Just Off The Easel...

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"Washed Away"...

Just added March 2013 Daily Paintings  Page above.  I will be posting my daily paintings of Jesus there. Be sure to check it out.  I am thinking I may add all those that are shared there too. Let's see how many pieces of Christian art we can create before Easter!

Back to Business

What? It's almost the end of the month. I have been so busy! It's good to be busy but I have been feeling a little overwhelmed the last few weeks. I am listing some paintings on Ebay with low starting bids. I just listed this mermaid with a starting bid of just $20! Click on the picture to make your bid. I am cleaning out my studio so I will be listing a few more.

I finished a few paintings for the gallery class I will be teaching. Simple and easy. More than a few people have expressed an interest in buying a tutorial painting class to see & learn how I paint. So I tried to make a video of myself giving a class. Oh geez!! I can't do it. I want to but unless I stay totally out of the picture or wear a bag over my head it's not going to happen! The unknown artist instead of the unknown comic! hahaha I'm too shy for my own good. I'm going to work on it though!

I am revamping my studio to make room to sew. I used to sew all the time but haven't touched a machine in years. I am having so much fun "painting" with thread. Free-motion sewing using they embroidery or darning part of the machine is so much fun. I'm not really good at it yet. Here is the first thing I have done. It's going to be a pillow cover. I didn't use stabilizer so it puckered more than I thought it would. If you care to try this be sure to use interfacing or stabilizer, or double the fabric so that you won't get the puckers. I love the look of it, like a pencil drawing. I have a long list of pillows like this I want to make.

Time, juggle, juggle, juggle...

Create a great day!

Distasteful? LOL...

The Empress...

...no it's not me! haha It's an eclectic little shop up the hill from me in Placerville. The Empress is definitely the lovely Carolina Smith, shop owner of 11 years. Her wonderful shop, located at 582 Main Street, is full of unique clothing and whimsical items. Her shop has a style of it's own, the best way to describe it is a little bit steampunk, pirate, gypsy, victorian, mermaid, saloon girl! So me right!?! Whatever it may be, it's a wonderful collection of her handmade upcycled redesigned fashion creations and is truly a reflection of her beautiful spirit. I am thrilled that she is selling some of my cards & art in her shop. We have much in common and I hope that our friendship will grow. She makes me want to put my brushes down and pull out my sewing machines. I'm like the guy in that commercial that is fighting with himself for a cigarette! hahah I have way too much on my plate right now to create another project for myself but Carolina does inspire me. Maybe one day soon...

A few Saturdays ago I wandered the Farmer's Market across the street from her shop before she opened. I bought some huge organic blueberries from Oregon and took them to the Cosmic Cafe next door to eat with a hot soy latte. I sat in a chair so close to the door it was almost on the sidewalk. I people watched and eavesdropped on a few interesting conversations. Honestly I can't remember the last time I spent a few relaxing hours out all by myself.

Carolina must love coming to work each morning. When she opened her shop it was full of the aroma of fresh coffee wafting in from next door, her collection of incense, and the old old building smell. I'd love to wake to that each day! We spent the morning in her magical shop with my camera. It was so fun.

If you would like a one of a kind portrait to be transformed into a beautiful mermaid, a pirate mermaid, a mermaid princess.... all I need is a photo. It's truly a unique gift! Email me for details or click on the mermaid above!

Misawa & Me

Some of my most treasured & most terrifying childhood memories were made in Misawa, Japan. The good far out weights the bad. The Japanese people were such kind & gentle people and the experience was so enriching that it somewhat etched me into who I am today. As I say in some of my profiles, it was there that ignited a lifelong quest of crafting and a determined search for the perfect craft. (Those of you that know me, I know are taking a moment to laugh like hell, coz you know, go ahead! lol) It was there that I learned needlework, it there I was baptized, it was there I realized, we are all one, no matter our differences, and it was there I it really sank in that life is fragile, we really aren't in control, and it can be gone in an instant. These are a few photos of the 1968 8.2 earthquake that I went through while I lived there. I know the helplessness & terror that they feel with the earthquakes, however, I know that I can not fully comprehend the horror and uncertainty they are going through with the tsunami and nuclear situation. My heart is bleeding for the Japanese people. I am praying for them all and all of the families of the kind people and their families that touched my life in past.
I have listed these 2 Angels on Ebay and 50% of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

