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!

Spring Greenery

It has been an exceptionally blustery and snowy winter here in the NE corner of Oregon. The old timers all say that this is what winters used to be like, and I take my hat off to them as they are still here. Not that I'm complaining, I rather like deep piles of snow, and even enjoy shoveling the driveway on occasion. This year though, we've sustained roof damage due to ice build up. We've learned some thing about being better prepared, and except for getting that all wheel drive vehicle, we should be ready for whatever mother nature throws at us next year. Nature Guy has already informed me that we probably won't ever see a winter like this again, especially if we get a more suitable car, but we shall see.
So the point of all that is that I see a lot of people counting the days until spring in their Facebook posts. In the spirit of that, and the Pantone color of the year, which is spring greenery, I created a mixed media art piece full of brightness and spring green. We've had our share of winter storms blow through so I wasn't able to get photos that quite do the piece justice, but I hope you can see the potential to brighten up your home. This piece is available now.

$145.00 + Free SH

Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts 2015 Entries

 Sunset in Seville

Cerises Rouges

Sunny Flowers or Sunflowers for Spring

I don't know about where you are, but in these parts it feels more like Spring that the dead of Winter. Our temps have been in the 40's and even dipping into the low 50's so we are enjoying the weather. My Rosemary is trying to over take the garden bed so I need to find a way to use it in my cooking.

What does that have to do with this painting, well, nothing, but hey I feel like being wordy, sort of....lol. I've listed this textured art piece in my etsy shop so go there for more information.

MothersDreamRtworks

My Three Entries for the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts

Calabaza de Cuero

 It's nail biting time again. Funny, I always worry about being accepted, and haven't been turned away yet, so why the nail biting? I guess it's that old lack of self confidence creeping in. Keeps me humble right? Lol.

Sunset In Sonora

 This was an interesting challenge, but a lot of fun to do. I wanted to try and use my doilies in a tree painting, and it worked, although I had another style in mind prior. What's nice is I can still try my other idea. I've learned though that joint compound does not like cold basement floors. It was a bit hard to spread, and a lot more crazing happened than I like. The paint filled most of that in luckily, and the antiquing process brought out what was left, to my advantage.

The Red Hen

Pastels and chickens, who knew that would be my new fun challenge to try?! I have a couple of other challenges in that regard, and my temptation is to blow past the sketch step and get right to it, but I think I will try and sketch out my idea first to make sure I have my light and dark areas figured out. I can do that while Kent is doing his dulcimer practice so it works for both of us.
I'd better get to finishing getting ready for work. I am introducing Mary Cassatt to my students today. It will be interesting to see how they settle in after Spring Break.

Hearts a Blooming - Textured Abstract for Valentines or Spring

A sweet way to add some brightness to your home this spring. For more information stop by MothersDreamRtworks

Owl Be Seeing You.......

 No pun intended..... well, okay, maybe just a little. A fun and funky abstract owl, I think I will take this one to school and share with my students.

Perhaps it will inspire them to try new things. Some are amazingly artistic already, and others have untapped potential. It's fun getting to know their styles.

Butterfly Dreams

 

I really scored at a yard sale a couple of months ago. I found several hand crocheted vintage doilies, including this amazing butterfly designed one. This painting was done a bit differently in that I didn't layer the color, I just squeezed out color here and there on the piece and sort of moved around with my hands until I got what I wanted. I used shades of melon, and lemon yellow, turquoise and blue to create this fun and colorful theme. Abstract art is so refreshing and fun! This can be found at 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

Metallic Magic Abstract Mixed Media Painting

Fun times are always to be had when I work on these paintings. The detail part, where I slather joint compound on my base, and then play away with shapes and stamps, vintage buttons and doilies, and even bubble wrap is no more fun than adding layers of color and sealer until I get the right look. Each painting is so different in color because it's so enjoyable to try different combinations. This painting is up for your consideration at my MothersDreamRtworks shop.

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!

Trying to get the color right.....

Not sure how you will see these, but I'm trying to get the color right in photos. It's tough, as the light has to be just right, or the shine on these paintings throws things off. I need to do some research. Anyhew..... these are previews. Trying to decide which will be entered into the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, and which go online. Let me know what you think!

A Breath of Fresh Art on eBay....

