On My Worktable Today

Kate, Micah, & our duck Gretchen

My daughter has a gift for color.   She has done unusual things with color her whole life.   When she was 7 she used to wear 2 pairs of socks - every day.   If she had on an outfit that was red and black, she would wear a pair of red socks and a pair of black socks.  On one foot, she wore the red sock under the black sock with the red one turned up and the black one folded down.  On the other foot, she would do the opposite. 


I wish I had a photograph to show you.  But in those pre digital days, we didn't take as many photos as we do today.   You'll have to imagine it.  She made this look up herself.   And the funny thing was that after a while all the other little girls started doing it too.  The mothers would tell me they wouldn't wear their socks any other way now.  I was never sure if they were ok with it or if they were frustrated with me for letting Kate do it.

As she grew older she would see colors in objects that I didn't really see.  We had an old, old, think older than that, door from a family home that had been torn down.   As I looked at the door, I saw a dirty yellow door. Kate saw yellow and white and green and even purple in it.  And when she painted anything, those colors would come out and it was beautiful.   She painted some images from the old house.   Here is a photo of the house and one of the paintings.   See the difference?   It isn't that she imagines the colors.  She sees them!

I have often longed for that gift.   But, alas, it is not in my head.  But recently I have been determined to grow in that area.  I cannot create the gift Kate has, but perhaps I can foster the skill.  So, with that in mind, I've been piddling with art in unusual colors.  I have just finished this elephant.   Ellie is tiny - 2.5 x 3.5. Artist Trading Card size.  She was done during a collection of moments when I was caught in a lobby or in the car with nothing to do but wait.   Ellie was created with Derwent Inktense, Prismacolor, & Derwent Sketching pencils on Strathmore mixed media paper.  Working in unusual colors was a challenge for me and definitely stretched my thinking processes.  But I enjoyed it and I am pleased with her.

 

 
Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

World Lion Day

 

It is World Lion Day.  And in honor of my most favorite of creatures, I am sharing this beautiful and captivating painting - Una and Lion by Briton Riviére.  The painting is an illustration of the the English epic poem The Faerie Queene.  There are several interpretations to the meaning of this poem.  None of which apply to what I, personally, love in this piece of art.  

 

If you've read this blog for its duration, you are aware of my love for lions and possibly even of the story of the little lion I cared for whose name was Daniel.  If you are new and unfamiliar with my little Daniel's story, you may read it here.  

 

Caring for Daniel was extraordinary and life changing for me in many ways.  As I bottle fed him and did his daily therapies, I grew in unexpected ways.  I am currently working on a project to tell Daniel's story more fully.  I am very excited about it.   I'm not sure how long it will take to accomplish.  But I am enjoying the process.   I want to wait for it to be revealed in its completion but I will share some sneak peaks with you along the way.  

When Daniel was 13 months old, he passed away due to the injuries he had endured where he had previously lived.  I have always believed that I will see Daniel again one day and we will rejoice and laugh together at how miraculously God used him in my life.   The first time I saw Riviére's painting it took my breath away as the image was nearly exactly what I've always pictured of Daniel and I one day.  The little dancing lamb is the perfect addition to set the mood of joy, peace, and serenity.  

I am very sad to say that lions are in great decline in the wild due to poaching and loss of habit.  Their numbers have declined in the last 50 years to a level that is frighteningly low.  Unless the current trends change, there are predictions that there will be no more lions 10 years from now.  Surely this must not happen.  

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

Attention Artistic Oklahoma Parents & Grandparents

If you are a parent or a grandparent of a creative young person in Oklahoma, you'll want to check out this great artistic experience.

When the sun shines long and hot over July days in Oklahoma, it will spotlight an amazing creative arts opportunity for 7^th and 8^th grade students at the SummerArts Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma.   

The line up of instructors beams with talent, experience, and accomplishments.  You can read about the instructors on the website. 

Scholarships are available for the one-week sessions in which students can begin to shine in one or more of the sessions including: drawing, sculpture, photography, film, and printmaking.   

The cost for each session is $250.  There will be 4 individual weeks of instruction.   Learn more about this bright, excellent, endeavor and the scholarships that are available here.
 

Classes will be held at the Hardesty Arts Center in the middle of downtown Tulsa’s Brady Arts District.

Wind and Honey Creations
Creative Pencils - Online Drawing Lessons

A Special Sunset

I want to share this painting created by one of my private students.  This young man is mentally challenged.  He loves art and has quite an eye for it.  He especially loves to paint and to take photographs.  Whenever this young man goes on a trip with his family, he always brings photographs back to share with me of art and artistic moments that he has found.  I love when he shows me a moment he has captured and he is quick to remind me that even that is art.   This painting is a lovely sunset over a lake.  His inspiration came from a calendar photograph.

Wind and Honey Creations

More Fun Kid's Art

As promised, here are more examples of art created by my students last week.  The artists that created these birds and lemurs are 6 and 8 year olds.  Aren't they fun!

Now!  If these kids can make such fun, expressive, and creative art, then SO CAN YOU!  Just let go and have fun!

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.

SALE, SALE, SALE

The ETSY street team "Melange" is having a WEEKEND DEAL of 15% off many things in their shops, excluding shipping. Melange is a group of Mixed Media Artists, many of whom have been published. Each shop may also have additional sales of their own. The following is a list of active, Melange members who are participating in the WEEKEND DEAL from August 7th, through the 9th.

After the item is purchased and paid for, a refund will be issued for the total discount via Pay Pal or other methods in which the payment was made. It is currently not possible to make the adjustments at payment time.

Every shop has their own set of policies in place, so please make yourself familiar with each new shop.

In my shop you will want to look at the 'ON SALE' section that will be to the right of your screen. Everything in the 'ON SALE' section will be 15% off of the price you see listed. This is a great opportunity to start your Christmas shopping early.

We hope you enjoy "Melange" as much we do!

WindandHoney.etsy.com
MaureenTillman.etsy.com
twocooltexans.etsy.com
vanessevaDesigns.etsy.com
Vintagesnapsandscrap.etsy.com
FauveBohemian.etsy.com
Collageartgirl.etsy.com

prettylittlependant.etsy.com
Whyte.etsy.com
Artsnark.etsy.com
Studio27.etsy.com
LDPhotography.etsy.com
MidwestieLady.etsy.com
Loudlife.etsy.com
Paperdreamer.etsy.com
Thebagladysart.etsy.com
Mamapainter.etsy.com

And now for your visual pleasure, here are some photos of my garden

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And The Winner Is..........

Well, its almost midnight on Thursday and time to announce a winner for the Name Your Baby Contest.  Baby turtle can hardly wait to have a name and stop being called Baby turtle.  You all came up with very creative names.  As each one came in I would think, Oh, I bet that will be the one.  It has been a much more difficult decision that I expected.

But in the end, there can only be one winner.  So after thinking through each name thoroughly I've made a decision.  

So now, the envelope please..........

Drum roll.............................................................................................................................................

The winning name is Miss Mae after Mae West.  It is fitting that her name be that of a floozy since her daddy was Captain Jack, after all.

Miss Mae was submitted by Pey of peylu.etsy.com and folkartvision.etsy.com.  Pey is from Canada, an active member of EFA/artist helping animals, and a very creative artist. Congratulations Pey!  Convo me with your mailing address and I will get your card in the mail. :)

Here are some of my favorite examples of Pey's work.

Thank you to all who participated.  I hope it was fun for you.

Elizabeth