Rainy Day People

So, my good friend and sister artist, Susan Amadio, presented me with the Facebook challenge of posting three pieces of artwork for five consecutive days on Facebook. Having been fairly prolific, it wasn't difficult for me to find enough artwork for the challenge. What was difficult was determining which were my best 15 pieces and I wanted to make it something of a retrospective so that it covered my entire career as an artist. 

I think it's good for every artist to go through their entire inventory list every once in awhile to see how they've evolved over time. I have copies of all the 700+ pieces I've created since I began painting in 1996. (Well, there may be a few I didn't save for posterity.)

One of the collage images I proffered for the challenge received such positive response that I decided to use it to create art prints and T-shirts. So, here it is. What was originally entitled Rainy Day, I've now re-titled as Rainy Day People. (Yes, a la Gordon Lightfoot, of whom I've always been a fan.)

"Rainy Day People" can be purchased as a print on archival paper or on canvas at Society 6.

Or it can be purchased as a T-shirt in a variety of styles (for women only) at "shop crabulous!"

Pen Pals

Mixed Media Painting By Susan Roden

In 2009, when I first began blogging, a whole new world opened up for me which consisted of making virtual friends of many talented female artists from all over the world. It was so exciting to meet all these positive upbeat women who were so encouraging of one another and of me.

Once I became semi-comfortable with blogging, I joined the world of Facebook and found these same women there as well! Oh, happy day! And the friendships grew stronger and continued.

And out of the blue, just a couple of days ago, one of these virtual friends, whom I've never met in person, asked me for my mailing address so she could send me one of her creations which I had admired. I was tickled but couldn't imagine which painting because I pretty much admire everything she creates.

Today I received a package wrapped in plain brown paper which pleased me to no end. And indeed I remembered the piece which Susan had created some time ago. I just love it! I wonder what the shy, quiet and mysterious woman, trying to hide behind the shininess of gold leaf, is thinking and what secrets she's trying to keep from the rest of the world.

Susan Roden, thank you so much for your gift! And the rest of you should check out her artwork, too, which you can do by going to this link:  Susan Roden

Cover Girl!

I accidentally got discovered by the publisher of our local subdivision magazine, "Southbridge Life." It's really quite a nice magazine and its pretty glossiness is delivered to all the households in Southbridge (1,000+) once a month. This is my second cover and I'm quite thrilled about it. :D

"Southbridge Life" June 2014 edition

Pink Bunny

"Pink Bunny" - mixed media collage

Pink Bunny is finally finished and soon will be on her way to her new home with Maria Lucia who is the new baby girl of my good friends Mary Beth and Rich. I wish I could take the painting myself, but the United States Postal Service will just have to do.

Single White Tulip Finds A New Home

Many thanks to my friend, Nancy White, for giving "Single White Tulip" a new home in her special "happy place." I love getting photos like this.

Starving Artist Sale!

Starving Artist Sale. Click HERE for deep discounts! 

I know that my fellow artists would frown on this practice, but I feel that it must be done. I'm offering 17 pieces all at $29+ shipping each. Desperate times call for desperate measures! ;-)

Poppy Heart T-Shirt

Short sleeved Poppy Heart T

I just love this cute little design which I created from my Poppy Fields mixed media collage. Who doesn't like poppies and who doesn't like hearts? OK, don't answer that. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who don't, but my experience on Cafe Press via shop crabulous! is that there are a lot of people out there who do.

Something else I've discovered. The great maternity T-shirt design that Cafe Press is now using. Instead of the big tent design, it is now sleeker fitting with ruching along the sides. It doesn't just look great on expectant mothers, but also on women of a certain age with thicker waistlines, i.e. me! And the length of them makes them perfect with leggings. The maternity T's come in short sleeve, tank top and long sleeve versions and in a variety of colors. So, check it out!  Poppy Heart T's

Poppy Heart short sleeved maternity T

Seahorse Throw Pillow

Seahorse Woven Throw Pillow from shop crabulous!

This image is a personal favorite of mine. I love the subject matter and the colors. I think I may have to get one of these for myself!

