Field of Flowers on Canvas

 Just finished this piece on canvas today with the assistance of my sister Molly's, input.  I covered the entire surface with torn papers.  Then I used a combo of acrylics, and watercolor pencils to paint the sky and field.  I came back with Copic, Tombow & Montana Paint markers after sketching out the mountains.  At first she was standing in the field of Sunflowers, with nothing behind her.  Molly suggested the rolling hills and mountains behind her.  I was beginning to feel much better about it all after her suggestion.  Then after that, she told me I should have a villa in the background with a red roof!  Of course Molly!!!  The lady and the villa are the only collaged items in the piece.  I drew them on paper first, then collaged them into the scene.

 Here is a closer view of the lady, showing a little more detail

 This is where she is residing for the moment, on a shelf in my kitchen.

 I drew the villa, but then it was too big, so I copied and reduced the size of it and glued it into the hillside.  Complete with landscaping!  I thanked Molly for being my MUSE, she always knows just what to do about everything!  She said she enjoyed being a part of it, and thinks her ideas came from thinking of an upcoming trip her family is taking to ITALY this summer!  They will stay in a real villa and take pictures of real fields of flowers!  Until I get there, I will paint my dreams on canvas and share them with you!

Even now, I have scents of Lavender waifing through the cabin on this snowy, bleak, windy day on the mountain.  Somehow it helps, and knowing that soon I will get to harvest my own Lavender from my yard! 

Credits:

House and top border from Crowabout Studio B, Dwelling Kit at www.deviantscrap.com

top left borders- Nancy Baumiller

bottom left border- Shelly Massey Art

Created this piece for the Preposterous Painting group on Facebook.  In the group we are given a journal prompt, and collage can be used, but painting has to be involved in some way.  Loved the idea for the group!  I find that it helps me if I have an idea.  Also, I'm trying to challenge myself to paint more.  This weeks prompt was "bird in a hot air balloon"  so I was bound and determined to paint the balloon and the bird!  Everything in the piece was painted, except for the house and borders.  It was fun!  Guess what happened though?  I got the entire piece done, and I had written another quote out.  It took me forever!  The more I looked at it, the more I HATED it!  The lettering was too large and it took away from the images.  I tried to like it, but it bothered me.  So I thought I could paint right over it.  Well the pen from the lettering smeared into a big gray ugly mess.  After a couple of coats of paint I realized it was going to keep smearing.  So I decided to tear up papers and glue down on top of the ugly smeared mess.  After numerous layers of paint and papers, and typed lettering, I was finally satisfied! 

Credits-

Background- littlebrownwren

I drew this girl on a page from an old book.  Cut her out and glued her down.  I used a combination of Copic markers, acrylic paint and pastel chalk on the face.  I also drew and cut out the flower and leaves from the same book.  I used an adhesive flower border by K & Company for her headband. Bought several of them and this is the first one I have used.  I love and adore everything they make!  I got these at Michaels, and they also sell them at JoAnne's. 

Credits:

Made with images from Crowabout Studio B, Dwelling Kit, at www.deviantscrap.com

Loved all the images in this kit!  Can you tell I am ready for Spring?  Really loved the quote by Helen Hayes I found to use.  It said just what I was thinking.  We got more snow last night, I'm hoping that will be the last one.  I hope to maybe work in the yard some, in the next few days.  Time to trim the Clematis, and a few other things!  I'm hoping this snow didn't kill some things.  Somehow it all works out.  Enjoy your evening!

Had fun creating this one, laughed out loud at the quote, and as I thought about it, I realized it really was true.  There are layers of paper on it that you don't see because I managed to cover them right up.  I loved using my Montana paint markers!  Love the opaque-ness of them, which is so important.  Got the image of the lady from an old New Yorker magazine I picked up in an antique store.  I have had her for a long time, so it was about time to let her make an appearance.  Have an arty day!

A Crazy Week

Credits:

Two left side borders and Wish border- Nancy Baumiller

 Snail and lady on right- Nancy Baumiller from Collage Play with Crowabout images

 

Credits:

Bottom black and white border, and two borders beside lady from Shelly Massey at A Wee Bit Warped. 
Top side word border- Nancy Baumiller

Here are a couple of new collages I was working on recently.  Hopefully it can be an ART day here today! 

 This happened on Wednesday, when a tornado came across our mountain.  It made a huge mess out of the road and woods, with trees down everywhere.  Luckily there was only minor damage to a couple of neighbors cabins, we were all so very lucky!

Then this happened on Saturday!  We lost power for a couple of days from the tornado, so had to throw away everything in two refridgerators.  We tried to go out on Saturday to restock with groceries when the snow came.....had to turn around and come home!  We managed not to starve to death with stuff we had in the pantry.

Got to make a trip to Dick Blick Art Supplies for these though!  That made everything perfect! Hope I get to play with them today!  It's another rainy day in Georgia, so why not?

This and That

Took a little walk in the yard yesterday, saw that my Daphne bush is about to burst open and perfume the air. How nice to have something bloom this bleak time of year. Recently we bought and planted a Witch Hazel shrub, that is also supposed to bloom I'm February. As you can see I also found that the Hellebores, or Lenten Roses are waking up! In the picture here, I practically had to stand on my head to get a good close up. They nod downward, so it's hard to see the delicate detail unless you can hold it up. They too bloom this time of year. We haven't had much of a Winter though, so I won't complain! They say we may get snow Friday. We'll see!

The last picture is a bracelet I made for a customer, I'm taking it to her Friday, I hope she likes it! This one is a random array of beads where, all the beads are different except for the two Swarovski cubes that are alike. That's about it for now, have a good night, see you soon!

More New Art

Credits:

Top Border- Nayski

S Border- Nancy Baumiller

Here is a new collage I made yesterday, and the first thing that came to my mind to journal about was about the first sunny day we have had in so long I can't remember!  Going to be nice all weekend!  This collage is created on card stock.  I first used my Neo II water crayons to paint the background.  I draw all over the page in the colors I like, then smear them around with a baby wipe.  It's fun to see the colors meld together,  just be sure you use complimentary colors, because if you don't, the combo may not be desirable.  Not too much worry if it isn't because I cover up most of it anyhow!  Ohhh I try to be more subtle and simple...letting my layers show, and I guess I have realized I'm powerless over it all.  Most of these borders I have cut from a paper I got along time ago at a gift shop, and I have loved it, wish I could get more of it!  The bottom blue and yellow border is from some wrapping paper I have.  The crazy outfit came from a magazine.  After I finish the background colors, I get a black mat and trace the inside of the opening with a pencil.  I do this because when I sell them, I always sell my prints matted.  By using this guideline, I make sure to attach the border just outside of the opening.  If you collage to the edge of the card stock, you will lose certain images when you mat the print.  Once I have done that I just start gluing on pieces of selected papers for my borders.  Then I come up with some sort if central image, it can be anything really...then I doodle and journal or glue on words or both!  I love the process....it's hard to stop!  I wish I could do it all day, every day...I am trying to do more even if I can't complete an entire piece at once, I can work on several backgrounds, and sometimes I work with several at a time. Pulling out some borders and deciding which background looks best on which, and glue them down.  That way when I have time again, I have already started them.  I usually use dot glue runners to glue down my images.  It's quick and makes them stick good. Only thing I hate about them is I run out of refills quick!  I have also used Gel Medium, and glue sticks.  Well time for some breakfast and more coffee!  ( I love our new Keurig)!  Enjoy your weekend and see ya soon!