Let the Good Times Roll

We had a whirlwind new year! We had some guest's come and visit right after New Year all the way from Minnesota, so we decided to take them to New Orleans. It was spring-like the first week in January in the French Quarter.

We strolled the quarter, ate beignets at Cafe Dumond, listened to jazz music, ate more food, and then went to see the Lion King. We even ran into some folks from back home in the lobby!

Since we were there on twelfth night, we HAD to get some king cakes. Well, we actually brought back three (from two different bakeries). What a way to ring in the New Year. The temps dropped drastically during the night, and we woke up to rainy cold weather. On our way home, we ran into sleet and ice. In fact, the airport was shut down and our guests couldn't fly home the next day, so we spent one more afternoon together and took photos of this beautiful frozen fountain.

Our guest were able to experience three of our four seasons on their short trip: spring, winter and Mardi Gras! 

If you are visiting this post for the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - then welcome!  Our theme is "sweet inspiration".

And our sponsor this month is Stampendous! And our guest designer is Guest Designer - Fran Seiford. 

The prize for our winner this month is a $25 gift certificate.

Since our theme is "sweet inspiration", I didn't have a problem getting inspired. I have Mardi Gras on the brain. I don't know how I looked at the adorable stamp set I used and thought "Mardi Gras" (it must have been the king cake), but this is what I came up with!

The Stampendous items I used were: Spring Sparkle Embossing Powders, Dreamweaver Stencils Embossing Paste, Whisper Garden Perfectly Clear Stamps, and Thicket Metal Stencil. 

I had a blast creating something for this month's theme.

I hope you can play along. Make sure you visit each designer's blog and leave some comment love for them... we LOVE hearing from you all!

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.

* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 

* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post

* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board

* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 

* No Backlinking (linking a project completed before the start date of our challenge) allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.

* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until 11:55 pm EST on February 28 to enter!

Louisiana Life and Cool Breezes!

I'm loving the cool breezes that have been working their way into Louisiana. It's been a hot summer, as usual, and the nice chill in the morning is so welcome. My husband's co workers decorated their breakroom with Halloween decor back in August - so I think they have been ready for cooler temps, too.

The theme for October is Fall/Halloween Mood board:

and the Sponsor this month is Stampotique. They are giving a $30 gift certificate to the challenge winner.

Stampotique sent me some of their stamps to use on this challenge. I received  C.U.Later Gator, Picket Fence, Vintage Script, 3 Daisies. I love the gator because I live in Louisiana and so I went with a Halloween theme.

For my "Bayou Boo" wall hanging, I used scrap wood (6" x 12"), papers, paint, stamps and ink on this. The tombstones were cut from patterned paper that had alphabet on it. I added some ribbon to the back so it could hang. 

Here are some closeup images.

I stamped the picket fence stamp directly onto the scene. Somehow, all these images flowed together with the theme.

I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

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To play along with the October challenge, post your entries on the link at the main challenge blog page.

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs.
* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges.
* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until 11:55 pm EST on October 31th to enter!

May Flowers

April showers brings May flowers. I can't wait to see all the beautiful flowers in this great state of Louisiana. My next door neighbor has a very young magnolia tree and I noticed yesterday that it has almost 30 new budding magnolia's on it. It's going to be beautiful!

 

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Design Team members have been creating some awesome floral creations for this month's mixed media challenge. The theme is "Butterflies and Blooms".


Our May Guest Designer & Sponsor is  Ken Oliver! Ken is offering our random winner a set of Caribbean Brights Color Burst and a Best Ever Craft Mat!!

Here's my painting. It's 20" x 20" on canvas. I used some vintage ledger papers (real ledger papers, not manufactured printed paper) from the basement of the Sugar Art Gallery which I co-run. The basement used to be a Wholesale Drug company and those old papers are great for collages. I also used modeling paste, crackle paint, scrapbook papers, stencils, paper doilies and acrylic paint.

"Lace and Paper Flowers"

This piece and several of my new paintings will be at "Blend of the Bayou" in North Monroe, Louisiana this afternoon.

I've been getting new art ready for this event as well as finish up some commissions. Then in the morning I'm going coastal with some old friends. Will post photos when I return as well as some new art. If you are on facebook - follow "Melanie Douthit Art Studio" for more current art photos.

Make sure you visit each designer's blog and leave some comment love for them... we LOVE hearing from you all!


SO - are you going to play in this month's challenge? Here are the rules:

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 
* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 
* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until 11:55 pm EST on May 31st to enter!
Post your project on THIS POST

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Spring Inspiration

I just spent the weekend with my husband in New Orleans. The weather was perfectly spring-like and I have come home full of artistic inspiration. We spent the majority of our time in the Marigny District dining and listening to live jazz music on Frenchmen Street. We always pick a different home rental in the area and "live like the locals". This time we were on Frenchmen Street in a wonderful old home with a beautiful courtyard. We brought our bicycles so we rode each morning to various cafe's for breakfast, and also rode into the French Quarter to browse art galleries. For those of you still in winter climate - I want to let you know that Spring is just around the corner.

