Creative Souls Greek Myth art swap

Pandora ATC by Jeanne Draachreider

As soon I heard there was a Greek Mythology art-card swap over at Creative Souls,  I just had to play along. Good thing I did - now this lovely collage from Jeanne Draachreider is in my collection. I've been playing so much in the digital realm lately that it was with great pleasure that I opened Jeanne's puffy package! The pillar and grape vine add a fantastic 3-d element to this lovely card. They even  grow on the backside.

Pandora ATC back by Jeanne Draachreider

Now how cool is that

Perhaps it was fate that Pandora found her way into my mailbox... as the ATC I send to Jeanne was of Pyrrha, Pandora's daughter:

Pyrrha ACEO

If you've been around these parts for a while you might remember this piece from the Artarazzi mix-orange-&-Waterhouse challenge back in '09. If not, here is a bit of info about the daughter of Pandora:

Child of Pandora, Pyrrha was also the niece (& daughter in law) of Prometheus. When Zeus decided at the end of the Bronze Age to flood the world, Pyrrha & her husband Deucallion built an ark, survived & repopulated the world by tossing rocks over their shoulders. The rocks became the next generation. For more info, here is a link to her wiki page. 

The plan had been to create something new for Jeanne, but life caught up with me. Instead I embellished a print with markers and inks before sending it off. A nice bonus.... this challenge finally made me get around to printing some of my digital art, something I have been procrastinating for a loooong time. So, double thanks to you, Jeanne!

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A quick note: Last chance to enter the eye-spy contest. Identify the pieces which feature the eyes in last Friday's post. The person with the most correct answers by 8/12 will win a print. Click here for image & details.

Also any comment on this blog before 8/18 enters you in the random drawing for a Mary Shelley ACEO . Click here for details & photo.

Digital Whispers Art Trading Card Swap

Blue Alchemy ACEO

A couple of weeks a go I shared this shades of blue piece of mini-art created for the latest Digital Whispers min-art swap.  I also posted the wonderful ATC the talented Fiona Randall was sending me:

The Hatchling by Fiona Randall

 Lucky Me! Fiona sent some additional lovelies. And, lucky you, I'm sharing them here today:

My Dream Place by Fiona Randall

Catch of the Day by Fiona Randall

Want to see more of Fiona's whimsical creations?  Click here to visit her Digital Whisper page. 

Have you joined Digital Whisper yet? If not, you wont be able to visit this artist's wonderful work. DW membership is free, so why not go for it? You will enjoy amazing creations, chat with some wonderful artists, and participate in all sorts of challenges and projects. 

Already a DW member? Pop by my page & say hello. Be sure to leave me a link to yours, as I would love to see your stuff!

Time Travelers ATC swap

It has been like Christmas in July at my house. This summer I've renewed my love affair with Art Trading Cards and have some fun pieces to show you.

from DecadentDelusion.etsy.com

The latest swap cards in my mailbox were from these members of the fabulous Time Travelers Team on Etsy.com :

from Kuhlwhip.etsy.com

This was great fun! I love the mix of styles and materials used.  Many thanks to participants for sharing your exciting pieces of mini-art.

from AgentofChaos.etsy.com

  

Want to see a few more ATCs? Pop back tomorrow for some other beauties that hit my mail box this summer.

Are you new to Art Trading cards? ATCs (also called ACEOs or Art Card Editions & Originals) are mini pieces of art. These are original or reproductions and can be created in any medium or style. They just have to measure 2.5" x 3.5".  ATCs are great fun to make and collect!

Portrait of Mary Shelley

By the way, I am having a random drawing for one of my ACEOs, Portrait of Mary Shelley on 8/18. Leave a comment on my blog before 1 a.m. on Aug. 18th to enter. For details click here.

the eyes have it

I'm also hosting an eye-spy contest this week. The person who correctly identifies the most drawings featured in this 8/5 post before Friday will take home a free print. (if more than 1 person guesses the same #, I'll have a random drawing for the tiebreaker). Visit the 8/5 post for contest details.

