Thursday, April 18, 2013

The making of a French Quarter painting

I have been stealing away time from commissions to work on some art inspired by our recent trip to the French Quarter. I've working on a series of small pieces of homes on or near Esplanade. Here's a montage of a couple of pieces.




(Above painting has been sold)

"1026 Esplanade" 11" x 14" (contact me for inquires and availability)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Mixed Media Bird and Recycling

I've been working on some new rather large pieces lately (including a mural which I'll share soon). I finally finished the last of this batch today and finally had time to play with my mixed media. I've been loving the challenges Mou has been posting on the Faber Castell Design Memory Craft blog, so I took the challenge today. She asked us to upcycle something creatively. So.... Here is what I did.



I started with a 5.5" square wood block that I prepared with gesso and paint. I choose some scrapbook papers and added the back of a McCalls sewing pattern- one from the Brook Shields line. (That should date it in the 80s.). I adhered my papers to the block and then started adding paint.

Then I had to decide what I wanted to create. Since the pattern envelope was nearly covered up, I added some cardboard from a box I had in my craft room. I tore away the layer to reveal the neat texture, and so the process continued.

I used a fabric sticker for my bird. I used a white Faber Castell big brush pen to define my clouds, various gelatos to add color to some of the elements, and a Pitt pen to draw black lines. I used various stamps to add texture. The stickers are from Tim Holtz.

Thanks for the fun challenge, Mou.

I have more large painting to do this weekend- elements for the theater set in town. It's fun to do what you love in different settings. Thanks for stopping by!


Monday, April 1, 2013

Steampunk Inspired Shadow Box

I'm gearing up for this week's Downtown Gallery Crawl. I will have some New Orleans art as well as mixed media work at the River Gallery on Trenton Street in West Monroe as well as some Steampunk influenced art at the Downstairs Gallery on Art Alley in Monroe. What a night this will be!!

Here is one of the items I created for the Steampunk show. It's a Tim Holtz shadow box using a variety of items including Tim Holtz metal plates and a few items from Scarlet Lime's mixed media kit. I love creating using paper craft products.

I added things I've had for years in my stash including brads, photo corners, chipboard letters as well as some gears and even an old jingle bell. The legs on the piece are tiny candle holders from the craft section of our hobby store.

I still have to work on adding some steampunk elements to my skirt. Yes - we are dressing up in full costume (I'm scared!). LOL.

Thanks for stopping by. I just might post some after-opening photos - so check back.