Papillon REM 2

I created this version after a new customer commented that to her eye (talented eye!) she thought the black background didn't work in the Papillon Blue I posted yesterday. She suggested a lighter background with perhaps a bit of 'script'. So, this is an alternative I came up with today. To my eye, it is much softer and has a more feminine mood to it.

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Papillon Dreams

....another ready made banner... orchids, inspired by Tracie,

butterflies inspired by Lennine

Version 2

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This Weeks' Artarazzi

Before and After - see www.artarazzi.blogspot.com and the original sunflower painting by Faye

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Tarot Gone Zetti

Queen

Fool

I'm participating in a couple of tarot card projects this summer and,,,,well I know NADA about Tarot...so these were just for fun. I read up on what the Major Arcanas are and I know there is a Fool and a Queen - so that's what I had in mind.....until I remembered Marion is hosting a Zetti ATC exchange this summer that I've agreed to join in on as well (even though I promised myself NO MORE this summer!) But...I caved and so the Queen began to morph into a bit of Zetti! Can you tell? :0)

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Painter of Butterflies New Blog Banner

"Something" is drawing me toward different color combinations lately - I hope it doesn't mean my eyes are starting to go :0) I am very fond of this young girl's soft contemplative look - she seems to be really studying something carefully - so I decided to put a paint brush in her hand as though she is working on a piece of art and it's composition..... hmmmm.....or perhaps I just began to over identify???? It's available on Etsy!

SOLD

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ATC's for International Exchange

This is a scan of 3 ATC's I spent most of today making for an exchange with a person who I have traded ATC's with for about 3 years now. She has created some stunning fabric ATC's for me and so deciding to work with papers and embossing, I wanted to create tons of texture. I made one layer with gesso, and lots of others with different types of natural papers, most with varying characters, lace, windows, mica, a skeleton leaf and metal embellishments. I noticed much of her recent collage work is rendered in natural tones so I stuck with one of my favorites - sepia, black and white.

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and they call it mellow yellow....mail art

The inspiration for this 'mail art' came from two women - Michele and Lorraine - Michele told me yesterday yellow was her favorite color and Lorraine - 'the bee' - check out her website and read why it's significant to her. And if you are interested in learning how to solder - Lorraine's offering a course that you can sign up to now at www.creativeworkshops.ning.com I am tempted!

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bursTING with jOY

........is the Stargazer Lily and me - my first one......

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and the beat goes on.... Blogspot Banner...

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The creative surge continues

with this, a very minimalistic approach to a banner - but I'm very fond of it. Sometimes less is more? Listed on Etsy.

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Phew - I'm done!

The Art of Life - Live Love Laugh

Back in May (May 8th) to be exact, I began working on an envelope for a round robin I am involved in with my 'sisters' from the Recollection Parlor. The envelope was for Valerie, who at "The Parlor" is known as the Duchy of her country - Plumeria. Tonight, I put the finishing touches on the contents of her envelope and will send it off to Abby, for her always fabulous contribution. Since my mind is not likely to recall what the envelope contained, I always snap a photo. Busy day in blogland.

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Ready-to-go-Blog Banner

Original Color Palette

Other Color Choices

Do you ever find yourself in a 'groove' in what you are choosing to create? This past couple of weeks I've returned to a passion to create blog banners. I know occasionally I benefit from seeing something complete before I decide to buy it. Or, at very least, I need to see examples of other similar items. So my thinking is that if I feel that way, it's probably true for other artists, and it may be particularly key for artists because of the visual focus many have.

Viola's kindness of providing a free image (the stately woman that appears in the left hand side of this banner) inspired the other 30 plus images that went into creating this digital banner.

Different shades of greens and turquoises mixed with golden hues became my color palette and it is one of my personal favorites. But, I also am fond of the other palettes I created after I finished the digital composition.

The above image is an example of how the banner might look in context with a background and coordinating sidebar images. (I think it's better viewed large)

This banner will be available on Etsy later today and ready for customization. Thanks for visiting.

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Thanks to Debby at http://www.thegatheringnest.blogspot.com/ I started last week with two blog awards in one day! I've only now made the time to post these lovely little image and to formally thank Debby for her kindness always.

