Compositional Analysis of Seurat Painting

Art Fundamentals: Theory & Practice (9th ed.), McGraw-Hill 2002

Free Valentine to Print

A "heart" themed 5x5 collage for AAO - the quote is by none other than Oscar Wilde.

I titled this one "Why I Am Taking Painting Classes"

Thought Du Jour - from Esther Hicks

You are magnificent beings, in the perfect place at the perfect time, unfolding perfectly, getting it done, and never getting it wrong. Be more playful about all of it. "Today, no matter where I'm going, no matter what I am doing, and no matter who I'm doing it with -- it is my dominant intent to look for that which I'm wanting to see. I'm wanting to find thoughts and words and actions that feel good while I'm finding them. For in doing so, I am, in the moment, practicing the art of allowing all that I've been telling the Universe I'm wanting, for all of the days of my existence.

Madamoiselle Mini - Fortune Teller Extraordinaire

Pardon Me?

Above is a photograph of my 3 year old Yorky "Mini" - I snapped the photo last week and 'painted' it in Photoshop. Her ears are normally 'floppy' but occasionally the left one stands up as it did here. OK - is she not adorable? And she has the personality of a big dog, unless of course, she is at the vets. But, in that situation, I think all dogs are reduced to shivers!

This week, one of our assignments was to visually express SOUND. I chose Wind Chimes. In the left hand margin, near or at the top, you'll see a heading marked SOUNDS - underneath there is a link to the sound of wind chimes. On sale in my Etsy shop. Click here to be redirected.

Warm Up Assignment - Inter-relationship of Shape & Form

For this exercise, we were asked to complete compositions using only four flat black squares of the same dimension inside an 8 x 8 inch square white box and express the meaning of order, congested and playful.

Congested

Playful

Order

Congratulations to All of My Friends in the USA

We ARE One!

One World One Heart - Enter to Win by Leaving a Comment Below

The One World One Heart event, hosted by Lisa begins today. Lisa is the host of this now 3rd Annual event and has brought together a large group of bloggers to celebrate how the Blogosphere connects people and fosters friendships globally. Each participant donates a piece of their artwork, a service, or craft to the event. In order to be eligible you must leave a comment AND provide a link back to your email or a means of contacting you, should your name be drawn. For a list of participants please click here or on the blue sphere located in my sidebar. It will take you to the main site where you will see a long numbered list beginning on the right hand side.

The draws will be made simultaneously on Thursday, February 12, 2009, and if you are a blogger and your name is selected, you will win.

I have decided to give away two things.

1. Design Services - a custom BLOGSPOT blog banner and background designed by me, based on your preferences. An example of my design work (background and title) can be found at Creative Solace (home of the talented artist - Heather Robinson) by clicking here, on my other blog here, and now at Jen's blog here.

2. A bracelet I made photographed below. It has brilliant cobalt blue glass beads, crystals and 5 charms - a tea pot, a Chinese lantern a key and 2 wee honey bees. It is elasticized making it one size fits all. I thought it was a perfect item to donate because it reminded me of the OWOH logo/icon used for this years event!

To enter, leave a comment below, and, BE SURE to leave your contact information!

Bon Voyage and Good Luck!

Bon Mot aka Fridge Art: click to enlarge and print

I promised I would add photos of 'the time the Blue Morphos" landed on my head. As I've 'gone on about' before, I don't like being photographed and avoid the camera at all costs. But, this WAS a big event in my life and it, plus other very synchronistic events happened at around the same time, were catalysts for me making a decision to sell my home and move to where I am now. So here they are. Two things that could have made these photos even better were,

1) when the Morphos wings are 'up' they don't reveal her magnificent blue top sides and

2)if I was having a better hair day... but that's not one of my strengths! :0)

Credit: Paper Whimsy

NOTE: Some of the images used in the above Blog Background collages were purchased from Gale at Paper Whimsy.

