IF - Tango + list of other art challenges

Hot House Flower

Today's Illustration Friday prompt is Tango. This piece is from February but she seems to fit & I'm running behind. Originally she was to have a partner, but she kept rejecting all my sketches. I finally realized this dancer was having a grand time on her own & let her be.

Click HERE to view other sassy tango pieces. Or HERE to submit one of your own.

Here are a few more art challenges to keep you busy this week:

Play - Mixed Media Monday

Whisper - MelangeOnEtsy (changes on Wed.)
In The Attic - Art On The Darkside (changes on Wed.)
Glasses - Inspire Me Thursday
challenge 32 - Artarazzi (changes on Fri .)
Angels Tears- Art Freebies Soartful Saturdays
Fabric - Sunday Postcard Art I just spotted this site today. Looks fun!

Hmm... I seem to be missing Tuesday. Any recommendations to add to my list? I know there are so many fun art challenges "out there"......

By the way, the next Thursday Giveaway winner will be randomly picked on July 30 at noon (EST). This week's prize is a 16" x 20" canvas print of your summer photo. To Enter just leave a comment describing a summer photo that you would like to have printed. This week's prize sponsor, OnlinePosterPrinting.com, has a couple of disclaimers. Click HERE for details.

New Giveaway - Days Of Summer

I don't know about you guys, but it seems like I'm always taking lots of pictures & then leaving them in the computer. I've decided to preserve my family's fun in the sun by getting a canvas print of this double-exposed photo. There is something about this pic of my son splashing around in the Gulf of Mexico that reminds me of my own carefree days long long ago.

So your asking, C'mon, What's the new giveaway? The folks over at OnlinePosterPrinting.com have generously offered a fabulous prize that will help you remember the days of summer long after they’re gone.

A free 16x20" Gallery or Museum Wrapped Canvas Print to 1 Very Lucky Winner!

To Enter just leave a comment describing a summer photo that you would like to have printed. Please do this before noon (EST) Thursday July 30th. (Please note there will be no random drawing next Thursday 7/23.) That is when I’ll use Random.org to pick a winner. Also, make sure you can be easily contacted. You don't need to leave an email address as long as I can reach you through your blog

Some notes from the sponsor:

Giveaway is open to US/CAN residents. Shipping of prizes is not included and must be paid by winner. Online Poster Printing reserves the right not to print obscene or offensive materials.

All designs submitted in the form of a giveaway may be used by Online Poster Printing for online marketing and promotional uses. The designs will be used solely as examples and will not be printed or commercially distributed.

About Online Poster Printing
Online Poster Printing specializes in printing high-quality posters using premium materials. We offers a money back guarantee on all our products, such as photo canvas prints, vinyl banners, wall stickers, and rolled or mounted poster prints.

Now I know you've got some great summer pics around there somewhere. Go find that perfect one & describe it here to enter this fabulous giveaway!

Today's Winner Is

Jim Doran

Random.org has spoken:

Congrats, Jim! I’ll be in touch today with info on how to claim your 250 custom stickers from Uprinting.com. Enjoy!!

Thanks to everyone who entered! It was fun to read all of your sticker ideas. If you are curious, Jim said "If I won this, I'd probably print the words "I love YOU. (yes...you)" and anonymously leave the stickers around work to make people happy (I work in a hospital...and a lot of folks there could use a pat on the back)." Now how cool is that!

Tune back in later today to sign up for the next random drawing. The next lucky winner will be drawn on Thursday 7/30.

Shoot that RTT all the way to the moon!

Welcome back to Random Thoughts Tuesday!

Grab a button & play along - it's a great excuse to siphon off some of that chatter in your head

Slacker that I am, I missed Musical Monday

From my Man, I really need to wake up today mix (best when played too loud)

Anyone remember The Steven Banks Show? Funny Man. Now & then I've wondered whatever happened to him. Didn't realize he's been writing for Nickelodeon all this time. Just read today that he's collaborated with Pilobolus (<- warning there's some tasteful skin at this link, don't want to offend anyone. Ooh that sounds sooo woosie...) on their newest "shadow work", Do*id. Sounds very cool & a far cry from the howling dog & bunny shadow-casting I learned at summer camp a million years ago. CLICK HERE sample of their commercial work from 2007

I'm sure you've heard by now that today is the 40th anniversary of the 1st man on the moon. The NY Times Science Times section is devoted to it today. The article on the non-believers is fascinating. Can you tell I read the paper instead of working this morning ? Shh...don't tell

I need more coffee

I remember reading a Ray Bradbury short story 25+ years ago where some astronauts (one may have been named Hitchcock) accidentally see the dark side of the moon ( or some planet -I don't recall) & it is full of scaffolding. Turns out the whole thing was fake. Can't remember the title to save my life - anyone? anyone?

Remember all those great Twilight Zone episodes when misc. astronauts got totally messed with? Those were awesome.

