WVFA Animal Farm or Art or Something Like That....lol

 It's been a regular farm around here, with all the comings and goings and new critters, planting, and already harvesting, art shows, and poster designs to create and the list goes on! I managed to squeeze some time to paint this little lamb above, for the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts. It was touch and go, and I missed the original deadline due to all the goings on, but I managed to beat the extended deadline by a couple of days, whew! It's painted in acrylics, still my medium of choice. I'm dabbling in oils, but I love acrylics, probably because there are no chemicals. No matter, this piece is waiting to find out if it's been juried into the show.

This piece was extra fun to create! I used my mixed media technique of slathering texturing compound on my base board, and then I tried to sculpt using the joint compound and that was a no go. So I sanded that down and brought out my trusty Creative Paperclay to hand sculpt bass reliefs of the horses heads. Using a base paint, I smooshed that around the piece, then sealed and then meticulously added layers of metallic colors, wiping here and there to add dimension and interest. I was actually surprised at how it turned out, and happy as well. Soooo, now the wait to find out if either of my pieces has been accepted. I guess I could go sneak a peek, huh?! Hold on, I'll go look.... aaaah, still in round one of the jury process so I will keep you posted. Well, off I go to my Simply Sheryl's blog to post about my latest gardening ventures. Have a great week!

Apples and Sunflowers

 Two of my favorite things to grow, sunflowers and apples, have appeared in my etsy shop. Pomme is a painting I did back in 2010. Acrylics and textured mixed media fun.

Sunflower Autumn is a soft and lovely abstract that will fill a small space nicely. Framed and ready to hang, this is easy Autumn decorating at it's best.  To see more details on these paintings stop by my etsy shop. Thanks for stopping by!  MothersDreamRtworks

Dreaming of Sunsets Mixed Media Abstract Painting

When I started this painting I was thinking of lime green for a fresh and spring like brightness, but this has evolved into something totally unexpected and fun! I just didn't like the direction it was taking, so I put it on the easel and would walk by and think, "Hmmm, orange, it needs orange..."

As you can see from the "before" painting, it was rather bland and needed some umph! I tried orange, and then turquoise and before you know it I was brushing color here and there. I really had fun and love the end result. True to Pantone color trends, this piece should fit in with any modern home decor color theme. It comes framed and ready to hang. You can find it at my etsy shop : MothersDreamRtworks

I've been accepted into the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts!

All three of these pieces made it into the art show, yippeeeee! Okay, so I sound a bit giddy, but I am excited about the show. I would have posted this sooner, but wow does life get away from me at times. Gardening has started, the household chores are still there, and work has given me more hours, so with that, and travel and so on, I almost forgot to share. I also see I didn't share the apple painting, so here it is, along with the other two. The Textured abstract has a buyer if it doesn't sell at the show in Oregon.
Well, off to post a recipe on Simply Sheryl's. Stop if you can!

Finished this one, now to get the apples done..

Well, I tried to post this to Facebook, but my server is slower than molasses in January. Yep, I said that, and won't take it back. After sitting here for 30 minutes trying to share one photo, I'm about to call Verizon and tell them their 4G service is a joke. But I won't because I have an apple painting to finish, so off to the cold studio I go, wish me luck!

Pears are done...

I thought I had shared this, but lately our so called 4G connection has been acting up, so downloading photos has been a bear. I finished the pears painting so now the debate on a title has begun. My original thought was "Ready for Market", but we had a lot of time to deliberate while on our way up to Brighton ski resort yesterday. Nature Guy said I should call it " Eight Pears In a Box",  or "Market Fresh", which is a local grocery store slogan. Then he came up with Market Morning. Still thinking about that one. What do you think? I'm planning on entering this one in the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, unless I come up with something much better.

Taking the plunge with my mixed media abstracts on ebay

I holding my breath as I finish up the listing for my mixed media abstract entitled Truly Lace. I have so much fun creating these, that I am hoping others will enjoy them as much I do. So I took the plunge and listed my first one on ebay. I hope you will take a moment and check out the listing and let me know what you think! Thanks to all the Hive community for your continued support and kind words of encouragement. Have a happy Monday!

Utah State Fair Here I Come!! WIP Done

It's always a great feeling when you can pull a piece out of trouble and then finish it. I changed the lettering on this painting with my husband's help as a consultant. We discussed several font options using photoshop to do mock ups. What a great way to use Photoshop! Then I had to try my hand at painting the lettering we chose. After some prayer and several deep breaths..lol, I tackled the lettering where I surprised even myself! So I will sign and seal this painting, then it is ready to go.

