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

New Giveaway - Original Art by Cara Walz

Today I am sooo jealous!

I want to enter the new random drawing! (insert tantrum here)

Some of you may know that I am a major Art-0-holic. And I love originals. And I get a just little obsessed when something catches my eye....

Thursday Giveaway's latest prize, the original artwork Gazelle, has been generously donated by the talented mixed media artist Cara Walz of FloodPlainStudio.etsy.com. Please stop by her etsy shop if you get a chance. All pieces for sale are originals. Click on the images in this post for more details about each piece.

Robin by Cara Walz

Cara: Each piece here is an original mixed media drawing. I opened my Etsy shop in June with the goal of offering original artworks that had a broad appeal to a variety of people, but with just enough of a unique feel to ensure that each one is special. It's also important to me that anyone can afford the Etsy works, so I make them relatively small.

Goat by Cara Walz

Cara: The animals are drawn with an ink art pen and white acrylic paint. Some of the drawings are also tinted with colored ink washes. The collage is beneath the drawing: If you look close you can see layers of collage and some of the original canvas texture lurking under there

I really love the colors & textures in Cara's work, as well has the variety of techniques used.

Want to see this bird in flight?
Click here for a migrating mechanical flock.

So many of Cara's pieces showcase bold colors

Beetle by Cara Walz

And energetic lines

Itchy Chihuahua by Cara Walz

While others feature wonderful detail

Frog by Cara Walz

Or a gripping primal quality.

munch by Cara Walz

I'm impressed by how well her animal series successfully combines these elements. The original mixed Media Drawing Gazelle blends confident linework with a vibrant abstract background.

Gazelle by Cara Walz

And, lucky for you, it is the new Thursday Giveaway prize!! To enter the random drawing for this prize, just leave a comment on this blog before noon (EST) on 10/8 . Gazelle will ship free to 1 lucky winner. This contest is open worldwide.

Want to see more of Cara's work? In addition to her etsy shop & website, you can find her on Facebook. She also has an intriguing blog, CaraWalz.wordpress.com.

Want a peek inside her studio? Come back in 2 days for Studio Tour Saturday. Cara is going to show us around & share more of her thoughts. Hope to see you there!

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

Archetype art challenge + free stuff

Archetype: Primordial image, character, or pattern of circumstances that recurs throughout literature and thought consistently enough to be considered universal.

I really like this definition of Archetype from The Encyclopedia Britannica. It was last Wednesday's Mix It Up With Melange challenge prompt. Here's my response.

This piece has been a long time coming. About 10 years ago a dream influenced this sketch. It's been tacked to my wall since.

Today's variation measures 36" H & is made with a mix of materials on matboard. There's lithocoal, chromacoal, pastel, watercolors, marker, ink and metallic paints. The gator's & girl's eyes are painted a reflective green over faux gold leaf. Makes for a cool flash when you change your line of sight.


Unfortunately I couldn't get the photos right. I've included a few close ups here but none of them really came out. It is funny, shortly after I drew the newsprint sketch we had some ghost hunters (DH secretly called them the "Ghost Dusters") poking around. One of them was convinced that the woman in the portrait was an angry ghost hanging around my studio. Maybe that's why she won't be photographed (insert spooky music here).

I think it might not be finished yet, but I'm at that walk-away point. Needs to simmer a bit more before I oversalt it or something....

To see more interpretations of Archetype visit the the Melange blog HERE & check out the links in the comment section.

Now for the free stuff:

Thursday's Giveaway this week is the matted artwork Alice With Tulips. Just leave a comment before noon (EST 8/13) to enter the random drawing. CLICK HERE to view prize.

Totus Mel's Wunderkammer has a fabulous giveaway going on. Great prizes donated from some amazing steampunk artists. CLICK HERE for pics of prizes & contest rules

Visit January Wish when you have a moment. She is hosting a giveaway of cute items from krize.etsy.com

Ewian keeps adding more & more art supplies to her giveaway stash! Here are details By the way she got 1st worldwide dibs at the new IKEA 2010 catalog. Really. You can read about it here.

