February and Dreaming about the Beach

It's February 1st and we are experiencing springtime weather in Louisiana! So what better to do than to create a beach themed piece - seriously - I don't even need an excuse to create something coastal. I just love anything beachy.

So - the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog's theme for February is - Glitter!

Our sponsor for February's challenge is Frantic Stamper, Inc.  The prize is a $25 store gift certificate! What a wonderful prize. 

For my creation, I used chalk paints from PaperArtsy. These paints are absolutely fantastic and this project doesn't show the range of colors they come in, but stay tuned because I will have more projects coming up.

The other items used include collage papers, various ephemera (fabrics, beads) stamps and glitter glue on the waves. The surface is a 20" x 16" piece of birch wood that I coated with gesso.

and a close up view. I still can't get that glitter sparkle to show up in the photos.

I hope you are inspired to play along! Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries without our Challenge Graphic or Link Back to us 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!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

December Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Tis the season to be........... busy!!!

My daughter is busy rehearsing for a Christmas show at the local theater, and I've been trying to get finished with my painting commissions and still find time to make small gifts. Speaking of gift items, I had the bright idea to make a series of mixed media angels - and they were a huge hit. The first one I made is the one I'm using for the December Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. This month's challenge is "Tic-Tac-Toe"

The challenge is to create from any three across or diagonal. I chose "star, patterned paper, and ribbon"

Here's my angel "Hope".

She is 8" x 10" on 1.5" deep sided canvas. I used papers, paint, stamping, gold leaf, and whatever else I found in my papercrafting stash.

Play along with us! Our prize for this month's challenge is a $25 gift certificate to Inspiration Emporium. 

To play, link your project to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog. Thanks for stopping by and have a merry Christmas season.

Excited about the July 2013 Bayou Life Magazine

Sometimes life just surprises you in unexpected ways - suddenly. That's what happened earlier this month, when I was running errands in between driving my daughter to and from swim lessons. I got a message from one of the fabulous writers at Bayou Life Magazine - a local publication in our region - asking if they could feature me for their Bayou Artist. Of course, I said YES! (Then I secretly wondered if they had the right person!). I was so excited, that I didn't even want to tell anyone - just in case they made a mistake. I didn't even really tell my husband, who walked in on part of the interview - again, he didn't know! He knew it must have been important when I introduced Mary, though. I told two of my friends (neither of them artists) - just because I had to tell someone, then let it slip to hubby one day while chattering away. So I waited. Then when one of the girls that worked at the magazine told me it was delivered, I went to get a few copies. well, it depends on what your version of 'just a few' means.

Here is the fabulous cover - a photograph by local photographer Burg Ransom. He is one of the best local wildlife photographers in our region!

Here is my daughter with the article. She was the one person with me through the interview and photo shoot. She is a great secret keeper!

Here is the two-page spread (which I'm not sure if it's readable on this blog).

 P.S. I also 'dislike' seeing photos of myself... but it was required for the article!

I'm am over the moon excited about this feature, as I follow in the footsteps of some very impressive artists as well as talented people in other areas of the arts. I'm thankful to the team at Bayou Life Magazine for highlighting someone who is so many steps behind those that have been featured before me. Mary Napoli, you are a jewel!

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a wonderful weekend!

Queens and Calico Cats

This has been a busy week. I'm teaching a basic "art 101" class focusing on drawing, shading/values, and using charcoal and pen and ink. I haven't used charcoal in several years, and stayed up late one night this week to create this demo.

I forgot how much fun it was to use. Watching my student work with it made me want to do some pieces with it.
Meanwhile - back in the art studio....I have been having fun with my "queen" series of paintings. My current one is a bit different - I covered the entire canvas with mixed pieces of patterned paper - then worked on top of it. It made a lot of texture (especially in her face) but it turned out really cool. It already has a new home with a kitty that looks just like this one, named "Lottie".

 

 

And I have one more bit of news. I'm now offering my art prints on Fine Art America. You can order various sizes, and even get art on canvas. I'm slowly adding pieces to it. Just go to Melanie Douthit Fine Art America.

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.



