Not Quite Wordless Wednesday

Secrets

Watercolor, color pencil, pencil & ink on a 4" x 6" chunk of map. Inspired by Dec 16 Mix it up with Melange prompt of same name. (Click here to see what others were inspired to create.) & a fun frame I've had kicking around. Will be a wee bit more mixed media once I frame it.... I'll post the final piece Friday.

Special thanks to Art By Canace for posting this fantastic door photo for free use & to Valentine - FOV-stock on deviant for a great reaching photo to play off of!

By the way, the newest Melange prompt is Illuminating. If you are feeling inspired, play along! Just post your mixed media piece online & add a link in the Melange blog comments so everyone can check it out.

Totally off topic, last chance to enter the 2 drawings I'm hosting this week. Click links for details & just leave comment before 1 a.m. (EST) on the day of the random drawing to enter

On 12/31 one lucky winner gets a copy of Diary 2010. Each day features a different illustration by artists worldwide.

On 1/1/10 a prize of 100 custom printed postcards by Uprinting.com will be given to 1 winner

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to stop back Thursday for contest results, a new prize announcement and a visit from one of my favorite Etsy artists. Hint Hint - you can also find her in the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine.

Mix It Up With Melange Challenge - Believe

Believe in your dreams and they may come true. Believe in yourself and they will come true. - Author Unknown

Come play with us! This week's Melange challenge prompt is Believe. Click here to visit the Melange blog. Then check out the comment section where artists will be adding links to their pieces all week. If you'd like to add one of your own, please do. The challenge is open to anyone creating in mixed media.

I uncovered this piece today during the ongoing studio clean up. It is adapted from a photo I took of a nautilus shell about 10 yrs ago. Last year, I tweaked it on Photoshop Elements & printed on archival photo paper that feels like watercolor paper. Wire & bead words were added. Sorry the scan is a bit hard to read. The words are believe, imagine, hope, inspire, dream, create.

The colors were not bright enough, so I went over the piece with watercolor pencils & markers today. It measures 6.5" sq. It is mounted on acid free mat board & has a top mat that is 10" on the outside. I'll finish framing & take some better pictures before adding it to ArtSnark.etsy.com.

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By the way, last chance to enter tomorrow's random drawings. Click following links for details.

At noon (EST) 1 lucky winner (picked from all the comments left this week) will receive the mixed media painting Inspiration from DJ Arts.

Then winner #2 will get a free custom printed vinyl banner from Uprinting.com. This one has a couple of rules, so click for details.

Also if you want to win a piece of my art, Trevi Letters, click here to visit DJs blog by tomorrow & leave a comment

Weekly Inspiration - My fellow Melange Team members

I have the good fortune to be a member of the Melange Team on Etsy. This is a wonderful group of talented mixed Media artists who help each other in so many ways. They inspire me to try new materials & techniques. And to jump in and say "yes" when faced with something new. Here is a new slide show of some members' artwork. (Special Thanks to Glenda Bailey of TwoCoolTexans for making this presentation)

Every day Melange members can be found sharing ideas on various Etsy forum threads. And on Wednesdays there is a new art challenge posted to the MelangeOnEtsy blog. Basically there is always something new going on to get the arty juices flowing.

I recently had some good fortune & decided to share it with my fellow team members. 2 months ago I hosted a random drawing of 250 custom printed greeting cards from DigitalRoom.com on my blog. Well, that generous sponsor then gave me the same prize as a "thank you."

I decided to print up some cards to promote the Melange Team & its amazingly talented members. They came in last week & I am really happy with the way they came out. Colors are bright, they have a glossy finish & are printed on a nice stiff cardstock. Thank You Digital Room!


If you are a Melange Team member, click on the card photo. It will take you to the Melange blog post where you can sign up to receive some of these cards. This is for Melange on Etsy team members only.


Also, Maternal Spark has been running a series on creativity this past week, 7 Steps to Opening the Door to your Artist Within. I don't know that I agree with all of the suggestions but the series provided some thought provoking ideas. Worth checking out if you have a few minutes.

Final Note - I'm hosting 2 Giveaways right now, click through for details:

Random Drawing for a Teresa Chipperfield Spring Blossoms art print (ends 10/15)

Custom Printed Vinyl Banner with grommets from Uprinting.com (ends 10/22)

Mixed Media Melange Challenge - FALLING

Spiral Diver ACEO

This week's Mix It Up With Melange Prompt is Falling. Click Here to see other entries or to add your own. If you have a minute, check out this slideshow featuring the art of some Melange Team members. Slideshow created by the wonderful Glenda Bailey of TwoCoolTexans.

Rolling in the random - belated RTT

Dang! I am so behind this week, I'm posting Random Tuesday today.

If you are behind the times, like me, or just need some chaos in your life, click the button & go see what the followers of The Grand Un-Mom have been up to lately.

In the meantime, I need to siphon off some spare brainwaves so here we go:

My 5 yr old wants to live off of bread & butter. Love to see his reaction if he found this "state fair butter sculpture" on his toast!

