Tidying up some loose ends

While pretending to pick up the studio today I came across some unfinished pieces. Gave them a few tweaks & will put them in my Etsy shop, ArtSnark, tomorrow.

A month or so ago, the Melange art challenge prompt was Lace, followed soon after by Adventure. The prompts reminded me of this gentleman viewed from a slow moving train leaving the station. This photo was taken about 15 yrs ago in Conegliano, Italy. Since then, I'd added the ethereal legs so he'd have something to look at.

I came across the print tonight and enhanced with some watercolor pencils & markers. Some flashy little swarovski crystals jazz up the ruby slippers. My original plan was to put him in a shadow box with a variety of elements. Then I came across this faux-lace mat & thought it went with the theme.

Italy Train Station

I also found this little photo, Happy Plant and popped it into a black mat - fits in a 5" x 7" standard frame.

Happy Plant

There was also this scotch broom print. I had fun going over it with markers & colored pencils. While playing, I decided it might make a good background for one of the Idle ideas banging around in my nut. That's the IF prompt this week.... but I've been too idle to work on it.

Scotch Broom

Well, that's the hit & run tonight. Promise to feature Barbara Moustafa's awesome images soon.

Hope you've all had a great weekend! Oh, and if you haven't entered Thursday's Giveaway yet, click here for details. It's a great prize this week for 1 lucky winner!

Freebies for Friday

Hey there. Haven't had time to finish any new stuff. But thought I'd post pics for any one who wants to use them in a project.

For many years I collected vintage / antique postcards.

No rhyme or reason, just images that caught my eye.

Sometimes what interested me most was the untold stories. Love the old cash register in this one. Click on any of these to enlarge.

Eventually I need to put some on DeviantArt as stock images. It is always fun to see what people do with them. If you make anything with these, I'd love to see it. Happy to post your creation on this blog too, if you want.

Barbara Moustafa of Rusty Mermaid Dolls has done some fun digital collages with pics I've posted in the past. I'll try to get some up here this weekend.

Illustration Friday's prompt to day is Idle. I've got a couple of ideas but it may be a few days before I get a chance to set one down. In the meantime, go see what other fun art has been inspired by this prompt.

Oh, Melange prompt is Harbor this week. Click HERE to visit or add your own.

If you're looking for some more fun free images, ArtFreebies always has some great stuff in the archives & more pieces every day or so. There is a cool owl posted there today for the Soartful Saturdays art challenge.

Final Note: If you haven't yet entered next Thursday's Giveaway, what's holding you back? You could be the lucky winner! The fab prize provided by OnlinePosterPrinting.com is a 16" x 20" canvas print of your favorite summer photo. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment describing your pic before noon (EST) 7/31. For contest details CLICK HERE

The Impostor ACEO

The Impostor

Hey There! How have y'all been? Feels like I've been gone for ages. Work (day job not art) has taken over my life the last couple of days, but it feels like I've been gone for ages. I'll be perfectly content if I never have to hear an Emperor Penguin sneeze again! Don't ask. I'm not allowed to tell....

Totally work-fried last night, so I decided to detox with last week's Melange challenge, Whisper. I had this great ledger-style paper that had been partially stamped with what I think was supposed to be RECEIVED - only the top of the word was printed & I thought how it could also be DECEIVED. That got the synapses going, so I went snooping through deviantArt for a new rogue & found this great stock photo from NobleDeath-stock. Started the piece with the gent above. He was supposed to be looking through a window at something worth whispering about. But.... I liked him too much as a stand alone & he was sized right for an ACEO so here he is.

Now ACEOs are like Lays potato chips ... anyone who makes or collects them will agree. So a couple more followed.

Summer Beauty

This ACEO is based on an old family photo.The colors uploaded a little cooler than they really are. Bit more of a reddish-orange dominates the original.

Reflection

I'm not really happy with this but figured I'd show it anyway. I did manage to list these in my very neglected Etsy Shop, ArtSnark. The poor thing would be covered in cobwebs if it was a brick & mortar store. I actually had to renew most items, they've been sitting there so long.

For anyone unfamiliar with Etsy, you can keep items in your shop 4 months before renewing at a low 20 cents an item. Even when sales are down, rent is cheap! And the camaraderie is fabulous. If you are one of those people who is just sitting on your creations, I highly suggest you look into Etsy. It is easy to get lost in the crowd if you are unknown & not great at marketing. But on the other hand, those pieces are just gather dust, yes?

By the way, to view some cool responses to the Whisper challenge click HERE. You can find the artist's links in the comments. This week's Melange challenge is Harbor. Go HERE to add your own art or see what great pieces others come up with

Before I go scrounge up some dinner, let me remind you of the current Thursday Giveaway. Enter & you could be the lucky winner of a 16" x 20" canvas print of your favorite summer photo. Just leave a description of your pic in this blog's comments before noon (EST) 7/30 to enter the random drawing.For contest details CLICK HERE

Musical Monday's Muse

Starting the week with 1 of my favorite songs of all time

It's just after 2 a.m. & for the last couple of hours my Muse has been hanging out over at DaFont.com. I've been spending too much time playing over there (again). I'm turning into that neighbor kid who always seems to come around at dinner time (remember Chet from The Hardy Boys books?) except I'm drooling all over the alphabet.

Decided to stick Stonehenge on something so here's another Diary 2010 page.

July 18 2010

I better get some sleep as my little guy will be up in a few hours. I can already see myself at work later today grumbling quietly with one hand on the keyboard & the other clutching my coffee cup like my life depends on it ...

If you haven't entered the new giveaway yet, just leave a comment describing what summer photo you want printed on a 16" x 20" canvas from OnlinePosterPrinting.com. 1 Lucky winner will be randomly picked at noon (EST) July 30. For giveaway details CLICK HERE


Oh & if you have the time, grab a button & see what's inspiring some other fine folks today

Burning the midnight oil

May 13 2010

Why is it that with weeks & weeks to do a project, I always wait till the last minute?

(Um, don't answer that - purely rhetorical)

Had fun knocking out a couple of pieces for Diary 2010 last night. I actually tried to start several times in the last month but kept over thinking things. 1 deadline extension later (apparently I'm not the only well intentioned procrastinator) figured I best keep my word & hand in something. So put the little dude to bed, made some espresso, and started searching my mac for pieces to dissect & reassemble.

What is Diary 2010? A very cool project that artist/blogger Ewian turned me on to. (By the way, she keeps adding art supplies to her giveaway - pop over & check it out). Volunteers world wide send in calendar pages which will be assembled & sold as planners. Each page has the date in 3 languages. Plus, on the bottom, your online shop and what you sell there. Other than that, artwork is in shades of grey & needs to be laid out in such a way that the page is still usable for writing on. This is the 3rd diary project they've done. You can also find images of previous diaries on flickr HERE.

I had so much fun making the 1st that I decided to take on one of the extra pages still available. Found this wonderful Leaf Font over at Dafont.com & this drawing seemed to fit with it.

November 13 2010

Funny thing is, I wish I had started sooner so I had time to make a few more. Ah well, there is always 2011 !

Final note: Any interest in winning a 16" x 20" canvas print of your summery photo? This giveaway's sponsor OnlinePosterPrinting.com will send a gallery or museum wrapped canvas print to 1 lucky winner. To enter this random drawing just leave a comment describing your favorite summer photo that you'd like to have printed. There are a couple of disclaimers so CLICK HERE for details. You have until noon (EST) Thursday 7/30 to enter.

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!