Thursday Giveaway part 1 - Today's WInner

Random.org has spoken.

Thursday Giveaways new winner of the Canvas Remix book is
Cyber Hippie!

A hearty congrats, C.H.! I hope you enjoy the many projects you find in the book. Send us a pic of what you make & I’ll post it here for everyone to admire :D

Special Thanks to Jennifer at Trial and Error for donating this awesome prize! Psst...by the way, Jen is giving away another inspiring art book on her blog this month. Pop on over & take a chance. You could get lucky! If you have the time, please visit her etsy shop, BlueSkySunburn to see some of Jen’s colorful art.

Thanks to all who entered this random drawing. You make my Thursdays so much fun! Check back a little later today to see this week’s new giveaway prize. Here’s a hint: If you’ve been following this blog, you have seen this sponsor's wonderful pieces before….

RTT - Random Tortured, ehem, Tuesday Thoughts

That's silly, honey. People just don't get smaller.
-Louise to her husband, Scott in The Incredible Shrinking Man

Morning all. Sitting outside with a cup of java before it gets too hot today. Sounds great (& it is). BUT it is only happening because there is a giant spider the size of my hand (no exaggeration!) loose the studio & now I'm too chicken to go in there! I think I saw this movie way too many times as a kid

I was posting for the Melange Fly challenge around midnight & heard a crinkly sound behind me, turned around and Big Bertha was scuttling towards me across a Michael's bag that was on the floor! Don't call PETA on me, but I bashed it with a rolled up copy of Artists' Cafe. A good thick mag, it didn't even phase the critter. Tho my screams woke DH, he only mumbled something about Serves me right for my studio being a mess & when am I coming to bed. Yeah right. Make fun of the arachnophobe.

So, I did the only sensible thing...Used the laptop in the kitchen and continued jumping at every little noise in the house. Too twitchy to sleep I wandered around the house like a zombie. (Knew I could squeeze a zombie or 2 in here somewhere) Finally broke down & guzzled some nyquil (So not P.C. - do not try this at home, kiddies). Then went to the kid's room (furthest from the studio), shut myself in & jammed stuffed animals in space under the door. Eternally grateful for the new bunkbed, I climbed in with my book light & The City of Z. Nothing like a good read on a long long night. Especialy a read that includes scary critters rustling in the jungle & possibly eating civilized explorers. Actually, the Nyquil & adrenaline crash kicked in just as Percy Fawcett was boarding the boat.

So where's the random? Being guarded by THE BIG HAIRY SPIDER!

But while you're here, check this out:

Utrecht Art Supplies Juried Competition is taking entries until Sept 1.

Moonlight Journey has a free collage sheet to download HERE. If you lean towards the ethereal & gothic, take a look around the site & links. Both Becky & Lynn create some fab ACEOs & other mixed media art.

The iprintfromhome Tuesday Tweet Treat is a free 11 x 14 print of your work. This offer is only good until midnight tonight (EST). Click Here for details

And finally...drum roll please... I found this on Nut & Bee last week and it had RTT all over it! Nothing says I love you quite like this:

created by City the NZ Cupcake Queen

Don't forget to pop over to the Un-Mom & see what Keely is up to today: looks like Jane Austin knockoffs, wacky dreams & drinking wine before your dr. visit...All good stuff. While you are there grab a button & play along!

Before you go, remember to leave a comment here to enter the newest Thursday Giveaway. This week's random winner gets Alisa Burke's book Canvas Remix. Just make sure you do it before noon (EST) on Thursday (6/11). Click HERE for book & random drawing details.

Monday's Muse, Musical Monday & Melange Challenge

Today is just MM MM M good!

Night Sky Diver

It all started with the latest Melange art challenge. The prompt is FLY. That has me all over it. I have been obsessed with flight as far back as I can remember. If I wasn't up a tree, I was hiding in plain site on the roof. You'd be amazed how rarely adults look up. Or making kites. Or designing wings. Or ...you get the idea...

