in her shop that are hand crafted and embellished with her hand embroidery or applique work.

pin cushion

http://www.windandhoneycreations.com

Butterflies of Hope

I have a friend who is in a horrific family crises.  It is of a very personal nature.  And I do not feel it is my place to share the details of her story.  My friend's name is Sarah.   Several months ago as a distraction, I sent her a book called Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.  She began to do the exercises in the book and then sent me her first drawing.  It was done in pen and ink - a bit daring for one's first drawing I'd say.  In this drawing she expresses her faith in the midst of her circumstances.  I think the drawing is beautiful and creative.

As an effort to help her financially with the situation she is currently in, I have printed her design on some blank notecards.  They are for sale in my etsy shop in a variety of colors.  I did contact etsy admin. and got permission to do so.  All profits from the sale of these cards will go to Sarah.

Please take the time to look.  

Thank you, Elizabeth