From Whence My Banner Cometh

I painted this canvas several months ago, using techniques found in Kelly Rae Roberts' Taking Flight book. It was in response to a challenge for Creative Therapy, and it also inspired a new blog banner, created by Kris L. Hurst.

My mini paintings for a 'girly' swap

These original paintings by me- and much of the credit goes to the styles of Kelly Rae, Suzi Blu and Shonna Bucaroff- are 4" x 4," and I made them for a personal swap of "girly" style pages with Malin Walkeby of Sweden. I finished them up about 2 a.m. last Sunday before hitting the road for several days for work.

I had great fun doing them, having been doodling faces for weeks in my journal. When I saw Malin's faces and girls on Flickr, I knew we had to swap. She also encouraged me to join the Marie Antoinette Mail Art group, and I have 18 pages of 4 x 4 Maries to make soon for a fat book in that group.

The backgrounds of my pages were the first thing I made, actually using rubber stamp in and a blender brush. Then I added texture by stamping over punchinella. Next I drew my girls in pencil, then filled them out with watercolor crayons. Next, I painted titan buff acrylic right over the facial features I had just drawn. I finished off the facial features with gel pens and more watercolor crayons, using water to smooth. I added paper, brad and button accessories as well as some vintage embellishments: sheet music, book pages, assorted goodies and beaded lace. Finally I stamped on some messages, put my info on the backs and six hours later I was done.

I received Malin's wonderful pages last night when I got home from my multi-state trip, and I'll post those very soon.

I have lots of wonderful artsy (and wordsy) news to share-coming soon!

All in A Day's Work

It's called "The Care of the Mind." Not sure if it is done. 11 x 14 gallery-wrapped canvas. Acrylics, collage, charcoal, watercolor crayons. Still studying Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts and Journal Bliss by Violette, and very impressed with Twisted Figures art by Shonna Bucaroff.

Oh, and so much for Facebook DIY, my little sketch pad. Last night I decided to get with the program and join the real Facebook. How fun it has been to connect with art friends and reconnect with old school friends. Good way to care for the mind. They're old; I'm not. Come find me there here.