just because 18

Hi there! Today I have a couple of very different projects to share. First up is a rather clean and simple card that I made for my dear sister:

I was not only inspired for color by the color throwdown inspiration graphic but also by the fancy flowers featured in the graphic. Here's my attempt to create a felt / paper hand stitched flower embellishment:

Here's  the current Color Throwdown color challenge inspiration graphic:

 and for the card sketch inspiration, I joined along with the current Fusion challenge:

It's Day 13 of 30 in 30:

Up next is a 5" x 7" painting featuring a pear that was inspired by an online art lesson presented by Hall Groat Oil Painting Video DVD course. The lesson is about color theory and harmony. This particular painting focuses on an ANALOGOUS HARMONY which is a color scheme that is defined as a simple harmony and is built upon two or three colors (I limited myself to 2 colors) that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel.  I also incorporated a new technique which is referred to as "fracturing" thatI learned from one of my favorite artists Julie Ford Oliver:

I'm having fun learning how to incorporate the use of a palette knife. It just adds a whole new look and dimension:

I'm linking my painting to the Paint Party Friday site:

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you have a great day / evening!
Be Sweet ;)

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When life gives you lemons... 17

Happy September! Today I have a few very different projects to share both based on a common theme: LEMONS. First up is a card that I made for my dear sister featuring two of my favorite PTI stamps sets: Friendship Jars and Tiny Tags:

For card sketch inspiration, I'm joining along with the current retro sketches sketch challenge:

In hopes of improving my painting skills, I'm joining along with Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days September 2016. 

Day 1: Today I have an 8" x 8" painting to share featuring a tri of lemons that was inspired by an online art lesson presented by Hall Groat Oil Painting Video DVD course which I enrolled in recently. I haven't taken a formal art class since college in 1986 and I've been in search of an oil painting class where I can learn and expand on my knowledge regarding the fundamentals of still life oil painting. I've been considering returning to either the University or Community College to take some courses but the thought of trying to squeeze a class in my schedule was not appealing. Thankfully I stumbled upon Hall's site and it happened to be just what I was in search of! :) LOVE when that happens!

This is painting is my first lesson where I'm learning about shadows, depth and color harmony:

I'm linking this painting to the current Paint Party Friday site:

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I hope you  have a great day / evening!
Be Sweet ;)

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Shades of Pink Peonies 28

Hi! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend! The weather was beautiful here so I hiked my favorite trail: Telegraph Pass on South Mountain taking in all the natural desert beauty. I have an art journal page to share that I finished this morning that was inspired by strokes and techniques I learned from Nancy Medina's video "Pinkalicious Peonies". I put together this vase and flower arrangement for my own personal inspiration in my studio:

Here's my interpretation:

Close up, you can see all the layers and strokes it takes to create dimension:

I'm really enjoying all I'm learning in my art journey from a variety of artists whose talent I appreciate and admire. I took the plunge and committed to a floral painting workshop that will be held at an art school in the upcoming months!

I'm entering this page in the following challenges:
For color inspiration, Scrap Africa:

Paint Party Friday:

 Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days: Day 24:

Thanks so much for visiting ~ I hope you have a great week!

Be Sweet ;)

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