A Blustery Day

Al Stewart's Flying Sorcery (The Rhymes with Rooms version) has been stuck in my head for days. I tried to find a listen for you but couldn't locate anything longer than 30 seconds on Amazon. He covers all folks airborne from Icarus & DaVinci to Amy Johnson & The Red Baron. Click on the song title if you want to read the lyrics

Icarus Who?

Had a bazillion ideas in my head & half of them are actually doable. But the ole nemesis, Time, has been messing with my reality again. The challenge will be updated soon & I just can't let this one get away. So I'm just going to post some pieces you may have already seen here before. Sorry for the repetition.

Red's Escape

Basically, I've raided my etsy shop, ArtSnark, for this post.

Penny Farthing Dream

If you want a closer look just click on any pic

Spiral Diver

A little extra treat for Musical Monday, here's the opening sequence of The Last Exile. Song is Cloud Age Symphony by Shuntaro Okino. It has a really intriguing beginning.

It's a great story, by the way. Left me obsessed with the Immelmann Turn for a while. All I ever managed was this doodle though. I know it will be popping up again sometime soon.

Immelmann Turn

Final Thought:
Monday's Muse today addresses change. I firmly believe that change is good. My latest change has been the addition of Thursday Giveaways to this blog. It is just so much fun giving stuff away & the excitement the winners have is definitely contagious. This week's prize is Alisa Burke's Book Canvas Remix. Simply leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) Thursday 6/11 to be entered in the random drawing. For details click HERE

IF - craving + Artarazzi # 25 meets Art On The Darkside

Craving

For Illustration Friday. To see how others have been inspired by today's IF prompt, click HERE.

I know I've said it more than once, but there are so many fun art challenges "out there." I really need more hours in a day (& the energy to use them). If you have the time, check out a few & play along. Or just enjoy what others have submitted. The variety is always so exciting!

The Mix it up with Melange Challenge changes on Wednesdays. This week is FLY.

Art Freebies Soartful Saturday changes soon - for now the prompt is this lovely lady here:

Artarazzi's Challenge #25 is to use this in your digital creation:

And Art On The Darkside gets you thinking about Tattoos this week.

I decided to combine the last 2 challenges for a noir novel / pulp fiction feel

Red Handed

Started with the tattoo prompt & a scan of an old charcoal study. I was thinking about how a tattoo on the leg would look like a bruise which led to a tattoo of a hand print. So I inked & scanned my hand. This reminded me of the Artarazzi challenge pic, so I tossed that in as well. Finished it off with a few tweaks.

The dime novel look came about because the words caught red handed kept pushing to the surface. I've also started reading The Hardy Boys books to little dude before bed so I'm sure that's got something to do with it.

Thanks for popping by! Go check out some links, make some art & show us what you're up to. Or just go see what cool stuff everyone is creating this week. Before you go: Please leave a comment to be entered in the new Thursday Giveaway. 1 random winner will get inspired by their prize, A copy of Alisa Burke's book Canvas Remix. For book & contest details CLICK HERE

Thursday Giveaways Part 2 - Passing my luck on to you!

Thanks again for all the fabulous comments! I think I have as much fun (if not more) hosting these giveaways as you do entering them! Earlier today I revealed the 2 random winners of the noontime giveaway. CLICK HERE to see who won.


A few days ago I was the lucky winner of a book giveaway over at Trial and Error. Artist & blogger, Jennifer WIlliams, has been doing a little destashing in her monthly giveaways. When I found out I'd won a copy of Alisa Burke's Canvas Remix - techniques for creating mixed media accessories, I decided to share.

I nicked this image right off the Trial & Error blog - Thanks again, Jen!

You can find out more about the author (& artist) Alisa Burke HERE. I had fun looking around her blog. She has a lot going on. Cool projects, workshops & other creative stuff. I really enjoyed this tutorial on making sticky canvas backed earrings.

Just leave a comment here at ArtSnark's between now & noon (EST) next Thursday June 11th to be entered in the random drawing for this very cool book! Only 1 lucky winner will be picked next Thursday.

And 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. I still have 2 unclaimed prizes from past drawings. I think I have to institute a new rule. (Bleck- I hate rules) If I can't contact you or if I leave a message & you don't respond within 10 days of your name being drawn, I go back and choose an alternate winner. I hate to do this, but I've got to keep things moving.