So - I have had the hard decision to decide on which blogs to award this to - and, finally they are:

1st Floor Flat - Susie - I still haven't enough time to get through all of her blogs or comment on a percent of the plethora of surprises in store 'at the flat'!

Misty - a sweetheart with endless talent and always goes above and beyond what's required in any exchange I've had the pleasure of participating in with her!

Viola - Boy this woman can create create and create! I'm psyched I'm trading ATC's with her again!

Sandra - LOVE how she creates suspense in each of her posts!

I have passed this award on to you , but please don't feel as though you need to write about it, just post the award on your blog if you like.

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Thank you Susie from FIRST FLOOR FLAT for the Kreativ Blog Award!

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award. - Go check out Susie's blogS - 1st Floor Flat!!

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

• I only sleep 5 hours a night
• I survived a firewalk
• My first career was counselling teens
• I've partied at the Playboy Mansion
• I love anything lemon
• I was a sleepwalker
• Mick Jagger has a pair of my panties

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers

Debby Harriettha

Lorraine Stobie

Shannon Sawyer

Michele Jackson

Laura Haviland

Marilyn Gallas

Debbie Mihalick

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate:

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

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Artarazzi Challenge This Week

http://artarazzi.blogspot.com/

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Touch Life

What's behind this digital collage:

Four years ago my partner and I attended a week long meditation course in California lead by Deepak Chopra. It was then I was introduced to Rabindranath Tagore, a philospher I had previously never heard of. Occasionally I read some of his thoughts and this morning I stumbled upon this:

Rabindranath Tagore - The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers. It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth and of death, in ebb and in flow. I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment. from Gitanjali

This lead to me exploring an 'exercise' in words I was taught by Nick Bantock at one of his workshops I attended in 2007. Simply explained, the students pulled two unrelated paragraphs and joined them together, superimposing the nouns from one into the other. Once completed then using the modified paragraph becomes the impetus for created a visual rendition of the words.

Instead of this, I decided to find a poem within the above quote Here it is:

My mind's eye

measures life into earth

Blades break into waves of flowers

Life that is ocean of flow

Made glorious

Touch life.

The collage then followed....

It's a fun exercise and a good 'starter' if you are ever stuck with a blank page in your journal or canvas on your easel.

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Love Will Keep Us Alive - Banner Change, Postcard and New Digital Collage

Love Will Keep Us Alive 20 x 28 inches - Digital

(click on image to view large)

Today I decided to take some time away from blog designing for others and create a sustained digital collage. I began early this morning and so it took me a full day to create this piece. Because I decided I wanted it to have the pixels that would allow it to be printed large (300 dpi and 20 x 28 inches) this also adds to it being a very lengthy process. I went through four different layering processes for a total of over 78 separate images to get to the final work below and also a new banner. I couldn't believe my eyes a few weeks ago when I came across another digital collage I had posted here that was up on a site from Indonesia. So, that's why the watermarks are on the one above. (It's also how I decided to make the collage into a blog header!) During the day, I kept returning to a song in my head "Love Will Keep Us Alive" by The Eagles. It wasn't long before the lyrics and the image began to merge. Here are the lyrics - I was standing All alone against the world outside You were searching For a place to hide Lost and lonely Now you've given me the will to survive When we're hungry...love will keep us alive Don't you worry Sometimes you've just gotta let it ride The world is changing Right before your eyes Now I've found you There's no more emptiness inside When we're hungry...love will keep us alive I would die for you Climb the highest mountain Baby, there's nothing I wouldn't do I was standing All alone against the world outside You were searching For a place to hide Lost and lonely Now you've given me the will to survive When we're hungry...love will keep us alive

Here's the postcard which is close to the collage with the addition of a few mail art elements:

Available on Etsy. Thanks for visiting.

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a shadow of her former self....

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SaturdayVille's Artist - Shannon Sawyer!