A final freebie today. Since we're talking archetypes, here's 1 of my beasts up for grabs. Sorry about the bad photo - the border is refective silver paper. Plus 1 of my photos embellished with mica & glitter and a tiny swarovski crystal

Ego ATC

1st person who would like this ATC, just speak up in the comment section. 1st come 1st serve. Just make sure your contact info is in your profile or leave your email. I'm off to bed but I'll be in touch for your address. I just ask that you Pay It Forward. Other than that, no strings...

IF - craving + Artarazzi # 25 meets Art On The Darkside

Craving

For Illustration Friday. To see how others have been inspired by today's IF prompt, click HERE.

I know I've said it more than once, but there are so many fun art challenges "out there." I really need more hours in a day (& the energy to use them). If you have the time, check out a few & play along. Or just enjoy what others have submitted. The variety is always so exciting!

The Mix it up with Melange Challenge changes on Wednesdays. This week is FLY.

Art Freebies Soartful Saturday changes soon - for now the prompt is this lovely lady here:

Artarazzi's Challenge #25 is to use this in your digital creation:

And Art On The Darkside gets you thinking about Tattoos this week.

I decided to combine the last 2 challenges for a noir novel / pulp fiction feel

Red Handed

Started with the tattoo prompt & a scan of an old charcoal study. I was thinking about how a tattoo on the leg would look like a bruise which led to a tattoo of a hand print. So I inked & scanned my hand. This reminded me of the Artarazzi challenge pic, so I tossed that in as well. Finished it off with a few tweaks.

The dime novel look came about because the words caught red handed kept pushing to the surface. I've also started reading The Hardy Boys books to little dude before bed so I'm sure that's got something to do with it.

Thanks for popping by! Go check out some links, make some art & show us what you're up to. Or just go see what cool stuff everyone is creating this week. Before you go: Please leave a comment to be entered in the new Thursday Giveaway. 1 random winner will get inspired by their prize, A copy of Alisa Burke's book Canvas Remix. For book & contest details CLICK HERE

Summer fun in the sun

Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories. - Ray Bradbury

My 5 yr old loves taking pictures. He's had the Fisher Price bulletproof digital kids camera for a few years. You can drop it off a cliff & it still works (trust me; we have). Earlier this year, he received a cheapie waterproof film camera & took 1/2 dozen rolls of film. Bad-mommy finally got them developed. Here's me in the blazing sun. Gotta love the cone-head! It's really my big head in a baseball hat as seen from little dude's perspective.

He took several cool photos so I decided to pick a few & have some fun. Made a few tweaks in P.Elements, printed on glossy paper & embellished with watercolor and markers.

Would love to make some giant sunny paintings (ala Charles Burchfield or something). No time for big these days, so played with 4 ATC sized summery pieces instead. Now that I think about it, the sun has finally come out again after about 10 days of rain. Must be where the whole solar theme is coming from. Unfortunately my scanner is uglifying things a bit so I'll wait for the sun to shoot & post the rest.

If you want to see some truly fabulous sun-auras, check out a few of my favorite artists:

Charles Burchfield

Rockwell Kent

William Blake

The eye altering, alters all - William Blake

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Please remember to leave a comment before Thursday noon (EST) to be entered in this week's Thursday Giveaway. For details CLICK HERE

Art On The Darkside Challenge - Ghosts of the Sea

Beneath The Waves Of Memory - Mixed Media

I made this piece to illustrate a collaborative poem created with some of my fellow ZNE members. I think it fits the eerie Art On The Dark Side prompt too.In a collaborative poem, one person writes a line and then someone else write the next & so it. Keeps rambling around for a week or so until it feels done. Sometimes it's good, sometimes doggerel but always fun to play with. Here is the poem we created last April:

Beneath the waves of Memory
lies a continent of Fear
forged from an Existence
In the past, yet so near.