Here we are at one of the Frenchmen Street outside art markets. It's always fun to visit because the set up is different every day.

We rode down Royal in the French Quarter and yes - that IS a guitar-playing unicorn. One night after dinner we were walking down the street and my husband asks "Do you think you'll run into anyone we know tonight?" I said - "I doubt it". Then 45 minutes later I hear my name being called and up walks an artist that used to live near me. We ended up going to an upstairs dance hall with her to see an internationally known Cuban dancer. You really just never know what or who you will see here.

So - are you here to play along with the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge? We have a fun spring-themed photo for inspiration.

Here's our photo inspiration for the March challenge.

Our March sponsor is Waffle Flower Crafts. They have donated a $25 gift certificate for our challenge winner. Our guest designer is Tessa Wise from Waffle Flower Crafts.

Here's my take on the challenge. I was inspired by the colors in the inspiration photo. I used papers, cardstock, tape, paint, ink, paper doilies, stamps and stickers on this 5.5 wood block.

You can play along at the March Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.

* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 

* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post

* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board

* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 

* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.

* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until 11:55 pm EST on March 31 to enter!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Artist Appreciation Month

I'm late in the month, but August is Artist Appreciation Month. No, that doesn't mean you send me gift cards, but you can if you want. For this post I'm going to share which artists inspire me. I was informed of this wonderful holiday by Patience Brewster, an artist known for unique handmade gifts and Christmas ornaments, to share my story of which artists have impacted me personally.

Here is one of Patience Brewster's "Dasher" ornaments that I think is so absolutely fun.

So, thinking about my journey as an artist includes so many influences - from my first oil painting instructor (and I can't seem to find where he is today but has become active in Arts for the Parks), to my first watercolor instructor, and on and on. All these teachers inspired me, grounded me, and taught me tremendously... But somehow I still wasn't "free". There was still something more that needed to be released.

I wrote on my paper crafting blog in the spring of 2010 about the start of a new artistic journey. After setting painting full time aside and diving into the world of designing papercrafts projects for manufacturers and publications for a few years, something new was brewing. This is my journal entry:

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As of late, I've had an obsession with Alice. I saw the new Alice movie last month and was "enchanted" with the artistry in the film...the costumes, the color (or lack of), the characters. It was all so "artsy". I wanted to see it again the next day, but didn't. Besides stirring the artist in me, I related to Alice in a strange way. Grown up Alice was "expected" to conform to society, she was expected to dress a certain way and marry a certain man and live a certain life. I tried this mold on for the past seven months. I took a corporate job, sat at a corporate desk, and brought home a corporate paycheck. But I was dying inside. After three months the artist inside of me was screaming to get out. Yet, I was so tired at the end of the day, that I couldn't physically do anything creative. After months of prayer and patiently waiting, I finally found my way out and couldn't be happier in my spirit.

The first thing I painted on my new journey - without consciously thinking about it - was - Alice. I was inspired by a recent issue of Somerset Studios magazine - their theme throughout the magazine was Alice. I picked it up on a recent trip to Texas, and I couldn't put it down. I also was inspired by Kelly Rae Roberts. But what turned me on to Kelly Roberts was an art post by Courtney Walsh on her blog several years ago. Courtney, you have no idea how much I was screaming on the inside while sitting at the corporate America desk bored out of my mind reading this post. I guess one just doesn't know how much we can effect the lives of someone else. Thank you for being the little white rabbit for me to follow. I didn't know it at the time, but it was the beginning of a journey.

So....I came home from our trip to Six Flags and opened my box of art supplies that the UPS man delivered the week before. (Yes, I haven't even opened the box because I knew once I did, there was no turning back) I followed the techniques in Kelly Robert's book and drawing from inspiration in the books and magazines, came up with several whimsical versions of Alice.

************

Since that blog post five years ago, I have had an amazing fast paced artistic journey that still keeps me out of breath. The sky is the limit and the feedback and comments people share are heartwarming. My love for mixed media has not dulled, and my imagination is soaring with ideas that I can't implement fast enough.

I have done several more "Alice" mixed media pieces. This is one of my favorites. It's 20"x 20" and has a home with a beautiful little girl.

If you are a mixed media artist, considering joining the challenges at Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. There is a wide variety of artists and crafters that participate, and frankly, I would welcome more mixed media "art" projects. We have some very cool prize sponsors coming up for the rest of the year and some fun challenges. 

This is one of the latest of my mixed media paintings.

I would love to hear in your comments about some artists that have impacted you personally through your journey.

And after you comment, check out the fun artistic ornaments by Patience Brewster. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

New Orleans, Music and June

The calendar pages just keep turning faster than I can catch my breath.

(Warning - long post with lots of photos!!)

 I'm still filling orders from before summer started and trying to keep up with art for the galleries. The month started off teaching and art class to a great group of young artists. We studied Van Gogh.

Then one night my hubby wisked me away to Boston! (Not the city - the BAND!)