Mixed Media Artist, Shannon Sawyer sent me this mouth-watering card after some of the recent design work I've done on her blog "SaturdayVille". It's not surprising her publications in Somerset along with other print media, featured artist articles, and internet sites are numbering close to 20! From my point of view, one thing that places mixed media artists at the head of the pack, is their attention to detail, eye for composition, color theory and impeccable 'finishing' - crisp and finished edges, high resolution images, textural variety - to name a few. Shannon's work is 10/10 with respect to all of these details - and then some! Surf over to SaturdayVille and you'll see what I mean!

Thank YOU Shannon! It's a privelege to work with you.

ps - if you run into problems trying the hot links to Shannon's blog here, I don't know what the problem is!! But her link is www.saturdayville.blogspot.com

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A Chip off The Old Block ATC

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thirtysomething eleanor

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Byron's Magical Mystery Tour - Isles of Morpharchengigel - Work to Date

Front and Back Covers Plus Sign In Envelope

Envelopes completed for others "on tour"

I think I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this round robin. Since there is only 6 artists involved, it's been quicker than most other RR's I've been involved in in the past.

I am beginning to get excited about the beginning of September already since that will be the month my envelope book returns home!

For snapshots of some of the other envelopes, visit The Parlor (admission is free!! :0) )

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Back of Envelope

Hurray! At the stroke of midnight, I think I'm almost done both sides of Valerie's envelope. Now I just have to add a few more 'titles' and I'll be wrapping it up. Below is a scan of both the front and back together.

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Front of Envelope - Byron's Magical Mystery Tour at Morpharchengigel

-Before-

-After-

Sometimes I think an extended time to work on a project may not always be a blessing! I have torn this envelope apart several times trying to find a composition that seemed right to my eye. Here's the previous post link where I had started using alcohol inks.

Valerie's theme is ART and perhaps that's what intimidated me and froze my muse over and over. I've ended up focusing on The Art of Life and have almost finished the inside contents for this envelope with the theme of Live, Love and Laugh as the Isles of Morpharchengigel artful motto. Now that I've come up with a way to communicate 'the art' - it seems to be flowing again!

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Tarot Card - One of Daggers

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This Morning's Digital - Michelangelo

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Check out the Citizen ATC Challenge at the Recollection Parlor!

Things are buzzing over at "The Parlor" recently with eleven countries participating in capturing 'snapshots' of some of their colorful citizens. Hosted by Michele Jackson (look for her in the September 2009 edition of Somerset Digital Studio), work is now posted from the following countries:

Mandaragon - Misty Frederick

AlmostWas - Red Scott

Republic of Niara - Michele Jackson

Kingdom of Girellygog - Abby Lazar

Artistica - Sija Teijgeler

Uniqos - Debbie Mihalick

Isles of Morpharchengigel - Trudi Sissons

Mandaragon - Misty Frederick

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Progress on Painting

Well, quite honestly, I am beginning to curse my choice of images for my first large painting. I think I spent 3-4 hours over the weekend on one hand....and that was just to get it proportionate. Why I chose an image with hands and faces is a question I've posted to myself more than a couple of times!

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Heart and Hope

Above, is the original collage I made playing around this morning. I then just adjusted some of the hues and saturation to get this one below -

On my computer monitor, the second collage appears dimensional (viewed large). If you wouldn't mind commenting, I'd appreciate hearing if it also appears that way on your monitor?

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Surprise Bag - Giveaway for JUNE!

???????

You know, I can't remember the last time I woke up when I didn't have something to be grateful for. Although I haven't missed out on my share of adversity, the majority of times the bad times end up with silver lining conclusions. So, on with the giving 'cause you just can't help but getting when you give. This month I thought I'd put together a surprise bag full of mixed media supplies. I have more than I need for a dozen lifetimes. Leave a comment. If your name is drawn and you've also signed up as a follower, I'll add in an ATC or 2 as well. Good luck!

PS - Oh, I should have mentioned, if you are already on the "Followers" list, the ATC's will automatically be included. -"Followership has its priveleges!" ~insert smile here~ Heh, maybe I'll make it a gold ATC...platinum???? Have a great weekend.

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And the winner of the ATC's is........Laura Pace!

Laura - let me know your home address and I'll pop them in the mail to you immediately! Thanks to everyone who entered!

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