Mix It Up With Melange Challenge - Wander

Red's Walk

Little Red has found her way home from Ybor City just in time for this week's Melange challenge prompt, Wander. She'd been hanging out over at Arts On 9th but they are in the process of moving to a larger space.

Though I'm rather attached to her, I've added Red's Walk to my ArtSnark etsy shop. Just click on the photo above to visit listing.

If you were visiting here last year, you may remember this piece's early stages; here it is pre-color. I started with some torn scrapbook paper glued on to 8 x 10 canvas board. Then I cut text (printed from an 1834 copy of Red Riding Hood) for the dress & trees. The basket is woven from tiny calendar pages. Red was drawn in pencil & ink. Final colors are from markers, watercolor, colored pencils & paint pen. The final piece is sprayed with a UV resistant finish and mounted under glass. I made a thin wooden shadow box insert so that the piece does not touch the glass.

If you get a chance today, pop over to the MelangeOnEtsy blog & see what Wander-ful pieces have been added (Check the the comment section for links). This challenge is open to anyone working in mixed media so if you are feeling inspired please leave a link to your piece.

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

Mix It Up With Melange Challenge - FUN

Just got back into town after a long weekend of fun & sun to find this cheery prompt from the folks over at Melange On Etsy blog. This is a new mixed media group & each Wednesday they offer up a fresh word to stimulate the creative juices. To play along, simply add a comment HERE with a link to the FUN piece you have made.

This prompt reminded me of all the fun some lucky people are having in Pleasonton, California starting today. They are attending Convenzione ZNE through May 3rd and will be making lots of friends, memories & wonderful projects! (What is ZNE? It's an online gathering place for "mixed media & indie artists". To read more about my experiences with this creative community click HERE) Fabulous classes will be taught in a variety of media - click HERE for more info about the instructors and their artistic talents. There is also a Vendor Fair which is open to the public on Saturday & Sunday. Click HERE for more info & to get a coupon for $1 off the $3 general admission price.

To my fellow ZNE members: I know you are having a blast! Hope to see you next year !!

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The Party Continues! Happy Birthday to The Duke!

NY declares April 29 Duke Ellington Day
NPR & others ride the 1939 A-Train with The Duke Ellington Orchestra
Now that sounds like fun!