Mardi Gras Painting

Another new piece! Well, I actually finished it about two weeks ago. Let me know how you like this one!









Title: Mardi Gras 2010
Size: 16" x 20"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Thanks for stopping by!!

Melanie Douthit Artist Resume

Melanie Douthit Artist Resume

SELECT EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWS

- Delta Artists, 25 Artist Show, Tunica RiverPark, Tunica, Mississippi (2013)
- Spring Arts Goggle, Fort Worth, Texas (2012)
- True Colors, Solo Show, Crescent City Coffee House, Ruston, Louisiana (2012)
- Secret Garden, Featured Artist, Ouachita River Art Gallery, West Monroe, Louisiana (2012)
- Art With A View, Premier Plaza (Juried Show), Monroe, Louisiana (2011)
- Sifting the Exotic and Familiar, Three Person Show, 102A Bistro, Ruston, Louisiana (2011)
- Fish Out of Water, Old Post Office Museum, Winnsboro, Louisiana (2011)


JURIED COMPETITIONS

- "Too Much Pink/Venus Envy 2012", Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2012)
- Louisiana Peach Festival, Ruston, Louisiana (2011) Honorable Mention
- Arkansas Oil & Brine Museum, Smackover, Arkansas (1997)
- South Arkansas Arts Center, El Dorado, Ark (1997)
- Barnwell Garden & Arts Center, Shreveport, LA (1998)
- Snyder Museum, Bastrop, LA (1998)
- Heritage Gallery, Natchitoches, LA (1998)
- Local Bi-Annual Group Shows via Ouachita River Art Gallery and River Cities Art Association

GALLERIES

-Sugar Gallery, Monroe, Louisiana (2014-present)
- Ouachita River Art Gallery, West Monroe, Louisiana (1998, 2011-2015)
- Piney Hills Gallery, Ruston, Louisiana (2011-2013)
- The Great Artists Collective, New Orleans, Louisiana (2011-2012)
- Rougarou Art Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana (2010-2011)
- Beauregard Gallery, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2005)
- EBSQart.com, Juried Member since 2000

CHARITY ART AUCTIONS

- Blend of the Bayou, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Monroe, Louisiana, 2012-2016
- A Breath of Fresh Artists, Northeast Louisiana Virtual Clinic, Monroe, Louisiana April 2012
- Off The Wall, Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, Louisiana March 2012-2016
- Union Parish Chamber of Commerce, Farmerville, Louisiana February 2012
- American Heart Association Go-Red, Monroe, Louisiana, 2012, 2013
- American Cancer Society, Monroe, Louisiana, 2011, 2012
- Franklin Parish Breast Cancer Awareness, Winnsboro, Louisiana, October 2011


PUBLICATIONS, COMMISSIONS AND RECOGNITION

- Guest Artist for KEDMs Richard Harrison Celebrity Roast, 2014
- Bayou Artist, Bayou Life Magazine June 2013
- Surprise Artist for Breath of Fresh Artists Fundraiser, April 2012
- 30 Commissioned Mardi Gras Dachshund paintings, Mimi's Cafe Restaurants, Nationwide, US
- Finalist for Best Artist in Delta Style Magazine (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Cover Art for Union Parish Chamber of Commerce Visitors and Newcomers Guide 2011
- A Woman's Journey painting chosen for Breast Cancer Awareness Poster, Franklin Parish Medical Center, October 2011
- Christmas in the French Quarter painting used in promotional material for Christmas Magic 2011,   Fundraiser, First Presbyterian Church, Grapevine, Texas
- Painted wooden spoons used for prizes at the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau 2011 Christmas on the River Chili Cookoff

NOTABLE COLLECTORS

-Louisiana Senator Mike Walsworth and wife, Dawn (2012)
-Marcello Dworzak, Owner of DaVinci Paint Company (2011)

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Ouachita River Art Gallery, West Monroe, Louisiana (Current)
Monroe Art Association, Monroe/West Monroe, Louisiana
Hoover Watercolor Society, Shreveport, Louisiana
Mississippi Watercolor Society, Jackson, Mississippi