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!

Travel and Summer

Summer is a wonderful time for traveling. My favorite place to go is to the beach - any beach, but I love Florida's Emerald coast.

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog has embraced the travel theme for this month's challenge. I found this one quite easy to do. I went with a simple beach scene. Who wouldn't want to be there now?

I found the red reclaimed frame in a thrift store and just had to have it.

The sponsor for the Mixed Media Challenge Blog this month is Lindsay Weirich. She has a HUGE You Tube Channel. She is known as The Frugal Crafter. She is offering a free spot in her new online Craftsy Class called Mix It Up Mixed Media for our winner!  She is ALSO offering a half off code to her class to all our viewers. Here is the code for the discount

Be sure to enter the challenge for a chance at her prize.

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 August 31 st to enter!

Bayou Pelican and Repurposing a Mirror Frame

A few months ago, me and my husband were in a second-hand store in the heart of New Orleans - the French Quarter, and I stumbled upon a vintage mirror frame - without the mirror. We brought it home and had some birch cut for it and I created a painting. It was a hit, so what did we do - found another frame and did it again. :)

So - for my June mixed media challenge - I'm using my latest creation. The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog is having it's two year anniversary, so this month you can pick your favorite challenge. Funky Junkie is the sponsor and they are providing the random winner of the challenge with a $25 gift certificate. How fun is that? 

Here are the different challenges we had throughout the year.

I'm using #19, which is "Silver and Gold".

 "Bayou Pelican No. 2" by Melanie Douthit

It's approx 16" x 36" on birch using paint, papers, gold leaf, corrugated cardboard. Coated in resin and framed with a repurposed mirror frame (which was also sanded and painted). The beak and the foot has the gold leafing on it.

I hope you can join in the fun at the 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 the last day of June to enter.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

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!

Last week's Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour Concert in Bossier City Louisiana

Last week my daughter and I went to the Taylor Swift 1989 World Tour concert in Bossier City, Louisiana. It as the first US city for the tour. How exciting. We met up with some friend's outside and took some pics with the tour truck in the background. There were lots of folks taking pics like this.

We were soooo lucky to have gotten tickets. They sold out in seconds the first day. It was in November, so I gave them to by daughter as a Christmas gift. Our seats were very high in the second tier and for some reason, this is the only concert I have attended and sat up high that people stood up. and never sat back down........ ever. Some did, but if people in front of you stand - you can't see. The second tier is at such a slope that standing for prolonged periods of time is uncomfortable. Plus if you have a purse - you have to stand AND hold it? When Taylor was talking about her personal struggles.... there were two ladies behind us talking - quite loudly.... I almost videoed them to post - so people could be shocked... but I didn't want to be THAT mean. So I told me daughter to follow me. We went to the lower level and found two seats - asked if anyone was sitting there - and (shock) they were free. A sold out concert..... and empty seats. Yeah for us. The people on this level were all sitting and we enjoyed the show. Her platform that raised and extended was right in front of us. So nice. Here are a few pics.

She only sang two songs from previous albums. This is my fourth time to see her, my daughter's third. I do miss the older style, but she's a fabulous entertainer, and as an artist, I understand changing and exploring. I mean, we would have been there three more hours if she covered all her songs. It was great. She went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana two days later and I enjoyed seeing more of my friends post photos from that concert.

Thanks for stopping by! I am so sorry I have neglected my blog. Please follow my facebook page at Melanie Douthit Art Studio for more current news.

Think Pink February Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

For the month of January, I hopped on board the challenge that I have seen many artists participate in over the past few years. The "30 Paintings in 30 days" challenge has fascinated and terrified me in the past because I felt I was a slow painter, but I jumped on the train and completed 29 paintings this month. One of them is for this month's "Mixed Media Monthly Challenge" theme of "Think Pink"

If you haven't participated in the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge, I hope you will do so this month. 

The sponsor this month is Ellen Hutson. 

"Ellen Hutson LLC was established in November 2006 and is currently located in Issaquah, WA. We are an on-line retail store that caters to the needs of paper craft artists. Ellen Hutson, LLC is always looking to provide our customers with quality products, excellent customer service, and education and inspiration for each of the products we carry."

and the prize is a $25 store credit!

I love doing girls and faces, so I created a whimsical girl on a 12" x 16" canvas panel.

Here's a close up of her face, using acrylic paint. 

and I used patterned papers for her dress and the field she's standing in.

I wanted to incorporate the phrase "Spread Love Everywhere You Go", so I used black Stayzon ink and some older (discontinued) alphabet stamps. I call her a "Ragamuffin Girl". 

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you take part in the mixed media challenge. Just go to this post on the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog and follow the instructions for linking up. You can enter up to five times!

Have a great week!

A is for Angel Mixed Media

I am half way into my summer mixed media workshop and just demonstrated using textiles in mixed media. The students are enjoying creating mixed media surfaces using papers, stencils and paint.

Here are a couple of photos of student work in progress.

I am so proud of and inspired by these ladies! They have each absorbed what they were taught and applied it to their own ideas and just "let it go" (the theme of our adventure).

I had prepared this background in our previous class and brought it back to show them the steps I take in building my images after the first layer.