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

The Secret Project Resumes

Detail from the "Secret Project"

From time to time I talk about this "secret project" I've been working on. This thing has been in the works since early 2010, but life seems to conspire against me getting the project completed. The last time I did any work on it was last summer, but this past week I delved back into it again. My collaborator in this project has done all she can do, so now it's all up to me to get things done. Could this possibly be the year of the big unveiling? I fervently hope so and I'm making this priority number one in my studio.

I also want to share with you the bomomo recently created by my young niece, Georgia. I'm really hoping to get her here before the summer is over so we can hold an "art camp" together. There are so many fun projects I'd like to explore and I won't take the time to stop and play unless I have a partner in crime; so art camp is as much for me as it is for her.

Crabulous 90% Off Sale!

Yes, I'm at it again! I'm running another sale of my artwork on Etsy and this time it's the larger pieces. I'm offering a selection of 16 pieces at 90% off for a limited time only. So click here to see the bargains:  Crabulous 90% Off Sale!

Fabulous Crabulous $15 Sale On Etsy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FABULOUS CRABULOUS $15 SALE GOING ON NOW!

For a limited time only I'm offering 16 small mixed media collages for only $15 + shipping. Please check out the link!

Monsters For Max

Monster M

Monster A

Monster X

Today is Max's first birthday and for his present, I made him a series of monster collages. That is the theme for his birthday party, which is to be this coming Saturday. Above are the finished monster pieces, but below are photographs depicting the process.

Here is the first step; the painted canvases. I chose to go with the three primary colors and make the monsters in the complementary secondary colors. You can see that I have some shapes made with punches. Although I chose to use the star shape, I later sent the puzzle piece shapes to my scrap paper bin. They were just too small for this project.

I glued punched out shapes to the canvases to add interest to the backgrounds. The blue canvas already has a layer of kinwashi glued over it. I got impatient and forgot to take a photo before I moved onto that step.

This is a photo showing kinwashi (Japanese rice paper) covering all three canvases.

Next I covered each canvas with a layer of Japanese ogura lace paper. I had blue for the blue canvas and yellow for the yellow. Unfortunately, I didn't have red lace for the red canvas, so I elected to use natural ogura lace paper instead.

Next I created the three monsters on newsprint using markers. The eyes are not really glued on yet. I just laid them in place to get a feel for the finished creatures.

Before cutting the monsters out with an exacto knife, I coated each with a layer of acrylic varnish. I wasn't sure if the markers would smear when varnish was applied. I was happy to discover that the smearing was very minimal. Here they are, happily at home on their canvases.

From this point, it was just a matter of varnish, gold splattering, glitter glue embellishments and adding the eyes to finish these "monster pieces"!

Max Monster Part 1

It's so hard to believe that my grandson, Max, will be a year old tomorrow. I remember very well the morning he was born and the night before. I was there! What a wonderful memory and it's been so much fun watching him during his first year in this world. 

The theme for his first birthday is monsters. This is so appropriate because he loves to do monster impersonations. When he's encouraged to "be a monster" he spits out his pacifier, growls and starts crawling very, very fast; like he's on the attack! He's so cute, but then, I'm not biased or anything.

Above is the birthday card I made him to commemorate this very special celebration! Below is the envelope. I know, I know. Probably overkill, but I just couldn't help myself! :D

In Time For Mother's Day

On the eBay auction block I currently have three original collages that I picked with Mother's Day in mind. The auction ends Saturday. Click on the captions below the images for more information and a direct link to eBay.

"First Love"

"Red Balloon"

"Paisley Bathtub"

Note Card With Three Leaves

Garden Gate

Back to the Savannah Series. This particular collage incorporates photography as well as zentangle technique. It's all coming together!

"Garden Gate" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage

French Daydreams Note Card

OK. So I decided to incorporate a rubber stamp in this note card as well. In truth, it's probably not my favorite note card, but, it has a certain charm. 

Cupcake Note Card

But, of course I made note cards last week. I had a great time making this one. Upon checking out at Michael's a few days prior to its creation, I had to go past the $1.00 bins on my way to the check out counters. Those bins are irresistible! I found cupcake rubber stamps! I bought one for myself and one for my eight-year-old niece, Georgia. 

As you can see, I made it the focal point for this very fun "scrap collage" which has all things in it. I wonder who the unsuspecting recipient of this card will be! :D

Marble Steps

And yet another new addition to the Savannah Series. Graceful, curved steps is such a noteworthy architectural feature in this city.