Stephanie Corfee - everyday experiences in creating and sharing accessible art

i've left without saying goodbye!!!

2010-03-25T09:44:00.002-04:00

oh my goodness!! i thought all my followers were with me on my site switch, but i think i am wrong!
i am still blogging!! more than ever actually....but i've moved my site over to http://www.stephaniecorfee.com

please come with me there!! it's a much more inclusive site with my work and my shop and freebies and fun links all rolled into one!

it will be so much more fun with everyone there!

Looking Back - art of a sleep-deprived new mom

2010-02-15T23:51:00.001-05:00

As i was pulling together files for this website, i found myself looking through old archives on my trusty external hard drive. And looky what i found!

i made this digital illustration when my son was just an infant. (He's almost 4 now!) The idea came to me when his dark, dark baby hair started falling out, as i'd heard it likely would, and the new hair began growing in a very peculiar way. My little man was basically growing a mohawk! A cute, little fuzzy stripe of hair came in down the center of his head, and grew much quicker than the sides and it couldn't have been cuter. i thought this was genius, of course, and encouraged the teeny mohawk by combing the hair in toward the center and tidying it up for photos with some mom spit from time to time.

Now my nephew, who was 7 weeks younger than my guy was also having some hair anomalies. He had a little ol' baby mullet. Bid-ness in front and party in back, baby! The hair at the nape of his neck was his original baby hair and hung on for dear life, while the rest of his head was more like peach fuzz.

So, in my new-mommy-sleep-deprived-stupor, during late night feedings, and groggy daydreams, i came up with a little E! True Hollywood Story in my head about our rocker-babies who formed their own band with their awesome hair, wooden spoon drumsticks and wiffle-ball-bat guitars. This image above is how i imagined the cover of their album would look. Of course it HAD to be an album! i was thinking along the lines of super-cool lullabies and modernized nursery rhymes set to music....a rock-opera like "Tommy", but for the stroller set.

Anyway, i had so much fun digging in my archives, i may just make a little "looking back" feature a regular gig here on ye old blog. Lord knows what i'll find next.

Starry-Eyed

2010-02-10T15:11:00.003-05:00

i don't know why i love making art on unfinished wood panels. But man do i! This one is very starry. i haven't used a lot of stars in my illustrations lately, but i think i may revisit it. i also want to start finding some cool places to source my wood panels, like harvesting old furniture for its parts and salvaging old, weathered wood that's been left outside. Keep an eye out for me, ok?!

Snow & Glitter

2010-02-10T00:13:00.004-05:00

It feels like a friday night because both my boys both have off tomorrow, one from preschool & the other from work. The snow is coming down outside and will be doing so throughout the night they say. So, instead of catching up on work, what am i doing? i'm playing with glitter, glue, wood blocks and tiny, tiny mirror tiles.

I know these aren't the greatest pics. But what can you do when it's midnight, you're indoors and, let's face it...a little lazy? At least these give you the idea, eh? i

i used 4" (roughly) wood blocks and decorated them up with silver glitter, mirror tiles and some Triple Thick glaze on the "c". The glaze is making the glitter look less sharp in this photo, but it looks really nice in person! Maybe i'll make a whole alphabet to dot around the house? Or maybe they'd look better grouped on a shelf? Who knows? It's supposed to be snowing for a looonnnggg time & i have a full tub of the sparkly stuff.

Scatterbrain

2010-02-08T16:47:00.002-05:00

i love the word "scatterbrain." it's so funny and not at all vicious, even though it's meaning is less than a compliment. it makes me think of some children's book character with disheveled eyeglasses, one kneesock up and one down...maybe Ramona Quimby? Remember her? or Amelia Bedelia? Do i have that right?
All i know is, it's a word i like to use and so i was tickled to be able to use it in the item description for this latest illustration.

"Miss Lookilou is a scatterbrain. She loses her favorite things all the time! But all she has to do is look UP to find them all twisted and tucked into her hair.

A seek-and-find illustration which is sure to reveal something new every time you look at it."

Available here. I hope you all enjoy!

Digging Out

2010-01-23T11:20:00.006-05:00

Into each life a bit of rain may fall....or something like that.

i've just recently gotten off one of those Life Roller Coasters we're all forced to ride from time to time. i think i'm finally getting back to my old self. Up until yesterday, i hadn't put pen or paintbrush to paper in well over a month and a half. Either i lacked inspiration or i was feeling too pitiful to be productive outside of the mandatory work day ~ i'm not sure which.

But yesterday, i just had the urge to throw color onto the page, to sit on my couch surrounded by colored pens, markers and pencils and just have at it. i had no plan. These 3 pieces are what came outta my head. And i think i'm in the mood to spill some more color today. It's looking up.

On New Year's Day in Philadelphia....

2009-12-31T16:24:00.003-05:00

a little more of what i've been doing this december....

A few t-shirt designs for sale on a site called Mummerabilia.com
HELP SAVE A PHILLY TRADITION by purchasing a tee. Adult and kids' sizes are available.

Happy New Year!

WHat i did in december

2009-12-30T18:40:00.006-05:00

i didn't blog much this past month. But i kept up with a work load i am now proud to have conquered.
Every december, my advertising clients go into overdrive and my artwork and custom holiday card orders get a little out of hand. It's not fair to complain about a problem like this, but i have to bite my lip a little sometimes to keep myself from it. It's the month i most want to hang with family and friends, but also a month that will normally give me that elusive financial cushion i always dream about...(at least for a month or so before we inevitably spend it all and find ourselves cushion-less once again). This year i may have outdone myself and spent it all on the creation of a box-and-bow-filled wonderland in my living room. It was the first year my little guy "got" the concept of santa and christmas and wish lists. i couldn't help myself.
ok, ok, so all that said, if you were wondering what the heck i was doing this past month.....here's a little sampling of what's been coming out of my fingertips....and printer.
Happy Holidays!

Dessert Made Fun-ner?

2009-12-15T10:45:00.006-05:00

i have a sweet tooth. It's pretty impressive, actually. Not a day goes by that i do not eat some sort of chocolate or dessert, and usually go back for seconds. So, i clearly do not need any encouragement to reach for my dessert plates. But i think i might make these anyway.

The images below are just some crude digital mock-ups i made of what dessert plates in my little world might look like. My art decoupages and sealed under clear glass plates.

What do you guys think? would this encourage you to eat dessert? Do you need said encouragement?

Li'l bit Bohemian

2009-12-13T01:40:00.008-05:00

Am i getting predictable? Go figure, i've gone and done another series on wood boards with bright colors and a combo of organic undertones and fine, detailed illustration. This series was inspired by etsy seller, mandizzle, whose shop is filled with the most gorgeous floral headpieces and even prettier photos of them modeled by their creator!! i wrote and asked permission to use a few of these stunning shots as my inspiration for a few new pieces, and this is what turned out!

Prints are available in my etsy shop and the originals will be available at Hello Bluebird in West Reading.

From Humble Beginnings

2009-11-20T14:18:00.004-05:00

This is a sketch i made last night using a .3 thick Pilot Hi-Tec C pen in black. i actually kinda like it just as it is...simple and quietly rhythmic.

But i wanted to test out some simple color variations and see what shook out. So i scanned the sketch into photoshop and messed around for a while....this is what i came out with in the end.

My art really always ends up being a self-portrait of sorts. It's interesting. Restrained lines, repeating and repeating, with only occasional variation, emanating from a happy core. Earthy undertones and bright, colorful surface. A psychologist would probably have a field day with me!

