Cinnabun In Green

Yes, you guessed it. This is the smaller project which I worked on for Mom. She redecorated the guest bathroom in her house in great fun colors and wanted a caricature portrait of Cinnabun as the piece de resistance. So, I painted one for her. We both giggle at the results.

News On The Big Picture

I have not given up on The Big Picture, which I've been working on for my mother. This project was derailed slightly while I worked on a smaller picture for her, but not work has continued. I'm still enjoying it and loving the challenge. Just today, she asked me if it would be ready by Christmas. "No promises," I told her. 

Sorry. My phone camera caught the glare. Hopefully I'll be able to get a well lit, perfect picture, when it's finished.

Big Picture Update

I'm slowly, but surely, making progress on the project for my mother which I refer to as the "big picture." Although I like working big like this, I'm not so sure that I'm crazy about working on canvas. The texture creates a drag on the markers of which I'm not very fond. I think next time, and there will be a next time, I might opt for a large piece of Rives BFK for printmaking. It's my all time favorite paper and I don't need much of an excuse to find a reason to buy it!

Another Glimpse Of The Big Picture

Obviously I'm standing in my own shadow as I photograph this. 

Further Details Of The Big Picture

Just A Little Bit Further Along

Little by little this project is inching its way along. I even find myself working on it in the middle of the night when I've wakened momentarily. (The downside of keeping an art project alive in your bedroom!)

Back to the Big Picture

You remember that large gray canvas that I toned and was preparing to work on, right? Or maybe you don't. Anyway, work has begun and it's going slowly, but it's addicting. As you can probably see, it's one huge Tangy Zoodle. The canvas is currently in my bedroom and is always calling to me. I'm loving the process.

Tidal Pool

At long last... another new collage! I'm going for more of a textural feel right now, so there's modeling paste involved.

"Tidal Pool" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage available on Etsy

City Hall - The Savannah Series

"City Hall" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage - $35

I'm still working on my collection of pieces celebrating Savannah. The subject of this piece is an enhanced digital photo of Savannah's historic city hall and the flowers surrounding it are my interpretation of the Georgia state flower, the Cherokee rose. 

No Spring Chicken

"No Spring Chicken" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage

If you believe that the Pottery Barn catalog is the bible for interior designers, then you'll have faith that rustic bird paintings are the "in" thing right now. That may or may not be true, but I was prompted to try one of my own. lol!

Simplicity

"Simplicity" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage

One of my fondest memories as a child is spending hours with my mother in JC Penney in the fabric department. Because I was short waisted, long-legged and super abnormally tall for my age, my mother had no choice but to make my clothes for me. She has always had a fine eye for design and color and I have to admit I was delighted in the clothes she made. I can still remember some of the first dresses she made me at the age of 5 and how I felt absolutely beautiful in them. One in particular was a black, sleeveless, summer dress with tiny bouquets of forget-me-nots strewn all over the fabric and shiny, faceted black buttons. I thought that dress was magical!

As I grew older and formed some of my own opinions, I had the best time choosing my own patterns and fabrics and with Mom's help, selecting the notions and/or accessories, such as zippers, belts, lace and buttons. Oh, but especially the buttons!

I gave it my best shot, but sewing has just never come easily for me; therefore, my mother continued to make my clothes for me clear through high school, even though by that time I could generally wear off-the-rack fashions. The dresses she made for me were always prettier than anything you could buy.

Given the opportunity, I just had to purchase used clothing patterns when I discovered, with the help of a friend, a supply of them at Goodwill when I was visiting my hometown recently. Oh the memories! So don't be surprised if this is not the only pattern piece I make.

Masking Tape Series #1

Once again, a series of canvases that all began nearly the same, but had completely different endings!

It began with the new magenta paint I love so much. And when it dried, I added some strips of masking tape.

Next I painted over everything, tape and all, in cerulean blue. And added some more masking tape.

Then I painted over all that in Titan Buff.

Then the masking tape came off and I had a very linear look.

So I squiggled on a few more colors that I like.

I took a home made stamp and smashed up the squiggles a little bit.

Looking through my lace papers, I decided I wanted to use Ogura lace.

Ogura lace is wrapped around the canvas.

And with a couple more steps it becomes "Goldfinch" - 8x10 - Mixed Media Collage. Can be purchased on Etsy.

More Scrap Collages

You know very well that I love making abstract collages from my paper scraps. They come in handy in so many ways later on. They're good for backgrounds, they're good for subject matter, they're just fun! And making them is akin to therapy. I just let my mind wander and subconsciously focus on color. I've made these two this week to use in two different art pieces which are currently under construction.

New Beginnings

8x8 Canvas - ready for more fun!

By now I know you know just how excited I am by the prospect of a blank canvas. This morning I had three of them. I laid out a palette of paints in my favorite shades of blue and turquoise (with some purple thrown in for good measure) and just started covering canvases and any other blank sheets of paper I could get my hands on. I have no idea, yet, what my subject matter will be on any of them. That's part of the fun. Waiting to see what the paint will suggest to me. 

A blank canvas represents a new adventure, a new journey; no passport required. Just a suspension of belief and a sureness that you can make magic.

After I finished covering canvases, I spread the paint over the palette paper and added tiny blue star confetti. I will one day use this in a collage.