When you have a minute today, pop on over to Trial & Error and see what Jen has been up to. While you are there, sign up for HER monthly giveaway! She is giving away a different art how - to book, but I'm not going to tell you which one. You have to click through to find out & enter! Here's a direct link to Jen's June Giveaway.


Also be sure to visit her etsy shop, Blueskysunburn Creations and check out her colorful artwork. She has a fabulous blend of boldness & whimsy in her paintings & mixed media pieces. I really love the mix of figurative & abstract art. Here's a selection from her shop (again nicked off her blog). Click the pic to see some more....c'mon, you know you want to ;D

Phew, this gal is prolific! To see more of her fun & colorful art, visit her flicker site HERE.

Wait! Before you leave today, make sure to comment here to be entered in next Thursday's drawing for the Alisa Burke's book, Canvas Remix. And thanks again for stopping by!

Thursday Giveaways part 1 - We Have 2 Winners!!

Woo Hoo!

It is that time of the week again. Never paid much attention to Thursdays before. Now I love 'em! I love the idea of putting a smile on some one's face each week. And this week we have 2 smiles!

Winner #1 is Whyte

Whyte gets a $20 Gift Certificate to get some goodies at any of my 3 etsy shops
ArtSnark.etsy.com
ColorTheSky.etsy.com
SteamDreams.etsy.com

Winner #2 is Vmichelle
Vmichelle gets to choose 1 free ACEO from my ArtSnark shop

A hearty Congrats to you both! I will be in touch today with instructions for collecting your prizes.

To everyone else: Thank you for playing! Pop back later today & I'll have the next giveaway posted. Running a bit behind today (seems to be an ongoing theme around here...)

I'll give you a hint - I was lucky enough to win something this past week & am going to pass it on.

See you later today! Thanks again for visiting

RTT is great...but can you dance to it?

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb

I sooo love Random Tuesday. It's the bebop of blogging. Welcome to the jam session! Grab a button & play along

After 60 years clarinetist Stanley Drucker is retiring from the NY Philharmonic. He will have played in over 10,200 concerts. I caught this story in the shower this morning. He talked about backstage poker games in the 40s & other cool stuff. Learn a bit about Stanley at NPR.

Check out this vivacious gal from ArtFreebies

But she should be wearing this!!


Or anything else from BoringSidney

Take a minute & check out this fab etsy shop (great photos too)

The Lituus is back! WooHoo! Ok, so you can't see the mild sarcasm. Actually this is very cool.

I nicked the photo from Physorg.com. There's also an article & slide show on the recreation of this extinct musical instrument .

Last Wednesday's Melange challenge prompt was Dance. To play along, just CLICK HERE & link to your dance themed art.While you are there, visit the other lively pieces .

I was fussing with a collage for the challenge, but The Muse & I both wanted to lead. After stepping on each others toes, she elbowed me in the ribs & we went our separate ways. In the meantime here's an ACEO I made a while back.

She looks kind of unpleasant so I've decided she's really a Gorgon. Her sisters are here too.

These pieces are in layers & the top layer is a gold frosted paper.

They're all a little "off" - that metallic paper is a bear to photograph. It is kinda cool in hand though. Hold it one way you see the image. Tilt it a bit & all you see is the frosty gold & text.

Popped over to godchecker.com (great site by the way) & tossed Medusa into the search. I'd forgotten that she was once a lovely lady before a jealous Athena got a hold of her. Apparently her sisters, Stheno & Euryale, are super nasty AND immortal. Don't want to be running into them down some dark alley.

Somebody else who scares me a little, but in a good way, Is Keely The Un Mom. She's sort of the conductor (or is it high priestess?) of the Random Tuesday Thoughts orchestra. And the only person I (really don't) know who is taking on ninjas, chocolate cake, and dead mice all at once today.

Before you go, leave a comment! How much do I love hearing from you? Sooo much that your impulsive thought gets you 1 Entry into this Thursday's random Giveaway drawing. Actually, 2 since I'm drawing for an extra prize this week. For details & prize info CLICK HERE