The Process of Creating a Boy

2009-11-19T14:14:00.010-05:00

This is not a post about baby making.

This is a post showing the preliminary sketches i make before going on to ink, then finally to color. Below you can see the rough sketches i made when conceiving of 4 "Boy" words to go along with my girls' series in the same style.

I take these sketches to the lightbox and use them as a guide while i ink in some cleaner versions like this.

Once this is done (hey, that one measly sentence actually described an hour or so of work!), i scan the images and do any necessary cleanup in photoshop so that i can then add a colored background and overlay accents in white. In this case, i also ended up changing tire swing boy's verb to "soar." It just sounded more inspiring and action-y. The end results looked like this;

So tell me if seeing the process is interesting at all? Should i show you more posts like this in the future? i actually think it would be nice to occasionally "show the work" as my math-teacher mom would say.

i Wish, i Wish!

2009-11-19T01:48:00.004-05:00

i made one more holiday card design, and i think i will use these for me. i already have lots of great wishes to fill in on cutie-pie's sign for each of my friends and family. What wishes would you make for your loved ones this holiday season?

These blank notecards with customizable fronts will be available in my etsy shop after this coming weekend. i need to print and pack them up. Should i use colored envelopes? or kraft? "i wish" for you all to share your thoughts.

Just In Time For Holiday Greetings

2009-11-16T16:51:00.006-05:00

OK, so by "just in time" i really mean "by the skin of my teeth." But here is a series of blank notecards i designed with my two wonderful consignment shops in mind. Hello Bluebird, in West Reading and The Hodgepodgery, in Harrisburg will both be getting shipments of these cards over this coming weekend. The cards will also be available in my etsy shop. The art on the cards is a combo of hand-drawn and colored art and digital design. There will be 3 of each word per 12-pak (Peace. Hope. Happiness. Love.) and they'll be priced at $24/pk. The included envelopes will be Kraft brown to really drive home the idea of a handmade holiday! i hope the envelopes will encourage some fun addressing and doodling with gel pens, Crayolas, colored pencil and markers, because that's just about the craftiest, homemade envelope you could hope to receive in the mail this season, now isn't it?

A Day in My LIfe....as posted on HandmadeinPa.net

2009-11-12T15:48:00.003-05:00

i was asked to document a Day in My Life for HandmadeInPa.net. The day i chose wasn't a super-typical one, but it sure was packed! Check it out!! And thank you to Michelle from Michabella Creations for recruiting me to participate in this great series!!

All Done Playing with My Blocks

2009-11-12T11:21:00.006-05:00

Now that my charity art show is hung and i am free from it til the end of month when it comes down, i have more time to post some of the new works that were completed for it.
These 3.5" x 4" wood blocks complete a 6-piece set. i posted the first 2 a couple weeks back. it was quite freeing to do some small pieces like this because they took less time (individually) to complete than most of my work. i suppose some joy must have translated to the finished grouping, because the original has already sold and i am happy as pie about that.

The individual wood blocks were cut, sanded down using finer and finer grit sandpaper, decorated with acrylic, marker, pigment pen, gel pen and colored pencil, then waxed for a dull sheen. The sides are also painted in bright, vibrant hues. Each of the 6 pieces has a unique side "frame" color.

i hope they like their new home.

Beatles Said It First

2009-11-12T00:18:00.002-05:00

i got this idea to do a series of Sidewalk Chalk inspired pieces on wood boards. i was gearing toward a very child-like feeling. (so unlike me, right?)...whimsical, very free-spirited. i had no real plan in mind when i started drawing. it was all very organic. i'm working on #2 now.
look for another post soon!

Playing with Blocks

2009-10-14T00:34:00.005-04:00

i think tiny things are irresistible. Something about being able to hold a thing in the palm of your hand makes it precious. i created the above artworks on 3.5" x 4" wood blocks. So they are both Cute-as-a-Button AND affordable little bites of artwork. They are listed in my online shop.

White Lines...filled with Color

2009-09-28T00:00:00.003-04:00

The latest piece on wood is finished. The design was freehanded on unfinished wood. The areas outside the main shape were stained. The areas within the shape were filled with color and texture and ideas. Finally, a smattering of white linework was overlaid on the stained areas.
The piece measures about 14x17 and is 1/2" thick. My fingers needed a stretch after i completed this one. But i'll be back at it tomorrow.

Halloween in My Sights

2009-09-27T22:34:00.004-04:00

In the spirit of Halloween, an illustrated mask to color and wear. I will be designing a few of these and listing them in my shop. Add ribbons to tie and match it to your favorite dress for a masquerade party or glue it to a stick for a touch of masquerade kitsch while you're handing out candy to the neighborhood kids.

TRICK OR TREAT!

Free ARt Download Time!

2009-09-24T22:33:00.003-04:00

Hey gang, here's a 5x7 in bright, full color. My "Slouchy Bag" original illustration in ink that i colored in Spectracolor markers and Prismacolor pencils. Just click the image to open it full size in your browser, then drag it onto your desktop so you have a file to print : )

If you enjoy these downloads, please let me know in the comments section. And if you really love them, please be so kind as to read the next post below and consider joining us for this worthwhile event to benefit children.
Thanks bunches!

Paying it Forward

2009-09-24T14:56:00.003-04:00

It was a great movie and a great concept; Pay It Forward.
When i watch things like that, they affect me in the way they were likely intended. They motivate me to want to DO something. Make a sacrifice. Do a good deed. Volunteer. Be selfless.
I was watching an episode of Extreme Home Makeover about 5 months ago or so and the couple/family getting the house were incredible, as most of them are. They were perpetual foster parents, taking in dozens of children as the need presented itself over years and years, eventually adopting some themselves.
They did all this, gave all this, even though it meant there was not a nickel left at the end of the day!? Now, let me tell you, i cry easily. But i was absolutely bawling. i felt like such a brat, not appreciating all that i have. And when i really think about it, i have so much.
Right then and there, i fired off an email to my friend, Jamie, who owns an awesome coffee shop/live music venue in Ardmore, PA. They feature local musicians and visual artists. i told him i wanted to do an art show one month where i donated a part of my proceeds to charity. he was onboard.
i had a very specific charity in mind. In fact, the TLLCCF was where i first met Jamie about 12 years ago. The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation has been part of my life since 1997. They are locally based but now reach all 50 states in their mission "to improve the quality of programs that care for and educate children from birth through age 5, and enlist and enlighten others to do the same." They give teacher awards and center & program grants. They really care about kids. I love the members. And causes for kids are dear to my heart.
SO, here's where i need my friends and neighbors and their friends and neighbors. PLEASE COME!!! Spread the word. Share this blog. I thank you in advance for the effort.

Click on the graphic above to see (or print) the full-size flyer for the event.
Here are the basics:
What: month-long art showing of my work - both originals & more affordable prints for sale
Where: Milkboy Coffee, Ardmore, PA
When: all of November 2009 with a special First Friday opening starting at 6pm on November 6 - featuring a musical performance for kids w/local talent, Miss Scherling, who will lead "Pajama Jam" w/ milk n cookies. Kids are encouraged to wear their pajamas. Music starts at 7pm
Details: a portion of proceeds from all sales of my work during November will be donated to the TLLCCF. Sales from my online store (www.stephaniecorfee.etsy.com) are also included

i've been blessed in my life. If you're reading this, you probably have been too. Help me pay it forward?

