Sophia

Today I in the mail I received my issue of Decorative and Fine Art Magazine Vol 19 No 11. I was having a flick through in my lunch break when I happened upon page 37 and there she was; My Sophia.

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I painted her on a 15cm x 15cm square canvas overlaid with a piece of scrap booking paper. I do enjoy painting on the smooth texture of the paper as I am able to achieve crisper fine lines and I love how you can apply a wash of colour over the background leaving the underneath design peeking through. I have embellished her with a paper butterfly wings from my large stash. ( I just love collecting butterflies and dragonfly pictures these days ) and a floral piece torn from a serviette. ( Yet another weakness of mine is collecting beautiful serviettes )

My personal challenge these days is to actually use the pieces I have collected instead of just admiring them and saying "Oh!!! they are just to pretty to use" and dashing out to purchase yet more goodies to add to my ever growing collection.

How do you process????

We are all unique creatures when it comes to processing what life deals us.

I find I retreat to my craft room as I find it a safe, peaceful place where as I craft I find my mind processing and rationalizing. I leave my craft room feeling mentally stronger then when I entered.

This past week I found myself spending time reflecting upon the life of my dearest Uncle Bill, he was 90 years young and together we had made some special memories.

Time spent within my craft room and also enjoying the company of some new crafting friends I created my angel cats.

I have named them Tilly and Bill.

I started with a piece of calico and sketched on the design with a zig millennium brown pen and applied acrylic paint. I did not add fabric medium as I will not have to launder them but did apply a coat of clear flexible varnish so they could be wiped free of dust. The feather wings I had purchased from one of the cheap shops for $2 each.

Pondering

Over the Easter break I was able to spend some quality time in my art studio. I just love it there. I have a large window which lets in the natural light and lets me peer out into our side garden which often accommodates some wildlife from birds, ducks and hares to name just a few.

Besides being busy with my commission work I snuck in and painted up one of my pencil drawing that I had completed while participating in the 29 Face Challenge. You will find the pencil drawing in the below posts.

She is painting on a watercolour canvas I adore the texture as it is smooth unlike the canvas panels I have been working on lately. But very different to paint on with the acrylic's.  I am still to add a few final touches.

New Publications

I love receiving mail, especially when it is addressed to me. A pleasant change from all the work bills I receive daily.


Today I received my Handmade Magazine, I truly love this magazine as it is filled with wonderful crafts to make. I have been a subscriber for many years now. This month I was picked to be one of the contributors. As my good friends know I have a thing for cute bears. So to celebrate Easter I designed a bear wearing bunny ears :o) Full instructions and patterns are in Vol 30 No 2.

I am a little late uploading this but recently I was also published in Australian Decorative Painting and Fine Art. Yet another wonderful magazine which I subscribe too.

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Another Face

We are now into March and the desire to paint faces has not left since I participated in the 29 Face challenge in February.

Our "Paint with a Mate" group meet every month and I took along a sketch I had made on a canvas board. It is a wonderful experience to sit and paint amongst like minded people. At times I am sure I talk more than I paint but no matter what we all have an enjoyable morning and leave looking forward to next month when we meet again.

I didn't finish her in the morning (to much talking) but sat this morning to complete her. She is painted in acrylic's with some distress on the background.

Mail Art Swap

I participated in a mail art swap this year with a fantastic artist; Micki Wilde, also known as The Secret Hermit. I was the lucky recipient of this awesome art.

She sits with me in my art studio.

 

This is what I created for Micki in return.

Thank you Micki.

 

29 Faces - Day 29

Face 29

How the month has flown.......I have really enjoy participating in the challenge, some days were truly challenging to find the time while other days were pleasantly relaxing. I created some of my designs while sitting on the lounge with hubby watching My Kitchen Rules while at the same time texting my girlfriend with my thoughts about the show and contentests. A good multi tasking evening :o)

I have tried to have a play with some of my must have purchases that were pushed to back of the cupboard and believe or not there are still some other items to test drive. But that may be another day and perhaps another challenge.

Below is a cover of a journal which I created in mixed media. The cover is a soft vinyl which adhered all the elements nicely without to much preparation. The only trouble I had is where I free handed the face and if I wanted to change something the pencil did not erase. I prepared over the top of my pencil drawing with a smooth coat of white gesso which not only gave the acrylic paint tooth to adhere to but also allowed for the colours to remain bright and true.

I got to dig out some of my scrap booking paper, paper flower, gemstones, stencil and printed off one of my favourite quotes on the laser printer. Nearly forgot I made some lace with one of my Martha Stewart punches.

I complete the finished piece with a coat of waterproof matte medium.