March 1st

I am amazed that it is already March 2013.  This year just seems to be flying by.

I am looking forward to Spring, here in the south daffodils have already popped up and I can't wait to see more green. I grew up in Northern Nevada which is beautiful country but it really is a big cat box. Dirt, dirt and more dirt.  Oh and sage brush.  lol

Well to finish of February, I finally re-upholstered my dining room chair cushions!!! This is a project I first started planning out last Spring so I am thrilled I finally completed.  I am still working the rocker I keep sanding and changing colors on it...maybe it will be a never ending project.  

This months projects:

• rocking chair
• sand big rocking chair and design pattern
• cut spring wood projects
• paint paint paint!

This and That

Hello all,

I've been keeping busy playing in my studio, and now I have a few photos to share.  

The sunflower painting was Java Paint Night at Coffee Tree Books & Brew in Huntsville, instructed by Deborah Taylor.  I've included her website link so you can see more of her art and learn more about my friend.

The butterfly painting is a gift for my neighbor.

The two photo frames were just quickie designs for fun.

I'm still painting the children's rocking chair.  I keep changing my mind on color and accents hopefully I be done soon because I have so many other projects I want to start.

Please leave me comments and don't forget to visit Deborah's website.

1 art project, 2 art projects, 3 art projects....4

I am so excited to create new things that I never have just one project going.  What about you?

My newest creative love is crochet!  There are so many adorable patterns for the wee ones that I can't help but save them all on Pinterest or Ravelry (or my hard drive).  I bought a couple patterns yesterday that I can't wait to play with.  Check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHatandI for some cute patterns!


And then...upstairs in my studio I have 3 projects in progress and my brain is already thinking about several spring projects to create and market.  

Getting back to those 3 projects: 

1. A small antique rocking chair perfect for a doll or stuffed animal.  I'm getting a little crazy with lots of color and scribble paint.  My inspiration comes from a fellow artisan I have met online http://lauriemillerdesigns.blogspot.com/  I love the whimsy and color in her designs.  
2. A sketch I want to paint.  A tribute to my father who died shortly after he turned 46.  This is my 46th year and it saddens me to think his life ended so young.  I may or may not proceed with the painting...it is very emotional for me.
3. I started a drawing of my son this month. I set it aside to work on the rocking chair. I need to get back to it...it's almost done!

I am also a new member of the Madison Arts Council!  I'm very excited to be getting more involved.  Good things to come.

So that is what's happening in my art world, what's happening in yours?

Hello 2013!

Alrighty, another year and a renewed attitude and focus in exploring my creative side.

Art studio is almost organized (a never ending battle) it never really is all the way together, kind of like me :)

I'm currently working on a drawing of my son from a picture taken when he was about 5.  I can't wait to finish and post a picture but it may take a while.  My inner child is telling me to put it away and get painting two small chairs I picked up last year or was it the year before?

My goal is to get some children's pieces together.  I think the market here is perfect for some heirloom pieces that can be passed on.  I'm just going to fly by the seat of my pants on this and see what happens.  Wish me luck!

Butterfly...restoration part 1

I picked up my butterfly this past weekend, she has a lot of damage from being in the garden all spring and summer.  I am glad I outbid everyone.  I would be mortified to have someone pay several hundred dollars for her and find out after the fact that she is damaged.  I wonder how the other butterfly winners feel about the damage on their butterflies?  We looked at a lot of the butterflies waiting to be picked up and most had moderate damage. 

The base on mine has the most damage as she was located in a mostly shady area with lots of humidity and moist soil.  I haven't decided if that part is worth restoring - maybe I will just bury the metal pole that the butterfly sits on in the ground?  Too soon to tell.

The butterfly needs some TLC.  The seal I put on did not weather well.  I'll need to carefully sand and seal with a boat type of lacquer/sealant.  I haven't determined what if any other restoration on her is needed.

Regardless, I'm happy to restore her and give her a grand spot in my yard.

I won my HSVBG Butterfly!

Call me silly but I couldn't resist the chance of owning the butterfly I painted for the Huntsville Botanical Garden earlier this year. 

The garden set up an online auction for all of the butterflies and it has been open for about 30 days now.  Maybe I should have bid on someone else's butterfly, or let my monarch slip through my fingers but I just wanted her back.  That's the thing with creating a piece of art...sometimes the piece speaks to your soul and you just can't let it go.

Regardless I am happy to say my butterfly will be returning home and she will be a permanent piece in my own art collection :)

More before pics

Before Pics-Dogwood Diner

Wine and Cheese

Well, here is the latest.  I spent some time today tweaking the painting I did Friday night at 16 main.  For the most part I like the painting...I really struggled on the cheese which should have been an easy part but from the angle I was sitting it just didn't look like a wedge of cheese so of course I had to keep messing with it.  I finally gave up - the cheese won! ha  I really liked my wine bottle except it looks a bit stubby and the neck isn't perfect.  I really need to use more "painterly strokes" and techniques.  A piece of advice given to me by a well known painter was "the harder you try to make it look real, the less it does".  I really need to hammer that into my head...practice practice practice.

WOO-HOO-HOO!!!

OMG!  I'm so 'cited!!!!  I finally finished the painting of the Venice Mask!  AND I LOVE IT!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE...LOVE LOVE LOVE...LOVE LOVE LOVE!

There were a few times when I just didn't think I would finish it, ahhhh-sigh of relief.  And now for something new, hmmmmm.  Something fun I think.  Stay tuned.

A work in progress...continued

My inspiration for this painting is a photo (see it in the background) from one of my favorite web places www.pbase.com/silvano  

You can see the actual full color photgraph at www.pbase.com/silvano/image/56804919

A great big hug and thank you to Silvano Candeo for granting me permission to use his photo in the above snapshot.

A bit too zealous!

Ok, well here I am again...day 2 of "A Painting a Day". 

Today I felt incredibly self assured that I could create a masterpiece....so I set out to paint a picture of my "grand-doggies". 

Step 1, use a really bad copy of a picture.  I actually printed this pic about a year ago.  I don't know why I even kept it because obviously the quality is awful.  But nevermind that...I can overcome, right?!

Step 2, trace outlines on less than ideal photocopy so I can then copy that on tracing paper.  Prepare painting surface and transfer pattern.  Wow!  I am soooo good, "I can't believe how well this is going" I say patting myself on the back and smiling.

Step 3, pick my paint colors and proceed to struggle with the blending and shading but I still believe it is going well enough. 

Step 4, am now cursing myself for ever starting the painting - as I mix and blend and repaint and re examine.  Ok good enough!  On to the eyes. 

Step 5, Maybe if the original copy was clearer I would not have made so many mistakes and adjustments (yeah that's it...blame it on the poor quality of the photo).  Needless to say this is where this painting ends.  I have blended so much trying to make corrections that it has become a drab muddy mess.

Oh well, maybe another day.  I think I had better stick to the whimsical rather than realistic for now.

G'night my little blog.

Spread your wings

So this watercolor was painted yesterday, January 1, 2011.  I hope that as I look back later this year my skills and execution will have improved.  I just randomly pulled this image out of thin air and went for it.

As I really have no formal art education, if you are an artist or deigner you might see me make mistakes with color theory, lighting, shading....constructive criticism is always welcome.  Likewise if you like the painting please let me know that too.

Thanks

Cheryl