Princess from the Past

2009-09-24T09:27:00.002-04:00

Oh my. i just came across this colored pencil sketch on my computer. i can't even remember when i drew it, but it must've been over 7-8 years ago. It's so strange to look back at work and see how much i've changed in style, taste, medium choices, etc. i still do a fair amount of illustrating now, but i think my style has changed a lot and my attention to detail has grown a lot. Thanks little princess. i will file you away so i can look at you again in another 10 years.

Trace Your Hand Day

2009-09-18T01:30:00.002-04:00

i helped my son trace his hand and decorate it with markers and glitter the other day, so i made one too. Mine took longer to decorate. i finished it today and thought it would be a fun post. Nice to get back to some basics, right?

Cut Paper + Wood

2009-09-15T23:34:00.006-04:00

So here we have a photo of a recently finished artwork on wood. I've added some shots that show all the detail and better color my camera didn't capture. The flowers are drawn in gel pen, colored pencil and glitter gel pens on kraft paper. The rest of the piece is a combo of Spectracolor markers, pigment ink pens and acrylics on untreated 3/4" wood. The untreated wood just drinks up the paintss and markers in such an unpredictable way. I love that! The piece measures 17.5" x 15.5".

i think i'll actually list this original in my etsy shop. i almost never list originals, but my house isn't big enough to hold the number of pieces i aim to complete in the next few months, so there you go. : )

Froggy Pants

2009-08-26T15:13:00.003-04:00

This is the new logo i made for Froggy Pants, a company that makes cutie-patootie belts and other fun accessories. I will give design credit to Angela Lacey, owner of the brand. i merely executed her vision. Visit here shop and buy a totally reasonably priced woven belt! Or, visit the HodePodgery in Harrisburg and pick one up there.

Pink

2009-08-25T22:30:00.003-04:00

Here's a portrait on stretched canvas i just completed and shipped. I sound like a broken record, but it makes me want a baby girl : )
Monochromatic portraits like this one are available in my etsy shop. But i think i may go back to oils pretty soon. The current listing is for acrylic. I miss the flexibility in drying time with the oils. Having a 3-year-old reminds me how precious it is to be able to leave the work and come back to it later!

FREE! Art Download - Mama Bird of them All

2009-08-18T13:07:00.006-04:00

Time to download some artwork my friends!

As some of you may know, i offer archival quality B&W prints of my original drawings in my etsy shop. These pieces make up my You Color It Collection. It's a fun DIY project for anyone who never really grew out of their coloring book obsession, but who maybe likes things a bit more fancy and/or mature than My Little Pony nowadays. ( i personally love MLP still, but, you get my drift).

FYI, this is the piece that inspired it all. It was the first drawing i did in this style and then i couldn't stop for weeks! For the next 3 days, this artwork titled "Flower Bird", in all its high-resolution clarity, will be FREE for you to download and color to your heart's content. Just click the image to get the full size version in your browser window and then drag to your desktop and print. Enjoy! - xoxo, stephanie

As always, i'm open to suggestions for future downloads and subject matter you'd like to see, so comment away with your ideas.

I'm Back!

2009-08-16T22:18:00.005-04:00

A two-week break is long enough.

I've been so burnt out on printing, packing, logging and listing artwork the past 2 weeks, there was just no juice left in me to blog each evening. SO, i'm going to ease back into things tonight by showing you this darling little (out of focus) snapshot. It's not original artwork, but it IS a work of art.
My 3-year-old son came trotting into my home office last thursday morning with his babysitter hot on his heels. He presented me with this teeny-tiny bundle of "flowers" with stems no thicker than fine grass. He said, "Mommy, i picked these for you cuz they're YEh-LLLLOW. That's your favorite color!" i said, "Yes it is! Thank you buddy! i love you so much!" "I love you the most mommy! you gotta put them in a vase!", he replied.

Well, of course, there exists no vase small enough to use for these. So, we settled on "making" our own out of coop's nearby modeling clay and i snapped this photo with an m&m in the shot to note scale.

Am i crazy? or is this the most adorable, precious thing ever? My little guy was beaming with pride and his eyes were just sparkling as i made a big fuss and held the "photo shoot."
If this isn't worth blogging about, i don't know what is. This is the good stuff.

(i should note: that green m&m was consumed by my flower-picker less than 3 seconds after the photo was snapped! i love you buddy.)....back to art posts tomorrow : )

Completion of a set

2009-07-30T12:33:00.003-04:00

These are the remaining 2 in the set of 4 illustrations i've been posting. No real time to blog since i have to print and frame them for delivery to Hello Bluebird in Reading, PA. Nothing like taking right down to the wire. Has anyone ever noted that there are not enough hours in the day? If not, somebody should, because it is totally true. But i am just a big kid when i finish artwork. i need to share it right away! That's the fun part. Who wants to print and frame? yawn*

i'll list these in my etsy shop later tonight....if i don't fall asleep first.

All Aboard!!!

2009-07-30T00:00:00.003-04:00

i am just about complete on this most unique project, which i've photographed on the floor of my office because i'm very high-tech like that. : ) i have to link the boards with matching S hooks once the bracket is mounted to the wall.
Whose wall you say? What is this all about?
Well, this is a decorative piece for an Australian-Train Station-themed little boy's room. His parents met down under. Even though they live in the States now, they wanted to inject a bit of Aussie sentiment into his "big boy room."
There are many lovely bits of decor planned in the room, from beautiful , deep red furniture, antiqued trimwork around windows and doorways, "luggage rack" shelves complete with vintage suitcases, a train station wall clock, wooden bench and then this piece, inspired by the clap-board directories that would guide you to your proper platform. i designed the piece, my helpful husband cut and routered the wood and i sanded and decorated. The back side (the one facing the bed) will be left as blank chalkboard so mom and dad can write special notes and mark important occasions on a changing basis.
The specific locations selected for the sign are special to the couple and the numbers and letters signify family members in one way or another. The child's name becomes the name of the station on the top-most board.
This will hang on the room's feature wall which will be a huge custom wallpaper mural in sepia tone of one of Australia's most well-known train stations, Flinders Station.....once we choose the perfect photo, that is.
The little guy already loves the progress in his room and it will only get better.

CREATE

2009-07-28T20:16:00.003-04:00

Create something everyday. That's my goal. It keeps me challenged and fills my house with handmade things. After a bit of time, you look around and realize you can mark your own lifeline with work from your own hands. It's a nice feeling.

This piece is the 2nd in what will definitely be a series of 4....and will possibly be ongoing since i cannot STOP finding words that i love and dream of illustrating.

CREATE had to be yellow because it's my favorite color and the word i identify with most.

GROW.

2009-07-25T22:13:00.004-04:00

It's only one word. But it's a good one. It's a GREAT word with literal and figurative meaning. We all do it without trying and i hope we all do with a fair amount of trying as well.

That's all i have to say today : )

All About The Show & Tell

2009-07-24T00:15:00.004-04:00

i am about to participate in a a group showing of artworks that incorporate illustration with the written word. The title of the exhibit is "Show & Tell" and will take place at Hello Bluebird, a sure-to-be-amazing shop, set to open next month in Reading, PA. The owner, Alex McCarty is a really smart, creative lady with great ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit. Visit her site here. Revisit often.