Illustration Friday - Imperfect

the eyes have it

Imperfection is beauty, 

madness is genius, 

and it is better to absolutely ridiculous 

than absolutely boring. ~ Marilyn Monroe

Another fabulous challenge from IllustrationFriday.com!  I could post just about anything I've done & have it fit. But on further musings... for me it is all in the eyes. While I am also obsessed with hands, the eyes make or break a piece for me. By the way, the peepers featured above are from misc. works o' mine.  Most are in my etsy shop.

Oooh.... I feel a game coming on.... tell you what - try to identify pieces that these eyes appear in & you could win 1 of my prints. Could be fun! How many can you guess right? It just happens that they are almost all available in my etsy shop. My shop is ArtSnark.etsy.com. 

C'mon! Have a go. Leave your answer in the comments here (or if you want your guesses to remain secret send an email to ArtSnark@verizon.net). If you guess the most correct answers, you win. If there is a tie, I will do a random drawing from the folks with the same # of guesses. If anyone decides to play along, I will announce the winner next Friday. Cheers!

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By the way, I'm also running a random drawing for my Portrait of Mary Shelley ACEO. Leave any comment on my blog before 8/18 to toss your name into the hat. Click here for more about this giveaway & to see the piece

Enter to win Mary Shelley digital art ACEO - ends 8/18

Percy Bysse Shelley Birthday Treasury by Kaerl.etsy.com

 Happy Birthday, Percy B. Shelley!

1st I want to thank etsy seller Kaerl for putting together this wonderful Shelley themed treasury in honor of the poet's 219th birthday.  I just love Mark Satchwill's mini-art portrait on the upper left. For details on any piece, click the above caption to visit this treasury & then click on the image you are curious about.

The curator kindly included a link to Mary Shelley's Portrait, available in my ArtSnark etsy shop. The print in the treasury is 5" x 7". This piece also come as an ACEO (2.5" x 3.5"). This ACEO is the new giveaway prize:

ACEO Mary Shelley's Portrait

Mary Shelley's Portrait combines an 1840 painting of the author with a page from her original Frankenstein manuscript plus an illustration from the 1831 novel.

"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been." 

- from Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus

In the summer of 1816 a group of friends were forced indoors due to inclement weather. They entertained themselves by reading ghost stories. Their host, Lord Byron, challenged his guests to invent some new frightening tales. So Mary Shelley, then 19 years old, created her famous narrative.

To Enter The 8/18 Random Drawing:

Simply leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. (EST) on August 18th. Please leave your contact info if it isn't in your profile. Prize ships free worldwide to 1 lucky random winner.

New to ACEOs? 

ACEO stands for Art Card Edition and Original. They are always 3.5" x 2.5" and can be one of a kind (OOAK) or reproductions. They a great way to collect pieces from your favorite artist's without breaking the bank.  (But be warned.... they are highly addictive to collect and create. Like potato chips, it is hard to stop at just one. You may laugh, but ask anyone who collects them and I bet they agree!)

Well, I've got to run. Wishing everyone a lovely day. Good luck!

Winner of the Grown Up Coloring Book

Myke Amend's Book

I mentioned last week that every now & then a randomwinner neglects to claim their prize. When that happens it is time for a do-over. So the new winner of Myke Amend's Coloring Book For Grown Up Kids is.....

Dane Young

Congrats, Dane! I'll contact you today for your shipping address.

Many thanks to Myke for sponsoring this fun random drawing! And thank you to all who entered. 

Pop back later today for a new giveaway. I am expecting the 1st part of a new ACEO print order - think I'll post something from there. You'll then have 2 weeks to comment & enter the new random draw.

Carpe Noctem - Seize The Night

Carpe Noctem

Adapted from a custom mixed media box cover I made years ago. Box contained a gorgeous filigreed pocket watch.

Planning on making prints of this one if I get any interest. Right now it is available as an ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") in my ArtSnark etsy shop - just click here for details.

By the way, last chance to enter the 8/4 random drawing for Myke Amend's Coloring Book for Grown Up Kids. Leave a comment before 1 a.m. (EST) to enter. For giveaway details & a sneak peek at the book click here.