Nude nite

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Musical Monday - Box of Rain

too little too late

Just lovin' the new Musical Monday prompt from Xmas Dolly - "music based on the 4 elements." Sorry I have to do a post & run ( lots o' family & art deadline obligations tonight) but thought I'd share this digi-piece from a couple of years ago along with one of my favorite Grateful Dead tunes. 

On the aside, this one always makes me think of my beloved Nana... which is odd 'cuz she never listened to this music. But every time I hear it I get all teary & think of her.

Well, back to work for me. If you want to hear more tunes or leave musical suggestions your own, be sure to visit Xmas Dolly & join the latest hop.

All you MM players, I'll be popping by on my coffee breaks tomorrow to enjoy your contributions.

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By the way, I'm running a giveaway for Novica.com. Comments left before 2/21 will enter you in the random drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Novica's online shop. You can also get 2 more entries - click here for details.

Illustration Friday - Wings

Bound mixed media ATC

While I love yesterday's IF prompt - "wings" - I don't have time to play this weekend. So I'm sharing an old art trading card instead. Funny thing I was working on a few wing pieces anyway but none are ready to share just yet.

If you're inspired to let your creativity fly, get scribbling and then pop over to IllustrationFriday.com to strut your stuff. Be sure  to check out the assortment of takes on the prompt while you are there.

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On the aside, have you entered the giveaway I am hosting for Novica.com? 1 lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to spend at their online shop. Click Here for details

Enter giveaway for $50 gift certificate to Novica.com - ends 2/21

Garnet solitaire locket ring 'Secret Love' by Sukartini

Woo - Hoo! Thursday Giveaways are back!

I sure have missed making someone's day a couple of times a month. Throughout 2013 I will host one or two random drawings each month here on the blog. Be sure to keep popping back.. you never know what goodies will be offered up next.

Novica.com

Today's sponsor is the online shop Novica.com, where you will find eye-catching fashion and home decor items from around the globe. Objects for sale are handmade by craftspeople who are featured throughout the website.

Stoneware Tea Set 'Blue Vortex' by Tat Yan Soo

You might recall that I hosted a similar giveaway for them in 2012 and also participated in their micro-loan program. The micro-loans are given interest free to artisans, so they can purchase materials/tools and grow their small businesses. These people then produce items which are sold through Novica. By the way, click the links below the images in this post for more information. Photos are courtesy of Novica.com.

Become A Curator

The Curation section is an exciting new addition to their website. You get to make virtual collages of your favorite Novica items for sale. Using their easy walk-thru you can (1) think of a theme you like,  (2) search the site, (3) add your fun finds to the template and ..voila you have your first collection! You can make several of these and then save them into your own gallery.  There are even "mood images" available if you need a bit more inspiration.

Leather Backpack 'The Highroad' by Ricardo Hinojosa

Curating a collection is a great way to organize your wish lists while promoting artisans and their works. Your picks are visible to other Novica shoppers - plus you can easily share them on facebook, etc. Who knows? Perhaps your  creation will help someone view things from a different perspective or help them find the perfect gift. Click here to give it whirl.

Why Curate

If you do share your viewpoint and creative-eye, be sure to pop back here and leave me a link. I would love to see what you have come up with! Leaving a link also will earn you an extra entry into this Novica sponsored random drawing - see below.

About the giveaway:

On 2/21/13 one lucky ArtSnark reader will be randomly selected to receive a $50 gift certificate for Novica.com. 

There are 3 ways TO ENTER:

(1) Leave a comment on my blog before 1 am (EST) on 2/21 Be sure to leave an email address if it isn't in your profile.

(2) For a second entry, curate your own Novica collection, come back here and leave a link in the comments.

(3) For a 3rd entry, promote this giveaway on your blog, facebook, or twitter. Then return here & let me know you did in the comments

All entries must be made before 1 am (EST) on February 21, 2013.  Later that day 1 lucky winner will be randomly selected and announced on the blog. 

Please note, Novica is also giving me a similar gift certificate for hosting this random drawing.

So, what are you waiting for? Get cracking! I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Batik Scarf 'Blue Magnificence' by Vinita

***By the way, Novica is also running an additional curator contest. (This is completely separate from my random drawing). They are seeking the best curator of 2013. That one person will win a National Geographic Expeditions 8 day Trip For 2 to Peru . Click Here for Details on how to sign up for their search for the top curator***

You could win an 8 day trip to Peru

What'cha doin?

Hello. What is new with you? 

Lots of cool stuff on hold around here while I am down with a minor plague....  But at least I get to catch up on my reading:

Found a new book club over at meetup.com, hosted by the Friends of Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. This month they are reading  Provenance - How a con man and a forger rewrote the history of modern art. 

February's read  is Elizabeth Hand's Generation Loss. 

If you are around Tampa & these books sound intriguing, pop over to the FMoPA Book Club page for details. If you are not yet on meetup.com, you'll probably have to sign up to access the page.

Also flipping though The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real for an art journal discussion group on facebook.

change of topic - do you play along with Illustration Friday? I'm loving today's prompt "Myth". Don't feel very doodlicious today, but it does get the wheels turning. Visit IllustrationFriday.com for  challenge details & to see what others have created on this theme.

The new Art Trading Card swap sign up is open over at Creative Souls. The prompt is Flowers and/or birds. Already a member? Click here to join the swap. Not yet a member of CS? Why not? It is an online crossroads for lots of imaginative types, just like you ...and it is free. Find out more here.

A final note - Thursday Giveaways are back! Only problem, with my foggy brain, I haven't been able to put 2 thoughts together this week. Please pop back this weekend for details on how you can enter to win a $50 gift certificate for shopping at a vibrant online market, loaded with handcrafted items from around the globe.