So anyway, i've found myself sifting through all my jotted down notes and ideas for artwork. (i have notebooks full of them.) i've been searching for any ideas i've had that involve text in any way. The above piece is the most recent result. i envy writers for the perpetuity of their words. You could argue that artists make a similar impact. But i don't know, writing is just....different. In my next life, maybe i'll be a writer.

i'll list the PRINT soon in my etsy shop, so if anyone has a hankering for some art + type, stop on in!

Rainy Day GIVE-AWAY!!

2009-07-21T12:34:00.001-04:00

Here is yet another free art download. "Barefooted Hippie" is always available for sale in my etsy shop, but will be here for the taking these next 3 days only. Color it any way you like or leave it B&W fow a sleek, art deco look. Simply click the image to view it larger in your browser and then drag it to your desktop and print!

This is the 3rd in what i hope will be an ongoing series of art "gifts" to my readers. So, tell your friends and then tell them to tell their friends! A blog is only fun if it creates a interactive community of like-minded individuals and i am eager to meet lots of new people who share my love of original artworks, positive attitude and generosity of spirit. -xo!

Tomorrow ain't it

2009-07-20T00:56:00.004-04:00

Today is the day.
Today is the day to fall in love, finish a book, snuggle your kids.
We've all read those forwarded emails telling us to stop and smell the roses and appreciate today. But, i think this is a prettier way to send the message.
Isn't it impossible to read the words amongst these festive colors and NOT feel a little bit excited?...like a kid on Christmas morning, a bride on her wedding day, a mother-to-be on her due date. The happiness that comes from this kind of positive thinking is infectious. i try to remind myself of these 4 words everyday. It's about time i painted them.

Print available at a new, lower price i'm trying. Click to view the listing in my etsy shop.

So Much Work Can Look Like....None

2009-07-19T02:05:00.002-04:00

So let's see what steps we've taken here.....watercolor background, let dry, freehand flowers, leaves and grasses in ink, watercolor underpainting, let dry again, add more intense color with pigment markers and gel pens, scan. But even after all that, it still looks pretty simple to me.
Go figure!!

An 11'x14" print of this piece is available in my etsy shop. So if you like colorful and simple, go for it.

A Little Color Never Hurt Anyone

2009-07-15T00:00:00.004-04:00

This piece was completed across 3 days and my mood was different on each day. I can see it in the art. i think it's more wandering and random than usual. I resisted the urge to tone it all down today, when i was feeling more myself. Roll with the punches, i say. This piece is mixed media on a wood panel......but i'm still channeling little girls' rooms. (*sighs)

So Not All Woods Are Alike

2009-07-13T01:20:00.003-04:00

i want to be eco-conscious. i want to give some color love to scrap wood destined for the trash bin. i want to create sturdy, lasting art. But i know little about wood identification.

My last post was what i had in mind. Whatever the heck wood i used took the mediums used amazingly well. i was pleased as punch with myself. Today's attempt was not the same. i used a different type of wood. i have no idea what kind it was, and therein lies the problem. i don't know how to make sure i don't use it again.

Don't get me wrong, i'm ok with the final result, but i was hoping for a brighter palette. This wood absorbed the watercolor and marker and pen differently. Everything looked a bit murkier than last time. That's why i rolled into a darker-hued piece. "When in Rome...." SO this piece is more monochromatic and dark and i ended up punching the contrast with white gel pen.

Note to self: Learn to identify different types of wood and choose the right one for each project.

i still like the little experiment/accident. And i love fuschia/magenta, so at the end of the day, all's good in my hood. Tomorrow - new wood selection!

Wood Panels are Crazy Awesome

2009-07-07T23:51:00.006-04:00

It's official. i LOVE making art on wood. it's perfect for my aesthetic. It ha an awesome earthiness. It has a beautifully unpredictable way of absorbing ink and watercolor and marker. The grain of the wood adds its own complexity which is often such a lovely & happy surprise. It is smooth and perfect and rough and imperfect all at once. Plus, i love that you can shape it and smooth it any way you like and hang it right on the wall without a frame when you're done.

OK. Gush-fest over.

This piece, available in my etsy shop, was a great experiment. It could be great for a little boho-hippie-chic nursery or little girl's room. (There i go again daydreaming about a little girl's room!) A perfectly mini-me room of organic feeling decor and splashes of color. i may hang it in my own room for a while to break it in : )

Monday is a Nice Day to Giveaway

2009-07-06T11:26:00.003-04:00

As requested by Devona at clevernesting.com, here is a new free art download. "Onion Chair" is always available for sale in my etsy shop, but will be here for the taking these next 3 days only. Color it any way you like or leave it B&W fow a sleek, art deco look. Simply click the image to view it larger in your browser and then drag it to your desktop and print!

This is only the 2nd in what i hope will be an ongoing series of art "gifts" to my readers. So, tell your friends and then tell them to tell their friends! A blog is only fun if it creates a interactive community of like-minded individuals and i am eager to meet lots of new people who share my love of original artworks, positive attitude and generosity of spirit. -xo!

Papercutting, Butterflies + Kraft Paper = Me

2009-07-04T01:27:00.006-04:00

So many thoughts go through your head in the creative process. It's a flurry of activity, like a quadrillion butterflies all flitting past your eyes. i wrote down a free-form, rambling list of some of my zillion thoughts, aspirations & words to live by and printed them onto white pages which i cut into a table-full of wings. The butterflies strike a chaotic, but beautiful form across 2 canvases wrapped in blank, brown paper. it didn't start out to be as much of a metaphor as it became. The natural texture and earthy feel of the kraft paper is me, the hippie in me anyway! The pure, un-worked thoughts and ideas clutter my focus, but in the most lovely way. They excite me for a moment, and then mostly, they are gone. i'm just lucky if i can grab one or two occasionally and turn them into artworks that i can look at later and smile.

Keeping My Promises

2009-06-27T20:49:00.007-04:00

i have been remiss in providing limited time only FREE ART DOWNLOADS to readers of this blog! As some of you may know, i offer archival quality B&W prints of my original drawings in my etsy shop. These pieces make up my You Color It Collection. It's a fun DIY project for anyone who never really grew out of their coloring book obsession, but who maybe likes things a bit more fancy and/or mature than My Little Pony nowadays. ( i personally love MLP still, but, you get my drift). For the next 3 days, this artwork titled "Slouchy Bag", in all its high-resolution clarity, will be FREE for you to download and color to your heart's content. Just click the image to get the full size version in your browser window and then drag to your desktop and print. Enjoy! - xoxo, stephanie

OH! and i'm open to suggestions for future downloads and subject matter you'd like to see, so comment away with your ideas.

Tattoos Are Permanent!

2009-06-24T21:43:00.003-04:00

Someone contacted me recently after browsing my etsy shop. She really connected with some of the high contrast black line art she found there. She asked if i'd consider creating a butterfly in that same style so she could have it TATTOOED on her body!? Of course, i said, "yes," and promptly got to work. i hope she'll send photos of the finished ink and allow me to share it with you all very soon.

Bright Baby

2009-06-23T14:58:00.002-04:00

Lately, we've been thinking it's time to add to our family. With thoughts of a little girl's room wandering through my mind this past weekend, i painted this. i think i would want some overscale abstract paintings on the walls in lovely, vibrant colors that are not too specifically "child" themed. But i may change my mind about a million times before aforementioned additions actually join our family, so who knows? For now i will be happy to have nurseries and chic kids' rooms as my muse.

God Knows I Make & Use These!