Islands made of foolish dreams,
Mountains forged in Pain-
Some memories melt then disappear,
but others stay far too near

Remembering when I loved you,
that seems so long ago
diving floating rarely
surfacing for air.

Mists of memories linger
grasping fragments of the past
mixed with desperation
in a space that feels too vast.

Beneath the landscape of my pain
I try to drown you.
Why, oh why
do you always come up again
right to the surface of my heart?

The sadness is so sinking,
but it's hope that helps you rise.
Waterfalls of feelings
empty into pools of languid thought.

Suddenly, out of the darkness
deep within my soul
the flames of hope start burning
like a fire out of control.

Even the good memories hold their own pain
For I know you will never be with me again.
My arms ache for your body pressed to mine;
forever gone, never to be again.

by Stacey Merrill, Gina Smith, Harvestorm, Kathryn Virello, Cathy Minerva, Bernice Wagnitz, Allison Berringerm Heidi Eberle & Shelly Sparks

More ZNE poems (some with illustrations) can be viewed HERE
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Please note: I've stared taking entrants for a new giveaway. It is for the craft book The Scented House. For contest details & to see pictures from the book CLICK HERE. Just leave a comment on this blog before Thursday May 21 at noon (EST) to enter the random drawing.

More Houses for a good cause!

May your home always be too small to hold all of your friends.
~Author Unknown

Joy Mixed Media Wall Assemblage by Chrisy McConnell
Visit her blog and
See more of Chrisy's art atArtDecadence on etsy

3 More unique houses are available now in the OzBushFireAppeal etsy shop. The shop was created in response to the Australian wildfires. Over 900 items have been sold since Feb.8 with all proceeds going to the Australian Red Cross. That's over $15,ooo.oo (AU) so far. All sorts of items have been donated by generous Etsy Sellers. Several METSY Team members donated their time & talent to create these one of a kind houses for the cause.

Little Dutch House by Aimee Wheaton
Check out her blog.
See more of Aimee's art at MazerDesign on etsy

To visit a specific house listing, click on any photo on this page. Also, here is the link to all of the METSY Team Houses in the Oz shop. There are 11 so far. More may be listed before the shop closes it's doors on March 31st, so please check back. If you haven't visited the OzBushfireAppeal shop yet, please do. You might find just what you are looking for & donate to a worthy cause while you're at it!

We Are One by Stacey Merrill
Read about my little house here.
See more of my art at ArtSnark'sArtifacts on etsy

Many many thanks to everyone who has helped with this project. To see my posts about previously donated houses with links to the artists' blogs & shops click here & here . Special thanks to FeliciaFairy, VanillaPixie , & the Etsy DUST Team for creating & operating the shop. They have been just swamped and have done so much to help in such a short period of time. It really blows me away! Please visit these wonderful - generous - creative folks & show them some love!!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

My home is where I want to be and
it looks like all my dreams

- from The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater

Play House by Juli Waller
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Juli's art at Grrraphics on etsy

3 more fabulous houses have been added to the OzBushFireAppeal etsy shop. Each unique house has been altered & generously donated by a different talented etsy artist. The OzBushfire shop was created by the owner of FeliciaFairy & the Etsy Dust Team in response to the recent fires in Australia. 100% of proceeds from the shop's sales goes to the Australian Red Cross. Since February 8th, 889 sales have brought in "about $15,000 "(AU) .

Choices by Yin Hoong Lai
See more of Yin's art (& popcorn)
at What's Eating Yin on etsy

Also Every Item Has Free Shipping! Now you can't beat that: help others in need, get cool stuff & free shipping - please take a few minutes & check out some of the 190 items still available. They might have just what you're looking for...Cottage House by Shiela Bradley

Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Juli's art at CreateItCottageArt on etsy

To visit all the available houses, click here. For a direct link to each house, click on a photo. If you get a chance, please visit the shops & blogs of these wonderful artists and tell them just how cool they really are! Also please check back before March 31 (when OzBushfireAppeal closes) to see more one of a kind houses.

