New Drawing

The new year has brought on more art endeavors.  I am taking a portrait class from Misty Mawn, that starts next Friday.  Thought I would try my hand at a self portrait while I wait for the class to start.  I did this drawing last night and showed it to my husband and asked him if he thought it looked like me.  He didn't think so, so I guess I am back to the drawing board soon, but thought I would share my effort anyway.

I am also taking an online class from DJ Pettit on digital art.  I must say that I feel that I am in WAY over my head in this one.  Think I will take a few hours of quiet time this weekend and try to figure it out.  My small brain just doesn't want to do digital art I guess...8-)

Happy New Year

Here's hoping everyone has a happy, healthy, prosperous, and artful 2010!
If my Muse continues to visit me in the new year, I will have a lot to share here on my little part of the net.
I am really thankful for all the online classes that are being offered by some really awesome teachers.  I love the online format over the 6-8 hour format of a class at a retreat, because it gives the student more access to the teacher and allows the teacher a chance to share more of their knowledge.  I also love the fact that you can take the class at your own speed, and sometimes even download the videos to be able to revert back to them from time to time.  Don't know about you, but often I feel rushed in a classroom setting and never do my best work.  I also often forget some of the instructions given, which makes it hard to recreate the art at a later time.

Speaking of creating, I used the instructions from my friend Serena Barton in the Dec issue of Cloth Paper Scissors to make this Wabi Sabi piece.  Great fun.

Pan Pastels Arrive

My Christmas gift card purchase form Dick Blick arrived today.  I did a little testing with them to see what they're like.  I would compare them to the creaminess of applying make-up, and very easy to apply.  I purchased additional applicators and glad I did.  The pastels are very pigment intense and only a little is needed.  Since I tend to be a bit heavy handed, I sort of ruined my first applicator..8-)  Lesson learned.  Can't wait to try them on all of my art.

New Journal Cover

I am taking an on-line class from Mary Ann Moss (Remains of the Day).  I used one of my favorite color combinations, red,black, and white fabric scraps to construct the cover.   I used novelty quilting fabric for the inside of the cover.  Now that the cover is done, later today or tomorrow, I will work on the pages for the journal.  The cover was great fun to make.

New Drawing

Decided to spend Christmas Eve relaxing with artwork.  All chores are done.   One of my early holiday gifts was a gift certificate to Dick Blick.  I have been thinking about pan pastels, since I saw Teesha Moore use them, so today I ordered them.  I plan to use them on a lot of the drawings I have done and are laying around waiting for color. Perhaps I'll use them on this...

Finished work from Misty's class

I spent the last month taking an online class from Misty Mawn.  Loved learning how to make better backgrounds, and then incorporating other images and faces into the mix.  If you didn't get a chance to take the class and she offers it again,  jump at the chance if you love to paint.  Here are two of the things I did, one is an exercise in collage and the other is painting.  Great fun!

Now I m gearing up for a class with DJ Pettit, and another class with Misty in January.  No winter blah's  this year!

Snow for the holidays!

Less than a week before Christmas, and wow do we have snow!  As is always the case here in DC, everything comes to a halt when it snows; but this time I think it's warranted.  The forecast says up to 2 feet are possible.   Most of my holiday shopping is done, so I think I am going to sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and just enjoy it!

Happy Holidays!

Finally getting around to decorating the house.  Still have a LOT of gifts to make and finish up, but decided to take a break and liven up the house a bit.  I noticed that each year I want to decorate less and less, because I HATE putting all the decorations away.  Plus time is passing so fast that it seems as soon as I put everything up, it's time to take it out again.  They say that's a sign of getting older...time passing at warp speed.

Along with getting my holiday chores done, I still have homework to do from a online class I am taking with Misty Mawn.  Very cool class.  She is planning to offer another one next month, so I need to get cracking to finish up my paintings before the next session starts.  I am also psyched about a photoshop class starting next month with DJ Pettit.  It will be so cool to learn how to enhance my photos.

I may not get a chance to post again before the holidays, so Happy Holidays everyone!

Journaling

Teesha Moore has a wonderful journaling tutorial on her blog site.  I am not really into journaling, have tried to start a journal many times and lost interest.  Teesha's tutorial is very inspiring.  I haven't gotten very far in the process, but I have enjoyed what I have done so far.  I still have a lot of collaging and pen work to do, but  check it out her blog if you get a chance.   Here's what I have done so far...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We have so much to be thankful for. I am particularly thankful for family and friends. I am also thankful for art and those who share their wonderful talents so that we all can enhance our artful journey. Blessings to all.

Woo Hoo!! Published again!

I received my complimentary copy of Sew Somerset today, with on of my portrait art quilts in the gallery. Makes me want to get back to work quilting...sort of...

Still sewing...

Still sewing, making great crafts, that may end up as holiday gifts, on my Etsy shop, or as a gift to myself...

I am also still working on making backgrounds. Here are a few of the ones I have done so far..

Backgrounds

Decided to take a break from sewing today to make a few backgrounds. Here is one of them. Fun times.

Finally back to work

It's been a while since I have done any work in the sewing part of my studio. I have spent most of the summer making dolls or taking classes, then once the iMac arrived, I have been playing and learning about my wonderful new toy. I was told about a site that offer great tutorials on how to thrive in the Mac environment. The site is wonderful and offers tutorials on all sorts of programs for computers, but i digress...

A friend asked me to sell a few items at her churches bizarre this weekend, and of course I panicked. I spent my summer learning and not really making art. Luckily I have a few things that I can take with me, but i thought I should spend some time making a few things as well. Here are three of the little bags/purses I made in the last day or so. I love the zippers.

Fall in Maryland.

Although the fall of the year can be dreary, I love the colors. Great color pallet for my next art adventure.