2009-06-22T11:36:00.008-04:00

i just recently posted tiny little illustrations in my etsy shop....so tiny, they're printed on notecards!

i am notorious for forgetting the card. Birthdays, anniversaries, even new babies arriving! i buy the gift and wrap it all pretty, and forget the card. So i solve my own dysfunction by keeping my petite blank cards with original illustration on the front in my top desk drawer. i use any random, pretty card to jot quick notes. But i recently started using the Every Occasion cards to personalize notes of congratulations!, happy birthday!, welcome baby! and the like.

i color in the b&w design by hand in a way i know the recipient will like and fill in the "sign" with a funny, personal greeting. then i write something heartfelt on the inside! its much more of a memento than a pre-fab card and i get a lot of joy from making it perfectly suitable to the recipient.

i will likely continue to add to the designs offered in this style. Keep checking back for more!

Getting Crafty Pre-Father's Day

2009-06-21T00:20:00.003-04:00

My little buddy and i spent some time together painting away today. We made a FIMO clay plaque for daddy ("i love my daddy") which coop later painted in colors he picked himself!! Well, truth be told, i did secretly hide the pink he pulled out. His otherwise masculine palette of blues and aquas and yellow was so nice on its own!! i know, i know....i can't believe i stifled his creativity, but really, the pale grandma pink just had to go!

After fingers were scrubbed and the plaque was set aside to dry, mommy got to painting herself ...um.....MY-self. I got the underpainting and texture onto a new mixed media piece in progress. Would ya look at that? It's all bright and vivid. What a surprise! I will post an update when i finish this piece. But i AM starting to like it just as it is...hmmm....

Painting Cute Faces

2009-06-18T23:14:00.002-04:00

I just added portraits, both pencil and painted, into my etsy shop. i thought about it a lot because i had all but determined that i only wanted to list my original pieces there and not commission-able(don't think that's a word at all!) ones. Long story short, i've had a fair amount of interest in the portraits of late and i felt it best that they be represented. Now, if only etsy will come through for all the shop owners who've asked and provide a nice tool for sorting our listings, i can keep the custom work in its own private corner of the shop and not mixed in with the original pieces and prints : )

Above, you can see a finished portrait in the monchromatic style made to match the wall they are hung on in the house. Actually, the sides of the canvases (there are 3 siblings in the series) are painted to an exact match of the wall color!

i love capturing kids. It's very satisfying. i hope i have many more opportunities to do it.

Excuses, excuses!

2009-06-16T23:17:00.002-04:00

Sorry all, i've been working on some new pieces that are time-consuming and really different for me. i realized today, that some "in-progress" photos might be a good solution for posts to fill the gap til the art is finished. Yah...i'll be getting that for ya'll asap : ) Hope it'll be worth the wait!!

Loving the Freeform Watercolors

2009-06-11T19:01:00.004-04:00

What can i say about this? Watercolor is so engaging and magnetic. It's partly a product of the medium and partly the artist's hand...throw in a little gravity, a little luck. Maybe there's a breeze in the studio that day and the paint dries more quickly. Who knows?

Since so much of my work is heavy in the planning stages and then heavy and refined in the execution as well, it's nice to let my wrist go loose with a watercolor brush in-hand and remember the happiness i get from expressionism.

When i made this painting, i only squeezed a few colors onto the palette. i was not careful to mix tones before applying them. i let it happen very organically. If i felt a need for more yellow in a swooping brush stroke, i went for it. If i needed more saturation, i liberally loaded my brush. Being fearless always makes for the nicest outcome. i also think there's a confidence and boldness that exists in knowing when to stop. This piece said just about everything i needed it to say once the loose, twisting and rising form was laid down. When it dried, i felt it needed a glimmer in its eye : ) i added the flashes of controlled white to inject a bit of my demure, controlled, yet sparkly (read: quirky) nature into the piece. Just a tiny dose was enough. Now it feels almost like a self-portrait.

Change Up

2009-06-10T00:31:00.004-04:00

i go in spurts. i get on an ink kick for a few weeks and then i need to do something looser to re-set my clock. Or i do abstracts for a while and then feel a NEED to paint some figures. This is a vibrant, loose watercolor i did tonight. It was so very good for me. No pressure...a study, really. Now THAT is fun!

i am bad at selling

2009-06-09T21:39:00.003-04:00

i did my first outdoor market this past weekend. i learned a few things.

1. there are some talented crafters all around us here in PA!!!!
2. Some people are marvels of organization!!!
3. Some people are excellent at selling their wares.
4. i am not one of the people mentioned above.
5. i have a very distinct market for the type of art i create. i need to seek it out...then send my husband, my best friends or maybe even some strangers to sell the goods in my place - haha!

It isn't that i lack pride in my work or even that i don't like people. i love people! i just have a hard time making eye contact with a stranger who is almost certainly trying NOT to make eye contact with me, since that might imply they should buy something. and i have a hard time saying, "my hard work is worth x number of dollars." In short, i should not be my own repsresentative at events like this. i knew it going in. But now i am sure. Some people have a fear of public speaking...i have a fear of public selling!

So what to do?

Hmmm....i'm thinking i should make a more strenuous push toward online advertising, print advertising, blog contacting and just cranking out work that i love.....at least until my hives start to fade. : )

Rainy Days

2009-06-04T13:31:00.002-04:00

Has it been raining forever? Or is it just me?

i'm not gonna lie and say that i see the silver lining in rainy days. i pretty much loathe them. Grey skies and dampness make me want to go back to bed til the sun comes out. BUT! maybe if rainy days were blue or raindrops were twinkly and sparkly, i'd like them better. This artwork is the prettiest version of a raincloud i could conjure. it actually makes me happy!

Sorry flowers and gardens. i am selfish. i wish it would only ever rain every third tuesday, preferrably, while i'm sleeping and don't notice.

The Onion Chair

2009-06-03T17:47:00.003-04:00

i know, i know. you're wondering why i named it the ONION chair. The very easy answer is that i think the recurring motif in the design looks like an onion...or maybe a clove of garlic?

i'm crazy. i know that. But in my head, i've come to give little designs and flourishes that i use repeatedly in my illustrations their own little names. "Pile of Rainbows", "Pincushion Blossom", "Antennae", "Star Flower." i don't do it intentionally. You should hear the inner monologue in my noggin when i'm hunkered down over a new drawing!

When it comes time to name the art, i try very hard to be organic about it. Like, if i HAD to describe the piece to a friend or needed to find it in my digital archives, what name would be logical? What would spring to mind automatically and recall the work to me??

This one is Onion Chair. i think it has character. : )

Paisley Upholstered

2009-06-03T01:28:00.003-04:00

i am hard-pressed to think of any item in my home that couldn't be improved by a little paisley upholstery...ok, maybe not the toilet. But i generally adore paisley prints. They have a classic traditionalism to them, but also a very bohemian quality. Give me a nice, nubbly paisley upholstery fabric woven with an unusual color scheme, and i'm in love. i CANNOT decide what colors i will add to this one. But the B&W coloring-page version is available here for anyone who knows exactly what will work for them.

What will YOU dream about tonight?

2009-06-02T15:31:00.003-04:00

On her birthday, maybe your little one will fall asleep with visions of birthday cake in her head. Maybe in summer, she will dream of fireflies or sleepovers. The printed "wallpaper" in the background is composed of lots of happy suggestions!