 I still can't believe we got to hear them in person. This was in Jackson, Mississippi.

The next week, we sent my daughter to camp. Hubby and I packed the dog and our two bicycles and went to New Orleans for a week. We stayed in an adorable shotgun house on Dauphine in the Marigny District that we found on www.vrbo.com.

It was about 8 blocks from the French Quarter, where we rode our bikes to every day. We walked to Frenchmen Street (4 blocks) every evening to stroll from one Jazz club to the next to enjoy the best music in a very artsy, bohemian setting. We couldn't wait until Thursday when the Frenchmen Street Art Market opened. We have always loved that place.

One night our friends from Covington drove down and took us to the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone on Royal. We took photos in the carousel mirror and saw strange images in the reflection. (haunted??? hmmmmm) Then we strolled a few doors down and heard Washboard Chaz  - you just really never know who you will see and hear when in the Big Easy.

We visited the French Market one morning and almost rode our bikes into the live shooting of a new HBO show called "Quarry". It's set in the 70's - so our modern bicycles would have been out of place in that scene. I still can't believe when I heard a man's voice say "Can you stop?", that I actually replied "Why?".... when normally I would have peddled faster. He replied "Because they are shooting.." and I turned and said "Like....bang...bang??" lol. We toured the inside of the St. Louis Cathedral (yes, air conditioning!) and ate breakfast on cute bistro tables on street corners.

We met this book author at the French Market.

Hubby hired this street poet to write a poem to me on her non-electric typewriter. What a teasure!

Sandra and her daughter that own Cajun Corral Farm at the Frenchmen Street Art Market. I bought the nicest goatmilk tropical scented lotion from her.

We had a romantic dinner at Adolfo's next to the Frenchmen Street Art Market on our last night. Then headed home the next day to pick up our daughter from camp!!

 She was there with several friends from the youth theater, but she met several new friends as well.

She was awarded a Craft Award from her craft teacher, Missy Robertson (yes, the one from Duck Dynasty), and her other teacher was Mrs. Howard (Korie's mom)

My Happy Camper!!

One wonderful summer month - almost over. Ready for the next adventure. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to follow me at Melanie Douthit Art Studio on facebook - or on Instagram at DouthitArt

Have a great day.

April Showers with Mixed Media

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog has geared things up this month. We have a fun challenge with some prizes from DecoArt!

I'm so thankful (as well as my team members) to DecoArt for graciously sharing their awesome products with us. I'm so excited to share what I created. DecoArt has a line of products specifically for mixed media artist. The line is called DecoArt Media (click the link to view the product line).

My project was quite large. I worked on a 20" square canvas. I collaged various papers on it, then used this wonderful DecoArt product called Crackle Paste.  I used various stencils and a palette knife to apply it, then let it dry. I hope you can see the wonderful texture it made.

The theme for this month's challenge is April Showers. If you are participating, this can be anything from umbrella's, to clouds and rainbows, to  - well.... the sky is the limit (literally!).

I chose to paint coneflowers after a fresh rain shower. The next wonderful DecoArt product I used was the Fluid Acrylic paint. I used it in a variety of ways from dripping and spraying with water, using it like watercolor, and also direct application and line work. I love these paints! I also used their Gesso (white) to separate some of the background from the foreground over some of my collage papers. It's great, too.

"After the Rain" 20" x 20" by Melanie Douthit

Here's a closeup of the paint OVER the crackle paste.

In order to participate, go to the main Mixed Media Challenge Blog and upload the link for the project you created for this month's theme. There will be 3 random winners and each will win a  prize package of DecoArt Media products. How cool is that!

I hope you are inspired by this month's challenge. We can't wait to see what you create.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Textiles in Mixed Media

Today is MONDAY and my mixed media art workshop is tonight! I have a dozen eager and talented ladies that have come with willing hearts and great creativity. I was looking at a mixed media blog over the weekend and wanted to post it here for inspiration. The name of the blog is

Mixed Media May

and for every day in May for the past few years, they have a guest mixed media artist and an interview.

I was guest artist a couple of years ago on this blog. To get directly to my interview, click

Melanie Douthit Mixed Media May Interview

So.......... for tonight's class I am demonstrating my technique for painting on a collaged paper background. I will take a prepared background and go from there. FUN and SCARY because my students get to see any woops that can happen, which, frankly, is a plus because we all need to know that creating is a process with an unexpected end result and bumps and woopsies come along the way, so you learn to improvise!

and I can NOT stress enough to everyone to follow this blog NOW! This new mixed media blog will have prizes! but you need to follow and comment on the blog, and also on Facebook!!! Who doesn't like inspiration AND the possibility of GOODIES to create with? Go to

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

This is what I am working on right now. It's not technically mixed media, but I did do something new on it.

I created this background which I loved and is almost a finished painting in itself, but in the spirit of pushing to the limits, I took my Pitt Big Brush white pen and....

Again... Taking it to the limits.... As of right now it in in the process of being a landscape. Check back! And if you want more peeks.... Follow me on Instagram!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!