Bella & Wenchie

Trust Me

Playing with a drawing of Etsy SteamTeam member Wenchie today. Hopefully she won't mind the liberties I tend to take when putting my spin on a portrait. Not sure if it is done yet. I am at that walk-away-for-a-couple-of-days-so-I-can-get-a-fresh-perspective point.

If you get a chance pop by her Etsy shop Wenchie's Sacred Relics . She's got some fabulous pieces like this necklace:

Chastity in Chains

Yay! The artwork for the Twilight book club on ZNE is up. Looks like only a few of us played for chapter 1. I'm hoping more members will jump aboard as we get further in. I think you can see the other entries if you click HERE & just scroll down the page. Here's my final piece.

Bella

Supposed to be cleaning the studio today. Spent too much time puttering with everything I found. As usual. So, the place still looks like a cyclone passed through. Sadly, this is the neatest corner in the room. Sorry the lighting is so lousy

I did take a bunch of scary before shots but I think I'll wait until there are afters so I don't thoroughly embarrass myself.

By the way, no Thursday Giveaway this week. Great prize for next week though (if I do say so myself ). The lucky winner gets a customized art box. Click HERE for details & pics. Then just leave a comment before noon (EST) July 9th to enter the random drawing

My sis & her husband are visiting for the weekend so I may be scarce. Chomping at the pencil, um, bit to find out what tomorrow's IF prompt is though. Like I don't have enough projects to finish, eh? Silly me. In case I don't make it back in time, I want to wish everyone a great weekend! Have fun!

Is it Thursday already ?!?

Too busy this week so taking a break from the giveaways. Got 2 looming deadlines, a messy house, a studio that is beyond a disaster & weekend guests coming. SO what am I doing? Totally slacking off, of course.

While picking up some stray papers, I drifted into doodling fellow Etsy SteamTeam member, Wenchie. I hope she doesn't mind the liberties I'm taking with her pic. She has such a great Grinchie "Don't you trust me?" kind of thing going on.....

Those guys over at the Steam Team are so much fun. Cool costumes, fun gizmos & so much creativity it is truly mindblowing. They've got some great blog's too. Totus Mel's Wunderkammer, Cephalopod Teaparty, and Choklit Chanteuse just to name a few. And I am thoroughly hooked on Tom Banwell's blog. Not only are his leather helmets & misc. gizmos just amazing, but he lets you tag along with great WIP posts. By the way, Tom 's shop was featured in Etsy's Storque today - congrats!

Looks like the Twilight Book/Art club pics aren't up yet, so I'll just give another sneak peak of mine. Here I've started coloring. Unfortunately I used really crappy office paper, so I limited myself a bit. Wanted to go with either some bold flat markers or some nice blended watercolor pencil but the paper was too thin to take any moisture without buckling. I am notorious for starting a doodle on whatever is on hand only to realize too late it is turning into something.

Again, girl is inspired by Oblivion Stock over at DeviantArt. And Bella Swan. And Red Riding Hood, of course. She just keeps popping into all I do lately

No random giveaway this week. Too much going on. Leave a comment before noon (EST) July 9th to enter in next week's giveaway. 1 lucky winner will get a customized art box. For giveaway details & pics of a similar box I made last month CLICK HERE.

RTT- Just a wee bit-o-random today

Getting a head start on my Random Tuesday Thoughts. I have a hunch that once the day's madness begins, I may not make it back here. Just 1 of those week's already

Spent the weekend building a ginormous outdoor playset - holy $h*+! Rediscovered some muscles I forgot I had. Too tired to work on art in the p.m. so cramming to meet some deadlines. (Just fun stuff tho - no paying gigs)

I joined an art book-group for Twilight over at ZNE. While not thrilled with the series, I do love me some vampires & there are some great images throughout the book. It looks like we'll be reading & then making art for each chapter. Fun stuff. I think there'll be some public pics up Wednesday. Will post a link then. In the meantime here's a sneaky peak of my illo's inking phase:

Inspired by Oblivion Stock over at DeviantArt.

Oh, if you're more into Buffy than Edward, this is priceless. The Un Mom graciously shared it recently

Also up this week is a mechanical toy I've finished in my head but had no time to make. I keep dumbing it down for speed of assembly. If I don't watch out, it will be a painted rock by the time I'm done.

Found out about this Diary project over at Ewian's blog. Check it out - still some openings left but deadline is looming. Just click on the box above.

I absolutely love Ewian's artwork. She has such a vibrant & distinctive style. A very sweet person too - always ready with a kind comment plus she sent me this fabulous field guide:

Hey, had to sneak those zombies in here somewhere - it is Tuesday after all ;D

Ewian also has a great art supplies giveaway going on right so, so hop on over & check it out!

Dang, gotta hit the hay. Tuesday snuck up on me when I wasn't looking. If you're looking for more chaotic goodness, pop on over to the Admiral of Anarchy (ok ok I'll admit I'm stretching on that one), The Un Mom. There is always something wacky going on over there any day of the week!

Man this post keeps running on. But I almost forgot to mention a reminder that there is no random drawing this Thursday. Check back on the 9th to see who wins one of my art boxes, customized with their choice of image & text. Click HERE for details and a photo of a similar piece. To enter the giveaway just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on July 9th.

