March with Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

The design team has been busy creating some fun products for the March Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. We have been so thrilled with the number of folks creating and participating in these each month.

Our theme for March is "Birds of a Feather".

Create something that reminds you of birds - birds, feathers, wings, quotes, nests, eggs.... be creative! Let us know how birds inspired your project.


Here's my project for this month.

I collaged patterned papers on a 9x12 stretched canvas. I then used acrylic paint draw the design and add color to the images.

Our sponsor this month is Faber Castell Design Memory Craft. They are offering Gelato prize packs to 2 lucky winners!

One winner will win Mixed Media with Gelatos kit

Another winner will win the Card Making With Gelatos kit.

To enter this challenge, link your project to the space provided on the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog.  Be sure to visit all the designer's pages for tips and info on their creations.

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!

Blend of the Bayou in Monroe

Every year, the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council has a fundraiser called "Blend of the Bayou". At this event, "men who mix and brew" come out and cook everything from bbq sandwiches to gumbo and fried catfish. Part of this event is a "Bayou Gallery" with 15-20 of the area's prominent artists with art items for sale. The event was this weekend and the weather was absolutely beautiful! I attended with four other artists from the coop gallery I'm with attended as well as other art friends from the area.

We sampled the food, mingled and talked to art collectors. I debuted one of my latest pieces, "Summertime Blues", which I'm happy to say found a new home that day.

 And for the first time every, the youth at the local theater were invited to perform a few of their songs from Guys and Dolls. As you know - our family has worked hard on this production the past few weeks.

Again - it was record low temperatures on this gorgeous Sunday in May (which in Louisiana terms - was perfect!). I look forward to more beautiful days like this day this month. Thanks for stopping by and if you want to stay updated, you can subscribe to this blog and/or follow me on Melanie Douthit Art Studio's Facebook Page. by selecting the "Like" button. Have a great day!

Thanks for a great 2012!

I've been so busy in the past two months that I haven't updated my blog. Plus, my husband *won* and ipad and I've been spending all my time on it and haven't taken time to get to the computer to upload pics.

I participated in the Art With A View event which is a huge fundraiser for the Monroe Symphony Orchestra in November.

Here is one of the pieces I created for the event. (It's been sold).

(Indian Summer, 30x24 - sold)

I've been filling commissions and baking cookies and spending time at our Christmas production practices. It's been a whirlwind season. I'm typing in my PJ's getting ready for family movie night just after taking down the Christmas tree. I have white candles in the fireplace and on the mantle and am about to enjoy a dinner of ... pizza! Love cozy winter nights.

Here are a few Christmas photos - let's call them "Christmas Past" (yes, I'm being sentimental)

and of course,  "Christmas Present"

And a Happy New Year to you! Thanks for stopping by.

Happiness is....

I love to post on my facebook page about the little everday things that make me happy. You know - the things that make you smile and say "how cool is that?". Especially when you stumble upon things unexpected. Unexpected "happy surprises" are really the best, aren't they?

Happiness is when I walk into a local home improvement store to get bird seed (you know, to make the birds happy) and stumble upon a paint sample freebee.

Happiness is.... taking your daughter to Books A Million and stumbling upon 50% of date planners, and not just plain ones, but artsy ones and one tailor made just for me.

Happiness is.... opening your art show reception guest book to find the word "happy" peppered throughout the comments your guests made about your work.

See what I mean? Things that just make you smile.

Here's a piece I created last week. I started working on it during a couple of rainy days here in the South. This is in the early stages.

And below is the finished piece. I love including a positive quote, phrase or lyric in my paintings. This one says:

"It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you."

 

"Rainbow Above You" is 20" x 20" with 1.5" deep sides painted to match. and has already been claimed by a collector who likes happy art.  That makes me happy.

Thank you for stopping by. I'd love to know you stopped by, so please leave me a comment, and if you are an artist, include your blog link so I can stop by. Have a great day!