I made this print with a blank thought balloon. When framed, a dry erase marker can be used to change the wish daily right on the glass! Ah! To be a little kid again and fill your head with pretty, happy thoughts and not a care in the world each night before dozing off. That is just exactly as it should be, no? Prints for sale in my etsy shop. And you can even request a laminated poster if you prefer not to use a frame. The lamination is wipe-able too!

I LOVE White Gel Pens!

2009-06-02T01:14:00.002-04:00

Seriously, if i could marry a white gel pen, i think i might! Using them is addictive. The lines are so fluid and clean and they cut through saturated color is such a satisfying way.

Here is the 2nd of the watercolor puddle series. I loved my first puddle so much...and thought the same exact shape puddle in different colors would make for an interesting series, o i altered the puddle's color in photoshop, printed on archival paper and then free-handed the floral pattern on top. i have one more color planned. i am actually pretty excited, myself, to see the finished trio.

Onto something new

2009-06-01T08:57:00.004-04:00

For the past 2 weeks, i've been printing and packaging artwork for my very first outdoor art market. Printing, packaging, setting up print files, re-sizing, packaging. So monotonous. So now that i'm halfway done, i'm sorta sick of looking at everything. It inspired me to start on a whole new series of pieces that are different from those stacks of prints. This is the first. I've titled it simply Green Watercolor Leaves and will post prints to my shop shortly.

i'm sort of in love with the way watercolor bleeds across a page, oh-so-organically if you let it. it's unpredictable and bold and rough around the edges. i'm also in love with white gel pen. It is so perfectly controlled and glides obediently in fine lines across a dark background. i love how refined and restrained that looks.

So the next severeal weeks are likely to feature many works created in this style....until i exhaust its possibilities for me, and move on to yet another "something new."

...and in COLOR!

2009-05-29T01:57:00.002-04:00

Check me out! Just one day later and i'm posting the colored work from yesterday!

By Popular Demand!

2009-05-28T01:25:00.003-04:00

I've had so much positive feedback on my original Barefooted Hippie pencil drawing, that I decided to re-create it as an ink drawing. It will be available in my etsy shop TOMORROW as part of the You-Color-It Collection. (It's late now and i'm sleepy and cross-eyed from all that detail work!)
I will also be adding color and offering the bright and fancy version as well. Happy bare-footing! Summer is so close I can taste it!

Imaginary Purse

2009-05-26T22:55:00.003-04:00

I got a new purse. I love it. The shape is perfect.....but I wish the fabric were different.

So of course I started sketching away to concoct the bag the way it lives in my head. Crazy to daydream about a purse? Probably. But I prefer to think I'm daydreaming about drawing and inspiration and pretty design. That sounds much more respectable.

You can't buy this purse, but, if you want, you can buy the art print here.

Can You Believe it Sometimes Starts Like This?

2009-05-18T23:44:00.003-04:00

I'm making some mixed media collage and ephemera pieces on wood boards. They'll have sketched kids over the collage and chalkboard word bubbles to capture the ever-changing funny musings of hysterical toddlers. The above thumbnail sketches are the starting point. Sometimes I look at sketches like these and think, "God, how does anything resembling art come out of the same hands that clumsily drew this?"
But here's the thing, I have always found that my roughest, thrown together, 20 second sketches always result in the best finished pieces. I think it's because when I force myself to sketch quickly, without a chance for second-guessing and such, the layout isn't labored and it's very organic. I posted this because I thought it would be interesting for ya'll to see the crazy transformation from glimmer in my eye, to finished piece.

I'm Needy

2009-05-14T22:43:00.005-04:00

Yep. Needy.

I need some more feedback on the condensed version of the new logo which would be used on Twitter and Facebook and Etsy and blah, blah, blah. I'm torn between leaving the background white or staying with the vibrant color. Opinions?

Is it ME?

2009-05-14T00:23:00.004-04:00

I have been working on a new logo for myself. It is the precursor to a new website which will be a better, more organized and more up to date gallery of my work. In the past, I've always thrown my name on the page in a nice font or something and not given a tremendous amount of thought to it. I am appalled now that this was the case. What's that they say about the cobbler having no shoes? I should have bee working to create my brand from the beginning. I should have been acutely aware that the way my logo looks is a glimpse of what my work will be and what my personality is like and should convey the overall feel of my aesthetic. I cannot believe I didn't draw it by hand before. I am an illustrator for goodness sake!
So, I mentally squooshed together all my drawings and colors preferences and personal taste, fed 'em into the playdough fun-factory that is my brain, and this is what came out on the other side.

But I'm not objective.

Do all of you who know me think this is me? Does it communicate my crazy, intricate style and still maintain enough simplicity for a logo?? I welcome feedback. I might take it to heart, I might stick to my gut. But communicating through images is always my goal, so I'm still interested to hear what this says to you. THANKS!

oooooohhhh - TOP SECRET projects

2009-05-11T23:59:00.003-04:00

I have no graphic to post today, but not because I haven't been working on some fun projects! I have been drawing up some customized baby thank-yous! No fair me posting the work before all the generous gift-givers receive their notes!! I will post it next week, and tomorrow I'll be sure to post some full-color love.

Pour Me a Bit of Yellow?

2009-05-09T11:37:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it's nice to just start drawing, have no clue "what" you're drawing, or have any concept of the completed piece in your head. The shapes take form on the paper as you go, the color scheme sorta choose itself once you begin to shade things in. In short, this piece was an experiment from start to finish, completely organic and, I suppose, somehow telling of what state of mind i was in when drawing it. Hmmmm......can a person be in a drippy, yellow, flowery, deflated balloon kind of mood?? My mood WAS somewhat deflated in the moment, but maybe the selection of the bright, happy colors and flowers shows my real, optimistic self peeking through? Sounds nice. I'll stick with that.

Hairdo Series - Entry 1

2009-05-07T02:16:00.004-04:00

This piece is about 25" wide and it took forever!! I also made the mistake of beginning it on a porous and textured paper which i had to fight every step of the way to achieve the smooth lines. Ah well, live and learn. At any rate, it feels good to be finished. Wait til ya'll see entry 3!

Hairdo Series - Entry 2

2009-05-04T23:08:00.003-04:00

I finished this piece tonight. It's the 2nd in a 5-piece series showing various angles of heads and hair which i've stylized in my signature fashion. (Piece 1 is very large and still unfinished! - it's coming, i swear!) I plan to reproduce the piece above in B&W and add multi-color as well. In fact, i was thinking of offering it in my etsy shop as a B&W "color your own" piece too, perhaps the entire series could be offered this way to customize to suit your taste or decor. Then you could have your own original artwork made by YOU with, you know, just a bit of help from me! Anyone have any thoughts on this idea? Tell me what you think.

The thing about swirly hair is...

2009-05-01T23:29:00.002-04:00

Partial progress on number 2 in a small series I'm doing with hair as the theme. I'm using different head angles and hairstyles as a means to incorporate my line art. Volume, fine detail, directionality and balance of line weight are my focus. I'm also working on a variety of new patterns and motifs. Stay tuned

Tiny Art Series - Entry 12!

2009-04-28T10:38:00.003-04:00

So I've hit a round dozen!! Doesn't sound so great now that I think about it. Maybe the goal should be 60 or something. Now THAT would be impressive.

This one is a pencil, marker, gel pen and colored pencil. I drew one fairly intricate branch with 5 flowers and 3 leaves and then manipulate/duplicated the image in Photoshop and layered it in multiple sizes to create the overall pattern.

