live a life uncommon

This piece seems like it took FOREVER to finish.  I started it, painted over it, started again... layered upon layered upon layered... face shaded and gesso'd and painted and highlighted and... well, you get the idea.  This is approximately a 9x11 wood piece. 

I wasn't sure what she was saying to me.  And then, during a walk around the track, listening to my iPod... I heard the words in my ear.  live a life uncommon. 

I added touches of pink, with her lips, the butterfly... the shading around the words... and her hair is a glimmery sea of hot pink perfect pearl powder... which you can only see in the right light. 

My heart tells me this belongs to a young girl - because my greatest piece of advice that I could give someone is to live a life uncommon... and if you believe that from a young age, then your future is limitless. 

You can find her in Etsy... link to the right somewhere ------> 

she believes... part 2.

Been busy in the studio - I was commissioned for a canvas by a good friend, to be given to her sponsor for her celebration this month.  My friend wanted one similar to the one I gave HER for HER celebration a few months ago.  LOL  So another 'she believes' was born. 

Nothing makes my creative soul happier than making a she-art canvas.  They NEVER fail to make me smile.  That was a gift from a wonderful woman, Teresa Potter... someone I will never forget.  She gifted me Christy Tomlinson's sheart class - and I found my true love.  Godspeed, Teresa... miss you. 

Winner!

Congratulations Sylvia... I am banana dancing for you!

Misty Ridge said...

Ok had to think about this a while....My word is going to be Serenity. It is our first year homeschool the four children currently at home. They need peaceful hearts, I need one to maintain calm some days. I also think contentment plays into this. Learning to be content where we are.

How apropos that your comment won, and that your word is Serenity.  :-)  Please message me on facebook with your home addy and I will get your prize right out to you!!!

Thanks everyone for playing along - I LOVE comments.  I am a comment ho for sure...

badassery.

Yes, it's a word. Not only is it a word, it's MY word. It's my word for 2012.

Every year I choose a word, and live it. I also create an art project using the word.

Here's the definition:

badassery
Engaging in seemingly impossible activities and achieving success in a manner that renders all onlookers completely awestruck.

I don't want to necessarily engage in seemingly impossible activities, but I definitely want to achieve success. Rendering all onlookers completely awestruck would be a happy accident.

I have so many goals for the year - I want to finish my novel, I want to take my art to the next level - do more in my store, market myself more... learn new techniques.

Hoping beyond hope that a staffer spot at BG Camp opens in May. 'Cuz my badassery self would LOVE to do that.

I printed out my picture to use on a canvas to represent my word. It's the picture in my profile - one that screams badassery at me.



To me, badassery is almost like 'brave', my word for 2011.  It's just taking it to the NEXT LEVEL.  And you know what?  It's really fun to say.  It almost sounds dirty but it's NOT.  I like those kinds of words.  ;-) 

Go forth and choose your word... and post it here - I have a giveaway, and I will choose a random poster to receive a giftie... (besides, I love comments).  LOL 

xoxo <----- there's those damn x's and o's. 

blossom...

So Christmas 2011 is over.  It started off a little rough - wallowing in a pity party.  Got woken up by my friends and actually had a  pretty nice holiday after all.  Worked on this canvas off and on for a few days, every time I'd walk by her I'd add a little bit.

Blossom is my first 100% freehand, and I used Prisma markers and Caran D'Ache watercolor crayons.  (Will I go to art hell if I say I like the Prisma markers better than the Copics???) (spanks again My Schnauz for a fantastic gift!!)

So anyway... here's Blossom.  She's available in Etsy - if you're interested there is a button off to the right here somewhere ------->. 

for a friend...

i was commissioned for a Christmas gift - my questions yielded the following:  'for my mom'; 'celtic symbol'; 'celtic colors'. 

which led me to google, to look up symbols and colors.  I found lots of greens and gold - so that's what I went with.  the background is completely collaged with 2,932,491 different papers, then used dryer sheets were soul glued on top.  the entire thing was inked and sealed, and then i used some rub-ons and paint, and sealed again.  then came the fun part of the symbol.  i found one that stood for motherhood - so ... PERFECT!!!!! 

i printed it out a couple of times, not sure how i was going to transfer the image onto the canvas.  i thought of using a template or just cutting out the pieces and putting them back together like a jigsaw puzzle.  i attempted the symbol as a template on a test canvas, and BOY HOWDY am i glad i didn't do that on the collaged canvas, because it was a HOT mess.  so i cut out all the pieces, inked them with distress inks, painted them with rock candy distress crackle, and edged them with tarnished brass crackle paint.  (i am nothing if not a tim junkie)

when they were all dry (yes, i touched them constantly) i soul glued them down, went over a few areas with some gold perfect pearl powder...painted the edges and sealed the entire thing.  DONE.

i hope the recipient loves it as much as i loved making it... and i didn't even get stressed out!!!! maybe i'm ... reforming.  ;-)  bwhahahahaha i crack myself up. 

phunky chix...

or as Mel likes to call them, "wellie wearing walk to the ends of the earth with you girlfriend" chix.  LOL 

Playing with different ideas, but this birdie always comes home to roost with her long legs, happy love-filled song and fancy tail feathers.

But now?  She has WELLIES. 

The first 2 are black and white (duh - I guess you can SEE that for yourself) and my last is in color - but she's not quite done, so her wellies are just a teaser...  I'm tossing around prints, cards... all kinds of ideas.