Happy Valentine's Day

Even though I live on the outskirts of a major tourist destination (the Mouse in all its glory - 4 theme parks!!) there are still pockets of a slower way of life in evidence. One of those pockets is just a mile or so from my house in the form of a pick-it-yourself strawberry patch called Pappy's. If the weather cooperates there are usually fresh picked berries starting around Christmas all the way up until late April/early May. There is nothing like a fresh picked berry right out of the field. What passes for fresh berries in most markets doesn't even come close!

These were picked yesterday and had a little chocolate bath this morning. Margot's spring Art Experience starts today and these beauties are on their way over to her house to be enjoyed by her peeps. Of course, a few fell off the plate and will be enjoyed by my sweetie tonight.

Happy Valentine to all &

Hug someone you love!

New Work for 2009

Lots going on but not a lot I can post about right now. However, I do have a newly finished piece that I can share. This is a new painting I just finished for my husband for Valentine's Day. Nothing says you love your man like giving him a predatory creature of the deep!!! This shark is from one of his underwater photographs. Love ya toots!!

Time Flies to Christmas

Wow - where did this year go? It seems like we just got back from Europe yesterday and here it is December & almost Christmas. This is the part of the year that time seems to hit hyperspeed & there are just not enough hours in the day for everything!

Last Saturday was my painting chapter Christmas party which turned out to be one of the best we have ever had in my opinion. Our theme this year was Angels and there were lots of "angels" in attendance. Even with a half hour delay in set-up, we were done in record time & even had time for a group photo before opening the doors. The Christmas Committee provided the angel table decorations (some of us did multiple angels even) and it was a lovely presentation. Here are a few of them.

Traveling the World

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth - it only felt that way! We have been traveling and the photo might give a hint of where we went. (hint... lots of wine involved!)

Yes! We went to ITALY and parts nearby. Spent nearly two weeks on a cruise ship starting in Rome, then on to Naples (& Sorrento, Positano & Pompeii), around the boot to Dubrovnik (Croatia), over to Venice!!!, down to Sicily, back up to Barcelona, then to Monaco, Livorno (Florence), and back to Rome. Yikes! We are tired!!! And it was all amazing.

I have lots of photos to share & stories to tell... more to come!

Artists Opening Reception

Last night was the Artists Opening at the Daily Grind in Apopka for Margot & SJ. There were LOTS of people there to view the art & shop! The art pieces look like there were almost made especially for this particular show, but I know for sure that Margot & SJ both used pieces from their personal stashes. It was a wonderful evening!! Congrats Margot & SJ!!

Open House in Orlando

If you are in the Orlando area, check out the art opening at the Daily Grind in Apopka on July 31st. Margot & SJ are the "artists in residence" and will be having their grand opening reception!! There is artwork ranging from paintings to fired glass and their work is amazing!! Just click on the image for more details. See you there!

Remembrance Art

Another great idea by Gail regarding the Mind Wide Open contest - techniques used!! There were several new techniques & products I had purchased but hadn't used yet & this was the perfect opportunity to give them a try!

I started by printing off the image Gail provided onto photo paper and tore the edges using a deckle ruler. This was mounted onto a piece of 8"x10" matboard in a soft green. I used OmniGel by Houston Art to coat some sheet music printed on parchment paper. About 3 coats of the gel gave enough thickness. Let dry thoroughly. Then soak paper in warm water bath face down & begin to peel off paper backing. What you have left is a translucent image of the sheet music. Pieces of this were glued down with more OmniGel. Different colors of paint - soft green similar to background color, raw umber, burnt umber, raw sienna - were drybrushed around perimeter of image to soften into background.

I used gold & silver metallic stamp inkpads and different rubber stamps in 2 different dragonfly shapes & various scroll shapes to add extra surface embellishment. I also cut out one of the dragonflies that had been stamped onto extra parchment paper to add as a freeform embellishment at the end. The words are printed on ExtravOrganza by Jacquard, a printable semitransparent silk with paper backing for computer printing. I played with the orientation of my text as well as color & typefaces. Once the words were printed, I cut them apart & the organza frays very easily for a different effect. Using short choppy strokes into the frayed edges gave a bit of movement and I then rolled the strips into a little bundle & rubbed the frayed edges over the stamp pads to darken. The organza strips are left loose on the front and the ends wrapped to the back & secured.

My last embellishments were Grungeboard scrolls painted in the background color with random embossing ink applied & silver embossing powers added. There are 3 small plastic translucent tiles in the lower right corner that also have silver embossing from one of the scroll stamps. Frame as desired!

Mind Wide Open Contest!!

Oh, my lost Love, your faint music follows me on tiny wings of Remembrance

Darling Gail from Shabby Cottage Studio has created a new blog called Mind Wide Open. Gail has set forth a wonderful challenge for any & all artists to let the creativity loose to create a new piece of art using a design she generously provides. You can then go to the blog & vote on your favorite. I certainly couldn't turn down such an offer so here is my entry. If you have a blog, come join the fun next time and create your own artwork. There are prizes to be had from Shabby Cottage Studio.

Gail will post all the entries starting tomorrow and give everyone a week to vote. Don't pass up the chance to see what will surely be some amazing & creative artwork!! Click on the link in the sidebar for Mind Wide Open to see all the entries and cast your vote. Can't wait to see what everyone has created.

And don't forget to vote!!

Happy 4th of July!

Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone!

Our 4th will be celebrated with family & friends coming by for a BBQ out by the pool. There will be fireworks in the street as usual courtesy of the big boys (dads) and all the kids. This has been a neighborhood event since we moved here 15 years ago and everyone looks forward to it every year. In Florida, we don't see our neighbors as often during the summer months due to the heat & humidity, but special times like this seem to bring us all together.

Here is a new clock I just finished. Enjoy the holiday!

The Cracker House

No, the title does not mean this is where you go when you have truly lost your mind... nor is it a place to score illicit drugs. A cracker house is old style Florida. The houses were built on a raised foundation and designed so that natural breezes could flow through. This is a colored pencil drawing I just completed. A friend has a newly refurbished cracker house on their property and wanted artwork to mark the completion. This isn't my usual art medium but was a very nice change of pace. Have you tried a new art medium or method recently?