My Blue Zone...

Have you heard of the Blue Zone project?  I'm not much into having city/county officials trying to influence one's choices over what to eat, how to exercise...blah, blah, blah

I think I know better than anyone what is healthy for me.  I prefer having control over my own lifestyle choices!

Small 5/7 canvas depicting my blue zone!

blue eyes...

I'm working on a series of mixed media portraits on canvas.  This is a large piece (for me) 18x24.  I've been fussing with her for days and need to step back and take a break.  (Thank goodness for gesso that's all I can say!)

Surprisingly, taking a photo of the work makes it easier for me to find her flaws rather than just looking at the original work.  I'm not sure why that is...

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

  

mixed media still life...

A couple of quick sketches in my latest journal - two still life drawings using mixed media.

I know, I know, perspective a bit off, shadows questionable, but I love the painterliness (is that even a word?) of what I created here...

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Woman Unleashed - Day 14

This is the last day of Woman Unleashed 2016 retreat.  It was a blast.  Thank you to all the generous women who guided us through the retreat and a special thank you to Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici for putting this all together.  I loved every minute of it!

Woman Unleashed - Day 13

Here is it, New's Years Day 2016 - it's hard to believe how quickly time is flying by.  Today's guide, Rhonda Britten, was a hoot.  She mentioned a "love tooter" and I was off and running - not sure if I heard anything else she had to say.  I plan to go back and listen again.

I had so much fun creating my love tooter!

Woman Unleashed - Day 11

Today's guide, Amber Jean, talked about "Creating a Reliquary: Honor the Energy of a meaningful object by creating a small shrine to house a personal relic."

I chose to make a small shrine to fit inside my Woman Unleashed journal.  I had a little charm that fit the theme of Woman Unleashed perfectly!

Woman Unleashed - Day 10

Day 10 brings us two guides.  Karen Rauch Carter - "How to Create Spaces to Restore, Revive, Rejuvenate and Rest "(that's a lot of Rs!!) your basic everyday Feng Shui, which I know little about and Mellissa Bottalli - "Heal Anything with the Power of Re-Nature-Ing" - more Rs!!

I incorporated the five elements of Feng Shui - earth (yellow squares), fire (red triangles), metal (gold/brass circles), water (dark tones free flow shapes), wood (green rectangles).

As far as healing myself, I need to learn to let go of the things that keep me awake at night!

Woman Unleashed - Day 9

One of today's guides was Whitney Freya - founder of The Creatively Fit Coaching Certification. Whitney suggested we close our eyes and draw a line with any tool.  Once the line has been drawn, see what can be made of it.

The green marker line was my starting point...it was fun to just let my imagination run wild.

Woman Unleashed - Day 7

Day 7's guide is Tamara Laporte.  Her theme is self empathy.

I purposely did not finish this piece as I consider myself a work in progress...

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Woman Unleashed - Day 6

Christmas Day - We had a wonderful day.  Early morning walk, Mass, breakfast, phone conversations with our family, a movie (Trumbo), relaxing dinner of turkey sandwiches.   I'm ready for a nap!

I did find time to work on my WU journal during our busy day.  Day 6 guide was Giovanna Silvestre.  Giovanna spoke of yoga and creating a gratitude journal.

Woman Unleashed

I was invited to participate in an on-line retreat workshop.  You can join in on the fun too.  Go here http://theradiantmama.com/OP/optin-2016/ for more details.  The price is right - FREE!

My supplies were simple to create an art journal for the retreat.

Cereal box (front and back journal cover) covered with brown paper bag.  Water color paper cut to size (6x9).  I made a relatively small journal - I've got a lot going on in my life right now...keeping things small is the right choice for me.  The Cinch machine made binding a breeze.

Mixed media was used to create my cover.  (Acrylic paints, water soluble crayons, white paint pens, gel pens, acrylic ink.)

I'm ready to play - first day of retreat is December 20 - what are you waiting for?!

Linking to:

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal
Photo Friday
Petra-Pippa Koenig

Small Works...

I recently learned that my artwork "When Will the Terror End?" was accepted into the Foothills Art Center "2016 The Engaged Object" exhibition in Golden, CO.  Only 27 works from the 212 submitted were accepted.  I'm thrilled to be one of the selected artists.

I was asked to submit some work for the gallery gift shop.  These small works were created as a result of my love of fiber art and mixed media.

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Princess Warrior

Life Book 2015, Week 26, led by Andrea Gomoll.  We are to create a Princess Warrior incorporating things we love or that define us.

Crazy I know - but I love creating layers for my backgrounds.

Lots of paint 

 My Warrior Princess likes her ink!

Earrings are a must!

What defines me.  First and foremost I am a fiber artist.  I love to sew, draw, paint, read, watch birds from my studio window and, of course, take photographs!

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Not just another pretty face...

Life Book 2015, Week 24, led by Juliette Crane.  We are to create a background and paint a face.

Realism is not my thing.  I love making goofy faces.

Background process 

Linking to:

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World
Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

abstract...altered

Continuing on with my abstract painting...finding a face...

I'm still not finished with this!

Linking to:
Katherine's Corner

Little Things Thursday

abstract

This abstract painting is taking on a life of its own.  I'm not sure where it's going, but I'm enjoying the journey.  I've got more to do on this...

Linking to:

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World
Katherine's Corner

Little Things Thursday

Apple of My Eye...

Life Book 2015, Week 21 led by Lynn Whipple and Tamara Laporte.  Working in lights and darks, we are to draw an apple.

I'm not sure if my dark side or light side came out while drawing my apple...you decide.

Linking to:

Inspire Me Monday

Inner Child

Life Book 2015, Week 18, led by Kristen Van Valkenburgh.  We are to draw our inner child and include a private message to ourselves.

Linking to:
Inspire Me Monday

Blue Angel

Life Book 2015, Week 15, led by Tamara Laporte.  We are to draw a 3/4 face with high contrast.

First a quick sketch of the face; then layers of acrylic paint, watercolor paints and sticks, rubber stamps.

Dollar Store Art Journal...

Week 34 Life Book 2014 led by Catt Geller.  We are to create an art journal book cover incorporating our own artwork.  Catt is the originator of something called "Cosmic Smash" books.  Her journals are lovely, but I chose to take my own road.

I created a cover using card stock, added copies of my drawings; sanded, gessoed and painted a dollar story children's book and viola - a simple art journal!

front and back cover

inside pages

how I did it

Linking to:

Katherine's Corner
Little Things Thursday

Friday Finds
Friday Photo Journal

Photo Story Friday 

Weekly Top Shot