Photo courtesy of PamperingBeki

Did you ever see The Devil & Daniel Johnston (2005)? A thought provoking documentary. You can find out more about his music & drawings on his website hihowareyou.com. Now someone has made an Iphone game based on his world. (Personally, I've got mixed feelings about this.)

Love this: "In 1986 Peter had the idea of growing a chair."

photo borrowed from pooktre tree shapers

Doesn't it sound like a great start to a fairy tale? It's from the Pooktre Tree Shapers website. Very interesting stuff - worth checking out.

Actually, it would be a good opening line for a book from the Memorable Children's Books and Gifts Company. I found these guys while I was poking around The Mom Blogger's Club. MCB&G hosts kid's book giveaways too.

Seems like a lot of people I know are having babies lately. Found them some random drawings over at Unique Baby Gear Ideas: A chance to win Maternity clothes & Baby shoes

Okay enough baby-talk. Lets talk talent!

Tom Banwell's incredible Underground Explorer helmet has been picked by the Museum of the History of Science (Oxford) to advertise their October-Feb. Steampunk Exhibition. Congrats, Tom! By the way, if you want an amazing mask this Halloween, stop by Tom's Etsy Shop.


This sound like such a fun show. Check out the exhibition's blog for a clickable list of artists involved in the show & some cool pics. I see that the talented Daniel Proulx of Catherinette Rings is on the list too! Looks like a great lineup.


Shifting gears again - my 5 yr old is crushing me in Gran Turismo...

Have you seen the art of Sarah Fishburn? She calls her art "Mixed Media Narrative" Very fitting & very cool! The above link is to her elaborate website - chock full of arty goodness. You can also see what she's up to on her blog, ragtagsf.blogspot.com

Oh I almost forgot the Mix It Up With Melange art challenge prompt is Gateway. Click through sometime this week & add a link to your mixed media interpretation. While you are there see what other folks have come up with.

P.S last chance to enter tomorrow's random drawing for a print of Amber Freeman's drawing, Little Gift. Just leave a comment here before noon (EST) 10/1 to enter. Details & pics of Amber's art can be found here.

Well, gotta run. The to-do list beckons. I have a theory.... I think it grows while I am sleeping.

Mix It Up With Melange Challenge - Heavenly

Calling All Angels ATC

I made this ATC for a swap & (lucky for me ) it kinda fits this week's Mix It Up With Melange prompt. If you have any Heavenly mixed media art you've created, click through & add your link in the comments. If you just want to check out some cool art pieces, that is where you'll find them.

This atc started with a photo I took years ago that was altered in P.Elements. The angel was then printed onto textured paper & enhanced with watercolors. This was trimmed & glued to a piece of red mat board. The whole thing was worked over with colored pencils,pastels & metallic gel pen. Then colored swarovski crystal pieces were glued on. Unfortunately I had a hard time getting a good photo of the little sparkly bits

On different note, I finally had a sale on Etsy - feels like it has been forever! It is easy to come up with excuses, but the reality is that I've not listed anything new in ages. I've just been making stuff & setting it aside.

My drawings have not been selling, so I've pulled out the mat cutter and am busy making acid free mats. These will allow the art to fit easily into standard sized frames. I'll be adding these to ArtSnark.etsy.com this week & sure hope this helps make them more appealing.

By the way, If you haven't signed up for tomorrow's 2 random drawings, you have until noon (EST) on 9/24. Click through for details:

1 winner receives a custom printed 18" x 24" poster from Uprinting.com - US only

The 2nd winner chooses 1 print from Koniver.etsy.com - Worldwide

Musical Monday's Muse - Heartbreak PLUS Mixed Media Monday

Dang, That is a lot of Ms today!

Good Monday too you! Not trying to bring anybody down but Musical Monday's theme this week is Heartbreaker. Click the button to hear some more woeful tunes or add 1 of your own.

Got a workmate who is just too darn chipper for a Monday? Send them the link too ;-)

Worn Out

I notice that Maternal Spark is sporting a new look this week - very snazzy. Click through to find Monday's Muse, where the question is always "What's inspiring you this week?"

Originally I had a long fussy post about my Etsy Inventory Angst - toomuchstufftoadd&itisallsodifferentsowheretoputit - Blech!

But then I saw that Mixed Media Monday challenge today is Round , which is so much more fun than my whinging! So here's mine.

3rd Eye Mixed Media Pendant

If you hold pendant up to your eye this is the view

Clicking on the either photo will take you to the pendant's Etsy listing . There you'll find photos from other angles & more info about the piece.

To see more cool circles or to add your own just visit the comments section of today's Mixed Media Monday post.

Also, if you'd like to enter this Thursday's Giveaway, just leave a comment. 1 random winner gets a package of craft supplies. Click HERE for list & photo of prize.

"Here Be Dragons" for Melange quote challenge

When I was a child I loved maps, the older & more exotic the better.


My favorite parts were the edges,


sometimes covered with fantastic drawings of creatures from Beyond.


There you would find the magic words ....

