HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017 Self Portrait Photo

After lying in bed a couple of mornings ago looking across the floor to the remnants of Christmas at our house, coupled with other "stuff" that has piled up on me, and needs desperately to be put away, I turned on the lamp and sat up on the edge of the bed to put my fuzzy sox on. When I straightened up, my eyes caught on my image in the closet door mirror, just beyond the chaotic mess staring back at me. My camera happened to be on the beside table, so I picked it up and snapped a photo of the clutter, including me (my mind is so cluttered I can barely think anymore). They say that your outside environment matches the condition your mental, spiritual, and physical body are in on the inside. That may very well be true. If it is, then Lord help me, because I'm in trouble! My house could be on Hoarders! 😲

Anyway, today is New Year's Eve, and this is my last post of the year. So HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017, and I pray that whoever reads this is blessed beyond measure in the coming year. May we all have a wonderful and CREATIVE year, no matter what our passions are, and may I get the energy from somewhere to clean up our house!

Postscript

I had several unfinished post drafts that have been here for a while. Today, on the last day of 2016, I decided to write the text and post them just as they are, unfinished projects and all.

The reason for this is that each year I have a book printed of my blog posts, and I got way behind on my posting this year, yet I wanted them included for this year in my book, hence so many posts right at the end without the finished projects. I will share the completed projects/paintings as they are done!

I apologize for any mistakes in the text of these posts. I have posted the last dozen or so this afternoon, and I'm afraid I was in a hurry and didn't go back and proof read them. I only had a limited time to end the year for my book. Again, sorry!

Thank you for your visits and your support! Looking forward to more blogging and creating in 2017! See you then!

Mini Mojo: Textures, Marks, Colors/Self Portrait

These are hideous stages of a large 20" x 20" gallery wrap canvas acrylic painting inspired by Tracy Verdugo's Mini Mojo class on textures, marks, and colors (see sidebar for link). I'm in the middle of the class and this part is a self portrait in living color, so I snapped a few pics and began the adventure!

Painting the negative space in the first layer of color...

Adding a second layer of colors and shapes; I know it's plumb scary looking!

More paint layers and shaping! Looks a little better, but still have a long long way to go! This is where it's at for now. Praying that it will look much better when it's done! My muse took off on me for several months, then the holidays came and life got busy, so I haven't painted, or created anything else, for that matter, in a while. Hopefully, I'll have more creative time and energy this year and get a lot done. I'll share the finished portrait as soon as it's done, ugly or not!

I have a lot of unfinished paintings and journals, plus several unfinished classes and workshops, and one that I haven't started yet that I'm dying to get started on. Too many things to try and do and too little time to do them! Maybe I will get some of them finished this year and I can share with you the good, the bad, and the downright ugly! Fingers crossed!

More Quick Sketches and Contour Sketches

Sometimes I sketch while waking up in the mornings, especially if I'm having to go somewhere. These are the latest ones, mostly sketched last week. Not pretty, but fun to do and keeps me in practice!

Quick sketch in black stabilo of a wig on a styrofoam wig head, using white stabilo pencil trying to lighten some areas. I shouldn't have!

Ballpoint pen of me sitting on the edge of the bed looking in the closet door mirror, trying to do a quick contour sketch. NOT trying for a likeness!

Another quick contour sketch from the same place next morning with a ballpoint pen...

Another quick contour sketch with a ballpoint pen from the same place the next morning, only this time I got creative and put a scarf on my head..

Moving on to my little bear collection at the foot of the bed, a quick contour sketch of two of my favorite little bears, also in ballpoint pen...

Muffy Vanderbear and her horse Oatsie, a quick contour sketch with a black gel pen. My husband gave these to me for Christmas years ago. I've always loved them!

I used to have a terra cotta ceramic angel like this on a shelf, and one day I surrounded it with magnolia blossoms and made reference pictures for painting. I did do a watercolor painting of it and just recently took it down to hang another painting. Unfortunately, I broke the ceramic version one day. Anyway, the watercolor painting was sitting on the chest of drawers looking at me, so I did a very quick contour sketch in black gel pen of just the angel sitting alone on the shelf blowing kisses.

As I said, these are not pretty, but that's not the idea. The idea is to keep in practice and to create something every day, even if it's raw and ugly and imperfect. That's how I get better at what I love to do, hopefully!

Don't give up! Keep creating!

Bunny Mojo Ptg

This large painting on 18" x 24" mixed media paper was inspired by Tracy Verdugo and her book, Mojo Painting.

 I just started smearing acrylic paint around with my hands and fingers...

added more acrylic paint colors, shapes, and marks with various tools and brushes that I had laying nearby, and I added the rabbit face and ears, because I saw him right away in the first layer of paint...

more layers of paint, marks, colors, some stamping and stenciling, etc....

images are appearing. I decided to paint around the images, letting previous layers peek through...

and this is where it's been for several months now. Not liking it all! Trying to decide whether to keep working on it or cut it  up to use in other projects. Either way, it was fun to play on! If I keep working on it I'll share it when it's done!

Mystele-Gelli Prints Class

This is a workshop that I started with Mystele Wonder Works, using different paint marks and acrylic colors on a gelli plate, then stamping them onto mixed media paper, layering them over one another. I was inspired by Mystele to get this far, but I have no idea where it will go from here, but when I'm finished layering I will pull out and emphasize the things I want to be prominent. Fun stuff!

Animalitos: Inky Bird Card

A card inspired by Tracy Verdugo's class, Animalitos (see link at side), using acrylic inks. He is also a work in progress, but I love him so far. Just needs tweaking some, and some legs and an eye. Will share again when he's finished!