Long Forgotten Laundry

A goldfinch perched in flowers that took up residence within a forgotten pair of jeans.  I just loved this concept when I imagined it.  It's very exciting to have it here brought to life.  Drawn with archival ink pen, painted with watercolors and accented with alcohol ink and colored pencil.

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Painting Art Mixed Media "Coming, Colors In Her Hair"

After shooting the Inspiration Video this week I became enamored to finish the swinging girl.  We had two big trees in our backyard when I was growing up I always loved swinging from one of them while facing the south sun.  I swung so much that I wore the rope and fell on my bottom hopefully this grown woman won't have that problem.  Can you figure out what song inspired her title, 'Coming, Colors in Her Hair'? it was the song running through my head as I created her.  She's made with multiple ripped pattern papers on a mixed media paper base, gesso to blend the multiple patterns into one uniform background then drawn and colored with watercolor paints, colored pencil, gel pen and finished with India ink.

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For the Love of Little Critters

While our daughters were playing, Isabelle age 4, found a spider in her room.  She and Aurora age 2 went through great lengths to stalk this spiders every move.  It finally found its way into a small hole in the corner.  It entertained them for hours watching for the return of the now safe and smart spider.  It no doubt came out while they were sleeping and high tailed it out of here.  The experience left me with an interesting art thought.  Mixed media created with ripped paper gesso canvas, watercolor paint, acrylic paint, oil pastels, gel pen and India ink.

  

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Art Journal Every Day

Enjoy Small Gifts Mixed Media Painting

It really is the little things that brings us the greatest joys.  I have so many great summer time memories with the girls.  They are at their best during that time of year, being able to get out in the warm fresh air and just run free.  Do you remember a simpler time?  Blowing dandelion puffs watching them dance on the wind, seeing birds collect grass bits for their nests and when all you had to worry about was if an ant would be able to squeeze the big thing it was carrying into its tiny hole?  Don't lose that innocence always enjoy life as if it were a new adventure.

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Lions, Tigers, Bears, That Squirrel, Oh My! Mixed Media Painting

For a milestone blog post #700 I've created a family zoo moment.  This rings so true of my children!  I remember taking my eldest daughter to the county zoo and seeing her amazement at the squirrel eating peanut butter and jelly scraps found in the trash.  It's nothing against the zoo animals but how cool is a little critter eating people food?  Way cool!  Made with watercolor paint, oil pastels, gel pen and India ink.  Check out more Mixed Media paintings.

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Mixed Media Painting Chasing Your Dreams

I was inspired last summer watching my daughter gleefully chasing the butterflies across our back yard.  Little four year old arms flailing and high pitched squeals following.  Forever wondering how heart broken she would be if she ever caught the butterfly and hurt it.  Luckily they were always too fast.  Much like our dreams some things are better left to the chase rather than the capture.  Made with ripped paper gesso canvas, watercolor paint, colored pencils and India ink.

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Mixed Media Painting Sleeping Gnome Home and the Doll Shoe Caper

I loved the story that played out in this painting as it came together in my mind.  As little girls how often have we lost our doll shoes?  My daughters picked out their first fashion dolls the other day and the childhood memories came flooding back.  How different they are, my first doll was a Western Cowgirl theirs are more of a young adult pop star.  Now what is this gnome going to do with all these shoes he has found around the yard?  Created with a ripped paper gesso canvas, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, india ink, copic markers and gel pen.

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Winter Walk Painting Mixed Media

I was inspired by life events to make this painting.  It was a cold day and I pulled our two girls down the road in their wagon.  Our neighbor's Cairn Terrier came out to spy us, I dressed him in a puppy jacket and added him to out festive warm toned troop.  The sky was crisp and wintry and the only thing that was missing were cups of hot chocolate, added for my artistic pleasure.

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Knowing You Are Loved Mixed Media

The idea for this bird family came to me about two weeks ago.  I bounced it around in my head, doodled it, tossed it and then finally realized that it had to be done.  The way the parents are looking at their sloppy big baby with those big loving eyes just says it all for me, time to leave the nest buddy boy. The layers have been created with the ripped paper gesso technique, watercolor washes, acrylic sprays, stencils, stamps and markers. 

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Stuffed Animal Match Making Mixed Media Painting

This painting took quite a bit of planning but it was fun.  Inspired by Raeven's comment about a stuffed animal's dating game this is what I imagined.  Created with fun. laughter and oh yeah acrylic paint, watercolor paint, oil pastels, India ink and gel pens.