I will hold true to the promise to create and post a grid/compilation of all 12 pieces here on the blog. But i'm also going to push forward to that lofty "60" goal as well!

Figure Drawing can be Fun

2009-04-27T22:33:00.003-04:00

It has been all about figure drawing for me these past several days. Appreciation of the human form is healthy, right? Six packs don't hurt either. I think I finished this sketch in 10 minutes flat. I was enthusiastic. Or could it have been that I was anxious to move on to the next one? I'm not telling.

Tiny Art Series - Entry 11 + a BONUS!

2009-04-26T20:20:00.004-04:00

It was such a gorgeous day today.... hot, but just fantastic. I worked on some large scale pieces I have yet to photograph, took a break for splashing in the slide pool thingy with the little guy, took a trip to Lowes to check out swingsets, more artwork. What could be better??

So I was ambitious and completed 2 little sketchy pieces of art for today's post.

The first piece is # 11 in the tiny art series. When I hit 12, stay tuned for the collage. That should be tomorrow if I stay on track. I did a quickie colored pencil sketch on my trusty cardstock, then scanned it in and messed around with it in Photoshop because, well, that's super-fun : )

This second piece is also a pencil sketch. I got 2 beautiful anatomy books this weekend and this is one of the first sketches that resulted. I couldn't resist.

If this evening's plans see fruition, then I will be posting a completed ink drawing I began weeks ago in tomorrow's post. Wish me luck!

Tiny Art Series - Entry 10

2009-04-24T22:43:00.005-04:00

I thought it would be fun to do a wildly colorful portrait.

That's the only possible explanation I have for today's post! Faces are so fun, but I wanted a little free form action going on today. No rules. Bright, vivid expressionist heaven. Orange Eyelashes? You betcha.

Foot Fetish?

2009-04-22T00:27:00.003-04:00

Bare feet are the best. The weather has been teasing us of late, but I feel absolutely gleeful at the imminent arrival of flip flop weather. What can I say? I'm a free-feet person. I hate socks, especially sleeping in 'em. It actually sends a chill up my spine to feel wool-clad feet between the bedsheets. So, here is my hippie homage to wonderous-ness of bare feet. The socks are packed away for the summer.

Pulled from the Archives

2009-04-18T00:13:00.002-04:00

Mwah..Mwah...Mwah. My streak suffers today! No new art today. You will instead be treated to this piece from the archives. Its a hand-cut paper "tile" mosaic on canvas board in a custom salvaged barn wood frame built by my husband. The adorable thing about this piece is that my then-2-year-old son, Cooper, helped! We sat together for days affixing the tiles in that circular pattern. Coop would hand me the squares and happily tell me when I missed a spot or when I should "Go Faster!"
The tiles are all printed card stock arranged randomly and then glazed over to create the subtle bands of color. The whole thing was then dusted with metallic gold spray paint for a transparent shimmer and varnished for durability. It's pretty large too, about 24x36! There was a huge sense of satisfaction when I completed this. I never wanted to see a paper tile again. But, that was last year, and writing this is maybe giving me the bug again?

Look! It's Me!

2009-04-16T01:46:00.002-04:00

...also had to share that sweet-sweet Tara at Handmade In Pa not only made me her featured artist for today, she also highlighted me in the article Top 10 Reasons To Shop Local and Buy Handmade! Please check 'em out. And Thank You Tara!!

I Think I am, I Think I am!

2009-04-16T01:31:00.002-04:00

Do you keep a journal? I don't. But my art tablets and zillion notebooks for my endless to-do lists end up being even better. True, I do like me a list. But the real reason I fill notebook after notebook is because I am constantly jotting down thoughts, ideas, soundbites, sketches, doodles, compositions for new artwork and the like. In the midst of all this, I will look back to find little phrases or quotations surrounded by inked stars and exclamation points.....sooo middle school!

Last week, I put down one of these phrases on watercolor paper. It received so much positive attention, I decided I would make up some others in different color schemes. Hey, if the phrase makes ME smile, chances are, it might make a few others do the same? My friend, Linda, should know that the next one planned is "Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezy." Though I'm not sure that's the "correct" spelling??

Pictured above is the one I completed tonight. It's an idea that's been pressing on my mind a lot lately. Clearly the answer to the question is that we should all determine for ourselves when we feel like we've made it; accomplished our goals. But how many of us TRULY live that ideal? And how many of us let others decide for us?

I'm gonna hang this one up in my office....and repeatedly offer up the same, good answer to myself. : )

Tiny Art Series - Entry 9

2009-04-15T15:55:00.003-04:00

One part pencil drawing on card + One part Digital coloring = Dappled Light Butterfly?

Part of the purpose for me in posting a tiny piece of art everyday is to see what comes out of the very casual nature of "quick" art. The pieces are small and don't carry any of the earnest i usually put into a larger piece which has been carefully planned and composed. Seeing what comes out of my fingers when i just allow myself to doodle is very freeing. Sometimes i like the result and sometimes i don't. And sometimes, like today, i "sorta" like the image but need to give it a little digital boost.

Some people might say digital enhancement is a way of cheating. But i'm the sorta girl who says...."i don't care what's IN the cookie as long as it tastes good." For me, the end pretty much always justifies the means.

Tiny Art Series - Entry 8

2009-04-15T01:30:00.003-04:00

Hmmm.....What things do I like? What shall I draw today? I like to sew and embroider. Yep. And I love colored spools of thread. I like a whole drawer full of 'em. And I like paisley. It's the perfect pattern; a little bit hippie, a little refined, a bit of eastern flair.

So that's what you get. Embroidered paisleys and thread. No deep, hidden meaning. Just 2 of my favorite things in pretty, bright colors. Happy Wednesday!

Tiny Art Series - Entry 7

2009-04-14T00:03:00.003-04:00

Looking back on the Tiny Art Series so far, I realized I am doing a LOT of yellows. So I picked a blue cardstock purposely and went from there. This was a real test for my gel pens. The orange shows up! I might love gel pens? Why did I not get on this bandwagon earlier? So that's it for today. Excuse me while I go shop for odd colored gel pens online.....I mean, do some work!...yeah - work that's due tomorrow......work. (hehe)

Tiny Art Series - Entry 6

2009-04-12T02:48:00.003-04:00

Well, at the end of a miserable, sick, unproductive week, I thought I should motivate myself to play catch-up tomorrow. I know, it's Easter. But I have some catching up to do. Posting new artwork always makes me feel accomplished. And i thought I could handle a mini tonight. So here is #6 in the series. When I get to 12, I'm going to post a collage of them all.

This one is done in gel pen on cardstock. It was fun. The gel pens are soooo smooth!!! I highly recommend. I'll be posting to my etsy site soon! You can get there by clicking here.

Once upon a time in nanny-land......

2009-04-10T00:06:00.003-04:00

When you go through your stacks and get organized, you find some interesting things, like this. It's one of my earliest, maybe even THE VERY first of my children's pencil sketches. There is no way this one can go without a posting. And it was a timely find since I've been a sick puppy all week and have lapsed in my daily work. (excuses, excuses - grrrrrrrr!)

Anyway, everyone who knew me in college, also knew little Samantha. She was my precious little charge when I worked as a live-out nanny back in the day. I guess this portrait of her was a real indication of what my future would be. See the date on the bottom? Yep, that says 1996!? And here we are, 13 years later and I'm still capturing kids on paper and canvas.

