SALS Challenge - Hair

 Each month for the Stansbury Art and Literary Society Meeting we have a challenge. This months challenge was HAIR.

I love Victorian Ephemera so I used this darling image to loosely paint my angel you see above her. It was so fun to see if I could pull this off in a day, I did it! I am looking forward to seeing what everyone shares.

An Autumn Abstract in the Making

Started off with gold and then orange. Now to the metallics. This will be fun!

Whoohoo! It's Time to Get Ready For Hallowbaloo!

 

Come one come all, 

We'll have a ball!

Enchanting creations 

To delight your imagination! 

 I received an exciting invitation to debut at Seattle's first Hallowbaloo show this September! Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming! Funny how retiring from working as an art teacher has given me the opportunity to say YES, to participate in a new show. I will be rubbing shoulders with some of the best Halloween folk artists, which is thrilling! More information to come as I gather my wits about me and get down to business.

Americana Santa on PFATT

Not a lot of creative writing to be found in my scrambled brain right now as I am just wrapping up my final year teaching art and trying to sort out my comings and goings this year. I will have so much more freedom to be here and there so I'm looking forward to that. My daughter and I will finally get some good time together, and our home is going to get the finishing touches so we can move in next year, yay! So here's the skinny on my newest piece, no fuss, no fancy smancy language.

 Using a beehive textile bobbin, some clay and lots of creativity I pulled this Santa together. He has moveable arms that are attached with wire, and vintage buttons to spiff up his coat.

 This Santa stands on a wooden star base, and carries a pipe cleaner wreath and bottle brush tree.

As always, he is a one of a kind original that comes signed and dated. Find him at the PFATT Marketplace. Thank you for stopping by!

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.

Western Style Tooled Leather Look on Carved Gourd

 Got this done finally, and it turned out pretty nice if I do say so myself. Nature Guy and I were both sweating it, as two days ago this was not looking the way I had hoped. Proof that details matter.

I had to change a plan or two, for instance, the holes around the top band of the gourd weren't doing it for me. As I was rummaging through my jewelry making stash I found some eyelets that intrigued me so I tried placing a couple in the holes and they sure made a difference so that was a nice discovery slash inspiration. I had another plan for the base of the gourd, but acrylics weren't working the way I had hoped. it's all good though as the end result turned out great as well. You can't really see it well in this photo, so when we get back from our travels I will share more photos. All in all, my art pieces for the show are going better than I hoped, whew! Are you working on anything new?

Gourd Carving... getting ready for the WVFA

 Trying out a new technique and flying by the seat of my pants so to speak. I see a new book out on gourd carving, right after I already started this...lol. Oh well, I've always wanted to try a tooled leather look on gourds, but I have another piece in mind. This may be titled "Trial Run".

I am getting close to my deadline, so I'd better get this done. So far, so good. I have a few tweaks to do before I finish the painting, but I am nervously and feverishly working to finish this and another piece before my deadline. I know, why wait to the last minute right? Well, work, and family stuff and illness and a family death put me behind big time so as usual I'm scrambling. It will all work out. In the mean time I think I'm going to order the book I saw and see what I can learn.

It's Easter Time at the PFATT Marketplace!

 One little, two little, three little bunnies,

Throw in a chick and you've sure got some honey's

 Here's where  you click, to see more about these....

PFATT Marketplace

Humpty Dumpty's PFATT Marketplace Debut Today... oh and the chicken as well...

On Humpty Dumpty I did some research, and it seems that no one really knows just how old he is! So I've decided to have a party for him as he is waaaay past due. He truly is excited as you can see, and hopes that you will throw him a party as well. Don't let the party start without him!

As for the little red hen up there, she comes with a hand painted barn wood frame and is ready to hang. For more information on both of these pieces stop by the PFATT MARKETPLACE this morning at 11AM mountain time.

Dreaming of Chickens

The Stansbury Art and Literary Society challenged us to come up with a poem and then a painting or some way to illustrate our poem. So I've been dreaming of crocus and chickens and dragonflies, trying to decide my topic. Here she is, what I've settle on. Not sure I'm completely finished, but she's pretty much there. Now to find a frame and get her ready for her debut tomorrow night.

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

Whew! Catching Up On Santa Business!

 First off I would like to say I love Apple care! They figured out the issue with my slower than a snail internet and it's humming like I've never seen it. The poor Verizon fellas got a good work out as we tried various ways to get me on line, but it all had to do with a couple of folders on my new mac that really weren't necessary and mucked up things.

 So I'm a happy camper as I'm back on line and can share my new creations, as well as say hi.

The top two Santa pieces are in my MothersDreamRtworks etsy shop,  and the bottom fella is on EBAY
I hope you are ready for the holidays, and all is well.

Sunflowers In Autumn

 I can't believe I didn't take a photo of the last sunflower commission I created, but this time I made sure I got some pictures. This piece was commissioned because of the last one. It's already hanging in it's new home.

I love the vibrant colors, and wish I had been able to get better photos. I took these at the Tooele Chamber of Commerce office where two of my pieces are now hanging. The new owner of this painting and I met there as we are members of the Stansbury Art & Literary Society and the Chamber is letting us display our art there. It's a great opportunity! So this is my Monday share. I am hoping to be on here more often, but as soon as I commit to that life always runs away with my time. I hope you have a good week!

Primitive Victorian Driftwood Santa #2 2013 A Long Awaited Finishing

He has waited for a couple of years to be finished. Sometimes, it's a matter of patience.

Primitive Victorian Driftwood Santa #1 2013

I've had this piece of driftwood from Alaska for years. I had originally hand painted him with simple details, but he was whispering in his good Father Christmas voice that he wanted a bit more. So I got out the clay and added features, along with a homespun sash and wreath. You can find him on ebay now. Mother's Dream Artworks

Blue Or Brown, What color are Santa's eyes? A Victorian Santa...

When I sit down to create a Santa I run into what color to paint his eyes sometimes. So I ask, what color are Santa's eyes? Does it really matter?
I painted Santa's eyes blue this time, but who knows, the next one may have brown....

Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Who's got the Pumpkin?

My etsy shop has two as a matter of fact. Created on gourds, these fun guys, are ready to help you celebrate Halloween. See them at MothersDreamRtworks

It's a Wowee! A Lauge Gathewing of Folk Aut fo a Weason..... PFATT Marketplace

This is the only one of my three pieces posted on the marketplace that is still available. They flew off the page before I even had a chance to catch my breath!  You can see this fella here: http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/mothersdream.html

Oh, the title? Do you remember the children's story, An American Tail, where Madeline Khan is the voice of one of the mice?

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.

Pumpkins and Pears and Moons, Oh My!

A little piece of Autumn inspiration for your home or office. Available on ebay now: Mother's Dream Artworks