This week I am enjoying the process of bringing these small canvases to life. They have been sitting in my closet for a very long time. I have too many supplies sitting in that closet. I've decided it is time to stop waiting and time to start using those supplies.
It is funny how the creative process goes. I envisioned one thing and they are turning out very different that I imagined. Sometimes you just have to go with the whirl of creativity as it comes through the room. I like the new ideas better. I bet that's how it works for you too.
These are a combination of paint, artist's pencils of various kinds, ink, vintage paper, and more. The lion is all original on the canvas. But the sleepy tabby is a print of one of my graphite drawings. Then he has been embellished further with paint, pencils, and ink. I am thinking about doing more canvases that utilize my pencil drawings. What do you think?
Recently as I was engaging in one of my favorite past times, blog hopping, I stumbled onto My Desert Cottage and her upcoming blog party Where Bloggers Create. I thought this seemed like such a fun idea. I love looking into the studios of other artists. I quickly added a comment that I wanted to join in. It was not until the next day that I realized my comment had come a few days after the deadline to join. But, to my surprise, Karen of My Desert Cottage added me to the party anyway. Thank you Karen. I'm so pleased to join the party.
My studio is not fancy and I do not have the freedom to rip
up carpet and go crazy with the design like I'd enjoy doing. But it is the first time I've had a whole room just for my studio. And I think the 2 full walls of second story windows makes up for any crazy decor plans I could come up with.
Some of these photos were taken a while back. So you may notice a difference in a few of them like the blue cat pillow and then a pink cat pillow. I recently created a video showing some of my studio for the Artful Gathering class that I have produced. It is quite recent and I thought fit in here quite well. So, I've included it too.
Our house was built in 1919. This is an odd little room off of the larger room. It is larger than a closet but still only about 6' x 5'. And yet, it has a window and an old air conditioning vent. hmmmmm..... The only idea I have is that it was meant to be a nursery just off the master bedroom. Any ideas? Anyone know?
I am currently in Missouri on a trip. I found an old wooden file cabinet at a thrift store that will replace these plastic drawers when I get home. I am in need of these plastic drawers in the room where I teach kid's art classes. So it works out well this way. This window blind is usually up and the cats enjoy watching the squirrels run by on the window ledges. But I had to close it in order to take the picture.
Again, had to close the blinds to get a photo. This table belonged to my big brother. When he left us to go fly fishing in Heaven, I took this table to create on. As I use it I am reminded of how supportive he always was of my art.
I keep things that I love here....my favorite dolls as a child, children's books, a doll my daughter made by hand for me when she was only 9, and a stuffed skunk given to me by my father.
And here is the video. I won't even have to tell you that I am an amateur at filming. It will be evident! : )
And now that you've been in my studio, I will enjoy visiting yours. What kind of tea will you be serving? Got any cinnamon scones?
Have you ever wished you could learn to draw? I teach drawing online through video lessons. We are having so much fun and my students are amazed at how well they are drawing and how quickly they are progressing. Come by and take a look at Wind and Honey Classes. You can do it too!
In February I participated in the Petite Inspiration Box Swap an art swap event sponsored by Speckled Egg. This swap featured altered matchboxes. We were divided into groups of three. Before mailing our artfully decorated boxes, we filled them with tiny vintage goodies. I absolutely love both of the boxes I received. I thoroughly enjoyed this event and getting to know my two group members. Here are pictures of the wonderful boxes they sent to me.
And Jen of On a Journey created this beautiful altered matchbox. Look at those cute little shoes. Love 'em!
And here are the boxes I sent to them. I forgot to take a picture of mine with the goodies showing. So, you'll just have to imagine these boxes filled with itty bitty great stuff.
This little bunny box is decorated with a digital collage that I created months ago but had not used yet. This box went all the way to England to Jan of JaN'sArTyJouRney
Did you notice what I did? We didn't plan what we would be sending. We talked about color preferences and style. But made no particular plans. Do you see that Jan used music on my box and I used it in hers? And Jen used white textured embossed paper on my box and I used it on hers. Isn't that interesting?
Now I have something funny to share. Lydia and Bo have a DogIt water fountain. The reason they have such an elaborate water bowl is a long story that I won't get into. But last week the Poet was helping me out by doing the weekly cleaning of the dog fountain. It is not exactly the most pleasant thing to do as there is usually a pretty generous quantity of slobber involved. However, this time the reservoir was abundant with crumpled leaves and dry grass. --- huh?!!? You have to wonder if Lydia is trying something new, carrying grass and leaves around in her big lips like chewing tobacco.
I have to admit that I felt a certain degree of relief that I was not the one cleaning the fountain on this particular day. I left the room intent on another task. Later, when I returned, I found this not-so-poetic note written to Lydia and Bo and taped right at their eye level above their water fountain. LOL!!!
Toby is a Norwegian Forest Cat. They are unusually large and quite smart. Unfortunately, at some point in his life Toby ended up living in a shelter - Felines Inc., located in Chicago. At the shelter Toby met Ingrid, a photographer who sells photographic portraits of cats to raise needed funds for the shelter. Eventually Toby's beautiful portrait was posted in 9livesPhotography on etsy where 50 - 100% of the profits of sales goes to fund either Felines Inc. or Animal Care League, both in Chicago. When I first saw Toby's photo I was captivated by his whole look. He looked almost wild and yet gentle. What I really wanted to do was to drive up to Chicago and adopt him. But since that was impossible, I was so pleased to discover that Toby had been adopted in April of this year. So with Ingrid's permission, I have drawn a graphite pencil portrait of Toby. I will be creating cards and more with this image and 15% of the profit will go to the shelter that helped Toby, Felines Inc. Also, because I find Toby's image so inspiring, I will be using it in more artistic ways in the future. And will always make a donation to his shelter out of the profits from his image.
If you are interested in having a portrait done of your precious cat or maybe even your special dog, check out my portrait website. You will find much information there and can contact me if you have more questions. You will want to start the process soon if the portrait is to be a Christmas present. Wind and Honey Creations
And don't forget the great Weekend Deal Sale for the Melange Team - only 2 more days left!
The ETSY street team "Melange" is having a WEEKEND DEAL of 15% off all or many things, 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, participating 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.
Well, I'm back into blog land. I've been in kind of the twilight zone for a while. I've had lots of things going on in the other side of my life.
But on this sunny spring day, I want to share my newest collage with you. It is titled "If Only I Had Thumbs" It reminds me of early marriage days when we lived in a VERY shabby chic house. The difference is it had become shabby chic all on it's own. No one had created it for decorative purposes. We had a cat that would sit outside the screen door like this. She would actually wait to be let in so she could use the litter box - not terribly bright.
This piece has lots of 3-D elements and different techniques to it. It was fun to create. I hope you enjoy it.
I've been learning more about the 'how-to's' of blogging. I'll be back soon and more often with some interesting additions.
I am an artist / instructor specializing in illustrative pencil art.
My art focuses on the delights of life, mostly on the relationship between children and animals. I teach online drawing lessons through a video format that allows interaction between the students and the teacher.
I have been married to the Poet for over 35 years. He is a gem and we have 2 adult children who are artists in their own right.
Having said all of that, in the end, I am really just a pencil artist "drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes." It is my prayer that my images and my words would inspire you to hope and to know the Author of hope.
