Moleskin Giveaway

I should have more angel pictures to post tomorrow or Tuesday, but I wanted to let you know about the giveaway on Cecilia's blog. You have until midnight to enter her moleskin giveaway and check out her blog!

It's been a while since I have worked in pastel,

and this one really took a long time. I reworked it several times and finished or not, I am ready to move on.

Something to think about...

I am slowly finishing my next angel in my series... it is a pastel this time. I am anticipating having it finished by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

I think my next angel may have to do with the website I posted, a project by the Holocaust Museum Houston. It should be a fun challenge and something I can give. I actually can't wait to finish this current angel so I can start on the Butterfly! I hope that it's going to always be this easy to find my next "new" way to paint the same thing, but I doubt it. We'll see how I feel about it when I get to the 40's and 50's in the series!

We finally have some sun and I am able to get better pictures of my latest pieces. Hopefully, a little truer to actual color.

I am blessed to be married to my own art instructor/critic/encourager. Clay pointed out that my sketch needed more contrast in some areas and to push back details in others. After making adjustments he suggested, I like the sketch better!

Angel Sketch

I decided to do a sketch for my fourth angel in my series. It was a learning experience as I usually don't do many detailed sketches. It really forced me to pay attention to value.

Aha Moment

I have finally had my "Aha!" moment, although in a few months or weeks I may be questioning my sanity. I have been searching for inspiration and focus in my art and after reading the October issue of Watercolor Artist, I have decided to begin a series based on angels. Specifically, on two angel Christmas ornaments I picked up last year. I have already two paintings done to begin with and have just completed the third. I plan on doing 100 pieces, hoping to stretch myself creatively. If you want to join in this challenge with me, just post a link in the comment section.

Whether you do 5, 10, 50 or 100, challenge yourself!

Rainy Days and Cookies

It seems that some rainy days are just cookie making days! The house is full of the scent of molasses and ginger! We are forecast to get 3-6 inches of rain today! Wow! We may float away! I would usually use a day like this for painting or creating something (in reality, probably reading a book), but I am in the 4th day home with a sick kiddo. She is recovering finally and ready for entertainment. That would be me!

Here is my recipe for when you are in the mood for some yummy Oatmeal Molasses Cookies.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

1/2 C shortening

1/2 C sugar

Cream together until fluffy.

Add:

2 eggs

1/2 unsulphured molasses

Mix together in a seperate bowl:

1 1/4 C all purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp

Add to molasses mixure and mix well.

Stir in:

1 1/2 C quick oats, uncooked

1 C raisins

1 C chopped nuts

Place in heaping teaspoonfuls on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Cool for 2 minutes and move to a wire rack until cool.

Enjoy!

Crown Hotel

I am still working on finishing up with the Virtual Tours and was so inspired by looking at everyone's space and art. I have been in a bit of a desert creatively lately and was looking at the photo's I have taken so far this year. Well, if you take out pictures of my kids and new puppy, creatively speaking, I haven't done much. I need to get it in gear!! While I was looking at my pictures, I came across one I had totally forgotten about. In my small town there is an old, run down hotel used for apartments that has a vintage sign out front. On my trek around town, looking for photo opportunities, I took a picture. Played with it a little in Photoshop and posted it on my Facebook page. Not too long after that, I ran into a Facebook friend who really couldn't understand why I would take a picture of THAT hotel sign! She wondered if there was some kind of connection to the hotel (probably thought I was a little strange!). I remember wondering why did I need a connection to the hotel to need to take a picture of it! Why not just take a picture just because?

Thanks

It was so much fun participating in the "Quilting Arts" Open Studio Virtual Tour! Thanks for all the lovely comments! I really enjoyed visiting everyone else's studios, as well. So interesting to see the differences and similarities to other creative folks.

My Studio-a work in progress

I seem to have a dual personality in my studio. Some of it is extremely organized and the rest of it is seemingly cluttered. (I do know where everything is, despite appearances.) It is definitely a work in progress that I began this summer. Organizing, decluttering and a little bit of creating! I really have just a corner of the breakfast nook in my kitchen, so I am forced to really be organized. I do spill over now and then, and take over the kitchen table as well! I am now at the point where I want to start decorating and having a little fun in my little space!

Oct. 3 is Open Studio Day

Quilting Art's is offering a virtual studio tour! http://quiltingarts.com/

Check back in on Oct. 3 for pictures of my studio space!

More summer projects...

As I promised, here is the swan I painted for Caitie's room. She is really in to swans lately, and blue is her favorite color. It is more a study than a painting really. I experimented with lots of bold color in my underpainting along with texture this time!

I am also posting an update on the angel painting. After showing it to another artist for a critique, I took his advice and softened some of the edges and tried to add some more lost edges for a little more interest. You can check out our friend's artwork at:
toddwilliamsfineart.com

Cara's List

I haven't posted in a while. Several months, looks like! Summer was busy and my camera broke in June! Ugh! Still haven't replaced it. I have been using my Kodak, but the pictures are, well, not that great! I may have to break down and buy an new one! Here is one picture that turned out. My girls were redecorating their room this summer and wanted art for their rooms! This is what Cara requested! I couldn't resist throwing in some "Mom advice". Kinda like sneaking zucchini in chocolate cake, I think. I am hoping to get a good picture of Caitie's painting later and will post it when I do!

Second Angel

Second Angel-Acrylic/Mixed Media 11 x 14

Caitie's first published collage "Thinking Only of You"

This is a collage done by my 10 year old daughter!  

Angel

My "Angel" just didn't ever feel completed, so I have been working on it some.  I am finally feeling it may be finished!

Spring Colors

Art created for Mixed Media Monday. The challenge this week was to create using spring colors. Very fun challenge!

Also, I just saw the Artygirlz challenge for art using stamps, so...

I will get two for one this week looks like!

Butterfly

Butterfly Dreams

Butterfly Art for Artygirlz Challenge Blog

Mixed Media:  Acrylic & Fiber

Angel

Mixed Media Painting:  Acrylic & Fiber

Mae Mae's Fountain-Mixed Media: acrylic & cheesecloth