Blue Starfish

Sometimes I get a kick on things and I just can't stop. From blue crabs, I have ventured to blue starfish. Same idea. 

Products with this design can be found at "shop crabulous!"

T-shirts, bags, mugs, housewares, kids

New Burlap Throw Pillow

"Sea Stars" Burlap Throw Pillow
Available at shop crabulous!

I've designed this pillow with me in mind, but of course I want to share it with everyone!

Seashell Series

 Probably about a year ago, I acquired a weathered, white, 3-window picture frame from my mother that I always knew I wanted to use for some future artwork. I recently decided it would be a good picture frame for my upcoming photography show and I decided I wanted to feature photos of seashells.

Also, about a year ago, I purchased seashells from a local gift shop with the idea of using them in artwork (which I haven't) and I laid these shells out on some brown bark paper which I have in my paper arsenal.

Then I photographed a dozen or more photos of these shells and worked with them in photoshop in order to come up with three designs to use in the frame.

Here are the results of that exercise.

Budding Artists

"The Rain" - illustrated poem by Georgia May Copland

I am blessed with a baker's dozen of nieces. Two generations of them, actually. And all are beautiful and talented each in their own way. Among the youngest of them are two budding artists; Autumn and Georgia, and from time to time they send me samples of their artwork. I recently had the opportunity to spend the weekend with Georgia (who's 8, almost 9) and we drew and colored for hours on end. Then the other day in the mail I received the masterpiece above, which she created.

When I was the age of these two young girls, I was humiliated by my teacher for what she perceived as a lack of imagination and talent. From that point on I struggled in my art classes until I was in the eighth grade an no longer required to take it. I never took an art class again (except for art history and art appreciation) until I was 39.

I've since come to realize that there are just two requirements to being an artist. 

 1. a desire to create

 2. the joy of making a mark on a piece of paper or canvas

That's it! That's all that's required. Now I can't tell you what makes an artist successful. I don't think anyone knows the answer to that. 

But I highly encourage anyone consumed with the desire to create to go out and do just that. We were created to create. I firmly believe that. And we truly are not happy unless we're creating. So, today; now, even. Go make something. Bake a cake, write a poem; know the satisfaction of being a creator.

Sea Critters!

I've added two more collages to my Seashore Series. I hope you enjoy. Notice the use of zentangle design in these pieces. It's taken over my life! :-D

"Seahorse" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

"Coral Crabs" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

New Collaged Note Cards

I try to make a note card every day; not just because I need note cards, but because it's a perfect studio warm up as well. It gets me into my right mind and thinking about collage design.

Down By The Seashore

Of course, by now, you know how much I love the sea and I felt drawn to create (haha! "drawn" to create) more sea themed works and incorporating a little of what I've learned through the art of Zentangle. 

"Sea Stars" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

I know you can spot the lines of Zentangle right away. It was a lot of fun creating this starfish that way. I also had a lot of fun working on the background. I took a canvas, wrapped it in an old dress pattern, melted and swirled crayons over that and then wrapped the whole thing in cheese cloth. Why, you may ask? Why not!

This is the canvas after it was prepped. The melted crayons are so much fun to use and they add a nice texture to the piece.

II also couldn't resist adding some sparkles of vintage glass glitter to my sea pieces. This is an item that I stumbled across in my favorite store, The Paris Market & Brocante.

This is the prepped canvas for the second piece in the series which I finished last week. Once again, old dress pattern, melted crayons and cheesecloth.

"Little Red Sea Star" - 5x7 - Mixed Media Collage

Starfish Box

Starfish Box
click here for details and to purchase

This is my second little box in the series of collaged gift boxes that I'm creating just in time for holiday gift purchasing. These are so much fun to create!