Tom Banwell continues to rock my world with this tentacle tutorial !

I am totally digging these blogs lately: propnomicon , Sandra Evertson, Us & Them

And of course The Un Mom, Grand Poobah of RTT.

OH, and what would you do with 250 custom stickers from Uprinting.com? Leave your answer in the comments to be entered in Thursday's random drawing. For sponsor's disclaimers & details CLICK HERE

IF - Hollow

the huldra

Found in fairy stories throughout Scandinavia, she is also known as skogsrå and holda, among other names. She is a beautiful woman in front but her backside looks like a hollow tree. Some Huldra also have tails, often either cow or fox. Should you encounter a huldra, it is considered dangerous to comment on her tail, unless it is done with the utmost delicacy. For instance, if you politely tell her her "garter" or "slip" is showing she may grant you healthy cattle or good fishing according to legend. It is also said that if she blows on a hunter's rifle, he will never miss a shot.

The huldra is often considered a protector of woods and woodland critters. A seductive creature, she is famous for collecting human lovers as well as for her mercurial nature. She can be just as easily pleased as offended. And you do NOT want to offend her.

She also has a reputation for stealing children & leaving changelings.You can find out more about this lovely lady by clicking on the above links. There are also some entertaining folktales around the web.

As soon as I saw that the Illustration Friday prompt was Hollow, I remembered this creature - of all the faeries I read about as a kid, for some reason she really gave me the willies. Couldn't recall her name, but google settled that while distracting me with some wonderful tales. Originally I was going to make a little clay sculpture, but then I remembered this cool fern-patterned paper I've had for ages. I also checked DeviantArt for some models & found that the stock photos of Tw1sted Truth & WakenTheDead Stock fit the bill

If you get a chance CLICK HERE & see what other fun pieces have been submitted to Illustration Friday this week. Or even better, submit your own!

I've decided I'd better start paying more attention to my neglected Etsy Shops, so this piece is now available. Just click HERE for info & detailed pics of The Huldra. Hopefully I'll get some more pieces listed this week.

Final note: New giveaway this week. 1 random winner to be drawn on 7/16. Prize is 250 customized stamps from UPrinting.com. What would you do with 250 free stickers, designed by You? Just leave an answer in comments to be entered in drawing. The prize sponsor, Uprinting.com does have a couple of disclaimers. CLICK HERE for details

New Giveaway! 250 Free Stickers of YOUR design

It is that time again!

Time for you to jump aboard the giveaway train!

The last prize was customized by me. If you want to find out who won the Art Box , click HERE.

This Prize will be designed by YOU! Now how cool is that!

This week’s Thursday Giveaway sponsor is

They print just about everything, from business cards to wall banners & a variety of items in between.

They also print Custom Stickers!!

1 lucky winner will receive 250 Free Custom Stickers of their own design. Imagine what you could do with these!! Promote your business or blog. Use them in the kitchen, label your stuff, or just show off your cool artwork. The possibilities are endless!

This giveaway is a little different than my usual. Normally you just sign in before Thursday to be included in the random drawing. This week the folks over at UPrinting.com are asking: How would you use 250 custom stickers? Just leave your answer in the comment section of this blog before noon (EST) on 7/16 to be entered in this awesome random drawing.

The sponsor also has a few disclaimers:

Giveaway is open to US/CAN residents only (sorry International readers). Shipping of prizes is not included and must be paid by winner. UPrinting.com reserves the right not to print obscene or offensive materials.

All designs submitted in the form of a giveaway may be used by UPrinting.com for online marketing and promotional uses. The designs will be used solely as examples and not be printed or commercially distributed.

Also, please be sure your contact info is correct. You don't have to leave an email, as long as I can track you down easily through blogger. If I do not hear from you within 5 days of your name being drawn, I'll go back through the list and choose an alternate winner.

The winner will be announced shortly after noon (EST) on Thursday July 16th.

This prize has reminded me just how much I've been slacking off when it comes to promotional materials. I need to get it in gear & design some business cards for my Etsy shop, ArtSnark's Atrifacts. Here is a blog promo image for my own sticker printing.


Now go get your creative juices flowing!! But before you go, leave a comment saying how you would use 250 free custom stickers. You’ve got all week to enter. 1 random winner will be drawn at noon (EST) on Thursday July 16th. Good Luck!

Woo Hoo! We Have A Winner!

Random.org has spoken!
Of 90 unique entries, the lucky winner of a Customizable Art Box is Steve!

Hearty Congrats, Steve! I’ll contact you later today with a list of what I need from you. Then I can get started on your one-of-a-kind box.

It may take a few weeks, but I’ll post pics of the finished box for anyone who is curious.

Great turnout for this random drawing! Many thanks to everyone who commented. Please check back later today and sign up for next Thursday's Giveaway . I've got a new sponsor & a fun prize that will get your creative juices flowing!!