Finally 20 minutes

Today we had torrential rainfall and the studio was nice and quiet.

Finally I could set my timer to do "20 minute paintings" I have been so busy with preparations for my classes, meetings, preparations for next schoolterm, catching up on work etc. that I hadn't even be able to find time for 20 minutes works. I was craving for some "me" painting, don't get me wrong, I am happy doing what I do, but sometimes I feel like I am forever making samples (which are quick paintings in their own right of course) but they are not really "my" paintings if you get what I mean ? They are technical examples for the students to learn from, so often they are not completely finished either, to show the process rather than just the finished work. So when my friend Jane Spakowsky came up with the solution of doing 20 minute paintings, I really felt like doing some. But wow, is it HARD !!!!! 20 minutes goes by so quickly when you're doing a portrait......I normally spend quite some time fiddling on portraits until I am happy. But... well, eventhough I was itching to change some things or add some things, I stopped when the buzzer sounded and here she is :

"Miss Sadie with Flowers" - 29 x 38 cm on wood

and then I quickly did a cardboard box for another sample becuase I still had to prepare for next week which is schoolholidays here and I always run art classes for kids in the holidays : A peacock

 

Old Bird

  

Here is an "old bird" I made a few weeks ago, but I never did anything with her photos yet. And since I am EMPTY !!!! and frustrated I thought to share her with you today. After two weeks of busy kids art classes during the sachool holidays I got drained of energy and did not get much creating time myself, then yesterday I thought, yeah ! just me in my studio.....I'll go and make something nice today, and guess what ? I messed up again and again and nothing looked good and I threw everything I sketched in the bin and scraped off all the encaustics I attempted and now I feel lost

Alô - alô !

Started the holiday workshops for the kids today, curious what we do ? check it out here * It's winter here and today it rained and rained and rained some more, but we were warm inside with all the art supplies....lots of FUN !

This ostrich seems to be calling out : "alô, alô " !

Lily and her bird

Here's a little cute one on stretched canvas. I started her a while ago and almost forgot about her {bad mother I know.... I blush with shame} then... when I was clearing some space in my studio I saw her cute little face :) and had to finish her right there and then ! Encaptured her in a yummie beeswax top-layer, oooh smells divine and is soooooooo magical ♥ She could be yours you know, just look HERE ♥

 

20x20 cm or 8x8 inch

yummie layers !

The Secret Life of a Funky Bird

This is the latest spread in my Coptic Journal. A fresco style page on the right (that proud little Peacock Chicky) and the other side and the little insert booklet is matched in colours and paints. I wrote a bunch of inspirational quotes and did a funny little bird collage/painting in the centre insert. Just wanted to show that even with the traditional fresco style you can do some unconventional colours and designs, and hey, I just had a lot of FUN ! and that is what it is all about right ? PLAY pLaY Play ;)

WELCOME 2012 - the old Year 's in the BOX - and a GIVE AWAY !

Happy New Year to all my Blog friends and followers !
Of course I also want to wish that everything you wish will come true for you this year. I can now continue with my "waiting-to-be-published" posts. In this one I will share two cute boxes I made as Christmas gifts for my Mum and sister. They got a little delayed on the sleigh-ride, so they opened them last night on New Years Eve. I first woodburned the design and the words in the wood and then gave them a paintwash and painted the details. They both have some glitter and goldleaf happening (that doesn't always show up on the photos so they are even better i.r.l.)

 

  ↑-The Frog Box for my Sister-↑

↓-The Bird Box for my Mum-↓

 

I made some cards with the images as well, they are so cute and available in my Etsy shop now. 

♥

NOW : For the New Year's GIVE-AWAY: 

The first this year, I am planning a few more for 2012, so stay tuned ! This one is going to be ...a... ? SURPRISE-package that will include these two folded cards with envelopes and.....more....but what ? you may ask......well that will be disclosed on the day I announce the winner !

So.....if you can stand the suspense, if you are curious and adventurous and ready for a surprise.....just leave a comment on this post to enter. If you like to do a blogpost on your Blog about this or mention it on your Facebook page, please come back and tell me with another comment and you'll have another entry ;) The lucky winner will be announced on Monday 9 January ! I hope I have managed to show you that I really appreciate you coming to visit my blog and support me again and again and hopefully many more times to come.

♥

Waiting to be published #1

 -A: a small canvas-

Here's the first of the non-posted items that had to wait for Christmas Day to pass. This one is about the Secret Santa I entered through Whoopidooings

 and I made some things for it, couldn't share them earlier obviously, I hope the recipient enjoyed what I packed up and sent flying on Santa's Sleigh accross the globe, (A,B and C) apparently she likes RED......

-B: a bunch of RED and JAPANESE/ORIGAMI related things-

 -C: and a little altered board book with more papers etc. in the back- 

I thoroughly enjoyed what I received ! I mean look at the gorgeous parcels and what was in them ! Love that quote by Tim Burton (I am a fan if you didn't know that yet...) "One Person's Craziness is another person's reality"

I feel so spoiled...... Thank you Carmen !

 

 another beautiful gift I got from under our tree and I really want to share is this little Eau de Parfum, it came in the most amazing box and the little bottle is divine too ! It's by John Galliano. Haven't even smelled it yet, was just too mesmerized by the packaging.....

 

Hope you too feel blessed and spoiled

♥