ATC Swap - Time cards sent & received

Time To Dance art trading card

Sharing this Art Trading Card I made for the swap over at CreativeSouls on ning. It has been a while since I've played with swaps - they are great for getting me back to creating. Too often life seems to get in the way of the fun stuff - do you know what I mean?

Are you familiar with Art Trading Cards (also called ATC or ACEOs)? The only firm requirement is that the artwork measure 2.5" x 3.5", the size of an average playing card.  Some swaps specify a theme,  in this case "Time". Everything else was up to the cards' creators.

Time ATC from Sherri Mash

My randomly assigned partner, Sherri Mash, sent this wonderful card - thanks Sherri! Check out the spiraling clock & the wings - fun touches. Want to see more of Sherri's art? You can see more at these locations:

Online shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEccentricLady

Blog: http://theeccentriclady.blogspot.com/

Creative Souls page: http://creativesouls.ning.com/profile/SherriMash

Want to play along with the next Creative Souls ATC swap? Click here for the updated prompts and new sign up page. You can also enjoy earlier swap pieces from assorted members. You may have to become a member to see the page - but it is free & there are all sorts of creative folks and exciting opportunities to be found over there.

2 Calls for Art inspired by quotations

Do you have favorite quotes that inspire you? 

It is time to share them with the world!

I just love a good line ( both text & image). 

So, I will be submitting pieces to 2 exciting Art Challenges. Both are seeking quotation-themed art. Want to play along?  C'mon - it will be fun! You get to make cool stuff .... and you might even get published.

The first is from Interweave / Cloth Paper Scissors and is due ASAP: 

They are seeking a 7"x 5" journal page decorated with your choice of quotation and your art. All work submitted becomes property of CPS and"... will be bound into a collective edition that will travel to trade shows and retreats when possible." This collection will also be available as a downloadable PDF through the new e-magazine Art Journaling Exposed. Additionally, some pages will be featured in an upcoming edition of that eMag. 

But you have to have your page in their office by January 14 so hop to it! Click here for all the details, including where to ship your masterpiece.

courtesy of Lesley Riley

Now relax a moment - you have a bit more time for this 2nd art call. 

Lesley Riley is collecting inspirational phrases and original artwork for a new book (to be published later this year). Want to play? 

First email Lesley your contact info, adding a motivational quotation or two, if you want. She will then "... send everyone who responds to this Call for Art two quotes I have selected for you, ones that I hope will inspire and inform the art you would like to submit to be considered for the final, published book."

Once Lesley responds, you have until February 21st to submit the pieces you've created, based upon your favorite(s) from the approved quotes. There is no guarantee of acceptance, but why not take a chance? It is free (unlike many calls for art), fun to do, and might even get your work out to lots of  folks who haven't heard of you yet! Click here for all of the juicy details, including where to send your email and art.

Excited yet?  I sure am.... aaaand I'm running behind today. Time to get crackin'.

Wishing you creative day!

1st Abandonment of 2013

Peacock Masquerade print

It seems like ages since I've played along with the Art Abandonment group over on facebook... and that simply will not do. In 2013 I will deposit a free piece of art in a random location at least once a month. I'll be sure to share my abandonments here as well as on the group's page

The matted print above was left at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, FL today. And it was a beautiful day - perfect for a stroll down through this gorgeous little gem of a garden.

It is great fun setting something you've made loose on the world, not knowing where it will end up... but hoping to make someone smile. If you want to find out more about this free-art movement and possibly play along, visit Michael de Meng's post for more info or the FB group to see what lovely treasures folks have released into the wild.

2013 - Fresh Start

You may have a fresh start any moment you choose. Mary Pickford Do you remember do-overs? They were really popular at my school. Everybody wanted one. "I wasn't ready. Can I have a do-over?" "She laughed at me. Can I have a do-over?" "I coughed. Can I have a do-over?" Most of the time the answer was "NO!"  You learned to stop asking. The older you got, the more you realized that it was even immature to ask for a do-over.  You began to realize you are responsible for your actions.  You learned that life goes on whether you are ready or not. Guess what?  At any point in time, you can start over. 'Tis the season to give and I'm giving you an official do-over.  New year, new beginning.  I like to think of that day as a chance to start fresh...a person do-over.  If you are disappointed or regret the action(s) you did or didn't take in 2012, now is the time to cash in your do-over. Really.  Right now.  Just get up and walk away from reading this and take ONE SMALL STEP towards that things you want to accomplish in 2013.  DO IT. NOW! ~~~ Welcome back.  Wasn't that easy?  You can do anything by taking repeated small steps.  You are now officially one step closer to happiness, self-satisfaction, self-esteem and achievement of your goal.  What a wonderful way to start the new year.  This truly WILL be a happy new year for you. INSTRUCTIONS for COMPLETING YOUR DO-OVER 1. Take one small step toward what you want to accomplish. 2. Take the next step. 3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 until it's done. --------- Many thanks to Lesley Riley for this thought provoking article & fun image. And for allowing me to share it with you! It dropped into my email a few days ago, awakening all sorts of whispered inspirations for 2013. Click here to check out the full newsletter & here to read about artist, author & creativity-coach Leslie Riley.  2012 was certainly interesting. It was simply loaded with travel, family, new people and memorable experiences. However... I also let a lot of things slide that really mattered to me - such as  actually making stuff instead of just thinking about it! 2013 is time to kick myself back into gear. I have a feeling this is going to be a very interesting ride.  Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy & Creative New Year!