Monday's Muse, Music & Melange - BLISS

The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure. - Joseph Campbell

blissed out

There are rare moments when everything falls into place. All the "small stuff" falls away & simply being is enough. 1 of these epiphanies was forever frozen about 15 yrs ago.

This photo popped into mind when I heard that the current Melange Challenge is BLISS. A scan, some tweaks & a print on photo-canvas. I pulled out some paints, pencils, markers. Then lots of "small stuff" got in the way until the weekend chaos ended & Monoral's Kiri brought things into focus.

So what are you listening to today? Pop by Musical Monday & share. To view other versions of bliss or add your own, click HERE for Melange blog. To see & share some inspiration visit Monday's Muse on Maternal Spark.

A final note: The next Thursday Giveaway will be on July 9th. The winner gets one of my art boxes, customized with their choice of image & text. Click HERE for details and a photo of a similar piece. To enter the giveaway just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on July 9th.

IF - Worn

Worn out

Finally got a chance to play with some pencils & paint today. Feels like it has been too long. If you get a chance, pop over to Illustration Friday & see what other great pieces have been submitted this week

Listened to some Peter Gabriel while poking around on DeviantArt & got inspired by this fabulous stock photo by LisaJen-stock.

On other fronts, I was pleasantly surprised to find Wallflower featured in a wonderful blog post over at Design Style Guide .

wallflower

Also vicariously enjoyed a delicious gelato courtesy of the lovely & talented Maria-Thérèse Andersson.

photo nicked from Afiori

She is visiting Rome this week. You can get a peek at her adventures over at Afiori. I'm excited to see what wonders she creates from her fabulous finds & photographs once she returns home.

Please note: The next Thursday Giveaway will be in 2 weeks (July 9). The winner gets one of my art boxes, customized with their choice of image & text. Click HERE for details and a photo of a similar piece. To enter the giveaway just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on July 9th.

New Giveaway - this one is customized for the winner!!

Hello All. How's everything this week? If you are looking for the winners of today's random drawing click HERE.

If you're looking for info on the latest prize, you've come to the right place! Couple of tweaks for this Thursday Giveaway: This time I am giving away one of my creations (I feel like I should do a mad scientist chuckle or something. Oh, what the heck.....mwuhuhuhuha...). And it will be customized. More on that in a minute.

Also, there will be NO random drawing next Thursday July 2. The winner of this prize will be drawn at noon (EST) on Thursday July 9th.

Remember Edgar Allan Poe Box I posted last month?

No? Well click HERE to see detailed photos.

I'd just started a similar box & thought how cool it would be design it for 1 lucky winner. I've only just started sanding & staining but he's what I've got so far:

And this is the lid without a center image:

This is where you come in!

The winner of this box can either choose a print of one of my pieces (you can pick from the images on this blog as well as in my etsy shop) OR send me a picture you have taken. Just make sure the you have the rights to the image you send me. I do not want to infringe on the rights of either the model or the photographer.

Also send me either a favorite quote or poem & I will incorporate parts of it into the box (See the Poe box blog post for an example). Please make sure that the text is not currently copyrighted by someone else. The text can also be of your own creation, in fact that would be very cool!

I will take the image & text you send me, add a few tweaks of my own and voila - your very own one of a kind wooden box. The closed box measures approximately 5.75" x 4.25" x 3.25"

I must stress that this box is for your personal use only. The final piece is under my copyright and is not for resale or redistribution.

Also, I will post images of the final piece on my blog.

If you are good with these stipulations & want to play along, simply leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) Thursday July 9th. Again, there will be NO random drawing on July 2nd. All who comment over the next 2 weeks will be entered in this random drawing.

Just a note: 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 10 days of your name being drawn, I'll go back through the list and choose an alternate winner.

I'll announce the winner shortly after noon (EST) on July 9th. I'll contact you & see about getting your choice of image & text. Once I have these it may take up to 3 weeks for me to finish the box. (It could be sooner; I just want to give myself some room). When the box is complete, I will ship it to you at my expense. This giveaway is open internationally.

Hmmm.....I think that about covers it. If you think of something I missed, or have any questions just let me know & I'll do my best to clarify.

We Have 2 winners & 1 studio pic

And we're off....

Last Thursday you got to meet Melanie of Studio27.etsy.com. She's created 6 fabulous ACEOs which will be going to 2 lucky winners today. Winners have been randomly selected by random.org.

The Set of 4 Family Portrait ACEOs goes to K Spoering!

_____________


And the set of 2 Goddess ACEOs goes to PamperingBeki !

Congrats to you both!! I'll be in touch later today so I can forward your info to Melanie.

Thank You to everyone who entered!! Check back later today for the next prize. Remember to leave a comment once the prize is posted to be entered in the new giveaway.

And Special Thanks to the talented artist Melanie of Studio27 for generously donating today's unique prizes!!

She has also share a pic of her studio. I apologize for not posting sooner. My 5 yr old & I were fighting a summer bug this week & it has interfered with art, life & even blogging (Eek!)

I know I said before but I love peeking into artists studios & seeing where they make their magic. Here's Melanie's:

Photo courtesy of Studio27

She says "I live in the world's smallest house - a cabin that we turned into a year-round house. My studio is one half of a room and it is about 10 x 13 feet, with sloped ceilings. It is hard to believe that so much art comes out of such a small space!"

You know what "they" say, it isn't the size, it's how you use it ! Sorry couldn't resist - thanks for popping by. Remember to check back later today for the newest prize.