I used the same palette for both pieces. Thalo Blue, Viridian, Crimson, Yellow Ochre, Cad Yellow, Titanium White, and Payne's Gray. I painted the mermaid 1st, using only very little yellow, then painted the sunflower Angel with the same under painting and palette using very little viridian & thalo blue. I think these combinations of colors muted & melded into each other making the pieces moody instead of super bright. About 15 years ago I began making my own perfumes. Most store bought perfumes give me headaches, whether worn by me or someone else. Making my own and removing all the chemicals make it possible for me to wear more scents, there are a few that don't bother me as long as I don't put too much on. So a few years ago, on the weekends, I created a small line of perfumes. Like a little chemist, I was measuring, mixing and smelling, adding, subtracting, reading everything I could find, smelling everything to try & guess what was in it, trying to develop something that was natural, different, yet sophisticated. Not just a combination of a few oils. My guys put up with all "reek-age" leaked in the atmosphere and were generally willing give their opinions which was really sweet. Opening a new shipment of oils were exciting times. Oh what mystery smells that were about to be unleashed into the mix! So exciting! *P.S. Tomato essential oil does not smell like a tomato bush, the scent I was hoping for. I have no clue what it would be good in! P U* I spent innumerable hours in study, learning what makes good top notes, middle notes, bottom notes, mixed endless combinations of oils, designed the packaging, did profit figures and came up with some marketing strategies only to be left to occupy a little corner of my studio. It was impossible to start that business and work at such a stressful job at the same time, but I thought one day.... One day still hasn't arrived, however, I made the most wonderful jojoba lotion bar last night with some of those supplies. I love it so much I may make some to sell in my Shenanagans shop and on this blog just so other people will have to chance to have some. I need to tweek the recipe a little bit but it turned out much better than I expected for first try. We'll see. I'm still trying to find balance with all the other things I have on my plate. Oh but it's so creamy and smells so good. I used a green Irish smelling scent, which is really a unisex scent. I made all the guys put it on their elbows, and I think it made all the wrinkles on my face disappear! hahaha! just kidding. Don't you wish?!
A Big Shout Out & Thank You goes to these fabulous shops for featuring my art in their wonderful collections! Please click on their names to visit their shops. SmallImpressions, BirgittasBridal, AnnaLela, OrangiesAttic, WhatsHerName, AprilCJohnson, MyDreamGarden, and GreyGirlDesigns - Thank you so much!

My First...

...digital doodles are finished and I just listed them in my Etsy shop. I don't have photoshop, I have a very old program so it was a painstaking process but I enjoyed it. I have sold several t-shirts with a mermaid doodle like this one on them in my Cafepress shop. I am currently working on a crab & angels. I plan to revamp some of my old folk art paintings and turn some of them into digital doodles.
My right brain has gone on vacation. I can't paint a thing and I'm in mess mode. I am beginning to see a pattern. About every 3 months for a couple of weeks I can't paint. If I do I just ruin perfectly good canvas or paper. All I want to do is experiment, try different projects. I pull it all out! Glitter, paper, scissors, glue, needles, yarn, collage papers, sewing machines, etc... I make a big ol' mess. I having been working on these doodles in between messes. LOL Pictures may follow, we'll see. haha
I also started to sell (hopefully) a few of my photographs on Sometimes Things Are Black & White. I can't tell you how much fun I am having putting these black & white collections together. I love it. I added some videos too. I have a few more photographs that I would like to share/sell but haven't taken the time to load them onto the computer. Not enough time in the day lately, mess mess mess! Life is grand! I love to peel glue off of my fingers. It could be that I put on extra so that I can peel it off. Mercy Messy me!

Snapped !

Today I snapped lots of pictures with the macro setting on my digital camera & small paper light box while babysitting. I have a 12 yr old girl "Mo" staying with us until Sunday or Monday morning and I had my little Doodle bug. He is smitten with her. It's so cute. Not even 2 and trying to impress the ladies! I have to say it's nice not being the only girl in the house! So fun! She is an amazing little artist and likes to draw Anime. Here's the mermaid she drew & painted today! Pretty awesome for 12 ! Here's the paper light box I made, which works better than I thought such a simple thing would! 3 pieces of white card stock is what I used. The paper folded in the rear I used to close or open the back of the tent with, what a super simple way to adjust the light!