HC SVNT DRACONES : Here Be Dragons


I spent last weekend rereading Moby Dick (1 of my favorites)


and started making a map for the Melange challenge

Then decided I'd rather make an adventurer's box. Travel sized (2.5" sq x 2" H) for a small compass perhaps. Eventually I dumped the compass in favor of some trinkets an explorer might carry.


A tiny bottle of earth from home. Another filled with treasures for his love. A seeing "stone ", actually abalone. A figure he's been whittling. I'm not sure if I should leave the pin or not.....

It still needs some finishing touches. The abalone needs some roughing up. I need to replace the red sculpey with "wax" once I find the mislaid cork. I'm also missing a brass pin on the box front . Once finished, I'll add it to my ArtSnark etsy shop.

Find links to other fun quotable artworks in the Melange Team comment section HERE. While you are visiting, check out their new prompt, FLIGHT. Play along if you like, all mixed media pieces are welcome!

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Just a reminder, tomorrow is a new Thursday Giveaway. This week's prize is a $10 gift card to Michael's Craft stores. Just leave a comment here before noon (EST) tomorrow 8/20 to enter the random drawing. Click HERE for details & link to store locator.

Also, tomorrow afternoon I have a new artist interview & prize, so check back when you get a chance, okay? In the meantime, hope you have a creative day!

IF - Wrapped ... plus some random thoughts

Out After Curfew

Illustration Friday Prompt this week is wrapped. I've got some new ideas but in case I don't get any studio time this weekend I'm recycling an ATC from last Halloween. To see a variety of artwork on this theme, or add your own interpretation visit Illustration Friday.

Also the Melange Team blog has 2 different challenges up right now - anyone can enter:

The Mix It Up With Melange challenge is to "use your favorite quote" in your mixed media piece. Fun, yes? Click through & visit the comments to see the art or add your own. The prompt will change on Wednesday

The other is the Make A Transfer challenge. Basically you submit a something you've created using any kind of transfer process. Deadline is August 31. Your art gets you into a drawing for Book Art: Handcrafting Artists' Books by Dorothy Simpson Krause. Click HERE for details.

By the way, took my 5 yr old to see Ponyo today. I'm a big Hayao Miyazaki fan & Frankie absolutely loves Laputa: Castle In The Sky

& Kiki's Delivery Service

Ponyo was great! Mind you, it's no Spirited Away, but it isn't supposed to be. It is for children and it hit the mark with the kids in the audience. Frankie has discovered the joys of going to the cinema this long hot summer & I have to say this was the best kids' film we've seen by far. No 3-d, no 80s soundtrack, no adult innuendo (thank goodness) - just a really well made kids movie.

Last note: Next Thursday's Random Drawing is for a $10 Gift Card to Michael's art/craft stores. To enter drawing simply leave a comment before noon (EST) 8/20. For details & link to store locator CLICK HERE.

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!

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

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 - Drifting

Drifting

Listening to Nick Drake tonight.
To see other takes on drifting visit Illustration Friday.

Please give me a second grace
Please give me a second face
I’ve fallen far down the first time around
Now I just sit on the ground in your way

Now if it’s time for recompense for what’s done
Come, come sit down on the fence in the sun
And the clouds will roll by
And we’ll never deny
It’s really too hard
For to fly

Please tell me your second name
Please play me your second game
I’ve fallen so far for the people you are
I just need your star for a day

So come, come ride in my street-car by the bay
For now I must know how fine you are in your way
And the sea sure as I
But she won’t need to cry
For it’s really too hard
For to fly

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

Melange Art Challenge: Inspiration

It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me

I was a child

and

she was a child,

in this kingdom

by the sea;


But we loved with a love that was more than love-


I and my Annabel Lee

The Melange Team's May 20th challenge was "Inspiration". It took me a while to catch up but here I am. I've been thinking for a while about making a series of Authors' Boxes. Here is the 1st, inspired by Edgar Allen Poe (who many believe was inspired by his late wife Virginia). If you want to read the rest of Annabel Lee, click here

I haven't played with wood in a while & had a grand time making this.


Decided to give it a slightly weathered look.


It is also filled with faded secrets in all the nooks and crannies

The notes tucked inside are copies of the writings of Virginia & Poe.

The smaller is a valentine written by Virginia. You can see the original here. The larger is a copy of Poe's Annabel Lee (the rest of the poem is printed on the back). See the original manuscript here.

The current Melange Challenge is Dance. I've several ideas but very little time so I may just post some older pieces soon. To view other interpretations, click Inspiration or Dance . Then click on the links in the comments to enjoy the wonderful variety . If you have the time, play along & enter your own creation!

So many challenges, so little time! I love how the ideas flow from the random prompts, Some pounce immediately, while others slither up behind me. Usually there are two or three but I rarely find the time to finish one - sigh... Some other great prompts this week are Adapt (IllustrationFriday), puppeteer (artonthedarkside) and Altered Ancestors (inspiremethursday). If only there enough time to play with them all.... Take a minute, look around & get inspired!

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Please note: All who leave a comment before noon (EST) Thursday June 4 will be entered into 2 random drawings: 1 is for a $20 gift certificate to my etsy shops & the other is for an ACEO. Click HERE for details