Promotion & Newsletter

Some self promotion here. My sister and I are having our first Holiday Open House and we are hoping you can make it. Who knows what we might cook up between now and Friday, November 27th.

There will be lots of Holiday cheer going around along with some goodies to eat and to purchase. So after you hit the mall early after Thanksgiving come and relax with us where smiles and warm greetings will be going around.

When: We will start with a Friday evening reception

November 27th - from 6 -9 PM

And continue on Saturday and Sunday

November 28th & 29th - from 10AM - 5PM

Where: Frontier Massage and Bodyworks

Frontier Place

1363 West 6th Street

Erie, PA

My Newsletter is out!  Just another way for me to stay in touch. I plan on doing a newsletter about every six weeks. So if you would like some inspiration coming to your email box check it out and you can subscribe here on the far right sidebar or go to my web site to sign up. In the meantime you can always view the archives and view the newest newsletter here.

If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see in the newsletter let me know, I would love to hear them.

'Dream, Awaken' ...the process

'Dream, Awaken'

5" x 5" mixed media on canvas

Original $65.

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ...
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
- Carl Jung

How does the process begin? What goes through your mind? Do you have a clear vision of the outcome or just allow yourself to be guided.

This is my attempt to show you my steps or thinking as I am guided in the process of creating my layered mixed media works of nature. I begin with a quote and in this case the one above. I then decide on color and what is speaking to me at the moment. Using FW acrylic ink I apply the color to the canvas with cotton balls so to get a rustic looking background.

Next I write the quote using an Artwin pen and blur the writing by misting with water or rubbing alcohol. Although the quote has meaning it also provides a background. Sometimes I want it ledgable and will repeat a quote in a later stage of the painting.

More background is added with transfers of my designs I do on the computer. My favorite transfer method is printing the designs on transparency sheets and using rubbing alcohol to make the transfer.

*Side note here before I forget. I spray the piece with an acrylic spray or fixative between steps that I know will run to keep them fixed.

Next I add bits of paper for color, design, and texture. I apply the paper with a gel medium.

One of the final steps is painting in my nature subject.  It could be a bird, butterfly or plant life. Sometimes I have an idea at the beginning but it can change by this step. I originally was going to do a bird but a butterfly image became strong as I was creating the background.

I start by sketching the butterfly out on plain paper working from my photos. Using graph paper I transfer the outline to the canvas and fill it in with white gesso. The gesso provides a surface and background to make the butterfly stand out and not have the under-layers interfere with the colors. The butterfly was created with gouache and colored pencil.  The last step in this case was writing 'Dream Awaken' with a calligraphic pen and gouache.

I finish my canvas with a UV acrylic spray which is glossy. Then I apply a matte varnish.

I love the gallery wrap canvases that you can paint around the sides. I like to hang them as they are with no frame but you could frame them if you wish.

 

Mandala Fun and Camp

You should never go camping unprepared and that is just about what I had done. I forgot the the one most important item my Ott Light. Yes my intention was to do some art while at the cabin which by the way turned out to be wonderful with full accommodations except internet and cell phone reception. But we did have Direct TV!  We only turned it on late night.

So what to do when it is raining and cloudy with minimal lighting? We colored mandalas. My sister and Jean brought mandalas to color so we sat at the kitchen island coloring. Amazing how different the same design can turn out colored by different people. You find yourself going into a zen like zone coloring and blending watching life go into each design. I kept thinking I could design a mandala and so last night I created my first design. I didn't want to stop and this morning I tweaked it some more.

Now I want to share with you!  Download the design, print it out and have some fun coloring with pencils or markers. Share your colored creation on your blog, facebook, twitter or all of these social media. I would love to see them. And please if you will link back to here. I would appreciate it.

What else did we do at camp besides mandalas. My sister and I did the cooking creating soups (naturally) salsas, chili, and in desperation chocolate chip cookie dough to eat. Kelly and Terre brought their sewing machine to make their cute little owls.

I did get out for a little bit on the trails between the rain showers. Kicking myself for not taking more photos.

 

And a stray horse kept coming into the yard. She didn't look to good covered in mud needing a good brushing. We were able to locate a local horseman who said people have been reporting the stray horses. It was not his horse but came by to see if he could get the horse but it was gone by the time we reached camp again. He informed us that some people can no longer afford the horses and are letting them go to fend for themselves. How sad people would do such a thing. Take them to auction if you cannot take care of them. Don't let them run wild in the woods or on the roads where someone might get hurt. We informed the owners of the cabin and gave them the number for the county ASPCA.

While packing to go home the sun came out and we had beautiful blue skies and glorious yellows and reds dotting the trees. Even butterflies came out to bask in the sun. But it was soup night and had to make my way home for an evening with the kids and more soup. Love this time of year :-).

Special print offer of 'A Winged Heart'

For my blog and facebook fans I'm offering my print 'A Winged Heart' for $40. till the end of October 2009. This is a $5. savings plus free shipping is being offered till the end of October. Printed on archival fine art paper using pigment ink the image measures 13 x 15.

Buy now with paypal.
PA residence are subject to 6% sales tax.

Shipping: Prints are packaged in a clear bag with a hard backing for protection and will be mailed in a hard photo mailing envelope through USPS. Allow 5 - 10 days for receipt of purchase.

Please contact me with any questions or additional information about my work and prints.