Mixed Media with a retro "hippie" feel is what "Flower Power" reminds me of. Add a spark of color to your January decor. For more information stop by my ebay listings  "Flower Power"

I'm still around, and here's a painting to prove it!

I was beginning to wonder if my blog would still be here when I checked in again. It's been a long process trying to recover from my physical fall apart, and I'm still on the mend, but thanks to modern medicine and prayer, I'm getting there. Silly me, I found out that I need to pray for myself as well. :-)
Anyhew, back a while ago I started this mixed media painting on a canvas board. I have only been able to work on painting when I'm at the apartment so this has been waiting for the final touches. We are in the middle of a dual move, some stuff going north, some stuff going east, but with me down it has been necessary for me to stay in town to see the doctors and go to PT twice a week. Our move deadline is looming so here I am, trying to pack and not throw my back out again. It takes some thought to get things sorted and organized, which I'm not right now so I'm glad you can't see the place, it's pure pandemonium. Trying to paint in chaos is not a strong point of mine, but I'm learning to change my way of doing things to live in the moment so to speak.
What does all that have to do with the actual finished piece, probably not much....lol. I used acrylics and stamps and various other items to create texture and design. It was rather freeing to play around with the different colors I had chosen for this. Have you tried a new technique or style lately for the fun of it?

This way or that way, what do you think?

I've had a lot of time to think about perspectives lately. I will share my thoughts on life perspectives later as this is an art post though. In creating an abstract there's a process of line and space and shape usage that you go through as you sort of feel your way through a piece. The image on the bottom is the way I had originally viewed the finished piece, but, on further study I'm wondering if there's a better way to hang this one. I'd like your opinion as I value you all as creative geniuses with a unique view of art. I can already see other ways of approaching this theme; isn't that the marvel of creativity? We start with one idea, and as we work it, the possibilities grow. I doodled last Sunday while listening to the talks in church, totally inspirational I might add, and have some future abstracts planned. I've found that even as I'm down on my knees in prayer in the morning little sparks of inspiration flash in my mind which can be startling as I'm not thinking of art at the time. I digress though.... :-)

Sooooooo top, middle or bottom, which way do you think this would look best?

Truly Lace and Lilly Lovebug

 Lilly Lovebug has moved to etsy to see if she can share her heart with someone there. She has a bit of company, tucked among the Santas and now the abstract art, but she would really rather be sharing her love with you.

Truly Lace is my favorite scent from Coty, but to my dismay they no longer make it. The colors in this piece remind me of the Victorian style label with roses and lace in shades of pinks, reds and peach, thus the name. I can see this in a totally cottage chic home, adding a touch of romance. That's not the only style this would fit into, but let your design style shine with a new abstract on your wall.
They are both available at
MothersDreamRtworks

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!

The hippie in me....

 More of my "hippie art" as hubby calls, it, which has brought out the freedom in creativity in me I suppose. My first one will be a Valentine piece, with love all through it. Still pondering the color scheme, but I think I have it nailed. First off I need to gesso this though as the texture will wipe off if I don't.

 A sunny sunflower I started last Autumn before everything got crazy around here. Time to add another layer of paint, and wipe and dab, and push color around.

Something for winter, that I didn't get to finish, so I thought I'd better get to this one and not leave it sitting around. I will finish it and then add it to my website or etsy shop, haven't decided yet. There are so many possibilities for themes with these, but I first want to try some random abstracts, just for giggles. What medium gives you the most freedom of expression?

Monday's Mad Dash.....

 I only have a moment to run in, post and take off to do other "stuff", but the 3 queens are finally done! Once I put their little felt dots on their stands, sign them and carefully wrap them up, I can get them on their way to Australia where the Queen of Hearts is waiting amongst a bevvy of cats and I'm sure other delightful creations.

 I've already started on a fish sculpture for a gallery in Oregon, and need to do some catch up for other opportunities before I make my weekly run in to the in-laws. It sure feels good to get these ladies done.

You know that you should never say never, but I really would love to say I will never commission so many pieces at one time again, at least at this juncture in my life, but then I'm a glutton for a challenge or punishment, however you choose to look at it. I wouldn't mind doing another set of these, on my own time, as I can see some possibilities for changes. It's always that way though isn't it? You start on  a project, and before you know it, ideas are whirling around in your head while you are trying to focus on the task at hand. Well, now to the other things I've got to do....have a great Monday all!