And Now For Something Completely Different (Before Photos)

The Dragons of Mariarosa

I have a young cousin named Mary Rose who lives in Ohio. She is one of my Facebook friends. Facebook has closed the miles between us and I feel I know her much better than I ever would have without the social network. Anyway, one day, purely for her own amusement, Mary was doodling what she referred to as "stick dragons" and then posting them in an album on FB. I was immediately charmed by them. Their simplistic elegance and whimsical nature seemed to me to capture the very essence of Mary. 

So, with fair warning, I began "stealing" her images. Then I began playing with them in digital collages using Bomomo designs and online photos of castles, Japanese tea gardens... anything that would suit a dragon. I even used a photo of the Mormon temple in DC. I submitted each collage to Mary for her feedback and happily she's quite honest with me. She'll tell me if there's something she doesn't like about it and then I'll make adjustments. 

This has been such a happy collaboration for me and this is just the beginning. She has a lot more dragons that I haven't played with yet. Another friend on FB, when noticing the images, offered to buy a print from us and we gleefully complied. I printed the image as a 5x7 limited edition print on 140 lb cold press water paper and was pleased with the results.

Below are photos showing the original subject dragons and then the resulting collages. I hope to add to this collection.

Archimedes

Orion

Lancelot

Palomedes

  

Minerva

"Munch a Bunch for Lunch" Mixed Media Collage 12x12

My final piece for the spring art shows. Yay!!! I'm finished!!!!

Now, on to my next project!

"Circus Pony" Mixed Media Collage 12x12

Bomomo elements, you ask? Why, certainly!

Black Dragonfly Design in Cafe Press

I just added a whole new section to my online gift shop at Cafe Press. The name of my storefront is "shop crabulous!" I hope you'll enjoy the products I selected to which I added the black dragonfly image.

shop crabulous!

Bomomo & Free Art Giveaway

I'm really not one with an addictive personality, but I've become completely addicted to a free online program called Bomomo, which can be found here: BOMOMO 

I happened upon this site while stumbling through stumbleupon (yet another weakness) and I was immediately enthralled. It reminds me of an advanced etch-a-sketch; but it's in color and you can save the images if you choose.

I have discovered that my Canon Pixma printer is capable of printing these images in the same rich colors that appear on my screen and I love using my bomomo images as backgrounds to digital collages.

There are no instructions on the bomomo site. Everything I learned was through experimentation; lots of experimentation. There are so many different tools you can use on this site and I've settled upon a few of my favorites and have a tendency to ignore some of the others. Therefore, I think I've developed my own bomomo style.  I have a theory that no two artists' bomomo style is alike. I think everyone who creates with this program will have a different look or a different style.

To test this theory. I'm holding a Bomomo Contest on my blog. In a couple of weeks I'll be asking that everyone submit one of their bomomo creations to me by email. I will then post it anonymously in a photo album on my Facebook page. Page viewers can then vote on their favorite images by pressing "like." The winner will win one of my Bomomo originated pieces of artwork.

So start practicing and building up a portfolio and stay tuned for the announcement of the entry date.

The following are more bomomo images that I've created to give you an idea of some of the things this program can do. 

Yellow Springs Artwork Completed!

"Egret Island" 5x7 embellished digital collage

 I'm so excited to have finished 32 new pieces for this year's Historic Yellow Springs Art Show. I'll be delivering the artwork on Tuesday, April 19 and the show opens on Saturday, April 30. Unfortunately, this show does not feature a reception where the public can meet the artists because the space is limited for that sort of event. But I have tentative plans to view the show on opening day, so if you happen to be there on that day and you see me, make sure to say "Hi"!

Here is a link to my updated website page for Yellow Springs. Yellow Springs Show 2011 

The work I just recently added is in the Portfolio section. I just completed 16 embellished digital collages (definition is on the website).