I have a pack of mini alphabet cards that I have decided to put to use. I have had them forever. I decided to use "a" for angel.

I lightly drew my angel girl, then outlined her with black. While she was drying, I added paint to the background. Next, I adhered cheesecloth to her dress with Golden's matte medium. I had brought a paper doily that I thought would make great wings, but I also had some leaf shapes, so I was trying on her "wings" when one of the students said, "Use both"! What a great idea, and in the spirit of "letting it go" , I did, and I love the look. I also didn't stress about perfectly placing the "wings" and as you can see they are not symmetrical, which I think adds to her charm. 

Next I mixed some paint to make a flesh color and painted her skin. I stopped at this point so the students could create. A few days later I pulled her out and even though I liked her at this point, I wanted to adjust her legs and do a few more things.

I used paint, stencils and rub ons to finish her up. I took the rest of the doily and out it on top, and fond a chipboard glitter heart in just the right size to add to her hands. She now awaits a new owner.

Our class has been enjoying various art products, but especially those provided by Golden Paints Seconds Program. No matter what age my student are, I introduce them to high quality art products because it truly does make a difference. 

The Downtown Gallery Crawl in Monroe and West Monroe is June 5. I recently became the secretary for this Downtown Arts Alliance, the hosts of the crawl, and am excited about the wonderful things on the horizon. If you are in Northeast Louisiana, come out. You can even shop because the Antique Alley Association shops on Trenton Stree will be open till 9pm as well as have artists displaying in their stores. The trolley will be running for free to take you to all the galleries so make a night of it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Three months

It's been three months since my last blog post.

Three months.

That can be such a long time. It can also be a very short time. It's with a heavy heart that I type this post. Eight days after my previous blog post, we lost our precious grandson. He was just a few hours away from being exactly twelve weeks old- three months. Three short months. Three short months that brought much joy. The thrill of our firstborn grandson, the thrill of watching our son become a father, the thrill of knowing how wonderful it is to be a grandparent.

Valentine's Day marked the three month point. Three months since our sweet grandson passed away in his sleep. These past three months have been long and hard.

Please cherish your loved ones. Cherish each moment. Stay close to God and learn what is important.

I have still been painting and creating through the holidays. I'm still taking commissions. I just haven't blogged. 

I started the year in my studio creating this grief piece.

It's mixed media on wood. The title is "The Day My Heart Broke".

I will never be the same person I was three months ago. 

Thanks for stopping by. Please follow Melanie Douthit Art Studio on facebook.

Newest Painting of the Year

The calendar "has" holidays, but it actually never takes a holiday. LOL. This is how I feel because the year has already started full-speed. My son and I are participating in a themed group art show this week called "El Corazon" (the heart) at the Downstairs Gallery in Monroe.  In addition to this, my daughter (a fifth grader) is showing some of her art across the street at Becton Gallery. All this coincides with the Downtown Gallery Crawl in Monroe and West Monroe - a bi-monthly event. I tried to get my husband to participate, but he still isn't interested in making art. (smile)

The first piece I created for the "heart" show was a still life with a dove and a string of hearts. I put it on my facebook page and sold it within a few days - so.... I created another piece that I will wait until after the show opens to post.

"Hearts and Flowers" 20" x 20" (SOLD)

Mixed Media by Melanie Douthit

 

 

If you are in Northeast Louisiana, come out this Thursday, Feb 7 to the gallery crawl. My work is always in the River Gallery, 308 Trenton Street, West Monroe and has regular business hours, but will be open till 9pm for the art crawl. There are 9 galleries total so it makes for a fun night. We are having beautiful weather this week, which is great for February!

 

If you want to stay up to date on my current facebook page postings, don't forget to "Like" my page. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week.





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.

Cookin' Up Something Different

I love cooking and when it's football season, I cook alot of gumbo - especially when the Saints are playing. For those of you that are from outside the south, we sometimes spell gumbo "gumbeaux", spontaneously post "who dat?" on our facebook wall when the Saints score, and alway say "y'all" for "you all". What can I say?

I recently was asked to create a sign for a friend's kitchen. She told me what she wanted it to say, the color scheme, but gave me complete liberty on the design. I've since gotten oodles of requests for this. When I catch my breath, I will put a couple in my etsy store.





Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great day and Bon Appetit, Y'all!!

Louisiana Crawfish Gumbo

I'm working on new pieces for the Louisiana Catfish Festival in Winnsboro. I'll have work in a show at the Old Post Office Museum (it's awesome so don't miss seeing this place, plus there will be air conditioning). The show is called "Fish Out of Water", so all the work will be fish related. I couldn't resist doing the crawFISH above. I can't wait to share more of my work for this show. The show will start March 17, a few weeks before the Catfish Festival. The festival is April 9.

Below are a few pics of the February Art crawl and the six fabulous artists at Mystic Art Gallery.





I'm shipping new paintings to Rougarou Bayou Trading Post and Art Gallery this week. Check out the gallery if you are in the area. I'm sending Mardi Gras themed art. Also, check out my Etsy Store for more art. I just listed a BIG French Quarter painting and it was gone in a week. You never know when I'll add something new. Thanks for stopping by and check back soon.