Collections...

 Oh my - I'm so thrilled with my frames and these beautiful pieces.

I found the perfect frame for my little Lorraine Lewis Original "Chicken Love" when I first saw her on Instagram I loved it!  I can't believe she's come to live with me!  I've placed this beautiful piece on my mantle so I can see her everyday!  My daughter calls her "Mother Dove" a character from one of her stories!  Love!

On the right side is my Misty Mawn postcard collection.  Two of these are originals, one I bought and one I received from Misty in the postcard swap.  All these other beautiful printed cards are the cards Misty has generously given over the year... since meeting her in Italy!  I love the frames I have been collecting for each of these cards!  This amazing collection went up this weekend!

Such beauty, I tell ya!

Feeling so blessed!

#InMyStudio... Peonie get's a face lift!

I did this painting 14 weeks ago.  I thought I liked it at the time but something wasn't right about her.  I have been looking at it every single day since and a little irritated by it.  I knew she had to change or go but wasn't sure how or when etc...

I was playing around #InMyStudio in the afternoon and after dinner I decided to try my hand at changing it... after all I had nothing to loose because if I couldn't get her right - she was going to the bin!

Step 1 and 2

The position of the blue scarf was annoying me.  Her face was too narrow making her eyes seem really close together and her nose was all wrong!  I grabbed my gesso (my fav art supply at the moment) and started covering up the area's I didn't like.  You can see on the 2nd picture - I already started reworking the eyelids and eyes, shadows and nose.  Also widening her face... a bit too much!  But hoping to find my way!

Step 3 and 4

I started putting the hair down so I could start finding the shape of her face with the hair in place.  The nose still wasn't right!  I wasn't opposed to the scarf on her head but just didn't like the way it was positioned too high on her head!  I worked the scarf back in, just more gentle and soft!  I also broadened her neck a bit and worked the background shadows again.  The position of where she's looking is also much better!  In Step 4 I am still not thrilled with the defined line of her bottom lip.  I have been working very hard on my eyelids and lips in general lately.

Final Step

I tweaked the nose and bottom lip and put in the little extra pieces of hair and softened the background around her scarf.  I have to say... I am beyond thrilled with her now! I'm also so blown away with her eyes and the intensity of them!

All I can say is that it's Sunday night and I'm going to bed with a full and happy heart!

Sleep tight!

#InMyStudio - Happy Saturday Morning.

Well nothing gives me greater joy than waking up very early on a Saturday morning... like 5am to a very quiet house.  With spring in the air, the mornings are cool and still!  I tiptoed through to get my latte and headed straight to my studio.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do... I was searching through my journals just because... and I found these two transfers I did in my LeatherBound journal.  I did them a few weeks ago and wasn't overly impressed with them so I just packed it away.  But with fresh eyes - I was rather delighted.  I decided to mess around with them and some paint.  Well I have to say I was blown away by my result!  I totally didn't expect that!  It was the first time I did a transfer/painting!  But I know I will be back!  What a joy and wonderful way to start my weekend!

This journal is made up of handmade paper and it's not great to work on at all.  Glue doesn't take to it, neither does paint etc.  It's simply horrible.  But I did this transfer and gessoed around it.  The gesso with the fiber in the handmade paper created an amazing texture!  Which totally contributed to this old fashioned vibe!

I will definitely be doing more of this!

I am so thrilled with these two pieces.

#InMyStudio - Serendipity Homework for October #2

Don't be too shocked... I know I was!

In fact, I was so shocked that I hid them away for a day or two.

And when I pulled them out - I was so delightfully surprised.

I am completely out of my comfort zones and don't really have a clue what I'm doing!

I used Indian Inks, Tissue Papers and painted both of these pieces mostly with my hands!

I'm not finding it easy at all but I'm hoping as I move through each assignment

that I will find more was to loosen up, discover new techniques and more about my inner creative self.

How you might ask???  Well I was doing a completely different painting last night and I found myself using some of the things I've learnt here... Thanks Juliette, I have to say that surprised me.

It's the layering and texture and depth that I'm hoping will all contribute to my overall growth as an artist!

I know this is just the beginning... but here's digging in!

Both of these pieces have already been claimed and going to new homes!

Who knew!

#InMyStudio - Wowser what a week....

My younger brother was here visiting this past week, for work.  Which was such a treat!  We are close and it's not everyday I have family visiting.  He loves to chat so there were many late nights catching up, dinners, chatting and listening to music.  I also had a massive undertaking dealing with our government departments, which is ever an easy feat!  My Drivers License expired, so I had to brave that Traffic Department and Home Affairs to finally, after almost 20 years of marriage, get my new ID document in my married name.  Long overdue!  Well when dealing with these two departments will make you understand why I put it on hold for almost 20 years!

I'm not sure how it was possible with all this going on and work and extra murals and life in general but I still managed to fit in 6 paintings this past week!  Three of which were homework assignments.  I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this.

That means almost everyday I did something creative!  Which you know just equals happy heart for me. 

When I see these all together like this... to me they are all so completely different.

Everyone says I have a very distinctive style - but I just can't see it!

More about each piece to follow...

#InMyStudio - something completely different....

I know this is a little different to my latest work.  It's my October homework from my online class Serendipity, with Juliette Crane.  I know it's completely different to what she does - in terms of her whimsical people and creatures.  I don't want to imitate her or copy her but I want to learn from her while still being true to my own style.  This was a large canvas and I used Inks and paints and used papers and things to almost stamp paint onto my background.  I did my background completely first.  Using mostly my hands to do this... it was definitely different for me!

I am still not sure how I feel about this piece but what I am sure of... is I love her face and I love her dreamy feel!

Not sure how to move forward with this but keen to just play more with some of these new techniques.

This sweet girl is already going to live in a very dear friend of mines home!

#InMyStudio - Madonna from Brussels...

 I'm addicted to seeing how my paintings evolve right in front of me... I'm always surprised!

As you can see from my draw up she isn't right at all!

I don't usually start painting until my draw up is more accurate...

But I had a feeling once I started laying down the paints - my eye would come right!

The middle image, you can see still isn't right but she's finding her way...

I was much happier with the third image, that's where I left her on Saturday night!

Inspired by a Renaissance Card that
Lorraine Lewis sent me from Brussels

I really love where she ended - and I absolutely love her hair.

The red detail on her dress - really did finish this piece off for me...

with the pattern of the wallpaper coming through.. just worked so perfectly!

Lorraine was right - I loved painting her!  Thank you my friend!

 

Digs was making me laugh when he was stealing shots of me #InMyStudio!