My dilemma now is to decide which sculpted piece I will enter in the creative arts competition of the fair. My husband's first choice is this Santa

I wonder though if this one might be better?

What do you think? I will probably go with the Santa, but I would love some feedback on this! Thanks in advance! Don't forget to get signed up for our AHA Studios Marketplace giveaway and then visit the other give away blogs for more chances to win! Scroll down to the opening announcement for more details. Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

WIP for the Utah State Fair

My apartment is turned upside down because we are getting ready to move so I used my kitchen counter and cabinets as my easel today. It actually worked out great! I'm not done with this, and may want to make some changes to the lettering, but this is where I'm at as of now. Utah State Fair here I come? Lol

The envelope please......

A highly anticipated arrival came yesterday with good news for me. I submitted to be in the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts that will happen in June. This will be my 3rd year and I am so excited!

Last year we didn't have to submit an application if we had been in the show before. This year it was different. The festival is growing and as the letter states artists are submitting work from as far away as Florida and Alabama. This year I will also be helping with hanging the art and other duties as a volunteer. I'm so looking forward to this and can't wait to get back home. In the meantime I better get to work!

PFATT for February

We are so ready for Spring around our house that it pushed me to share some of my favorite pieces with you. Here are my latest works available at the PFATT Marketplace for February.This is an acrylic painting on a 9 by 12 inch gallery wrap canvas. Original art ready to hang.
Just in time for President's day, an Uncle Sam ornament that can be hung anywhere year round. Hand sculpted over an egg shaped gourd.
I lovingly call this Roadtrip Roses as it was done on a trip to Idaho to pick up some bunnies. I have several of these prints available right now. They come on high quality heavy duty print paper in a 8.5 by 11 inch size with a white border. To see how to purchase these click on the PFATT banner to the right.
A huge thank you for all who have entered the OWOH give away so far! I so appreciate all the uplifting and inspiring remarks! As always, thank you for your support of what I do. If you haven't yet, scroll on down and get in on the give away!

It's Utah State Fair Time!

Autumn Time Santa is my entry for Decorative arts this year.


And just barely making it into the trunk is my painting for Fine Arts.

I forgot to take a photo before I put it into the trunk, but a raw version can be seen on my other blog as a side photo. I did some touching up and so it's hopefully acceptable. My dear husband has been so patient with all this. I never seem to be able to get ahead so I'm rush, rush, rushing to get stuff finished and the house is all upside down still from the flood. We can't put it all back together anyway as the carpet needs to be cleaned again, the odor didn't come out. So I'm glad these are done as when we get back from Oregon this weekend I will need to get the house right side up again. Life is good! :-)

Ready for the art show?

Here are my entries for the art show this week.
You can't really see the paint shading very well and I do need to seal this tonight, but This Indian head is on a bottle gourd with a pine needle base attached with brass star brads. I tried to keep it simple so this is the way it will be.

So here we are and hopefully all done. Now, to choose something for the silent auction. Have a great night!

WIP

Almost done with this piece and it's a good thing as the entries have to be in on Wednesday. I have to bulk up the hair and finish the top of the hair, as well as figure out the base. This is done with Creative Paperclay over a bottle gourd. He's patterned after the Nez Perce Indians, which are indigenous to this part of Oregon.

Finished Art Work

I'm done, fini, whew! Some things are harder than others, and this one was a doozy! Primarily because I was working off of a small photo, and I have never done a sheep before. I have a tendency to be too detailed, and so I'm really trying to loosen up but some things I still need to learn. Not bad for a self taught artist though, so onward and upward. And yes, Linda, you were close!

A Mother's Love - Stepping Outside my comfort zone

I've had the photograph this was done from for a long time. I'm trying to step outside of what I normally do and use different brush strokes and so on and this is what the end result was. I plan on doing at least one painting a week until the art show, and then will make a decision on which pieces will be submitted. This is an acrylic on a 9 x 12 inch gallery wrap canvas. The painting does wrap around the sides. Let me know what you think!

I'll give you a daisy a day dear.....

Even though it's threatening to snow outside, again, I was inspired to create this as a tribute to the upcoming Summer months. I love Shasta daisies; they are so prolific here in Wallowa Valley that they create mini carpets of green and white here and there along the slopes. They are tall and dance in the breezes that drift across the valley floor. This piece is available now.

Dancing Daisies - 8" x 10" on gallery wrap canvas $125.00 Email me if interested.

More WIPs

Fresh fruit for sale! I've been going back and pulling out things that were started and not finished. I have a real desire to get back to painting for a bit so I will start with finishing these.

Now I'm committed so someone will have to hold me to this.....lol.