New Houses! Good Prices ! Great Cause!

Fairies 'Round My House by Heather Holbrook
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Heathers art at PisforPaper on etsy

The 1st altered houses for the OzBushfireAppeal shop have been listed for sale. Each house is a one of a kind creation by a different talented artist & was designed specifially to be donated to the Oz shop. 100% of proceeds from every sale goes to the Australian Red Cross. (Since Feb 8 they have made over $15,000 AU). For more details on the shop & the artists involved, click here.

Where My Heart Resides by Nancy Lefko
Read about her house on her blog.
See more of Nancy's art at CollageArtGirl on etsy

To visit a specific house listing, click on any photo on this page. Also, here is the link to the METSY Team Houses section of the shop. Another dozen or so houses to be listed for sale soon.

Flower Cottage by Jen Maddison
Read about Jen on her blog.
See more of her art at jemjoop on etsy

Keep checking back, more houses will be featured here as they are listed in the OzBushfireAppeal shop. Some things to remember (& hopefully send you shopping): your money is going to a great cause, You get to be the proud new owner of a one of a kind piece of art, And there is also Free Shipping on every item. Don't wait too long though as the Oz shop will be shutting down on March 31.

Home Is Where The Heart Is by Pam Carriker
See what Pam is doing on her blog.
See more of her art at The BagladysArt on etsy

Originally I wanted to interview each artist, while showcasing their house. But I dropped the ball on this one (hmm... seems to be happening a lot lately). Here's a thought! How about YOU interview them for me ?! Simply leave your questions. I'll gather them into a survey & post the artists' responses in a week or so.... Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Play House by Alisa Norholt-Dean
Read about her house on her blog.

See more of Alisa's art at PrettyLittlePendant on etsy

If you get a chance, please visit the blogs & etsy shops of these generous & talented volunteers. Show them some love & tell them how great they are, k?

1st of the Fever Dreams

Thanks to all for your kind wishes & for putting up with my whinging.

Here are the 1st images from my recent delusional state.

Each measures 2.5" x 3.5 " . They are available as a set in my etsy shop, ArtSnark's Artifacts

TOOT TOOT TOOT!!

Yep, tootin' my own horn (again). Just so darn thrilled I have to share! Hopped over to ZNE in the wee hours to see what was new & found my latest experiment on the front page. I finally joined the book club there. We are reading Michael De Meng's book Secrets Of Rusty Things. Group members discuss chapters & create their own projects based upon each chapter. This funky flower vase is my interpretation of project# 1 ("Ameratsu - letting daylight out")To find out more about this piece and other ZNE book club projects click here .

ZNE is a gather place for "mixed media & indie artists". It's an amazing community of supportive creative people. There are so many different things going on: ATC swaps, photo challenges, book club, collaborative poetry (finished poems are here ), technique/art supply sharing, a convention , and much more.

Although it sounds corny, ZNE is more to me than a great place to hang out. It was the support of the talented artists I met there that lifted me out of a 5 year art-rut: In 2003 I stopped creating. Last February I joined the group & I started making Art Trading Cards to swap. I started small but now I've got more works in progress around me than I can count! I'm painting & drawing again and trying my hand at something new - jewelry. Through my involvement with ZNE, I've had a piece published in the art book Never Forgotten and participated in my 1st group show in 5 years. I found the confidence to open an Etsy shop & start blogging ( big deals for me as I am not computer savvy or comfortable putting myself "out there").

And I have made some great friends!

If you've read this far, thanks for your patience. I guess, I just want to say THANK YOU! to ZNE founder Chelise Stroud Hery & all of the wonderful people I have met at ZNE. Their patience & encouragement has turned my creative energies right around! Now I just have to find to time to do it all :)