You can snag a piece of history for yourself, if you like. Ya'll know where to find me.

Dang! Micron Pens are Teeny!

2009-04-07T23:02:00.003-04:00

Today's post is a work in progress. At least, I think it's progressing. Ink work with all this fine detail is TE-DI-OUS. Don't get me wrong, it can be relaxing, but around-about hour 10 I start itching to see the work complete!! This one probably has another 8 hours or so. Note to self: assess my estimating abilities once it's actually complete. I've got $10 that says I'm off by at least a couple of hours.
This piece is one of 4 in a series where I'll be using my signature curlique, art deco line art in place of hair and other textural items using pen and ink. My focus will be on composition and balance of bold and delicate lines. Stay tuned for the finished piece!

Definition of ME?

2009-04-06T18:18:00.003-04:00

I have a hard time describing myself in 50 words or less. It either means I'm fickle or crazy interesting and dynamic. I choose to believe the latter and so I've decided...."I think maybe it's a good thing I have quite a difficult time defining myself."
I typeset this on the computer, made a print, manipulated a bit with ink directly on the print, and then placed it beneath a sheet of watercolor paper on my lightbox. Then i spent the next several hours applying each letter by hand with a tiny brush in washes of olive green, gold and sepia. If you'd like to purchase a print, you can do it here.

Bubble Baby!

2009-04-05T22:15:00.003-04:00

Messing around with watercolors today and did this little colored pencil sketch completed with watercolor washes - haha! I'm nervous that maybe I have babies on the brain. Where else would such dimply-cute subject matter be coming from?? Ah well, if any of YOU have babies on the brain and would like to purchase a 10x10 print of this little scrubbed and tubbed lovebug, you can do so in my etsy shop here.

Nobody's Perfect

2009-04-01T22:50:00.002-04:00

I am not keeping up too well! But here is a piece for today. I am experimenting with gel pens and sharpies after having read lots of praise for these tools in some of my favorite blogs. The gel pens are great for paper because they don't bleed and I don't have to worry about dot gain in all the tiny spaces I tend to work within. The Sharpies have awesome color, but they bleed into the paper. No worries. I actually bought them for use on non-paper surfaces anyway. Apparently, they write on just about any surface with the same brightness and great coverage. I need to draw on something outdoors!!

Ink Me

2009-03-27T11:50:00.002-04:00

Well, my little guy is sick, sick, sick this week and I've not had much time for art, but here is a "round 1" to share. This is a 1st draft for a tattoo design. It would be about 2" in diameter on the inner wrist. Time to bring it onto the computer. (This is the hand-drawn version.) and perfect the symmetry and finesse the line quality. I'll post again when it's further along!

Pile 'O' Princesses

2009-03-25T20:33:00.002-04:00

I like to keep ya'll guessing, don't I?

This image just popped into my head today and I sat down and drew it. The freeform, simplistic sketching style was so stress-free for me since I often go crazy with detail. I'm thinking I might manipulate this digitally and offer it in several color schemes on my etsy site. Posters for your little princess anyone?

Ocean Deep - So Peaceful

2009-03-24T23:19:00.002-04:00

I did an art showing last summer which led to a custom order. My client saw a piece in the style above, but it was small for her needs. I ended up doing 3 pieces in the above style which we hung side by side in her home. The frames are reclaimed barn wood and were built by my husband. (Thanks, dude.) They were then dusted lightly with an antique gold spray paint. The painting sits flush with the frame by virtue of a clever lip cut into the frame's inner dimension. The texture of the piece is achieved with layers of tissue paper and the color is applied with acrylics tempered with gloss medium. I loved doing them. I feel a similar series in a fuschia color family coming on!

Completed Crest

2009-03-19T21:53:00.003-04:00

Those of you who have been following along know that this is phase II of a project I started a while back. Well, its the final phase. I'm done. This is a crest made to represent my friend's priesthood/ministry. He selected the imagery and text and I just put it all together. Now I'll save him a few formats and email it off to Rome so it can be used on correspondence and such. I love finishing a project!

My Softer Side

2009-03-19T00:01:00.003-04:00

This is the last of the abstract color studies. It's soft, right? I was very peaceful when I was painting it. I was really in the zone for a few days when I completed it. I remember I'd be painting for hours on end and not even notice the time passing. If you want in on the "peaceful trance" dealio, feel free to visit my etsy shop here.

Dappled Light

2009-03-17T23:45:00.003-04:00

Here's another in my random color series. I was also experimenting with brushes vs. sponges, vs wood pegs, etc as paint application tools. The texture and gaps that each tool gave make the texture across the canvas more unique. I am always drawn to repetition in art....the same motif or shape or color repeated not just 3 or 4 times, but countless times. I think it makes the eye move and dance across the art and it suddenly becomes more of an "experience." The fact that it makes the canvas feel dynamic even though the color palette is still so muted is so......me.

A Departure

2009-03-17T15:19:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I know this is pretty random for me and a departure from my usual aesthetic....but I'm going to post my experiments right along with the tried and true. I've been seeing a lot of mixed media that combines hand and computerized coloring lately. Now that I've tried it, I can see some positives and negatives for me. I might try again, but I think in a less abstract way since this did not turn into what I hoped it would. Stay tuned. I might get the hang of it.

One of My Favorite Color Schemes

2009-03-17T00:21:00.003-04:00

I have been absent for a while, I know. But not every project can be completed in a day! So, while I am working on some new projects, I'll be posting some previously completed work from the collection that's gathering in my studio.

This painting was completed last summer. I did several that were color studies of some of my favorite combos. This one just makes me happy when I look at it. It measures 24"x30" and 1 1/2" deep. Right now, it's hanging on the wall in my office, but maybe it will find a new home soon??
You can check out this, and some of my other work for sale here.

Tiny Art Series - Entry 5

2009-03-06T00:31:00.003-05:00

Here is the 5th in the series. I loved the shape of this chair and felt like wallpapering the room behind it. The rest is history.

Tiny Art Series - Entry 4

2009-03-05T01:15:00.001-05:00

A bit of collage, a bit of pigment ink. Chalk up piece #4.

Tiny Art Series - Entry 3

2009-03-04T00:39:00.003-05:00

It's no secret I love all things colorful and a little bohemian in flavor. Can you tell? This time I worked in pigment markers. But I'm proud of myself for being 3 for 3. Three pieces of art in three days....even if they are itty-bitty.

Tiny Art Series - Entry 2

2009-03-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

Today was yellow paper and curvy lines...who knows what tomorrow will be?

Tiny Art Series - Entry 1

2009-03-01T23:35:00.005-05:00

I've been so busy lately, that I'm promising myself I'll complete miniature studies or sketches everyday or 2 in a small cardstock booklet. I'm thinking that each piece may be casual and possibly unremarkable by itself, but when I compile maybe 25 or more pieces, it could be fun!
Here's piece 1.

When it Comes to Saving, She's on Fire!

2009-02-26T14:14:00.003-05:00

Who knows what compelled me to paint this one! I think it may have been a fascination that day with blending reds. But, if I must put a story to the painting, I'll say that the piggy bank represents me and my frugal tendencies and the blazing red is the state of my financial affairs??? hahaha! At any rate, I like this little guy and if nothing else, he is a conversation starter. If you love him, or need a whimsical budgetary reminder disguised as art, you can buy here.
...and if you need a close-up to see if there's chemistry (wink*), here's a detail shot.