New Look - Draft

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If you've visited my blog over the past few weeks, you'll notice how often it has changed! With a number of new projects on the go, I also thought I would come up with a design for a business card. It seems these days, with how little it costs to have one printed (VistaPrint), I'd then have something to include with my projects and other adventures!

Above is my first draft. The sideways T at the top with the 2 is meant to represent my little friend, Mini, my 3 year old Yorkshire Terrier who normally sits behind me in the same chair and is as close to being part of me as my artwork is. So, I decided she deserved to be a part of my logo as well , although next to the dress, she appears MUCH bigger than her 5 lbs . Her personality is bigger than Life.

Feedback? One of my downfalls is always adding too many elements into a collage, whether it is digital or with paints and ephemera - too busy? I still have to add my name, etc.

Bon Mot - click to enlarge and print

emotion 1

emotion 2

emotion 3

Assignment: Using only line, visually express 3 unique emotional states each within a separate square ratio (ie. 10x10). Play along?

We are not to disclose which emotional state we are expressing when we submit our 3 drawings. Can you guess which one I've tried to express? I'll give you a hint.... The choices were:

manic

optimistic

fearful

alone

melancholic

ecstatic

calm

nervous

shocked

surprised

lonely

Afternoon View Today

How lucky am I to be 'having' to do the dishes looking out the kitchen window at this? I saw them earlier in the front yard when the postman came but unfortunately, didn't see what lead them to group in this line. To me, this image is magical. If you have small children, grab them to show them that Santa's deer really do exist. How I wished I had a professional camera AND camera man to better capture this precious moment today. In the past, I've seen them gather for a rest in a 'star' set up so as to have a view of all four directions, but I think the chinook wind lead them to line up here as they did. You can see how the wind has caused the snow to blow up on the side and cut through the snow in the middle where they appear to be enjoying a small patch of bare grass.

I did watch them leave, and when they did, there were seven, cross my heart! I believe.

Click on the picture for a larger view, if you like.

Altered Art Obsession Heart Project

Heart #5 - The advantage of emotions is they lead us astray. - Oscar Wilde

Number 3 - Dance (not finished)

As soon as I posted the one above (3), I knew it looked bare and incomplete. I'm just waiting for inspiration to strike me so I can figure it out and start on the next. I'm drawing a blank right now!

Number 1 - Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All)

Number 2 - Wanted for Free Expression - Love

It's been over a year since I signed in for a project at Altered Art Obsession, but when Tejae announced a 5x5 Heart Project, I decided I'd join in. I had a chance yesterday and today to focus on them. There are 10 in total due by the end of January. The one on the left (Wanted For Free Expression - Love) is a modification of a collage I did in December printed on cloth and then sewn onto felt and embellished. The other is acrylic, embossing and embellishments, titled Love Conquers All.

Godspeed

Postcard The Seasons at Twilight - Isles of Morpharchengigel

(best viewed large)

Well, finally, a photo from New Years Eve.... *wink*

Happy New Year Friends!

My Lofty Goals for 09:

1. Live simply.

2. Love generously.

3. Care deeply.

4. Speak kindly.

5. Create thoughtfully.

What are your goals this year?

"Dear Alice"

"Time Traveler"

Eleanor caught my fancy somewhere back in late 2007. She reflected very little back to me in the way of facial expression. From my way of viewing her, her portrait begged for some other form of expression, to be added or superimposed within her flawless gaze. The following versions of Eleanor subsequently began to 'show up' often in the very early morning hours, somewhere between midnight and twilight.

"After the Show"

"The Butterfly Effect"

"Stradivarian"

"Jester"

"Moonlight"

Cube'n

Digitally Created Postcard

- an exercise in purposeful plagerism

Double Page Spread of Altered Book

January 2009 New Stamps

Halo Wine Labels

Front of Postcard

Back of Postcard

"Queen of Morpharchengigel" - Mixed Media postcard - postage stamps, chalk, acrylics, digital

Digitally Created Stamps - Fall 2008

"Blueprint" of the Spirit Lifter