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Winter Pretend Play Snow Bride Mixed Media Painting

Finally willing to accept that winter is here I've painted a winter scene.  Thinking back on dress up and make believe adventures of childhood.  This little snow bride is being married by the parson snowman and her faithful witness bird friend.  Let your imagination decide which stuffed animal she has brought along to be her groom.  I really enjoy reminiscent scenes of playtime.  Made with Gesso ripped paper canvas, acrylic paint, colored pencils, watercolors and India ink.  I hope everyone had a wonderful winter holiday this week.

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Oh Happy Day Mixed Media Painting

She's hugging away on her balloon.  Inspired from seeing my daughter hug her birthday balloon and realizing how tiny she really was behind that huge balloon.  I love recording my memories through art.  Ripped page gesso canvas with watercolor pencils, stamps, india ink pens and gel pen.

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Weeping Flower Mixed Media Painting

Where has the time gone?  It doesn't seem so long ago that I started blogging and here we are 641 posts later.  I do enjoy coming here and sharing with you almost as much as I like visiting your blogs.  It's a habit for me now popping from place to place seeing what everyone is creating.  The "Show Me What You Got" art linkup is wonderful and familiar faces returning makes me happy.  I find art to be intoxicating and seeing other's creativity gets my mind sparking too.  We artists have a wonderful internet community and I'm enamored to be a part of it.  As for the art it's ripped paper and gesso with a million dabs wipes and repeats of acrylic sprays (love the final runny effect) watercolor pencil, colored pencil and India ink.

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Happiness is a Happy Balance

You have a really happy feeling that creeps up on you from nowhere.  Your smile is small.  You take a deep breath.  By the time you're exhaling you realize that what you are feeling is truly happiness.  Then the very next thought is panic that is might not last.  Happiness is like riding a soap bubble floating on a gentle breeze.  Ride it too hard you'll slide into it and suffocate or worse pop it and fall.  Balance your happy wisely.  Mixed media with ripped paper, gesso, acrylic paint, india ink and colored pencils.

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Teddy Bear Bunnies

Just when I thought I was doomed to a life of just doodling.  I've created a painting that I can feel and my hands are dirty and the art area smells of supplies.  I'm so content right now.  Done with the gesso ripped paper canvas, watercolor pencils, oil pastels, water soluble crayons and white/black pens.  I really like creating mixed media art.

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Ode to Fish On

Anyone who has kept up with my blog knows from this post that I love fishing.  This was inspired from my days of fishing.  My friend Bob hooked a big striped bass and as it tore up the coast he leaped and ducked under other fishermen as he reeled it in.  Knocking things down along the way.  Anything to get that fish on the beach!  In response to some comments the background is ripped paper reattached to a sheet of mixed media paper with white gesso it gives me a nice sturdy canvas to start with.  Then I used watercolor paint, acrylic paint, oil pastels and pens.

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The Art of Cookie Misdirection

My husband is the master of cookie misdirection.  He will coyly slip each of our daughters a cookie usually at an off the wall time like 7 am and then slyly walk away with his own little stash as I bicker on about the importance of not eating junk food in the morning.  As if I don't know?  I love that he enjoys my homemade cookies and I'm looking forward to the holiday season when I make up huge batches of Christmas cookies to share with our cookie clutch and of course some to be distributed to the girls and stashed with him.  Made with ripped paper, gesso, watercolor paint, oil pastels, colored pencils, markers, india ink and pens.

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Love Basket's Journey

This painting was inspired by a comment on Lover Boy's Roadside Stand from Carlarey "This is so cute, and it conjures up a whole story. Now, are you considering doing a painting of the girl who took him up on his offer?"  A life of love spent together means both partners equally holding their side of the basket if either lets go of a handle everything falls out.  The movements of one influences the happiness of the couple.  If anyone has an idea or a suggestion of something they'd like to see made leave a comment in the section below.  If I use your idea I'll reference back to your comment as I did here.

Peaceful Sunny Spot

With all this cloudy weather we've been experiencing it makes me crave the sunshine.  There was a ten minute glimmer of hope this afternoon that shined into my home and made it feel like heaven.  Then it passed and we were back into the grayness.  I'm looking forward to a good sunny day regardless of the temperature we are getting out there and sucking up the sun.  This is a mixed media made up of ripped paper, gesso, watercolor paint, water soluble crayons, alcohol ink, oil pastels, pen and markers.  All my favorites lately.

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Under My Umbrella Mixed Media

Another installation to the saga of the hurricane.  Recovery time.  The roof has been damaged, big limbs everywhere and our storage shed is completely obliterated.  I made this piece as our roof started to leak only imagining how bad it could be.  The wind was howling and I prayed that it would be ok, that the girls wouldn't wake up frightened and that I could stay calm.  As I painted I started to wonder, "Where would the tiny birds go as their world fell down around them?"




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